JP3256635B2 - Video printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video printer which prints an input video image and outputs it as a hard copy, and in particular, synthesizes and prints a video image and a simple sentence such as a date or a comment. Video printer made possible.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a video image is printed by a video printer, text such as a date or a simple comment (hereinafter, referred to as a character or graphic) is written outside the video image, that is, in a margin portion other than the video image using characters and figures. Is generally known as a comment). In this specification, “printing” includes not only forming an image as a hard copy using characters or graphics, but also forming an image using a video image as a hard copy.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a print example in which a comment is inserted into a video image. A video image 51 is printed in a predetermined area of a recording paper 50, and a comment “ABCDE” is written in a margin. 52 is printed.

[0004]

However, in a conventional video printer, the size of a video image to be printed is the maximum size that can be printed on a recording sheet to be printed (hereinafter referred to as the maximum size) regardless of whether or not a comment is printed. ,
Since it is printed in a size smaller than the maximum size), there is a problem that the video image to be printed lacks power especially when a comment is not printed.

[0005] That is, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, assuming that the maximum size with respect to the size of the recording paper 50 is H ₀ in the vertical direction and W ₀ in the horizontal direction as indicated by 55, a comment is printed when printing. Considering that the appearance is improved when attached, the captured video image is reduced so as to have a size of H _A vertically and W _A horizontally as shown by 51.

If no comment is to be printed, 5
When printing only a video image in the size indicated by 1 and printing a comment, the video image is printed in a size indicated by 51 and the input comment is printed in a lower margin portion thereof. .

The maximum size of a video image is uniquely determined by the size of recording paper, the number of print head elements, and the like.

[0008] As described above, in the conventional video printer, the size of the image to be printed is uniquely determined so as to improve the appearance when a comment is added. As shown by the hatched portion in FIG. 6, an extra margin of H _C is formed on the upper side of the video image 51, H _B is formed on the lower side, W _B is formed on the left side, and W _C is formed on the right side, Not only is the recording paper 50 not being used effectively, but the video image becomes smaller as the margin becomes larger, so that it is lacking in power.

An object of the present invention is to provide a video printer capable of printing a video image in a size as large as possible regardless of whether a comment is printed or not. Things.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video printer, comprising: a freeze key for selecting an image to be printed; and a freeze key for instructing execution of printing. Print key, prints only the video image without comments.Prints in the normal print mode, or specifies whether to print in the comment print mode in which comments are added to the lower margin outside the print surface of the video image. A user interface including at least a mode switching key and various keys for inputting characters and graphics of comments, and when the normal print mode is selected by the mode switching key, the freeze key is operated. Captures one frame of image data at the time, and prints on the recording paper with the specified image size. When the comment print mode is selected by the mode switching key, the image data of one frame when the freeze key is operated is taken in, and the size of the image data is first set to the maximum size. Then, the lower side of the image of the image data of the maximum size is cut out by a predetermined number of character lines,
An image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the cut-out area with the image data of the comment input from the user interface and outputting the image data, and a printing unit for printing the video image output from the image synthesizing unit. .
According to the video printer of the present invention, the selected video image is printed in a size as large as possible regardless of whether a comment is added or not, so that a powerful image can be printed. Become.

A video printer according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a freeze key for selecting an image to be printed, a print key for instructing execution of printing, and a normal print mode for printing only video images without comments. Mode switching key for setting whether to print in the comment print mode or to print comments in the lower margin outside the printing surface of the video image, and various for inputting comment characters and graphics. When the normal print mode is selected by the mode switching key and the user interface having at least the following keys, the image data for one frame when the freeze key is operated is taken in, and the image size is designated. Output as the maximum size that can be printed on the recording paper, and press the mode switching key When the print mode is selected, the image data for one frame when the freeze key is operated is taken in, and the ratio of the vertical size to the horizontal size of the image data is kept constant. Performing a process of converting to a size that fits into the size of the area excluding the predetermined number of character lines below the maximum size,
An image synthesizing unit for synthesizing and outputting image data of a comment input from the user interface in an area for a predetermined number of character lines below the maximum size, and a video image output from the image synthesizing unit And a printing means for printing the According to the video printer of the present invention, the selected video image is printed in as large a size as possible, with or without a comment, so that a powerful image can be printed. Further, all of the frozen video images can be printed even in the comment print mode.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video printer in which a freeze key for selecting an image to be printed, a print key for instructing execution of printing, and a normal print mode for printing only video images without comments. Mode switching key for setting whether to print in the comment print mode or to print comments in the lower margin outside the printing surface of the video image, and various for inputting comment characters and graphics. A user interface having at least a key, further, when the comment print mode is selected, the image size as the maximum printable size on the specified recording paper,
The first mode may be a mode in which a predetermined number of character lines below the line are cut out, or a predetermined lower side of the maximum size may be kept with respect to the image data while keeping the ratio between the vertical and horizontal sizes. A user interface including a key or a menu for selecting whether to use the second mode for converting the image into the maximum size of the area excluding the number of character lines, and a normal print mode is selected by the mode switching key. In this case, one frame of image data when the freeze key is operated is taken in, the image size is output as the maximum printable size for the specified recording paper, and the comment print mode is selected by the mode switching key. If the first mode is selected, the image for one frame when the freeze key is operated is displayed. First, the size of the image data is set to the maximum size, then the lower side of the image of the maximum size image data is cut by a predetermined number of character lines, and the cut area is input from the user interface. The image data of the comment is synthesized and output. When the comment print mode is selected by the mode switching key, and when the second mode is further selected, the one at the time of operating the freeze key is selected.
The image data for the frame is captured, and the size of the area is reduced to the size of the area excluding the predetermined number of character lines below the maximum size while maintaining the ratio of the vertical and horizontal sizes to the image data. An image synthesizing unit that performs a process of converting to a size that fits to the maximum, and synthesizes and outputs image data of a comment input from the user interface in an area for a predetermined number of character lines below the maximum size And a printing means for printing the video image output from the image synthesizing section. This claim 3
According to the video printer according to the present invention, the selected video image is printed in as large a size as possible, with or without a comment, so that a powerful image can be printed. In the print mode, it is possible to print all of the frozen video images.

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, a first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a video printer according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a video printer 10 is provided with an external video input terminal 11, and an external video output terminal of a VTR 12 as a video signal source is connected to the external video input terminal 11, for example.

The VTR 12 encodes a video signal picked up by a video head at the time of reproduction, and performs NTSC encoding.
Output to the external video output terminal as a signal. In addition, VTR
As an alternative to 12, a video camera, a still video camera, a photo video camera that captures a developed film and outputs a video signal, or the like can be used.

The NTSC signal output from the VTR 12 is input to a Y / C separation circuit 13 via an external video input terminal 11 of the video printer 10. The Y / C separation circuit 13 separates the NTSC signal into a luminance signal (Y) and a chrominance signal (C), and outputs the signal to the decoder 14. The decoder 14 converts the luminance signal (Y) and the color signal (C) into yellow,
The signal is converted into three primary color signals of magenta and cyan.

The three primary color signals of yellow, magenta, and cyan output from the decoder 14 are converted into digital video signals having a predetermined number of gradations, for example, 256 gradations, in an A / D converter 15. And switch 1
7 is supplied.

The memory 16 is composed of three memory sections for independently storing video images (image data) of three primary colors, for example, yellow, magenta and cyan, one frame at a time. Image writing and reading operations are performed.

The switch 17 switches between supplying the D / A converter 19 with image data from the A / D converter 15 and supplying image data from an image synthesizing unit 23 described later. This switch 1
7, that is, any image data is stored in the D / A converter 19.
Is automatically controlled by the control unit 18. Here, the switch 17 is normally connected to the A / D converter 15.
After the image to be hard-copied is determined by the user operating a user interface (hereinafter referred to as a UI) 28, the image is connected to the image synthesizing unit 23 as shown in FIG. But, for example, UI2
A display button for switching the display image on the monitor 22 is provided on the monitor 8, so that the user can arbitrarily switch between the image data input from the external video input terminal 11 and the image data from the image synthesizing section 23 for observation. It is natural.

The D / A converter 19 receives the input yellow,
The encoder 20 converts digital image data of three primary colors, magenta and cyan, into an analog signal.
The analog video signals of the three primary colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan output from the A converter 19 are converted into a luminance signal (Y) and a chrominance signal (C) or an NTSC signal and output to the external output video terminal 21. is there.

Therefore, initially, the switch 17 is connected to the A / D converter 15 side, so that the monitor 22 displays the video image input from the external video input terminal 11, but the user operates the UI 28. Thus, the screen on which the hard copy is to be performed is determined, and when the image data of the screen is completely loaded into the memory 16, the control unit 18 switches the switch 17 to the image combining unit 23 as shown in the figure. As a result, the image of the image data output from the image combining unit 23 is displayed on the monitor 22.

The image data written in the memory 16 is read out under the control of the controller 18 and transferred to the image synthesizer 23.

The image synthesizing unit 23 determines the size of the image to be printed under the control of the control unit 18 and, if a comment is added, synthesizes the image data of the image to be printed and the image data of the comment. Is what you do.

The processing for determining the image size is as follows. When printing only a video image without adding a comment (this is called a normal print mode), processing is performed so that the size of the image of the image data from the memory 16 becomes the maximum size for the designated recording paper size. Output. More specifically, if the size of the image data loaded into the memory 16 is equal to or larger than the maximum size, for example, the image data transferred from the memory 16 is subjected to a reduction process to set the image size to the maximum size. Alternatively, the maximum size may be cut out from the image data from the memory 16. Of course, if the size of the image data taken into the memory 16 is the maximum size, the image data from the memory 16 may be output as it is. Further, the memory 16
If the size of the image data captured in the memory 16 is smaller than the maximum size, the image data from the memory 16 may be subjected to the enlargement process.

As described above, the maximum size is uniquely determined by the size of the color recording paper (hereinafter, simply referred to as recording paper) 50, the number of elements of the thermal head 26, and the like. Since the size of the image data to be captured is also fixedly determined, it is obvious that the above-described reduction processing or cutout processing can be performed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when a comment is added to a lower margin portion outside the printing surface of a video image (this is referred to as a comment print mode), the image synthesizing section 23 performs the processing shown in FIG. as shown in, first the size of the image data from the memory 16 and the maximum size, then the lower side of the image of the image data of the maximum size delete one character rows H _D as indicated by the shaded portion of FIG. 2 I do. The size H _D of the longitudinal direction of the one character row is what is preset.

When the image size is determined in this way, the image synthesizing unit 23 synthesizes the image data of the comment output from the comment creating unit 29 with the deleted area.

In FIG. 1, the image synthesizing section 23 is a switch 1
There are two output terminals, an output terminal to the 7 side and an output terminal to the line memory 24 side, and the control unit 18 controls which output terminal outputs the image data. More specifically, the image data is output to the switch 17 until the user operates the UI 28 to instruct the execution of printing. This allows the user to monitor 22
The printed image can be observed. However, when the execution of printing is instructed, the control unit 18 controls the image synthesizing unit 23 to output image data to the line memory 24 side. Thereby, printing of an image is performed.

The image synthesizing section 23 can perform enlargement or reduction processing and deletion processing on the image data from the memory 16 and can perform processing on the image data on which the size determination processing has been performed. Any configuration may be used as long as it has a function of synthesizing the image data of the comment from the comment creation unit 29. For example, an internal memory equivalent to the memory 16 is provided. The above-described size determination process and the combination of the image data and the comment image data can be performed on the memory.

When printing is performed, the image data for one line output from the image synthesizing unit 23 is stored in the line memory 24.
Is sent to the head drive unit 25 via the. Head drive unit 2
Reference numeral 5 drives the thermal head 26 based on the sent image data for one line.

As is well known, the thermal head 26 has a large number of heating elements arranged in a line in the main scanning direction, and heats the recording paper 50 to sequentially perform three-color surface recording. The recording paper 50 is provided with cyan, magenta, and yellow thermosensitive coloring layers sequentially. After thermal recording of one color is performed, light fixing is performed by irradiation of an ultraviolet lamp (not shown) corresponding to the thermosensitive coloring layer of this color.
The following colors are the ones to be thermorecorded.

The control unit 18 of the video printer 10 has a UI
28 are connected. The UI 28 is used to select an image to be printed, to execute printing, to set whether to print in the normal print mode or to print in the comment print mode, to input a comment character or figure when printing in the comment print mode, or This is for performing various other settings and the like. Obviously, such a UI 28 can be configured using an input device such as a keyboard. Alternatively, a liquid crystal display device and a touch panel may be combined to display various menus on the liquid crystal display device, and a desired setting may be performed by touching a position where a desired menu is displayed.

Here, the UI 28 is constituted by a keyboard. On the keyboard, a freeze key for selecting an image to be printed, a print key for instructing execution of printing, and a normal print mode. It is assumed that the apparatus is provided with at least a mode switching key for setting whether to print in the comment printing mode or for printing, and various keys for inputting comment characters and graphics. The control unit 18 is initially in the normal print mode, and switches between the normal print mode and the comment print mode alternately each time the mode switch key is pressed once.

It is assumed that simple figures such as numbers, circles, triangles, squares, and diamonds, alphabets, katakana, hiragana, and kanji are prepared as characters and figures for creating comments. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that in order to input these characters and graphics, a normal word processor function having a kana / kanji conversion function may be installed in the control unit 18.

The comment creation section 29 creates comment image data, and includes a character generator (hereinafter, referred to as CG) 31 and a RAM 32. In the CG 31, a dot pattern of a character or a figure that can be input as a comment is written.
When the comment data is input from I28, the dot pattern corresponding to the input data is read from the CG 31 and developed in the RAM 32. This allows the RAM 32
Is formed with comment image data. Although the size of the dot pattern of letters and numbers is natural that the same may be set appropriately, as described above, wherein those one-line vertical size of the character string of comments that are made with H _D And

The image data of the comment formed in the RAM 32 is transferred to the image synthesizing section 23 under the control of the control section 18 and synthesized with the image data from the memory 16. When reading the comment image data from the RAM 32, the control unit 18 naturally reads the comment image data at a timing at which the comment data is set to the set comment printing position.

The components of the video printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 have been described above. Next, the user's operation and the operation of each component of the video printer 10 at that time will be described.

First, the case where the normal print mode is selected will be described. When printing a video image in the normal print mode, the video output terminal of the VTR is connected to the external video input terminal 11 of the video printer 10 and
The monitor 2 is connected to the external video output terminal 21 of the video printer 10.
2 is connected. When the VTR 12 is brought into the reproduction state in this state, the NTSC output from the VTR 12 is output.
The signal is taken into the Y / C separation circuit 13 via the external video input terminal 11 of the video printer 10, where it is separated into a luminance signal (Y) and a chrominance signal (C). The luminance signal (Y) and the color signal (C) are converted by the decoder 14 into three primary color signals of yellow, magenta, and cyan.
The three primary color signals are converted into digital signals by the A / D converter 15 and sent to the switch 17.

The video image is sent to the D / A converter 19 via the switch 17 as it is, and the image being reproduced is displayed on the monitor 22 connected to the external video output terminal 21 via the encoder 20.

When the screen to be printed appears while checking the image on the monitor 22, the freeze key of the UI 28 is operated. When the freeze key is operated, the image data of the video image for one frame at that time is written to the memory 16, and the image data is read from the memory 16 and sent to the image synthesizing unit 23.

At this time, since the control unit 18 recognizes that the print mode is the normal print mode, it instructs the image synthesizing unit 23 to set the size of the image to the maximum size. As a result, the image synthesizing unit 23 performs the above-described processing, converts the size of the image to the maximum size, and outputs the image.

At this time, the image synthesizing section 23 is controlled by the control section 18 so as to output image data to the switch 17 side.
3, the image data output from the image synthesizing unit 23 is switched to the switch 17, the D / A converter 1
9. Since the image is supplied to the monitor 22 via the encoder 20, the image converted to the maximum size is displayed on the screen of the monitor 22.

In this state, when the print key of the UI 28 is operated, the control unit 18 controls the image synthesizing unit 23 to output the image data to the line memory 24 side. As the maximum-size image data, one-color image data is read line by line and written to the line memory 24. This line memory 24
Thereafter, image data is read out under the control of the control unit 18 and sent to the head drive unit 25. Head drive unit 25
Drives the thermal head 26 based on one line of image data.

When the thermal head 26 is driven, first, when one line of yellow image data is supplied, the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer of the recording paper 50 is heated to convert the yellow image into one.
Record line by line. The portion on which the yellow image is recorded is irradiated with ultraviolet light of a predetermined wavelength by a yellow ultraviolet lamp and is optically fixed.

After the light fixing of the yellow image recording, the recording paper 50 faces the thermal head 26, and the thermal recording of the magenta image is started. As a result, the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer of the recording paper 50 is thermally recorded line by line, and after the recording is completed, it is optically fixed by a magenta ultraviolet lamp. Finally,
The cyan thermosensitive coloring layer of the recording paper 50 is thermally recorded line by line by the cyan image data.

When the three-sided sequential recording is completed in this manner, the recording paper 50 is sent out and discharged from the discharge port 34 to the tray 35.

The print obtained at this time is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in A, the video image is printed in the maximum size on the recording sheet 50 as indicated by 55, so that the margin is minimized, the recording sheet 50 can be used to the maximum, and the image is powerful. It is clear.

Next, the case where the comment print mode is selected will be described. The operation of the user until the screen to be printed is selected by the freeze key of the UI 28 and the operation of each unit of the video printer 10 at that time are the same as those described above.

When the user operates the mode switching key and selects the comment print mode while the frozen image is displayed on the screen of the monitor 22,
The control unit 18 recognizes that the comment print mode has been specified, sets the size of the image to the maximum size to the image synthesis unit 23, and further sets the lower side of the image of the image data of the maximum size to one character line. to indicate that you want to remove as much H _D. As a result, the image synthesizing unit 23 performs the above-described processing, and the lower side of the image of the maximum size as shown in FIG.
Only character rows H _D creates image data of the deleted size output.

If the user operates the UI 28 to input a comment "ABCDE" at this time, the control unit 18 sets each dot pattern of the comment to C
The image data is read out from the G31 and expanded in the RAM 32, and the image data is read out from the RAM 32 at a timing corresponding to the printing position. As a result, the image data of the comment is transferred to the image synthesizing section 23 and is synthesized with the created image data.

The image data obtained by synthesizing the comment is output from the image synthesizing section 23 to the switch 17, so that an image obtained by synthesizing the selected video image and the comment is displayed on the monitor 22. .

The user observes the screen of the monitor 22 and operates the print key if this is all right. However, the rest is the same as in the case described above, and the description is omitted. Obviously, the print obtained at this time is as shown in FIG. 3B, for example. Also in this print, the recording paper 50 is used to the maximum extent, and the video image is large compared to the conventional one, so that the image is powerful.

The first embodiment has been described above.
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is similar in overall configuration to that shown in FIG.
The processing in the image combining unit 23 is different. In the following, points different from the first embodiment will be described, and redundant description will be omitted.

First, the operation in the case of the normal print mode is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the image synthesizing unit 23 controls the image size of the image data transferred from the memory 16 under the control of the control unit 18. Convert to maximum size and output.

However, the operation in the comment print mode is different from that in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, after converting the size of the image data from the memory 16 once the maximum size, since the cut one character rows H _D of the lower, according to this For example, the image data for one character line at the bottom of the video image is truncated and not printed.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, all the frozen video images are printed even in the comment print mode. Region The treatment for this, the image data transferred from the memory 16, the ratio of the vertical and horizontal size while maintaining constant, excluding the lower one character rows H _D of the maximum size ,
That is, a process of converting the size into the maximum size within the area of the size of (H ₀ −H _D ) and the width of W ₀ may be performed.

[0059] Specifically, for example, the size of the images captured in the now memory 16 vertical V _H, and a transverse V _W,
It vertical is V _H ', horizontal is V _W' Assuming for converting the size of the video image, V _H ', V _W' is _{V H '/ V W' =} V H / V W ... (1) _{V H '= H 0 -H D} ... may be so as to satisfy (2).

From this, in this case, the memory 16
(H ₀ −H _D ) /
It can be seen that reduction or enlargement by V _H × 100 (%) is sufficient. Since H ₀ , H _D , and V _H are all determined values, it is clear that such reduction processing or enlargement processing can be performed.

After performing the above processing, the image synthesizing unit 23 synthesizes the image data and the image data of the comment and outputs the synthesized image data. Others are the same as the first embodiment described above.

According to the second embodiment, in the comment print mode, for example, a print in which the video image 58 and the comment 59 are printed as shown in FIG. 4 can be obtained. In this printing, the width of the video image 58 printed on the recording paper 50 is narrower than in the first embodiment, but the selected video image is printed in the largest size possible. The utilization rate of the paper 50 is greatly improved, and the video image is larger than before, so that the image becomes powerful.

The second embodiment has been described above.
Next, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is a combination of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. That is, depending on the content of the video image,
In some cases, the lower one character line may be cut out as in the first embodiment. However, as in the second embodiment, even if the size of the print image is slightly reduced, the entire video image is printed. Sometimes you want to.

Therefore, the user can arbitrarily perform the first embodiment or the second embodiment according to the content of the video image.

To do this, for example, when the comment print mode is selected, the mode is converted to the maximum size as in the first embodiment, and the lower one character line is further cut out (hereinafter referred to as a mode). , A first mode) and a mode for printing a video image at the maximum size in an area excluding the lower one character line as in the second embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as a second mode). A key or menu for selecting one of the above may be provided on the UI 28.

As a result, when the first mode is selected by the UI 28, the control unit 18 and the image synthesizing unit 23 perform the operations described in the above-described first embodiment. Is obtained, and when the second mode is selected, the control unit 18 and the image combining unit 23
Since the operation described in the embodiment is performed, a print as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a video printer that prints an image on a color thermosensitive recording paper having a thermosensitive coloring layer laminated thereon has been described. Can also be applied.

Although the line printer has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a serial printer.

[0069]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the selected video image is printed in as large a size as possible, with or without a comment, so that it is powerful. Images can be printed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a video printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print obtained according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print obtained according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print obtained by a conventional video printer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a problem of a conventional video printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: video printer, 16: memory, 18: control unit,
23: image synthesizing unit, 28: UI, 29: comment creating unit, 31: character generator, 32: RAM.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A freeze key for selecting an image to be printed; a print key for instructing execution of printing; a print mode for printing only a video image without a comment; A mode switching key for setting whether to print in the comment print mode, which adds a comment to the lower margin outside the print surface of
A user interface including at least various keys for inputting characters and graphics of comments; and one frame when the freeze key is operated when the normal print mode is selected by the mode switching key. Image data, and outputs the image data as the maximum printable size for the specified recording paper.If the comment print mode is selected by the mode switching key, the image data is output when the freeze key is operated. One frame of image data is captured, first the size of the image data is set to the maximum size, then the lower side of the image of the maximum size image data is cut by a predetermined number of character lines, and the user is placed in the cut area. Synthesizes and outputs the comment image data input from the interface A video printer, comprising: an image synthesizing unit for performing a video image output from an image synthesizing unit; 2. A freeze key for selecting an image to be printed, a print key for instructing execution of printing, a printing in a normal print mode for printing only a video image without a comment, or a video image. A mode switching key for setting whether to print in the comment print mode, which adds a comment to the lower margin outside the print surface of
A user interface including at least various keys for inputting characters and graphics of comments; and one frame when the freeze key is operated when the normal print mode is selected by the mode switching key. Image data, and outputs the image data as the maximum printable size for the specified recording paper.If the comment print mode is selected by the mode switching key, the image data is output when the freeze key is operated. One frame of image data is fetched, and the size of the area excluding a predetermined number of character lines below the maximum size is kept for the image data while keeping the ratio between the vertical and horizontal sizes constant. Is processed to a size that fits into the maximum size, and an area for a predetermined number of character lines below the maximum size A video printer comprising: an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing and outputting image data of a comment input from the user interface; and a printing unit for printing a video image output from the image synthesizing unit. 3. A freeze key for selecting an image to be printed, a print key for instructing execution of printing, a printing in a normal print mode for printing only a video image without a comment, or a video image. A mode switching key for setting whether to print in the comment print mode, which adds a comment to the lower margin outside the print surface of
And a user interface having at least various keys for inputting characters and graphics of comments, further comprising: when the comment print mode is selected,
The image size is set as the maximum size that can be printed on the specified recording paper, and the first mode in which a predetermined number of character lines below the image size are cut out, or the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image data are Is provided with a key or a menu for selecting whether to use the second mode in which the size is converted to a size that fits into the size of the area excluding the predetermined number of character lines below the maximum size while keeping the ratio constant. When the normal print mode is selected by the user interface and the mode switching key, the image data of one frame when the freeze key is operated is taken in, and the image data can be printed on the specified recording paper. Output as the maximum size, comment print mode is selected by the mode switching key, and the first mode is selected When the freeze key is operated,
The image data of the frame is taken in, the size of the image data is first set to the maximum size, the lower side of the image of the image data of the maximum size is cut by a predetermined number of character lines, and the user interface is provided in the cut area. When the freeze print key is operated when the comment print mode is selected by the mode switching key and further the second mode is selected, Of image data for one frame, and the ratio between the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image data is kept constant.
Performing a process of converting to a size that fits into the maximum size of the area excluding the predetermined number of character lines below the maximum size, and applying the processing to the area of the predetermined number of character lines below the maximum size A video printer, comprising: an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes and outputs image data of a comment input from a user interface; and a printing unit that prints a video image output from the image synthesizing unit.