JP2012000916A - Image processor and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor that produces image data which allows an image printing section for printing an image of image data to reduce an amount of toner consumed in the printing and makes a contour line of a font to be conspicuous.SOLUTION: This image processor is adapted to produce image data from document data including font data and a font density value. The image processor acquires outline data of the font data from a font data storage section and forms an outline of a font and a figure formed by being surrounded by the outline of the font. The image processor calculates out an outline density value and a graphic density value based on the font density value and density reduction ratio data acquired from a configuration storage section. The image processor produces outline vector image data and graphic vector image data by mapping the outline and the figure so as to produce the image data from the outline vector image data, the outline density value, the graphic vector image data and the graphic density value.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that generate image data that reduces the amount of toner consumed during printing from document data.

  The conventional image processing apparatus consumes “toner save OFF” (normal print mode) for generating image data to be printed with a normal toner amount in the image printing unit (image forming unit) and printing in the normal print mode. And “toner save ON” (toner consumption reduction mode) for generating image data to be printed with a toner amount smaller than the toner amount. As a result, the image data generated in the “normal print mode” was formed as an image by the image printing unit and printed as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the image data generated in the “toner consumption reduction mode” has an image formed by the image printing unit and is printed as shown in FIG. 14 and can be printed with a small amount of toner (Patent Document 1). .

JP 2006-251047 A

  However, since the image printing unit forms an image from the image data generated by the image processing apparatus of Patent Document 1 in the “toner consumption reduction mode” and prints the entire character with a small amount of toner, the amount of consumed toner is reduced. In such a case, there is a problem that it is difficult to read characters when printing characters with complicated shapes such as kanji with a large number of strokes or characters with a small font size.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and reduces the amount of toner consumed at the time of printing and reduces the outline of a font to an image printing unit that prints an image of image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that generate distinctive image data.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention stores font outline data in advance in an image processing apparatus that generates image data that can be formed from document data including font data and font density values. A font data storage unit, a setting storage unit for storing density reduction rate data in advance, and acquiring the outline data from the font data storage unit based on the font data, and forming a font outline from the outline data A character generation unit that obtains contour coordinate data to be formed, and internal coordinate data of a figure formed by being surrounded by the outline of the font, the font density value, and density reduction rate data obtained from the setting storage unit, The contour line density value and the figure density value are calculated from the contour coordinate data and the internal coordinates. A graphic drawing unit for mapping contour data to generate contour vector image data and graphic vector image data, the contour vector image data and the contour density value, the graphic vector image data and the graphic density value, And an image data generation unit that generates the image data.

  According to the present invention, since the outline forming the character (font) stands out, the character can be easily read even if the amount of toner consumed is small.

1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. By the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment, image data generated when the contour line attribute data is “solid line” and the graphic attribute data is “color retention” is formed and printed by the image printing unit. It is an example. 3 is a flowchart of an overall processing operation of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart of the character density change process of FIG. 5 is a flowchart of outline font density change processing of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of outline font density change processing subsequent to FIG. 5. FIG. It is a flowchart of the bitmap font density change process of FIG. It is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is an external view of the display input part which prompts selection of outline attribute data. By the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, image data generated when the contour line attribute data is “dotted line” and the graphic attribute data is “color retention” is formed and printed by the image printing unit. It is an example. It is an external view of the display input part which prompts selection of figure attribute data. By the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, image data generated when the contour line attribute data is “solid line” and the graphic attribute data is “clear” is formed and printed by the image printing unit. It is an example. This is an example of printing with a normal toner amount (density) by a conventional image processing apparatus. This is an example in which printing is performed by reducing the amount of toner consumed by a conventional image processing apparatus.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Each figure is only schematically shown so that the present invention can be fully understood. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example. Moreover, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the common component and the same component, and those overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

<< First Embodiment >>
[Configuration of image processing apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 1 that controls each component included in the image processing apparatus 10, a data reception unit 2 that is communicably connected to a document data transmission device 20, and data. A storage unit 3 for storing and an image printing unit 4 (image forming unit) for printing an image of the image data are provided.
Here, the document data transmission device 20 is a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer), and document data created by document creation software such as Microsoft Word (registered trademark) or character information such as PDF (Portable Document Format). Is transmitted to the data receiving unit 2 via a wired / wireless network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[Data receiver 2]
The data receiving unit 2 is a component that is communicably connected to the document data transmitting apparatus 20 and receives data. The data reception unit 2 is controlled by the control unit 1 (data reception control unit 11) and stores the received document data in the document data storage unit 31.

[Storage unit 3]
The storage unit 3 includes a document data storage unit 31, a character information storage unit 32, a mode storage unit 33, a font data storage unit 34, a setting storage unit 35, and an intermediate language data storage unit 36.
(Document data storage unit 31)
The document data storage unit 31 is a storage unit that stores the document data received by the data receiving unit 2.

(Character information storage unit 32)
The character information storage unit 32 is a storage unit that stores print codes, typeface data related to a typeface selection command, and character attribute data related to a character attribute command. When new data is stored, the old data is overwritten and stored, so that the latest data is always stored in the character information storage unit 32.
Here, the typeface data is, for example, Mincho L, Mincho L proportional, Gothic B, Gothic B proportional, Heisei morning, Heisei Gothic, Courier, Arial, Times New Roman, Wingdings, Century etc. Bitmap fonts include Courier10, Prestige Elite, LetterGothic15, and Bold Face PS.
The character attribute data is data such as font size, style (standard / italic / bold), density (font density value), and character decoration.

(Mode storage unit 33)
The mode storage unit 33 is a storage unit that stores either “normal printing mode” or “toner consumption reduction mode” as the “mode” executed by the image processing apparatus 10. In this “mode”, data selected and transmitted by the user using the document data transmission device 20 may be stored in the mode storage unit 33 via the data reception unit 2, or from an input unit (not shown). The data may be stored in the mode storage unit 33.
Based on the “mode” stored in the mode storage unit 33, the image processing apparatus 10 causes the image printing unit 4 (image forming unit) to print with a normal amount of toner if the “normal printing mode” is selected. Generate data. On the other hand, in the “toner consumption reduction mode”, the image processing apparatus 10 reduces the consumption by the density reduction rate (density reduction rate data) described later from the amount of toner consumed during printing in the normal printing mode. Is generated.

(Font data storage unit 34)
The font data storage unit 34 stores a print code and printer font information corresponding to the print code. In particular, bitmap data corresponding to the print code of the bitmap font and outline data corresponding to the print code of the outline font are stored.

(Setting storage unit 35)
The setting storage unit 35 stores density reduction rate data indicating a density reduction rate during printing in the “toner consumption reduction mode” in advance, for example, density reduction rate = 20%.
Further, the setting storage unit 35 stores different density reduction rates for the contour line forming the contour of the character and the portion (graphic) surrounded by the character contour line. For example, the outline density reduction rate = 25% and the graphic density reduction rate = 15% are stored in the setting storage unit 35.
The setting storage unit 35 stores contour line attribute data and graphic attribute data. In the setting storage unit 35 of the image processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, data indicating a “solid line” in which the outline forming the outline of the character is a solid line is stored as the outline attribute data. As graphic attribute data, data indicating “color retention” in which a portion (graphic) surrounded by a character outline is painted with a predetermined pattern is stored. The predetermined pattern may be a hatching pattern such as dots or diagonal lines.

(Intermediate language data storage unit 36)
The intermediate language data storage unit 36 is a storage unit that stores data described in an intermediate language by the intermediate language data generation unit 17 described later. The intermediate language data storage unit 36 stores data in which characters corresponding to all print codes included in the document data received by the data receiving unit 2 are described in the intermediate language.

[Control unit 1]
The control unit 1 includes a data reception control unit 11, a command analysis instruction unit 12 (command analysis unit), a mode determination unit 13, a character drawing unit 14, a character generation unit 15, a graphic drawing unit 16, and an intermediate language. A data generation unit 17 (image data generation unit 40) and an image data conversion unit 18 (image data generation unit 40) are provided.

(Data reception control unit 11)
The data reception control unit 11 controls the data reception unit 2 to store the document data received by the data reception unit 2 in the document data storage unit 31.
(Mode determination unit 13)
The mode determination unit 13 determines whether the “mode” stored in the mode storage unit 33 is the “normal printing mode” or the “toner consumption reduction mode”.

(Command analysis instruction unit 12)
The command analysis instruction unit 12 acquires document data from the document data storage unit 31 and extracts a command (instruction) from data described in a page description language included in the document data. And it is a control part which makes each function part with which the image processing apparatus 10 is provided perform a process according to the command.

The extracted commands include a command related to character drawing (character drawing command), a command that notifies the end of one page (page end command), a command related to image drawing, and the like. Character drawing commands are print codes, typeface selection commands, and character attribute commands.
The present embodiment is an invention of an image processing apparatus related to character drawing, and has the same configuration as a general image processing apparatus except for processing related to character drawing. For this reason, descriptions of processes other than commands related to character drawing are omitted.

Each time the command analysis instruction unit 12 extracts a character drawing command from document data, the typeface data selected by the typeface selection command included in the character drawing command is “outline font” or “bitmap font”. It is determined whether it is.
Then, the command analysis instruction unit 12 outputs the character drawing command and the font data of “outline font” or “bitmap font” to the character drawing unit 14.

(Character drawing unit 14)
The character drawing unit 14 acquires a print code from the character information storage unit 32. The character drawing unit 14 then outputs a print code to the character generation unit 15 if the typeface data is “outline font”.
The character drawing unit 14 causes the mode determination unit 13 to determine the “mode” stored in the mode storage unit 33. Then, the character drawing unit 14 acquires mode information (“normal printing mode” or “toner consumption reduction mode”) as a determination result from the mode determination unit 13. At this time, if the “mode” is the “toner consumption reduction mode”, the character drawing unit 14 acquires density reduction rate data from the setting storage unit 35.

  The character drawing unit 14 prints the print code when the font data of the print code is “bitmap font”, and when the font data of the print code is “outline font” and the “mode” is “normal print mode”. The bitmap data stored in the font data storage unit 34 corresponding to the above is acquired, and the bitmap data and the font density value are output to the intermediate language data generation unit 17.

<Calculation of font density value>
The character drawing unit 14 acquires density reduction rate data from the setting storage unit 35 and acquires character attribute data from the character information storage unit 32.
The character drawing unit 14 has a function of recalculating the font density value based on the font density value included in the character attribute data and the density reduction rate. For example, when the font density value (pixel gradation) is “255” and the density reduction rate data acquired from the setting storage unit 35 is “density reduction rate = 20%”, 255 × (1-0.2) = “204” is the recalculated font density value.

(Character generation unit 15)
The character generation unit 15 is a component that is processed only when the “mode” (mode information) stored in the mode storage unit 33 is the “toner consumption reduction mode”. This is a component that outputs to the unit 16.
The character generation unit 15 extracts a printer font stored in the font data storage unit 34 corresponding to the print code acquired from the character drawing unit 14, and uses the printer font outline data (contour line data) as the font data storage unit. 34.
Here, the character generation unit 15 acquires all coordinate data located on the outline based on the outline data (these coordinate data are used as contour coordinate data). Then, all coordinate data surrounded by the outline and not on the outline (coordinate data surrounded by the outline) is acquired (these coordinate data are used as internal coordinate data). Both the contour coordinate data and the internal coordinate data (outline coordinate data) are output to the graphic drawing unit 16.

(Graphic drawing unit 16)
The graphic drawing unit 16 is a component that is processed only when the “mode” (mode information) stored in the mode storage unit 33 is the “toner consumption reduction mode”. It is a component that calculates values and generates contour vector image data and graphic vector image data. Then, the graphic drawing unit 16 outputs the contour line vector image data and the contour line density value, and the graphic vector image data and the graphic density value to the intermediate language data generation unit 17.

<Calculation of contour line density value and figure density value>
The graphic drawing unit 16 acquires density reduction rate data from the setting storage unit 35 and acquires character attribute data from the character information storage unit 32.
The graphic drawing unit 16 has a function of recalculating the font density value based on the font density value included in the character attribute data and the density reduction rate, similarly to the character drawing unit 14. Then, the font value is set as a contour line density value and a figure density value (a density value of a figure surrounded by the contour line). For example, when the font density value (pixel gradation) is “255”, the density reduction rate data acquired from the setting storage unit 35 is “contour line density reduction rate = 10%, figure density reduction rate = 30%”. For example, 255 × (1-0.1) = “230” is the contour density value, and 255 × (1-0.3) = “179” is the graphic density value.

<Generation of contour vector image data and figure vector image data>
Further, the graphic drawing unit 16 acquires outline coordinate data (contour coordinate data and internal coordinate data) from the character generation unit 15 and performs mapping.
The graphic drawing unit 16 acquires contour line attribute data and graphic attribute data from the setting storage unit 35. Then, the graphic drawing unit 16 generates a vector image combining vector graphics such as circles and polygons from the outline. As a result, a vector image (contour line vector image data) of the figure forming the outline and a vector image (graphic vector image data) of the figure surrounded by the outline are generated.

(Intermediate language data generation unit 17)
The intermediate language data generation unit 17 (image data generation unit 40) acquires the contour line vector image data and the contour line density value, the graphic vector image data and the graphic density value from the graphic drawing unit 16, and the image data conversion unit 18 Is described in an intermediate language that can be interpreted and stored in the intermediate language data storage unit 36. Since the function of the intermediate language data generation unit 17 is general, a description thereof will be omitted.
The intermediate language data generation unit 17 describes characters (for one character) corresponding to the print code in the intermediate language and stores them in the intermediate language data storage unit 36.

(Image data converter 18)
The image data conversion unit 18 (image data generation unit 40) obtains data described in the intermediate language by the intermediate language data generation unit 17 from the intermediate language data storage unit 36, and converts the vector image into raster data. The image printing unit 4 generates image data that can be printed and outputs the image data to the image printing unit 4.
(Image printing unit 4)
The image printing unit 4 prints an image of the acquired image data on a medium such as paper.

  In the “toner consumption reduction mode”, the image processing apparatus 10 having the above configuration generates image data that reduces the consumption amount by the density reduction rate data from the toner amount that the image printing unit 4 consumes at the time of printing in the normal print mode. To do. Further, the image processing apparatus 10 generates image data in which the font is an outline that forms the outline of the character and a part (graphic) surrounded by the outline of the character. Image data in which lines are emphasized can be generated.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 10 generates image data in which the density at the time of printing the outline forming the outline of the font (character) is different from the density at the time of printing the portion (figure) surrounded by the outline of the character. Can be generated. At this time, by setting the contour line density reduction rate to a value equal to or less than the graphic density reduction rate, the image processing apparatus 10 makes the contour line stand out more while reducing the amount of toner consumed by the image printing unit 4 during printing. Image data can be generated.

  Furthermore, the image processing apparatus 10 uses a solid line as the outline that forms the outline of the character based on the outline attribute data “solid line” and the graphic attribute data “color retention” stored in the setting storage unit 35. Image data that fills a portion (figure) surrounded by the outline with a predetermined pattern can be generated, and the image printing unit 4 prints characters as shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus 10 can generate image data with more emphasized outlines while reducing the amount of toner consumed by the image printing unit 4 during printing.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus including the image printing unit 4 in the image processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment can perform printing with the outlines conspicuous while reducing the amount of toner consumed during printing. it can.

[Overall processing operation of image processing apparatus]
Next, the overall processing operation of the image processing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 (refer to FIG. 1 as appropriate).
In the image processing apparatus 10, the data receiving unit 2 receives the data transmitted from the document data transmitting apparatus 20 (step S101). The data reception control unit 11 temporarily stores the document data received by the data reception unit 2 in the document data storage unit 31 (step S102).
The command analysis instruction unit 12 acquires document data from the document data storage unit 31 and performs data analysis (step S103). Commands are extracted by this data analysis. Then, the extracted command is determined (step S104). Based on this determination, the command analysis instructing unit 12 is divided into three commands: a character drawing command (character drawing command), a command for transmitting the end of one page (page end command), and other commands (other commands).

The processing when the determination result in step S104 is “page end command” (step S104, page end command) will be described later.
On the other hand, if it is “other command” (step S104, other command), the command analysis instruction unit 12 instructs a function unit (not shown) included in the image processing apparatus 10 according to the instruction content of the command. Then, the function unit is caused to execute a process according to the instruction content of the command (step S105).
Then, the command analysis instruction unit 12 extracts the next command from the document data analyzed in step S103 (step S106), and performs the process of step S104.

If it is a “character drawing command” (step S104, character drawing command), it is further determined whether or not the command is a print code (step S107).
Here, when it is other than the print code (step S107, No), that is, when the character drawing command is a typeface selection command or a character attribute command, the data of the character drawing command such as the typeface data or character attribute data is used as the character. Once stored in the information storage unit 32 (step S108).
Then, the process of step S106 is performed, and the command analysis instruction unit 12 extracts the next command.

On the other hand, when the character drawing command is a print code (step S107, Yes), the command analysis instruction unit 12 temporarily stores the print code in the character information storage unit 32 (step S109) and performs a character density change process (step S109). Step S110).
By the character density changing process, characters (one character) corresponding to the print code are described in an intermediate language and stored in the intermediate language data storage unit 36.
Then, the process of step S106 is performed, and the command analysis instruction unit 12 extracts the next command.

  Thereafter, when the determination result in step S104 is “page end command” (step S104, page end command), the image data conversion unit 18 instructed by the command analysis instruction unit 12 reads from the intermediate language data storage unit 36. The intermediate language data generation unit 17 acquires data described in the intermediate language, generates image data in a format that can be printed by the image printing unit 4, and outputs the image data to the image printing unit 4 (step S111). Then, the image printing unit 4 prints an image of the image data, and the image processing apparatus 10 ends the processing.

[Character density change processing]
Next, the character density changing process (S110, FIG. 3) will be described with reference to FIG. 4 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 3 as appropriate).
First, the command analysis instruction unit 12 acquires typeface data from the character information storage unit 32 (step S201), and determines the typeface data of the print data (step S202).
If the typeface data is “outline font” (step S202, outline font), outline font density change processing is executed (step S203). On the other hand, if the typeface data is “bitmap font” (step S202, bitmap font), bitmap font density change processing is executed (step S204).
Then, when the outline font density changing process ends or the bitmap font density changing process ends, the image processing apparatus 10 ends the character density changing process (S110, FIG. 3).

[Outline font density change processing]
Next, the outline font density changing process (S203, FIG. 4) will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 4 as appropriate).
First, the character drawing unit 14 acquires a print code from the character information storage unit 32 (step S301). Next, the character drawing unit 14 causes the mode determination unit 13 to determine the mode.

The mode determination unit 13 acquires “mode” from the mode storage unit 33, and determines whether or not it is “toner consumption reduction mode” (step S302).
If it is not “toner consumption reduction mode” but “normal printing mode” (No in step S302), the mode determination unit 13 outputs mode information “normal printing mode” to the character drawing unit 14 (step S303). The character drawing unit 14 acquires bitmap data stored in the font data storage unit 34 corresponding to the acquired print code (step S304). The character drawing unit 14 acquires character attribute data from the character information storage unit 32 (step S305), and acquires a font density value included in the character attribute data (step S306). Thereafter, the processing after S410 (FIG. 7) of the bitmap font density changing process (step S203, FIG. 4) described later is executed.

  On the other hand, if it is the “toner consumption reduction mode” (step S302, Yes), the mode determination unit 13 outputs the mode information “toner consumption reduction mode” to the character drawing unit 14 (step S307). Then, the character drawing unit 14 outputs the print code to the character generation unit 15 (step S308).

The character generation unit 15 extracts a printer font stored in the font data storage unit 34 corresponding to the print code acquired from the character drawing unit 14, and uses the printer font outline data (contour line data) as the font data storage unit. 34 (step S309).
Then, the character generation unit 15 acquires contour coordinate data and internal coordinate data based on the outline data (step S310), and outputs the acquired data to the graphic drawing unit 16.

  The graphic drawing unit 16 acquires the density reduction rate data from the setting storage unit 35 and acquires the character attribute from the character information storage unit 32 in response to the acquisition of both the contour coordinate data and the internal coordinate data from the character generation unit 15. Data is acquired (step S311, FIG. 6).

The graphic drawing unit 16 recalculates the font density value based on the font density value included in the character attribute data and the density reduction rate, and uses the value as the outline density value and the figure density value (enclosed by the outline). Density value) (step S312). Next, the graphic drawing unit 16 acquires contour line attribute data and graphic attribute data from the setting storage unit 35 (step S313). Then, the graphic drawing unit 16 maps the contour coordinate data and the internal coordinate data to generate vector image data (contour line vector image data and graphic vector image data) (step S314).
Finally, the graphic drawing unit 16 outputs the contour line vector image data and the contour line density value, and the graphic vector image data and the graphic density value to the intermediate language data generation unit 17 (step S315).

  The intermediate language data generation unit 17 acquires the contour line vector image data and the contour line density value, the graphic vector image data and the graphic density value from the graphic drawing unit 16, and is an intermediate language that can be interpreted by the image data conversion unit 18. This is described (step S316) and stored in the intermediate language data storage unit 36 (step S317). As a result, the characters (one character) corresponding to the print code are described in the intermediate language and stored in the intermediate language data storage unit 36. Then, the image processing apparatus 10 ends the outline font density changing process (S203, FIG. 5).

[Bitmap font density change processing]
Next, the bitmap font density changing process (S204, FIG. 4) will be described with reference to FIG. Since this bitmap font density changing process is a commonly performed process, it will be briefly described (see FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6 as appropriate).
First, the character drawing unit 14 acquires a print code from the character information storage unit 32 (step S401). Then, the character drawing unit 14 acquires bitmap data stored in the font data storage unit 34 corresponding to the acquired print code (step S402).
Next, the character drawing unit 14 causes the mode determination unit 13 to determine the mode.

The mode determination unit 13 acquires “mode” from the mode storage unit 33, and determines whether or not it is “toner consumption reduction mode” (step S403).
If it is “normal printing mode” (No in step S403), the mode determination unit 13 outputs mode information “normal printing mode” to the character drawing unit 14 (step S404). Then, the character drawing unit 14 acquires the character attribute data from the character information storage unit 32 (step S405), and acquires the font density value included in the character attribute data (step S406). And the process of step S410 mentioned later is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is the “toner consumption reduction mode” (step S403, Yes), the mode determination unit 13 outputs the mode information “toner consumption reduction mode” to the character drawing unit 14 (step S407). The character drawing unit 14 acquires density reduction rate data from the setting storage unit 35 and acquires character attribute data from the character information storage unit 32 (step S408). The character drawing unit 14 recalculates the font density value based on the font density value included in the character attribute data and the density reduction rate (step S409).

Finally, the character drawing unit 14 outputs the bitmap data and the font density value to the intermediate language data generation unit 17 (step S410).
The intermediate language data generation unit 17 acquires the bitmap data and the font density value from the character drawing unit 14, describes them in an intermediate language that can be interpreted by the image data conversion unit 18 (step S411), and the intermediate language data storage unit 36. (Step S412). As a result, the characters (one character) corresponding to the print code are described in the intermediate language and stored in the intermediate language data storage unit 36. Then, the image processing apparatus 10 ends the bitmap font density changing process (S204, FIG. 4).

<< Second Embodiment >>
[Configuration of image processing apparatus]
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the image processing apparatus 110 according to the second embodiment includes components included in the image processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, a display input unit 6, a drawing setting control unit 19, and the like. It has.

(Display input unit 6)
The display input unit 6 is a display input unit 6 that is controlled by the control unit 1 to display data stored in the storage unit 3 and can be operated by a user to input data.
As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, the display input unit 6 is an operator panel including a display unit 61 and an operation unit 62. Here, the display unit 61 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and the operation unit 62 is, for example, a button. By operating the operation unit 62, the “*” mark displayed on the display unit 61 is moved to select a desired item. To do.

(Drawing setting control unit 19)
The drawing setting control unit 19 acquires screen data from the screen data storage unit, displays the screen data on the display unit 61, and the user operates the operation unit 62 to acquire input data and stores it in the setting storage unit 35. It is a control part to make.

  The drawing setting control unit 19 obtains screen data from the screen data storage unit, and, as shown in FIG. 9, the display unit 61 uses a “solid line” or a dotted line as a solid line that forms a contour of a character. Information prompting to select one of “dotted lines” is displayed. Then, the contour attribute data (“solid line” or “dotted line”) input by the user via the operation unit 62 is stored in the setting storage unit 35.

  Further, the drawing setting control unit 19 acquires screen data from the screen data storage unit, and paints a portion (graphic figure) surrounded by the outline of the character with a predetermined color on the display unit 61 as shown in FIG. Information that prompts the user to select “color retention” to be crushed or “outlined” in which the enclosed portion is not filled, that is, the character is outlined is displayed. Then, the graphic attribute data (“color retention” or “hollow out”) input by the user via the operation unit 62 is stored in the setting storage unit 35.

The image processing apparatus 110 according to the second embodiment having the configuration stores “solid line” or “dotted” outline attribute data and “color retention” or “outline” graphic attribute data in the setting storage unit 35. Can be made. Therefore, the graphic drawing unit 16 acquires the contour line attribute data and the graphic attribute data from the setting storage unit 35, and generates vector image data (contour line vector image data and graphic vector image data) (step in FIG. 6). S313 to S314).
Accordingly, the image processing apparatus 110 generates image data in which the consumption amount is reduced by the density reduction rate (density reduction rate data) from the amount of toner consumed during printing in the normal printing mode in the “toner consumption reduction mode”. To do. Further, image data is generated based on the contour line attribute data and the graphic attribute data stored in the setting storage unit 35.

For example, if the outline attribute data stored in the setting storage unit 35 is “dotted line” and the graphic attribute data is “color retention”, the outline forming the outline of the character is set as a dotted line and surrounded by the outline of the character. It is possible to generate image data in which the portion (figure) is filled with a predetermined color. Thereby, the image printing unit 4 prints characters as shown in FIG.
Further, for example, if the outline attribute data stored in the setting storage unit 35 is “solid line” and the graphic attribute data is “empty”, the outline that forms the outline of the character is shown as a solid line as shown in FIG. Thus, image data with white characters can be generated. Thereby, the image printing unit 4 prints characters as shown in FIG.
The image forming apparatus including the image printing unit 4 in the image processing apparatus 110 according to the second embodiment performs printing with reduced toner consumption more than the image processing apparatus 10 (image forming apparatus) according to the first embodiment. can do.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications.
For example, the image processing apparatus 110 according to the second embodiment displays to select the line type of the outline that forms the outline of the character, and to select the pattern of the portion (graphic figure) surrounded by the outline of the character. Although the input unit 6 is provided, the user operates the computer using the computer (document data transmission device 20) connected to the data receiving unit 2 via the network, and the line type of the outline and the pattern of the figure May be selected. The drawing setting control unit 19 may acquire the data input from the data receiving unit 2 that has received “input data” transmitted from the computer via the data reception control unit 11 and store it in the setting storage unit 35.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Data receiving part 3 Memory | storage part 4 Image printing part 10 Image processing apparatus 11 Data reception control part 12 Command analysis instruction | indication part 13 Mode determination part 14 Character drawing part 15 Character generation part 16 Graphic drawing part 17 Intermediate language data generation part (Image data generator)
18 Image data converter (image data generator)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Document data transmission device 31 Document data storage part 32 Character information storage part 33 Mode storage part 34 Font data storage part 35 Setting storage part 36 Intermediate language data storage part 40 Image data generation part

Claims (8)

An image processing apparatus that generates image data capable of image formation from document data including font data and font density values,
A font data storage unit for storing font outline data in advance;
A setting storage unit for storing density reduction rate data in advance;
Based on the font data, the outline data is acquired from the font data storage unit, and from the outline data, outline coordinate data forming the outline of the font, and a figure surrounded by the outline of the font A character generator for acquiring internal coordinate data;
A contour line density value and a graphic density value are calculated from the font density value and the density reduction rate data acquired from the setting storage unit, and the contour coordinate data and the internal coordinate data are mapped, A figure drawing unit for generating line vector image data and figure vector image data;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an image data generation unit configured to generate the image data from the outline vector image data and the outline density value, and the graphic vector image data and the graphic density value. The setting storage unit stores in advance contour density reduction rate data and figure density reduction rate data as the density reduction rate data,
The graphic drawing unit calculates the outline density value from the font density value and the outline density reduction rate data, and calculates the graphic density value from the font density value and the graphic density reduction rate data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. A mode storage unit that stores either “normal printing mode” or “toner consumption reduction mode” as mode information;
A mode determination unit for determining mode information stored in the mode storage unit;
When the determination result of the mode determination unit is “toner consumption reduction mode”, the character generation unit performs processing, while when the determination result of the mode determination unit is “normal printing mode”, the font The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a character drawing unit that causes the image data generation unit to generate the image data with a density value. The setting storage unit stores in advance contour attribute data indicating a line type of the contour and graphic attribute data indicating a pattern for painting the graphic,
The graphic drawing unit acquires the contour line attribute data and the graphic attribute data from the setting storage unit, and reflects them when generating the contour line vector image data and the graphic vector image data. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The font data storage unit stores the font bitmap data together with the font outline data in advance,
When the mode information determined by the mode determination unit is “normal printing mode”, the character drawing unit acquires bitmap data from the font data storage unit based on the font data, and further, the font data Get the density value,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image data generation unit generates the image data from the bitmap data and the font density value. A display input unit that allows the user to select the line type of the contour line and whether or not to fill the figure formed by the contour line;
A drawing setting control unit for storing, in the setting storage unit, contour attribute data indicating a line type of the contour line and graphic attribute data indicating whether or not the graphic is filled, selected by a display input unit; The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:   The document data is described in a page description language, and further includes a command analysis unit that extracts font data and a font density value by analyzing the page description language. The image processing apparatus described in any one of the above. An image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image using the image data generated by the image data generating unit.

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