JP3612909B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that performs clipping associated with a process of painting characters or figures.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus that receives a PDL such as Postscript, interprets the PDL, and draws characters, graphics, and images, the user performs masking processing separately from a preset drawing area. Any area can be set as a clip area. Here, FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram for explaining masking processing by a conventional image processing apparatus.
[0003]
In the image processing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6, based on the original drawing data (characters, graphics, images) 1 and clip data (size, shape, position, etc.) relating to the clip area 2 designated by the user. The overlap area 3 between the drawing data 1 and the clip area 2 is calculated, and it is automatically determined which part is drawn and which part is masked, and only a predetermined part is drawn. Therefore, there is an advantage that the user does not need to calculate or specify the inside / outside determination of the clip area 2. However, in order to calculate the overlap region 3 between the drawing data 1 and the clip region 2, it is necessary to perform a complicated calculation, which hinders the speeding up of the processing. Note that the overlapping region 3 is a portion finally drawn.
[0004]
In order to solve the above problem, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-63609 discloses an image processing apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. In the figure, command processing means 10 interprets input PDL data, supplies data such as characters, graphics, and images to drawing means 11 as contour graphic vector data, and clip area data as clip area drawing means 15. To supply. The drawing unit 11 supplies a command to the command FIFO 12, calculates coordinate data from the vector data, generates bitmap data, and supplies the bitmap data to the data FIFO 13. The command FIFO 12 and the data FIFO 13 are so-called buffers. The command FIFO 12 sequentially supplies commands to the image composition control unit 14, and the data FIFO 13 sequentially supplies bitmap data to the image composition control unit 14.
[0005]
Further, the clip area drawing unit 15 generates bitmap data from the clip area according to the data of the clip area and supplies it to the clip buffer control unit 16. The clip buffer control unit 16 writes the bitmap data of the drawn clip area into the clip buffer 17.
[0006]
In accordance with the above command, the image composition control means 14 performs a logical product of the bitmap data of the drawing data and the bitmap data of the clip stored in the clip buffer 17, and selects whether or not to perform masking. Only the bitmap data in the portion to be drawn is supplied to the frame buffer control means 18. The frame buffer control means 18 writes the bitmap data to be drawn into the frame buffer 19. The final bitmap data written in the frame buffer 19 is supplied to an output device 20 for outputting image data.
[0007]
Here, FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the conventional image processing apparatus. First, the operation when a clip command is received will be described with reference to FIG. When the PDL data such as Postscript is received, the image processing apparatus receives the clip command by the command processing means 10 in step Sa1, and supplies the received clip command to the clip area drawing means 15 in step Sa2. Specify the clip area. Next, after calculating the coordinate values (Xmin, Ymin) and (Xmax, Ymax) of the rectangular area circumscribing the clip area by the clip area drawing means 15 in step Sa3, in step Sa4, whether the clip area is rectangular or not. Judge whether or not. If the clip area is not rectangular, the process proceeds to step Sa5 to determine whether or not the clip buffer 17 is being referred to.
[0008]
If the clip buffer 17 is not referred to, the process proceeds to step Sa6, where “1” is written in the position of the clip buffer 17 corresponding to the clip area, thereby drawing the clip area and terminating the processing. . On the other hand, if the clip area is not rectangular, the process proceeds to step Sa7, the reference flag indicating whether or not the clip buffer 17 is used is turned off, the clip buffer 17 is set not to be used, and the process is terminated. .
[0009]
Next, an operation when a drawing command is received will be described with reference to FIG. When the image processing apparatus receives PDL data such as Postscript and receives a drawing command from the command processing means 10 in step Sb1, the image processing apparatus receives coordinate values (X′min, After calculating Y′min) and (X′max, Y′max), it is determined in step Sb3 whether the clip area previously drawn in the clip buffer 17 overlaps the rectangular area of the drawing data. . If it does not overlap, there is no need to mask, so the process is terminated without doing anything.
[0010]
On the other hand, if the clip area overlaps the rectangular area of the drawing data, the process proceeds to step Sb4 to issue a drawing process execution command. In step Sb5, it is determined whether or not the clip buffer reference flag is on. to decide. If the clip buffer reference flag is on, processing is executed in the clip buffer reference mode in step Sb6. That is, the image composition control means 14 takes a logical product (AND) of the drawing data converted into the bitmap data and the data in the clip buffer 17 at the coordinates corresponding to the drawing coordinates of the drawing data, and then the frame. Write to buffer 19
[0011]
On the other hand, if the clip buffer reference flag is off, processing is executed in the clip buffer non-reference mode in step Sb7. That is, in this case, since the clip area is not rectangular, the drawing data is written into the frame buffer 19 without referring to the clip buffer 17.
[0012]
As described above, in the conventional image processing apparatus described above, the bitmap data of the clip is written into the clip buffer 19, while the drawing data such as characters and graphics is converted into the bitmap data by the drawing means 11, and then the image composition is performed. The control means 14 calculates the logical product (AND) of the drawing data converted into bitmap data and the data in the clip buffer 17 at the coordinates corresponding to the drawing coordinates of the drawing data, and then stores them in the frame buffer 19. Write. As a result, the masking of the clip area drawn in the clip buffer 17 can be performed at high speed without requiring a complicated operation.
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the user sets a plurality of clip areas 2a and 2b without explicitly initializing, in Postscript, as shown in FIG. 10, an overlapping area overlapping the clip areas 2a and 2b is a new clip area 2c. (This situation is hereinafter referred to as “multiple clips”). However, in the above-described conventional image processing apparatus, in order to set a new clip area 2c by multiple clips, the first clip data drawn in the clip buffer 17 is deleted, and the clip areas 2a and 2b overlap each other. There is a problem in that it is necessary to calculate and write the new clip area 2c again into the clip buffer 17, which eventually necessitates a complicated operation and hinders the speeding up of processing.
[0014]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides an image processing apparatus capable of executing drawing processing by multiple clips at high speed even when a plurality of overlapping clip areas are set. It is an object.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, in the first aspect of the present invention, an overlapping portion between a clip area and drawing data is extracted, and the clip area is stored in an image processing apparatus that draws the drawing data of the overlapping portion. The storage means, the first data writing means for writing the first data in the first clip area stored in the storage means, and the storage outside the clip area after the second clip area Second data writing means for overwriting the second data different from the first data in the means, and the drawing data based on the result of data writing to the storage means by the second data writing means And clip processing means for performing a clip process.
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the clip area stored in the storage means and each of the clip areas after the second clip area are overlapped. Computation means for calculating a circumscribed rectangular area is provided, wherein the second data writing means is within the circumscribed rectangular area calculated by the computing means and is outside the clip area after the second clip area. The storage means overwrites second data different from the first data.
[0017]
According to the present invention, the first data is written to the first clip area stored in the storage means by the first data writing means, and the clip areas after the second clip area are written. The second data writing means overwrites the storage means with second data different from the first data on the outside by the second data writing means, and the second data writing means by the clip processing means. Since the clip processing is performed on the drawing data based on the result of writing the data to the storage means according to the above, even when a plurality of clip areas that overlap each other are set, It is possible to acquire a clear clip area and to perform drawing processing by multiple clips at high speed.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
A. Configuration of Embodiment A-1. Configuration of Image Processing Device FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that portions corresponding to those in FIG. In the figure, multiple clip determination means 25 determines whether or not a plurality of overlapping clip areas are set. The circumscribed rectangle area data storage means 26 stores coordinate data (referred to as a clip path) of a rectangle area circumscribing the outline of the clip area drawn by the clip area drawing means 15. Next, when it is determined that the determination result of the multiple clip determination unit 25 is a multiple clip, the clip buffer / access data control unit 27 generates a portion where a plurality of clip areas overlap as a new clip area. In other words, the clip buffer / access data control unit 27 corresponds to the corresponding one of the plurality of clip paths (the outlines of the rectangular areas circumscribing the set outlines of the plurality of clip areas) stored in the circumscribed rectangular area data storage means 26. In accordance with the X / Y axis minimum / maximum values of the circumscribing rectangular area coordinate data of the two clip paths to be performed, a rectangular area (new clip area) of the overlapping portion (logical sum) is set, and inside the rectangular area, In addition, the clip area drawing unit 15 is controlled so as to access the area outside the corresponding clip path so that the data is set to “0”.
[0019]
B. Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus. When the image processing apparatus receives PDL data such as Postscript and receives a clip command by the command processing means 10 in step Sc1, the image processing apparatus determines whether or not the clip is a multiple clip by the multiple clip determination means 25 in step Sc2. In other words, it is determined whether or not the clip command is for the second time or later.
[0020]
If it is not a multiple clip, that is, if it is the first clip command, the process proceeds to step Sc3, the received clip command is supplied to the clip area drawing means 15, and the clip area C1 is designated (▲ in FIG. 1). 1 ▼). Here, it is assumed that the first clip region C1 has a position and shape as shown in FIG. Next, in step Sc4, as shown in FIG. 3B, the clip area drawing means 15 calculates the coordinate values (Xmin, Ymin), (Xmax, Ymax) of the rectangular area S1 circumscribing the clip area C1. . The coordinate value of the rectangular area S1 is stored in the circumscribed rectangular area data storage means 26 ((2) in FIG. 1). Thereafter, in step Sc5, it is determined whether or not the rectangular area S1 surrounding the clip area C1 is a rectangle. If the rectangular area C1 surrounding the clip area C1 is not rectangular, the process proceeds to step Sc6 to determine whether or not the clip buffer 17 is being referred to.
[0021]
If the clip buffer 17 is not referred to, the process proceeds to step Sc7, where “1” data is written in the position of the clip buffer 17 corresponding to the clip area C1, that is, “inside the clip area C1”. 1 ”data is written, the clip area C1 is drawn, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the rectangular area S1 surrounding the clip area C1 is not rectangular, the process proceeds to step Sc8, the reference flag indicating whether or not the clip buffer 17 is used is turned off, and the clip buffer 17 is set not to be used. Then, the process ends.
[0022]
On the other hand, if the received clip command is a multiple clip, that is, if it is the second or subsequent clip command, the process proceeds to step Sc9, where the clip area drawing means 15 causes the circumscribed rectangular area data storage means to move to the previous clip area C1. The coordinate value of the rectangular area S1 is read ((2) in FIG. 1). Here, when there is a page setting initialization or an explicit instruction to clear the clip buffer 17, the contents of the clip buffer 17 are deleted. Next, at step Sc10, as shown in FIG. 4A, the coordinate values (Xmin, Ymin ′), (Xmax ′, Ymax) of the rectangular area S2 surrounding the previous clip area C1 and the current clip area C2 are displayed. Is calculated. Actually, a rectangular area circumscribing the clip area C2 is obtained from the vector data of the current clip area C2, and a logical sum of the rectangular area and the rectangular area S1 is calculated to calculate a new rectangular area S2. The coordinate value of the rectangular area S2 is supplied to the circumscribed rectangular area data storage means 26, and the data is updated ((2) in FIG. 1). Then, the multiple clip determination unit 25 notifies the clip buffer / access data control unit 27 that the clip is a multiple clip ((3) in FIG. 1).
[0023]
The clip buffer / access data control unit 27 that has received the report indicating that it is a multiple clip from the multiple clip determination means 25 shows the inside of the rectangular area S2 and the outside of the current clip area C2 in step Sc5 as shown in FIG. As shown in b), by drawing in the clip buffer with “0” data, the non-overlapping portion in the clip area C1 is erased, and the overlapping area remains. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, only the overlapping portion of the previous clip area C1 and the current clip area C2 remains “1”. Then, the overlapping portion becomes a new clip area CNEW, and a rectangular area surrounding the clip area CNEW is stored in the circumscribed rectangle area data storage means 26.
[0024]
If the command processing unit 10 subsequently receives a clip command, the above-described processing is repeatedly executed. At this time, the new clip area CNEW is used as the previous clip area. As a result, the clip area is updated every time a clip command is received.
[0025]
When a drawing command is received, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is executed in the same manner as the conventional image processing apparatus described above. That is, the image composition control means 14 takes a logical product (AND) of the drawing data converted into the bitmap data and the clip data drawn in the clip buffer 17 and then writes it in the frame buffer 19. As described above, even when a plurality of clip areas are set, the final clip area can be generated by a simple process (calculation), so that the masking process can be executed at high speed.
[0026]
In the above-described embodiments, the output device has been described as a printing device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and high-quality fonts and complex graphics such as DTP and clipping thereof are displayed on a display such as a workstation or a personal computer at high speed. It is effective even if it is applied to the display.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, the first clip area stored in the storage means is first processed by the first data writing means. The second data different from the first data is stored in the storage means by the second data writing means for the clip area after the second clip area. And the clip processing means performs the clip processing on the drawing data based on the data writing result to the storage means by the second data writing means. Even if is set, the final clip area when they overlap each other can be acquired, and drawing processing with multiple clips can be executed at high speed An advantage in that it is obtained.
[0028]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the clip area stored in the storage means and each of the clip areas after the second clip area are overlapped. The circumscribed rectangular area in the case is calculated by the calculating means, and the second data writing means is within the circumscribed rectangular area calculated by the calculating means and is outside the clip area after the second clip area. Since the second data different from the first data is overwritten in the storage means, even if a plurality of clip areas that overlap each other are set, the final data when they overlap each other is set. There are advantages that a clip area can be acquired and that drawing processing by multiple clips can be executed at high speed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an operation of a masking process when a single clip area is designated.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional image processing apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a conventional image processing apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a conventional image processing apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram for explaining masking processing when a plurality of clip areas are designated.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Drawing means 14 Image composition control means (clip processing means)
15 Clip area drawing means (first data writing means, calculation means)
17 Clip buffer (storage means)
19 Frame buffer 25 Multiple clip determination means (determination means)
26 circumscribed rectangular area data storage means (circumscribed rectangular area storage means)
27 Clip buffer access data control unit (second data writing means)

Claims (4)

In an image processing apparatus that extracts an overlapping portion between a clip area and drawing data and draws the drawing data of the overlapping portion,
Storage means for storing the clip area;
First data writing means for writing first data to a first clip area stored in the storage means;
Second data writing means for overwriting the storage means with second data different from the first data outside the clip area after the second clip area;
An image processing apparatus comprising: clip processing means for performing clip processing on drawing data based on a result of data writing to the storage means by the second data writing means. Computation means for calculating a circumscribed rectangular area when the clip area stored in the storage means and each of the clip areas after the second clip area are overlaid,
The second data writing means includes the first data in the storage means within the circumscribed rectangular area calculated by the computing means and outside the clip area after the second clip area. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein different second data is overwritten. A circumscribed rectangle area storing means for storing a circumscribed rectangle area of the clip area stored in the storage means;
The arithmetic means calculates a logical sum of the circumscribed rectangular area stored in the circumscribed rectangular area storage means and the circumscribed rectangular area of the clip area of interest, so that the circumscribed rectangle in the case where both are superimposed The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an area is acquired. 4. The image processing according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the plurality of clip areas are multiple clips that overlap each other when the plurality of clip areas are supplied. 5. apparatus.

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