JP3875169B2 - Plate inspection apparatus and plate inspection method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to a plate inspection apparatus and a plate inspection method for electronically performing plate inspection by comparing electronic data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  Recently, digital data obtained after RIP (Raster Image Processor) development of editing layout data in which a plurality of parts such as characters and illustrations are laid out at predetermined positions, for example, TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format image data There is a plate inspection device for plate inspection. This plate inspection apparatus is an apparatus for electronically performing a plate inspection operation, which is an operation for checking whether corrections repeated in the plate making process are correctly performed.
[0003]
  FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a process of creating digital data given to a conventional plate inspection apparatus during plate inspection work. As shown in the figure, the same plate making process is performed at the time of the first school and at the time of the second school. In the input process of the plate making process, digital image data obtained by RIP expansion of the editing layout data is created. In the calibration output process, in order to calibrate the digital image data created in the input process, paper output is performed by a simple DDCP (Direct Digital Color Profer), a color printer, or the like based on digital image data having a relatively low resolution. In a CTP (Computer To Plate) output process, final printing plate output by a plate recorder or the like is performed based on relatively high resolution digital image data. The conventional plate inspection apparatus receives the digital image data used in the CTP output process at the time of the first school and the digital image data used in the CTP output process at the time of the second school, and compares the images indicated by these to differ. By detecting this, it is checked whether or not the correction is correctly performed. The first school here includes a plate making process based on the edit layout data immediately before a predetermined correction is performed in addition to a plate making process based on the edited layout data created for the first time. In addition to the plate making process based on the edit layout data created for the second time, the plate making process based on the edit layout data after a predetermined correction is made to the first school is included.
[0004]
  As described above, the conventional plate inspection apparatus detects the difference by comparing the digital image data that is the output result at the time of the first school and the digital image data that is the output result at the time of the re-calibration. Check for correction errors due to operational errors or garbled characters, missing corrections, or unnecessary corrections.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
          Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-154234
[Patent Document 2]
          JP 2000-272078 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  Here, in the conventional plate inspection apparatus, the plate inspection work is performed by comparing the output result in the calibration output process and the output result in the CTP output process at the time of the first school or at the time of re-opening. There is no. The reason and problems will be described below.
[0007]
  First, in the CTP output process, since the output result is final in the plate making process, the output result is usually stored and managed. However, since the output result is temporary for calibration in the calibration output step, the output result is not stored or managed. Therefore, in order to compare the output result in the calibration output process and the output result in the CTP output process, it is necessary to store and manage the output result in the calibration output process specially unlike the normal case. However, this work is troublesome and cumbersome for the user.
[0008]
  Even if the output result in the calibration output process is stored and managed specially, the output result in the calibration output process and the output result in the CTP output process are the image resolution (for example, the number of screen lines), the data format, etc. Is different. For this reason, these output results cannot be simply compared.
[0009]
  Further, this plate inspection work is different from the normal plate inspection work in which the first school and the re-school are compared, and usually both output results coincide. Therefore, in some cases, this plate inspection work may be omitted consciously or unconsciously. Even when this plate inspection operation is performed, it is often performed simply by visual inspection. However, since it is usually the output result in the calibration output process (printed on paper) that is handed over to the customer and checked, the output result in the calibration output process is different from the output result in the CTP output process. Often not allowed. Therefore, this plate inspection work should always be performed.
[0010]
  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a plate inspection apparatus and plate inspection for detecting a difference in an image by comparing the output result in the calibration output process with the output result in the CTP output process without taking time and effort for the user. Is to provide a method.
[0011]
  The first invention includes a final output step in which final output product image data for outputting a final output product is created;The resolution is lower than the final output image data, andA plate inspection apparatus for performing electronic plate inspection in a plate making process including a calibration output process in which calibration image data for calibrating image data for final output is created,
  Final output storage means for storing the final output image data;
  Calibration output storage means for storing the calibration image data;
  In a step different from the calibration output step after completion of the calibration output step,Conversion is performed by performing a conversion process that matches the data format and resolution of the final output image data stored in the final output storage unit with the data format and resolution of the calibration image data stored in the calibration output storage unit. Conversion means for creating the final output product image data,
  Image comparison means for detecting image differences by executing image comparison processing for comparing the converted final output product image data and the calibration image data;
  A plate inspection result output means for outputting a detection result indicating a difference between images detected by the image comparison means;
  Command data including printing command data indicating devices and output methods for output in the calibration output step and the final output step, and plate inspection command data indicating image comparison processing to be executed by the image comparison unit Command interpretation means to receive and interpret
With
  The image comparison means executes an image comparison process indicated by plate inspection command data received by the command interpretation means among a plurality of predetermined image comparison processes.
[0012]
  According to the first invention, the final output product image data in the final output step is converted into an appropriate resolution and data format, and the converted data is compared with the calibration image data in the calibration output step. Thus, the image difference is detected. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the difference in the image by constantly comparing the output result in the calibration output process and the output result in the final output process without taking time and effort for the user.Further, the configuration in which the image comparison process is designated by the command data including the plate inspection command data indicating the image comparison process to be executed by the image comparison means allows the user to arbitrarily select the image comparison process suitable for the plate inspection work to be performed. Can be selected.
[0013]
  First2In the first invention,
  The image comparison means is an image comparison process that does not detect a difference between images when the image indicated by the converted image data for final output and the image indicated by the calibration image data match within a predetermined range. The image comparison processing is executed.
[0014]
  Like this2According to this invention, the image indicated by the converted final output product image data and the image indicated by the calibration image data are compared by an ambiguous image comparison process. With this configuration, when the output result in the calibration output process and the output result in the final output process are compared with each other because the resolution and data format are different from each other, the image difference is more accurately detected. be able to.
[0015]
  First3In the first invention,
  The plate inspection result output means outputs the detection result so that a warning is displayed in the final output step when an image difference is detected by the image comparison means.
[0016]
  Like this3According to the invention, in the final output step, for example, a warning is displayed on the display device or log display. With this configuration, since the warning display is always noticed by the user in the final output process, it is not overlooked that there is a difference in images.
[0017]
  The fourth invention provides a final output step in which image data for final output for outputting the final output is created,The resolution is lower than the final output image data, andA plate inspection method for performing electronic plate inspection in a plate making process including a calibration output process in which calibration image data for calibrating image data for final output is created,
  A final output storage step of storing the final output image data;
  A calibration output storage step for storing the calibration image data;
  In a step different from the calibration output step after completion of the calibration output step,Conversion is performed by performing a conversion process that matches the data format and resolution of the final output product image data stored in the final output storage step with the data format and resolution of the calibration image data stored in the calibration output storage step. A conversion step for creating the final output product image data,
  An image comparison step of detecting a difference in images by executing an image comparison process for comparing the converted final output product image data and the calibration image data;
  A plate inspection result output step for outputting a detection result indicating a difference between images detected by the image comparison step;
  Command data including printing command data indicating devices and output methods for output in the calibration output step and the final output step, and plate inspection command data indicating image comparison processing to be executed in the image comparison step Command interpretation step to receive and interpret
Including
  The image comparison step executes an image comparison process indicated by the plate inspection command data received by the command interpretation step among a plurality of predetermined image comparison processes.
[0018]
  The fifth invention provides a final output step in which final output product image data for outputting the final output product is created;The resolution is lower than the final output image data, andTo a plate inspection apparatus that performs electronic plate inspection in a plate making process including a calibration output process in which image data for calibration for calibrating image data for final output is created,
  A final output storage step of storing the final output image data;
  A calibration output storage step for storing the calibration image data;
  In a step different from the calibration output step after completion of the calibration output step,Conversion is performed by performing a conversion process that matches the data format and resolution of the final output product image data stored in the final output storage step with the data format and resolution of the calibration image data stored in the calibration output storage step. A conversion step for creating the final output product image data,
  An image comparison step of detecting a difference in images by executing an image comparison process for comparing the converted final output product image data and the calibration image data;
  A plate inspection result output step for outputting a detection result indicating a difference between images detected by the image comparison step;
  Command data including printing command data indicating devices and output methods for output in the calibration output step and the final output step, and plate inspection command data indicating image comparison processing to be executed in the image comparison step Command interpretation step to receive and interpret
And execute
  The image comparison step is a computer program for executing an image comparison process indicated by the plate inspection command data received in the command interpretation step among a plurality of predetermined image comparison processes.
[0019]
  The sixth invention provides a final output step in which image data for final output for outputting the final output is created,The resolution is lower than the final output image data, andTo a plate inspection apparatus that performs electronic plate inspection in a plate making process including a calibration output process in which image data for calibration for calibrating image data for final output is created,
  A final output storage step of storing the final output image data;
  A calibration output storage step for storing the calibration image data;
In a step different from the calibration output step after completion of the calibration output step,  Conversion is performed by performing a conversion process that matches the data format and resolution of the final output product image data stored in the final output storage step with the data format and resolution of the calibration image data stored in the calibration output storage step. A conversion step for creating the final output product image data,
  An image comparison step of detecting a difference in images by executing an image comparison process for comparing the converted final output product image data and the calibration image data;
  A plate inspection result output step for outputting a detection result indicating a difference between images detected by the image comparison step;
  Command data including printing command data indicating devices and output methods for output in the calibration output step and the final output step, and plate inspection command data indicating image comparison processing to be executed in the image comparison step Command interpretation step to receive and interpret
And execute
  The image comparison step is a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing the image comparison process indicated by the plate inspection command data received in the command interpretation step among a plurality of predetermined image comparison processes is recorded. .
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<1. Overall configuration>
  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire plate making system including a plate inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This plate making system includes a plate inspection computer 10 as the plate inspection device, a plate making output computer 20 for outputting RIP-developed digital image data for plate making, a DDCP 31 and an ink jet printer 32 for outputting a printed matter for calibration. And a plate recorder 40 that outputs a plate as a printing plate, and these are connected to each other by a LAN (Local Area Network) 50.
[0021]
  The prepress output computer 20 is a general computer system (for example, a personal computer or a workstation) including an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse and a display device such as an LCD and a CRT, and a plurality of component data such as characters and illustrations. Outputs digital image data obtained by RIP expansion of the edit layout data laid out at a predetermined position. In addition, a job ticket which is data for a command including data on an output destination (output device) and an output method in the plate making process corresponding to the data and data related to plate inspection is issued. This job ticket will be described later. The job ticket may be issued by a computer that functions as a job ticket issuing server (not shown).
[0022]
  The DDCP 31 and the inkjet printer 32 print the digital image data on paper and output it for use in calibration in the calibration output process included in the plate making process. The plate recorder 40 outputs a plate as a printing plate based on the digital image data in the CTP output process included in the plate making process. In the figure, the DDCP 31, the ink jet printer 32, and the plate recorder 40 are shown to be directly connected to the LAN 50, but these are actually connected to computers that function as output servers corresponding to the LAN 50, It is connected to the LAN 50 via these computers.
[0023]
  Here, the plate making process of the plate making system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a creation process of digital image data given to the plate inspection apparatus during the plate inspection operation. In the input process shown in the figure, digital data obtained by RIP expansion of the edited layout data is created by the plate-making output computer 20. In the proofreading output step, the DDCP 31 or the inkjet printer 32 uses the digital image data generated in the input step to calibrate the digital image data having a relatively low resolution (for example, TIFF format image data having an image resolution of 72 dpi). Printing on paper is performed. At the same time, the digital image data is given to the plate inspection computer 10 via the LAN 50. Specifically, the computer functioning as the output server for the DDCP 31 or the inkjet printer 32 temporarily stores the digital image data based on a command from the plate inspection computer 10 in order to temporarily store the digital image data. Is transmitted to a predetermined storage area (for example, a predetermined folder) of the plate inspection computer 10. Further, in the CTP output process, final plate output is performed by the plate recorder 40 based on high-resolution digital image data (for example, image data in a DotTIFF (1 bit TIFF) format with an image resolution of 2400 dpi). At the same time, this digital image data is also given to the plate inspection computer 10 via the LAN 50 (by a computer functioning as an output server for the plate recorder 40). In addition, the resolution in this specification means an image resolution in a broad sense, and in addition to an output resolution indicating the number of pixels or dots included in one inch length, a screen line indicating the number of lines included in one inch length Includes numbers. In this plate making process, a plate as a printing plate is output, but the final output other than the printing plate, for example, ink jet printer output, film, image data for a digital printing machine, or file output during two-site operation The final output product such as may be configured to be output. Next, the configuration and operation of the plate inspection computer 10 that receives digital image data as described above will be described.
[0024]
<2. Configuration and operation of plate inspection device>
  A plate inspection computer 10 as a plate inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a general computer system including an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse and a display device such as an LCD and a CRT, like the plate making output computer 20. (For example, a personal computer or a workstation), and by executing predetermined programs stored in the internal memory via an external storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a communication line, each of the following shown in FIG. The function of the component is realized.
[0025]
  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the plate inspection apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. This plate inspection apparatus includes a job ticket interpretation unit 101 that interprets the job ticket command content given from the plate making output computer 20, and a calibration output storage unit 102 that stores relatively low resolution digital image data in the calibration output step. A CTP output storage unit 103 for storing high-resolution digital image data in the CTP output process, a data format conversion unit 104 for converting the data format of the digital image data stored in the CTP output storage unit 103, and a data format An image resolution adjustment unit 105 that adjusts the image resolution of the image data converted by the conversion unit 104, and a comparison process selection that selects a predetermined image comparison process for image comparison based on the interpretation result of the job ticket interpretation unit 101 Unit 106 and the image comparison process selected by the comparison process selection unit 106, An image comparison unit 107 that compares the image data of which the image resolution has been adjusted by the image resolution adjustment unit 105 and the image data stored by the calibration output storage unit 102 to detect image differences, and the image comparison unit 107 detects And a plate inspection result output unit 108 for outputting presence / absence of image difference.
[0026]
  The job ticket interpretation unit 101 receives a job ticket from the plate making output computer 20 and interprets the command content of the job ticket. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which job ticket command contents are displayed. This screen example is for the user to confirm the contents of the job ticket set by the user. The job ticket shown in this screen example includes the first to sixth items corresponding to the processing order. include. The first item indicates that a preflight is to be performed. Preflighting is a process of automatically checking the consistency of edit layout data for images and fonts before interpreter processing. The second item indicates that input interpreter processing should be performed. By this input interpreter processing, the edit layout data is RIP expanded and digital image data is created. The third item indicates that the printer should be selected as a device for printing output in the calibration output process. By setting this item, printed paper is output from the inkjet printer 32. It is assumed that the printing method at that time is set separately. The fourth item indicates that the plate recorder should be selected as the device for output in the CTP output process. By setting this item, a plate, which is a printing plate, is output from the plate recorder 40. These first to fourth items are also included in the conventional job ticket.
[0027]
  On the other hand, the fifth item is an item that is not included in the conventional job ticket for the plate inspection apparatus, and includes the plate inspection processing target to be performed, the plate inspection mode, and the method for reporting the plate inspection result. Show. The display of “plate inspection target = 4” in the figure indicates that high resolution digital image data given to output a plate from the plate recorder shown in the fourth item should be a plate inspection target. Further, the display of “comparison target = 3” in the figure indicates that low-resolution digital image data given for printing out from the printer shown in the third item should be a comparison target for plate inspection. Note that as the comparison target, an arbitrary file stored in an arbitrary folder may be designated. Therefore, when the digital image data in the CTP output process at the first school is designated as a comparison target and the digital image data in the CTP output process at the second school is designated as a plate inspection target, The conventional plate inspection work for comparing the plate output data at the time of retraining with the plate inspection device can be easily performed. Furthermore, the display of “plate inspection mode [ambiguous comparison level = small]” in the figure indicates an image comparison process to be executed by the image comparison unit 107. The relationship between the fuzzy comparison degree and the image comparison process will be described later. Furthermore, the display of “report method [alert display]” in the figure indicates a method of presenting the plate inspection result output by the plate inspection result output unit 108. This presentation method will also be described later. In addition, when processing stop is selected in this report method, it is comprised so that the plate output of the plate recorder 40 may be stopped forcibly. The sixth item indicates that the process ends last.
[0028]
  The job ticket interpretation unit 101 interprets the job ticket command content including the above items and gives a corresponding instruction. That is, it instructs the comparison process selection unit 106 to select an image comparison process corresponding to a case where the fuzzy comparison degree selected as the plate inspection mode is small. In addition, it instructs the plate inspection result output unit 108 to display the alert selected as the report method. Further, low-resolution digital image data temporarily stored in a computer functioning as an output server for the DDCP 31 or the inkjet printer 32 is transmitted to the calibration output storage unit 102 and used as an output server for the plate recorder 40. The CTP output storage unit 103 is instructed to transmit high-resolution digital image data temporarily stored in a functioning computer. Note that these data transmission instructions may be issued by a job ticket interpreter included in the plate-making output computer 20 or a computer functioning as an output server.
[0029]
  The calibration output storage unit 102 is provided in a predetermined area of a hard disk or semiconductor memory included in the plate inspection computer 10 and stores low resolution digital image data transmitted in accordance with the above instruction. Similarly, the CTP output storage unit 103 is also provided in a predetermined area of the hard disk or semiconductor memory, and stores high resolution digital image data transmitted in accordance with the above instruction.
[0030]
  The data format conversion unit 104 makes the data format of the high resolution digital image data stored in the CTP output storage unit 103 the same as the data format of the low resolution digital image data stored in the calibration output storage unit 102. To (or be comparable to each other). For example, when the digital image data stored in the CTP output storage unit 103 is in the DotTIFF format composed of halftone dots, the data format conversion unit 104 executes a known descreening process for converting the halftone data into pixel data. Thus, the digital image data is converted into, for example, 32-bit TIFF format digital image data. This conversion process may be another known data conversion process such as a copy dot process in which halftone dots are copied one by one and converted into binary bitmap data.
[0031]
  The image resolution adjustment unit 105 uses the image resolution (for example, 2400 dpi) of the digital image data converted by the data format conversion unit 104 and the image resolution (for example, 72 dpi) of the low resolution digital image data stored in the calibration output storage unit 102. Adjust to be the same as. Specifically, affine transformation is performed on the digital image data converted by the data format conversion unit 104 to generate image data with a reduced image resolution (for example, 72 dpi). Note that a known resolution conversion process may be performed instead of the affine conversion process.
[0032]
  The comparison processing selection unit 106 selects a predetermined image comparison process for image comparison based on the interpretation result of the job ticket interpretation unit 101. Specifically, as described above, the comparison processing selection unit 106 is instructed to select the image comparison processing corresponding to the case where the ambiguous comparison degree selected as the plate inspection mode from the job ticket interpretation unit 101 is small. Given. Here, the comparison processing selection unit 106 includes three cases from the first to the third corresponding to the case where the degree of fuzzy comparison to be selected as the plate inspection mode is 0, small, and large. Image comparison processing is stored in advance.
[0033]
  The image comparison process corresponding to the first image comparison process when the fuzzy comparison degree is 0 is, for example, an image when the two image data are compared for each corresponding pixel and all do not completely match. This is a process for detecting the difference. That is, in this image comparison process, comparison without ambiguity is performed.
[0034]
  The image comparison process corresponding to the case where the degree of fuzzy comparison, which is the second image comparison process, is small. For example, when different pixels are detected by comparing both image data for each pixel of the same coordinate, This is a process of detecting a difference in images only when a pixel matching the vicinity of the pixel is not detected. That is, in this image comparison process, even if the corresponding pixels of both image data are not at the same position, the image difference is not detected as long as it is within a predetermined range near the pixel. Image comparison processing.
[0035]
  The image comparison process corresponding to the case where the degree of fuzzy comparison, which is the third image comparison process, is large. For example, when different pixels are detected by comparing both image data for each pixel of the same coordinate, This is a process for detecting a difference in image only when a pixel matching the vicinity of the pixel is not detected and a pixel having a color difference within a predetermined range from the pixel is not detected in the vicinity of the pixel. That is, in this image comparison process, even if the corresponding pixels of both image data are not located at the same position, a difference in the image is not detected if it is within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the pixel, and the pixel and the predetermined range are not detected. If a pixel having a color difference is in the vicinity of the pixel, a difference in image is not detected. Therefore, this process is an ambiguous image comparison process regarding the pixel position and color difference. Note that these processes are examples, and any known technique may be used in combination or in place of the above process as long as it is a comparison process for detecting image differences. For example, in the image comparison process corresponding to the case where the third degree of fuzzy comparison is large, instead of the above process, the color average value of both image data is calculated for each predetermined block, and a difference value is obtained. When the value exceeds a predetermined threshold, a process for detecting a difference in images in the predetermined block may be performed.
[0036]
  The comparison process selection unit 106 selects the image comparison process selected as the plate inspection mode based on an instruction from the job ticket interpretation unit 101 from these three comparison processes. In the example of the job ticket shown in FIG. 4, the image comparison process corresponding to the case where the degree of fuzzy comparison selected as the plate inspection mode is small is selected.
[0037]
  Based on the comparison process selected by the comparison process selection unit 106 (the second image comparison process corresponding to the case where the fuzzy comparison degree is small in the example of the job ticket shown in FIG. 4), the image comparison unit 107 The image data whose image resolution has been adjusted by the resolution adjusting unit 105 is compared with the image data stored by the proofreading output storing unit 102 to detect image differences. Here, the image comparison unit 107 detects at least the presence / absence of a difference in images, but may further detect a difference portion, a degree of difference, or a type of difference in the image.
[0038]
  The plate inspection result output unit 108 outputs the presence / absence of a difference in images detected by the image comparison unit 107 based on an instruction from the job ticket interpretation unit 101. Here, since alert display is specified as a report method included in the job ticket, alert display for the user, for example, a display device included in a computer functioning as an output server for the plate inspection computer 10 and the plate recorder 40 Characters indicating the presence / absence of differences in the detected images (for example, characters “No mismatch was detected”) or graphics are displayed.
[0039]
  Here, if log display is designated as the report method included in the job ticket, the plate inspection result output unit 108 detects the information on the processing result of the plate recorder 40 as the character information. A character indicating whether or not there is a difference between the images is written. In this case, only when a difference in images is detected, a character to that effect (for example, a character “does not match the calibration output!”) May be written. Further, instead of this log display or together with this log display, a warning such as the above characters and figures may be displayed on a display device of a computer functioning as an output server for the plate recorder 40.
[0040]
<3. Effect>
  According to the above-described embodiment, the low-resolution digital image data in the calibration output process and the high-resolution digital image data in the CTP output process are stored in the plate inspection device, and are compared as appropriate, so that there is a difference in the images. The configuration is detected. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the difference in the image by constantly comparing the output result in the calibration output process and the output result in the CTP output process without taking time and effort for the user.
[0041]
  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, as a job ticket item, one of a plurality of image comparison processes is designated as a plate inspection mode in addition to a plate inspection processing target to be performed and a method of reporting a plate inspection result. It is the composition which becomes. With this configuration, the user can arbitrarily select an image comparison process suitable for the plate inspection work to be performed.
[0042]
  Furthermore, according to the one embodiment, based on the designation of the job ticket, as the ambiguous image comparison process, the (second) image comparison process corresponding to the case where the ambiguous comparison degree is small, or the ambiguous comparison degree is large. (Third) image comparison processing corresponding to the case is executed. With this configuration, when the output result in the calibration output process and the output result in the CTP output process in which the images do not completely match due to different resolutions and data formats are compared, the image difference is detected more accurately. be able to.
[0043]
  Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, a warning is displayed on a display device of a computer functioning as an output server for the plate recorder 40 or a log indicating a processing result based on designation of a report method included in the job ticket. It is a configuration. With this configuration, since it is always noticed by the user that the plate output from the plate recorder 40 is different from the calibration output, it is not overlooked that there is an image difference.
[0044]
<4. Modification>
  In the embodiment described above, digital image data in the calibration output process and the CTP output process is transmitted from the computer functioning as an output server to the plate inspection computer 10 based on a command from the plate inspection computer 10 which is a plate inspection apparatus. The configuration. However, when the digital image data is output by the plate-making output computer 20, the digital image data may be transmitted to the plate inspection computer 10 simultaneously or afterwards. Further, the digital image data may be read from the plate making output computer 20 by the plate inspection computer 10.
[0045]
  In the above embodiment, the data format of the high resolution digital image data stored in the CTP output storage unit 103 is converted by the data format conversion unit 104, and the image resolution of the digital image data converted by the data format conversion unit 104 is the image resolution. The conversion is performed by the adjustment unit 105. However, the image resolution of the high-resolution digital image data stored in the CTP output storage unit 103 is converted by the image resolution adjustment unit 105, and the data format of the digital image data converted by the image resolution adjustment unit 105 is the data format conversion unit 104. The conversion may be performed by the above, or these conversions may be performed simultaneously.
[0046]
  In the above embodiment, the plate inspection computer 10 is configured to implement various components of the plate inspection device in software by executing a predetermined program. However, some or all of these components are It may be realized by one or more other computers including the plate-making output computer 20 connected by the LAN 50.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an entire plate making system including a plate inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a creation process of digital image data given to the plate inspection apparatus according to the one embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a plate inspection apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which job ticket command details are displayed in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a creation process of digital data given to a conventional plate inspection apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
  10: Computer for plate inspection
  20: Prepress output computer
  31 ... DDCP
  32 ... Inkjet printer
  40 ... Plate recorder
  50 ... LAN
  101: Job ticket interpretation unit
  102: Calibration output storage unit
  103 ... CTP output storage unit
  104: Data format conversion unit
  105: Image resolution adjustment unit
  106: Comparison processing selection unit
  107: Image comparison unit
  108 ... Plate inspection result output section

Claims (6)

Final output process for creating final output product image data for outputting the final output product, and calibration for calibrating the final output product image data at a resolution lower than that of the final output product image data A plate inspection apparatus that performs electronic plate inspection in a plate making process including a calibration output process in which image data is created,
Final output storage means for storing the final output image data;
Calibration output storage means for storing the calibration image data;
In a step different from the calibration output step after completion of the calibration output step, the data format and resolution of the final output product image data stored in the final output storage unit are stored in the calibration output storage unit. Conversion means for creating the converted image data for the final output product by performing conversion processing according to the data format and resolution of the image data;
Image comparison means for detecting image differences by executing image comparison processing for comparing the converted final output image data and the calibration image data;
A plate inspection result output means for outputting a detection result indicating a difference between images detected by the image comparison means;
Command data including printing command data indicating devices and output methods for output in the calibration output step and the final output step, and plate inspection command data indicating image comparison processing to be executed by the image comparison unit Command interpretation means for receiving and interpreting,
The image comparison device, wherein the image comparison unit executes an image comparison process indicated by the plate inspection command data received by the command interpretation unit among a plurality of predetermined image comparison processes.   The image comparison means is an image comparison process that does not detect a difference between images when the image indicated by the converted image data for final output and the image indicated by the calibration image data match within a predetermined range. The plate inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image comparison process is executed.   The plate inspection result output means outputs the detection result so that a warning is displayed in the final output step when an image difference is detected by the image comparison means. The plate inspection apparatus according to 1. Final output process for creating final output product image data for outputting the final output product, and calibration for calibrating the final output product image data at a resolution lower than that of the final output product image data A plate inspection method for performing electronic plate inspection in a plate making process including a proofreading output process in which image data is created,
A final output storage step of storing the final output image data;
A calibration output storage step for storing the calibration image data;
In a step different from the calibration output step after completion of the calibration output step, the data format and resolution of the image data for the final output product stored in the final output storage step are stored in the calibration output storage step. A conversion step for creating converted final output image data by performing conversion processing according to the data format and resolution of the image data;
An image comparison step of detecting a difference in images by executing an image comparison process for comparing the converted final output product image data and the calibration image data;
A plate inspection result output step for outputting a detection result indicating a difference between images detected by the image comparison step;
Command data including printing command data indicating devices and output methods for output in the calibration output step and the final output step, and plate inspection command data indicating image comparison processing to be executed in the image comparison step A command interpretation step for receiving and interpreting,
The image comparison step performs an image comparison process indicated by the plate inspection command data received by the command interpretation step among a plurality of predetermined image comparison processes. Final output process for creating final output product image data for outputting the final output product, and calibration for calibrating the final output product image data at a resolution lower than that of the final output product image data To the plate inspection device that performs electronic plate inspection in the plate making process including the calibration output process in which image data is created,
A final output storage step of storing the final output image data;
A calibration output storage step for storing the calibration image data;
In a step different from the calibration output step after completion of the calibration output step, the data format and resolution of the image data for the final output product stored in the final output storage step are stored in the calibration output storage step. A conversion step for creating converted final output image data by performing conversion processing according to the data format and resolution of the image data;
An image comparison step of detecting a difference in images by executing an image comparison process for comparing the converted final output product image data and the calibration image data;
A plate inspection result output step for outputting a detection result indicating a difference between images detected by the image comparison step;
Command data including printing command data indicating devices and output methods for output in the calibration output step and the final output step, and plate inspection command data indicating image comparison processing to be executed in the image comparison step Command interpretation step to receive and interpret,
In the image comparison step, a computer program for executing an image comparison process indicated by the plate inspection command data received in the command interpretation step among a plurality of predetermined image comparison processes. Final output process for creating final output product image data for outputting the final output product, and calibration for calibrating the final output product image data at a resolution lower than that of the final output product image data To the plate inspection device that performs electronic plate inspection in the plate making process including the calibration output process in which image data is created,
A final output storage step of storing the final output image data;
A calibration output storage step for storing the calibration image data;
In a step different from the calibration output step after completion of the calibration output step, the data format and resolution of the image data for the final output product stored in the final output storage step are stored in the calibration output storage step. A conversion step for creating converted final output image data by performing conversion processing according to the data format and resolution of the image data;
An image comparison step of detecting a difference in images by executing an image comparison process for comparing the converted final output product image data and the calibration image data;
A plate inspection result output step for outputting a detection result indicating a difference between images detected by the image comparison step; a print command data indicating an apparatus and an output method for output in the calibration output step and the final output step; A command interpretation step for receiving and interpreting command data including image inspection command data indicating image comparison processing to be executed by the image comparison step;
In the image comparison step, a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing image comparison processing indicated by the plate inspection command data received in the command interpretation step among a plurality of predetermined image comparison processing.

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