JP2011193097A - Image processor, image processing system, and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a host using an image processor for performing processing for combining an original image with a stamp to make a request to output all stamps usable in the image processor at any time. <P>SOLUTION: In a step (2), when a user performs an operation instructing to perform printing, a PC 200 of a host uses a communication means that checks connection to show all stamp images usable in an image forming apparatus 100 in response to a host request. In a step (3), a printer driver of the PC 200 of the host displays stamp names of a stamp list on a stamp selection screen 210 shown to the user in order to perform stamp setting and performs preview display of the stamp images. In a step (4), the printer driver creates printing (PDL) data 220 according to a stamp setting condition inputted by the user's operation to the stamp selection screen 210 and issues a printing request to the image forming apparatus 100. In a step (5), the image forming apparatus 100 combines an original image obtained by analyzing the PDL data receiving the printing request with a stamp image according to stamp setting to perform printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a printer that performs image output processing based on print data transmitted from a host. More specifically, the present invention performs processing for combining stamp images in response to a processing request issued by a host. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, and an image processing method.

Conventionally, stamp printing is known as a function provided in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral. Stamp printing of the image forming apparatus generates drawing data by combining a symbol image (hereinafter referred to as “stamp image”) made up of characters, figures, etc. used as a pre-registered stamp with the original image, and uses it for printing output.
When data used for printing by an image forming apparatus is created by an external machine such as a PC (Personal Computer), a printer driver is usually used, and a printer driver that can create print data that requires stamp printing has also been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 can be cited.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes that various available stamps are registered in a printer driver and print data for requesting stamp printing using a stamp selected by a user is created.
In addition, the existing printer driver has a function that makes it possible to register a user-created stamp, which is not explicitly described in Patent Document 1, and creates print data for requesting stamp printing using this stamp. There are also things.

  However, in the above-described printer driver that requests stamp printing, when a stamp can be registered on the image forming apparatus side, a means for a user who requests stamp printing from the printer driver to use the stamp, that is, The stamp registered on the image forming apparatus that can be used at that time cannot be previewed, and it is impossible to know what image is present. That is, the printer driver does not have a mechanism for obtaining a stamp uniquely registered in the image forming apparatus after that even if the printer driver holds the stamp image used in the image forming apparatus. For this reason, there is a problem that these stamps cannot be selected and cannot be used effectively.

  An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art in stamp printing. As an image output process, a host requesting processing from an image processing apparatus that performs processing for combining a stamp image with an original image performs image processing. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to make an image output request by combining a stamp image that can be used by an image processing apparatus, including a stamp that is uniquely registered by the apparatus.

The present invention provides means for receiving print data from a host, print data analysis means for analyzing received print data, stamp image storage means for storing a stamp image, and the stored data according to the analysis result of the print data analysis means. An image processing apparatus having drawing data generation means for generating a drawing data by combining a stamp image with an original image generated from the print data, the image processing apparatus having a means for transmitting the stored stamp image to a host, The print data analysis means includes means for specifying an image stored in the stamp image storage means as a stamp image used for drawing.
The present invention provides the image processing apparatus, a host connected to the image processing apparatus through communication means, means for receiving the stamp image from the image processing apparatus through the communication means, a display unit, and an operation unit. In accordance with a user interface, processing means for displaying the stamp image on the user interface, and an instruction operation from the user interface, a process of combining the stamp image specified from the displayed stamp images with the original image An image processing system comprising: a printer driver that functions as means for creating print data that can be set; and a host that includes means for transmitting print data to the image processing apparatus via the communication means. Constitute.
The present invention relates to an image processing method in an image processing system for processing print data created by a host by an image processing apparatus connected to the host by communication means, and transmits a stamp image stored in the image processing apparatus to the host The stamp image transmission / reception step for receiving the received image at the host, the display processing step for displaying the received stamp image to the host user, and the stamp image displayed through the processing of the display processing step. A print data creation step for creating print data in which processing for combining the stamp image identified by the instruction operation with the original image is set, and the print data created in the print data creation step is transmitted to the image processing apparatus. The print data transmission / reception step of receiving the image data by the image processing apparatus, analyzing the received print data, and acquiring the original image to be processed In addition, a print data analysis step for specifying a stamp image to be used for drawing from the stored stamp images, and a combination of the stamp image specified in the print data analysis step with the original image acquired in the same step And a drawing data generation step for generating.

  According to the present invention, the user of the host can know the stamp image stored in the image processing apparatus as needed, and can effectively use the stamp image held by the image processing apparatus and perform desired image output.

It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the stamp processing process in the image processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of an image forming apparatus that constitutes an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of the printing process which set the stamp process of the image processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a stamp data structure (A) stored in the image forming apparatus and an example (B) of a screen displayed on a UI by a PC printer driver during stamp processing. It is a figure explaining two forms of the method (A) (B) which an image forming apparatus notifies a stamp image to a host. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stamp selection screen in which a composition condition to be displayed on a UI during stamp processing by a PC printer driver can be set. It is a figure explaining three forms of (A), (B), and (C) with which the synthetic | combination conditions of an original image and a stamp image differ. It is a figure explaining the margin of the original image extracted as an insertion area of a stamp image.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the embodiment described below, an image processing apparatus of the image processing system of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that performs drawing processing or print output, such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral, and a PC (Personal Computer) equipped with a printer driver is a host. The example of the image processing system comprised by this is shown.
However, the image processing apparatus constituting the image processing system is not limited to print output, and may be configured by an apparatus that performs image output processing in a form of display on a display, for example. The host may be an information processing apparatus or an image processing apparatus other than the PC as long as the printer driver is installed.

[Outline of stamp processing]
In the present embodiment, the printer driver of the host PC can make a print output request combining a stamp image usable in the image forming apparatus as needed. In order to solve this problem, the image forming apparatus notifies the host PC of the stored stamp image as needed using a communication unit that connects the host PC and the image forming apparatus. The host that receives the stamp image creates the print data by selecting the stamp image to be used from the original stamp plus the stamp from the image forming device and setting the stamp composition. Send to the device as a print request. In response to this request, the image forming apparatus that receives the print data generates drawing data obtained by synthesizing the stamp image with the original image, and outputs the image. The series of processes performed on the image processing system is hereinafter referred to as “stamp process”.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a stamp processing process in an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure illustrates a case where a print request in which stamp processing is set is made to the image forming apparatus 100 by a user operation from the PC 200.
An outline of stamp processing will be described below with reference to the flow from stamp processing (1) to (5) shown in FIG.
Process (1): The connection of the communication means is confirmed through a predetermined procedure between the PC 200 and the image forming apparatus 100, and communication is started.
Process (2): When an operation for instructing printing is performed by the user on the host PC 200 using the communication means connected in the above (1), the image forming apparatus 100 forms an image in response to a request from the host. A stamp image usable in the apparatus 100 is notified. At this time, it is desirable to send all the registered stamps as usable stamps, for example, in the form of a stamp list 150 in which the stamp names can be listed. Notify information. If it is known that the stamp image is stored in the printer driver, a method of not sending the stamp image can be used. Further, since the image forming apparatus 100 has a function of registering a stamp created by the user, this stamp is also included in the stamp to be notified.

Process (3): The printer driver of the PC 200 that has received the information of the stamp list 150 notified in the above (2) displays the stamp name of the stamp list on the stamp selection screen 210 shown to the user in order to set the stamp. The stamp selection screen 210 in FIG. 1 displays a list of stamp names and a preview display of the selected stamp image.
Also, the user selects whether or not to set a combination condition (hereinafter referred to as “overlap setting”), which is one item of stamp setting, so that both do not overlap when combining the stamp image with the original image. A setting display element is provided. Details of these stamp settings will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6 to 8.
Process (4): The printer driver of the PC 200 creates the print data 220 according to the stamp setting condition input by the user's operation on the stamp selection screen 210 displayed in (3) above, and sends a print request to the image forming apparatus 100. Issue. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the print data 220 includes PDL (page description language) data indicating an original image and a stamp setting condition “stamp setting = ON stamp type = cat overlap setting = non-overlap”.
Process (5): The image forming apparatus 100 that receives the print request issued in the above (4) combines the original image obtained by analyzing the PDL data and the stamp image according to the stamp setting, and performs printing. The details of the process of generating the drawing data by combining the original image and the stamp image according to the stamp setting will be described later with reference to FIGS.

[Software configuration of image processing system]
The software configuration of the image processing system will be described with reference to FIG.
The PC 200 includes a printer driver, and the image forming apparatus 100 receives print data issued by the printer driver of the PC 200 and generates drawing data for operating a print engine (not shown) based on the print data. This is the same as an image processing system that uses an image forming apparatus such as an existing printer or multifunction peripheral from a host PC in that it has a processing means. However, in the image processing system according to the present embodiment, the means for performing the above-described stamp processing is a component, which is different from the existing configuration.
Therefore, as a processing unit for performing image output (printing) of this embodiment including stamp processing, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 111, a data analysis unit 112, a data storage unit 113, as shown in FIG. The image generation unit 115, the drawing unit 116, and the image composition unit 117 are used as element units, and the software of this embodiment is configured by giving each element unit the following functions.

The communication unit 111 exchanges data with the PC 200, receives print data issued by the PC 200 through this, and notifies the PC 200 of the stamp image together with information on the stamp list 150.
The data analysis unit 112 analyzes print (PDL) data and the like transmitted from the PC 200, and obtains a command necessary for processing such as drawing as an analysis result. Here, in addition to the original image drawing command, the above-described stamp setting conditions are analyzed.
The data storage unit 113 stores various data necessary for image output (printing). In this embodiment, all the data registered as stamps usable in the image forming apparatus 100 as the data necessary for the stamp processing, for example, in the form of a stamp list 150 (see FIG. 1), corresponding stamp images. And used for notification to the PC 200 in the process (2) and composition to the original image in the process (5).
The drawing unit 116 generates drawing data according to the print data analysis result by the data analysis unit 112.
The image synthesis unit 117 synthesizes the stamp image stored in the data storage unit 113 with the original image when generating drawing data according to the stamp setting analyzed by the data analysis unit 112.

Further, the means for performing the stamp processing shown in FIG. 2 of the image forming apparatus 100 is a special hardware configuration other than a computer mounted for use in data processing by an image forming apparatus such as an existing printer or multifunction peripheral. Can be implemented by operating a software program that causes the computer to function as each of the above-described means for performing stamp processing.
As for the configuration of the PC 200 constituting the image processing system of this embodiment, a software program for causing a PC having a general-purpose hardware configuration to function as processing means required in this embodiment, as with the image processing apparatus. Can be implemented by adding to the printer driver.

[Stamp processing flow]
A basic flow of printing processing in which stamp processing is set in the image processing system (FIG. 2) of the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
When the user performs an operation for instructing printing on the PC 200, the printer driver is activated. When the stamp processing is instructed from the print setting screen after startup, the printer driver first acquires the information of the stamp list 150 stored in the device (image forming apparatus) 100 (see FIG. 1). This information acquisition request is issued to 100 (step S101).
In response to a request for acquiring stamp list information from the printer driver of the PC 200, the device 100 receives from the communication unit 111 information on a stamp list including stamp names corresponding to stamp names stored in the data storage unit 113 and stamp images corresponding thereto. The data is transmitted to the printer driver (step S102).
Next, the printer driver of the PC 200 receives the stamp list information transmitted from the device 100, and displays the stamp list list on the screen of the display unit of the PC 200 using a UI (user interface) function (step S103).

Here, the above-described process of acquiring stamp list information stored on the device 100 side and displaying the stamp list list on the PC 200 side will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4A, stamp list information stored in the data storage unit 113 on the device 100 side is stamps stored as standard equipment by the device 100 (for example, “cat”, “dog”, etc.). In addition to the above, original stamps added by the user using the stamp registration function provided in the device 100 (for example, stamp names such as “original 1” and “original mark” and the logo mark 152 thereof) are registered. .
The printer driver can support the former from the design stage, but the latter original stamp cannot be used from the printer driver unless the device 100 informs it.
Therefore, the printer driver transmits a request for obtaining stamp list information including stamp names corresponding to the stamp names of the latter stamp list including the original stamp, and displays the returned stamp list information to the user.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the display method to the user is based on the stamp name list 212 on the stamp selection screen 210 shown to the user in order to set the stamp based on the acquired stamp list information. Is displayed. By instructing the stamp to be selected by the user's marker operation for the stamp name in the list 212, the stamp image corresponding to the selected stamp name is extracted from the acquired stamp list information, and the stamp image is displayed on the preview screen 214 of the stamp selection screen 210. Display.
In addition, after confirming that the desired stamp image is displayed on the preview screen 214, a check is performed to instruct whether or not to perform overlap setting so that the user does not overlap the stamp image when the stamp image is combined with the original image. A box 216, an OK button 217 for instructing execution of stamp processing, and a cancel button 218 are provided on the stamp selection screen 210.

Returning to the stamp processing flow of FIG. 3, the printer driver is selected by the user's marker operation on the stamp name in the stamp list 212 in the stamp selection screen 210 (see FIG. 4B) displayed in step S103. A preview display of the stamp image (see the preview screen 214 in the figure) is performed (step S104).
Next, the printer driver receives a print execution instruction from the user by a marker operation on the OK button 217 provided on the stamp selection screen 210 (see FIG. 4B), and prints (PDL) instructing the stamp setting. A print request is issued by creating data and transmitting it to the device 100 (step S105).

The device 100 that receives a print request issued by the printer driver of the PC 200 processes the received data with the communication unit 111 and analyzes the obtained print data (PDL) with the data analysis unit 112. In addition to the original image drawing command, the data analysis unit 112 analyzes the presence / absence of the stamp setting and the setting conditions, and obtains a command necessary for processing such as drawing as an analysis result. The analysis result when there is a stamp setting specifies the stamp image to be used by the stamp name. Further, the original image obtained as a result of the analysis and the stamp image specified by the stamp name are combined by the image combining unit 117 in accordance with the combining condition instructed in the stamp setting, and the drawing unit 116 generates the drawing data (step) S106). At this time, as the stamp image to be used, the stamp image stored in association with the stamp name in the data storage unit 113 is extracted from the stamp name specified by the analysis result and used. Note that the composition processing in accordance with the composition condition that prevents the two images from overlapping when the stamp image is synthesized with the original image will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS.
Thereafter, the print engine (not shown) of the device 100 executes printing using the drawing data generated by the image generation unit 115 in step S106 (step S107), and print processing in the image processing system in which stamp processing is set. Exit.

[Notification of stamp image to host]
If the image data size when the image forming apparatus 100 notifies the host PC 200 of the stamp list information including the stamp name and the stamp image is large, the communication takes time. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the communication data amount as much as possible. .
Therefore, the communication time is shortened by reducing the amount of image data.
As a method for reducing the amount of image data, the following method 1. Method 2 of compressing image data There are two methods for thinning out image data.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining data transmission of a stamp image in which the communication data amount is reduced by the above two methods. To (A), method 2. Is shown in (B).

FIG. 5A illustrates method 1. In this method, the amount of communication data is reduced by the data compression. As shown in the figure, notification is made in the flow of process (1) → (2) → (3).
Process (1) is a process in which the image forming apparatus 100 applies data compression to a stamp image sent to the host PC 200. Depending on the compression method, compression rate, reversible, or irreversible can be selected. Usually, irreversible can increase the compression rate and shorten the communication time, but the image quality deteriorates. An implementation method may be employed in which a plurality of different compression methods can be selected in accordance with usage conditions and applications in consideration of communication time and image quality.
The process (2) is a process of sending information of a stamp list including a stamp image subjected to data compression as compressed data via a communication unit. The communication means is not particularly limited as long as it can send data.
Process (3) is a process in which the host PC 200 that receives data sent from the image forming apparatus 100 processes the received data. In this process, data is decompressed by decompressing the compressed data.

On the other hand, FIG. In this method, the amount of communication data is reduced by thinning out the image data. As shown in the figure, notification is made in the flow of process (1) → (2) → (3).
Process (1) is a process in which the image forming apparatus 100 thins out image data on a stamp image to be sent to the host PC 200. Although the compression rate differs depending on the thinning method, as shown in the example in which the resolution is reduced from 600 dpi to 100 dpi as shown in FIG. The communication time can be further shortened and the processing is simple, but the image quality is lowered. A plurality of different thinning methods may be selectable depending on the use situation and application in consideration of communication time and image quality. However, although it can be said that the data compression method is used, the host PC 200 uses the stamp image acquired from the image forming apparatus 100 for the preview display of the printer driver, and this preview screen is smaller than the actual one. The impact is small.
Process (2) is a process of sending information of a stamp list including a thinned stamp image via a communication means, and since the amount of communication data can be greatly reduced, the communication time can be further shortened. The communication means is not particularly limited as long as it can send data.
Process (3) is a process in which the host PC 200 that receives data sent from the image forming apparatus 100 processes the received data. In this process, the data is restored by interpolating and enlarging the thinned data.

[Combine stamp image according to setting conditions]
In the present embodiment, when the user performs stamp setting from the host PC 200, it is possible to select a desired stamp from the stamp list and to instruct overlap setting as a composition condition for the selected stamp. That is, by performing the overlap setting, when the stamp image is combined with the original image, the stamp image is inserted into a portion corresponding to the margin of the original image, and the images do not substantially overlap (see FIG. 7 (described later)). B) and (C), and drawing data is generated as a composite image in which the original image is stored.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stamp selection screen on which a composition condition displayed on the UI by the printer driver of the PC 200 can be set.
In the stamp selection screen 210 shown in FIG. 4 (see FIG. 4B), the user selects a stamp name from a list 212 and a list 212 for displaying a stamp list used to select a desired stamp. In addition to displaying a stamp image preview screen 214 corresponding to the stamp name, a check box 216 whose title is “Prevent overlapping images and stamps” is provided in order to instruct overlapping settings.
This check box 216 is an element for instructing the composition condition of the selected stamp. By checking the user's operation on the check box 216, setting can be performed so that the synthesized images do not overlap.

On the other hand, when the synthesized images may overlap (see FIG. 7A described later), no user operation is required, and the check box 216 is not checked.
However, in many cases, the user cannot determine whether or not the synthesized images overlap each other even if the stamp image is determined with the upper right corner of the page as a predetermined position as in this embodiment. Accordingly, the size of the prepared stamp image is known, and for a stamp image that can be estimated to overlap in the normal page layout, the title attached to the check box 216 is displayed when this stamp image is selected. It is better to allow the user to recognize the situation by changing (eg gray down).

When the check box 216 of the stamp selection screen 210 is checked, the image generation unit 115 of the image forming apparatus 100 checks whether or not the original image and the stamp image to be combined with the original image actually overlap each other. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the size of the image between the two images and perform a process of combining them.
As a method of adjusting the size of images between both images so that the images to be combined do not overlap each other, a method of reducing the original image and a method of reducing the stamp image can be considered.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining three forms (A), (B), and (C) in which the synthesis conditions of the original image and the stamp image are different.
FIG. 7A shows a case where no overlap setting is made, and a full-size stamp image (cat) is combined with the full-size original image. In this case, the images overlap each other.
FIG. 7B shows the case where the overlap setting is made, and the reduced stamp image (cat) is synthesized with the original original image. In this case, the images do not overlap.
FIG. 7C shows a case where no overlap setting is made, and a full-size stamp image (cat) is synthesized with the reduced original image. In this case, the images do not overlap.

Next, an example of processing when performing composition in which images do not overlap each other by the method of reducing the stamp image of FIG. 7B will be described. In this example, it is assumed that the stamp image is arranged at the upper right of the page.
Therefore, first, attention is paid to the margin formed at the upper right of the page of the original image that becomes the insertion region of the stamp image, and this region is extracted.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining margins of the original image extracted as the stamp image insertion area. In the example shown in the figure, the pixels of the original image 122 are analyzed, and an area 124 (shaded area in the figure) formed of white or a cluster of pixels close to white in the upper right corner of the page is recognized as a margin. The process which extracts is performed.

Next, it is determined whether or not a stamp image (cat) whose arrangement is determined in advance is stored in the extracted blank area 124. Specifically, the determination can be made by comparing the coordinates indicating the regions of the respective images. This determination can also be used for determination when the display of the title attached to the check box 216 is changed.
As a result of the above determination, if the stamp image (cat) whose arrangement is determined in advance does not fit in the extracted blank area 124, the stamp image is reduced or moved within the fit range, and the reduction rate and movement amount at that time Is determined as a value to be used for the composition processing by the image composition unit 117. When determining the reduction ratio, a value as large as possible is adopted as long as it fits.
Thereafter, the image composition unit 117 sets a composition condition that takes into account the reduction ratio and movement amount obtained as described above, and performs composition to insert a stamp image into the original image according to the setting.
An image printed by the drawing data thus synthesized and generated is an image illustrated in FIG. 7B. The figure shows a stamp image (cat) reduced to the upper right of the page when the print request for the stamp setting “overlap setting = ON, stamp type (name) = cat” is processed by this compositing method, The original images are combined without overlapping.

Next, an example of processing when performing composition in which images are not overlapped by the method of reducing the original image in FIG. 7C will be described. Here, the processing example is based on the premise that the stamp image is set to the full size in a predetermined arrangement at the upper right of the page.
Therefore, first, a rectangular image area that does not include the upper right area of the page occupied by the stamp image in the image surface of the image to be generated is determined as an area where the original image can be used.
Next, the reduction ratio of the original image that can accommodate the original image with the maximum size is determined in the rectangular image area determined as the area where the original image can be used. Specifically, it can be calculated by comparing the size of the original image (vertical and horizontal size) and the size of the rectangular image region (vertical and horizontal size).

Thereafter, for the original image, the image composition unit 117 performs a setting to reduce the original image to the calculated reduction ratio as a result of the above calculation and generate the obtained image in an area where the original image can be used. In addition, the stamp image is set in a predetermined manner, and processing for combining the original image and the stamp image is performed according to the setting.
An image printed by the drawing data synthesized and generated in this way is an image illustrated in FIG. 7C. This figure shows a stamp image of the original size with a predetermined layout at the upper right of the page when a print request of the stamp setting “overlap setting = ON, stamp type (name) = cat” is processed by this composition method. The (cat) and the reduced original image are combined without overlapping.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image forming apparatus 111 ... Communication part 112 ... Data analysis part 113 ... Data storage part 115 ... Image generation part 116 ... Drawing part 117 ... Image composition part

JP 2007-280124 A

Claims (13)

Means for receiving print data from the host; print data analysis means for analyzing the received print data; stamp image storage means for storing a stamp image; and the stored stamp image according to the analysis result of the print data analysis means. An image processing apparatus having drawing data generation means for generating drawing data by combining with an original image generated from print data,
Means for transmitting the stored stamp image to a host;
The image processing apparatus, wherein the print data analyzing means includes means for specifying an image stored in the stamp image storage means as a stamp image used for drawing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An image processing apparatus comprising compression means for stamp image data to be transmitted to a host. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An image processing apparatus comprising thinning-out data for a stamp image transmitted to a host. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the drawing data generation means includes means for synthesizing an image in which a main image of the original image generated from the print data and the stamp image do not overlap. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the drawing data generation means combines non-overlapping images by reducing an original image generated from the print data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4,
The image processing apparatus is characterized in that the drawing data generating means combines non-overlapping images by reducing the stamp image. The image processing device according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
Comprising synthesis condition setting means for setting application of means for synthesizing the non-overlapping images,
The image processing apparatus characterized in that the drawing data generation means synthesizes an image according to the setting of the synthesis condition setting means. The image processing device according to claim 7,
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for enabling execution of the drawing data generation means by invalidating the setting when overlap cannot be avoided by the synthesis performed by the setting of the synthesis condition setting means. An image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A host connected to the image processing apparatus by communication means,
Means for receiving the stamp image from the image processing apparatus by the communication means;
A user interface having a display unit and an operation unit;
In accordance with the processing means for displaying the stamp image on the user interface and the instruction operation from the user interface, it is possible to set the processing for combining the stamp image specified from the displayed stamp images with the original image A printer driver that functions as a means for creating print data;
A host that includes print data transmitted to the image processing apparatus via the communication unit;
An image processing system constituted by: An image processing device according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
A host connected to the image processing apparatus by communication means,
Means for receiving the stamp image from the image processing apparatus by the communication means;
A user interface having a display unit and an operation unit;
A processing unit for displaying the stamp image on the user interface and a process setting for combining the stamp image specified from the displayed stamp images with the original image in accordance with an instruction operation from the user interface. A printer driver that functions as a means for creating print data capable of setting a synthesis condition for setting application of a means for synthesizing images that do not match;
An image processing system comprising: a host, comprising: means for transmitting print data to the image processing apparatus via the communication means. The image processing system according to claim 10,
The image processing apparatus includes a unit that enables the drawing data generation unit to be executed by invalidating the setting when overlap cannot be avoided by the synthesis performed by the setting of the printer driver. Image processing system. The image processing system according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The image processing system, wherein the host includes a decompression unit for a received stamp image subjected to data compression. An image processing method in an image processing system for processing print data created by a host by an image processing apparatus connected to the host by communication means,
A stamp image transmission / reception step of transmitting a stamp image stored in the image processing apparatus to the host and receiving it by the host;
A display processing step for displaying the received stamp image to the host user;
A print data creation step for creating print data in which a process for synthesizing the stamp image identified by the user's instruction operation from the stamp images displayed through the processing of the display processing step with the original image is set;
A print data transmission / reception step of transmitting the print data created in the print data creation step to the image processing device and receiving it by the image processing device;
A print data analysis process for analyzing the received print data, obtaining an original image to be processed, and identifying a stamp image used for drawing from the stored stamp images;
An image processing method comprising: a drawing data generation step of generating drawing data by combining the stamp image specified in the print data analysis step with the original image acquired in the step.

Images