JP2868666B2 - Electronic typesetting device for typesetting along any line - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic typesetting apparatus, and more particularly to an electronic typesetting apparatus for arranging characters and figures along arbitrary lines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electronic plate making process, an electronic typesetting device for arranging a character string under a plate is used. A conventional typesetting device has a function of arranging a character string on a straight line. However, depending on the printed matter, there is a case where it is desired to produce a visual fun by arranging a character string along a curve, for example.

[0003]

However, since the conventional typesetting device can only arrange character strings on a straight line, it is difficult to arrange character strings along a curve. Therefore, conventionally, an operator manually pastes characters of a character string one by one along a curved line on a block board, which requires a considerable amount of time and labor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and has as its object to provide an electronic typesetting apparatus capable of arranging characters along an arbitrary line.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first electronic typesetting apparatus according to the present invention comprises at least an input means for inputting a character string and an optional means for arranging the character string. Reference line designation means for designating an arrangement reference line of a shape, and an arrangement specification for defining the arrangement of the character string along the arrangement reference line and a change in character size, the size of an adjacent character in the character string Each character of the character string is described using a tilt arrangement specification that is sequentially changed at a substantially constant magnification.
Determine the size, based on the size of the respective character, and determines the position of each character along the arrangement reference line, and typesetting execution means for placing each character of the character string along the arrangement reference line, Each character in the inclined arrangement specification
Is the size of the end character of the character string and the start character
Dividing the difference from the size of the character string by the number of characters of the character string
And the size of the starting character
Is determined based on the following .

[0006] Further, a second electronic typesetting device of the present invention comprises:
First input means for inputting an image element in which a character and a graphic are combined, reference line designating means for designating an arrangement reference line of an arbitrary shape for arranging the image element, An array specification that defines the arrangement of a plurality of image elements when the image elements are copied along and repeatedly arranged.
A second input means for designating an array specification including the number of copies,
Arrangement of the plurality of image elements by dividing by a number of times
While calculating the interval between the reference points, the
The arrangement reference points of the plurality of image elements are arranged at the intervals.
And a formatting unit for repeatedly arranging the plurality of image elements along the arrangement reference line.

[0007]

In the first electronic typesetting device, the oblique arrangement specification is used.
Since by adjusting each character size of the character string disposed on the placement base line having an arbitrary shape, along the lines of arbitrary shape each sentence Te
The character strings can be arranged while sequentially changing the character size at a substantially constant magnification .

In the second electronic typesetting device, the layout reference
By dividing the total length of the line by the number of copies,
Calculates the interval between the image element placement reference points and repeatedly arranges image elements on the placement reference line at this fixed interval, so that image elements including characters and figures can be drawn along lines of any shape. Tidy
Naturally, they can be arranged repeatedly.

[0009]

【Example】

A. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic typesetting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This electronic typesetting device has a CPU 10
And a bus line 12. The bus line 12 has a graphic data memory 14 and a character data memory 16.
, A typesetting information memory 18, a typesetting device 20, and a typeset data memory 28. In addition, a keyboard 30 and a mouse 32 as input devices are connected to the bus line 12.
And a digitizer 34, and a color CRT 36 is connected as an output device. Further, a magnetic disk 38 is connected as an external storage device. The typesetting device 20 includes a vectorization executing unit 22, a magnification calculating unit 24, and a typesetting executing unit 26. These means are realized by a software program executed by the CPU 10.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the typesetting operation in this embodiment. Step S
In 1, the operator creates a placement reference line using the digitizer 34. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a region PR of the photographic image drawn on the composition and an arrangement reference line RL. The operator traces the arrangement reference line RL with the digitizer 34 to input graphic data representing the arrangement reference line RL.

In step S2, the operator indicates the range of the character string to be typeset. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a character string that has been character-set in advance. The operator selects, as a character string to be at least partially typeset, from character strings that have been previously set and displayed on the color CRT 36.

In step S3, a character string array specification is input. Here, the array specification is a specification indicating any one of the following three array methods. (1) Slant composition: characters are arranged on the arrangement reference line RL while sequentially changing the size of the characters. When using this arrangement method, specify the size of the first character and the size of the last character of the character string. (2) Uniform composition: character strings are evenly arranged over the entire length of the arrangement reference line RL. At this time, the size of the characters is adjusted so that they can be evenly arranged. (3) Normal typesetting: character strings are arranged in a predetermined size along the arrangement reference line RL.

In step S4, the vectorization executing means 2
Reference numeral 2 divides the arrangement reference line RL into minute line segments to form a multi-vertex figure. This processing is generally called vectorization.
Here, the multi-vertex graphic is a graphic formed by sequentially connecting a plurality of straight line segments. The multi-vertex graphic includes a type that forms a closed area like a polygonal graphic, and an arrangement reference line R in FIG.
There is a type such as L which does not form a closed region. The graphic data of the arrangement reference line RL as a multi-vertex graphic is stored in the graphic data memory 14.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing data of an arrangement reference line RL stored in the graphic data memory 14. Examples of the graphic include a straight line, an arc, and the like in addition to the multi-vertex graphic. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing an arrangement reference line RL which is vectorized and includes a plurality of vertices P1 to P11.

In step S5, the typesetting executing means 26 calculates the length Li and the total length L of each line segment of the arrangement reference line RL based on the coordinate data of each vertex P1 to P11 of the arrangement reference line RL. Next, in step S6 of FIG.
The typesetting execution unit 26 determines whether the array specification input in step S1 is inclined typesetting, uniform typesetting, or normal typesetting, and executes one of steps S7, S8, and S9.

In the case of the inclined composition (step S7), first, the magnification calculator 24 calculates the bias value B according to the following equation. B = {(series of end character) − (series of start character)} / (number of characters) Here, the series of characters is a unit indicating the size of the character, and the first class is equivalent to 0.25 mm. The series K (i) of the i-th character in the character string is calculated according to the following equation. K (i) = (series of start character) + INT (B · i) Here, INT indicates an operation that takes only an integer part of a numerical value in parentheses.

The typesetting executing means 26 determines the position of each character on a virtual straight line based on the character size thus obtained. This virtual straight line is a line segment having the same length as the total length L of the arrangement reference line RL. FIG.
(A) is a figure which shows the character string arrange | positioned on the virtual straight line by the process of step S7. As a result of the processing in step S7, the series of each character and the position of the lower left point (indicated by a white circle in the figure) of each character are determined. The position of the lower left point is represented by the distance from the starting point IP of the straight line. This distance corresponds to the distance from the start point P1 of the placement reference line RL.

In the case of uniform composition (step S8), the magnification calculating means 24 calculates the series K of each character according to the following equation.
The typesetting executing means 26 determines the position of each character on a virtual straight line. K = INT {(total length L of arrangement reference line) / (number of characters)}

FIG. 8B is a diagram showing character strings arranged on a virtual straight line for uniform typesetting and normal typesetting. However, the size of each character is usually different between uniform typesetting and normal typesetting. Also in the uniform typesetting and the normal typesetting, the size of each character and the position of the lower left point of each character on a virtual straight line are determined.

Steps S10 to S13 are executed by the typesetting executing means 26. In step S10, the accumulated length TL for obtaining the actual position of each character on the arrangement reference line RL is initialized to zero. In step S11, the position and angle of each character on the placement reference line RL are obtained corresponding to the position of each character on the virtual straight line. FIG.
Is an explanatory diagram showing a character string arranged on the arrangement reference line RL in normal composition. As shown in FIG. 9, the start point IP of the virtual straight line is associated with the start point P1 of the arrangement reference line RL, and the lower left point (white circle) of each character is determined according to the distance measured from the start point P1 along the arrangement reference line RL. ) Is determined. The angle θ of each character is set equal to the angle of the line segment where the lower left point of each character exists.

In step S12, the position and angle of the lower left point of the character obtained in step S11 are stored in the typesetting information memory 1.
8 is registered. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing data registered in the typesetting information memory 18. In step S13, it is determined whether or not the processing of all the characters in the character string has been completed. If the processing has not been completed, the process returns to step S11, and the processing of steps S11 and S12 is executed for the next character.

As described above, in this embodiment, the character strings are arranged on a virtual straight line in accordance with the specified array specification.
The position and angle of each character on the arrangement reference line are determined by associating this virtual straight line with the arrangement reference line. Therefore, character strings can be easily arranged on an arrangement reference line having an arbitrary shape with various arrangement specifications.

B. Embodiment in which Characters and Figures are Arranged In the second embodiment, image elements in which characters and figures are combined are repeatedly arranged along an arrangement reference line. The device in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, except that the functions of the respective units in the typesetting device 20 are different. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the second embodiment.

In step S21, an arrangement reference line RL is created. This is the same process as step S1 in FIG. In step S22, the operator inputs characters and graphics, and an image element (hereinafter, referred to as a source) for copying.
"Original image element"). FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an original image element including a circle, a triangle, and the character “Ai”. In step S23, the operator indicates the position of the reference point RP of the original image element using the mouse 32 (FIG. 12).
reference). In step S24, the operator instructs the number of copies and the magnification. For example, when arranging one original image element and two copies, the number of copies is specified as two, the magnification of the first copy is specified as 70%, and the magnification of the second copy is specified as 50%. However, the same magnification may be specified for all copies.

In step S25, step S4 in FIG.
Similarly, the vectorization executing means 22 converts the arrangement reference line RL into a minute line segment. In step S26, the typesetting executing means 26 calculates the total length L of the arrangement reference line RL,
The interval between copies is calculated by dividing the total length L by the number of copies specified in 24 (two times in this embodiment).

In step S27, the position and angle of the image element on the arrangement reference line RL are calculated by the typesetting executing means 26. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement reference line RL and the positions of the arrangement points RP1 to RP3 of the three image elements. At each of the arrangement points RP1 to RP3, a reference point RP (see FIG. 12) of the image element is arranged. In this example, since the number of copies is two, the distance obtained by dividing the arrangement reference line RL by 2 is the distance between image elements. The angle of the image element is determined by each placement point RP
1 is set equal to the angle θ of the segment of the arrangement reference line RL in RP3.

In step S28, the magnification calculator 24 enlarges or reduces the original image element by the specified magnification, and arranges the image element at the positions of the arrangement points RP1 to RP3 on the arrangement reference line RL. However, one image element to be processed is arranged in step S28.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the image elements subjected to magnification conversion. In the magnification conversion, the coordinates (Xc, Yc) after the conversion are obtained by converting the coordinates (X, Y) of the coordinate points Q1 to Q4 of the figure and the lower left points Q5 to Q7 of the character according to the following equation.
Is required. Xc = X + (X−Xr) · M Yc = Y + (Y−Yr) · M where (Xr, Yr) is the coordinates of the reference point RP, and M is the magnification. The length and size of the circle such as the radius r1 and the series of characters are converted according to the following equation. LLc = LL · M Here, LL is the length before conversion, and LLc is the length after conversion.

In step S29, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all image elements. If not, steps S27 and S28 are repeated.
The next image element is arranged on the arrangement reference line RL. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the image elements thus arranged at the arrangement points RP1 to RP3.

In the above embodiment, the position of the reference point of each image element to be copied is determined on the arrangement reference line RL, and each image element is arranged at the position of the reference point according to the designated magnification. There is an advantage that image elements having different magnifications can be easily arranged along an arbitrary line. The image arranged as shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the color CRT 36, the operator can immediately confirm the image, and can correct the image if necessary.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are flowcharts showing a processing procedure in a case where either one of the saw line and the wavy line can be selected as a graphic. Step S3
At 1, the operator inputs an arrangement reference line as in step S21 of FIG. In step S32, the operator inputs a character string to be copied. Step S
At 33, the position of the reference point of the saw or wavy line with respect to the character string is designated. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the character string “A” (in this example, one character) and the position of the reference point RP. FIG. 18A shows the case of a saw line, and FIG.
(B) shows the case of a wavy line.

In step S34, the operator selects a saw line or a wavy line, and instructs the number of copies and the magnification of each copy. The number of times of copying referred to here is the number of peaks of a saw line or a wavy line. In step S35, the height h of the amplitude is specified. The height h of the amplitude is the height of the peak of the saw line or the wavy line (see FIG. 18).

Steps S36 to S39 are processes corresponding to steps S25 to S28 in FIG. 11, respectively. In step S36, the arrangement reference line RL is converted into a minute line segment. In step S37, the total length of the arrangement reference line RL is obtained, and the interval between the reference points of the sawtooth line or the wavy line is obtained according to the number of copies.

In step S38, the position and angle of the character string on the arrangement reference line are calculated. Here, the position of the character string is a position where the reference point RP shown in FIG. 18 is arranged. In step S39, the character string is enlarged or reduced at the specified magnification, and is arranged at an arrangement point on the arrangement reference line RL. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating characters arranged along the arrangement reference line RL. However, in this example, the magnification of all character strings is set to 100%.

In step S40, as shown in FIG. 20, the position of the peak PP of the peak of the sawtooth line or the wavy line is determined based on the current position of the arrangement point RP1, the position of the next arrangement point RP2, and the amplitude h. I do. FIG. 20A shows the saw line thus obtained, and FIG. 20B shows the dashed line. Note that mountains may be arranged on one side of the placement reference line RL as shown in FIG.
The peaks may be alternately arranged on both sides of the arrangement reference line RL as shown in FIG.

The saw-line or wavy-line graphic data thus created is registered in the graphic data memory 14 in step S41. Steps S38 to S41
Is one peak of a saw or wavy line. In step S42, it is determined whether a sawtooth line or a wavy line has been created for the entire length of the placement reference line RL. If not, the process returns to step S38 to repeat the processes in steps S38 to S41.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the arrangement reference line and the character string are designated, the saw line or the wavy line is selected, and the peak of the character string and the saw line or the wavy line are selected along the arrangement reference line. Since the image is repeatedly copied and repeatedly arranged, a figure having a large number of repetitions, such as a saw line or a wavy line, can be easily arranged along an arbitrary line in combination with a character string.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following modifications are possible. (1) In the above embodiment, the operator inputs the placement reference line using the digitizer 34. However, for example, a figure drawn on the underlaying board is read and a part of the line is used as the placement reference line. You may.

(2) In the above embodiment, the processing is performed on the vector for converting the arrangement reference line RL including the curve into a minute line segment. However, the geometric curve such as an arc is converted into the minute line segment. Instead, characters and figures may be arranged with the geometric curve as it is. This is because a geometric curve can calculate a distance on the curve. When the arrangement reference line RL includes an arc, the angle of the character arranged on the arc is set equal to the angle of the tangent of the arc at the lower left point of the character. However, if vectorization is performed as in the above embodiment, the distance on the arrangement reference line can be relatively easily calculated, and there is an advantage that the processing time can be reduced.

[0040]

As described above, in the first electronic typesetting apparatus of the present invention, the size of each character in the character string is adjusted according to the inclined arrangement specification and arranged on the arrangement reference line of an arbitrary shape. Approximate the size of each character along the line of any shape
There is an effect that character strings can be arranged while being sequentially changed at a constant magnification .

In the second electronic typesetting device, the layout reference
By dividing the total length of the line by the number of copies,
Calculates the interval between the image element placement reference points and repeatedly arranges image elements on the placement reference line at this fixed interval, so that image elements including characters and figures can be drawn along lines of any shape. Tidy
Of course, there is an effect that the arrangement can be repeated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic typesetting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a typesetting operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a typesetting operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an area PR and an arrangement reference line RL of a photographic image drawn on a composition.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a character string that has been previously lettered.

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement reference line RL stored in a graphic data memory.
FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a vectorized arrangement reference line RL.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing character strings arranged on a virtual straight line.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a character string arranged on an arrangement reference line RL in normal composition.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing data registered in a typesetting information memory 18;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an original image element including a circle, a triangle, and a character string.

FIG. 13 shows an arrangement reference line RL and arrangement points R of three image elements.
The figure which shows the position of P1-RP3.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an image element whose magnification has been converted.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing image elements arranged at arrangement points RP1 to RP3.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a case where any one of a saw line and a wavy line can be selected as a graphic.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when any one of a saw line and a wavy line can be selected as a graphic;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a character string “A” and a reference point RP.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing characters arranged along an arrangement reference line RL.

FIG. 20 is a view showing an image in which an image element including a saw line and a wavy line is copied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 CPU 12 Bus line 14 Graphic data memory 16 Character data memory 18 Typesetting information memory 20 Typesetting device 22 Vectorization executing means 24 Magnification calculating means 26 Typesetting executing means 28 Typeset data memory 30 Keyboard 32 Mouse 34 Digitizer 38 Magnetic disk RL layout Reference line RP Reference point

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ identification code FIG09G 5/32 640 G06F 15/20 566M 670 566K 534P (58) Investigated field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G09G 5 / 32 G09G 5/26 G06T 1/00 G06F 17/21

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic typesetting apparatus for electronically performing typesetting, comprising: input means for inputting at least a character string; and a reference line for specifying an arrangement reference line of an arbitrary shape for arranging the character string. Specifying means for sequentially changing the size of adjacent characters in the character string at a substantially constant magnification as an array specification that specifies the arrangement of the character string along the arrangement reference line and the change in character size.
The size of each character of the character string is determined using the inclined arrangement specification, and based on the size of each character, the position of each character along the arrangement reference line is determined, and each character of the character string is Typesetting means for arranging along the arrangement reference line , wherein the size of each character in the inclined arrangement specification is
Before the difference between the end character size and the start character size of the column
By dividing by the number of characters in the
Determined based on the assembling value and the size of the starting character.
Electronic typesetting apparatus characterized by being. 2. An electronic typesetting apparatus for electronically performing typesetting, comprising: first input means for inputting an image element obtained by combining a character and a figure; and an arbitrary shape for arranging the image element. Reference line designating means for designating an arrangement reference line, and an arrangement for defining the arrangement of a plurality of image elements when copying and repeatedly arranging the image elements along the arrangement reference line.
Second input means for designating an array specification including the number of copies as a column specification, and dividing the total length of the arrangement reference line by the number of copies
Calculate the interval between the reference points of the plurality of image elements by
And the plurality of image elements on the arrangement reference line.
An electronic typesetting device, comprising: a typesetting executing means for repeatedly arranging the plurality of image elements along the alignment reference line such that the alignment reference points are arranged at the intervals .