JP2012228882A - Printing control device, printing control method, printing control program, printer and digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable individual printing by a simple operation in the case that an initial value is not set to the printing copy number, or 0 is set as the printing copy number to prevent the printing copy number from being set to unnecessary digital images upon batch printing.SOLUTION: The printing control device has a printing copy number setting unit which sequentially displays the identification information of digital images, receives the setting of the printing copy number individually for each digital image, and avoids the setting of an initial value of the printing copy number or sets 0 as the initial value of the printing copy number; and a printing indicating unit which receives the indication of printing in a state that the identification information of any of the digital images is displayed. When there is one or more digital images for which 1 or larger is set as the printing copy number, a printing unit prints the digital images at once by the respective set printing copy numbers. When the printing copy number of 1 or larger is not set for any of the digital images, the printing unit prints digital images corresponding to the identification information currently displayed by the printing copy number setting unit by a predetermined printing copy number.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, a print control program, a printer, and a digital camera.

  There is known a so-called stand-alone printer that does not require control by a personal computer or the like and can read a digital image from a removable memory and print it alone. In a stand-alone printer, digital images stored in a removable memory are sequentially displayed on a display unit included in the stand-alone printer, and the setting of the number of prints is individually received for each digital image. When printing is instructed, the number of prints is set. Batch printing is known in which digital images are printed in batches for each set number of print copies.

  In the case of batch printing described above, it is inconvenient if an initial value of 1 or more is set for the number of copies of a digital image. This is because the initial value is set even for an image that the user does not want to print, and the user must perform an operation to reset the number of copies of the digital image that the user does not want to print to zero.

  However, when displaying the digital images in order, the user may want to print only the displayed digital image. In this case, if an initial value is not set for the number of copies to be printed, the user must perform an operation for setting the number of copies even when only the digital image being displayed is to be printed. Therefore, the operation in the case of individual printing in which only the digital image being displayed is individually printed is complicated.

  The present invention has been created in view of the above-described problems, and an initial value is not set for the number of copies or 0 is set for the initial value so that the number of copies is not set for useless digital images during batch printing. In such a case, an object is to provide a print control apparatus, a print control method, a print control program, a printer, and a digital camera capable of performing individual printing with a simple operation.

(1) A printing control apparatus for achieving the above object is a printing number setting unit that sequentially displays identification information of a digital image and accepts setting of the number of copies for each digital image, and an initial value of the number of printing copies. The print copy number setting unit that accepts the setting of the number of copies by setting zero to the initial value of the number of copies to be printed, and the identification information of one of the digital images is displayed on the print number setting unit A print instruction unit that accepts a print instruction in a state, and when the print instruction unit accepts a print instruction, if there is one or more digital images in which the number of prints is set to 1 or more, the number of print copies is 1 or more A digital image for which is set is printed on the printing unit in batches for each set number of prints. If one or more, number of copies is not set and a print control unit for a predetermined number of copies printed in the printing unit the digital image corresponding to the identification information that is currently displayed in the number of copies setting unit.
According to the present invention, since an initial value is not set or set to zero for the number of copies to be printed, an initial value of 1 or more is set for the number of copies of a digital image that is not desired to be printed when setting the number of copies for a batch-printed digital image. It can be prevented from being set. Further, when a predetermined number of digital images corresponding to the currently displayed identification information are individually printed, by instructing printing without setting one or more print copies to any of the digital images, A predetermined number of digital images corresponding to the displayed identification information can be individually printed. That is, according to the present invention, the user can omit the operation of setting the number of copies when individually printing digital images. Therefore, according to the present invention, individual printing can be performed with a simple operation when the initial value is not set or the initial value is set to 0 so that the number of print copies is not set for useless digital images during batch printing. .

(2) The print number setting unit displays the number of print copies set in the digital image corresponding to the identification information together with the identification information, and displays zero as the number of print copies for a digital image in which the number of print copies is not set. May be.
When the set number of prints is displayed, the user can easily confirm the set number of prints. Further, by displaying zero as the number of copies for a digital image in which the number of prints is not set, the user can easily grasp that the number of prints is not set in the displayed digital image.

(3) The print number setting unit may sequentially display the identification information of the digital image stored in a predetermined storage medium.
According to the present invention, it is possible to perform batch printing by individually setting the number of copies to be printed on a digital image recorded in a predetermined storage medium set in advance or selected by a user.

  (4) The predetermined storage medium may be a removable memory.

(5) The printing copy number setting unit has means for selecting a batch setting mode for batch setting the same printing copies for all digital images stored in the predetermined storage medium, and the batch setting mode is selected. The same number of copies may be set for all the digital images stored in the predetermined storage area.
When the batch setting mode is selected, the user can collectively set the same number of copies for all digital images, so that it is possible to reduce the user's trouble when printing all the digital images by the same number of copies.

(6) The identification information may be a reduced image of a digital image.
If a reduced image is displayed as identification information, the contents of the digital image can be grasped more easily.

(7) A printer for achieving the above object includes a printing unit and the printing control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 for causing the printing unit to print a digital image.
According to the present invention, individual printing can be performed with a simple operation when an initial value is not set for the number of print copies or 0 is set for the initial value so that the number of print copies is not set for useless digital images during batch printing.

(8) The digital camera for achieving the above object is characterized in that an imaging means for imaging a subject to generate a digital image, and causing the printing unit to print the digital image. A printing control apparatus.
According to the present invention, individual printing can be performed with a simple operation when an initial value is not set for the number of print copies or 0 is set for the initial value so that the number of print copies is not set for useless digital images during batch printing.

(9) In the printing control method for achieving the above object, a printing number setting unit that sequentially displays identification information of a digital image and accepts setting of the number of copies individually for each digital image sets an initial value of the number of copies. Without accepting or setting the initial value of the number of copies to zero and accepting the setting of the number of copies to be printed, and the print instruction unit is displaying the identification information of any digital image in the number of copies setting unit Receiving a print instruction in a state, and when the print control unit receives a print instruction in the print instruction unit, if there is one or more digital images in which the number of prints is set to 1 or more, the printing is performed. The digital image in which the number of copies is set to 1 or more is printed on the printing unit in batches for each set number of copies, If Ijitaru to image one or more print copies is not set including a step of a predetermined number of copies printed digital image corresponding to the identification information that is currently displayed in the printing unit by the number of copies setting unit.
According to the present invention, individual printing can be performed with a simple operation when an initial value is not set for the number of print copies or 0 is set for the initial value so that the number of print copies is not set for useless digital images during batch printing.

(10) A print control program for achieving the above object is a print number setting unit that sequentially displays identification information of a digital image and accepts setting of the number of prints for each digital image, and an initial value of the number of print copies The print copy number setting unit that accepts the setting of the number of copies by setting zero to the initial value of the number of copies to be printed, and the identification information of one of the digital images is displayed on the print number setting unit A print instruction unit that accepts a print instruction in a state, and when a print instruction is accepted by the print instruction unit, if there is one or more digital images in which one or more print copies are set, the number of print copies is 1 The above-mentioned digital images set as above are collectively printed on the printing unit for each set number of print copies. If the digital image is not set with one or more copies, the computer is used as a print control unit for causing the print unit to print a predetermined number of copies of the digital image corresponding to the identification information currently displayed by the print number setting unit. Make it work.
According to the present invention, individual printing can be performed with a simple operation when an initial value is not set for the number of print copies or 0 is set for the initial value so that the number of print copies is not set for useless digital images during batch printing.

  The functions of the plurality of units provided in the present invention are realized by hardware resources whose functions are specified by the configuration itself, hardware resources whose functions are specified by a program, or a combination thereof. Further, the functions of the plurality of units are not limited to those realized by hardware resources that are physically independent of each other.

(A) And (B) is a schematic diagram of the collective printing which concerns on one Example of this invention, (C) is a schematic diagram of the individual printing which concerns on one Example of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a print control program according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which concerns on one Example of this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a removable memory according to an embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram of the table which concerns on one Example of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a print number setting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the multifunction machine 10 as a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the multifunction machine 10. The multi-function device 10 generates a digital image by reading a manuscript and a print control device including a display unit 57, an operation unit 50, a [start] button 56, and a control unit 65, and the generated digital image is removed from the removable memory 11 or not shown. It has a scan unit 20 for outputting to a PC (Personal Computer) and a printing unit 30 for printing a digital image input from the removable memory 11 or the PC.

  The scan unit 20 is mainly accommodated in the upper case 21, and includes an illumination unit 22, an image sensor 23, an AFE (Analog Front End) unit 24, a sensor driving unit 25, a sensor carriage driving unit 26, and the like. The illumination unit 22 is configured with a fluorescent tube lamp or the like that is long in the main scanning direction. The image sensor 23 driven by the sensor driving unit 25 is a linear image sensor such as a color CCD linear image sensor having a RGB three-channel photoelectric element group. The image sensor 23 is mounted on a sensor carriage (not shown) that moves in parallel with the transparent document table 27. The image sensor 23 outputs an electrical signal that correlates with the density of the optical image of the original image formed on the light receiving surface by a lens and a mirror (not shown). The sensor carriage drive unit 26 includes a motor, a drive belt, a drive circuit, and the like (not shown). The sensor carriage drive unit 26 reciprocates the sensor carriage along a guide rod (not shown) installed perpendicular to the main scanning direction. A two-dimensional image can be read by the image sensor 23 moving in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The AFE unit 24 includes an analog signal processing circuit such as amplification and noise removal, an A / D converter, and the like.

  The printing unit 30 is mainly accommodated in the lower case 31, and includes a print head 32 for forming an image on a sheet by an inkjet method, a head carriage driving unit 33, a paper feeding unit 34, a printing unit control unit 35 for controlling them, and the like. Is provided. The printing unit 30 may be configured to support other printing methods such as a laser method. The print head 32 is provided on a head carriage (not shown) on which an ink cartridge is mounted, and includes a nozzle, a piezo element, a piezo drive circuit that outputs a drive signal applied to the piezo element, and the like. The piezo drive circuit applies a drive signal having a predetermined waveform to the piezo element in accordance with a control signal output from the printing unit control unit 35. The head carriage drive unit 33 includes a motor, a drive belt, a motor drive circuit, and the like (not shown). The head carriage drive unit 33 reciprocates the print head 32 in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. The paper feeding unit 34 includes a paper conveyance roller, a motor, a motor drive circuit, and the like (not shown). The paper feed unit 34 conveys the paper in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction axis of the print head 32 by rotating the paper carry roller. The print unit controller 35 has a buffer memory to which print data is sequentially transferred from the RAM 66, a function for controlling the timing of outputting the print data stored in the buffer memory to the print head 32 according to the position of the head carriage, The ASIC includes a function for controlling the carriage driving unit 33 and a function for controlling the paper feeding unit 34.

  The external memory controller 41 is connected to the removable memory 11 inserted from the card slot 42. Data stored in the removable memory 11 is read by the external memory controller 41 and transferred to the RAM 66. The removable memory 11 is a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory that retains stored contents even when power is not supplied.

The display unit 57 as a print number setting unit includes an LCD 51 that can display a digital image, a graphic controller (not shown) that controls the LCD 51, and the like. The display unit 57 is controlled by the control unit 65 and displays a digital image and various menus on the LCD 51.
As shown in FIG. 8, the operation unit 50 as a print number setting unit includes a left button 52, a right button 53, an up button 54, a down button 55, an [OK] button 71, a [print setting] button 72, and a [back] button. Various push buttons such as 73 are provided. The left button 52 and the right button 53 are buttons for the user to select a digital image. The upper button 54 and the lower button 55 are buttons for the user to set the number of copies to be displayed on the displayed digital image. The operation unit 50 may be configured with a touch panel, a pointing device, or the like. The operation unit 50 also includes a mode selection button (not shown) for selecting an individual setting mode or a batch setting mode. The individual setting mode is a mode in which setting of the number of print copies is individually received for each digital image, and digital images in which the number of print copies is set are collectively printed for each set number of print copies. The batch setting mode is a mode in which the same number of copies is collectively set for all digital images, and all the digital images are printed in batches for the set number of print copies.

[Start] button 56 (see FIG. 8) as a print instruction unit is a button for the user to instruct printing.
The communication unit 60 shown in FIG. 3 is a communication interface for the control unit 65 to communicate with an external system such as a PC. The communication unit 60 communicates with an external system through a LAN, the Internet, a USB, or the like.

  The control unit 65 includes a RAM 66, a flash memory 67, and a CPU 68. The CPU 68 executes a control program stored in the flash memory 67 to control each part of the multifunction machine 10. The control unit 65 functions as a print number setting unit and a print control unit by executing a print control program stored in the flash memory 67. The flash memory 67 is a non-volatile memory that stores a print control program and the like. The RAM 66 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores various data such as a print control program, the number of copies set for each digital image, and the digital image generated by the scan unit 20. The print control program may be stored in the flash memory 67 via a network from a remote server, or may be stored in the flash memory 67 via a computer-readable recording medium such as the removable memory 11.

  The digital image processing unit 69 is dedicated to a DSP or the like that executes image processing such as JPEG format digital image decoding, resolution conversion, unsharp processing, gradation correction, binarization, and color separation processing in cooperation with the CPU 68. Circuit.

Next, the print control program will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a logical configuration of the print control program. The print number setting module 81 is a module that causes the control unit 65 to function as a print number setting unit. The print control module 82 is a module that causes the control unit 65 to function as a print control unit.

Next, the operation of the control unit 65 that executes the print control program will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the control unit 65 when the individual setting mode is selected. This process is started when the user operates the operation unit 50 to select the individual setting mode.
In S <b> 105, the control unit 65 searches the removable memory 11 and obtains all digital image paths stored in the removable memory 11 in a predetermined file format. In this embodiment, a removable memory will be described as an example of the “predetermined storage medium” described in the claims. For example, the “predetermined storage medium” may be an internal hard disk or a network-connected server. It may be a hard disk. The “predetermined storage medium” may be set in advance or may be selected by the user. Further, the control unit 65 may acquire only the paths of all digital images stored in a specific directory of the storage medium. In this case, the specific directory of the storage medium corresponds to the “predetermined storage medium” recited in the claims.
Specifically, the control unit 65 acquires the path of a file having an extension “.jpg” or “.exif”, for example. Next, the control unit 65 generates a table (see FIG. 7) for associating the acquired path with the number of copies to be printed in the RAM 66. Here, a case where the number of copies of each digital image is managed using a table will be described as an example, but how the control unit 65 manages the number of copies of each digital image internally can be selected as appropriate. It is a design matter.

  6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of data stored in the removable memory 11, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a table generated by acquiring a path from the removable memory 11 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a table immediately after generation, and the control unit 65 sets all 0 (zero) as the initial value of the number of copies as shown in the figure. If 1 is set as the initial value, 1 is set as the initial value even for digital images that are not desired to be printed. In this case, the user has to reset the number of copies of the digital image that the user does not want to print to 0, so that the operation becomes complicated if the number of digital images is large. In the case of individually printing digital images, the number of copies of all other digital images must be reset to 0, which makes operation particularly complicated. Therefore, in this embodiment, the initial value is set to 0 in consideration that the user individually prints digital images.

  In this embodiment, a case where 0 is set as an initial value in the table when a path is acquired from the removable memory will be described as an example, but the timing for setting 0 is not limited to this. For example, 0 may be set immediately before display. Also, 0 may not be set in the table immediately before the display, but 0 may be displayed only on the LCD 51 (see FIG. 8), and when the number of print copies is set to 1 or more, the number of print copies may be stored in the table. . In this case, 0 is not stored in the table at any stage. In this embodiment, unless the user performs an operation to intentionally change the number of copies, the state where the number of copies is applied is referred to as a state where the number of copies is set. It means to be in that state. For example, as described above, the state where the number of print copies is displayed on the LCD 51 is a state in which the number of print copies is applied unless the user intentionally changes the print number, so even if the number of print copies is not stored in the table, the number of print copies is It can be said that it is in a set state. Further, here, the case where 0 is set as an initial value will be described as an example, but if nothing is set, it can be considered that 0 is set, so that nothing is set as the initial value. Good.

  In S110, the control unit 65 executes the print number setting module 81 and accepts setting of the number of prints of the digital image. Specifically, the control unit 65 accepts the selection by sequentially displaying the reduced images of the digital images one by one on the LCD 51 according to the operation of the operation unit 50 by the user, and determines the number of print copies of the selected digital image. Accept settings. In the case of an LCD that can display a plurality of reduced images at the same time, such as nine-screen display, the images may be displayed in order for a plurality of images, such as for nine images. Hereinafter, an operation for setting the number of copies by the user will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the LCD 51, the operation unit 50, and the [Start] button 56. The control unit 65 sequentially selects one path from the table, and displays a reduced image of the digital image specified by the selected path on the LCD 51 as illustrated. The reduced image may be a display image generated from a digital image in accordance with the display resolution of the LCD 51. If a digital image is stored in a file format capable of storing a thumbnail image such as an EXIF file, the reduced image is stored in the file. It may be a thumbnail image. When the reduced image of the digital image is displayed, the user can select the digital image while confirming the contents of the digital image to be printed. Further, when displaying one image at a time on the LCD 51, it is possible to display a larger digital image than when a plurality of images are displayed. Therefore, it is easy to confirm the digital image even if the display area of the LCD 51 is narrow. The reduced image corresponds to “identification information” recited in the claims. The identification information may be any information as long as it can uniquely identify the digital image. For example, the identification information may be a file name, a path, or a frame number of the digital image.

  Further, as shown in the figure, the control unit 65 displays the number of copies associated with the selected path on the upper right of the LCD 51. In the case of a digital image in which 0 is set for the number of copies or nothing is set for the number of copies, 0 is displayed. When 0 is displayed, the user can easily grasp that the number of copies is not set in the digital image being displayed. If the number of print copies is 0, “-” or the like may be displayed instead, or nothing may be displayed. This is because if nothing is displayed, it is understood that the number of print copies is zero. Further, as shown in the figure, the control unit 65 displays a number indicating the number of digital images stored in the removable memory 11 at the lower right of the LCD 51, and the frame number of the digital image currently displayed. The frame number to be displayed is displayed. For example, “1/10” in the illustrated example indicates that the total number of digital images stored in the removable memory 11 is 10, and the first frame digital image is being displayed.

  A digital image is selected by pressing the left button 52 and the right button 53. When the left button 52 is pressed once, the control unit 65 displays a reduced image of the digital image immediately before the digital image corresponding to the currently displayed reduced image on the LCD 51. Similarly, when the right button 53 is pressed once, the control unit 65 displays a reduced image of the next digital image on the LCD 51.

  The number of copies to be printed is set by pressing the upper button 54 and the lower button 55 while a reduced image of the target digital image is displayed on the LCD 51. When the upper button 54 is pressed once, the control unit 65 adds 1 to the number of print copies being displayed, displays the number of print copies after adding 1 on the LCD 51, and displays the digital image corresponding to the reduced image. The number of print copies associated with the pass and stored in the table is updated with the number of print copies after adding 1. The timing for updating the table may be the timing at which the left button 52 or the right button 53 is pressed. Similarly, when the down button 55 is pressed once, the control unit 65 subtracts 1 from the displayed number of printed copies, displays the number of printed copies after subtracting 1 on the LCD 51, and the number of printed copies stored in the table. Is updated with the number of copies after subtracting one.

  When the number of copies is one, instead of displaying 1 as the number of copies on the LCD 51, a check mark having an arbitrary shape such as “R” may be displayed. This is because the user can know that the set number of print copies is 1 by displaying the check mark.

The user sets the desired number of copies to the desired digital image by pressing the above-described left, right, up and down buttons, and presses the [Start] button 56 to instruct batch printing.
In S115, when the [Start] button 56 is pressed, the control unit 65 executes the print control module 82, and the digital copy number including the digital image corresponding to the currently displayed reduced image is set to 1 or more. It is determined whether there is an image. The control unit 65 proceeds to S120 if there is a digital image in which the number of copies is set to 1 or more, and proceeds to S125 if there is no digital image.

In S120, the control unit 65 controls the printing unit 30 to collectively print all the digital images for which the number of prints is set to 1 or more for each set number of prints.
In S125, the control unit 65 controls the printing unit 30 to print one copy of a digital image corresponding to the reduced image currently displayed on the LCD 51.

Hereinafter, the processing from S115 to S125 described above will be described based on a specific example shown in FIG.
FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C are schematic diagrams for explaining the processing from S115 to S125.
In FIG. 1A, ten digital image paths “001.jpg” to “010.jpg” are acquired from the removable memory 11, and the user sets “001.jpg” to 2 as the number of copies. “003.jpg” indicates that 4 is set as the number of copies to be printed. This indicates that a reduced image “003.jpg” is displayed on the current LCD 51. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 1A, when the [Start] button 56 is pressed, two copies of “001.jpg” and four copies of “003.jpg” are printed.

  Similarly, in FIG. 1B, ten digital image paths “001.jpg” to “010.jpg” are acquired from the removable memory 11, and the user sets “002.jpg” to 3 as the number of copies. , “010.jpg” indicates that 1 is set as the number of copies. A reduced image “003.jpg” is displayed on the current LCD 51, indicating that the number of copies “003.jpg” remains zero. In this case, when the [Start] button 56 is pressed, three copies of “002.jpg” and one copy of “010.jpg” are printed. A reduced image of “003.jpg” is displayed on the LCD 51, but “003.jpg” itself is not printed.

  Similarly, FIG. 1C shows that ten digital image paths “001.jpg” to “010.jpg” are acquired from the removable memory 11 and the number of copies is not set for any digital image. Show. This indicates that a reduced image “003.jpg” is displayed on the current LCD 51. In the example shown in FIG. 1C, when the [Start] button 56 is pressed, one copy of “003.jpg” is printed even though the number of print copies displayed is zero. When displaying reduced images on the LCD 51 sequentially, for example, nine images at a time, if the number of copies is not set for any digital image, nine copies corresponding to the displayed reduced image are printed one by one. Will be.

Next, processing of the control unit 65 when the batch setting mode is selected will be described.
The processing when the batch setting mode is selected is substantially the same as the individual setting mode except that the same number of copies is batch set for all digital images. In the batch setting mode, when the upper button 54 is pressed once, the control unit 65 adds 1 to the number of copies of all digital images. Similarly, when the down button 55 is pressed once, the control unit 65 subtracts 1 from the number of copies of all digital images.

  In this embodiment, the initial value is not set to the digital image, or the initial value is set to zero and the setting of the number of copies is accepted. Therefore, when all the digital images are to be printed in a predetermined number, for example, one copy, One must be set as the number of copies in a digital image. In this case, setting the number of copies individually for each digital image takes time to set and is troublesome for the user. When the batch setting mode is selected, the user can batch-set the same number of copies for all digital images, thereby reducing the user's effort when printing all the digital images one by one.

  According to the multifunction machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when one or more print copies are set for one or more digital images, the [Start] button 56 is pressed to display FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B, one or more digital images can be collectively printed for each set number of prints. On the other hand, when one or more print copies have not been set for any digital image including the currently displayed digital image, as shown in FIG. One copy of the currently displayed digital image can be printed. FIG. 1C shows individual printing for individually printing the currently displayed digital image. According to the multifunction machine 10, the user can omit the operation of setting the number of copies when individually printing one digital image. . Therefore, according to the multi-function device 10, when the initial value is not set or the initial value is set to 0 so that the number of copies is not set for unnecessary digital images at the time of batch printing, individual printing is performed with a simple operation. it can.

  In this embodiment, the multi-function device 10 in which the print control device, the print unit 30, and the scan unit 20 are integrated has been described as an example. However, the printer is a so-called printer in which the print control device and the print unit 30 are integrated. It may be a stand-alone printer. The stand-alone printer here refers to a printer that can independently print a digital image without requiring control by a personal computer or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the print control apparatus and the print unit 30 are integrated has been described as an example. However, the print control apparatus and the print unit 30 may be separated. For example, the print control apparatus may be constituted by a personal computer, a printer as the printing unit 30 may be connected to the personal computer, and the personal computer may control the printer to perform printing.

In this embodiment, the case where the print control apparatus is integrated with the print unit 30 has been described as an example. However, even if the print control apparatus is integrated with a digital camera including an imaging unit that images a subject and generates a digital image. Good.
For example, in general, a digital camera can generate a DPOF file. DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) is a standard format for recording the number of copies and various print settings in units of digital images. The DPOF file is recorded in the removable memory together with the digital image, and the DPOF compatible printer is removed by removing the removable memory. When set to, a digital image is printed according to the number of prints recorded in the DPOF file and various print settings without performing print setting operations on the printer side. When the print control device is provided integrally with the digital camera, individual printing can be set with a simple operation when setting the number of print copies with the digital camera in order to generate the DPOF file.

  Further, for example, so-called direct printing is known in which a digital camera and a stand-alone printer are directly connected to print a digital image. In this case, the number of copies is set for the digital image by the digital camera. When the print control device is provided integrally with the digital camera, individual printing can be performed with a simple operation when performing direct printing.

  10 MFP (Printer), 11 Removable memory, 30 Printing unit, 50 Operation unit (Print copy number setting unit, Print control device), 56 [Start] button (Print instruction unit, Print control device), 57 Display unit (Number of print copies) Setting unit, print control device), 65 control unit (print number setting unit, print control unit, print control device).

Claims (10)

A print number setting unit that sequentially displays the identification information of a digital image and accepts the setting of the number of prints for each digital image, without setting the initial value of the number of prints or setting the initial value of the number of prints to zero. A number-of-prints setting unit that accepts and sets the number of prints;
A print instruction unit that receives a print instruction in a state where the identification information of any digital image is displayed in the print number setting unit;
When the print instruction unit accepts a print instruction, if there are one or more digital images with one or more print copies, the digital images with one or more print copies are set. If the number of copies to be printed is collectively printed on the printing unit and one or more copies are not set in any digital image, the digital image corresponding to the identification information currently displayed in the number-of-prints setting unit A printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print a predetermined number of copies.   The print copy number setting unit displays the number of print copies set in the digital image corresponding to the identification information together with the identification information, and displays zero as the print copy number for a digital image in which the print copy number is not set. The printing control apparatus according to 1.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print number setting unit sequentially displays the identification information of digital images stored in a predetermined storage medium.   The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined storage medium is a removable memory.   The printing copy number setting unit has means for selecting a batch setting mode for batch setting the same number of copies for all digital images stored in the predetermined storage medium, and the batch setting mode is selected. The print control apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the same number of copies is set for all digital images stored in the predetermined storage area.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is a reduced image of a digital image. A printing unit;
A printer comprising: the printing control apparatus according to claim 1, which causes the printing unit to print a digital image. Imaging means for imaging a subject and generating a digital image;
A digital camera comprising: the printing control apparatus according to claim 1, which causes the printing unit to print the digital image. The number of copies setting unit that displays the identification information of the digital image in order and accepts the setting of the number of copies individually for each digital image does not set the initial value of the number of copies or sets the initial value of the number of copies to zero. Accepting the setting for the number of copies to print,
A printing instruction unit receiving a printing instruction in a state where the identification information of any digital image is displayed in the printing number setting unit;
When the print control unit receives a print instruction from the print instruction unit, if there is one or more digital images in which one or more print copies are set, one or more print copies are set. The digital image is printed on the printing unit in batches for each set number of prints, and when one or more print copies are not set for any digital image, the print copy number setting unit currently displays the Printing a predetermined number of copies of the digital image corresponding to the identification information on the printing unit. A print number setting unit that sequentially displays the identification information of a digital image and accepts the setting of the number of prints for each digital image, without setting the initial value of the number of prints or setting the initial value of the number of prints to zero. A number-of-prints setting unit that accepts and sets the number of prints;
A print instruction unit that receives a print instruction in a state where the identification information of any digital image is displayed in the print number setting unit;
When a print instruction is received by the print instruction unit, if there are one or more digital images for which the number of copies is set to 1 or more, the digital images for which the number of copies is set to 1 or more are set. If the number of printed copies is collectively printed on the printing unit and one or more print copies are not set for any digital image, the print information setting unit corresponds to the identification information currently displayed. A print control program for causing a computer to function as a print control unit for printing a predetermined number of digital images on the printing unit.

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