JP2014032551A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a computer program, and a recording medium having the computer program recorded therein, by which in performing concealment processing and concealment printing, a finish form of a printed matter after the concealment processing or the concealment printing can be confirmed in advance, and the finish form can be changed or adjusted as appropriate, and work efficiency can be improved and waste of resources such as paper and toner can be prevented.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus receives conditions related to identification of a target object to be subjected to concealment processing from a user, identifies the target object related to the concealment processing on the basis of the conditions, and displays a preview image on which a result of the identification is reflected.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a computer program, and a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, which performs a concealment process for superimposing a concealment image that prevents visual recognition of an object included in an acquired image on the object. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are cases in which information that is not desired to be known to others, confidential information, and the like are printed and written on documents such as printed matter. If such a document is discarded as it is or reused as so-called backing paper printing, confidential information or the like leaks, which may cause a problem from the viewpoint of security.

  Therefore, a concealment process is performed in which an image of a document on which predetermined information is printed is overlaid with another image, and printing is performed based on the image of the document after the concealment process. There has been proposed a technique related to so-called concealment printing in which another image is printed and concealed on information.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, image data of a document read by a scanner is read in a certain area unit, and it is determined whether or not to perform printing by referring to a determination result recorded for each area. An image processing system for generating print data for painting a corresponding area of a document with a printer for an area determined to be performed is disclosed.

JP 2005-242864 A

  However, in the image processing system of Patent Document 1, since the image processing apparatus automatically performs so-called concealment setting based on the scan data reading result and outputs it, when concealment printing reflecting the user's intention is performed. The user cannot confirm the final form of the printed matter before printing. In other words, there are cases where the finished form of the printed matter is unappealing or a portion of the printed matter is not concealed by the user due to reasons such as being partially concealed beyond the user's expected range. It can be.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to accept a condition relating to specification of a target object to be subjected to a concealment process from a user, and to perform the concealment process based on the condition. By specifying the target object related to the image and displaying a preview image reflecting the specific result, it is possible to confirm in advance the finished form of the printed material after the concealment process or after the concealment printing at the time of the concealment process and concealment printing. Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer program capable of improving or improving work efficiency and preventing waste of resources such as paper and toner, and It is to provide a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that performs a concealment process for superimposing a concealed image that prevents visual recognition of an object included in an acquired acquired image on the object. Means, receiving means for receiving a condition related to specification of a target object by the specifying means, and a display unit for displaying a preview image of an acquired image reflecting a specific result by the specifying means.

  In the present invention, the specifying unit specifies the target object related to the concealment process based on the condition related to the specification of the target object received by the receiving unit, and the display unit is specified by the specifying unit A preview image of the acquired image reflecting the result of is displayed.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction to change a specific result by the specifying unit via the preview image, and the display unit is based on the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit. The preview image is redisplayed.

  In the present invention, the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to change a specific result by the specifying unit from the user via the preview image, and the display unit is based on the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit. The preview image is changed and redisplayed.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a character string receiving unit that receives a character string to be included in the target object, and the display unit is configured to represent the received character string in a preview image of the acquired image. It is characterized by being.

  In the present invention, the character string accepting unit accepts a character string to be included in the target object from a user, and the display unit displays the character string accepted by the character string accepting unit as a preview image of the acquired image. It expresses in.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of types of concealed images, and a selection receiving unit that receives a selection of the plurality of types of concealed images.

  In the present invention, the selection accepting unit accepts a selection from a plurality of types of concealment images stored in the storage unit from a user, and the concealment image related to the accepted selection is the target object. The concealment process to be superimposed is performed.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a setting receiving means for receiving a setting of a requirement for determining the attribute of the hidden image.

  In the present invention, the setting accepting unit accepts a setting of a requirement for determining the attribute of the concealed image from a user, and performs a concealment process in which a concealed image having an attribute related to the accepted setting is superimposed on the target object. It is.

  The image processing method according to the present invention is an image processing method for performing a concealment process for superimposing a concealed image that prevents visual recognition of an object included in an acquired acquired image on the object, and for specifying a target object related to the concealment process And a step of receiving a condition relating to the specification of the target object in the specifying step, and a step of displaying a preview image of the acquired image reflecting the specific result in the specifying step.

  The computer program according to the present invention is a computer program that causes a computer to perform a concealment process that superimposes a concealment image that prevents visual recognition of an object included in an acquired acquired image on the object. A specifying step for performing identification, a step for causing a computer to accept a condition relating to identification of a target object by the identifying step, and a computer for displaying a preview image of an acquired image reflecting a specific result by the identifying step And executing a step.

  In the present invention, a condition related to the specification of the target object to be subjected to the concealment process is received from the user, and the target object related to the concealment process is specified based on the condition, and the specific result is reflected. The preview image is displayed.

  A recording medium according to the present invention records the computer program of the above-described invention.

  In the present invention, the aforementioned computer program is recorded on the recording medium. The computer reads the computer program from the recording medium, and the above-described image processing apparatus and image processing method are realized by the computer.

  According to the present invention, at the time of concealment processing and concealment printing, the finished form of the printed matter after concealment processing or after concealment printing can be confirmed in advance, and the finished form can be changed or adjusted as necessary. In addition, it is possible to improve work efficiency and prevent waste of resources such as paper and toner.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating main components of a control unit, an image input unit, and an image output unit in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining concealment processing and concealment printing in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining concealment processing and concealment printing in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of a preview image displayed on a display unit in the multifunction peripheral of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of display of a target object in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is an illustration figure which shows the other example of the display of a target object in the multi-functional machine of Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a change of a target object displayed on a display unit in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of a preview image in which a concealment image is superimposed on a target object in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram illustrating another example of a preview image in which a concealment image is superimposed on a target object in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the multifunctional device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an example in which an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer program according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied to a multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions will be described in detail based on the drawings.

  In the MFP according to the present invention, in order to prevent part or all of the image area, photo area, character area, etc. (object) included in the read original image from being visually recognized, A concealment process for superimposing a concealment image on the image is performed. When printing (outputting) the image data subjected to the concealment process, the concealment image is printed on the image of the object that has been printed once. By concealing the object image from above, concealment printing is performed to conceal the object and prevent information from leaking.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of a multifunction machine 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The multifunction machine 100 includes a control unit 10, an image input unit 20, an image processing unit 30, an image output unit 40, a transmission / reception unit 50, an operation panel 60, a display unit 70, and a storage unit 80. Yes.

  The control unit 10 further includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, and an I / F (interface) 14.

  The ROM 12 stores in advance fundamentally fixed data among various control programs and calculation parameters, and the RAM 13 temporarily stores the data and reads it regardless of the storage order, storage position, etc. Is possible. The RAM 13 stores, for example, a program read from the ROM 12, various data generated by executing the program, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like.

  The CPU 11 loads the control program stored in advance in the ROM 12 onto the RAM 13 and executes it, thereby controlling the various hardware described above and operating the entire apparatus as the multifunction peripheral 100 of the present invention.

  The I / F 14 controls transmission / reception of data to / from various hardware such as the image input unit 20 and the image output unit 40 connected to the control unit 10.

  The image input unit 20 includes a light source for irradiating light to a reading document, an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and the like, and optically reads an image of the document (hereinafter referred to as a document image). Do. Further, the image input unit 20 forms a reflected light image from the original placed at a predetermined reading position on the image sensor, and generates RGB (R: Red, G: Green, B: Blue) analog data. Output.

  The image processing unit 30 generates, for example, digital image data based on analog data input from the image input unit 20, or reads out image data stored in the storage unit 80, and sets each image type. A corresponding process is performed or the concealment process is performed to generate image data for printing to be printed or concealed. The print image data generated by the image processing unit 30 is output to the image output unit 40.

  The image output unit 40 prints (or conceals printing) an image based on the printing image data output from the image processing unit 30 on a recording medium such as recording paper or an OHP film. The image output unit 40 generates a electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum by emitting a laser beam in accordance with image data received from outside, a photosensitive drum, a charger for charging the photosensitive drum to a predetermined potential, and externally received image data. A laser writing device, a developing device for supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum for development, a transfer device for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum onto a recording medium, etc. For example, an image is output onto a recording medium by electrophotography.

  The transmission / reception unit 50 includes a network card, a modem, and the like that transmit the document image to the outside and receive the image from the outside. For example, the transmission / reception unit 50 transmits / receives an image to / from the outside via an external I / F (not shown).

  The operation panel 60 also includes a function button for switching various functions of the MFP 100, a numeric keypad, a start key, a cancel key, an enter key for confirming the received instruction, and a document image read via the image input unit 20. A “print” key or a “copy” key for forming an image on a sheet-like recording medium is provided. Further, the operation panel 60 includes a “concealment process” key that receives an instruction to perform the above-described concealment process on a document image read via the image input unit 20 and a “preview” key that receives an instruction to display a preview image. ing.

  The display unit 70 is composed of, for example, an LCD or an EL (Electroluminescence) panel, and an image to be printed (or concealed) on a predetermined recording sheet, a preview image related to the concealment process, and the like via the image output unit 40. Is displayed. The display unit 70 also displays information to be notified to the user, such as confirmation of the state of the multifunction peripheral 100, the status of job processing, the image of the original read by the image input unit 20, and the operation content of the operation panel 60. To do. Furthermore, the display unit 70 includes a touch panel.

  The storage unit 80 is configured by, for example, a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory, an EEPROM (registered trademark), an HDD, an MRAM (magnetic resistance memory), an FeRAM (ferroelectric memory), or an OUM.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the control unit 10, the image input unit 20, and the image output unit 40 in the multifunction machine 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The control unit 10 includes an application unit 15, an input unit driver 16, and an output unit driver 17. The application unit 15 controls the output unit driver 17 and the input unit driver 16 to perform processing for performing concealment processing or concealment printing according to the present invention.

  In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the original image is divided into predetermined unit areas, and it is determined whether or not an object included in the unit area is an object to be subjected to a concealment process. The target object of the concealment process in the whole is specified. Further, the hidden printing is performed on the target object specified in this way.

  The application unit 15 includes an area setting unit 151, a determination unit 152, an information storage unit 153, a target specifying unit 154, a condition receiving unit 155, an instruction receiving unit 156, a character string receiving unit 157, and a selection receiving unit. 158, a setting reception unit 159, a print information generation unit 160, a display control unit 161, and a driver control unit 162.

  The area setting unit 151 sets the unit area used when determining whether or not a predetermined object included in the acquired document image is an object to be hidden or hidden. Examples of the unit area include a line and a block. For example, when a line is set as the unit area, the number of dots of the line width is determined, and when a block is set as the unit area, the number of vertical and horizontal dots of the block is determined.

  The determination unit 152 determines whether the original image acquired via the input unit driver 16 includes any object for each unit area. Further, when such a unit area includes an object, the determination unit 152 determines the type of the object. That is, the determination unit 152 determines whether the object included in the unit area is a picture area, a photograph area, or a character area. Further, the present invention is not limited to this, and the determination unit 152 may be configured to determine the attributes (color, density, etc.) of the object included in the unit area.

  Thus, the result determined by the determination unit 152 is stored in the information storage unit 153. The information storage unit 153 may be virtually realized by being allocated as a storage area on the RAM 13 or the storage unit 80, for example.

  The target specifying unit 154 specifies a target object to be subjected to the concealment process in the document image based on the determination result by the determination unit 152 stored in the information storage unit 153. More specifically, the condition receiving unit 155 receives a condition related to the target object specification (hereinafter referred to as a specific condition) from the user, and the target specifying unit 154 specifies the target object according to the specific condition received by the condition receiving unit 155. To do.

  In addition, the specific condition received from the user by the condition receiving unit 155 may be, for example, by object type such as a picture area, a photograph area, and a character area. .

  Further, when the target specifying unit 154 specifies a target object according to the specific condition received by the condition receiving unit 155, for example, the target specifying unit 154 specifies an object including a character string received from the user as a target object by the character string receiving unit 157. Is possible.

  That is, the character string receiving unit 157 receives a character string that should be included in the target object from the user via the operation panel 60, for example. That is, when the character string receiving unit 157 receives a predetermined character string from the user and the specific condition that the condition receiving unit 155 receives from the user is a character area and a paragraph, the target specifying unit 154 Among the character regions included in the image, the character string receiving unit 157 specifies a paragraph including the character string received from the user as a target object.

  As will be described later, the instruction receiving unit 156 receives a target object indicated in the preview image displayed on the display unit 70, in other words, an instruction to change a specific result by the target specifying unit 154. For example, when the target object is designated by a so-called block in such a preview image, the user can change the range of the block by an operation such as drag and drop. In this case, the instruction receiving unit 156 An instruction to change the target object is received via the touch panel.

  On the other hand, the information storage unit 153 stores multiple types of hidden image patterns. The user can select any one of the plurality of types of hidden image patterns. That is, the user appropriately operates the operation panel 60 to select one of the patterns of the multiple types of concealment images, and at this time, the selection reception unit 158 receives selection of the concealment image via the operation panel 60.

  The setting accepting unit 159 accepts, for example, a setting of a requirement that defines an attribute of a concealed image (hereinafter referred to as a selected concealed image) related to the selection accepted by the selection accepting unit 158. Specifically, when the selected concealment image is hatched with straight lines that repeat with a certain directionality, the setting reception unit 159 determines the pitch between the straight lines, the direction of the straight lines, and the straight lines. The setting of requirements such as thickness is received from the user.

  The print information generation unit 160 stores the information stored in the information storage unit 153, the identification result by the target identification unit 154, the character string received by the character string reception unit 157, the selection received by the selection reception unit 158, and the setting reception unit 159 Based on the setting or the like, a predetermined concealed image is superimposed on the target object of the original image and combined to generate image data for printing to be concealed.

  The display control unit 161 controls image display on the display unit 70. For example, the display control unit 161 displays a preview image of the document image on the display unit 70 based on the print image data generated by the print information generation unit 160. In the preview image, the target object specified by the target specifying unit 154 is concealed based on the character string received by the character string receiving unit 157, the selection received by the selection receiving unit 158, the setting received by the setting receiving unit 159, and the like. The result of the concealment process in which the image is superimposed is reflected. Therefore, the user can confirm the result of the concealment process via the preview image.

  The driver control unit 162 controls the exchange of data and the like between the output unit driver 17 and the input unit driver 16.

  The output unit driver 17 is executed by the CPU 11 executing the output unit driver program loaded in the RAM 13. As described above, the output unit driver 17 generates print data according to the print image data generated by the application unit 15 and causes the image output unit 40 to execute printing.

  The input unit driver 16 is executed by the CPU 11 executing the input unit driver program loaded into the RAM 13. The input unit driver 16 controls the image input unit 20 to perform processing for reading an image of a document placed on a document table or the like of the image input unit 20. Normally, the input unit driver 16 reads the original images all at once via the image input unit 20, but in the present embodiment, the input unit driver 16 reads each unit area as described above. As a result, it is not necessary to process one page of image data at a stretch, so that the used memory such as the RAM 13 can be used efficiently and processing can be performed at high speed.

  On the other hand, the image output unit 40 includes a print control unit 41 and a print execution unit 42. The print control unit 41 interprets the print data transmitted from the control unit 10 and performs control for executing printing based on the print data. The print execution unit 42 prints an image based on the print data on a recording sheet or the like using a print engine (not shown) in accordance with an instruction from the print control unit 41.

  The image input unit 20 includes a reading control unit 21 and a reading execution unit 22. The reading control unit 21 causes the reading execution unit 22 to read a document in accordance with an instruction from the input unit driver 16, performs predetermined image processing as described above, and outputs it to the input unit driver 16. The reading execution unit 22 executes image reading by an input unit engine (not shown).

  3 and 4 are flowcharts for explaining the concealment process and the concealment printing in the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, in the following, it is assumed that the condition receiving unit 155 receives a character area from the user as a condition (specific condition) for specifying the target object.

  First, the user sets a document to be concealed (or concealed printing) in advance on the document table of the image input unit 20, and instructs the reading of the document by operating the operation panel 60 as appropriate. At this time, the CPU 11 receives such an instruction via the operation panel 60.

  Thereby, the region setting unit 151 of the application unit 15 sets the unit region used when performing such a concealment process (step S101). The unit area may be a fixed value determined in advance as a default, or may be determined based on an instruction from the user. The unit area has already been described, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, based on the unit area set by the area setting unit 151, the driver control unit 162 controls the input unit driver 16 so that the image input unit 20 reads the document set on the document table of the image input unit 20. An instruction is given (step S102).

  In response to an instruction from the driver control unit 162, the image input unit 20 reads a unit area of the document set on the document table (step S103), and a document image corresponding to the unit region is acquired. The document image relating to the unit area acquired in this way (hereinafter referred to as a unit area document image) is sent to the determination unit 152 via the input unit driver 16.

  The determination unit 152 performs the above-described determination on such unit area document image (step S104). That is, the determination unit 152 determines whether or not such a unit area document image includes any object, and if it includes an object, determines the type of the object. Thus, the result determined by the determination unit 152 is stored in the information storage unit 153 (step S105).

  The area setting unit 151 determines whether or not the processing in steps S103 to S105 has been completed for the entire area of the document (step S106). Such a determination is performed, for example, by performing preliminary reading of such a document and comparing the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of the document image that has been pre-read.

  If it is determined that such processing has not been completed for the entire area of the document (step S106: NO), the processing returns to step S103, and the processing of steps S103 to S105 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that such processing has been completed for the entire area of the document (step S106: YES), the display control unit 161 displays a preview image relating to the document based on each unit area document image. (Step S107).

  FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a preview image displayed on the display unit 70 in the multifunction peripheral 100 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a display screen of a preview image P of a document including objects in a character area and a picture area is displayed. On the display screen, a “hidden print” soft key 71 and a “normal print” soft key 72 are also displayed.

  For example, when the “normal printing” soft key 72 is operated by the user, printing corresponding to the preview image P actually displayed on the display unit 70 is performed. When the “hidden printing” soft key 71 is operated, the hidden printing is performed after the hiding process according to the present invention is performed.

  At this time, the CPU 11 monitors the operation panel 60 or the display unit 70 (touch panel), and determines whether or not an instruction for concealment printing has been received by detecting whether or not the “concealment printing” soft key 71 is operated. (Step S108).

  For example, if the CPU 11 determines that an instruction for concealment printing has not been received (step S108: NO), the process proceeds to step S117, and printing corresponding to the preview image P actually displayed on the display unit 70 is performed.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 11 determines that an instruction for concealment printing has been received (step S108: YES), the target specifying unit 154 receives a condition based on the result of determination by the determination unit 152 stored in the information storage unit 153. In accordance with the specific condition received by the unit 155, the target object to be subjected to the concealment process is specified in the document image (step S109).

  For example, when the character string receiving unit 157 receives a character string from the user, the target specifying unit 154 specifies an object including the character string as a target object. The identification of the target object by the target identification unit 154 has already been described, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether an instruction to display a preview image has been received (step S110). Such a determination is made, for example, by the CPU 11 monitoring whether the “preview” key on the operation panel 60 is operated.

  If the CPU 11 determines that the instruction to display the preview image has not been received until the predetermined time has elapsed (step S110: NO), the process proceeds to step S115.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 11 determines that an instruction to display a preview image has been received (step S110: YES), the display control unit 161 is specified by the target specifying unit 154 in step S109 to the preview image P displayed in step S107. The target object is added and displayed (step S111).

  FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of display of the target object in the multi-function device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the display image shown in FIG. 6, a target object R surrounded by a broken line is displayed on the preview image P. In addition, a “print” soft key 73, a “pattern selection” soft key 74, and a “pattern setting” are displayed. "Soft key 75" and "display hidden image" soft key 76 are further provided.

  The “print” soft key 73 is a soft key for receiving an instruction to perform concealment printing by superimposing a predetermined default concealment image on the currently displayed target object R. The “pattern selection” soft key 74 is a soft key used when the user selects any one of a plurality of types of concealed image patterns stored in the information storage unit 153.

  Further, the “pattern setting” soft key 75 is a soft key used when, for example, setting of requirements for determining the attribute of the selected hidden image is received from the user, and the “hidden image display” soft key 76 is actually displayed. This is a soft key for accepting an instruction to display a preview image with a hidden image superimposed on the target object R.

  At this time, when the character string receiving unit 157 receives a predetermined character string from the user, the display control unit 161 highlights the character string and displays it. FIG. 7 is an exemplary view showing another example of display of the target object in the multifunction machine 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  For example, when the character string received from the user by the character string receiving unit 157 is “○ △ □”, the display control unit 161 displays the character string “○ △ □” included in the target object in bold. , Or underlined and displayed.

  As described above, the user who has confirmed the preview image P and the target object R displayed on the display unit 70 can perform an operation of changing the target object R as necessary. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the change of the target object R displayed on the display unit 70 in the multifunction machine 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The target object R is changed by, for example, an operation such as so-called drag and drop on a boundary line (broken line) of the target object. In this way, when the user changes the target object R by operating the display unit 70 (touch panel), the designation receiving unit 156 receives such an instruction via the display unit 70 (touch panel).

  That is, the designation receiving unit 156 determines whether an instruction to change the target object R is received by monitoring the display unit 70 (touch panel) (step S112).

  When it is determined that the designation receiving unit 156 has received an instruction to change the target object R (step S112: YES), the process returns to step S111, and the changed target object R1 is displayed (see FIG. 8).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the designation receiving unit 156 has not received an instruction to change the target object R until the predetermined time has elapsed (step S112: NO), the display control unit 161 uses the target specifying unit 154 in step S109. According to the characteristic target object R or the target object R1 changed in step S112, a concealed image to be superimposed on the target objects R and R1 is generated (step S113).

  Next, the CPU 11 monitors the “display hidden image” soft key 76 to determine whether or not an instruction to display the hidden image on the preview image P has been received (step S114).

  When it is determined that the CPU 11 has received an instruction to display the hidden image on the preview image P (step S114: YES), the display control unit 161 displays the preview image P with the hidden image superimposed on the target objects R and R1. The information is displayed on the unit 70 (step S115).

  FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of a preview image in which a concealment image is superimposed on a target object in the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, a predetermined concealment image C is superimposed on the target object R1, which prevents recognition of information included in the target object R1.

  Thus, in the present invention, before the user performs the concealment printing, that is, in the concealment process, the target object, the concealed image, and the state where the concealment image is superimposed on the target object are confirmed via the preview image. can do.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the concealed image can be changed when the concealment process is confirmed via the preview image as described above. More specifically, the user operates the “pattern selection” soft key 74 and / or the “pattern setting” soft key 75 as appropriate, so that the user can select any one of the hidden image patterns stored in the information storage unit 153. Can be selected and a requirement for defining the attribute of the hidden image can be set.

  For example, the case where the pitch between straight lines and the thickness of a straight line of the concealed image C shown in FIG. 9 are changed will be described in detail as an example. As shown in FIG. 9, when the user appropriately operates the “pattern setting” soft key 75 while the preview image P is displayed, a setting screen (not shown) for setting the attribute of the hidden image is displayed. Displayed on the unit 70. At this time, the user appropriately operates the setting screen to change the attribute of the pattern of the hidden image C shown in FIG. As described above, when the user instructs to narrow the pitch between the straight lines and to change the thickness of the straight lines to be thicker, the instruction receiving unit 156 performs such change via the setting screen (touch panel). Accept instructions.

  As described above, when the instruction receiving unit 156 receives an instruction to change the concealed image, the display control unit 161 changes the concealed image based on the instruction and redisplays the concealed image. FIG. 10 is an exemplary view showing another example of the preview image in which the concealment image is superimposed on the target object in the multifunction machine 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a preview image P in which a redisplayed concealed image C1, that is, a concealed image C1 in which the pitch between straight lines and the thickness of the straight line in the concealed image C are changed, is superimposed on the target object R1. Is displayed.

  As described above, after the preview image P in a state where the concealment image C (or the concealment image C1) is superimposed on the target object R1 is displayed on the display unit 70, or in step S114, the CPU 11 displays the concealment image as the preview image P. If the CPU 11 determines that the instruction to display is not received (step S114: NO), the CPU 11 monitors the operation of the “print” soft key 73 to thereby display the preview image P (FIG. 9 or FIG. 10) currently displayed. In step S116, it is determined whether an instruction to perform concealment printing has been received.

  If the CPU 11 determines that it has not received an instruction to perform hidden printing (step S116: NO), the process returns to step S114.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 11 determines that an instruction to perform hidden printing has been received (step S116: YES), print image data corresponding to the currently displayed preview image P is generated (step S117). That is, as a result of the identification by the target identification unit 154, based on the character string received by the character string reception unit 157, the selection received by the selection reception unit 158, the setting received by the setting reception unit 159, and the like, On the other hand, the concealment image is superimposed to generate print image data to be concealed.

  The print image data to be concealed and generated as described above is sent to the output unit driver 17. The output unit driver 17 generates print data for controlling the image output unit 40 based on the acquired print image data (step S118), and outputs the print data to the image output unit 40. That is, the output unit driver 17 converts the print image data into data in a format (PCL) that can be printed by the image output unit 40, and generates print data.

  Thereafter, the image output unit 40 executes concealment printing based on the print data input from the output unit driver 17 (step S119). In other words, the image output unit 40 prints the concealed image C (or concealed image C1) on the target objects R and R1 that have been printed once, and paints the target objects R and R1 from above.

  As described above, in the present invention, when performing concealment processing or concealment printing, the finished state of concealment processing or concealment printing can be confirmed in advance via a preview image. Further, after the confirmation, the target object or the hidden image can be changed as necessary.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the target object can be adjusted after the user confirms the finished state of the concealment process in advance via the preview image, so that the target object can be adjusted instead of the uniform process. By locally processing only the portions that require printing, it is possible to save toner, ink, and the like used for concealment printing.

  The area setting unit 151, the determination unit 152, the information storage unit 153, the target specifying unit 154, the condition receiving unit 155, the instruction receiving unit 156, the character string receiving unit 157, and the selection receiving unit 158 described above. The setting reception unit 159, the print information generation unit 160, the display control unit 161, and the driver control unit 162 may be configured by hardware logic, or by the CPU 11 executing a predetermined program, It may be constructed in software.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The multi-function device 100 according to the second embodiment is configured such that a computer program for performing the operation can be provided by a portable recording medium A such as a CD-ROM via the external I / F 90. Yes. Furthermore, the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment is configured such that the computer program can be downloaded from an external device via the transmission / reception unit 50. The contents will be described below.

  The MFP 100 according to the second embodiment includes an exterior (or interior) recording medium reading device (not shown), and causes the recording medium reading device to identify a target object related to the concealment process, thereby Insert the portable recording medium A on which a program for displaying a preview image reflecting the specific result of the target object is received, and the CPU 11 installs the program in the ROM 12, for example. To do. Such a program is loaded into the RAM 13 and executed. Thereby, it functions as the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The recording medium may be a so-called program medium, a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk and a hard disk, and a disk system of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD, Even a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card or a medium carrying a fixed program code including a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM (trademark registered), flash ROM, etc. good.

  It may be a medium that fluidly carries the program code so as to download the program code from the network via the communication unit. When the program is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the download program may be stored in the main device in advance or may be installed from another recording medium. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

10 control unit 11 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Image input part 40 Image output part 70 Display part 100 Multifunction machine 151 Area setting part 152 Judgment part 153 Information storage part 154 Object specific | specification part 155 Condition reception part 156 Instruction reception part 157 Character string reception part 158 Selection reception part 159 Setting reception part 160 Print information generation unit 161 Display control unit 162 Driver control unit A Recording medium R, R1 Target object C, C1 Hidden image

Claims (8)

In an image processing apparatus that performs a concealment process of superimposing a concealment image that prevents visual recognition of an object included in an acquired image on the object,
A specifying means for specifying a target object related to the concealment process;
Accepting means for accepting a condition relating to the identification of the target object by the identifying means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a display unit configured to display a preview image of an acquired image reflecting a specific result obtained by the specifying unit. An instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction to change a specific result by the specifying means via the preview image;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to redisplay the preview image based on an instruction received by the instruction receiving unit. A character string receiving means for receiving a character string to be included in the target object;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to represent the received character string in a preview image of the acquired image. A storage unit storing multiple types of concealment images;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a selection receiving unit that receives a selection of any of the multiple types of hidden images.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting reception unit that receives a setting of a requirement that defines an attribute of the hidden image. In an image processing method for performing a concealment process for superimposing a concealment image that hinders the visual recognition of an object included in an acquired image on the object,
A specifying step of specifying a target object related to the concealment process;
Receiving a condition relating to identification of a target object by the identification step;
And a step of displaying a preview image of the acquired image reflecting the specific result of the specifying step. In a computer program for causing a computer to perform a concealment process of superimposing a concealment image that prevents visual recognition of an object included in an acquired image on the object,
A specifying step for causing a computer to specify a target object related to the concealment process;
Causing a computer to accept a condition relating to identification of a target object by the identification step;
And causing the computer to display a preview image of the acquired image reflecting the specific result of the specifying step.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 7 is recorded.

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