JP4042118B2 - Layout editing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention generally relates to a printing system using a computer and an electronic printer, and more particularly to a printing system suitable for work from photography to printing in a photo studio.

  Due to the improved performance of digital cameras and electronic printers, not only amateurs but also photographic professionals have come to use digital cameras and electronic printers. Generally, both amateurs and professionals use a simple system in which an electronic printer is connected to a personal computer on which a photo retouching program is installed via a dedicated interface cable or a LAN. Using a highly functional photo retouching program, you can apply a wide variety of retouching and color correction to photographic images taken with a digital camera, and freely change the size and resolution of the image. As an electronic printer, an ink jet printer is preferably used, so that it is possible to print out a high-quality full-color photograph that is not inferior to a silver salt photograph.

  The general system described above has a very high performance in terms of beautifully finishing each photo and printing it out. However, in the place of commercial or professional photographic printing such as a photo studio, not only the performance of high-quality printing but also various other performances are required.

  Professionals first and foremost demand the ability to print out in the color they want. One factor that makes this difficult is that the color characteristics of various image processing devices such as digital cameras, computer display monitors and printers differ from device to device. For this reason, the original image taken by the camera, the image on the monitor screen, and the printed image are different in color. However, conventional systems do not have the ability to automatically adjust color to compensate for differences in color characteristics between devices. Unless the user himself / herself fully understands the color characteristics of each device and manually performs color adjustment on, for example, photo retouching software, the user cannot print out in the color desired by the user.

  Second, performance that can efficiently handle studio work is required. For example, retouching a photo is one of the most time-consuming tasks in a photo studio, and there is a demand for reducing the time spent on it. Conventional photo retouching software has a wide variety of retouching functions that can be used by graphical designers. However, in photo studios, the types of retouch that are frequently used are roughly determined, and it is rather important to be able to perform such a retouch in a short time by routine work. In addition, there are several types of printout sizes used in commercial photographs. The size of a photo can be adjusted to the specified size, or multiple photos of the specified size can be placed on paper. The print layout work to be performed is also required before printing. However, this print layout work is also troublesome in the conventional system. Therefore, there is a demand for making it easy to perform this print layout work by routine work. Furthermore, we would like to be able to perform retouching of photos and printout of photos after retouching at the same time.

  Third, the ability to manage studio work is required. For example, the ability to accurately manage the execution status, execution history, and printer status of a large number of print jobs is required. With this management, I want to prevent interruption of printing work due to printer failure, etc., to make it possible to properly supply consumables, to properly perform system maintenance, and to make charge calculation work more efficient There is a request.

  The present invention has been made mainly in view of the above-mentioned second problem, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently perform an operation of editing a print layout to create a print job.

  A print layout editing program according to a first aspect of the present invention is a computer program for editing a print layout that is an arrangement of an image to be printed on a print medium, and displays desired one or more image data. A step of editing the layout of the image data on the print medium, print job data according to the edited layout, and the desired image data and a color profile attached to the image data in advance. Generating the print job data including the image data.

  In a preferred embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a color profile is not attached in advance to the desired image data, it is automatically considered that a predetermined color profile is attached in advance. This step is further performed by the computer.

  A layout editing program according to a second aspect of the present invention is a computer program for editing a print layout that is an arrangement of an image to be printed on a print medium, and one or a plurality of image frames of a predetermined size are included in a page. A step of selecting and displaying a desired template from a template library storing a plurality of templates arranged at predetermined positions, a step of displaying a plurality of images, and a user from among the plurality of displayed images The desired image data is assigned to an image frame designated by the user in the displayed template, thereby causing the computer to edit the print layout.

  In a preferred embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention, without using the template, the computer is further caused to edit a page in which the user can freely set the image size.

  In a first modification of the preferred embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention, in response to a request from the user, a step of selecting a package in which a plurality of templates having the same page size are set, and selection A step of displaying a plurality of templates included in the package in a list; and a step of selecting a template desired by the user from among the plurality of templates displayed in the list and using the template for editing the print layout of the page. Let me do it. Then, the computer is further caused to perform a step of changing the arrangement of the image frames in the template in response to a request from the user.

  In a second modification of the preferred embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention, the step of creating a new template with a template creation tool and adding the created template to the template library according to a request from the user is further described above. Let the computer do it. And connecting to another computer via a communication network, obtaining a desired template from the template library in the other computer, editing a print layout using the obtained template, Is further performed by the computer.

  In a third modification of the preferred embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the image is fitted into the image frame, either the first or the second fitting method is performed according to the user's request. And when the first inset method is selected, the image is set to the maximum size that can be completely accommodated in the image frame, and a margin is added in the image frame if necessary. When the inset step and the second inset method are selected, the image is reduced to the minimum size that fits within the image frame without margins, and if necessary, the portion of the image that protrudes from the image frame is selected. Trimming and fitting into the image frame is further performed by the computer.

  In a fourth modification of the preferred embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention, when a horizontally long image is fitted into a vertically long image frame, or when a vertically long image is fitted into a horizontally long image frame, 90 images are respectively displayed. The computer is further caused to perform the step of fitting the corresponding image frame after the rotation. Then, the computer is further caused to perform a step of selecting either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction according to the user's request as the rotation direction of the image in the rotating step.

  In a fifth modification of the preferred embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention, when a print layout of each page is edited for a print job composed of a plurality of pages, each page is requested according to a request from the user. The step of applying a different template for each computer is further performed by the computer.

  A layout editing program according to a third aspect of the present invention is a computer program for editing a print layout that is an arrangement of an image to be printed on a print medium, and creating a print job based on the result of the editing When creating the print job, in response to a request from the user, (1) an instruction that any of the plurality of printers may be used as the printer used for printing the print job is printed (2) a step of including in the print job an instruction to use a specific one of the plurality of printers as a printer used for printing the print job; ) Causing the computer to perform the step of selecting one of the steps (1) and (2).

  In a preferred embodiment according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the step (1) is selected, an instruction to print the print job using only the same printer in response to a request from the user. Is further included in the print job.

  In a modification of the preferred embodiment according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the step (1) is selected, only the same printer is used to display the same page in the print job in response to a request from the user. And causing the computer to further include a step of including in the print job an instruction to use and print.

  A layout editing program according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a computer program for editing a print layout that is an arrangement of an image to be printed on a print medium, and includes (1) a border of the page on the page to be edited. , (2) Image frame border, (3) Crop mark, (4) Customer name, (5) Image file name, (6) Computer machine name, and (7) Editor name are printed. Let the computer perform a step of designating whether or not in response to a user request.

  A layout editing program according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a computer program for editing a print layout, which is an arrangement of an image to be printed on a print medium, for each page constituting a print job. A step of editing the print job, a step of configuring print job data based on the result of the editing, and a print end message automatically displayed for the print job currently being edited And causing the computer to perform the step of performing.

  In a preferred embodiment according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the step of selecting whether to automatically save or automatically delete the print job data after the printing is completed, according to a request from a user. Let the computer do it.

  Prior to the description of the embodiment, “color profile” and “color matching” that repeatedly appear in the description will be described.

  Various image processing devices (e.g., cameras, image scanners, display monitors, printers, etc.) each work in their own color space and have their own gamuts, or color ranges that can be generated. For example, all display monitors work in the RGB color space, but the gamut is different for each monitor. Printer gamuts that work in the CMYK color space also vary from printer to printer. Even with the same printer, the gamut varies depending on the type of ink and print media used.

  FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the gamut of different devices. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 300 indicates a gamut that can be sensed by human vision, reference numeral 301 indicates a gamut that a certain printer can print out, and reference numeral 302 indicates a gamut that a certain display monitor can display. As shown in FIG. 1, the gamut differs depending on the device.

  Output devices such as monitors and printers can display color only within the gamut. Input devices such as cameras and image scanners can only store colors within the gamut. As described above, the fact that the gamut is different for each device means that the color space in which the device works is different for each device. For example, all printers work in the same type of color space called CMYK, but the gamut differs for each printer, and for each ink and print medium used. Therefore, there are different CMYK color spaces for each printer and for each ink and print medium used.

  The “color profile” is a strict definition of the color space in which each device works using numerical expressions. The color profile describes what kind of color space is unique to the device (for example, RGB, CMYK, LCH, etc.). Further, in the color profile, as the main information, a color space unique to the device (for example, a color space such as RGB, CMYK, and LCH) and a device-independent color space (for example, XYZ, Yxy, Lab, and Luv) are used. Conversion table for conversion to the color space) or vice versa. This conversion table quantitatively defines the device-specific gamut.

  As a color profile format standard, an international color profile format (International Color Profile format) established by ICC (International Color Consortium) is known. The color profile described in the international color profile format is referred to as “ICC profile” in the following description.

  “Color matching” is the color value added to the converted image data so that the colors of both color spaces are approximated when converting the image data of one color space into the image data of another color space. This is also called “color mapping”. If the gamut is different between different color spaces, the colors cannot be perfectly matched. However, when converting the image data of one color space to the image data of the other color space, if the color value of the image data is carefully shifted so as to compensate for the difference between the gamuts of both color spaces, it is possible to Can be approximated well. Such color value shift processing is called color matching (or color mapping).

  Color matching can be performed by using a color profile such as an ICC profile that represents a source (converting source) color space and a target (converting destination) color space. For example, when converting RGB image data output from a digital camera into CMYK image data printed by a printer, color matching is performed using the color profile of the RGB color space of the digital camera as the source and the CMYK color of the printer as the target. This can be done using the color profile of the space. As a result, a color printout that closely approximates the color photographed by the digital camera can be obtained. Alternatively, when converting RGB image data displayed on the monitor to CMYK image data printed on the printer, color matching is performed using the color profile of the RGB color space of the monitor as the source and the CMYK color space of the printer as the target. This can be done using the color profile. As a result, a color printout that closely approximates the color displayed on the monitor can be obtained.

  Color matching methods can be broadly divided into two methods in terms of how to deal with source colors existing in areas outside the target gamut of the source gamut. The first method substantially discards the source color that is out of the target gamut. The second method uses an interpolation process or the like to shift a source color that is out of the target gamut so as to fall within the target gamut. Each of these two methods has advantages and disadvantages. In particular, when converting a photographic image, the latter color matching method is less likely to give an unnatural feeling to the perception of the person who viewed the converted photographic image. This latter color matching method is called “perceptual color matching”.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of this embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, the photo studio system 1 is installed in each photo studio. There is a LAN 4 in the photo studio, and the LAN 4 is connected to the print server machine 2 and one or a plurality of (for example, two) computer machines (hereinafter referred to as “client machines”) 5A and 5B. The client machines 5A and 5B can be connected to the digital camera 6 via, for example, USB. The print server machine 2 is connected with one or a plurality (two in this case) of electronic printers 3A and 3B via, for example, USB. Each of the printers 3A and 3B is an ink jet printer using, for example, pigment-based ink, and has a performance of outputting a printed matter with high image quality and extremely high light resistance. The print server machine 2 and the two printers 3A, 3B can be housed in a box-shaped dedicated casing (not shown) and placed in one place in the photo studio.

  The client machines 5A and 5B read one or more photographic images from the digital camera 6 and store them in the disk storage, and edit one or more desired photographic images into print job data of a desired number of pages. Mainly used. The photographic image editing performed here includes a photo retouching operation for applying desired enhancements such as trimming, partial correction, and overall color adjustment to each photographic image, and a desired one or more photographic images on a print media space. For example, print layout editing arranged on (print page). On the other hand, the print server machine 2 has a function of receiving print job data from the client machines 5A and 5B, creating a print image of each page based on the print job data, and transmitting it to the printers 3A and 3B. The print server machine 2 also manages information such as the status of the printers 3A and 3B, the execution status and execution history of the print job (hereinafter referred to as “print information”), and notifies the client machines 5A and 5B of the information. Also have.

  Further, there is a center server machine 8 that serves to centrally manage the operating state of the photo studio system 1 of a large number of photo studios separately from the photo studio. The print server machine 2 and the client machines 5A, 5B of each photo studio system 1 can communicate with the center server machine 8 via the Internet 7, respectively. The center server machine 8 collects print information of the photo studio from the print server machine 2 of each photo studio system 1 and stores and manages it in the database of the center server machine 8. When the center server machine 8 is logged in from a user of each photo studio through a WWW browser, the print information of the photo studio stored in the database of the center server machine 8 can be provided to the WWW browser. When the center server machine 8 receives from the photo studio information indicating the occurrence of a predetermined event (for example, an error such as a paper jam of a printer) designated in advance by the user of each photo studio, It can also be sent by e-mail to an e-mail address previously designated by the user (for example, e-mail address of the user's mobile phone). Further, the center server machine 8 calculates the consumption amount of consumables such as paper and ink in each photo studio based on the print information from each photo studio, and arranges the distribution of the consumables to each photo studio. You can also charge a fee.

  In addition, as one form of business management of photo studios, an intermediate management organization (hereinafter referred to as “dealer”) is interposed between the center and individual photo studios, and each dealer works for multiple photo studios. There is a form of managing. In such a case, each dealer also has a computer machine (hereinafter referred to as “dealer machine”) 9 in which a WWW browser or the like is installed. When the center server machine 8 logs in from each dealer through a WWW browser, the center server machine 8 can provide the WWW browser with print information of a photo studio under the dealer. The dealer machine 9 can arrange the distribution of consumables to each photo studio and charge billing based on the print information of each photo studio instead of the center server machine 8.

  Hereinafter, the configurations and functions of the various machines described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows the configuration and functions of the client machines 5A and 5B and the print server machine 2 of the photo studio system 1. FIG. 4 shows the configuration and functions of the print server machine 2 and the center server machine 8. By connecting FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, it is possible to clearly understand the information exchange relationship between the machines.

  First, the configuration and function of the client machines 5A and 5B will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the client machines 5A and 5B are collectively shown as one block of the client system 5. The number of client machines included in the client system 5 does not have to be two as in this embodiment, and may be one or more. In addition, a plurality of application programs 11 to 17 described below that the client system 5 has may be installed on all of the client machines included in the client system 5 or only one of them. Alternatively, a certain program may be distributed and installed, for example, on the client machine 5A, and another program, for example, on the client machine 5B.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the client system 5 includes a plurality of application programs such as a special photo retoucher 11, a layout editor 13, a status monitor 14, a general photo retoucher 15, an image transfer driver 16, and a WWW (World Wide Web) browser 17. Is installed. Further, an e-mail transmission / reception program (not shown) may be installed in the client system 5.

  The special photo retoucher 11 is a photo retouch program specially designed for a photo studio, and is configured so that a predetermined retouch operation normally required by the photo studio can be efficiently performed by routine work.

  When the special photo retoucher 11 starts retouching of each photographic image, the ICC color profile representing the color space in which the retouching operation is performed is automatically (without omission unless otherwise requested by the user). ) Set. The user can specify what color space ICC color profile is to be set. However, even if the user does not intentionally specify, the special photo retoucher 11 always sets the ICC color profile by the default method. The special photo retoucher 11 attaches the ICC profile (ICC color profile; the same applies hereinafter) to the photo image file when outputting the retouched photo image.

  It should be noted that the color in which the photo image is edited before printing, such as the color space in which the retouching work is performed by the special photo retoucher 11 and the color space in which the print layout editing work is performed by the layout editor 13 described below. The space is hereinafter referred to as the “work color space” of the photographic image. The ICC profile representing the work color space is hereinafter referred to as “work ICC profile”.

  The layout editor 13 is an application program for editing a print layout for a photo studio. The size of each photo image is adjusted to a desired specified size, and one or more photo images are printed on a print page (print media). It is designed so that the print layout editing work of arranging in the space) can be performed in a short time by routine work. That is, the layout editor 13 reads a large number of templates each representing various basic print layouts prepared in advance in the print server machine 2 from the print server machine 2 as indicated by arrows 21, The template is displayed on the monitor of the client system 5. The basic print layout that each template represents is a space (print page) in which the specified print media size that can be used by the printer, for example, A4, A3, or B4, is placed in landscape (landscape) or portrait (portrait) Inside, one or a plurality of photo frames having a prescribed photo size such as 8 × 10 inches, 5 × 7 inches, 2.5 × 3.5 inches or 1.75 × 2.5 inches are arranged. In many templates, in order to use print media economically, the photo frame is efficiently arranged so that the total area of the margin outside the photo frame is sufficiently small. On the graphical user interface of the layout editor 13, the user drags and drops a desired photo image onto each photo frame in a desired template, so that the layout of the print page is automatically edited. .

  When the layout editor 13 also starts a print layout editing operation for each photographic image, the layout editor 13 sets a work ICC profile of the work color space in which the operation is performed for the photographic image. If a certain ICC profile has been attached to the photographic image in advance, the layout editor 13 directly uses the attached ICC profile as the work ICC profile. For example, since the ICC profile of the color space worked by the special photo retoucher 11 is already attached to the photographic image that has undergone retouching by the special photo retoucher 11, the layout editor 13 uses the color space worked by the special photo retoucher 11. Will work in exactly the same color space. On the other hand, if the ICC profile has not yet been attached to the photographic image, the layout editor 13 automatically assumes the ICC profile that has been attached to the photographic image in advance. The assumed ICC profile is directly used as the work ICC profile. In this case, the user can specify what ICC profile is specifically assumed. However, even if the user does not intentionally specify, the layout editor 13 automatically assumes a specific ICC profile set as a default as the ICC profile attached in advance. The layout editor 13 attaches the work ICC profile automatically set as described above to the photographic image file when outputting the photographic image whose print layout has been edited.

  When the layout editing of all the print pages constituting one print job is completed, the layout editor 13 creates the print job data and transfers it to the print server machine 2 as indicated by the arrow 22. The print job data includes data representing the layout of all print pages included in the print job, all photo image files arranged on the print pages, and work attached to the photo image files. ICC profiles and are included.

  The layout editor 13 is prepared as another program independent of the retouch program such as the special photo retoucher 11 described above and the general photo retoucher 15 described later. The client machines 5A and 5B in which these programs are installed are connected through the LAN 4 and can share resources such as mutual data and programs. Therefore, for example, one user in the studio performs photo retouching of a photographic image captured from the digital camera 6 by using the retouching program 11 or 15 using one client machine 5A. The studio work can be efficiently advanced by a method in which the user performs the print layout editing work of the retouched photographic image by the layout editor 13 using the other client machine 5B. In addition, if there are more than three client machines, studio work can be carried out efficiently in a more flexible way.

  The status monitor 14 receives an error that has occurred in the printers 3A and 3B and the completion of execution of each print job from the print server machine 2 as indicated by an arrow 23 at a time interval (for example, 10 minutes) set in advance by the user. The latest history information relating to (printing completion) is acquired and displayed on the display monitor of the client system 5.

  The general photo retoucher 15 is a conventionally known general photo retouch program, and has various retouch functions that can be satisfied even by graphic designers as well as retouch functions normally required in photo studios. ing. The special photo retoucher 11 described above is made to work more efficiently than the general photo retoucher 15 as long as it is within the normal retouch range of the photo studio. However, when a special retouch that is not supported by the special photo retoucher 11 is desired, the user can use the general photo retoucher 15 instead of the special photo retoucher 11.

  The special photo retoucher 11 described above is made so as to be able to perform a retouch operation in cooperation with the general photo retoucher 15. That is, the special photo retoucher 11 has a button for starting the general photo retoucher 15 on its graphical user interface. The special photo retoucher 11 automatically saves the photo image in the middle of the work by automatically assigning a specific file name when the user presses the button while the photo image is being retouched. Then, the file name is stored, and the general photo retoucher 15 is activated as indicated by an arrow 27 to inform the general photo retoucher 15 of the file name and open the photo file. Then, the special photo retoucher 11 itself becomes inactive. After that, when the general photo retoucher 15 is finished, the special photo retoucher 11 automatically returns to active and reopens the photo image file having the stored file name. Therefore, if the photographic image passed from the special photo retoucher 11 to the general photo retoucher 15 as described above is saved with the same file name before the general photo retoucher 15 ends, the special photo retoucher 11 automatically The photo image file is reopened and the subsequent retouching operation is resumed. In this way, the retouching work can be efficiently advanced by combining the special photo retoucher 11 and the general photo retoucher 15. Note that when the photographic image is passed from the special photo retoucher 11 to the general photo retoucher 15, there is no guarantee that the work ICC profile of the photographic image is maintained by the general photo retoucher 15, so the special photo retoucher 11 uses the work ICC profile. Discard. When the photo image file is opened again, the special photo retoucher 11 sets the work ICC profile again.

  The image transfer driver 16 is activated when printing is requested from the general photo retoucher 15, creates print job data of a photographic image opened by the general photo retoucher 15, and displays it as indicated by an arrow 24. Transfer to the print server machine 2.

  The WWW browser 17 is a program for accessing various WWW servers on the LAN 4 and the Internet 7. The use of the WWW browser 17 for the work of the photo studio is as follows. First, the print server machine is connected to a print information server (a kind of WWW server) 37 of the print server machine 2 and indicated by arrows 25 and 26. 2 refers to printer information such as the status of the printers 3A and 3B managed in the printer 2 and the execution history of the print job. Secondly, as shown by an arrow 65 in FIG. 4, it is connected to the WWW server 82 of the center server machine 8 and the printer information of the photo studio managed in the center server machine 8 is referred to. .

  Next, the function and configuration of the print server machine 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the print server machine 2 is installed with programs such as a file transfer server 31, a print server 34, printer drivers 35A and 35B, a print information server 37, and a log uploader 38.

  The file transfer server 31 has a large number of templates for editing the print layout, provides the templates to the layout editor 13 of the client system 5, and print job data from the layout editor 13 of the client system 5 or image transfer. Processing for receiving from the driver 16 and transferring to the print server 34, processing for transmitting information such as the error occurrence status of the printers 3A and 3B and the end of execution of the print job provided from the print server 34 to the status monitor 14 of the client system 5, etc. Is to do.

  The file transfer server 31 has templates of various basic print layouts prepared in advance in a template library folder 32 in the disk storage of the print server machine 2. When the file transfer server 31 requests a specific template from the layout editor 13 of the client system 5, the file transfer server 31 reads the requested template from the template library folder 32 as indicated by an arrow 41, and indicates it with the arrow 21. To the layout editor 13. By using these templates, the print layout editing by the layout editor 13 becomes easy. A common template that is centrally managed by the print server machine 2 can be used regardless of which client machine 5A, 5B performs print layout editing.

  The file transfer server 31 receives print job data from the layout editor 13 or the image transfer driver 16 of the client system 5 as indicated by an arrow 22 (or 24), and the print job data is indicated by an arrow 42. And stored in the job folder 33 in the disk storage of the print server machine 2. The print job data from the layout editor 13 indicated by the arrow 22 includes the job script of the print job, the layout script of one or more pages included in the print job, and the print job, as shown in the figure. One or a plurality of photographic image files and a work ICC profile of those photographic images. Here, the job script refers to items necessary for managing the print job, such as the time stamp of the print job, the designation of the printer, the designation of the size and type (material) of the print medium, the number of print copies, and the print priority. It is a file describing the degree, user name, etc. The layout script refers to the items necessary to determine the print layout of each print page, such as the template number, the file name of the photo image embedded in each photo frame in each template, and optional print (for example, register marks and files). This file describes settings such as name printing. In order to reduce the amount of print job data, a file of each photo image is transmitted only once in principle by sending one print job data regardless of how many photos are printed. As described above, the work ICC profile attached to each photographic image file represents a work color space in which the photographic image is edited by the client system 5.

  When the file transfer server 31 receives a request for history information from the status monitor 14 of the client system 5 as indicated by an arrow 23, the file transfer server 31 notifies the print server 34 of this request, and as indicated by an arrow 51, In response to the request, the printer server 34 receives the history information about the printer error and the completion of the print job sent from the print server 34 and transfers it to the status monitor 14 of the client system 5 as indicated by the arrow 23.

  The print server 34 performs processing for creating print image data for each page from the print job data, and assigns each print image data to the printers 3A and 3B, and the printer driver of the printer to which the print image data is assigned. Processing for transmitting to 35A or 35B, processing for managing the status of the printers 3A and 3B provided from the printer drivers 35A and 35B, the execution history of the print job, and the like are performed. The printer drivers 35A and 35B correspond to the printers 3A and 3B, respectively, and convert the print image data received from the print server 34 into data in a format that can be processed by the printers 3A and 3B and send the data to the printers 3A and 3B. And the process of monitoring the status of the printers 3A and 3B and notifying the status to the print server 34.

  The print server 34 reads the print job data of each print job from the job folder 33 as indicated by an arrow 43. As described above, the print job data includes a job script for the print job, a print page layout script, a photo image file, and a work ICC profile for the photo image. The print server 34 uses the layout script for each print page included in the print job data and the photographic image file arranged on each print page, so that each print page has a layout as edited by the user. Create print image data.

  In creating print image data for each print page, the print server 34 reads the job script and types of printers and print media (hereinafter referred to as “output printer” and “output medium”) used to print the print page. To figure out. Then, the print server 34 has an ICC profile (hereinafter referred to as “printer ICC profile”) representing a color space (hereinafter referred to as “printer color space”) of the printing work performed by the output printer 3A or 3B using the output medium. ) Is read from a predetermined folder 39 in the print server machine 2 as indicated by an arrow 44. In the folder 39, different printer ICC profiles are stored in advance for each type of print media that can be used for each of the printer 3A and the printer 3B. The printer ICC profiles for all printers of all photo studios are stored in the center server machine 8, and the print server machine 2 of each photo studio has the machine number (individual printer) of the printer 3A, 3B of the photo studio. A printer ICC profile of the printers 3A and 3B can be downloaded from the center server machine 8 by designating a unique identification number) to the center server machine 8.

  The print server 34 reads the printer ICC profile corresponding to the output printer and output medium from the folder 39 as described above, and then uses the read printer ICC profile and the work ICC profile of each photo image in each print page. The photographic image data is subjected to a perceptual color matching. As a result, each photographic image data is adjusted so that a color that approximates the color at the time of editing appears to the maximum in the printout. Then, the print server 34 creates print image data for each print page using the adjusted photographic image data. Thereafter, as indicated by an arrow 45, the print server 34 sends the created print image data of each print page to the printer driver 35A or 35B corresponding to the output printer. Each of the printer drivers 35A and 35B converts print image data (for example, RGB bitmap image data) received from the print server 34 into print data in a format that can be processed by the printers 3A and 3B (for example, RGB to CMYK). Color conversion, halftoning, band division, addition of necessary control information, etc.), and the created print data is transmitted to the corresponding printers 3A and 3B as indicated by an arrow 61 in FIG. .

  The printer drivers 35A and 35B obtain the statuses of the corresponding printers 3A and 3B (for example, operating status, error occurrence status, consumable status) from the printers 3A and 3B as needed, as indicated by the arrow 46. The acquired printer status is sent to the print server 34. The print server 34 grasps the execution state of the print job sent to the printer drivers 35A and 35B based on the printer status from the printer drivers 35A and 35B. Then, the print server 34 writes the grasped information such as the statuses of the printers 3A and 3B and the execution state of the print job in the print information database 36 in the print server machine 2 as indicated by an arrow 47. As a result, the status history of the printers 3A and 3B and the execution history of the print job are accumulated in the print information database 36. Also, registration information of studio users and the like are managed in the print information database 36.

  When the print server 34 receives an information request from the status monitor 14 of the client system 5 as indicated by an arrow 51 through the file transfer server 31, the printer 3 A, 3 B is selected from the print information database 36 as indicated by an arrow 47. The latest information that has not yet been notified to the client system 5 is read out from the error occurrence history and the print job execution completion history, and is sent to the file transfer server 31 as indicated by an arrow 51. As described above, the latest error occurrence history and print job execution completion history are immediately transferred to the status monitor 14 of the client system 5 and displayed on the display monitor of the client system 5.

  The print information server 37 is a kind of WWW server. When logged in with the user authority registered from the WWW browser 17 of the client system 5 (arrow 26), the print job execution history stored in the print information database 36 is displayed. Web page displaying printer status history, studio user registration information, etc. is created and provided to the WWW browser 17 as indicated by an arrow 25. The print information server 37 also has a print job history search function, receives a search request from the user from the WWW browser 17, searches the print information database 36 for the print job history requested by the user, and performs a search. The result can also be returned to the WWW browser 17. Further, the print information server 37 also has a print job control function, and a control request from the user for a print job waiting for printing (for example, deletion, change of job contents such as priority and number of print copies, etc.) ) Is received from the WWW browser 17 and the information of the print job in the print information database 36 is rewritten. Furthermore, the print information server 37 also has a user registration function, and when logging in from the WWW browser 17 with the authority of the photo studio administrator, new user information is registered in the print information database 36. Can do.

  The log uploader 38 periodically (or at any time) according to an upload schedule (such as a time interval or time at which uploading is to be performed) specified in advance from the center server machine 8, is still in the center server machine from the print information database 36. The new print information that has not been sent to the printer 8 is read and uploaded to the center server machine 8 as indicated by an arrow 63 in FIG.

  In addition, the log uploader 38 has an “answering machine mode” for immediately reporting to the user an abnormality of the photo studio system 1 that has occurred while the user is away. When using the “answering machine mode”, the user beforehand specifies the user's desired e-mail address (for example, the e-mail address of the user's mobile phone) and the type of abnormality to be notified (for example, the type of various printer errors) Register in the log uploader 38. The log uploader 38 notifies the center server machine 8 of the registered e-mail address. If the log uploader 38 is set to the answering machine mode when the user goes out of the photo studio, the log uploader 38 immediately sends the occurrence of the abnormality to the center server machine 8 when the specified abnormality occurs. Notice. In response, the center server machine 8 creates an electronic mail reporting the occurrence of the abnormality and sends it to the registered electronic mail address. Thus, even when the user is out, the user can quickly know the occurrence of an abnormality in his / her studio.

  Next, the configuration and function of the center server machine 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, application programs such as an upload server 81, a WWW server 82, and an electronic mailer 83 are installed in the center server machine 8.

  The upload server 81 notifies the upload schedule for each photo studio managed by the center database 84 (such as the time interval or time for uploading) to the log uploader 38 of each studio, as indicated by an arrow 62, and The latest print information of the studio transmitted from the log uploader 38 of each studio according to the upload schedule is received and stored in the center database 84 in the center server 8.

  In addition, when the notification of the occurrence of abnormality in the answering machine mode described above is received from the log uploader 38 of each studio, the upload server 81 immediately passes the notification of the occurrence of abnormality to the electronic mailer 83 via the center database 84. In response to this, the electronic mailer 83 immediately creates an electronic mail reporting the occurrence of the abnormality, and transmits it to the pre-registered user desired electronic mail address 93 as indicated by an arrow 67. Thus, even when the user is out, the user can quickly know the occurrence of an abnormality in his / her studio.

  The WWW server 82 is a user, a dealer, or an overall system administrator from a WWW browser 92 installed in any computer machine 91 (for example, client machines 5A, 5B, dealer machine 9, other computers, PDAs, mobile phones, etc.). When the user is logged in with the authority such as the above, the print information and the user information in a range corresponding to the authority of the logged-in person are read from the center database 84, and a web page displaying the information is created. To the WWW browser 92. Here, the range according to the authority of the logged-in person is, for example, only the user's photo studio and only the user if the user authority, and if the authority is the dealer, If it is the authority of the whole system manager, it is all photo studios and all users.

  The center database 84 includes not only the print information and user information of each studio, but also the amount of consumables used in each studio calculated by the center, the charge from the center, and various news from the center. Information is also managed. Such information is also notified to each user and each dealer by the WWW server 82 or the electronic mailer 83.

  Next, operations of the photo studio system 1 and the center server machine 8 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS.

  First, the operation of the photo studio system 1 will be described in accordance with the order of work in the photo studio.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a photographic image file (for example, JPEG format or TIFF format) taken by the digital camera 6 is taken into the client system 5 from the digital camera 6 through, for example, USB, and the user in the client system 5 It is stored in the designated photo folder 12.

  In order to perform the photo retouching operation, the special photo retoucher 11 or the general photo retoucher 15 is activated by the user. Hereinafter, a case where the special photo retoucher 11 is activated will be described.

  The special photo retoucher 11 displays a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as “retoucher main window”) 110 as shown in FIG. 5 on the monitor of the client system 5. As shown in FIG. 5, at the top of the retoucher main window 110, from left to right, a “browse” button 111, a “trim” button 112, a “retouch” button 113, a “color / tone” button 114, “ The “effect” button 115 and the “export” button 116 are arranged side by side. The order in which these buttons 111 to 116 are arranged from left to right is in accordance with the procedure of retouch work normally performed by the user. The work procedure is roughly as follows.

  That is, first, when the “browse” button 111 is pressed, the “browse” mode is entered, in which the thumbnail images of all the photo image files in the desired photo folder 12 are browsed and the desired photo image file is selected therefrom. Can be selected. Then press the “Trim” button 112 to enter the “Trim” mode, where the entire photo image selected in the “Browse” mode is displayed, leaving only the area you want to print from that image, Other unwanted areas can be trimmed. Next, pressing the “retouch” button 113 enters a “retouch” mode, where a desired correction can be made to the desired location in the photographic image using a desired brush. Next, the “Color / Tone” button 114 is pressed to enter the “Color / Tone” mode, where the entire photographic image can be subjected to the desired color adjustment using the color adjustment filter. . Next, when the “Effect” button 115 is pressed, the “Effect” mode is entered, where a desired special effect can be applied to the entire photographic image using a special effect filter. Note that various image processes performed on a photographic image in the “trim” to “effect” modes described above are hereinafter referred to as “enhancement”.

  Finally, pressing the “Export” button 116 enters the “Export” mode, where the photo image file can be stored in the desired photo folder 12. There are two user-selectable ways to save, one of which is a photographic image resulting from applying all enhancements made in "Trim" to "Effect" modes to the original photographic image. The other way is to save the file, and the other is to save the original photographic image file with a description of all the enhancement parameters performed in "Trim" to "Effect" mode without making any changes. How to save.

  As described above, the retouching work can be easily performed by the routine work of selecting and working in order from the “browse” mode to the “export” mode. Also, there is less chance of forgetting to enhance. During the operation in each mode, in the retoucher main window 110 shown in FIG. 5, the photographic image to be processed in the step is displayed in the image display box 118, and the step is displayed in the control box 119. Various tools, control buttons, and various indicators showing the processing status are displayed.

  In the first “browse” mode, the special photo retoucher 11 automatically sets the work ICC profile of the photographic image (without omission unless otherwise requested by the user). The work ICC profile settings can be changed by the user. However, unless otherwise specified by the user, the special photo retoucher 11 automatically sets the work ICC profile according to the default setting method. The work ICC profile set in the “browse” mode is applied to the photographic image selected in the “browse” mode when moving from the “browse” mode to the “trim” mode.

  When the user sets the work ICC profile himself or confirms the current setting, the user presses the “preference” button 117 in the retoucher main window 110 in the “browse” mode. Then, a “color profile setup” dialog box 130 as shown in FIG. 6 pops up. The example in FIG. 6 shows default profile settings. In the “color profile setup” dialog box 130, the user can select three types of color management policies A to C determined in the “color management policy” column 131. Here, according to the policy selected by the user, the special photo retoucher 11 sets a work ICC profile having parameters prepared in advance.

  The above three types of policies A to C are as follows.

  Policy A uses the ICC profile attached in advance to the photo image file as the work ICC profile. High-end digital cameras such as those used in photo studios (but not popular digital cameras) attach an ICC profile that represents the color space of the digital camera to the photograph image file that is taken. Output files (however, most popular digital cameras do not have an ICC profile attached). Therefore, if the policy A is selected, the color space of the digital camera 6 can be used as it is as a work color space for photo retouching. That is, the policy A is a setting for the case where it is desired to print the original color photographed by the digital camera 6 as faithfully as possible. However, good color approximation between the monitor and the print is not guaranteed. This is also the default setting.

  Policy B is a setting for the case where it is desired to faithfully print the color displayed on the monitor. For example, an ICC profile of a known color space “sRGB” corresponding to a general color space of the monitor is set as the work ICC profile. According to this setting, color matching between the monitor and the printer can be performed relatively appropriately. That is, the color of the printout can be satisfactorily approximated to the color displayed on the monitor.

  Policy C is a standard ICC profile widely used in the industry, for example, the well-known "AdobeRGB" color space ICC profile which is a wide area standard with a gamut that is close to the printer color space and wider than the monitor color space. Is set as the work ICC profile.

  In addition, if the user selects “Manual” in the “Color Management Policy” column 131 of FIG. 6, a desired ICC profile can be set as a work ICC profile using the columns 132 to 135 below the user. .

  First, in the “working RGB / color space / setting” column 132, a work ICC profile can be specifically specified. Here, when “Don't Exchange” is selected, the ICC profile that was previously attached to the photographic image is set as the work ICC profile as it is. When “sRGB”, “AppleRGB”, and “AdobeRGB” are selected, a known color space ICC profile having that name is set as the work ICC profile.

  Also, in the “No Profile Embedded File Setup” column 133, if the ICC profile has not yet been attached to the photo image file (for example, in the case of a photo image file imported from a popular digital camera, the ICC profile Can often be configured to assume which color space the original ICC profile of the photographic image is from. The default setting is “sRGB”. The user can select and set “sRGB”, “AppleRGB”, “AdobeRGB”, or any ICC profile managed by the color management system in the client system 5 according to his / her preference.

  Also, if the “Ask Profile Wen Opening” checkbox is checked (this is the default setting), the special photo retoucher 111 will open any photo image file (eg, “Browse”). When switching from mode to “trim” mode, the photo image file selected in “browse” mode will be opened), and if the ICC profile is not yet attached to the photo image file, the work ICC profile check and Force pop up a predetermined dialog box for setting. As a result, the user always confirms what kind of work ICC profile is set for a photographic image to which no ICC profile is attached.

  As described above, the special photo retoucher 11 always sets the work ICC profile for the photographic image in the first “browse” mode.

  FIG. 7 shows a flow of setting a work ICC profile by the special photo retoucher 11 described above and a process of color matching between the work color space and the color space of the monitor or printer, which is subsequently performed using the work ICC profile. Is shown.

  In FIG. 7, step 102 shows the setting of the work ICC profile in the “browse” mode described above. Thereafter, when shifting from the “browse” mode to the “trim” mode, the special photo retoucher 11 reads the photo image file selected in the “browse” mode, as shown in step 101, and as shown in step 103. Open the photo image file. When this photographic image file is opened, the photographic image data is converted into image data on the work color space defined in the work ICC profile set in the “browse” mode. At this time, if the ICC profile previously attached to the photo image file (or the ICC profile assumed by the special photo retoucher 11) is set as the work ICC profile as it is, the photo image When the file is opened, no special changes are made to the photo image data. On the other hand, when a work ICC profile that is different from the ICC profile that was previously attached to (or assumed to be) the photo image file is set, the photo image file is opened. The photographic image data is subjected to perceptual color matching based on the attached ICC profile and work ICC profile. By this color matching, the photographic image data is adjusted so that the color closest to the color expressed in the color space defined by the ICC profile is expressed in the work color space.

  The special photo retoucher 11 performs a process for displaying the photographic image on the display monitor. That is, as shown in step 105, the special photo retoucher 11 converts the photographic image data into image data of the monitor color space defined by the ICC profile of the monitor prepared in advance in the client system 5. At the time of this conversion, the special photo retoucher 11 performs, on the photographic image data, a ceptual color matching using the work ICC profile and the monitor ICC profile. As a result, the photographic image data is adjusted so that the color closest to the color in the work color space is also displayed on the monitor. Then, as shown in step 106, the special photo retoucher 11 puts the converted photographic image data of the monitor color space on the monitor (specifically, on the image display box 118 in the window 110 shown in FIG. 5). indicate.

  Thereafter, in the “trim”, “retouch”, “color / tone” and “effect” modes, the special photo retoucher 11 performs various enhancements requested by the user for the photographic image as shown in step 104. Will be given. Each time one enhancement is performed, the special photo retoucher 11 performs the above-described steps 105 and 106 on the enhanced photographic image and displays the enhanced photographic image on the monitor.

  Finally, in the “export” mode, the special photo retoucher 11 saves a photo image file with various enhancements already added in the user-specified photo folder 12 as shown in step 107. The work ICC profile of the photographic image is attached to the photographic image file and saved.

  Thereafter, the stored photographic image file and the work ICC profile attached to the photographic image file are sent to the print server machine 2 after the print layout editing is completed, as described above with reference to FIG. The print server 34 converts the image data into print image data. At this time, the print server 34 uses the work ICC profile attached to the photographic image file and a printer ICC profile corresponding to the combination of the output printer and the output medium as shown in step 108 of FIG. Color matching is applied to the photographic image data. As a result, the photographic image data is adjusted and incorporated in the print image data so that a color that is as close as possible to the color in the work color space of the photographic image appears in the printout.

  The following results are obtained by the series of color matching processes as described above.

  When the ICC profile attached to the photographic image by the digital camera 6 is set as it is as the work ICC profile in the “browse” mode, the result is a color that closely approximates the color of the subject photographed by the digital camera 6. A printout will be obtained. Since this is also a basic default setting (setting illustrated in the column 131 or 132 in FIG. 6), the above result is automatically obtained even if the user does not set anything particularly for the ICC profile.

  On the other hand, when an ICC profile such as “sRGB” that is very close to the monitor ICC profile is set as the work ICC profile, a color printout that closely approximates the color displayed on the monitor is obtained as a result. Will be. This is also the default setting when there is no ICC profile in advance (the setting illustrated in the column 133 in FIG. 6), so even if the user does not set anything for the ICC profile, the above setting is automatically made. Results are obtained.

  Referring again to the retoucher main window 110 of FIG.

  When the “trim” button 112 is pressed to enter the “trim” mode, the selected photographic image is displayed in the image display box 118. By dragging the cursor on the photographic image in the image display box 118, the user can set a rectangular selection range of dimensions defined by the start point and the end point of the drag on the photographic image, and set the area outside the selection range. Trimming can be performed to extract only the inner area of the selected range. If a desired aspect ratio is selected in advance from the control box 119, the aspect ratio of the rectangular selection range set by the user is automatically controlled to the selected aspect ratio no matter how the user performs the above dragging. Is done. The control box 119 also includes buttons for rotating the selection range to the right and to the left by 1 degree. When this button is pressed, the selection range can be rotated to the right and to the left by 1 degree. As a result, trimming can be easily performed.

  Next, when the “retouch” button 113 is pressed to enter the “retouch” mode, the photograph image taken out in the “trim” mode is displayed in the image display box 118. In the control box 119, on the same screen, a selection of several predetermined retouching tools frequently used in a photo studio, a slider bar for adjusting the strength of the enhancement effect, and a size, a blurring degree, a shape, or an angle are different. A list of a plurality of brushes and a plurality of slider bars for adjusting the size, blur level, shape and angle of each brush are displayed. The user selects a desired tool, a desired enhancement effect intensity, and a brush having a desired size, blurring degree, shape and angle on the control box 119, and then the desired location of the photographic image on the image display box 118. You can place the cursor on and place the desired enhancement on that location. At that time, the cursor accurately represents the figure (for example, the outline of the brush) having the same size, shape, and angle as the brush used by the user (that is, the region to be enhanced) on the photographic image in the image display box 118. Therefore, the user can accurately grasp which part of the photographic image is enhanced.

  Next, when the “color / tone” button 114 is pressed to enter the “color / tone” mode, a photographic image enhanced in the “retouch” mode is displayed in the image display box 118. In this mode, color adjustments can be made to the photographic image. This mode is composed of three sub-modes of “Easy”, “Variation”, and “Manual”. The control box 119 can select a desired one from these three modes.

  When the “Easy” sub mode is selected, a plurality of types of color adjustment filter options prepared in advance are displayed in the control box 119. Options include, for example, “standard color correction”, “color correction for portraits”, “monochrome photography”, “make it bright”, “make it heavy”, “make it sharp”, There are "make it soft". By selecting a desired option, a predetermined color adjustment filter corresponding to the selected option is applied to the entire area of the photographic image. It is also possible to manually change the parameters of each filter.

  When the “Variation” sub-mode is selected, the user can freely set the values of a number of main parameters (for example, brightness, contrast, gray balance, saturation, sharpness, etc.) among the various parameters of the color adjustment filter. A parameter setting table for setting is displayed in the control box 119. In this parameter setting table, a desired one can be selected from the plurality of parameters. Further, the image display box 118 has a plurality of sheets obtained as a result of applying a plurality of color adjustment filters having different parameter values (for example, three sheets, nine sheets or 25 sheets) to the same photographic image. Photo images (for example, 3, 9, 25, etc.) are displayed side by side on the same screen. The photographic image placed at the center is the test application result of the color adjustment filter according to the parameter value currently set in the control box 119. Then, the value of the parameter selected by the user in the parameter setting table is increased in increments of the predetermined value, conversely with the experimental application result of the color adjustment filter that has been reduced from the currently set parameter value in increments of the predetermined value. The results of trial application of the color adjustment filter are arranged in order on both sides of the central photographic image. Therefore, the user can easily determine which color is most preferable by comparing a plurality of photographic images having different colors. When the user selects a photographic image of the desired color, the selected photographic image is automatically moved to the center of the image display box 118, and the parameter value of the color adjustment filter applied to the selected photographic image. Is set in the control box 119. When a transition is made to another mode or another sub-mode, a color adjustment filter according to the parameter value set in the control box 119 is automatically applied to the photographic image.

  When the “Manual” sub-mode is selected, various tools and indicators for setting the parameters of the color adjustment filter more finely than the “Variation” sub-mode are displayed in the control box 119, and detailed color adjustment is performed using them. Can be done.

  When the color adjustment in the “Color / Tone” mode is completed, the “Effect” button 115 is then pressed to enter the “Effect” mode, where a special effect filter is used for the entire photographic image. Desired special effects can be applied.

  As described above, “Trim”, “Retouch”, “Color / Tone”, and “Effect” modes are executed in order, and all the enhancements normally required in a photo studio are applied to the photo image without omission. Can do.

Incidentally, when the user wants to use the general photo retoucher 15 in the process of the “trim” to “effect” mode, the user can press the “photo application” button 123 in the retoucher main window 110 shown in FIG. That's fine. Then, the special photo retoucher 11 saves the photo image file resulting from the enhancement performed up to that point in the photo folder 12, and uses the path to the saved photo image file as a parameter of the start command. The general photo retoucher 15 is activated, and the special photo retoucher 11 itself becomes inactive. As a result, the general photo retoucher 15 is activated and opens the stored photographic image file, so that the user can perform a subsequent retouch operation using the general photo retoucher 15. When the work in the general photo retoucher 15 is finished, the photo image of the work result is saved in the same photo folder 12 with the same file name and the general photo retoucher 15 is terminated, the special photo retoucher 11 is automatically activated, The ICC profile is set again for the photo image file, and the photo image file is opened again. As a result, the user can use the special photo retoucher 11 again to perform the subsequent work.

  Finally, when the user proceeds to the “export” mode and the user requests to save the photo image, the special photo retoucher 11 attaches the work ICC profile set in the “browse” mode to the photo image file and attaches the photo image file. Save to folder 12.

  Thus, the retouching operation of one photographic image using the special photo retoucher 11 is completed. After that, it is possible to continue to retouch another photographic image.

  Refer to FIG. 3 again. When performing print layout editing, the user activates the layout editor 13. The layout editor 13 displays a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as “layout editor main window”) 140 as shown in FIG. 8 on the monitor of the client system 5.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the layout editor main window 140 includes a “preference” button 141, a folder list 143, an image list 144, a media / printer selection box 146, a layout selection box 147, a layout display box 148, and an inset. There are a method / page setting box 150, an option selection box 151, a print command box 152, and the like. 9 to 11 show one specific example of the layout editor main window 140 shown in FIG. 9 to 11, the same components as those shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, when the “preference” button 141 is pressed, a “preference” dialog box 160 as shown in FIG. 12 pops up. In the “no profile embedded file setup” column 162 in this dialog box 160, as in the column 133 of the same name shown in FIG. 6, the ICC profile is not attached yet to the photo image file attached. The ICC profile that will be automatically assumed to have been set is set (the default setting is “sRGB”, which corresponds to the general color space of the monitor).

  In FIG. 8, the folder list 143 in the layout editor main window 140 displays a list of all folders of the client system 5. When the user selects a desired folder, thumbnail images 145, 145,... Of all the photo image files stored in the selected folder are displayed in the image list 144.

  In the media / printer selection box 146, the size and type of print media used for printing and the output printer can be designated. That is, when the paper size pop-up button indicated by reference numeral 146A in FIG. 13 is clicked, the A4 size, for example, among the media (paper) sizes that can be used in the listed printers 3A and 3B, is a sheet for actual printing. Pops up as a size. When the paper type pop-up button indicated by reference numeral 146B in FIG. 13 is clicked, the paper type when premium semi-gloss photo paper is actually printed out of the paper types that can be used with the printers 3A and 3B listed above, for example. Pop up as. In other words, the paper type of the printer (3A, 3B) having a paper size larger than the size selected by the paper size pop-up button 146A is validated.

  Even if the selected paper type is different from the paper type of the currently selected printer (3A, 3B), the selection is valid, but in this case, the print paper cassette is of the selected paper type. The actual printing operation is kept waiting until changed to. When a printer pop-up button indicated by reference numeral 146C in FIG. 13 is clicked, for example, the printer 3A (or 3B) is downloaded from the list of printers available from the print server machine 2 downloaded from the print server machine 2. Pop up as output printer (actual printer). However, the above selection is valid only when a printer (3A, 3B) having a paper size larger than the size selected by the paper size pop-up button 146A is selected. The printer selection also includes an item “Auto” that is left at the top of the list and that is left to the printer server machine 2.

  If the printer once selected is changed in the free mode, the safe printable area is different, so the layout area is updated. The printer information, paper size, and paper type that can be used in the printer server machine 2 are checked every few seconds (for example, 5 seconds). If there is a change, the corresponding list is updated. The check interval can be changed. Further, in the designation of the output printer, one of the plurality of printers 3A and 3B shown in FIG. 4 can be explicitly designated, or automatic selection ("Auto" as described above, that is, the system automatically Select a printer that is convenient for the user).

  When the user designates a specific printer as the output printer, the system prints all pages and all copies of the job using only the designated specific printer. On the other hand, when the user designates automatic selection, the system automatically selects a printer for printing each page and each copy unit according to the status of the printers 3A and 3B. Therefore, when automatic selection is designated, one job may be distributed and printed by different printers.

  The layout selection box 147 displays a list of various types of layout templates stored in the template library folder 32 of the print server machine 2 shown in FIG. 3 in the form of a pull-down menu or a dialog box, for example. A desired one can be selected from these templates. The selected template is acquired by the layout editor 13 through the file transfer server 31 from the template library folder 32 of the print server machine 2 shown in FIG. 3, and the layout in the layout editor main window 140 shown in FIG. It is displayed in the display box 148.

  The layout selection box 147 includes a free mode radio button indicated by reference numeral 147A and a template mode radio button indicated by reference numeral 147B in FIG. 13 as mode selection buttons that can selectively set either the free mode or the template mode. There is. In the present embodiment, the default mode is set to the template mode.

  When the mode is switched from the template mode to the free mode by clicking the free mode radio button 147A, or when the mode is switched from the free mode to the template mode by clicking the template mode radio button 147B. Is displayed in the layout display box 148 for inquiring whether or not the current layout content (before switching) can be discarded as shown in FIG. In FIG. 14, if the “No” button is clicked, the mode before switching is restored, and if the “Yes” button is clicked, the current layout content (before switching) is discarded. When the template mode is selected, a screen as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed, and a template and a package can be selected, and a different template can be basically assigned to each page only for the same paper size.

  In the template mode, a template is usually set for each page, and images are allocated. The group closes for each page. The package treats a plurality of templates as one pack (a plurality of pages), and all the groups in the package are regarded as the same group and are assigned the same image. The packaging screen is shown in FIG. A list of template names (referred to as a drop-down list) corresponding to the size of the print media designated in the media / printer selection box 146 described above is displayed on the packaging screen shown in FIG. The template information (that is, the drop-down list) is acquired by the layout editor 13 from the print server machine 2 shown in FIGS. When only one desired template name is selected from the list, an explanation of the template name is displayed below the list and the selected template is displayed in the layout display box 148.

  When the template to be selected is changed while an image is displayed in the layout display box 148, a message similar to that shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. By performing the same operation as described above, the template before the change is displayed. Return to the template or discard the current layout. The print server machine 2 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 checks whether there is a change in the template information, for example, every 15 seconds, and updates the list if there is a change. The interval between the checks is set to a ratio of once for every three checks of printer information, for example. When the template information on the print server machine 2 is changed, the print server machine 2 displays the message shown in FIG. 16 in the layout display box 148 of the layout editor 13 and updates the template information on the layout editor 13 side. Prompt.

  In FIG. 16, if the “Yes” button is clicked, the layout editor 13 acquires a new template list from the print server machine 2 and updates the display of the layout display box 148 based on the acquired template list. At this time, the laid out image is discarded. On the other hand, if the “No” button is clicked, the template check operation by the active print server machine 2 is stopped.

  The layout selection box 147 also includes a “←” button indicated by reference numeral 147C and a “→” button indicated by reference numeral 147D in FIG. The “←” button 147C is clicked when the item before the currently selected item is selected, and the “→” button 147D is clicked when the item next to the currently selected item is selected. The drop-down list, template description, and layout area are updated. When the currently selected item is the first item, clicking the “←” button 147C loops to select the last item, and when the currently selected item is the last item, “→” Clicking button 147D loops and selects the first item. When the template to be selected is changed in a state where the image is arranged in the layout display box 148, a message similar to that shown in FIG. 14 is displayed, and by performing the same operation as above, The template before the change is restored or the current layout contents are discarded.

  The layout selection box 147 also includes a browse button indicated by reference numeral 147E in FIG. When the browse button 147E is clicked, a dialog as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed, and a desired template can be selected. By clicking the browse button 147E, the currently selected paper (media) size is displayed in the window title. Each template is displayed in the template list as shown in FIG. For the initial display of the dialog, the currently selected template is selected. A dedicated picture is displayed on the package. When a package is selected, the templates in the package are displayed in a list on the right side as shown in FIG. When a template is clicked, the drop-down list, template description, and layout area are updated with the template selected in the template list. The template displays a frame in the color set by the template editor. The template list can be rearranged by dragging layout thumbnails. This arrangement is reflected in the main screen template and package drop-down list. In FIG. 18, when the “OK” button is clicked, the selection of the template and the rearrangement of the templates are confirmed. The same operation can be performed by double-clicking on a specific template. On the other hand, if the “Cancel” button is clicked in FIG.

  The layout selection box 147 also includes a template editor activation button indicated by reference numeral 147F in FIG. By clicking the template editor activation button 147F, the template creation tool is activated. When the template creation tool is activated, the name of the template file currently being used, the operator ID, and the password are passed to the template creation tool (for user authentication and editing). At the end of the template creation tool, the template file name is obtained from the template creation tool, so that the last saved template is made the currently used template. When an image is arranged in the layout display box 148, a message similar to that shown in FIG. 14 is displayed to inquire the user whether the current layout contents can be discarded. If it is OK (when the “Yes” button is clicked), the current layout contents are discarded. If it is Cancel (when the “No” button is clicked), the template editing tool (template creation tool) Does not start. If the user does not have template editing authority, the template editor activation button 147F is set to Disable.

  FIG. 19 shows the state of the layout selection box 147 and the layout display box 148 when the mode is switched from the template mode to the free mode by clicking the free mode radio button 147A in the layout selection box 147.

  When the free mode radio button 147A is clicked to switch to the free mode, a screen display as shown in FIG. 19 is displayed, and the image size can be freely adjusted. In this case, the position and size of the image information and the position and size of the page information frame 149A are fixed. Before the image is dropped, an image frame 149C that fills the safe printable area is displayed in the center. At this time, group display is not performed. The image frame 149C can be moved within the safe printable area. While the image frame 149C is moving, the upper left coordinates of the image frame 149C are displayed in Position-Top and Left in FIG. In addition, when an image is dropped, the setting values of According to original file information, Resolution, and size are followed. If the values previously input in According to original file information, Resolution, and Size as the setting values are too large, the input values are set to the maximum usable values. This free mode uses one image frame per page and can be paged. Reference numeral 149B indicates a safe printable area boundary line during automatic layout.

  Here, each of According to original file information radio button, By Resolution radio button, Size, Center check box, Top edit box, Left edit box, Rotate button (image frame rotation button), mm radio button and inch radio button The function will be described.

  By clicking the According to original file information radio button, the image size is determined using the resolution information contained in the image. In addition, when the image is dropped, the layout is made by combining the long side of the image frame and the long side of the image. By default, the According to original file information mode is selected, but if the dropped image does not contain resolution information, a message as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed and “By Resolution” is selected. . When the image frame exceeds the above-described safe printable area, a message as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed, and then “By Resolution” is selected, and the maximum value of the image frame that fits in the safe printable area is set. Is set.

  Click the By Resolution radio button to specify the image resolution. When the image is dropped, the layout is made by combining the long side of the image frame with the long side of the image. When the “Resolution” item is selected by clicking the By Resolution radio button, the W edit box and the H edit box shown in FIG. 19 are enabled. If an invalid value is entered in the W edit box and / or the H edit box, the image frame is changed to the maximum value that fits in the safe printable area. Further, even when a value exceeding the safe printable area is input to the W edit box and / or the H edit box, the image frame is changed to the maximum value that fits within the safe printable area.

  If you select the Size item, you can specify the height and width of the image frame. The size can be changed by a mouse operation by dragging the edge of the image frame. By selecting the Size item, the W edit box, H edit box, and ratio fixed box shown in FIG. 19 are made effective. It is also possible to specify the height value and width value of the image frame in units of 1 mm and 0.1 inch. When the ratio fixing check is on, when the height value or width value of the image frame is operated, the height value and the width value are changed at the same ratio. When the image is laid out as described above, when the height value and the width value are changed, the value of “By Resolution” is also changed.

  The Center check box can be used in any of the modes “According to original file information”, “By Resolution”, and “Free”. By checking the Center check box, the image frame indicated by reference numeral 149C in FIG. 19 can be moved to the center in the safe printable area. While the Center check box is checked, even if the size of the image frame 149C is changed, the image frame 149C continues to be arranged at the center in the safe printable area.

  The Top edit box and Left edit box can also be used in any of the "According to original file information", "By Resolution", and "Free" modes, similar to the Center check box described above. Used to specify. In the Top edit box and Left edit box, the image frame can be moved by dragging the mouse, and the value in the edit box changes while the image frame is moved. It is also possible to move the image frame by clicking on the image frame and using the up / down / left / right keys, and the value in the edit box (Top edit box, Left edit box) also changes during the movement of the image frame. Also, by dragging while holding down the Shift key while moving the image frame with the mouse, the image frame can be linearly moved diagonally from the click start position.

  The Rotate button can also be used in any of the modes “According to original file information”, “By Resolution”, and “Free”, and is used to rotate the image frame by 90 °. Incidentally, the layout image itself is rotated by clicking the Photo-Rotate button (either the left rotation button or the right rotation button) in the layout display box 148 instead of the Rotate button. Note that if the image frame protrudes from the safe printable area shown in FIG. 19 as a result of rotating the image frame, the image frame will not rotate even if the Rotate button is clicked.

  The mm radio button is clicked when the display unit in the W edit box, H edit box, Top edit box, and Left edit box is changed from inch to mm. The inch radio button is clicked when the display unit in the W edit box, H edit box, Top edit box, and Left edit box is changed from mm to inch.

  The layout template 149 displayed in the layout display box 148 has a space of the same size as the size of the print medium selected in the media / printer selection box 146, and includes a predetermined size that is normally used for photographic printing. One or a plurality of photo frames A to E are arranged in a predetermined layout.

  When the user drags and drops a desired thumbnail image in the image list 144 to a desired photo frame in the template 149 in the layout display box 148, the layout editor 13 opens a photo image file corresponding to the thumbnail image. The photographic image is displayed in the photographic frame. When the photographic image is inserted into the photographic frame, the layout editor 13 changes the size or direction of the photographic image or trims the portion that protrudes from the photographic frame according to the inset method / page setting box 150 described later. If necessary, adjustments relating to the dimensions and orientation of the photographic image, such as adding a margin to a portion less than the size of the photographic frame, are made. When the user drags and drops all the photographic images to be printed on the same print medium to a desired photographic frame in the template 149, the print layout of the print page is completed.

  When each photographic image is inserted into each photographic frame in the template 149 as described above, the layout editor 13 automatically assigns a work ICC profile to the photographic image as follows (unless otherwise requested by the user). Set without leaks). That is, when an ICC profile is attached to the photo image file in advance, the ICC profile is set as the work ICC profile as it is. On the other hand, if the ICC profile is not yet attached to the photo image file, the ICC profile set in the “no profile embedded file setup” column 162 in the dialog box 160 shown in FIG. The ICC profile regarded as having been attached is regarded as being attached to the photo image file in advance, and the work ICC profile is set as it is.

  In the fitting method / page setting box 150, a method for fitting a photographic image into each photo frame in the template 149 can be set. The setting items include settings related to trimming and settings related to rotation when the photo frame and the photo image do not match in aspect ratio. As for cropping, “Auto Trim” (that is, automatically trims the extra sides of the long side of the photo image so that the short side of the photo image matches the same size of the photo frame) To fit in a photo frame without margins) and “fit with in” (that is, without cropping the photo image so that the long dimension of the photo image matches the same size of the photo frame) Any of the following methods can be selected: a method of automatically adding a margin to both sides in the short side direction and placing it in a photo frame. For rotation, “Auto Clockwise” and “Auto Counter Clockwise” (that is, the photo image is automatically 90 degrees so that the long side of the photo image and the long side of the photo frame are in the same direction. Either clockwise or counterclockwise) and “manual” (the user manually rotates 90 degrees in the desired direction) can be selected. Since the layout editor 13 automatically fits the photographic image dropped in each photographic frame into the photographic frame using the setting method set here, the size adjustment of the photographic image is very simple.

  In the inset method / page setting box 150, it is also possible to set the page number of the print job that is currently being edited using the template 149. When editing the print layout of a multi-page print job, add a page in the inset method / page setting box 150 and select a template for each page as described above. Simply drag and drop the desired photo image into the photo frame. Thus, layout editing is very simple.

  Here, the fitting method / page setting box 150 will be described more specifically with reference to FIG.

  In the inset method / page setting box 150, for example, a trash box 150A, a Photo item including a Trimming item and a Rotate item, and a Page item are set in the manner shown in FIG. Auto trim (automatic trimming) radio button 150B and Fit within radio button 150C are set in the Trimming item, and Auto CW (automatic rotation / clockwise) radio button 150D and Auto CCW (automatic rotation) are set in the Rotate item. (Counterclockwise) Radio button 150E, Manual radio button 150F, left rotation button 150G, and right rotation button 150H are set. Further, the Page item includes a previous page movement button (“←”) 150I, a next page movement button (“→”) 150J, a page movement slider 150K, a page number display label 150L, an Add button 150M, a Del button 150N, and All. A Del button 150P is set.

  The trash can 150A is used when an already laid-out image is deleted from the image frame. The OS standard (client machine 5A, 5B) key operation, drag and drop to the trash can 150A which is a dedicated trash can, or the trash can By clicking 150A, the laid out image can be deleted from the image frame. However, once discarded in the trash can 150A, it cannot be restored.

  The Photo item is used to perform trimming settings and rotation settings for a laid-out image and a dropped image. When an image frame already laid out in the layout area (layout template 149 shown in FIG. 8) is selected, the image item is displayed. The trimming and rotation settings for are displayed. Also, when a portion other than the image frame where the image has already been laid out is clicked, a page frame is selected, and default trimming settings and rotation settings at the time of drop are displayed.

  In the Trimming item, the Auto trim radio button 150B is clicked, as shown in FIG. 8, in a state where the top and bottom or the left and right of the image are fitted to the image frame so that there is no margin while the aspect ratio of the image is fixed. Setting to arrange in the center of the layout template 149 can be performed. The portion of the image that protrudes from the image frame is not automatically printed because it is automatically trimmed.

  When the Fit within radio button 150C is clicked, it can be set to be arranged at the center of the layout template 149 shown in FIG. 8 so that the entire image falls within the image frame while the aspect ratio of the image is fixed. In this case, a blank space is created between the top and bottom or left and right of the image and the image frame.

  In the Rotate item, the Auto CW radio button 150D can be set to automatically rotate the image 90 degrees clockwise by clicking to make the long side of the image the same as the long side of the image frame. . If the orientation of the long side of the image and the long side of the image frame is the same, the image is not rotated.

  By clicking the Auto CCW radio button 150E, it can be set to automatically rotate the image 90 ° counterclockwise so that the long side of the image is in the same direction as the long side of the image frame. If the orientation of the long side of the image and the long side of the image frame is the same, the image is not rotated.

  The Manual radio button 150F is clicked when setting the image as it is.

  When the left rotation button 150G is clicked, the image is rotated 90 ° to the left. When the Auto CW radio button 150D is selected, the image is rotated 180 ° to the left from the current image display state. It will be. If the Manual radio button 150F is selected, the image is rotated 90 ° counterclockwise from the current image display state.

  The right rotation button 150H rotates the image 90 ° to the right when clicked. When the Auto CCW radio button 150E is selected, the image is rotated 180 ° to the right from the current image display state. It will be. If the Manual radio button 150F is selected, the image is rotated 90 ° to the right from the current image display state.

  The Page item is used to add or delete pages and set display pages.

  The previous page movement button 150I is clicked when the page immediately before the page currently displayed on the layout template 149 is displayed on the layout template 149. If there is only one page in total and the previous page move button 150I is clicked, invalid is displayed, and if the page currently displayed in the layout template 149 is the first page, Disable is displayed.

  The next page move button 150J is clicked when the page next to the page currently displayed on the layout template 149 is displayed on the layout template 149. When there is only one page in total and the next page move button 150J is clicked, invalid is displayed, and when the page currently displayed in the layout template 149 is the last page, Disable is displayed.

  The page moving slider 150K can select a page displayed on the layout template 149 by clicking. By clicking the page movement slider 150K, the display page and the total page are displayed (for example, “1/3”) on the page number display label 150L next to the page movement slider 150K.

  By clicking the Add button 150M, a page can be added and the added page can be displayed on the layout template 149. By clicking the Add button 150M, a new page is added after the page currently displayed in the layout template 149.

  By clicking the Del button 150N, the page or package currently displayed in the layout template 149 can be deleted. When an image is laid out on the page currently displayed in the layout template 149, clicking the Del button 150N asks the user whether or not the current layout content can be discarded. Message is displayed. If it is OK (when the “Yes” button is clicked), the current layout contents are deleted. If the Del button 150N is clicked when the total page is only one page, invalid display is performed.

  The All Del button 150P can be used at any time. If an image is laid out on the page and the All Del button 150P is clicked, a message similar to that shown in FIG. 14 is displayed to inquire the user whether or not the contents of the layout can be discarded. If it is OK (when the “Yes” button is clicked), the layout contents are deleted. At the time of deletion, the current template or current package is made empty. After deletion, the page default rotation mode and trimming of the current page are set.

  In the option selection box 151, options related to “printer option”, “print option”, and “after printing” can be set. As for “printer option”, when distributed printing is performed in which the same job is distributed and printed by a plurality of printers (when automatic selection is specified in the media / printer selection box 146, the system responds to the printer status). Since an output printer is automatically assigned to each page and each copy section of the job, there is a possibility that distributed printing is performed.) Whether the same page is printed by the same printer or whether the same job is It is possible to set whether to print with the same printer (whether to prohibit distributed printing). When printing with the same printer, the print image quality is the same throughout the number of copies.

  Regarding “Printer Options”, if the specified size of print media is not set in the specified printer, whether or not printing can be performed using the same type of paper with a size larger than the specified size. Can be set. If “good” is set here, it is further possible to set whether or not a paper frame of a designated paper size is printed together. If you print on a large size paper and set it to "good", the system prints each page of the job at a position closer to the edge of the large size paper to avoid wasting paper As described above, the print layout on the paper of each page is automatically controlled. For example, if the specified size of the job is A4, and there is no A4 paper and you want to print on A2 paper that is twice that size, the system will print the A3 paper at the center line. Print the job page in an equally divided A4 size area on one side.

  As described above, in the case of printing on a sheet having a size larger than the designated size, the print server machine 2 can selectively set one of the “job priority” and “paper priority” printing methods. (This can also be set by the layout editor 13). When “job priority” is set in the print server machine 2, the system gives priority to ending the print job as soon as possible. Therefore, a print job is printed on a sheet having a size larger than the specified size. When finished, even if the large size paper has enough space to print other pages (for example, print the last page of the job on only half of the A3 paper and the other half Even if the area is unprinted and free, the paper is immediately ejected and the print job is immediately completed. On the other hand, when “paper priority” is set in the print server machine 2, the system gives priority to eliminating the waste of the paper, so that a certain print job has been printed on a paper having a size larger than the specified size. If the large size paper has enough space to print other pages (for example, print the last page of the job only in the A4 area of half of the A3 paper and the other half If the A4 area is unprinted and free), wait for another print job with the specified size that can be printed in that margin, and then print the page of that other print job in the margin of that paper. (For example, after printing the first page of the next print job in the A4 area of the other half of the A3 sheet), the sheet is discharged.

  For “Print Option”, the file name of each photo image, the registration mark of each photo image, the outline of each photo image, the studio name, client machine name, job ID, operator name, customer name, in the page You can set whether or not to print supplementary information such as a list of photographic image file names, print date, and free comments (printing such supplementary information by sorting or cutting the printed matter for each customer. Later work becomes easier). As for the customer name to be printed, a list of customer names registered in the system in advance can be popped up, and the customer name can be selected from the list.

  As for “after printing”, whether or not to return a job completion notification from the print server 34 shown in FIG. 3 to the server status monitor 14 after the completion of execution of the print job by the printer, It is possible to set an optional operation after the completion of printing, such as whether to leave the print job data in the print server machine 2 without deleting it until it is deleted or changed. In principle, the print server machine 2 stores the print job data in the disk storage in the print server machine 2 without erasing the print job data even after printing is completed unless a separate erasure command is received from the user or a predetermined erasure condition is satisfied. It comes to save. The print server machine 2 immediately erases the print job data when the print job is completed only when the print job is set to be deleted after the print is completed in the “after printing” setting. To do.

  Regarding the erasure of the print job data described above, the print server machine 2 can set “free space” and “period” as erasure conditions for automatically erasing the stored print job data. It is like that. When the “free space” is set, if the free space of the disk storage in the print server machine 2 decreases below the set value, the print server machine 2 erases the stored print job data in chronological order. Then, the free space of the disk storage is recovered to the set value or more. When “Period” is set, the print server machine 2 stores the print job data only for a period corresponding to the set value (for example, 7 days), but when the stored period reaches the set value. The print job data is automatically deleted.

  Here, the option selection box 151 will be described more specifically with reference to FIG.

  The option selection box 151 includes, for example, an Options item including a Printer Options (Cluster printing options) item and a Print Options item, a Page information check box 151A, a Studio Name check box 151B, and a This Computer's Name check box as shown in FIG. 151C, Operator ID check box 151D, Customer Name check box 151E, Job ID check box 151F, Printer Name check box 151G, Page check box 151H, Date check box 151I, Photo file list check box 151J, Memo check box 151K, Memo text 151L, Customer Name button 151M, Customer Name label 151N, and After printing items are set. In the Printer Options item, a Use same printer for same check box 151P, a Page radio button 151Q, a Job radio button 151R, an Allow auto layout check box 151S, and a Print page border check box 151T are set. Also, in the Print Options item, a Photo information check box 151U, a File name check box 151V, a Crop marks check box 151W, a Crop marks Setting button 151X, an Edge line check box 151Y, and an Edge line Setting button 151Z are set.

  The Options item is for setting options for the print job. The Printer Options (Cluster printing options) item is for setting options for distributed printing in the Options item. The Print Options item is This is for setting options for printing photo information and page information in the Options item.

  By checking the Use same printer for same check box 151P in the Printer Options item, the Job radio button 151R for setting the same print job to be printed by the same printer is enabled. Note that the Page radio button 151Q for setting the same page to be printed by the same printer is a default button, so regardless of whether the Use same printer for same check box 151P is checked. It is valid.

  When the Allow auto layout check box 151S is checked, the print job is subjected to automatic layout. By this check, the default Print page border check box 151T is validated, and printing of the paper border is thereby executed.

  In the Print Options item, the Photo information check box 151U is not checked by default, and by checking, each piece of photo information is printed in each photo frame. By checking the Photo information check box 151U, the File name check box 151V, the Crop marks check box 151W, and the Edge line check box 151Y are enabled.

  The File name check box 151V is checked by default, and has a function of printing a file name.

  The Crop marks check box 151W is not checked by default, and has a function of printing a set registration mark. This registration mark is also displayed as a preview on the layout template 149.

  The Edge line check box 151Y is not checked by default, and has a function of printing a set image frame. This image frame is also previewed on the layout template 149.

  When the Crop marks Setting button 151X is clicked, a dialog as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed and registration mark printing can be set. The dialog shown in FIG. 22 includes a Photo radio Button 171, a Frame Radio Button 172, and a Photo + Frame radio Button 173. Clicking on the Photo radio Button 171 causes Crop marks to be printed on the photo. By clicking the Frame Radio Button 172, Crop marks are printed on the frame. By clicking Photo + Frame radio Button 173, Crop marks are printed on the photo and the frame.

  By default, as shown in FIG. 22, the length a is 2 mm (max is 100 mm), the length b is 1 mm (max is 100 mm), the line width is 0.4 pt (max is 28.3 pt approximately 10 mm), and the color is Black, Photo radio Button 171 are set to OFF, Frame Radio Button 172 is set to ON, and Photo + Frame radio Button 173 is set to OFF. In the dialog shown in FIG. 22, the mm radio button 174 is selected instead of the inch radio button 175.

  In FIG. 21, when the Edge line Setting button 151Z is clicked, a dialog as shown in FIG. 23 is displayed, and photo frame printing can be set. The dialog shown in FIG. 23 includes a Photo radio Button 176, a Frame Radio Button 177, and a Photo + Frame radio Button 178. By clicking Photo Radio Button 176, a photo frame is printed outside the photo. Drawing a line around the edge of a photo is prohibited. By clicking the Frame Radio Button 177, an Edge line is printed on the frame. By clicking Photo + Frame radio Button 178, an Edge line is printed on the photo and the frame.

  Note that by default, as shown in FIG. 23, the Line Width is 0.4 pt (max is 28.3 pt approximately 10 mm), the color is black, the Photo radio Button 176 is off, the Frame Radio Button 177 is on, and the Photo + Frame radio Button 178 is off. Each is set.

  In FIG. 21, the Page information check box 151A is not checked by default, and by checking, each page information is printed in the page information frame. By checking Page information check box 151A, Studio Name check box 151B, This Computer's Name check box 151C, Operator ID check box 151D, Customer Name check box 151E, Job ID check box 151F, Printer Name check box 151G, Page check The box 151H, the Date (Time) check box 151I, the Photo file list check box 151J, and the Memo check box 151K are enabled.

  The Studio Name check box 151B is not checked by default. By checking, the store name is printed, for example, Studio Name: Studio1.

  The This Computer's Name check box 151C is checked by default, and the client computer name is printed, for example, Computer's Name: iMac1.

  The Operator ID check box 151D is checked by default, and an operator ID is printed, for example, Operator ID: T. Honda.

  The Customer Name check box 151E is not checked by default, and by checking, the customer name is printed, for example, Customer Name: Shimada.

  The Job ID check box 151F is checked by default, and the job ID is printed as Job ID: 000160, for example.

  The Printer Name check box 151G is not checked by default. By checking, the printer name is printed, for example, Printer: # 1 Upper.

  The Page check box 151H is not checked by default, and by checking, a page number is printed, for example, Page: 1/3.

  The Date check box 151I is not checked by default, and by checking, the rendering start time is printed, for example, Print Time: 2000-09-28-16-31-19.

  The Photo file list check box 151J is not checked by default. By checking, the file name list laid out in the page such as File Name: Dscf0071.jpg, Dscf0072.jpg, Dscf0073.jpg To print.

  The Memo check box 151K is not checked by default. By checking the Memo check box 151K, a memo input such as Memo: “Test printing” is printed. The maximum number of input characters is 250 (Byte).

  Next to the Customer Name button 151M, the current customer name is displayed. When the Customer Name button 151M is clicked, a dialog including a Customer Name edit box 179, a Customer Name list box 180, an Add button 181, a Delete button 182, an OK button 183, a Blank button 184, etc., as shown in FIG. The customer name can be selected and edited.

  In the Customer Name list box 180, an operation is started by inputting a character, and items that are matched by forward matching are displayed. Here, the maximum number of characters input to the Customer Name list box 180 is set to 31 (Byte), and the registered customer name is displayed. The list displayed on the list box 180 is sorted in alphabetical order.

  When the Add button 181 is clicked, the character string in the edit box 179 is added to the list in the list box 180, and is selected. When the Add button 181 is clicked and the character string in the edit box 179 is already registered in the list box 180, the character string is selected.

  When the Delete button 182 is clicked, the character string in the edit box 179 is deleted from the list box 180 and the edit box 179 is cleared.

  The OK button 183 is clicked to close the dialog shown in FIG. 24 using the character string in the edit box 179 as the customer ID. The click of the OK button 183 and the addition of the character string into the list box 180 are not directly related. If there is no character string in the edit box 179, the edit box 179 and the list box 180 are not changed even if the OK button 183 is clicked.

  Clicking on the Blank button 184 closes the dialog shown in FIG. 24 with the customer ID blank.

  In FIG. 21, an After printing (option) item is for setting an option after printing, and includes a Notify check box 185 and a Keep printing data in server check box 186. The Notify check box 185 is not checked by default, and by checking, a print end message is displayed from the status display application when printing of a predetermined print job is finished.

  The Keep printing data in server check box 186 is not checked by default, and by checking, the user deletes the corresponding print job or until the setting of the corresponding print job is changed. Registered in the print job list in the Pause state.

  In FIG. 8, a print command box 152 can request printing by specifying the number of print copies and the print priority for the print job to be worked. When printing is requested, the layout editor 13 creates print job data for the print job that has been edited and sends it to the file transfer server 31 of the print server machine 2 shown in FIG. As described above, the print job data includes the job script, the layout script of all the print pages included in the job, all of the print pages placed in the photo frame of the layout template, and their photos. Contains the work ICC profile set for the image. Note that the photographic image file included in the print job data is not an original photographic image file but a photographic image file that has undergone adjustments regarding dimensions and orientation when it is inserted into the photographic frame of the layout template.

  Here, the print command box 152 will be described more specifically with reference to FIG.

  In the print command box 152, for example, a copy edit box 152A, a priority pop-up button 152B, and a print button 152C are set in the manner shown in FIG.

  In the copies edit box 152A, the user can specify the number of prints for the print job to be worked by clicking one of the pair of buttons set in the vertical direction.

  The priority pop-up button 152B is clicked upward or downward to designate the priority for the print job to be worked. The priority includes three levels of High, Normal, and Low between Now, which has the highest priority, and Wait, which has the lowest priority, for a total of five levels.

  When the print button 152C is clicked, an image file, a layout information file, a job file, a color profile, and a layout image thumbnail necessary for printing are transferred to the print server machine 2. If no image is laid out, the print button 152C is invalid, the print job that is the work target cannot be printed, and there is a page in which no image is laid out. The page is not printed. For the same image file, only one file is transferred to the print server machine 2. If the user has no print authority, for example, a message as shown in FIG. 25 is displayed and printing is not performed. If there is no print paper that matches the paper size and paper type selected in the media / printer selection box 146 in the cassettes of the printers 3A and 3B, for example, a message as shown in FIG. 26 is displayed. In FIG. 26, if the Yes button 187 is clicked, printing is performed, and if the No button 188 is clicked, printing is not performed.

  During printing, for example, a progress bar display dialog as shown in FIG. 27 is output. To stop printing, click the Stop button 189 in FIG. After printing, the setting of the Copies edit box 152A shown in FIG. 21 is returned to “1”, the setting of the priority pop-up button 152B is returned to “Normal”, and the Keep printing data in server check box 186 is checked. To release.

  This completes the print layout editing work for one print job. Thereafter, the print layout editing work for another print job can be started.

  Reference is again made to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  In the print server machine 2, the print job data sent from the layout editor 13 of the client system 5 is received by the file transfer server 31 and stored in the job folder 33, and the print job data in the job folder 33 is stored in the print server 34 reads. The print server 34 creates print image data for all print pages constituting the print job based on the print job data. At that time, the print server 34 performs the perceptual color matching using the work ICC profile of each photographic image and the printer ICC profile corresponding to the combination of the output printer and the output medium, so that the work color of the photographic image is obtained. The photographic image data in the print image data is adjusted so that a color that approximates the color in the space is reproduced in the printout. Then, the print server 34 sends the created print image data of each print page to the printer driver 35A or 35B of the output printer. Thereby, printing is performed by the printer.

  Regarding the selection of the output printer, the print server 34 sets the setting in the media / printer selection box 146 of the layout editor main window 140 shown in FIG. 8 and the “printer option” in the option selection box 151. Based on the settings (these settings are described in the job script), control is performed as follows. That is, when a specific printer is designated in the media / printer selection box 146, the print server 34 sets only the designated printer as an output printer. On the other hand, if “automatic selection” is set for the printer designation in the media / printer selection box 146, the print server 34 freely selects an output printer according to the status of the printer from time to time. Even when distributed printing is performed, if the same page or the same job is set to be printed by the same printer in the above-described “printer option” of the option selection box 151, the print server 34 will The same printer is selected as an output printer through the total number of copies for the same page or the same job.

  As described above, the print server 34 grasps the execution state of each print job and the statuses of the printers 3A and 3B and records them in the print information database 36. In the print information database 36, information on the user of the studio is also recorded.

  The status monitor 14 of the client system 5 completes the execution of each print job to the print server machine 2 at a time interval (for example, 10 minutes) set in advance by the user, and detects errors occurring in the printers 3A and 3B. Request information. In response to this request, the print server 34 in the print server machine 2 reads from the print information database 36 the new print job execution completion and printer error history information not yet sent to the client system 5, and the file transfer server 31. To the status monitor 14 of the client system 5, and the status monitor 14 displays the information on the monitor of the client system 5.

  The WWW browser 17 of the client system 5 can refer to the print job execution history in the print information database 36, the statuses of the printers 3A and 3B, and user information at any time. The manager of the studio can also register a new user in the print information database 36 using the WWW browser 17.

  Further, if the log uploader 38 of the print server machine 2 is set to the “answer machine mode”, even if the user goes out, an abnormality such as an error of the printers 3A and 3B occurs. In real time, an e-mail to that effect is sent to the user's mail address 93. Various information managed in the center database 84 of the center server machine 8 can also be referred to by the WWW browser 17 of the client system 5 at any time.

  FIG. 28 shows a functional configuration of the center server machine 8 and the print server machine 2 for updating the printer ICC profile.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the center server machine 8 has a printer ICC profile database 330 that stores printer ICC profiles of all printers installed in all photo studios. In each printer, a plurality of printer ICC profiles respectively corresponding to a plurality of types of usable print media are stored. The printer ICC profile of each printer is associated with the machine number of each printer. When the studio system 1 of each studio is installed, the print server machine 2 performs an ICC profile download process 333. The ICC profile download process 333 transmits the machine numbers of the printers 3A and 3B of the studio to the center server machine 8, downloads the printer ICC profiles of the printers 3A and 3B from the center server machine 8, and stores them in a predetermined folder 39. The downloaded printer ICC profile is stored. Thereafter, when a print image is created, the printer ICC profile stored in the folder 39 is used for color matching.

  In order to examine the change with time of the printers 3A and 3B, the user can execute a test pattern printing process 334 installed in the print server machine 2 at any time or periodically. The test pattern printing process 334 downloads image data of a predetermined test pattern from the center server machine 8. An ICC profile representing the color space of the test pattern image data is also attached to the downloaded test pattern image data. The test pattern printing process 334 reads the printer ICC profile corresponding to the combination of the printer 3A or 3B to be investigated and the print medium from the folder 39, and uses the printer ICC profile and the ICC profile of the test pattern image data as a conceptual pattern. Color matching is performed to adjust the test pattern image data, and the test pattern is printed on the printer 3A or 3B to be investigated using the adjusted test pattern image data.

  The resulting test pattern printout 336 is sent from the studio to the center, for example, by mail. At the center, the test pattern printout 336 is measured, and a new printer ICC profile representing the current color space of the printer 3A or 3B to be investigated is created based on the color measurement result. The ICC profile is input to the center server machine 8. In the center server machine 8, the printer ICC profile of the investigation target printer 3A or 3B in the printer ICC profile database 330 is updated to the new printer ICC profile. Thereafter, the print server machine 2 downloads a new printer ICC profile of the survey target printer 3A or 3B from the center server machine 8, and downloads the printer ICC profile of the survey target printer 3A or 3B in the folder 39. Update to a new printer ICC profile. Thereafter, the printer server machine 2 can use the new printer ICC profile.

  As a method for sending the test pattern printout 336 to the center, the following electronic method may be used.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 28, the user of the photo studio places a test pattern printout 336 and a test pattern master sheet 337 prepared in advance on the document table of the image scanner 338, and the test pattern. The printout 336 and the master sheet 337 are read by the image scanner 338 by one image scanning operation. Here, the test pattern master sheet 337 is a sheet on which a test pattern is printed in a correct color, and is distributed in advance to each photo studio. The read image data of the printout 336 and the master sheet 337 output from the image scanner 338 is taken into the print server machine 2 and uploaded to the center server machine 8 by the read image data upload process 335. In the center server machine 8, the ICC profile update processing 332 detects a color difference between the printout 336 of the test pattern and the master sheet 337 from the uploaded read image data, and investigates based on the detection result. A new printer ICC profile representing the current color space of the target printer 3A or 3B is created, and the corresponding printer ICC profile in the printer ICC profile database 330 is updated.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this is an illustration for description of this invention, and is not the meaning which limits the scope of the present invention only to this embodiment. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist thereof.

  In the above-described embodiments, the function of editing a photograph to create a print job and the function of sending a print job to a printer and managing print information are shared by separate computer machines, a client machine and a print server machine. The configuration of the machine sharing the functions in this way is an example, and the present invention can be implemented by another machine configuration. For example, a single computer machine can perform all of the above functions. The printer can share a part of the above functions. Alternatively, the above functions can be subdivided and shared by more computer machines.

The figure which illustrated typically the gamut of a printer and a monitor. The block diagram which shows the whole structure of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration, function, and operation of client machines 5A, 5B and print server machine 2 of photo studio system 1. The block diagram which showed the structure of 8 of the print server machine 2 and the center server machine, a function, and operation | movement. The figure which shows the retoucher main window 110 of the special photo retoucher 11. FIG. The figure which shows the "color profile setup" dialog box 130 of the special photo retoucher 11. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of setting a work ICC profile by the special photo retoucher 11 and a color matching process using the work ICC profile. The figure which shows the layout editor main window 140 of the layout editor 13. FIG. The figure which shows one of the specific examples of the layout editor main window 140 of FIG. The figure which shows one of the specific examples of the layout editor main window 140 of FIG. The figure which shows one of the specific examples of the layout editor main window 140 of FIG. The figure which shows the "preference" dialog box 160 of the layout editor 13. FIG. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a display area including the media / printer selection box 146, the layout selection box 147, the layout display box 148, and the inset method / page setting box 150 illustrated in FIG. The figure which shows the message displayed on the layout display box 148 at the time of mode switching performed between template mode and free mode. The figure which shows the screen display at the time of the package in the layout display box 148. FIG. FIG. 10 is a view showing a message displayed in a layout display box 148 when template information on the print server machine 2 is changed. The figure which shows the dialog displayed when the browse button 147E is clicked. The figure which shows the dialog displayed when selecting a template and confirming rearrangement. The figure which shows the state of the layout selection box 147 at the time of switching from template mode to free mode, and the layout display box 148. FIG. The figure which shows the message displayed when the resolution information is not contained in the dropped image. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a display area including an option selection box 151 and a print command box 152 described in FIG. 11. The figure which shows the dialog displayed when the registration mark printing is set. The figure which shows the dialog displayed at the time of the setting of photo frame printing. The figure which shows the dialog displayed when selecting and editing a customer name. The figure which shows the message displayed when a user etc. do not have printing authority. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a message displayed when there is no print paper that matches the paper size and paper type selected in the media / printer selection box 146 in the cassettes of the printers 3A and 3B. The figure which shows the progress bar display dialog output during printing. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of a center server machine 8 and a print server machine 2 for updating a printer ICC profile.

Explanation of symbols

1 Photo studio system 2 Print server machine 3 Printer 4 LAN
5 client system 5A, 5B client machine 6 digital camera 7 internet 8 center server machine 9 dealer machine 11 special photo retoucher 12 photo folder 13 layout editor 14 status monitor 15 general photo retoucher 16 image transfer driver 17 WWW browser 31 file transfer server 32 template Library folder 33 Job folder 34 Print server 35 Printer driver 36 Print information database 37 Print information server 38 Log uploader 39 Folder for printer ICC profile 81 Upload server 82 WWW server 83 E-mailer 84 Center database 92 WWW browser 93 User mail address 110 Retoucher・ Main window 130 Color Profile Setting "Dialog Box 140 Layout Editor Main Window 146 Media / Printer Selection Box 147 Layout Selection Box 148 Layout Display Box 149 Layout Template 150 Inset Method / Page Setting Box 151 Option Selection Box 152 Print Command Box 160“ Preferences dialog box 170 Printer status window 180 Job list page 190 Job control page 200 Printer status page 210 Paper status page 220 User information page 250 Print media usage history page 260 Studio list page 270 Upload history page 300 Human eye perception Example of gamut 30 Printer Gamut Example 302 Display Monitor Gamut Example 330 Printer ICC Profile Database 331 Test Pattern Image Data 332 ICC Profile Update Process 333 ICC Profile Download Process 334 Test Pattern Print Process 335 Scanned Image Upload Process 336 Test Pattern Printout 337 Test pattern master sheet 338 Image scanner

Claims (4)

A computer program for editing a print layout, which is an arrangement of an image to be printed on a print medium,
Creating a print job based on the results of the editing;
When creating the print job, in response to a request from the user,
(1) specifying that the print job include an instruction that any of the plurality of printers may be used as a printer to be used for printing the print job;
(2) As a printer to be used for printing a print job, select either one of the designation to include in the print job an instruction to use a specific one of the plurality of printers. And steps to
In the case of selecting the designation in (1), in response to a request from a user, an instruction to print the print job using only the same printer is included in the print job;
Is a layout editing program that lets a computer do this. The layout editing program according to claim 1,
In the case of selecting the designation in (1), the step of including in the print job an instruction to print the same page in the print job using only the same printer in response to a request from the user. Layout editing program to be performed by a computer. The layout editing program according to claim 1,
On the page to be edited,
Whether to print at least one of (1) page border (2) image frame border (3) crop mark (4) customer name (5) image file name (6) computer machine name (7) editor name A layout editing program for causing a computer to perform a step of designating the above in response to a user request. A computer program for editing a print layout, which is an arrangement of an image to be printed on a print medium,
Creating a print job based on the results of the editing;
When creating the print job, in response to a request from the user,
(1) specifying that the print job include an instruction that any of the plurality of printers may be used as a printer to be used for printing the print job;
(2) As a printer to be used for printing a print job, select either one of the designation to include in the print job an instruction to use a specific one of the plurality of printers. And steps to
In the case of selecting the designation in (1), in response to a request from the user, an instruction to print the same page of the print job using only the same printer is included in the print job;
Is a layout editing program that lets a computer do this.

Images