JP2017216009A - Inspection method of page data - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image inspection data creation device, an image inspection data creation program, and an image inspection data creation method for creating data by comparing an image expressed by page data to be printed with an image expressed by print data to be output to a printer obtained by converting the page data.SOLUTION: When a difference page image is created by comparing a page image to be inspected with an inspection page image, attribute information in an image region of the page image to be inspected and an image region of the inspection page image corresponding to the difference page image is acquired from the page image data to be inspected and the inspection page image data such that difference page image attribute information as inspection result is created.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  Data for inspecting an image expressed by page data for printing and an image expressed by print data for output to a printing machine obtained by converting the page data The present invention relates to an image inspection data creation apparatus, an image inspection data creation program, and an image inspection data creation method.

Print data created by RIP by performing rasterization processing (hereinafter referred to as RIP) on the page data that represents the page image of the printed material created by a page description language such as PostScript (registered trademark of ADOBE), PDF, etc. Printing using is generally performed.
In such a case, since the page data created by electronic processing and the print data resulting from RIP of the page data are also electronic data, until the printed matter is obtained by the printing press, the page data Display means such as a liquid crystal display, a CRT, or an organic EL display of a computer that processes the page data and print data in order to check the page image to be expressed and the print image expressed by the print data obtained as a result of RIP There was no other way to rely on.

  In such a case, the following is known as a prior art for performing an image inspection by comparing a page image expressed by page data with a print image expressed by print data.

JP2004-203016

In the invention described in Patent Document 1, different processes between the plate making and printing processes, that is, the page image represented by the page data created in the page data creation process, and the print data created in the RIP process for the page data are represented. It is disclosed that a difference is detected by comparing with a printed image.
However, there is a problem in that it is not possible to confirm whether the difference is detected in the page data or in the print data.

In other words, the cause of the difference between the page image based on the page data and the print image based on the print data is that the page data is created using a font that is not installed in the RIP device, or that it may be used on a printing press. There may be a cause on the page data creation side, for example, when creating page data that specifies an impossible color for an object on the page.
Therefore, it is necessary for the page data creator to check the comparison result between the page image based on the page data and the print image based on the print data, and to check whether the cause of the difference is in the page data or the print data. It is said that.

In addition, as a cause of the difference between the page image by page data and the print image by print data, the creation of print data based on the result of RIP after failing to call the linked object in the page data, or on the page There may be a cause of trouble on the RIP side, such as creating print data due to RIP with the object orientation reversed.
Therefore, it is necessary for the RIP worker to confirm the comparison result between the page image based on the page data and the print image based on the print data, and to have a mechanism for confirming whether the cause of the difference is the page data or the print data. Has been.

  In this way, image inspection data can be created in which the difference is confirmed in the environment of both the page data creator and the RIP worker, and the cause of the difference can be easily confirmed in the page data creation process or the RIP process. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image inspection data creation device, an image inspection data creation program, and an image inspection data creation method.

In order to solve at least a part of the problems, the present invention can take the following forms or application examples.
[Application Example 1]
An image inspection data creation apparatus for creating page image data to be inspected corresponding to page image data for printing for printing on a printing machine based on page data for creating printed matter Image data creation means, inspection page image data creation means for creating inspection page image data corresponding to display page image data for display on the page data display device based on the page data, and for inspection A difference page image data creating means for creating difference page image data by comparing a page image to be inspected represented by page image data and a page image for inspection represented by page image data for inspection; The image area of the page image for inspection corresponding to the difference page image represented by the image data, And difference page image attribute information creating means for creating difference page image attribute information by acquiring attribute information in the image area of the inspection page image from the page image data to be inspected and the page image data for inspection. The difference page image attribute information is information for specifying the cause of the difference page image.
[Application Example 2]
In the image inspection data creation device, the difference page image data creation means creates annotation image data that emphasizes the presence of the difference page image represented by the difference page image data.
[Application Example 3]
In the image inspection data creation device, the difference page image data creation means acquires the position of the difference page image from the page data and creates it as difference position information.
[Application Example 4]
An image inspection data creation device having a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying an inspected page image, an inspecting page image, and a difference page image, and the difference page image attribute information as a comment for the difference page image Confirmation page image data creating means for creating confirmation page image data.
[Application Example 5]
An image inspection data creation device having a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying an inspected page image, an inspecting page image, and a difference page image, and the difference page image attribute information as a comment for the difference page image Confirmation page image data creation means for creating confirmation page image data. The confirmation page image data creation means adds the annotation image data to a hierarchical structure in which the confirmation page image data can be switched and displayed.
[Application Example 6]
An image inspection data creation device having a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying an inspected page image, an inspecting page image, and a difference page image, and the difference page image attribute information as a comment for the difference page image Confirmation page image data creation means for creating confirmation page image data, and the confirmation page image data creation means adds the difference position information as a comment of the confirmation page image data.
[Application Example 7]
An image inspection data creation device for creating report data for creating report data in the same data format as the page data by storing the page data for confirmation and the page data from which the page image data for confirmation is created in association with each other Means.
[Application Example 8]
An image inspection data creation apparatus, comprising display means for displaying difference page image attribute information.
[Application Example 9]
A page image for printing, which is a program executed by a CPU of the computer in a memory for causing the computer to function as an image inspection data creation device, and for printing on a printing machine based on page data for creating a printed matter Inspected page image data creation step for creating inspected page image data corresponding to the data, and an inspection page corresponding to the display page image data for display on the page data display device based on the page data Comparing the inspection page image data creation step for creating image data, the page image for inspection expressed by the page image data for inspection, and the page image for inspection expressed by the page image data for inspection The difference page image data creation step for creating difference page image data by And the attribute information in the image area of the page image for inspection corresponding to the difference page image represented by the difference page image data, and the page image data for inspection, and the page image for inspection A difference page image attribute information creating step for creating difference page image attribute information by obtaining from the data, and the difference page image attribute information is information for specifying the cause of the difference page image.
[Application Example 10]
Inspected image creation method for creating inspected page image data corresponding to print page image data for printing on a printing machine based on page data for creating printed matter An image data creation step, an inspection page image data creation step for creating inspection page image data corresponding to display page image data displayed on the page data display device based on the page data, and a page image for inspection A difference page image data creating step for creating difference page image data by comparing a page image to be inspected represented by data and a page image for inspection represented by page image data for inspection; The image area of the page image for inspection corresponding to the difference page image represented by the data, and A difference page image attribute information creation step of creating difference page image attribute information by acquiring attribute information in the image area of the examination page image from the page image data to be inspected and the page image data for inspection, and The difference page image attribute information is information for specifying the cause of the difference page image.

The page image for inspection and the page image for inspection are compared to create a difference page image, and the attribute information in the image area of the page image for inspection corresponding to the difference page image and the image area of the page image for inspection By obtaining from the page image data for inspection and the page image data for inspection, it is possible to create differential page image attribute information that is image inspection data. The difference page image attribute information is information for specifying the cause of the difference page image.
By displaying the confirmation page image including the created difference page image attribute information, it is possible to confirm whether the cause of the image area in the difference page image is due to the printing RIP or the original page data Becomes easy.

It is a figure for demonstrating the image test | inspection data creation apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the image comparison by the image comparison part 173. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the difference characteristic information STD with respect to difference page image SI. It is a figure for demonstrating the state by which the annotation image TI was attached | subjected to the difference page image SI. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining confirmation page image data CID created by a confirmation page image data creation unit 174. It is a figure for demonstrating the confirmation page image data CID displayed on the display part 12 of the image test | inspection data creation apparatus 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of report data RD. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image inspection data creation device 1. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state in which report data RD created by the image inspection data creation device 1 is transmitted to the page data display devices 2 and 3 via the network 4. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an image inspection data creation apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The image inspection data creation apparatus 1 has the same configuration as a commonly used computer, and includes a CPU 11, a display unit 12, an input unit 13, a network I / F 14, a media drive 15, a storage unit 16, and a memory 17. I have.

The CPU 11 controls the entire image inspection data creation device 1, and in particular, executes the program P recorded on the media disk 18 inserted in the media drive 15 in the memory 17, thereby performing the functions of the image inspection data creation device 1. Realized.
The display unit 12 is used to display information necessary for the image inspection process.
The display unit 12 is used for confirming the result of the image inspection by displaying report data RD created by a process described later.
The input unit 13 includes a mouse and a keyboard, and is used by an operator to input instructions to the image inspection data creation apparatus 1.
The network I / F 14 is for connecting the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 to a network (not shown). The image inspection data creation apparatus 1 can receive job data JD (described later) storing page data from a terminal (not shown) connected to the network via the network I / F 14. It is also possible to download a program P that realizes the function of the image inspection data creation device 1 from a server (not shown). Further, the image inspection data creation device 1 can transmit report data RD to the terminal (not shown) via the network I / F 14.
The media drive 15 is used to read the program P recorded on the media disk 18. The function of the image inspection data creation device 1 is realized by the program P read by the media drive 15.
The storage unit 16 stores the program P read by the media drive 15. The storage unit 16 also stores job data JD. Further, the storage unit 16 also stores report data RD created by a process described later.

  The memory 17 is a work area for the CPU 11 to execute the program P stored by the storage unit 16. As a result of execution of the program P by the CPU 11, in the memory 17, inspected page image data creation unit 171, inspection page image data creation unit 172, image comparison unit 173, confirmation page image data creation unit 174, report data creation Functions of the unit 175 and the page data display unit 176 are realized.

The inspected page image data creation unit 171 performs RIP corresponding to creation of print page image data for printing on the page data by the printing machine, and creates inspected page image data.
The RIP performed by the inspected page image data creation unit 171 is a conversion process for creating a multi-value bitmap image used for printing in a printing apparatus (not shown) based on the page data.
For example, when the data format of the page data is PDF, the inspected page image data creation unit 171 is realized by a printing RIP such as ADOBE PRINT Engine (trademark of ADOBE).

The inspection page image data creation unit 172 performs RIP corresponding to creation of display page image data for displaying the page data on the page data display device, and creates inspection page image data.
The RIP performed by the inspection page image data creation unit 172 is multi-value bitmap image data used for display on the display unit 12 as a page data display device by a page data display unit 176 described later based on the page data. For example, when the data format of the page data is PDF, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 is common with the PDF display / creation application ACROBAT (registered trademark of ADOBE). It is realized by a display RIP such as ADOBE PDF Library (trademark of ADOBE) using the core of.

  That is, the inspected page image data creation unit 171 and the inspected page image data creation unit 172 are different RIPs for printing RIP and display RIP, respectively, and thus are obtained by performing different RIPs on the same page data. The page image data to be inspected and the page image data for inspection do not always have the same result.

  The image comparison unit 173 compares the inspected page image represented by the inspected page image data with the inspecting page image represented by the inspected page image data, and when a difference occurs as a result of the comparison Creates difference page image data.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining image comparison by the image comparison unit 173. Inspected page image and inspection page image obtained by performing different RIP on the same page data, or if there is an inappropriate part in the page data description, or inspected page image data creation When a problem occurs in the RIP by the unit 171, a difference page image is generated as a result of the comparison. Therefore, the image comparison unit 173 creates difference page image data for expressing the difference page image.

FIG. 2A shows a page image HI for inspection. As a result of the RIP corresponding to the printing RIP performed by the inspected page image data creating unit 171, inspected page image data representing the inspected page image HI is created.
Here, the page image for inspection HI having three image areas A1, A2, A3 in the page S is represented by the page image data for inspection. Since the inspected page image data creation unit 171 performs the same RIP as the printing page image data creation, the printed matter obtained as a result of printing the page data is the printed matter in which the expression as shown in FIG. It becomes.

On the other hand, FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the inspection page image KI. As a result of the RIP corresponding to the display RIP performed by the inspection page image data creation unit 172, inspection page image data representing the inspection page image KI is created.
Here, three image areas A1, A2, and A4 are also represented in the page S by the inspection page image data KID. Since the inspection page image data creation unit 172 performs the same RIP as the display page image data creation, the page data creator creates the page image represented by the inspection page image KI shown in FIG. This is the same image that expresses the contents of the page.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, even if the same page data is RIPed by the page image data creation unit 171 and the page image data creation unit 172 for inspection, The page image HI and the inspection page image KI are not necessarily the same image. The creator of the page data originally created page data to represent the page, such as the inspection page image KI, but RIP is performed using different resources for the print RIP and the display RIP. Therefore, the processing content of the page data may be different.

For example, when page data is created, if an ink color other than CMYK used for printing (referred to as a special color) is designated for the image area A4, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 uses the image area in which the special color is used. By performing the correct processing for A4, the image area A4 exists in FIG.
On the other hand, the inspected page image data creation unit 171 processes only the area in which the CMYK ink color used for printing is designated, so that there is an image area A4 in which the spot color is used in FIG. Not.

Conversely, if the image area A3 is not created when the page data is created, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 naturally does not process the image area A3, and therefore the image area A3 does not exist in FIG. 2B. .
On the other hand, the page image data creation unit 171 to be inspected originally performed in FIG. 2A because the image area A3 having the same shape as the image area A2 exists due to a trouble at the RIP. There is an image area A3 that should not be present.

  Therefore, as a result of the image comparison unit 173 comparing the inspected page image HI and the inspecting page image KI, the difference page image SI as shown in FIG. The difference page image SI does not have the image areas A1 and A2 that exist in common in FIGS. 2A and 2B, but only the image area A3 and FIG. 2B that exist only in FIG. Is an image having an image area A4 existing in the area.

  The image comparison unit 173 can set various conditions in creating the difference page image data by comparing the inspection page image HI and the inspection page image KI.

As image comparison quality by the image comparison unit 173, for example,
Inspection strength / weak: Only large differences are checked Inspection strength / Medium: Intermediate quality check inspection strength / Strong: Checking strength of missing characters / Custom: Comparison inspection when comparing images like checking at desired quality Can be set.
Here, the “inspection strength / weak” means that the image comparison unit 173 regards the result of comparison between the page image for inspection HI and the page image for inspection KI as a difference only when there is a difference in an area of a certain size or more. . On the other hand, “inspection strength / strong” means that the image comparison unit 173 regards the comparison result as a difference when there is a difference in a detailed point that has no problem in a practical sense, such as a difference in character font lines. . “Inspection intensity / medium” is compared at an intermediate intensity.

“Inspection intensity / custom” indicates that the inspection intensity is changed within the range of inspection intensity / weak to inspection intensity / strong. In “Inspection intensity / custom”, settings such as “amount of shaking”, “allowable value”, “removal of isolated points” and the like can be set.
The “vibration amount” means that when comparing the inspected page image HI and the inspected page image KI, if the so-called pixel misalignment occurs, the position of either image is virtually shifted and both This is the amount to be virtually shifted when comparing the images and canceling the pixel shift and detecting the original difference value or the like. If the amount of swaying is small, the difference resulting from the image comparison increases, and if the amount of swaying is large, the difference decreases.
The “allowable value” is a range that allows an image size difference, an image position difference, or an image density difference when comparing the inspected page image HI and the inspecting page image KI. If the allowable value is small, the difference resulting from the image comparison increases, and if the allowable value is large, the difference decreases.
“Isolated point removal” is a setting for determining whether or not an image is to be removed when a small-sized image that should not exist originally is detected. When isolated point removal is set, based on a separately set isolated point size, an isolated point having a size equal to or smaller than that size is removed without being a difference, thereby facilitating inspection of the difference page image SI.

In addition, as a condition setting by the image comparison unit 173, there is a setting of a comparison target page. The comparison page setting is, for example,
Automatic: Designated page that determines the number of page data based on page division range that takes into account the load when using multiple RIPs and reusable parts that are independent images when performing variable printing: Image inspection data The page data designated by the operator of the creating apparatus 1 is determined as an image comparison target page.
All pages: All page data are determined as image comparison pages.
As described above, since the number of page data for image comparison can be set, the image comparison time by the image comparison unit 173 can be kept within a desired range.

  The image comparison unit 173 includes a difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731, an annotation image creation unit 1732, and a difference position information creation unit 1733 in order to easily check the difference page image SI expressed by the difference image page image data. Prepare.

  The difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 includes an image area of the inspection page image HI corresponding to the difference page image SI represented by the difference page image data obtained as a result of the comparison by the image comparison unit 173, and an inspection page. The difference page image attribute information STD is created by acquiring the attribute information in each image area of the image KI from the page image data for inspection and the page image data for inspection.

The difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 extracts the color density of the inspected page image HI as attribute information from the image area of the inspected page image HI corresponding to the difference page image SI from the inspected page image data. To do.
Further, the difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 obtains the color density and overprint of the inspection page image KI as attribute information from the image area of the inspection page image KI corresponding to the difference page image SI from the inspection page image data. And spot color specifications are extracted.
The difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 creates difference page image attribute information STD by combining the attribute information extracted from the page image data for inspection and the attribute information extracted from the page image data for inspection.

  The created difference page image attribute information STD is information for specifying the cause of the occurrence of the difference page image SI as the image inspection data, and is used as a comment for the confirmation page image data in the process described later.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the difference page image attribute information STD for the difference page image SI. FIG. 3 shows a state in which two pieces of difference page image attribute information STD are attached to the image areas A3 and A4 in the difference page image SI created in FIG.

  With respect to the image area A3 in the difference page image SI of FIG. 3, the difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 extracts the color density information from the inspection page image HI and the inspection page image KI, respectively. Difference page image attribute information STD of “C100, M100, Y100, K100” and “KI: C0, M0, Y0, K0” is displayed. Thus, in the inspection page image KI (originally desired page), there is no color density for the image area A3 (= no area), whereas in the inspection page image HI, the color for the image area A3. Since it can be seen that the density exists, by confirming the difference page image attribute information STD, the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 determines that there is a problem with the RIP that created the page image HI for inspection. Can do.

  On the other hand, for the image area A4 in the difference page image SI of FIG. 3, the difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 specifies “Spot Color (spot color)” for the image area A4 from the inspection page image KI. The difference feature information STD is “none” indicating that the attribute information could not be extracted from the area corresponding to the image area A4 of the page image HI to be inspected. As a result, the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 can determine that it is a problem that a spot color that cannot be printed is designated in the image area A4 of the created page data.

The annotation image creation unit 1732
An annotation image TI for emphasizing the presence of the difference page image SI created by the image comparison unit 173 is created.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the annotation image TI is added to the difference page image SI. FIG. 4 shows a state in which two annotation images TI are attached to the image areas A3 and A4 in the difference page image SI created in FIG. Since the image areas A3 and A4 in the difference page image SI are emphasized by the annotation image TI, the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 can easily pay attention when the difference page image SI is displayed.
The annotation image creation unit 1732 acquires the circumscribed rectangle of the image area in the difference page image SI, and creates the annotation image TI so as to display the contour line in the circumscribed rectangle. The annotation image data creation unit 1732 creates annotation image data as annotation image data, together with the position information of the circumscribed rectangle.
Note that the shape of the annotation image TI is not limited to the circumscribed rectangle, and may be a circle having a predetermined radius centered on the center of gravity of the image area.

  Alternatively, the annotation image creation unit 1732 may set the annotation image TI by setting color information different from the color information of the original pixel of the difference page image SI. Also by such processing by the annotation image creating unit 1732, when the image areas A3 and A4 in the difference page image SI are displayed, the operator of the image inspection data creating apparatus 1 can easily pay attention.

Since the annotation image creation unit 1732 creates the annotation image TI that emphasizes the difference page image SI, it is possible to easily confirm the difference between the page image for inspection HI and the page image for inspection KI in the process described later. .
The created annotation page image data is used for adding to the confirmation page image data in a process described later.

The difference position information creation unit 1733 obtains offset information based on the reference point of the inspection page image HI or the inspection page image KI for the position of the annotation image TI, and creates difference position information. The difference position information creation unit 1733 further includes the page data from which the difference page image SI added with the annotation image TI is created in order to specify the position information of the annotation image TI attached to the difference page image SI. The page number in the job data JD, the name of the job data JD storing the page data, and the path name where the job data JD is stored are also handled by the created differential position information.
The created difference position information is used as a comment for the confirmation page image data in a process described later.

The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 includes a confirmation page image CI including a confirmation page image CI that is hierarchically structured so that the inspection page image HI, the inspection page image KI, and the difference page image SI can be switched and displayed. Create image data.
The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 creates confirmation page image data in the same data format as the page data. For example, when the page data is PDF, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 creates confirmation page image data in a data format of PDF format. At this time, the page image for inspection HI, the page image for inspection KI, and the difference page image SI are hierarchically structured according to the PDF format. Therefore, it is possible to display the page image data for confirmation in an ADOBE reader (trademark of ADOBE) that functions as a page data display unit 176, which will be described later. Each of the page image KI and the difference page image SI can be switched and displayed.

The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 adds the difference page image attribute information STD created by the difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 as a comment when creating confirmation page image data.
Thereby, it becomes easy to confirm the attribute information of the difference area in the difference page image SI.

Further, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 can also make the hierarchical structure of the annotation image data created by the annotation image creation unit 1732, so that the difference page image SI can be easily confirmed.
Further, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 can add the difference position information created by the difference position information creation unit 1733 as a comment when creating the confirmation page image data. It becomes easy to confirm the position information of the difference area.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the confirmation page image data CID created by the confirmation page image data creation unit 174. As shown in the figure, layers L1, L2, L3, and L4 have a hierarchical structure, and the confirmation page image data CID represents the confirmation page image CI by superimposing all of these layers.

The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 stores the inspected page image data HID in the layer L1 which is the lowest layer. Subsequently, the inspection page image data KID is stored in the layer L2. Similarly, by storing the difference page image data SID in the layer L3 and the annotation image data TID created by the annotation image creation unit 1732 in the layer L4, the hierarchically structured confirmation page image data CID is created. The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 forms a hierarchical structure so that each image can be switched and displayed.
The hierarchical structure of the confirmation page image data CID by the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 directly stores the inspected page image data HID, the inspection page image data KID, the difference page image data SID, or the annotation image data TID. Instead, it may be realized by linking data for representing each image, that is, page image data for inspection HID, page image data for inspection KID, difference page image data SID, and annotation image data TID.
Also, if the difference page image attribute information STD and difference position information have been created, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 adds them as comments in the confirmation page image data CID.

  Since the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 creates the confirmation page image data CID in the same data format as the page data, the page image for inspection HI, the page image for inspection KI, the difference page image SI, Each annotation image TI is displayed as a PDF layer, and the confirmation page image data CID can be displayed in an application for displaying PDF, such as ADOBE reader, which functions as a page data display unit 176 described later. At the same time, display / non-display of the layers L1, L2, L3, and L4 can be switched.

The report data creation unit 175 creates report data RD that stores the confirmation page image data created by the confirmation page image data creation unit 174.
The report data creation unit 175 associates each stored confirmation page image data with the page data that is the creation source of the confirmation page image data. The report data creation unit 175 includes the confirmation page image data and the page data to be inspected used to create the confirmation page data and the page data subjected to RIP to obtain the inspection page image data. Associate.
The report data creation unit 175 associates the confirmation page image data with the page data by creating a link page image that is an image for linking the page data, and using the link page image as the confirmation page image data. This is realized by adding a hierarchical structure so that switching display is possible.
By performing such association, it is possible to easily access the page data subjected to the inspection after the inspection using the confirmation page data, which is useful for the correction work on the page data. is there.

  The report data creation unit 175 creates cover data when creating the report data RD by storing the confirmation page image data. The cover data is data about the page that is first displayed when the report data RD is displayed, and displays the report file name, the inspection result, the inspection condition, and the name of the page data from which the confirmation page image data is created.

The report data creation unit 175 determines the name of the report data RD itself as the report file name when creating the cover data. The report file name is determined as “(date) (job data JD name) report” from the time information of the inspection and the name of job data JD. In addition, a unique name may be prompted to the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1.
As the name of the job data JD that has been reported, the file name of the job data JD that is the subject of the inspection is used.
As the inspection result, as information on the inspection result performed by the image inspection data creation device 1, in addition to the name of the job data JD that is the report target, the number of pages inspected, the date and time of inspection, the difference image Use the number of data and the report file name.
For the inspection conditions, the report data creation unit 175 acquires information on the inspection conditions set by the image comparison unit 173 and uses them for creating the cover data.
The name of the page data that is the creation source of the confirmation page image data is the report data creation unit 175 that associates the confirmation page image data with the page data that is the creation source of the confirmation page image data as described above. So use the information at that time.

The report data creation unit 175 creates cover data in the same data format as the confirmation page image data CID, arranges it at the head of the confirmation page image data storing the cover data, and creates report data RD.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the report data RD. As shown in the figure, the report data RD is data including the confirmation page image data CID created as a result of the inspection, with the cover data FD at the head. When this report data RD is data created in the PDF format, page display is performed by ADOBE reader, so that the report data RD can be displayed in the same manner as a commonly used PDF file.
That is, since the report data RD is also data in the same format as the page data, it can be displayed by the page data display unit 176 described later. For example, if the page data is PDF format data, the report data RD is also PDF format data, so that the report data RD can be displayed by the ADOBE reader.

  The report data RD created by the report data creation unit 175 is stored in the storage unit 16. The report data RD is printed by the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 in addition to the inspection by being displayed on the display unit 12 by the page data display unit 176, or the RIP that performs printing based on the creator of the job data JD or job data JD When required by the operator, the report data RD stored in the storage unit 16 is stored in the media disk 18 and conveyed, or via the network I / F 14, page data outside the image inspection data creation apparatus 1. It is used for display by a display device.

The page data display unit 176 performs a display RIP on the page data and report data RD described in the page description language, creates a display page image and a display report image, and displays them on the display unit 12.
The page data display unit 176 controls the switching display because the confirmation page image data stored in the report data RD has a hierarchical structure so that a plurality of images can be switched and displayed. Further, the display of the comments included in the confirmation page image data CID is controlled.
The page data display unit 176 displays the content of the report data RD on the display unit 12, thereby confirming the difference between the page image for inspection HI and the page image for inspection KI in the image inspection data creation device 1. Is possible.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating a state in which the page data display unit 176 displays the report data RD on the display unit 12.

  In FIG. 7, a confirmation page image CI expressed by certain confirmation page image data stored in the report data RD is displayed. Further, the display unit 12 displays a layer switching field La and a comment switching field Na by the page data display unit 176.

The layer switching field La is used to select a display for the hierarchy of the check page image data having a hierarchical structure. In the layer switching field La, regarding the display of the confirmation page image CI displayed on the display unit 12, L1 that stores the page image data to be inspected in a hierarchical structure, and the inspection page image data are stored. Whether or not to display L2, L3 storing difference page image data, and L4 storing annotation image data is selected by input of the input unit 13. The selection of the layer switching field La is not exclusive, and a plurality of layers L1 to L4 can be selected or all can be displayed simultaneously.
In FIG. 7, since the layers L3 and L4 are selected in the selection of the layer switching field La, the page data display unit 176 is expressed by the difference page image data stored in the layer L3 as the confirmation page image CI. Annotation image TI represented by the difference page image SI and the annotation image data stored in the layer L4 is displayed on the display unit 12.

  The comment switching field Na is used to select the difference page image attribute information STD and difference position information SPD given to the image areas A3 and A4 displayed by the difference image data SID included in the confirmation page image data. . In the comment switching field Na, the difference page image attribute information STD and the difference position information SPD assigned to the image areas A3 and A4 are displayed as selection fields Na3 and Na4 that are grouped together.

Here, in the selection field Na3 of the comment switching field Na, as the difference page image attribute information STD given to the image area A3, “HI: C100, M100, Y100, K100”, “KI: C0, M0, Y0, K0” ”Is displayed, and“ JD_PD2 ”indicating that there are two pages in the job data JD is displayed as the difference position information SPD.
Further, in the selection field Na4 of the comment switching field Na, the difference page image attribute information STD and the difference position information SPD given to the image area A4 are displayed.

When the selection field Na3 is selected by the input unit 13 for the comment switching field Na, the page data display unit 176 performs zoom-up display for the image area A3. Further, by selecting the selection field Na4 displayed in the comment switching field Na with the input unit 13, it is possible to switch the display from the image area A3 to the image area A4 while maintaining the zoom-up display.
When the comment switching column Na is not displayed, the difference page attribute information STD and the difference position information SPD may be displayed in a balloon attached to the image area.

  In the confirmation page image data, the link page image is also stored in a hierarchical structure as an association with the page data. Accordingly, a link page image can be selected as the layer L5 in the layer switching field shown in FIG. When the display of the layer L5 is selected by the selection by the input unit 13, the display of the link page image is added to the display of the difference page image SI, and the page data associated with the confirmation page image data, that is, the difference Link information for the page data that is also the creation source of the page image SI is displayed.

  The operator of the image inspection data creation device 1 can display page data on the display unit 12 by the page data display unit 176 by inputting link information through the input unit 13 as necessary. By displaying the page data, the page image represented by the page data can be confirmed.

  Note that the page data display unit 176 may be realized by application software generally used for displaying page data. For example, when page data and report data RD are data in PDF format, ADOBE reader (trademark of ADOBE) can be used as the page data display unit 176.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1. When the program P stored in the storage unit 16 is executed in the memory 17 by the CPU 11 of the image inspection data creation device 1, the image inspection data creation device 1 performs the following operation.

  In step S1, the image inspection data creation device 1 acquires job data JD storing page data. The CPU 11 of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 acquires job data JD from a terminal (not shown) via a network I / F 14 via a network (not shown). Alternatively, the image inspection data creation device 1 acquires the job data JD stored in the media disk 18 via the media drive 15. Further, the image inspection data creation device 1 may include page data creation means (not shown), and the image inspection data creation device 1 may acquire job data JD storing the page data created by the page data creation means. .

The job data JD is data that stores one or more page data used to create one printed matter. The page data stored in the job data JD is RIPed by a print control device (not shown) to generate page image data for printing for printing one page. When a print control apparatus (not shown) RIPs all the page data stored in the job data JD, a plurality of printing page image data for creating one printed matter is created.
The job data JD acquired by the image inspection data creation device 1 is stored in the storage unit 16.

  In step S2, the page image data creation unit 171 to be inspected performs RIP equivalent to the printing RIP on the page data stored in the job data JD acquired in step S1, thereby outputting a print control device (not shown). The inspected page image data HID representing the inspected page image HI, which is a multi-value bitmap image having a resolution corresponding to the print page image data to be generated, is created. The created page image data for inspection HID is temporarily stored in the memory 17.

  In step S3, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 performs RIP equivalent to the display RIP on the page data stored in the job data JD acquired in step S1, whereby the page data display unit 176 displays the display unit. The inspection page image data KID representing the inspection page image KI, which is a multi-value bitmap image having a resolution corresponding to the display page image data to be displayed at 12, is created. In step S3, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 may create the inspection page image data KID using the function of the page data display unit 176. The created inspection page image data KID is temporarily stored in the memory 17.

  Here, the page image data HID to be inspected corresponds to the page image data for printing, and the page image data for inspection KID corresponds to the page image data for display. The difference page created by the image inspection data creation device 1 Since the purpose of image inspection with image data is to make the printed page image look the same as the page image of the created page data, display page image data (inspection page image data KID) is used as a reference. This is for inspecting whether the print page image data (inspected page image data HID) is appropriate.

In step S4, the image comparison unit 173 compares the inspected page image HI expressed by the inspected page image data HID and the inspecting page image KI expressed by the inspecting page image data KID. A difference page image data SID representing the page image SI is created.
When the resolutions of the inspected page image HI and the inspected page image KI do not match, the image comparing unit 173 performs a process for matching the resolutions of the inspected page image HI and the pixels constituting the inspected page image HI. The pixels constituting the inspection page image KI are compared, the difference page image SI is acquired based on the presence or absence of a pixel value in the pixel, and the difference page image data SID is created.
As the two image comparison methods by the image comparison unit 173, a known method is appropriately used.

  In step S4, the image comparison unit 173 creates the difference page image attribute information by the difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 in order to easily confirm the difference page image SI expressed by the difference image page image data. Annotation image creation by the annotation image creation unit 1732 and difference position information creation by the difference position information creation unit 1733 are performed.

In step S5, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 determines the page image for inspection HI and the page image for inspection based on the page image data for inspection HID, the page image data for inspection KID, and the difference page image data SID. Confirmation page image data CID expressing the confirmation page image CI having a hierarchical structure so that the KI and the difference page image SI can be switched and displayed is created.
The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 stores the inspected page image data HID in the layer L1 which is the lowest layer. Subsequently, the inspection page image data KID is stored in the layer L2. Similarly, by storing the difference page image data SID in the layer L3 and the annotation image data TID created by the annotation image creating unit 1732 in the layer L4, the hierarchically structured confirmation page image data having the same data format as the page data is stored. Create a CID. The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 forms a hierarchical structure so that each image can be switched and displayed.
Further, if the difference page image attribute information and the difference position information have been generated, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 adds them as comments in the confirmation page image data CID.

In step S6, the image inspection data creating apparatus 1 determines whether there is page data to be inspected in the job data JD. Based on the number of pages specified by the image comparison unit 173, the image inspection data creation device 1 determines whether or not page data to be inspected remains from the job data JD stored in the storage unit 16, and remains. If YES in step S1, the process returns to step S1, and the process of steps S2 to S5 is repeated to generate confirmation page image data CID.
If the image inspection data creation device 1 determines in step S6 that there is no page data to be inspected, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, the report data creation unit 175 creates report data RD storing the confirmation page image data CID created in step S5. The report data RD created by the report data creation unit 175 stores the confirmation page image data CID, which is data in the same format as the page data, and therefore also has the same format as the page data.
When the creation of the report data RD is completed, the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 completes its operation.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the report data RD created by the image inspection data creation device 1 is transmitted to the page data display devices 2 and 3 via the network 4. The page data display device 2 is present to the creator of the job data JD, and the page data display device 3 is present to the RIP worker who performs RIP to print the job data JD.

The creator of the job data JD transmits the job data JD to the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 via the network 4 in order to determine whether printing using the created job data JD can be appropriately executed.
The image inspection data creation device 1 performs processing based on the received job data JD based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 to create report data RD, and returns the report data RD to the creator of the job data JD via the network 4.
The creator of the job data JD can confirm whether or not the description of the page data included in the created job data JD is appropriate by displaying the report data RD on the page data display device 2. It is possible to determine whether appropriate printing can be performed before the RIP by the worker.

On the other hand, when the RIP worker who received the job data JD via the network 4 and performed the RIP did not obtain an appropriate result by RIPing the job data JD, the job data JD is converted into an image inspection data creation device. 1 through the network 4.
The image inspection data creation device 1 performs processing based on the received job data JD based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 to create report data RD, and returns it to the RIP worker via the network 4.
The RIP worker displays the report data RD on the page data display device 3 to confirm whether the RIP error is caused by a trouble at the time of RIP or whether there is an inappropriate description when creating the job data JD. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a RIP trouble when the job data JD is RIPed again.

<Modification>
In the description so far, the page image data for inspection HID and the page image data for inspection KID have been created before setting the image inspection conditions. However, after setting the image inspection conditions in step S4, The page image data HID and the inspection page image data KID may be created.

  The image inspection data creation apparatus 1 has been described as a single computer, but the functions of the inspected page image data creation unit 171 and the inspection page image data creation unit 172 may be distributed to another computer. . Specifically, a print control device that performs RIP for printing on job data JD is used as page image data creation unit 171 to be inspected, and display is performed on job data JD as page image data creation unit 172 for inspection. By using a page display device that performs RIP, the inspected page image data HID and the inspection page image data KID are created, and the created inspected page image data HID and the inspected page image data KID are network I. It may be acquired via / F14 or via the media disk 18.

1 Image inspection data creation device 2, 3 page data display device 4 Network 11 CPU
12 Display 13 Input 14 Network I / F
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Media disk 16 Memory | storage part 17 Memory 18 Media disk 171 Inspection page image data creation part 172 Inspection page image data creation part 173 Image comparison part 174 Confirmation page image data creation part 175 Report data creation part 176 Page data display part 1731 Difference page image attribute information creation unit 1732 Annotation image creation unit 1733 Difference position information creation unit
A1, A2, A3, A4 image area
CI confirmation page image
Page image data for CID confirmation
FD cover data
HI page image for inspection
Page image data for HID inspection
KI inspection page image
Page image data for KID inspection
P program
RD report data
SI difference page image
SID Difference page image data
SPD differential position information
STD difference page image attribute information
TI annotation image
TID annotation image data

This invention relates to an inspection method for page data for creating print products.

In this way, the page data inspecting method can check the difference in the environment of both the page data creator and the RIP worker and easily check whether the cause of the difference is in the page data creation process or the RIP process. It is an object of the present invention to provide

In order to solve at least a part of the problems, the present invention can take the following forms or application examples.
[Application Example 1]
An inspection method of page data, based on the page data for creating prints, pages be inspected to create the test page image data corresponding to the print page image data to be printed with a printing press an image data producing step, based on the page data, and test page image data creation step of creating a test page image data corresponding to the display in the page data display device in the row cormorants display by entering the page image data, for inspection A difference page image data creation step for creating difference page image data by comparing a page image to be inspected represented by page image data and a page image for inspection represented by page image data for inspection; Oite the difference page image represented by the page image data, the inspection present in the test page image A first specifying step of specifying a first image region that does not exist in a page image; and a second specifying step of specifying a second image region that exists in the page image for inspection and does not exist in the page image for inspection in the difference page image. 2 The reason for the occurrence of the first image area and the identification process is a defect in the page image data creation process for inspection, and the cause of the occurrence of the second image area is due to an inappropriate part of the page data. and cause specifying step of determining that it is, to have a.
[Application Example 2]
In the page data inspection method , in the difference page image data creation step, annotation image data that emphasizes the presence of the difference page image represented by the difference page image data is created.
[Application Example 3]
In the page data inspection method , in the difference page image data creation step, the position of the difference page image is acquired from the page data and created as difference position information.
[Application Example 4]
A method for inspecting page data , which has a hierarchical structure in which an inspected page image, an inspecting page image, and a difference page image can be switched and displayed, and the difference page image attribute information is used as a comment for the difference page image. A confirmation page image data creation step for creating confirmation page image data.
[Application Example 5]
A method for inspecting page data , which has a hierarchical structure in which an inspected page image, an inspecting page image, and a difference page image can be switched and displayed, and the difference page image attribute information is used as a comment for the difference page image. A confirmation page image data creation step for creating confirmation page image data. In the confirmation page image data creation step, the annotation image data is added to a hierarchical structure in which the confirmation page image data can be switched and displayed.
[Application Example 6]
A method for inspecting page data , which has a hierarchical structure in which an inspected page image, an inspecting page image, and a difference page image can be switched and displayed, and the difference page image attribute information is used as a comment for the difference page image. A confirmation page image data creation step for creating confirmation page image data. In the confirmation page image data creation step , difference position information is added as a comment of the confirmation page image data.
[Application Example 7]
A method for inspecting page data, in which report data is created by associating and storing the confirmation page image data and the page data from which the confirmation page image data is created, and creating report data in the same data format as the page data Process .
[Application Example 8]
A method for inspecting page data , which includes a display step of displaying difference page image attribute information .

A difference page image is created by comparing the inspection page image and the inspection page image . In the difference page image represented by the difference page image data, a first image region that exists in the inspection page image and does not exist in the inspection page image is specified, and exists in the inspection page image and exists in the inspection page image A second image area that does not exist in the image is specified.
Then, it is determined that the cause of the occurrence of the first image region is a defect in the inspected page image data creation process, and the cause of the occurrence of the second image region is that there is an inappropriate portion in the page data. This makes it easy to confirm whether the cause of the image area in the difference page image is due to the printing RIP or the original page data.

Claims (10)

An image inspection data creation device,
Inspected page image data creating means for creating inspected page image data corresponding to print page image data for printing on a printing machine based on page data for creating a printed matter;
Inspection page image data creating means for creating inspection page image data corresponding to display page image data for display on a page data display device based on the page data;
Differential page image data creation for creating differential page image data by comparing the page image for inspection expressed by the page image data for inspection and the page image for inspection expressed by the page image data for inspection Means,
Attribute information in the image area of the page image for inspection corresponding to the difference page image represented by the difference page image data and the image area of the page image for inspection includes the page image data for inspection and the page image for inspection Difference page image attribute information creating means for creating difference page image attribute information by obtaining from data,
Have
The image inspection data creation apparatus, wherein the difference page image attribute information is information for specifying a cause of occurrence of the difference page image. The image inspection data creation device according to claim 1,
The difference page image data creation means creates annotation image data that emphasizes the presence of a difference page image represented by the difference page image data;
An image inspection data creation device characterized by the above. The image inspection data creation device according to claim 1,
The difference page image data creation means acquires the position of the difference page image from the page data and creates it as difference position information;
An image inspection data creation device characterized by the above. The image inspection data creation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A confirmation page image having a hierarchical structure in which the page image for inspection, the page image for inspection, and the difference page image can be switched and displayed, and the difference page image attribute information is a comment for the difference page image Confirmation page image data creation means for creating data,
An image inspection data creation device characterized by comprising: The image inspection data creation device according to claim 2,
A confirmation page image having a hierarchical structure in which the page image for inspection, the page image for inspection, and the difference page image can be switched and displayed, and the difference page image attribute information is a comment for the difference page image A confirmation page image data creation means for creating data,
The confirmation page image data creation means adds the annotation image data to a hierarchical structure capable of switching display of the confirmation page image data;
An image inspection data creation device characterized by the above. The image inspection data creation device according to claim 3,
A confirmation page image having a hierarchical structure in which the page image for inspection, the page image for inspection, and the difference page image can be switched and displayed, and the difference page image attribute information is a comment for the difference page image A confirmation page image data creation means for creating data,
The confirmation page image data creation means adds the difference position information as a comment of the confirmation page image data;
An image inspection data creation device characterized by the above. The image inspection data creation device according to claim 4,
Report data creating means for associating and storing the confirmation page image data and the page data from which the confirmation page image data is created, and creating report data in the same data format as the page data;
An image inspection data creation device characterized by comprising: The image inspection data creation device according to claim 1,
Comprising display means for displaying the difference page image attribute information;
An image inspection data creation device characterized by the above. In order for a computer to function as an image inspection data creation device, a program executed by a CPU of the computer in a memory,
Inspected page image data creation step for creating inspected page image data corresponding to print page image data for printing on a printing machine based on page data for creating a printed matter;
A test page image data creation step for creating test page image data corresponding to display page image data for display on a page data display device based on the page data;
Difference page image data for creating difference page image data by comparing the page image for inspection expressed by the page image data for inspection and the page image for inspection expressed by the page image data for inspection Creation steps,
Attribute information in the image area of the page image for inspection corresponding to the difference page image represented by the difference page image data and the image area of the page image for inspection includes the page image data for inspection and the page image for inspection A difference page image attribute information creation step for creating difference page image attribute information by obtaining from data;
Have
The difference page image attribute information is information for specifying a cause of occurrence of the difference page image. An image inspection data creation method,
An inspected page image data creation step for creating inspected page image data corresponding to print page image data for printing on a printing machine based on page data for creating a printed matter;
A test page image data creating step for creating test page image data corresponding to display page image data to be displayed on the page data display device based on the page data;
Difference page image data for creating difference page image data by comparing the page image for inspection expressed by the page image data for inspection and the page image for inspection expressed by the page image data for inspection Creation process,
Attribute information in the image area of the page image for inspection corresponding to the difference page image represented by the difference page image data and the image area of the page image for inspection includes the page image data for inspection and the page image for inspection A difference page image attribute information creation step for creating difference page image attribute information by obtaining from data;
Have
The method for creating image inspection data, wherein the difference page image attribute information is information for specifying a cause of occurrence of the difference page image.

Images