JP3745818B2 - Auxiliary display method of image - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is applied to find a part of a rule (including a frame, a line drawn in a grid pattern, a ruled line, etc.) or a line drawing or the like that is unintentionally present on an image input as an image to a computer. The present invention relates to a suitable image auxiliary display method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, an image processing system including an image input device, a computer (electronic computer) connected to the image input device and performing predetermined processing, and an image output device connected to the computer has been applied to various fields. ing.
[0003]
For example, an electronic plate collecting apparatus having a configuration in which a computer is connected to a magnetic disk for image recording, a color monitor for image display processing, and a scanner for inputting and outputting a manuscript image is also one application field.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in such an electronic plate-collecting apparatus, a stencil sheet is used. As shown in FIG. 8, the stencil sheet 1 has a character 2, a position where a photographic plate enters, a border line for solid printing, and the like. For the purpose of illustration, a so-called hit rule (simply referred to as a rule) 4, which is a temporary ruled line written on a backing paper 3 such as high-quality paper, is written. Note that the hit rule 4 is deleted after being used as a register in the subsequent electronic plate collecting stage, and does not appear during printing. In addition, a so-called ruled line (also simply referred to as a ruled line) 5 that appears in printing is also drawn on the stencil sheet 1.
[0005]
The image on the block mount 1 is read by a scanner and displayed on the screen of a 20-inch display as a block mount image. The operator performs processing such as pasting of a desired color photograph, halftone of a predetermined color, solid coating with a predetermined color, etc. on the image of the stencil on the screen based on the instruction sheet. 4 and 5 have a problem in that it is impossible to specify a photo pasting range or a solid printing range when there is a division at a place contrary to the intention.
[0006]
For example, if the ruled part 4 has a division part 6 as shown in FIG. 9, if an attempt is made to fill the area surrounded by the ruled line 4 with a predetermined color, only the area surrounded by the ruled line 4 is obtained. Instead, there arises a problem that all the areas on the image of the stencil board are painted in that color.
[0007]
In practice, the length of the dividing portion 6 is usually about 20 μm to 40 μm, for example, on the base plate 1, and is usually 1: 1 on the base plate 1. It is almost impossible to find the parting portion 6 by visual observation on the image of the stencil on the screen to be displayed.
[0008]
In addition, even if the dividing part 6 is a case where there is no true dividing part on the stencil board 1, there are places where the ruled lines 4 and 5 are blurred, the ink is thin as a whole, 5 If dust or dust adheres to the top 5 or the base plate 1 is floating, when such a base plate 1 is read by a scanner, it is read due to the relationship with the threshold value of the scanner. It often occurs on the image of the stencil.
[0009]
For example, a method using thinning processing has been proposed as an image processing method for finding a part 6 that is almost impossible with the naked eye, contrary to the intention. This thinning processing method is a process of selecting only continuous data for one bit of bit 1 in the center line portion of the rules 4 and 5, and extracting the skeleton line, and determining the continuity of the skeleton line This is a method for estimating the parting point.
[0010]
However, the image processing method using this thinning process needs to scan all the pixels on the screen, and it takes an enormous amount of time for calculation, and the estimated ruled part may not always be accurate. There was a drawback.
[0011]
Therefore, in the end, in order to accurately find the part to be divided, it is necessary for the operator to visually perform the operation using the graphic enlargement display function or the like of the image processing system. There's a problem.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an auxiliary display method of an image that makes it possible to easily find a part where the image is divided, such as a ruled line.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an image auxiliary display method performed by computer processing, a process of displaying an image including at least a line drawing read from an image original by an image input device on a display, and a process of extracting a contour line of the displayed image When the displayed image on the on the display, along with the extracted contour line, and possess a process for tracing displayed in a different color from the color of the contour line, the trace displays along said contour line The process is characterized in that the speed of the trace display is a speed at which the head of the trace display can be seen, and the head of the trace display is a color different from the color of the trace display .
[0014]
According to the present invention, a contour line is extracted from an image read from a document image, and the contour line on the image displayed on the display is a color different from the color of the contour line along the extracted contour line. Is displayed as a trace (tracking display).
[0015]
For this reason, when the operator observes the trace display, for example, an unnatural movement in the trace display (for example, the trace display progresses in the reverse direction (referred to as reverse movement) at a place where the ruled lines seem to be connected). When a movement that starts is recognized, it can be recognized that a rule break is high at that point. Therefore, when the trace display goes around the contour line without unnatural movement, it can be estimated that there is no division.
[0016]
In the present invention, the trace display speed is set to a speed at which the head of the trace display can be seen, and the head of the trace display is set to a color different from the color of the trace display. It can be easily and clearly recognized.
[0017]
Further, in the process of displaying the trace along the contour line, when the contour line hits a part where the contour line is divided, at that time, only the head part moves backward along the contour line previously traced. By doing so, it is possible to specify at the time of the backward movement that the contour line is divided.
[0018]
Further, a menu for interrupting the trace display is displayed in the display, and when the interrupt menu is instructed by a pointing device during the trace display, the trace display is interrupted, and the trace display up to the point of the interruption is displayed. If this is held, it is possible to more accurately and easily identify the part to be divided by enlarging and displaying the part.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings to be referred to below, components corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Moreover, in order to avoid complexity, it demonstrates with reference to the said FIG. 8, FIG. 9 as needed.
[0020]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a general electronic plate collecting apparatus to which the method of the present invention is applied.
[0021]
An electronic plate collecting apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 1 has a workstation 12 formed of a computer as an electronic plate collecting apparatus main body.
[0022]
The workstation 12 is connected with a galley printer 13 for galley printing (proof printing), which is an image output means, which is relatively low in image quality but can be printed easily at low cost.
[0023]
Further, a color scanner 15 that functions as an image input device and a film printer 16 that functions as an image output device are connected to the workstation 12.
[0024]
The color scanner 15 reads an image original on the block board 1 shown in FIG. 8 and supplies image data carrying the block image to the workstation 12. Further, the color scanner 15 reads a monochrome image or a color image such as a pattern, a character, or a graphic from another document image, and supplies the image data after color separation to the workstation 12. These image data are stored in a predetermined storage area of a storage medium such as a hard disk (described later) constituting the workstation 12. A device for reading an image original on the stencil board 1, a so-called board input machine, may be provided separately from the scanner.
[0025]
The workstation 12 has a display 35 such as a CRT of about 20 inches as a display means for displaying an image of the stencil board on the screen. The operator electronically collects images based on the image data on the display screen of the display 35 by computer processing to create a so-called imposition pattern or the like. Data representing the imposition pattern after plate collection (imposition pattern data) is supplied to the galley printer 13 or the film printer 16. The film printer 16 outputs a high-quality printing film corresponding to the imposition pattern data.
[0026]
Usually, a printing plate is produced from this printing film, and the produced printing plate is mounted on a rotary press to apply ink. Then, the ink applied to the printing plate is transferred to the main paper (printing paper) to complete the printed matter.
[0027]
FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the workstation 12. The workstation 12 has a CPU 21 (central processing unit) that functions as control means / processing means (contour line extraction processing means, trace display processing means, color setting means, etc.), imposition pattern creation means, and the like. Are memory means (read-only memory) ROM 22, RAM (random access memory) 23 used for work, image auxiliary display application program (contour line extraction processing application program) And an outline trace display application program), an imposition application program, other imposition pattern data, and image data such as image data on the stencil board and various data stored therein (hard disk) 24 is connected. Yes.
[0028]
The CPU 21 is connected to a mouse 31, a keyboard 32, a tablet 33, and the like that function as data input means and a pointing device. Further, the CPU 21 is connected to a display 35 such as a CRT having a monitor function as the image display means described above.
[0029]
The above-described galley printer 13, color scanner 15, and film printer 16 are connected via an appropriate communication interface 36. The workstation 12 is configured such that an editing workstation (not shown) can be connected using a communication interface such as Ethernet.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described in detail based on the flowchart relating to the auxiliary image display application program shown in FIG. In particular, unless otherwise specified, the control subject is the CPU 21, but it is complicated to refer to this whenever necessary, so that reference is made as necessary.
[0031]
First, an image auxiliary display application program is opened, and an image (referred to as a stencil mount image 1a: see FIG. 4) obtained by reading the stencil mount 1 (see FIG. 8), which is an image original, by the scanner 15 is displayed on the display 35. The stencil image 1a {character image 2a (also referred to as character 2a) and ruled images 4a and 5a (also referred to as ruled line 4a and ruled line 5a, respectively)} are displayed. The area to be displayed with the outline trace is designated (step S1). When the auxiliary image display application program is opened, a dialog (interactive selection) or pull-down menu is automatically displayed on the screen.
[0032]
In this embodiment, it is assumed that a pull-down menu 52 having an “area instruction” instruction field shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. Therefore, from the pull-down menu 52, an “area indication” instruction field is selected using the mouse 31 with the mouse cursor 53 (for example, by moving the mouse 31 on a pad (not shown), the mouse cursor 53 is moved to the menu 52). Move to the “Region Indication” instruction field in the middle and left click the mouse 31). Then, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, by specifying the length of the diagonal line of the dashed-dotted rectangular frame with the mouse 31, an area 63 surrounding the ruled line 4a with an area frame 62 whose size can be arbitrarily set. Instruct. In this way, it is possible to select an arbitrary rule or the like for which the contour trace display is to be performed, such as the rule 4a.
[0033]
Next, by selecting the “contour line extraction” instruction field in the menu 52, the contour line extraction process for the image within the range instructed by the area frame 51 is performed (step S2). For this contour line extraction processing, for example, a method of extracting a contour in an 8-connected form using a known 3 × 3 mask or a method using a 2 × 2 mask can be employed.
[0034]
The method for extracting the outline of an image using a 3 × 3 mask is simply described. First, raster scanning for searching for a tracking start point from the upper left pixel of a designated region 63 is performed, and the image is first loaded. If, for example, a pixel whose image data is bit 1 (logic 1) is found, that point is set as the tracking start point (tracking start coordinate, trace display start point) of the rule 4a, and the 3 × A pixel carrying the image found next in the 3 × 3 mask by searching whether the value of the mask pixel is 0 or 1 counterclockwise or clockwise from the center pixel in accordance with the center pixel of the 3 mask Is selected as the next tracking pixel coordinate. Next, the center pixel of the 3 × 3 mask is aligned with the next tracking pixel coordinate. Hereinafter, the same operation is performed until the pixel position where the center pixel in the 3 × 3 mask is first found, that is, until the tracking start point is reached, thereby finding the outline of the image.
[0035]
Also, as is well known, the method of using a 2x2 mask advances with the left hand against the wall, and when it returns to its original position, the path it takes is outlined. It is a method based on the idea of becoming a line.
[0036]
In the method of extracting the contour line, since it is not necessary to scan all the pixels in the region frame 62, the process can be completed in a relatively short time compared to the thinning process. Further, in the thinning process, whiskers and noise are likely to occur, and there is a high possibility that this is mistaken as a divided part, and in terms of certainty, the contour extracting process is excellent in the process of specifying the divided part.
[0037]
FIG. 6A shows a ruled line 4a in which an area has been designated, with exaggerated portions (dividing points) 51 and the thickness (width) 54 of the ruled line 4a exaggerated.
[0038]
FIG. 6B shows a contour line (a series of one pixel) 55 extracted from the ruled line 4a by the contour line extraction process in step S2. Reference numeral 56 indicates a tracking start point (also referred to as a tracking start coordinate or a trace display start point).
[0039]
Next, the “Trace display setting” instruction field on the menu 52 is selected to set trace display (step S3). By selecting the “Trace display setting” instruction field, the trace display setting menu 61 shown in FIG. 7 appears on the screen.
[0040]
In the trace display setting menu 61 of FIG. 7, “Trace speed” is trace speed = 2 cm / sec, “Trace display color” is trace display color = red, “Trace head color” is head color = green, Each is a default value (initial setting value in the application program), and is a conspicuous color when the drawing color of the ruled line 4a on the screen is black (background drawing color is white or light gray). Note that the color may be any color as long as it is conspicuous with respect to the background color and the drawing color of the ruled lines. The color palette (color selection means) in the trace display setting menu 61 shown in FIG. 7 is used. Any desired color can be selected. The default trace display color = red may be pink. Further, the head color = green may be a fresh color.
[0041]
Next, by selecting the “start” instruction field in the menu 52, a red trace display in which only the head portion 58 is green from the tracking start point 56 on the outline 55 of the ruled line 4a (see FIG. 6C) is displayed. For example, it starts clockwise along the contour 55 (step S4).
[0042]
A state in the middle of the trace display (drawing) (step S5) is shown in FIG. 6D. In the figure, the arrow indicates the direction of travel of the trace, the head 58 is displayed as a green bright spot, and the trace (trajectory, bright line) 59 from the head 58 to the tracking start point 56 is a red bright line. Is displayed. The other part of the ruled line 4a is black, and the background color of the screen is light gray. Therefore, the operator can recognize at a glance where the head portion 58 of the trace 59 is located from the screen during the trace display.
[0043]
When the “suspend” instruction field in the menu 52 is selected during the trace display (step S6), the trace display drawing is stopped (step S7). Normally, the “interrupt” instruction field is selected when the operator recognizes that the green leading portion 58 moves unnaturally while observing the trace display. For example, as shown in FIG. When traveling on the line 55 in the reverse direction, it can be recognized that the segmentation near the point is high, so the “interrupt” instruction field is selected.
[0044]
FIG. 6E shows a state in which the trace display is stopped when the “suspend” instruction field is selected. In this stopped state, by pressing a display enlargement button (not shown) on the screen, the image is enlarged and displayed with the head portion 58 as the center, and the operator can easily identify the part 51 by visually recognizing. The part 51 can be marked with an appropriate color.
[0045]
Next, when the “start” area is selected again without selecting the “end” area, the head portion 58 moves again in the direction indicated by the arrow from the trace display stop state shown in FIG. 6E. Start to start the trace display. When the front end 58 of the trace 59 returns to the tracking start point 56, the trace display is terminated. In this case, the outline 55 is traced and displayed with red bright lines, that is, the outline 55 is filled with red, and only the head portion 58 on the tracking start point 56 stops at the green bright spot. It is in the state.
[0046]
By selecting the “end” instruction field in the menu 52 (step S8), the trace of the trace display is deleted (step S9), and a series of processing is completed.
[0047]
As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the cut portion 51 (see FIG. 6A) that cannot be seen in the normal observation state existing on the ruled line 4a or the ruled line 5a easily, quickly and accurately by an extremely simple operation. ) Etc. can be specified. The identified parting portion 51 can be subjected to a repair process as necessary.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a contour line is extracted from an image such as a ruled line read from a document image, and the color on the display is different from the color of the contour line along the extracted contour line. The contour line on the image displayed in is displayed as a trace.
[0049]
For this reason, by observing the trace display by the operator (user), for example, when recognizing an unnatural movement in the trace display, it can be recognized that the division of the rule is high at that point. The effect of being able to be achieved is achieved. Further, when the trace display goes around the contour line without unnatural movement, it can be estimated that there is no division.
[0050]
In this case, the trace display speed is set to a speed at which the head of the trace display can be seen, and the head of the trace display is set to a color different from the color of the contour line and the color of the trace display. It is possible to easily recognize the current position of the beginning of the trace at any point in time.
[0051]
For example, when the color of the contour line, that is, the original color of the image is black, if the trace display color is selected to be red and the tip color is selected to be green, the operator can select the image color and the trace display color. And the color of the tip can be clearly distinguished. When the display is a monochrome display and the original color of the image is black, the trace display color may be gray near black, and the color of the tip of the trace may be gray near white. Different colors can be displayed by so-called luminance modulation.
[0052]
It should be noted that the process of extracting the contour line from the image is extremely simple in terms of software compared to the thinning process used in the prior art. The effect that it becomes possible to easily find (for a short time) a part where an image is divided is achieved. In addition, in the thinning process, whiskers and noise are likely to be generated, and there is a high possibility that this will be mistaken as a part to be divided. In terms of certainty, the contour extraction process is excellent in the process of specifying the part to be divided.
[0053]
By incorporating the method of the present invention into, for example, a stencil board processing routine in an electronic plate collecting apparatus, the work time for detecting the breakage of ruled lines is greatly shortened, and as a result, the productivity of the plate collecting work is improved. A derivative effect that it can be achieved is also achieved.
[0054]
Further, in the process of displaying the trace along the contour line, when the contour line hits a portion where the contour line is divided, at that time, only the head portion is moved backward along the contour line on which the trace is already displayed. By doing so, it is possible to specify immediately after the backward travel time that the contour line is divided.
[0055]
Further, a menu for interrupting the trace display is displayed on the display, and when the interrupt menu is instructed by a pointing device during the trace display, the trace display is interrupted, and the trace display up to the time of the interruption is displayed. If this is held, the part of the ruled line or line drawing can be identified more accurately by displaying the part in an enlarged manner.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram including a detailed configuration of the workstation in the example of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the example in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a block mount image.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining menu display on the screen.
FIG. 6 is a diagram used for explaining the contour tracking display,
A is a diagram showing the screen display of the rule selected area,
B is a diagram showing the screen display of the outline of the ruled line selected,
C is a diagram representing the start screen of the trace display,
D is a diagram representing the screen during trace display;
E is a diagram representing the screen when the trace starts reversing.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a setting menu display for trace display.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stencil sheet.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a figure having a part to be cut;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plate lower mount 1a Plate lower mount image 2 Character 2a Character image 4 Rule (per rule) 4a, 5a Rule image 5 Rule (continuous rule) 6 Dividing part 11 Electronic plate collector 12 Workstation 13 Galley printer 15 Color scanner 16 Film printer 21 CPU
51 Dividing point 52, 61 Menu 55 Outline 56 Tracking start point (trace display start point)
58 Leading part of trace display

Claims (3)

In the auxiliary display method of an image performed by computer processing,
A process of displaying an image including at least a line drawing read from an image original by an image input device on a display;
The process of extracting the contour of the displayed image;
On the image displayed on the display, along with the extracted contour line, and possess a process for tracing displayed in a different color from the color of the contour lines,
In the process of displaying the trace along the contour line, the speed of the trace display is a speed at which the head of the trace display can be seen, and the head of the trace display is a color different from the color of the trace display. An auxiliary display method for images. In the process of displaying traces along the contour line, when the contour line hits a portion where the contour line is divided, only the head portion is moved backward along the contour line previously traced at that time. The auxiliary display method for an image according to claim 1 , wherein: A menu for interrupting the trace display is displayed on the display, and when the interrupt menu is instructed by a pointing device during the trace display, the trace display is interrupted, and the trace display up to the point of the interruption is retained. The auxiliary display method for an image according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the image is displayed as described above.

Images