JP2827064B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus mainly used in a printing plate making system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a process of preparing a plate making film or the like which has been generally performed conventionally. First, the original A and the layout board B are set on the preparation device 102. As the preparation device 102, for example, FIG.
And a digitizer 101, which is composed of a projector 100 and a digitizer 101 shown in FIG.
The document A is input to the digitizer 101, and information such as the position and angle of the layout board B is input to the digitizer 101, and the document A is set on the projector 100 to perform projection processing. That is, while projecting the original in this way, the projector 100 can be rotated around the horizontal axis or the magnification can be adjusted according to the instruction given in advance so that the desired image can be accommodated in a predetermined frame on the layout mount B. Or to adjust.

Then, the document A is sent to an image reading apparatus (for example, a drum scanner) 103 together with information (angle information, magnification information, etc.) obtained by the projection processing. Image reading device 10
Reference numeral 3 performs a process of inputting an image of the document A based on the information. On the other hand, in parallel with this, the mount information input device 10
5, the mount information is input. The mount information and the image information from the image reading device 103 are input to the layout pasting system 104. On the layout pasting system 104, the image input as the document image is laid out on the mount image extracted from the mount information. Then, the laid out information is output by the output device 106. When the output device 106 is a drum scanner, a plate making film is obtained.

A color laser printer may be used as the output device 106. Also, the output device 106
In some cases, a disk memory or the like may be used, and in this case, the laid out information is stored in the disk memory.

[0005]

In the above-described series of printing and plate making processes, an operator who operates the preparation device 102 and an image reading device 103 in order to perform the work.
A large number of operators are required, such as an operator who operates the printer, an operator who performs the input operation of the mount information, and an operator who operates the layout pasting system 104, and the task has to be highly dependent on each operator. is there.

A monitor screen is provided in the preparation device,
It is known that the processing in the preparatory process can be performed while looking at a monitor screen (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-18 / 1987).
No. 9472), even with such a configuration, only the burden on the operator in the preparatory process is reduced, and the input processing of the mount information and the layout pasting processing also require a separate operator. Does not improve so much.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image processing apparatus in which pre-preparation processing, image reading processing, and layout pasting processing are integrated to increase the processing efficiency and reduce the number of operators. The purpose is to:

[0008]

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an image reading means capable of reading a document image with high definition;
Mount information input means for inputting mount information about the layout; and a high-definition original image read by the reading means in a state of reduced resolution, superimposed on a frame image generated from the mount information on the display screen. Image display means to be displayed, adjustment means for adjusting conditions such as the position, angle, magnification, and trimming area of the original image displayed on the display screen with respect to the frame image, and input for instructing input of the original image It is characterized by comprising an instruction unit and an image input control unit for reading and inputting a high-definition image of a document in a state where the adjustment is performed by the adjustment unit when the input instruction unit is operated.

Here, the image reading means includes a two-dimensional CCD for reading a document image with high definition, and a processing circuit for lowering the resolution of the read document image. A mechanism for relatively displacing one of them relative to the other on a plane parallel to the reading plane;
A mechanism for rotating one of the two-dimensional CCDs about an axis perpendicular to the plane with respect to the other, and a zoom mechanism between the original and the two-dimensional CCD for optically changing a reading magnification; Is connected with an interface having a transfer rate enough to display the original image with reduced resolution on the display screen in real time.
When the input instruction means is operated, the image input control means controls the reading means to read the document image and controls the read image to be input as it is without passing through the processing circuit.

[0010]

In the above arrangement, the operator operates the adjusting means while watching the image projected on the display screen of the image display means, so that the desired original image is formed in the frame image at the desired angle and size. Adjust to fit. Then, when this adjustment is completed, an operation for inputting a document image is performed. When this operation is performed, the document image in the frame image is laid out in the frame of the mount information. Therefore, a series of processes of preparation, image reading, and layout pasting will be simultaneously performed by the operator,
The number of operators and work time can be reduced.

[0011]

(Image reading device)

As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading device 10 includes a light source 11 that irradiates light toward the document A, a transparent document table 12 on which the document A is placed, and the document table 12 in a horizontal plane. X
A document table driving device 13 for moving in the -Y direction, an optical system 14 with a zoom function for guiding light transmitted through the document A to the two-dimensional CCD 15, and a two-dimensional CCD 15 with a color filter for converting the document transmitted light into an electric signal. , This two-dimensional CCD1
Turntable 16 for rotatably supporting the rotary table 5, and the turntable 16
Stepping motor 1 for rotating the motor horizontally by a predetermined angle
7 and an image processing unit 18 that performs necessary processing such as shading correction, UCR, and contour enhancement on the image signal from the two-dimensional CCD 15 and supplies the processed image signal to the image display layout pasting system 30. You. The two-dimensional C
The CD 15 has a high resolution of, for example, 5 million pixels per frame and can read an image. The image processing unit 18 includes a processing circuit capable of switching between a fine mode in which the image signal from the two-dimensional CCD 15 is directly transferred and a coarse mode in which the image signal is transferred by performing pixel thinning or averaging of a plurality of pixels. In addition, the transfer time per frame can be changed. Here, as the fine mode, for example, 5 million pixels (5 × 10 ⁶ pixels) per frame,
The coarse mode is set to have a transfer capacity of 50,000 pixels (5 × 10 ⁴ pixels) per frame.

The fine mode is used for using a high-definition document image as a prepress output, and the coarse mode is used for displaying conditions such as the position, size, and angle of the document with respect to the layout paper on a monitor in real time. used.
When the coarse mode is selected, in order to make it possible to display the original image in real time, between the image processing unit 18 and the image display layout pasting system 30, as shown in FIG. 3, a SCSI having a transfer rate of 4 MByte / sec. They are connected by an interface 19.

When this SCSI interface is used, one frame can be transferred in 3750 ms in the fine mode (5 million pixels: 8 bits each for RGB).
In the coarse mode (50,000 pixels: 8 bits each for RGB)
One frame can be transferred in 37.5 ms. Therefore, in the coarse mode, approximately 27 frames can be formed per second to supply a moving image with a smooth motion. The display image does not need to be high-definition, but only needs to be able to set input conditions. Note that RGB data is used as display image data.
If one of these signals is used, or if a white signal is used by mixing RGB, one frame can be transferred at 12.5 ms to provide a smoother moving image, or an interface with a lower transfer rate can be used. You can also. [Mounting Information Input Device] The mounting information input device 20 includes, as mount information about the layout, the size of the mount, the size and direction of the frame in the mount,
For inputting information such as a position, for example, a keyboard or a digitizer is used. The mount information input here is stored in, for example, the magnetic storage device 60. [Image Display Layout Pasting System] The image display layout pasting system 30 includes an operation unit 31.
And a mount information combining unit 32 and a monitor 33.

The mount information synthesizing section 32 includes a magnetic storage device 60.
In addition to performing the process of superimposing the mount image (or the frame image extracted from the mount image) stored in the image and the document image (coarse mode image) from the image processing unit 18 on the screen of the monitor 33, the process is described later. When a main scan (dense mode reading) is performed, a corresponding image within the frame is extracted from the main scan image and incorporated into the frame of the mount information.

As shown in FIG. 4, a display screen D for displaying a frame image I and a document image P is displayed on the screen of the monitor 33.
In addition, the operation screen C is displayed at the same time. The operation screen C is provided with two operation screens C-a showing the operation contents for the image reading apparatus 10 and the operation screen C-b showing the operation contents for the mount information. Alternatively, by bringing the mouse cursor to the switching display area Ch and clicking,
Both can be switched and displayed.

The display content of the operation screen Cb is frame reduction b ₁
And a frame enlarged b ₂ and the frame selection b _3, clicking bring the mouse cursor to each of the display position, the operation of selecting a particular frame (e.g., frame I) from a plurality of frames that are displayed on the screen , And an operation of reducing or enlarging the specific frame I. Operation screen C-
Display contents of a can be reduced a ₁ and enlarged a ₂ and the right rotation a ₃ and the left rotation a ₄ and right moving a ₅ and the left moving a ₆ and a lower moving a ₇ and the upper moving a ₈ and the scan a ₉ If the mouse cursor is brought to each display position and clicked, the displayed image can be reduced, enlarged, rotated, and moved. In addition, a desired image can be formed in the frame image I by these operations. When the determination is made, the image reading in the fine mode, that is, the main scan can be executed.

When the operation screen Cb is displayed, the operation section 31 performs an operation of selecting a specific frame (for example, a frame image I) in accordance with an operator operation on the display content, and an operation of selecting the specific frame. Necessary arithmetic processing and the like for reducing and enlarging a certain frame image I are performed. When the operation screen Ca is displayed,
In response to an operator operation on the display content, a position (trimming) control signal is output to the platen driving device 13, and a magnification control signal is output to the optical system 14 having a zoom function or the image processing unit 18. Stepping motor 1
7, an angle control signal is output.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flow charts showing the plate making process by the image processing apparatus described above. It should be noted that the original A
Is set, and the mount information has been input to the magnetic storage device 60 through the mount information input device 20. First, as an initial setting, a variable N is set to “1”,
A process for setting the flag F to "0" is performed (S1). The variable N indicates the magnification for the display screen, and the flag F
Is related to operation screen switching. Then, the mount information stored in the magnetic storage device 60 is written to the display memory (S2). At this time, for example, the frame image I is displayed on the screen of the monitor 33. Next, it is determined whether or not the flag F is "0" (S3).
If the flag F is “0”, the operation screen Cb is displayed on the monitor 3
3 is displayed on the screen (S4), and the operation proceeds to the operation input determination process. That is, it is determined whether or not the switching operation has been requested (whether or not the mouse cursor has been clicked while the mouse cursor is positioned in the switching display area Ch) (S5). If the switching operation has been requested, F is set to "1". Is performed (S6), and the process proceeds to step S3. If no switching operation is required,
It is determined whether or not a frame has been selected (S7). If a frame has been selected, a process of displaying the frame centered is performed (S7).
8). If no frame has been selected, it is determined whether or not a request for enlarging or reducing the frame has been made (S9). If the request has been made, the magnification N is changed according to the content of the request (S10). On the other hand, if not requested, step S
Go to 5.

If the flag F is determined not to be "0" in step S3, the input of the image picked up by the two-dimensional CCD 15 to the display memory is started, and
The operation screen Ca is displayed on the screen of the monitor 33 (S1
1). At this time, on the screen of the monitor 33, the frame image and the captured image (according to the coarse mode) are superimposed, and the image changes (that is, the image is rotated) by about 27 frames per second. And changes due to zoom, etc.) are displayed in real time. Next, the process proceeds to an operation input determination process. That is, it is determined whether or not a switching operation has been requested (S12). If a switching operation has been requested, F is set to “0”.
(S13), and the process proceeds to step S3. If the switching operation has not been requested, it is determined whether or not an image rotation request has been made (S14), whether or not an image position change request has been made (S16), and whether or not a zoom request has been made (S18). If YES, the respective control signals are output (S15, 17, 19), and the rotation, position change,
Adjust the zoom magnification. After all changes and adjustments,
When the main scan is instructed (S20), the reading in the fine mode described above is executed (S21), and the corresponding image in the frame of the selected frame image is captured (S2).
2) The captured image is stored in the magnetic storage device 60
Is stored in correspondence with the selected frame of the mount information in (S23).

As described above, the operator performs various operations while watching the image projected on the screen of the monitor 33, and the target document image is included in the frame image displayed on the screen of the monitor 33. Adjust to fit in the desired angle and size. When the adjustment is completed, the main scan is executed, and the corresponding image in the frame is laid out in the frame on the mount information. Therefore, a series of processes of preparation, image reading, and layout pasting are simultaneously performed by the above-described operator, and the number of operators and the working time can be reduced.

In various operations while watching the screen of the monitor 33 corresponding to the preparatory processing, a frame is displayed so as to be superimposed on the captured image, and the change due to rotation and zoom of the captured image is performed in real time. Therefore, the preparatory processing can be performed easily and quickly. In addition,
In the above embodiment, the rotation of the document image is performed by rotating the two-dimensional CCD 15, but the document A may be rotated.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, a series of processes of preparation, image reading, and layout pasting can be performed by one operator at the same time. Is shortened. In addition, in various operations while watching the screen corresponding to the preparatory processing, a change in the document image due to the rotation or zoom by the adjusting unit can be viewed in real time on the screen,
This preparatory process can be performed easily and quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a specific configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a fine mode and a coarse mode.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing display contents.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of the plate making process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another part of the plate making process.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a conventional plate making process.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a preparation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 image reading device 18 image processing unit 20 mount information input device 30 image display layout pasting system 31 operation unit 32 mount information synthesizing unit 33 monitor 40 output device

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoji Yonezawa 4-chome Tenjin, Horikawa-dori-Terauchi, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 1 Daikoku Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (56) References −238835 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03F 1/00-1/16 H04N 1/04 H04N 1/387 H04N 1/40

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A two-dimensional CCD for reading a document image with high definition
And a processing circuit for lowering the resolution of the read original image.
An image reading means capable of reading a document image with high definition, a mount information input means for inputting mount information on a layout, and a backing sheet in a state where the high-definition document image read by the reading means is reduced in resolution. Video display means for displaying on the display screen superimposed on the frame image generated from the information, and reading one of the original and the two-dimensional CCD with respect to the other;
A mechanism for making relative displacement on a plane parallel to the surface, and a document
And one of the two-dimensional CCDs perpendicular to the plane with respect to the other.
The mechanism that rotates around the axis and the space between the original and the two-dimensional CCD
And a zoom mechanism for optically changing the reading magnification.
Adjusting means for adjusting conditions such as the position, angle, magnification, and trimming area of the original image displayed on the display screen with respect to the frame image; input instruction means for inputting the original image; and input instruction means document but when operated, an image input control means for reading the input high definition image of the document in a state of being adjustable by the adjusting means, wherein the reading means and the image display means is lower resolution
An image that can be displayed in real time on the display screen
The image input control means is operated by an input instructing means.
The reading means to read the original image,
Input the captured image without passing through the processing circuit
An image processing apparatus, characterized in that the image processing apparatus controls the image processing apparatus to perform such control.