JP2015106202A - Print control apparatus, printer, and print control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print control apparatus configured to print an image on an address side of a postal matter so as to clearly determine character information on the address side, a printer and a print control program.SOLUTION: A print control apparatus includes: an image selection unit which selects an image to be arranged in an address side area corresponding to an address side of a postcard; an image arrangement unit which arranges an image in the address side area; an overlapping character determination unit which determines character information overlapping the image, as an overlapping character, in the address side area; a character processing section which highlights the overlapping character; and a print data generation section which generates print data on the basis of the address side area.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a printing control program for printing an image on a mailing address of a mail such as a letter or a postcard.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an envelope creation system that prints character information (address information such as an address) based on customer information and pattern information (image) corresponding to the character information on an envelope is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-5-319439

  By the way, in the above envelope creation system, depending on the size of the image to be printed and the arrangement of the image to be printed, the image may be printed redundantly on the character information, or the image may be printed adjacent to the character information. It may be difficult to determine character information.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a printing control device, a printing device, and a printing control program capable of easily discriminating character information written on the address surface even when an image is printed on the mail address surface. There is.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A print control apparatus that solves the above-described problem is a print control apparatus for printing character information and an image on a mail address surface, and selects the image to be arranged in a mail address surface area corresponding to the mail address surface. An image selection unit; an image arrangement unit that arranges the image in the address plane region; a duplicate character determination unit that determines a duplicate character that overlaps the image in the character information in the address plane region; and the duplicate character And a generation unit that generates print data based on address surface data including the image and the character information arranged in the address surface area.

  According to the above configuration, the print control apparatus arranges the selected image in the address plane area, and determines, among the characters constituting the character information, duplicate characters that overlap the image arranged in the address plane area. The print control apparatus emphasizes the duplicate characters and generates print data based on the address data including the character information and the image having the emphasized duplicate characters. Therefore, even when an image is printed on the address surface, if there are duplicate characters that overlap with the image in the character information, the duplicate characters are emphasized, so that the character information written on the address surface can be easily identified. be able to.

In the print control apparatus, it is preferable that the character processing unit emphasizes characters constituting the unit character string including the duplicate characters.
When an emphasized character and an unenhanced character coexist in one character string included in the character information, the emphasized character and the unenhanced character are switched with respect to the reader of the character information. , May give the impression that the string is separated. According to the above configuration, since the characters are emphasized not only with the overlapping characters overlapping with the image but also with the unit character string including the overlapping characters, it is difficult to give the above-mentioned impression to the reader of the character information. it can.

  In the print control apparatus, when the character processing unit sets the color of the duplicate character as the first color, the duplicate character is trimmed with a second color different from the first color. It is desirable to emphasize.

  According to the above configuration, the overlapping characters are emphasized by bordering with the second color with a color different from the first color of the overlapping characters. For this reason, when the color of the image is the same color as the first color (the color of the overlapping characters), the boundary between the border portion of the second color and the image is easily clarified. On the other hand, when the color of the image is a color similar to the second color (the color of the border), the boundary between the overlapping character of the first color and the image (the border portion) is easily clarified. Therefore, the overlapping characters are clarified with respect to the image, and the overlapping characters can be easily distinguished.

  In the print control apparatus, when the thickness of the duplicate character is the first thickness, the character processing unit is a second character that is the same character as the duplicate character and is thicker than the first thickness. It is desirable to frame the duplicated character by overlapping the duplicated character on the character.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to easily create a character with an overlapped character.
In the print control apparatus, it is preferable that the character processing unit sets the second color to a similar color that is a complementary color of the color of the image that overlaps the overlapping character.

  According to the above configuration, the second color that is the border color of the overlapping character is a similar color that is a complementary color of the color of the image that overlaps the overlapping character. For this reason, the border between the border portion of the overlapping character and the image becomes clear, and the overlapping character can be easily discriminated. For example, even when the color of the overlapping character and the color of the image overlapping the overlapping character are similar colors, it is possible to suppress the difficulty of distinguishing the overlapping character.

In the print control apparatus, it is preferable that the character processing unit has a color similar to a complementary color of the color of the image overlapping the color of the overlapping character.
According to the above configuration, the color of the overlapping character is a similar color of the complementary color of the image color overlapping the overlapping character. For this reason, the boundary between the duplicate character and the image becomes clear, and the duplicate character can be easily discriminated.

The print control apparatus preferably further includes an image processing unit that performs image processing of the image so that the print density of the image becomes light.
According to the above configuration, since the image arranged on the address surface is subjected to image processing so that the print density is reduced, for example, the color of the duplicated character and the color of the duplicated character before the lightness adjustment are performed. Even if they are similar colors, it is possible to make it easy to distinguish duplicate characters.

  In the print control apparatus, the image processing is tone curve correction processing, and the tone curve used in the tone curve correction processing has a lightness of the image after correction of zero over the entire brightness of the image before correction. The brightness of the image after correction is set to the threshold value in a part of the range near the minimum value of the brightness of the image before correction, and is set to the threshold value, and the brightness is higher than that of the part near the minimum value. In a high range, it is desirable that the brightness of the image after correction is set to increase as the brightness of the image before correction increases.

  According to the above configuration, when tone curve correction processing is performed on an image based on the tone curve, a portion near the lowest value of the brightness in the image before correction is corrected to a constant threshold value greater than zero after correction. Is done. Therefore, the entire image including the portion near the lowest value of brightness (dark portion) in the image before correction can be corrected to a light image having a print density equal to or higher than a certain threshold value. Further, in a portion where the lightness is higher than the portion near the lowest value, the lightness of the image after correction is set to increase as the lightness of the image before correction increases. For this reason, the tone curve correction process can obtain an image that is light but reflects the brightness of the image before correction. For example, the lightness of the image before correction is reflected in areas other than the dark part of the image before correction (the portion near the minimum value of lightness), so that the original design is easily reflected in the image after correction.

  In the print control apparatus, the image processing is tone curve correction processing, and the tone curve used in the tone curve correction processing has a value greater than or equal to a threshold value greater than zero after correction in the entire brightness of the image before correction. It is desirable that the brightness of the image after correction is set to increase as the brightness of the image before correction increases.

  According to the above configuration, the brightness of the image after the correction is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and the tone of the corrected image increases as the brightness of the image before correction increases with respect to the image before correction. Since the curve correction process is performed, the print density can be reduced over the entire area of the image, and an image after correction reflecting the brightness of the image before correction can be obtained. For example, since the brightness of the image before correction is reflected, the original pattern is easily reflected in the corrected image although it is faint.

A printing apparatus that solves the above problem includes the above-described print control apparatus and a printing unit that performs printing on the address surface based on the printing data.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to obtain an operational effect equivalent to the operational effect exhibited by the above-described print control apparatus.

  A printing control program that solves the above-described problem is a printing control program that is executed by a computer to print character information and an image on a mailing address, and is arranged in an addressing area corresponding to the addressing surface. An image selection step for selecting an image, an image placement step for placing the image in the address plane area, and a duplicate character determination step for determining duplicate characters that overlap the image in the character information in the address plane area; , Causing the computer to execute a character processing step for emphasizing the duplicate characters, and a generating step for generating print data based on address surface data including the image and the character information arranged in the address surface area. .

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to obtain an operational effect equivalent to the operational effect exhibited by the above-described print control apparatus.

1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing apparatus. The figure which shows the address face area | region of the postcard which cannot discriminate | determine an address and a full name. The flowchart explaining the processing routine performed in order to perform printing of an address surface. The figure which shows the address surface area | region containing a character area and an image arrangement | positioning possible area | region. The flowchart explaining the processing routine performed in order to emphasize the character which overlaps with an image. The figure explaining the procedure which produces | generates a border character. A map for correcting the brightness of images. The flowchart explaining the processing routine for correct | amending the brightness of an image highly. The figure which shows the address surface area | region where the image was arrange | positioned in the image arrangement | positioning possible area | region. The figure which shows an example of the emphasis character of a modification. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the printing apparatus of another modification.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a printing apparatus is embodied in an ink jet printer will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 11 includes a substantially rectangular apparatus body 12, a feeding unit 13 that feeds (feeds) a postcard P as an example of a postal item, and a postcard from the apparatus body 12. And a discharge unit 14 that discharges (discharges) P. The feeding unit 13 has a feeding tray 15 that supports a postcard P to be fed, and the discharging unit 14 has a discharging tray 16 that supports the discharged postcard P.

  In addition, the printing apparatus 11 includes a display unit 17 including a liquid crystal display, a handle unit 18 that becomes a handle when the printing device 11 is carried, and an operation unit 30 that can input characters. The display unit 17 can display various types of information of the printing apparatus 11 and displays a setting screen of the printing apparatus 11, a postcard P address screen, a communication screen editing screen, and the like. The operation unit 30 is a wireless keyboard capable of short-range wireless communication such as infrared communication with the apparatus main body 12. For this reason, the user of the printing apparatus 11 operates the printing apparatus 11 via the operation unit 30. The operation unit 30 includes a key operation unit 31 operated to input characters and the like, a selection operation unit 32 including, for example, a cross key operated to select various setting items on the setting screen, And a confirming operation unit 33 operated to confirm and execute the selected item.

  On the side surface of the apparatus main body 12, a power button 21 is provided that is operated when the printing apparatus 11 is turned on or off. In addition, a wireless communication port 22 constituting a part of an interface for communicating with the operation unit 30 is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 12.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 11 includes a transport roller 23 that transports the postcard P from the feeding unit 13 to the discharge unit 14, a transport motor 24 that drives the transport roller 23, and a postcard in the apparatus main body 12. A print head 25 that prints characters and images by ejecting ink onto P and a controller 40 that controls the printing apparatus 11 are provided. In this way, the printing apparatus 11 performs a series of printing operations by printing on the postcard P fed from the feeding tray 15 and discharging the printed postcard P to the discharge tray 16 based on the control of the controller 40. Do. Note that the printing apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment is a printer capable of performing a single operation from the creation of the address and communication surfaces of the postcard P to the printing of the postcard P.

Next, the electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 11 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 40 includes a head unit 41 that drives the print head 25, a motor driver 42 that drives the transport motor 24, a display driver 43 that drives the display unit 17, and a computer 50. Yes. The printing apparatus 11 also has a communication interface 44 (hereinafter also referred to as I / F 44) for communicating with the operation unit 30 and a card interface 45 (hereinafter also referred to as I / F 45) for connecting the memory card MC. And. The computer 50 includes a CPU 51, an ASIC 52 (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a nonvolatile memory 53, and a RAM 54.

  The RAM 54 temporarily stores data generated when the printing contents of the address side and the communication side to be printed on the postcard P are created / edited. At this time, first, in the RAM 54, as a virtual canvas for arranging each layer of images, character information, etc., the address surface area 100 (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the address surface of the postcard P and the communication surface of the postcard P And a communication area corresponding to. A layer refers to data having hierarchical information.

  Here, in the address plane area 100, a blank address plane image corresponding to a postcard (for example, New Year's postcard) selected by the user via the operation unit 30 is read from the nonvolatile memory 53 and written in this area of the RAM 54. Is generated by The address surface area 100 is visualized on the address surface editing screen by the display driver 43 displaying an image of the address surface based on the data in the RAM 54 on the display unit 17 (see FIG. 4). By operating the operation unit 30, the user can create a text box in which characters of character information are written, arrange an image, change the character information and the arrangement position of the image, and edit on the address plane area 100. Character information and images arranged on the address plane area 100 by the user are stored in the RAM 54 together with position information (coordinate information). These pieces of position information are represented by, for example, relative coordinates with respect to arbitrary reference coordinates (for example, coordinates (0, 0) with the upper left corner as the origin) on the address plane area 100, for example, a diagonal of a rectangular area of a text box or an image. Indicated by the coordinates of the two corners located at. Similarly, the communication surface area is a virtual canvas secured in the RAM 54, and is generated by writing a blank communication surface image in this area. The communication surface area is visualized on the communication surface editing screen by the display driver 43 displaying an image of the communication surface based on the data in the RAM 54 on the display unit 17. By operating the operation unit 30, the user can create a text box for writing characters of character information, arrange images, change or edit the character information and image arrangement positions, etc. on the displayed communication area. Become.

  The nonvolatile memory 53 stores programs and data necessary for various controls of the printing apparatus 11. The non-volatile memory 53 includes a plurality of representative images for addressing and communication planes and a plurality of representative characters used when arranging characters and images on the addressing and communication planes. The layout data and the like are stored.

Next, a functional configuration of the controller 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
The controller 40 includes a functional part constructed as software by the CPU 51 that executes the program, and a functional part constructed by a circuit in the ASIC 52 in which the program is written. Specifically, the controller 40 performs printing control for performing editing of the address side of the postcard P and editing of the communication side, generation of print data for printing each editing result, and the like according to the operation through the operation unit 30 of the user. The apparatus 60 includes a print control unit 70 that drives and controls the print head 25 and the transport motor 24 based on the generated print data. In the present embodiment, the print control unit 70, the print head 25, and the transport motor 24 constitute a print engine 46. The print control device 60 includes an image selection unit 61, an image arrangement unit 62, a duplicate character determination unit 63, a character processing unit 64, an image processing unit 65, a display processing unit 66, and a print data generation unit 67 as functional components. , And a storage unit 68. The storage unit 68 is configured by a predetermined storage area of the nonvolatile memory 53 and the RAM 54, for example. Further, data such as the correction map M stored in the storage unit 68 is retained even when the printing apparatus 11 is turned off.

  The image selection unit 61 is based on a selection signal input from the operation unit 30 when the user performs an operation of selecting from a plurality of images (image data) displayed in a list on the display unit 17. The image Img (see FIG. 4) to be arranged at 100 is selected. For example, the image selection unit 61 arranges the image in the address plane area 100 from among images stored in the nonvolatile memory 53 of the printing apparatus 11 main body or images stored in the memory card MC connected to the printing apparatus 11. Select the image Img.

  The image placement unit 62 places the image Img selected by the image selection unit 61 in the address plane area 100. At that time, the image arrangement unit 62 adjusts the arrangement position and the image size in the address plane area 100 according to the size of the image Img, or arranges the arrangement so as to avoid a specific area in the address plane area 100. Adjust the position and image size.

  The duplicate character determination unit 63 determines characters constituting the character information described in the address plane area 100 so as to overlap with the image Img. For example, when a part of the address overlaps with the image, it is determined that a character constituting the part of the address is a character overlapping with the image.

  The character processing unit 64 emphasizes the character that the overlapping character determination unit 63 determines to overlap with the image Img. If the image Img and characters are printed in duplicate, and the image Img and characters are similar in color, it is difficult to distinguish the characters that overlap with the image Img. The character processing unit 64 emphasizes the characters so that the characters can be easily distinguished even when the characters are printed overlapping the image.

  The image processing unit 65 performs image processing on the image Img arranged by the image arrangement unit 62. For example, the image processing unit 65 uses the correction map M stored in the storage unit 68 to correct the image Img arranged in the address surface area 100 to a lightness of a certain level or more, thereby reducing the print density of the image Img. Perform image processing.

  The display processing unit 66 displays the setting screen of the printing apparatus 11 on the display unit 17 or displays various screens according to the button operation of the operation unit 30 by the user. For this reason, the display processing unit 66 causes the display unit 17 to display a postcard P address screen and a communication screen editing screen, and causes the display unit 17 to display a postcard P print preview screen.

  The print data generation unit 67 generates print data for printing characters and images Img arranged on the address side and the communication side of the postcard P. Specifically, the print data generation unit 67 generates print data for the address plane based on the address plane data including characters and images arranged in the address plane area 100 in the RAM 54. The print data generation unit 67 generates print data for the communication surface based on the communication surface data including characters and images arranged in the communication surface area in the RAM 54. Here, the color systems of the address plane data and the communication plane data are not particularly limited, but here, as an example, data of the RGB color system is used. The print data includes CMYK color system print image data corresponding to the color of ink ejected from the print head 25 and a command (command) used by the print control unit 70 for print control. In this respect, the print data generation unit 67 corresponds to an example of “generation unit”, and the print data corresponds to an example of “printing data”.

  The print control unit 70 constituting the print engine 46 receives print data generated by the print data generation unit 67. The print control unit 70 includes a head control unit 71 that controls driving of the print head 25 based on print image data in the print data, and a conveyance control unit 72 that controls the conveyance motor 24 based on commands in the print data. have. When printing on the postcard P, the head control unit 71 performs ejection control for ejecting ink from the nozzles of the print head 25 based on the print image data, and the transport control unit 72 transports the postcard P based on the command. I do. In this respect, in this embodiment, the print engine 46 corresponds to an example of a “printing unit”.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, when the image Img is printed on the address face of the postcard P, the character information 110 including the postal code 111, the address 112, the name 113, and the sender information 114 such as the sender's address name, When the image Img is printed in duplicate, it may be difficult to distinguish the character information 110 that overlaps with the image Img. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when there is a character that overlaps the image Img in the character information 110 (hereinafter also referred to as a duplicate character OC), the duplicate character OC is emphasized so that it can be easily identified. In addition, by performing image processing that increases the brightness of the image Img that overlaps the overlapping character OC and decreases the print density of the image Img, the overlapping character OC is further easily discriminated. In the present embodiment, the character color described on the address surface, such as characters constituting the character information 110, is a dark color such as black or dark blue.

  Next, a processing routine executed by the computer 50 for printing the character information 110 and the image Img on the address surface will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This processing routine is a processing routine that is executed after the contents and arrangement of the character information 110 described on the address surface are determined.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in step S <b> 11, the computer 50 acquires a character area 130 in which the character information 110 is arranged in the address plane area 100. As shown in FIG. 6, the character area 130 includes an area 131 corresponding to the address 112, an area 132 corresponding to the name 113, and an area 133 corresponding to the sender information 114 of the sender.

  Subsequently, in step S <b> 12, the computer 50 selects an image Img to be arranged in the address plane area 100 of the postcard P. In step S <b> 12, the computer 50 selects the image Img to be arranged in the address plane area 100 based on the operation signal from the operation unit 30 when the user selects the image Img via the operation unit 30. In step S13, the computer 50 places the image Img selected in the previous step S12 in the address plane area 100. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the image Img is arranged in an area 140 in the address plane area 100. The area 140 where the image Img is arranged may be uniquely determined by the computer 50 or may be arbitrarily determined by the user.

  Subsequently, in step S14, the computer 50 acquires a duplicate character OC that overlaps with the image Img arranged in the address plane area 100, and turns on the highlight flag Flg for the duplicate character OC. Here, “overlapping with the image Img” means only characters that completely overlap with the image Img in the present embodiment. Therefore, in the case shown in FIG. 6, the duplicate character OC is “1-2-3” which is the address portion of the address 112 and “ΔΔ like” which is a part of the name 113. When determining which of the characters constituting the character information 110 overlaps with the image Img, for example, each character constituting the character information 110 in the area 140 where the image Img is arranged. It may be determined by whether or not is included. The “highlight display flag Flg” is a flag provided individually for each character constituting the character information 110, and is used to determine whether each character needs to be highlighted in the subsequent steps. Flag. Incidentally, in this step S14, since the highlight flag Flg is turned on for the duplicate character OC, the duplicate character OC is highlighted in the subsequent steps. In the following description, the character for which the highlight flag Flg is turned on is also referred to as the emphasized character HC.

  Subsequently, in step S15, the computer 50 turns on the highlight flag Flg for the characters constituting the unit character string including the duplicate character OC. Here, “unit character string” refers to a well-organized character string. For example, “prefecture name part”, “county name part”, “city name part”, “city name part”, “city part” , “Address part”, “family name part”, “name part”, and the like. Therefore, in the case shown in FIG. 6, the unit character string including the duplicate character OC “ΔΔ-like” is “ΔΔΔ-like” corresponding to the “name portion”, and therefore forms the same part. The highlight flag Flg for each character is turned on. Thus, in the present embodiment, the highlight flag Flg is turned on not only for the duplicate character OC but also for characters constituting the unit character string including the duplicate character OC. The above unit character string is an example, and other unit character strings may be adopted.

  Subsequently, in step S16, the computer 50 performs processing for emphasizing the character for which the emphasis display flag Flg is turned on in steps S14 and S15, that is, the emphasis character HC, and is arranged in the address plane area 100 in step S17. Image processing for increasing the brightness of the image Img and decreasing the print density is performed on the image Img. In step S18, the computer 50 generates print data based on the address data including the character information 110 and the image processed image Img. The generated print data is output from the computer 50 to the print engine 46. Then, the print engine 46 performs printing on the address face of the postcard P based on the print data. Here, after executing step S17 and before executing step S18, the computer 50 inquires of the user whether or not printing can be executed. That is, the computer 50 executes step S18 when there is an explicit print instruction from the user. As a result, the user can issue a print instruction after confirming the print position and print density of the image Img on the address face of the postcard P.

  In the above processing routine, the processing of each step executed by the computer 50 corresponds to an example of a “printing control program”. In the processing routine, step S12 corresponds to an example of “image selection step”, step S13 corresponds to an example of “image placement step”, and steps S14 and S15 correspond to an example of “duplicate character determination step”. Step S16 corresponds to an example of “character processing step”, and step S18 corresponds to an example of “generation step”.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, an emphasis display processing routine executed by the computer 50 to emphasize the characters constituting the unit character string including the duplicate character OC and the duplicate character OC, that is, the emphasized character HC will be described. To do. This processing routine is a processing routine that is executed only for characters for which the highlight flag Flg is turned on.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in step S21, the computer 50 obtains the first character C1 with the thickness of the emphasized character HC as the first thickness FT1. In step S22, the computer 50 acquires the second character C2 that is the same character as the emphasized character HC and has a second thickness FT2 that is thicker than the first thickness FT1. Here, as an example, considering the case where the emphasized character HC is the character “0 (zero)”, the first thickness FT1 of the first character C1 is relatively thin as shown in FIG. The second thickness FT2 of the second character C2 is made relatively thick. The first thickness FT1 may be the original thickness of the emphasized character HC arranged in the address plane area 100. Subsequently, in step S23, the computer 50 sets the first color CL1 of the first character C1 to black. In step S24, the computer 50 sets the second color CL2 of the second character C2 to a color (gray) that is not the first color CL1 (black).

  In step S <b> 25, the computer 50 overlaps the first character C <b> 1 with the second character C <b> 2, and generates a border character whose character color is black and whose border color is not black. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the border character FC of the character “0 (zero)” is generated by the first character C1 and the second character C2 having different thicknesses. Subsequently, in step S26, the computer 50 replaces the emphasized character HC arranged in the address plane area 100 in the character information 110 with a border character.

Next, image processing contents for correcting the lightness of the image Img will be described with reference to the correction map M shown in FIG. 9 and the flowchart shown in FIG.
The correction map M shown in FIG. 9 is a map that is referred to when determining the RGB value of the corrected image Img according to the RGB value of the image Img before correction. In the correction map M, the horizontal axis represents the RGB value (256 gradations) of the image Img before correction, and the vertical axis represents the RGB value (256 gradations) of the image Img after correction. In the map shown in FIG. 9, the straight line indicated by the alternate long and short dash line indicates the tone curve when the RGB values are the same before and after the correction and the brightness is not corrected. In the area below the straight line indicated by the alternate long and short dash line, the RGB value of the image Img after correction is made smaller than the RGB value of the image Img before correction, and in the area above the straight line indicated by the alternate long and short dashed line, The RGB value of the corrected image Img is made larger than the RGB value of the image Img.

  Then, according to the correction map M of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the RGB value of the image Img before correction is corrected to an RGB value equal to or greater than the threshold Th. Here, the threshold value Th is set to the minimum RGB value that can make the image light enough to distinguish the character even if the image and the character overlap.

  By the way, the tone curve correction uses the point where the RGB value of the image before correction is “0 (zero)” and the RGB value of the image after correction is “0 (zero)” as the first point, and before correction. When the point where the RGB value of the image of “255” is “255” and the RGB value of the image after correction is “255” is taken as the second point, the line segment connecting the first point and the second point (The one-dot chain line in FIG. 9) is adjusted. That is, in a state where the first point and the second point are fixed, the line segment connecting the first point and the second point is made convex upward so that the corrected image becomes lighter or the same line By making the minute convex downward, the corrected image can be darkened. For this reason, in order to make the image after correction light, the linear tone curve shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 9 is greatly increased with a steep rise from the first point so as to pass through the region of the threshold Th or more as much as possible. It may be adjusted so as to draw a convex curve. However, even with this adjustment, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 9, the RGB value of the uncorrected image Img is in the range from “0 (zero)” to the value Va, and the RGB of the corrected image Img The value is a value less than the threshold value Th. That is, in this case, in an image having an RGB value within the range of “0 (zero)” to the value Va before correction, a dark portion (dark portion) still exists in the corrected image. If a character overlaps, it may be impossible to distinguish the character. For this reason, as indicated by a thick solid line in FIG. 9, in the correction map M of the present embodiment, the RGB value of the image Img before correction is lightened in the range from “0 (zero)” to the value Va. Is set to a threshold value Th, which is the minimum RGB value necessary for. In the present embodiment, the range below the value Va among the RGB values of the image Img before correction corresponds to an example of a partial range near the lowest value of the brightness of the image before correction.

  Thus, according to the correction map M shown in FIG. 9, the RGB value of the corrected image Img is set to the threshold Th when it is equal to or less than the reference value Va. That is, when the RGB value of the image Img before correction is a value within the range from “0 (zero)” to the value Va, the RGB value of the image Img after correction is set to the threshold Th. Further, when the RGB value of the image Img before correction is larger than the value Va, the RGB value of the image Img after correction is a value larger than the threshold value Th, and becomes larger as the RGB value before correction is larger. Is done. Therefore, according to the correction map M, a color having an RGB value equal to or less than the value Va and a relatively low brightness (for example, black) is changed to a color having an RGB value of the threshold Th and a relatively high brightness (for example, gray). It is corrected. In addition, a color having an RGB value larger than the value Va and a relatively high lightness (for example, gray) is corrected to a color having an RGB value larger than the threshold Th and a relatively high lightness (for example, gray close to white). For this reason, according to this correction map M, the brightness difference before and after the correction becomes larger in the image Img before correction when the RGB value is lower than when the RGB value is high. The map shown in FIG. 9 corrects all the RGB values in the same manner. However, a correction map corresponding to each color (red (R), green (G), blue (B)) is prepared, and each color is corrected. You can use different correction maps.

Next, an image processing routine executed by the computer 50 in order to increase the brightness of the image Img will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In step S31, the computer 50 acquires the image Img before correction. In step S32, the computer 50 acquires the correction map M shown in FIG. In step S33, the computer 50 corrects the image Img based on the correction map M. That is, the RGB value of the image Img after correction is an RGB value corresponding to the RGB value of the image Img before correction and the correction map M shown in FIG. 9, and is an image Img having a higher brightness than before correction. In this case, since the RGB value of the image Img before correction is corrected to an RGB value equal to or greater than the threshold value Th, the image Img can be distinguished to the character that overlaps the image Img in the entire area regardless of the RGB value before correction. Lightly adjusted.

  Subsequently, in step S34, the computer 50 rearranges the corrected image Img in the address plane area 100, and once ends this processing routine. In this way, the corrected image Img whose brightness is higher than that of the image Img before correction is arranged in the address area 100 where the image Img before correction is arranged.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 11 of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, when an overlapping character OC that overlaps with the image Img is determined in the address plane area 100, as shown in FIG. It is a border character. On the other hand, the brightness of the image Img arranged in the address plane area 100 is increased. Then, print data is generated based on the address plane data including the image Img and the character information 110 arranged in the address plane area 100 shown in FIG. 11, and the postcard P is printed based on the print data. Thus, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, even when the image Img is printed on the address side, if there is an overlapping character OC that overlaps the image Img in the character information 110, the same overlapping character OC. Is emphasized or the brightness of the image Img is increased. Thereby, the character information 110 including the duplicate character OC is easily discriminated.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When there is an overlapping character OC that overlaps the image Img in the character information 110, the character information 110 can be easily identified by emphasizing the overlapping character OC.

  (2) In a single character string included in the character information 110, when an emphasized character and an unenhanced character coexist, the character information 110 is emphasized as an emphasized character. It may give the impression that the character string is separated where there is no character switching. Therefore, since the characters are emphasized not only with the overlapping character OC overlapping the image Img but also with the unit character string including the overlapping character OC, it is difficult to give the above-mentioned impression to the reader of the character information 110. Can do.

  (3) Since the overlap character OC is emphasized by bordering with a color different from the color of the overlap character OC, when the color of the image Img and the overlap character OC is the same color, the border portion of the overlap character OC is The boundary with the image Img is clarified. On the other hand, when the color of the border of the image Img and the overlapping character OC is the same color, the boundary between the overlapping character OC and the image Img is clarified. Thus, the overlapping character OC is clarified with respect to the image Img, and the overlapping character OC can be easily discriminated.

(4) Since the first character C1 having a small thickness is overlapped with the second character C2 having a large thickness to generate a border character, the border character can be easily created.
(5) Since the brightness of the image Img arranged on the address surface is increased, for example, it is assumed that the color of the overlapping image OC and the color of the overlapping image OC and the color of the overlapping character OC before the brightness adjustment are similar. In addition, it is possible to easily determine the duplicate character OC.

  (6) Since the pixel having an extremely low RGB value in the range of “0 (zero)” to value Va in the image Img before correction is a dark portion (black or dark color) of the image Img, originally the dark portion thereof The pattern is difficult to see. Therefore, even if the pixels with RGB values “0 (zero)” to value Va in the image Img before correction are uniformly corrected to the threshold value Th and the picture of that portion is not reflected, the problem is not so much. Absent. Then, the tone curve of the correction map M is set so that the RGB value of the image Img after correction increases as the RGB value of the image Img before correction increases in a region equal to or greater than the value Va. Therefore, as a result of the tone curve correction process, a light image Img reflecting the pattern of the image Img before correction can be obtained. In addition, pixels with a considerably high RGB value in an uncorrected image are often not so important for visually recognizing a picture. For this reason, in the region where the RGB value of the image before correction is quite high, even if the RGB value of the image after correction is almost uniformly corrected to a value close to the maximum RGB value, there is no problem in visually recognizing the pattern. As described above, in the present embodiment, the corrected RGB value is corrected to be equal to or greater than the threshold value Th, and the RGB value of the image before correction is small in the middle of the region near the minimum value and the maximum value. It draws a tone curve where the gradient changes greatly in the area. Therefore, the pattern of the image before correction is easily reflected in the lightened image after correction. This is particularly effective for gray scale images.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as shown below.
The second color CL2 (border color) may be a color similar to the complementary color of the overlapping image Img, or may be a complementary color of the overlapping image Img. In addition, when there are a plurality of colors of the overlapping image Img, the second color CL2 may be a complementary color of the average color of the plurality of colors, or among the colors of the image Img, the most present at the boundary with the overlapping character OC It is good also as a complementary color of the color to do. According to this, the border between the border portion of the duplicate character OC and the image Img becomes clear, and the duplicate character OC can be easily discriminated. For example, even when the color of the overlapping character OC is similar to the color of the image Img that overlaps the overlapping character OC, it is possible to suppress the difficulty of distinguishing the overlapping character OC.

  By the way, when the color of the image Img is, for example, one color of the 12 color circles (hereinafter also referred to as the first color), the “complementary color” is the farthest from the first color in the hue circle. Color (hereinafter also referred to as second color). In addition, the “similar colors of complementary colors” means that when the color other than the first color and the second color is the third color in the hue circle, the first color out of the third color is used. A color whose distance to the second color is closer than the distance of.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the overlapping character OC may be emphasized by changing the color of the overlapping character OC. In this case, the color of the overlapping character OC is preferably similar to the complementary color of the color of the image Img2 that overlaps the overlapping character OC, and more preferably the complementary color of the color of the overlapping image Img2. According to this, the boundary between the overlapping character OC and the image Img2 becomes clear, and the overlapping character OC can be easily identified.

  The border character may be generated by setting the character outline to a color different from the character color. Further, the emphasized character HC may not be a border character. For example, as a method for emphasizing the emphasized character HC, the font size of the character may be increased, the character may be shaded, the character may be underlined, or the character may be represented by a rectangular line. It may be enclosed or the background color of the character may be changed.

  A duplication rate of characters constituting the character information 110 with respect to the area 140 where the image Img is arranged is calculated, and it is determined whether or not it is a duplicate character depending on whether or not the duplication rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. Also good. In this case, the predetermined threshold value may be arbitrarily selected by a numerical value of “higher than 0 (zero)% and equal to or lower than 100%”.

  The printing apparatus 11 may not include the printing control apparatus 60. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, in a printing system including a host device 90 (operation terminal) such as a personal computer or a smartphone, and a printing device 11 </ b> A that can communicate with the host device 90 in a wired or wireless manner, A print control device 60 may be provided. In FIG. 13, the printing apparatus 11 </ b> A may have one or more functional units included in the printing control apparatus 60.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the processing routine executed by the computer 50 may be a processing routine executed by the computer 50 in order to display the print preview screen of the address surface on the display unit 17 according to an instruction from the user to the printing apparatus 11. Good. In this case, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, instead of step S <b> 18, the computer 50 generates print preview data as an example of print data including the character information 110 and the image processed image Img. It is preferable to display the data on the display unit 17.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, step S15 may be omitted. That is, it is not necessary to perform image processing for increasing the brightness on the image Img arranged in the region 140. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the character information 110 such as the address 112 and the name 113 from becoming difficult to be distinguished by emphasizing the characters constituting the character information 110 with respect to the image Img.

  In the correction map M shown in FIG. 9, the point where the RGB value of the image before correction is “0 (zero)” and the RGB value of the image after correction is the threshold Th is the first point, When the point where the RGB value of the image is “255” and the RGB value of the image after correction is “255” is the second point, the correction is made by connecting the first point and the second point with a straight line. It may be a map. Moreover, the correction map which connected the 1st point and the 2nd point with the quadratic function or the higher order function beyond it may be sufficient. That is, in this case, the tone curve takes a value greater than or equal to the threshold Th greater than “0 (zero)” after correction in the entire brightness range of the image Img before correction, and the brightness of the image Img before correction increases. It is desirable that the brightness of the image after correction is set to be large.

  According to this, the brightness of the image after correction has a threshold value Th or more over the entire area, and the tone is set so that the brightness of the image after correction increases as the brightness of the image before correction increases relative to the image before correction. Since the curve correction process is performed, the print density can be reduced over the entire brightness of the image Img. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain a corrected image Img reflecting the brightness of the image Img before correction. For example, since the brightness of the image Img before correction is reflected, the original picture is easily reflected although it is faint in the image Img after correction.

  In the correction map M shown in FIG. 9, the tone is displayed with 256 gradations, but the gradation may be lower than the same gradation (for example, 16 gradations) or higher than the same gradation. (For example, 512 gradations).

  The image processing unit 65 may perform image processing for reducing the print density of the image Img by an image processing method other than tone curve correction. As an example, the semi-transparent mask may be overlaid on the image Img so that the print density of the image Img is reduced.

  The printing device 11 may be a printing device other than an ink jet printer as long as it can print on a postal matter such as a postcard P. For example, the printing apparatus may be a dot impact type or laser type printer, or may be a multifunction machine. Further, the printing apparatus may be a serial printer, a line printer, or a page printer.

  The postal matter may be another postal matter such as an envelope instead of the postcard P. In this case, it is preferable to change the range of the character area 130 according to the size of the address surface of other mail such as an envelope. The postal matter may be delivered by putting a package to be delivered at a post office, for example, a package in which a letter or a package is enclosed, or a package in which a package is packed. In this case, the address surface is composed of an address sticker (address label). After printing character information such as address information and sender information on the address sticker, the address sticker is affixed to a predetermined place on the pack or box and mailed. It is assumed to be a thing. In other words, the address surface of the mail piece does not need to be integrated with the mail piece at the time of printing, and the part forming the address surface may be separated from the mail piece like an address sticker. In the present specification, the mail includes a courier service. Also for the courier service, the address surface of the address sticker that is used by being affixed to the pack or box corresponds to the “address surface of the mail”.

  -The address of the postcard P may be written horizontally. In this case, it is preferable to change the range of the character area 130 between vertical writing and horizontal writing.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printing apparatus, 25 ... Print head (an example of a printing part), 40 ... Controller, 50 ... Computer, 53 ... Non-volatile memory (an example of a memory | storage part), 54 ... RAM (an example of a memory | storage part), 60 ... Print control 61: Image selection unit, 62 ... Image arrangement unit, 63 ... Duplicate character determination unit, 64 ... Character processing unit, 65 ... Image processing unit, 66 ... Display processing unit, 67 ... Print data generation unit (an example of generation unit) ), 68 ... Recording unit, 100 ... Address area, 110 ... Character information, 130 ... Character area, Img ... Image, P ... Postcard (an example of postal matter), C1 ... First character, C2 ... Second character , OC ... overlapping character, HC ... highlighted character, CL1 ... first color, CL2 ... second color, FT1 ... first thickness, FT2 ... second thickness, S12 ... image selection step, S13 ... image Arrangement step, S14, 15 ... Duplicate characters Constant step, S16 ... character processing step, S18 ... generating step.

Claims (11)

A print control device for printing character information and images on the address of a mail,
An image selection unit for selecting the image to be arranged in an address surface area corresponding to the address surface;
An image placement unit for placing the image in the address surface area;
In the address surface area, a duplicate character determination unit that determines a duplicate character that overlaps the image in the character information,
A character processing unit for emphasizing the duplicate characters;
A print control apparatus comprising: a generation unit that generates print data based on address surface data including the image and the character information arranged in the address surface area.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character processing unit emphasizes characters constituting a unit character string including the duplicate characters.   The said character processing part emphasizes the said duplicate character by fringing the said duplicate character with the 2nd color different from the said 1st color, when the color of the said duplicate character is made into the 1st color. Or the printing control apparatus of Claim 2. When the thickness of the duplicate character is the first thickness, the character processing unit,
The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the duplicated character is bordered by overlapping the duplicated character on a character having the same thickness as the duplicated character and having a second thickness greater than the first thickness. .   5. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the character processing unit sets the second color to a similar color that is a complementary color of the image color that overlaps the overlapping character. 6.   The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the character processing unit sets a color of the overlapping character to a color similar to a complementary color of the image color overlapping the same overlapping character.   The print control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an image processing unit that performs image processing of the image so that a print density of the image becomes light. The image processing is tone curve correction processing,
The tone curve used in the tone curve correction process is set to a certain threshold value or more where the brightness of the image after correction is greater than zero over the entire brightness of the image before correction, and is closer to the minimum value of the brightness of the image before correction. In a range where the brightness of the image after correction is set to the threshold value in a part of the range and the brightness is higher than a part near the lowest value, the higher the brightness of the image before the correction, the higher the corrected image. The printing control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the printing control apparatus is set so as to increase brightness. The image processing is tone curve correction processing,
The tone curve used in the tone curve correction process takes a value greater than or equal to a threshold value greater than zero after correction in the entire brightness range of the image before correction, and the greater the brightness of the image before correction, the greater the brightness of the image after correction. The print control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the print control apparatus is set to increase brightness. The print control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
And a printing unit that performs printing on the address surface based on the printing data. A printing control program that is executed by a computer to print character information and an image on a mail address.
An image selection step of selecting the image to be arranged in an address surface area corresponding to the address surface;
An image placement step for placing the image in the address plane area;
In the address plane area, a duplicate character determination step for determining a duplicate character that overlaps the image in the character information;
A character processing step for emphasizing the duplicate characters;
A print control program for causing a computer to execute a generation step of generating print data based on address plane data including the image and the character information arranged in the address plane area.