JP2015226168A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photo book generation system that allows an operator to check the image quality in a broad view point without depending on the taste and skill of the operator, and that is capable of automatically generating test print data suppressing the quantity of paper for printing.SOLUTION: An image forming system comprises: acceptance means for accepting an execution instruction of test printing; image data acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of pieces of original image data constituting book print data; image type determination means for determining whether or not each acquired image data corresponds to a preliminarily defined image type; image allocation means for allocating each original image data to a combination of an image type and a check point on the basis of the result of the image type determination means; image edit processing means for performing on allocated image data prescribed image edit processing permitted for a combination of an image type and an image quality check point; and test print data generation means for laying out an edit processed image data group and generating test print data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a test print data generation technique in a photobook creation system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an electronic album creation system that can create an album electronically by arranging image data in a layout having a plurality of pages on a personal computer. The electronic album data created by the user on the electronic album creating system is transmitted to the printing system via the network, and then output as a so-called photo book from the printing apparatus by the operation of the printing operator. Then, the print operator confirms the image quality of the output material and checks whether an image quality problem unintended by the user has occurred.

  The viewpoint of checking the image quality includes, for example, the color tone and graininess of the person's skin, or the gradation of the shadow part and highlight part. At this time, if a problem in image quality has occurred, the operator discards the output and instructs the printing apparatus to output the photo book again. Generally, in the case of a photo book with a small number of copies, discarding the output of this print increases the failure cost for this print. For this reason, there is a demand for a technique for reducing the cost of image quality check at a low cost by test printing that outputs a part of the original data before the main printing.

  Conventionally, techniques for reducing the amount of paper consumed for test printing have been proposed in the following prior patent documents. In the methods proposed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a specific area in the image data included in the original print data is set as a test print area. The result of applying a plurality of image processing parameters to the test print area is collected and output on the same sheet of paper, so that the test print amount for the operator to determine the optimum image processing conditions can be obtained. It is mitigating. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228867 proposes a method for reducing the amount of paper for test printing by outputting only a specific page such as the first page of an original job or a specified range page as test printing.

JP 2002-209090 A JP 2001-047712 A JP 2002-337430 A

  However, in any of the prior arts, the test print data is limited to a specific area (image, page) designated by the operator. Therefore, it is difficult to check a wide variety of image data included in a photobook from a plurality of viewpoints with a single test print. In addition, since the operator designates the test print target, the check viewpoint depends on the operator's preference and proficiency level. Furthermore, if the operator does not select the test print target after grasping the characteristics of the image data included in the original data or the page contents, it is difficult to achieve both the accuracy of the image quality check and the reduction of the test print cost.

  Therefore, the present invention provides means for automatically generating test print data that can check the image quality from a wide viewpoint without depending on the preference and proficiency level of the operator, and that suppresses the amount of printing paper. For the purpose.

In order to solve the above problems, the configuration of the image forming system according to the present invention is as follows.
Test print instruction accepting means for accepting test print execution instructions, image data obtaining means for obtaining a plurality of original image data constituting the print data, and corresponding to a predefined image type for the obtained original image data Original image data in a combination of an image type determination unit for determining whether to perform the image type and a check viewpoint defined for each image type, in which a predetermined required number is determined based on the result of the image type determination unit Image assigning means for assigning the image, and image editing processing means for performing predetermined image editing processing permitted for the combination of the assigned image type and the image quality check viewpoint on the original image data assigned by the image assigning means, Lay out the processed image data group processed by the image editing processing means And having a test print data generating means for generating a test print data in the.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically create test print data that can check the image quality from a wide viewpoint without depending on the preference and proficiency level of the operator. In addition, since the test image data is edited while suppressing the influence on the image quality check, both the accuracy of the image quality check and the reduction of the test printing cost can be achieved.

The figure which shows the photobook creation system whole structure as one Embodiment of this invention. An example of a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 200 The figure which shows the test print data creation flow in Example 1 Flowchart of image type determination processing S304 in Embodiment 1. Flowchart of image assignment processing S305 in Embodiment 1 Flowchart of image editing process S306 in Embodiment 1 FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job management screen 700 according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the test print setting screen 800 in Example 1, 4. The figure which shows an example of the image allocation result (900,901) in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of image list data 1000 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of image allocation list data 1100 according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the image allocation number parameter information 1200 in Example 3. FIG.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Photobook creation system configuration diagram>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a photobook creation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration of the booklet creation system will be described with reference to FIG. An image input apparatus 101 is an image input apparatus that converts an optical image, which is image information, into an electrical signal, performs predetermined image processing, and records and reproduces the digital information. For example, the image input device 101 is a digital still camera, a digital video camera, or a scanner. Reference numeral 102 denotes a client device composed of a personal computer operated by a user. The client device 102 stores the image data acquired via the image input device 101 or the network 106 in a storage device such as an HDD and uses it in an album editing means described later.

  A print site 103 is connected to the client apparatus 102 via the network 106. The user can access the print site 103 via the network 106 to acquire a template and image data used for album editing and to execute a print order for the created album data.

  The printing system 104 receives an album data print instruction from the print site 103 and outputs a photo book which is a final product of the system.

  The printing system 104 includes an information processing apparatus 200 and a printing apparatus 201. The information processing apparatus 200 receives and manages a print job input to the printing system 104, manages a workflow including post-processes, acquires device information of the printing apparatus 201, and transmits a print job to the printing apparatus 201. Execute. The printing apparatus 201 interprets the print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus 200, rasterizes it, and prints it.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a network such as the Internet, which connects the client apparatus 102 and the print site 103, and transmits and receives various data.

  A content DB 110 on the print site 103 stores template data and image data for an electronic album.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 200. The CPU 201 executes a program stored in a program area inside the ROM 206, or a program such as an OS or a general-purpose application loaded from the hard disk 203 to the RAM 202. The RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The hard disk 203 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, electronic document files, and the like. All print jobs received by the information processing apparatus 200 are sent to the hard disk 203. A display controller 204 controls display on the display. The network controller 205 executes communication control processing with other devices connected to the network. A keyboard controller 209 controls key input from a keyboard or pointing device. The CPU 201 is connected to each block by an internal bus 210.

<Album editing means>
Album editing means for the user to create album data is realized as an application on the client device 102. The album editing means executes product selection on the print site 103, layout editing processing, and selection / editing processing of image data used for the album in accordance with an instruction from the user, and generates electronic album data. Thereafter, the album editing means uploads the generated electronic album data and layout information to the print site 103 when the user orders printing of album data on the print site 103. At this time, the album editing means also uploads the image data after image processing such as scaling and trimming to create an electronic album to the print site 103 together with the electronic album data. The uploaded image data is stored in the content DB 110 of the print site 103 and used for test print data creation described later.

<Example 1>
Next, an example of test print data creation processing performed by the information processing apparatus 200 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart is realized by the CPU 201 of the information processing device 200 executing the program stored in the ROM 206 of the information processing device 200.

  In S301, the information processing apparatus 200 receives a test print instruction from the operator. The operator can refer to the job management screen 700 illustrated in FIG. 7 on the UI of the information processing apparatus 200 or a terminal connected to the information processing apparatus 200 via a network. On the job management screen 700, the operator selects a job for which test printing is to be executed. The information processing apparatus 200 receives a test print instruction by detecting that the test print button 702 in the processing instruction area 701 displayed for the selected job is pressed by the operator.

  In step S <b> 302, the information processing apparatus 200 acquires image data constituting the print data from the content DB 110 via the network.

  In step S <b> 303, the information processing apparatus 200 sorts the image data acquired from the content DB 110 in descending order of size, and assigns data IDs in order, thereby creating the image list data 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10. The image list data 1000 created by the information processing apparatus 200 is stored in the RAM 202 and used in the subsequent processing. The size of the image serving as the reference for the sorting process may be determined from the number of pixels of the image data, or determined from the layout information applied to each image data by the album editing unit in the client device 102 described above. Also good. In a general electronic album creation service, the layout frame of image data is limited to several types, and the size of each frame is also fixed. Therefore, if the information processing apparatus 200 acquires layout information from the content DB 110 at the same time as the image data, the size of each image data can be easily determined.

  Next, in S304, the information processing apparatus 200 performs an image type determination process on the acquired image data. Then, the information processing apparatus 200 performs image assignment processing in S305 based on the image type determination result, and subsequently performs image editing processing in S306.

  Details of the image type determination processing S304, the image allocation processing S305, and the image editing processing S306 will be described later.

  In S307, the information processing apparatus 200 generates test print data by laying out the processed image data processed in S306 on a predetermined paper size with reference to an image allocation list 1100 described later. In step S308, the printing apparatus 201 is controlled to output test print data, and the processing flow ends. As a method of laying out image data, detailed description is omitted because a known automatic image layout technique such as sorting image data in order of size and then arranging the image data in descending order is used.

  Thereafter, after checking the output test print data, the operator instructs the information processing apparatus 200 to perform processing such as main printing or re-execution of test printing from the job management screen 700.

<Test printing paper size>
Note that the “predetermined paper size” in the layout processing of S307 is a fixed size defined in advance by the printing system. For example, a large size such as A3 or 11 * 19 is preferable from the viewpoint of reducing test printing cost because more processed image data can be arranged in one sheet.

  Alternatively, the information processing apparatus 200 can cause the operator to set an arbitrary paper size on the UI as the “predetermined paper size”. In this case, the information processing apparatus 200 receives a predetermined UI operation by the operator and displays a test print setting screen 800 shown in FIG. 8A on the display. When the operator detects that the operator presses the paper size setting button 801 on the test print setting screen 800, the information processing apparatus 200 displays the paper size setting screen 810 in FIG. 8B on the display. The operator can select a paper size to be used for test printing on the paper size setting screen 810. For example, when it is detected that the OK button 814 has been pressed after selecting the A4 button 811, the information processing apparatus 200 performs control so that the processed image data is laid out on the A4 paper size. In the example of the paper size setting screen 810 shown in FIG. 8, only two types of A4 button 811 and A3 button 812 are shown for simplification of explanation, but this is not restrictive. It is also possible to configure the screen so that the operator can freely select other paper sizes such as LTR and 11 * 19.

  Alternatively, the information processing apparatus 200 may apply the maximum paper size stored in the printing apparatus 201 at the time of test print data creation as the “predetermined paper size”.

  The information processing apparatus 200 detects that the operator has pressed the OK button 814 after selecting the “use maximum paper size” button 813 on the paper size setting screen 810 described above. When receiving a test print instruction in this state, the information processing apparatus 200 dynamically acquires the size information of the sheets stored in the plurality of paper feed trays of the printing apparatus 201. Then, the information processing apparatus 200 identifies the maximum paper size from the obtained paper size information of the plurality of paper feed trays, and defines this as the paper size for creating test print data. For example, if the printing apparatus has three paper feed stages and stores sheets of A4, LTR, and 11 * 19 sizes, the information processing apparatus 200 performs test printing of 11 * 19, which is the maximum. Defined as paper size for data creation.

<Test printing paper attributes>
When the information processing apparatus 200 transmits the test print data to the printing apparatus 201 in S <b> 308, the information processing apparatus 200 designates the paper attribute of the test print paper. The paper attribute is information such as uncoated paper and coated paper, and is generally set for each paper feed tray of the printing apparatus 201 according to the stored paper. In the above-described embodiment, the information processing apparatus 200 designates the same attribute as the paper attribute designated in the main printing at the time of test printing. This is because it is possible to confirm the image quality more faithful to the actual printing with the same paper attribute.

  However, the paper attribute designation means is not limited to this, and the operator can designate any paper attribute. In this case, the information processing apparatus 200 receives a predetermined UI operation by the operator and displays the above-described test print setting screen 800 on the display. When the operator detects that the operator presses the paper attribute setting button 802 on the test print setting screen 800, the information processing apparatus 200 displays the paper attribute setting screen 820 in FIG. 8C on the display. The operator can select an arbitrary paper attribute used for test printing on the paper attribute setting screen 820. For example, when it is detected that the OK button 825 has been pressed after selecting the uncoated paper button 823, the information processing apparatus 200 instructs the printing apparatus 201 to output the processed image data on uncoated paper thereafter. To do. In the example of the paper size setting screen 820 shown in FIG. 8, only two types of uncoated paper button 823 and coated paper button 824 are shown as paper attribute options for the sake of simplification. is not. It is also possible to configure the screen so that the operator can freely select other paper attributes such as thick paper and thin paper.

  Further, in the example of the paper size setting screen 820 shown in FIG. 8, the “same as main printing” button 821 is shown. However, as described above, in order to realize the image quality confirmation faithful to the main printing, the initial system In the state, this button is preferably selected. When the “automatic” button 822 shown on the screen is selected, the information processing apparatus 200 instructs the printing apparatus 201 not to ask the paper attribute of the paper used for test printing. When the “use maximum paper size” button 813 is selected in the test print paper size setting described above, the information processing apparatus 200 automatically controls so that the “automatic” button 822 is selected. To do. This is because the information processing apparatus 200 refers only to the paper size information of the printing apparatus 201 at the time of “use the maximum paper size”, and the paper attributes are not limited.

<Image type determination processing>
Next, details of the above-described image type determination processing S304 will be described with reference to a processing flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart is realized by the CPU 201 of the information processing device 200 executing the program stored in the ROM 206 of the information processing device 200.

  First, in S401, the image type determination mode in which the information processing apparatus 200 determines the image type determination mode indicates a determination criterion for subsequent image type determination processing. For example, “person”, “landscape” , “Dark”, “Highlight” and other image types. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described using these four image types as an example, and the order of the image type determination mode is “person”, “landscape”, “dark”, and “highlight”. Since the information processing apparatus 200 selects the first image type immediately after the start of the image type determination process, “person” is determined as the image type determination mode here.

  Next, in S402, the information processing apparatus 200 determines target image data on which image type determination is to be performed. When processing for the first time, the information processing apparatus 200 selects the first image data in the image list data 1000 in the RAM 202 as the target image data.

  Subsequently, in S403, the information processing apparatus 200 performs image type determination on the image data. Image type determination criteria differ depending on the image type determination mode. For example, when the image type determination mode is “person”, the information processing apparatus 200 determines whether a person is included in the image data using a known person recognition or face recognition algorithm. In the case of “landscape” as well, the information processing apparatus 200 uses a known scene determination technique to determine whether or not the image is a landscape photograph of the sea, grassland, or the like. With regard to “dark” and “highlight”, for example, the information processing apparatus 200 analyzes a histogram of image data, and whether the image is a dark or highlighted pixel with a predetermined threshold. To decide.

  In next step S <b> 404, the information processing apparatus 200 records the image type determination result for the image in the image list data 1000. An image type area 1003 in the image list data 1000 shown in FIG. 10 is an example of recording an image type determination result, and indicates which image type each image is determined as. Note that the corresponding number area 1004 in the image list data 1000 indicates the total number of image data belonging to each image type, and the information processing apparatus 200 performs control so as to reflect the result of determination processing of individual image data each time. To do.

  Thereafter, in step S405, the information processing apparatus 200 determines whether determination of all target image data has been completed in the current image type determination mode. If there is undetermined image data, the information processing apparatus 200 advances the processing to S402, and selects the next image data on the image list data 1000 as a determination target. On the other hand, if the determination of all data has been completed, the information processing apparatus 200 advances the processing to S406, and determines whether the determination processing in all image type determination modes has been completed.

  If there is an image type determination mode in which the determination process is not performed, the information processing apparatus 200 proceeds to S401 and changes the image type determination mode to the next mode. On the other hand, if the determination process has been completed in all the image type determination modes, the information processing apparatus 200 ends the image type determination flow.

<Image allocation process>
Next, details of the above-described image assignment processing S305 will be described with reference to a processing flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart is realized by the CPU 201 of the information processing device 200 executing the program stored in the ROM 206 of the information processing device 200.
First, the information processing apparatus 200 calls the image list data 1000 in the RAM 202 in S501.

  Next, the information processing apparatus 200 determines an image type assignment priority order in S502. Here, the following processing will be described assuming that the system predefines “person”, “landscape”, “dark”, and “highlight”.

  In step S503, the information processing apparatus 200 sets an image type to be subjected to image allocation processing. Since the information processing apparatus 200 sets the first image type in the priority order of assignment determined in S502 immediately after the start of the image assignment process, in the present embodiment, “person” is first set as an image assignment target.

  In step S504, the information processing apparatus 200 determines target image data for image allocation processing. When processing for the first time, the information processing apparatus 200 selects the top image data in the image list data 1000 as the target image data.

  In step S505, it is determined whether an assigned flag is assigned to the image data. The details of the assigned flag will be described later when explaining the processing of S508.

  If the assigned flag is assigned to the image data, the information processing apparatus 200 advances the processing to S504, and determines the next image data on the image list data 1000 as a processing target image. On the other hand, if the assigned flag is not assigned to the image data, the information processing apparatus 200 determines in S506 whether the image data corresponds to the image type subject to image assignment processing from the image type determination result information. judge.

  If the image data does not correspond to the image type subject to image assignment processing, the information processing apparatus 200 proceeds to S504 and determines the next image data on the image list data 1000 as the processing target image. On the other hand, if the image data corresponds to the image type that is the object of image allocation processing, the information processing apparatus 200 gives an image type attribute and a check viewpoint attribute to the image data in S507. The check viewpoint attribute is an attribute that the system defines in advance for each image type. For example, the “person” image type is associated with check points of “skin color” and “graininess”. Note that the check viewpoint attributes are assigned by the system mechanically in a predetermined order. For example, when the above-described “skin color” and “granularity” are associated with the image type “person”, the first image data assigned to “person” is “skin color”, The second data is assigned a check point of “granularity”. From the third, the check viewpoints are assigned again in the order of “skin color” and “graininess”.

  Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 200 assigns an assigned flag to the image data in S508. Specifically, the information processing apparatus 200 overwrites the information for the image data from “not yet” to “completed” in the allocation processing area 1005 of the image list data 1000 in the RAM 202. FIG. 10 shows the image list data 1000 before the image allocation process, so that all the information in the allocation processing area 1005 is “uncompleted”, but this process is updated to “completed” as appropriate.

  Next, in step S509, the information processing apparatus 200 determines whether the necessary number of image data has been allocated to the current image allocation target image type. This “necessary number” is a unique value defined in advance by the system, and is preferably N times the number of check viewpoints. In this embodiment, the image allocation number parameter N is set to 1 for simplification of description. In this case, the number of image data that needs to be allocated is two for image types for which two check viewpoints are defined.

  If the necessary number of image data has already been allocated to the current image allocation processing target image type, the information processing apparatus 200 advances the processing flow to S511. On the other hand, if the required number of image data has not been assigned to the current image assignment process S305 target image type, the information processing apparatus 200 advances the process to S510, and the image data is the last image data of the image list data 1000. Determine if there is. If the image data is not the last image, the information processing apparatus 200 advances the processing to S504 and determines the next image data on the image list data 1000 as a processing target image. On the other hand, if the image data is the last image, the information processing apparatus 200 advances the processing flow to S511.

  In step S511, the information processing apparatus 200 determines whether the image assignment processing for all image types has been completed. If the image assignment processing for all image types has not been completed, the information processing apparatus 200 advances the processing to S503, and sets the image assignment processing target to the next priority image type. If the image allocation process for all image types has been completed, the information processing apparatus 200 ends the image allocation process.

  Here, the operation when the above-described image assignment processing S305 is advanced will be described by taking the image type determination result 1003 indicated by the image list data 1000 in FIG. 10 as an example.

  The information processing apparatus 200 first executes an image data allocation process for “person”. As a result of detecting the required number of pieces of image data determined as “person” from the top of the image list data, the information processing apparatus 200 assigns data having IDs 1 and 3 to “person” and has been assigned. Give a flag. Next, the image allocation target is changed to “landscape” and “dark”, and the information processing apparatus 200 changes the data with IDs 2 and 5 to “landscape” and the data with IDs 4 and 6 to “landscape”. Assign to “Dark”. Finally, the information processing apparatus 200 performs the image assignment process S305 for “highlight”. Since the corresponding image data is only one data with the ID 7, the process is performed without satisfying the necessary number of two data. finish. An image assignment result A (900) in FIG. 9A shows the result of the image assignment process S305 in this example, and the shaded portion in the figure is image data assigned to each image type.

  As described above, the image allocation process S305 target may be changed to the next image type without assigning the necessary number of image data to the allocation process target image type. In other words, the image allocation process S305 may end while the allocated image data does not reach the predefined required number, but the information processing apparatus 200 continues the process as it is as a correct operation. In this system, since the purpose is to realize cost-saving test print data creation, it is not a problem that the corresponding image data is less than the required number.

  However, in order to assign image data more uniformly to each image type, the information processing apparatus 200 determines the priority order of assignment in ascending order of the ratio of the number of corresponding image data to the number of required image data of each image type in S502. Also good. An image type determination result 1003 indicated by the image list data 1000 in FIG. 10 will be described as an example. For the number of required image data of 2 for each image type, as the number of image data corresponding to each image type is recorded in the corresponding number area 1004 of the image list data 1000 in FIG. 10, “person”: 5, “landscape” : 2, “Dark”: 6, “Highlight”: 3. In this case, the necessary number / corresponding number is “person”: 5/2, “scenery”: 2/2, “dark”: 6/2, “highlight”: 3/2. 1. "Landscape", 2. "Highlight", 3. “Person”, 4. "Dark" order. When the image assignment processing S305 is advanced in this order, as shown in the image assignment result B (901) of FIG. 9B, the required number of two data is assigned to all image types. In the description of the image editing process S306 described later, the result of the image assignment result B (901) is used.

<Image editing process>
Next, details of the above-described image editing process S306 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 shows an image assignment list 1100 that is created from the result of the image assignment process S 305 and stored in the RAM 202. The image processing permission information 1101 predefines whether or not predetermined image processing is possible for a combination of an image type and a check viewpoint. In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 200 performs a reduction process and a trimming process as the predetermined image processing. For example, regarding the color tone, either reduction processing or trimming processing including a target portion can be performed because the image quality can be confirmed. On the other hand, since it is difficult to faithfully reproduce the gradation with a reduction process, the reduction cannot be performed, and the trimming process including the target portion is possible.

  The assigned image ID information 1102 indicates the ID of the image assigned to the combination of the image type and the check viewpoint by the image assignment processing S305. The assigned image ID information 1102 in FIG. According to the result of (901).

  FIG. 6 is a processing flow of the image editing process S306. This flowchart is realized by the CPU 201 of the information processing device 200 executing the program stored in the ROM 206 of the information processing device 200.

  In step S601, the information processing apparatus 200 first calls the image assignment list 1100 in the RAM 202, and in step S602, determines image data to be processed. When processing for the first time, the information processing apparatus 200 selects the top image data in the image assignment list 1100 as the target image data.

  In step S <b> 603, the information processing apparatus 200 determines from the image processing permission information 1101 whether reduction processing is permitted for the image data.

  If the reduction process is permitted, the information processing apparatus 200 performs the reduction process on the image data in S604, and then advances the process to S605. If the reduction process is not permitted, the process proceeds directly to S605. Note that the reduction processing in the present embodiment is performed at a predetermined magnification such as 1/4.

  In step S <b> 605, the information processing apparatus 200 determines from the image processing permission information 1101 whether the trimming process is permitted for the image data.

  If the trimming process is permitted, the information processing apparatus 200 performs the trimming process on the image data in S606, and then advances the process to S607. If the trimming process is not permitted, the process proceeds directly to S607. It should be noted that the trimming process in the present embodiment is performed at a predetermined magnification such as 1/2 of the original image. In addition, it is assumed that an optimum portion is selected as a region to be cut out by the trimming process according to the image type. For example, when the image type is “person”, an area including a person is included. When the image type is “dark”, an area having the darkest signal value may be cut out as a result of histogram analysis.

  In step S <b> 607, the information processing apparatus 200 records the size information of the processed image data in association with the image assignment list 1100 in the RAM 202.

  In step S608, the information processing apparatus 200 determines whether there is image data for which editing processing has not been completed. If there is image data that has not been edited yet, the information processing apparatus 200 advances the processing to S602, and determines the next image data on the image assignment list 1100 to be edited. When the editing process has been completed for all the image data, the information processing apparatus 200 ends the image editing process.

  According to this embodiment, test print data is created using image data corresponding to a plurality of image types, so that it is possible to check the image quality from a wide viewpoint without depending on the preference and proficiency level of the operator. Further, since the test image data is reduced and trimmed while avoiding the influence on the image quality check, both the accuracy of the image quality check and the reduction of the test printing cost can be achieved.

<Example 2>
Next, a method for limiting the target image data in the image type determination process S304 according to the second embodiment based on the image size will be described.

  In the first embodiment, the information processing apparatus 200 performs the image type determination process S304 on all the image data listed in the image list data 1000 of the RAM 202, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  The information processing apparatus 200 performs size determination for each image data before performing the image type determination processing S304, and performs control so that the image type determination processing S304 is not performed for an image less than a predetermined size. Also good.

  In step S <b> 303, the information processing apparatus 200 creates the image list data 1000 including the size information 1002 used for the sorting process, and stores the image list data 1000 in the RAM 202. In this embodiment, the image size information is classified into extra large, large, medium, and small types. Then, the information processing apparatus 200 identifies image data on which the image type determination process S304 is not performed based on the image size information before performing the image type determination process. In this embodiment, the division processing apparatus excludes image data classified as having a small image size from the target of the image type determination process S304. Therefore, in the case of the image list data 1000 in FIG. 10, the image data with IDs: 7 to N are not subject to image type determination processing.

  According to the present embodiment, the degree of expectation for the image quality of the user and the small size image, which is expected to have a relatively low possibility of the image quality degradation being excluded, are excluded from the processing target, so that the efficiency of the image quality check is improved. It is possible to create test print data that does not drop the image.

  Note that if the allocated image data is less than the necessary number defined in advance, the information processing apparatus 200 ends the process as it is in the first embodiment, but this is not a limitation. The information processing apparatus 200 may additionally perform the image type determination processing S304 and the image allocation processing S305 for small-size image data that is not subject to image type determination processing so as to satisfy the required number.

  In the above example, as a result of the image data of ID: 7 to N being excluded from the image type determination processing target, if the number of allocated images is less than the required number, the information processing apparatus 200 The image type determination process S304 and the image assignment process S305 are performed again only on the image data. Note that the image allocation processing S305 is performed by the information processing apparatus 200 after the insufficient number of image data is defined as the necessary number. The additional processing for the small-size image is automatically executed by the information processing apparatus 200, but is not limited thereto. If it is determined that the number of assigned images is less than the required number with only the image data within the reference size, the information processing apparatus 200 may execute additional processing after obtaining operator approval through the UI. In this case, the information processing apparatus 200 notifies the operator that test print data less than the required number of image data has been created via the UI. At the same time, the information processing apparatus 200 causes the operator to select whether or not to regenerate test print data that satisfies the required number by adding non-standard small size images. Upon detecting that the operator has instructed recreation of print data, the information processing apparatus 200 starts a recreation process of test print data using small-size image data.

  By the above processing, it is possible to flexibly reconfigure test print data for a denser image quality check while maintaining the efficiency of various processes by basically excluding small-size images from processing. A secure system.

<Example 3>
Next, a method for dynamically determining the required number of image data to be assigned to each image type in the image assignment process S305 in the third embodiment based on the information of the print data will be described.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the information processing apparatus 200 analyzes job information of the main print data and acquires information on the print paper size and the number of output pages before the image allocation process S305.

  The ROM 206 stores in advance image allocation number parameter information 1200 that can be changed according to the print paper size and the number of output pages. The information processing apparatus 200 calls this image allocation number parameter from the ROM 206, and dynamically determines the image allocation number parameter N using the acquired job information. FIG. 12 shows an example of the image allocation number parameter information 1200. For example, when the print data is a 30-page job using A3 paper, the information processing apparatus 200 determines the image allocation number parameter N as 2 from the image allocation number parameter information 1200 and executes the image allocation process S305. To do.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to create a more appropriate amount of test print data according to the scale of the main print.

<Example 4>
Next, in the fourth embodiment, a description will be given of a method in which the image assignment process S305 determines the order of the image types or the target for executing the image assignment process based on an instruction from the operator.

  In response to a predetermined UI operation by the operator, the information processing apparatus 200 displays a test print setting screen 800 illustrated in FIG. 8A on the display. When the operator detects that the test data extraction setting button 803 is pressed on the test print setting screen 800, the information processing apparatus 200 displays the test data extraction setting screen 830 in FIG. 8D on the display. The test data extraction setting screen 830 includes an image type selection area 831, an extraction mode selection area 836, and a return button 839. The image type setting area 831 displays buttons for each image type defined by the system, such as a person button 832, a landscape button 833, a dark button 834, and a highlight button 835. By pressing these buttons, the operator can designate a plurality of image types for which image data is to be preferentially extracted to the information processing apparatus 200. The extraction mode selection area 836 displays buttons such as a priority button 837 and a limit button 839 that allow the operator to select an image assignment method for the designated priority image type. When the return button 839 is pressed by the operator, the information processing apparatus 200 controls to return the display on the test print setting screen 800.

  Next, an image assignment method when the priority button 837 or the limit button 838 is selected by the operator will be described.

  The information processing apparatus 200 detects an item selected in the image type selection area 831 and the extraction mode selection area 836 when determining the image type assignment priority order in S502 described above.

  When the priority button 837 is selected in the extraction mode selection area 836, the information processing apparatus 200 first determines the allocation priority order A for only the priority image types selected in the image type selection area 831. Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 200 determines the allocation priority order B of the remaining image types. Then, the information processing apparatus 200 determines the final image allocation order by combining the allocation priority order B after the allocation priority order A. Note that the method for determining the allocation priority order between the selected priority image types or non-selection non-priority image types is the same as in the first to third embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  On the other hand, when the limit button 838 is selected in the extraction mode selection area 836, the information processing apparatus 200 determines the allocation priority order only with the priority image type selected in the image type selection area 831. Regarding the non-priority image type that is not selected, the information processing apparatus 200 controls the non-priority image type as a non-target in the processes after S502.

  The processing after the allocation priority order is determined in S502 is the same as in the first to third embodiments, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Here, as a specific example, an operation when the result of the image type determination process S304 is as shown in the image type area 1003 of FIG. 10 will be described.

  First, it is assumed that the person button 832, the dark button 834, and the priority button 837 are set as shown in the test data extraction setting screen 830 of FIG.

  In this case, in S502, the information processing apparatus 200 first determines the allocation priority order based on only “person” and “dark”. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the priority order of assignment is determined with reference to the order of “person”, “landscape”, “dark”, and “highlight” predefined by the system. In this case: "Person", 2. "Dark" order. Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 200 determines an allocation priority order for the remaining “landscape” and “highlight”. In this case: "Landscape", 2. It becomes "highlight" order. Finally, the information processing apparatus 200 combines these allocation priorities, and "Person", 2. “Dark”, 3. “Landscape”, 4. Determine “highlight” and final allocation priority.

  Next, it is assumed that a person button 832, a dark button 834, and a limit button 838 are set. In this case, since the information processing apparatus 200 determines the allocation priority order only with “person” and “dark” in S502, the final allocation priority order is 1. "Person", 2. “Dark”.

  According to this embodiment, even when the types of image data constituting the main print are biased, the test image extraction method can be changed in accordance with the contents, so that the test print data is more efficient and cost-saving. Can be created.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the limit button 838 is selected in the extraction mode selection region 836, the target is limited to the priority image type from the processing after the image allocation processing S305. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 200 may determine whether or not the limit button 838 is selected in the extraction mode selection area 836 at the start of the image type determination process S304, and may change the subsequent processing according to the result. . In this case, when the information processing apparatus 200 detects that the limit button 838 is selected, the information processing apparatus 200 specifies the priority image type selected in the image type selection area 831. Then, the processing after S401 is controlled so as to target only the priority image type.

  As a result of this processing, the image type determination processing is omitted for image types for which image allocation processing is not performed, so that test print image data can be generated more efficiently.

<Example 5>
In the fifth embodiment, when the information processing apparatus 200 lays out the processed image data in S307, the image type assigned by the image assigning unit S305 and the check viewpoint information are added as text in the vicinity of each image. May be.

  For example, when the test print data generation process of S307 is performed with reference to the image assignment list 1100 of FIG. 11, the information processing apparatus 200 displays “person: skin color” in the vicinity of the post-process image data of ID: 1. Insert the string "Check".

  This embodiment makes it clear to the operator from which point of view the image quality should be checked for each image arranged on the test print data. Therefore, it is possible to provide a test printing means capable of checking a certain level of image quality regardless of the level of proficiency of the operator.

102 client device, 104 printing system, 200 information processing device,
201 printing apparatus, 1000 image data list, 1100 image allocation list

Claims (16)

An image forming system including a test printing unit for confirming image quality before actual printing,
The test printing means includes
Test print instruction receiving means (S301) for receiving a test print execution instruction;
Image data acquisition means (S302) for acquiring a plurality of original image data constituting the print data;
Image type determination means (S304) for determining whether the acquired original image data corresponds to a predefined image type;
An image assigning means (S305) for assigning original image data to a combination of an image type and a check viewpoint defined for each image type, in which a predetermined required number is determined based on the result of the image type determining means;
Image processing means (S306) for performing predetermined image processing permitted for the combination of the assigned image type and the image quality check viewpoint on the original image data assigned by the image assignment means;
An image forming system comprising test print data generation means (S307) for generating test print data by laying out a processed image data group processed by the image editing processing means. 2. The image editing processing means (S306) according to claim 1, wherein one or both of a reduction process (S604) and a trimming process (S606) are performed as the predetermined image editing process. Image forming system. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the test print data generation unit (S <b> 307) lays out the processed image data group on a predetermined paper size defined in advance by the system. . The image forming system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the test print data generation unit (S307) lays out the processed image data group on a paper size designated in advance by an operator. The test print data generation means (S307), which acquires size information of a plurality of sheets stored in the printing apparatus at the time of test print data generation, and lays out the processed image data group to the maximum sheet size. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The test print data generation means (S307), comprising means for permitting an operator to set attribute of a sheet used for test print data output. The image forming system described. The test print data generation means (S307), wherein the image type assigned by the image assignment means and information on the check viewpoint are added in the vicinity of each processed image. The image forming system according to claim 6. 8. The image assignment unit (S305), wherein the image assignment process (S305) is performed on an image type in an order defined in advance by the system. The image forming system described in 1. The image assignment means (S305), wherein the processing order of image types is determined (S502) from the relationship between the result of the image type determination means (S304) and the predetermined required number (S502). The image forming system according to claim 7. The image assigning means (S305), wherein an order of image types or an object to be subjected to image assignment processing (S305) is determined (S502) based on an instruction from an operator (S502). The image forming system according to claim 9. 11. The image forming system according to claim 10, wherein the image type determination unit (S304) does not perform a specific image type determination process (S304) based on an instruction from an operator. The image type determination unit (S304) does not perform the image type determination process (S304) for original image data less than a predetermined size. The image forming system according to item. As a result of performing the image assignment means (S305), when the original image data to be assigned to the image type frame is less than the predetermined required number, the original image data for which the image type determination process (S304) has not been performed is performed. 13. The image forming system according to claim 12, wherein an image type determination process (S304) and an image assignment process (S305) are executed. As a result of performing the image allocating means (S305), when the original image data allocated to the image type frame is less than the predetermined necessary number, the subsequent processing is performed without satisfying the necessary number. The image forming system according to claim 1. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the image allocation unit (S305) defines the predetermined required number in advance. 15. The image allocation unit (S305) according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined required number is dynamically determined based on information of the print data. Image forming system.