JP4145909B2 - Image forming apparatus and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control program for controlling execution of transparency processing in drawing of a superimposed figure.

In the conventional printing process, when two objects to be printed (printed graphics, etc.) overlap, the object defined on the lower side in the data definition is overwritten by the object defined on the upper side. Therefore, the lower object is generally printed in a hidden state. However, in recent years, in order to improve the expressiveness of printed materials, printing is performed so that the lower object can be seen through the upper object by giving the object a factor of transparency. Yes. Transparency is one of the factors that a drawing object has, and has a value of 0 to 100%. An object with 0% transparency is equivalent to a conventional object and is hidden when an object is present on the lower side. An object having a transparency of 100% is a colorless and transparent object, and does not affect the color of another object even if it overlaps with another object. On the other hand, in the case of an object having a transparency of 1% to 99%, the overlapping portion with another object is determined by the color of the overlapping portion from the color of both the two overlapping objects and the transparency value. Transparency does not uniquely affect the colors of a plurality of overlapping objects, but has a plurality of influences. The colors of two objects may be added or subtracted.
In addition, as an image forming method capable of rapidly performing image formation including a transparent component with high quality, for example, the method described in Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 2005-109987 A

  Incidentally, recent image forming apparatuses have a function capable of directly printing document data in an electronic document format (for example, PDF: Portable Document Format) without using a document creation application or the like. However, the image processing that expands the document data to be printed using the transparency function and converts it into bitmap data may require a lot of processing time, so it is not necessary to faithfully reproduce the contents of the data. There is a problem that a print result cannot be obtained quickly for a user who simply wants to confirm the contents of document data. In addition, when directly printing document data in an electronic document format (for example, PDF: Portable Document Format) without using a document creation application, the document using the transparency function is deleted. Since the data cannot be edited, there is also a problem that there is no method for quickly printing when an object that requires a large amount of processing time is defined in the document data to be printed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus and a control program capable of quickly obtaining a printing result by controlling the processing operation of the transparency function according to the situation. With the goal.

The present invention relates to a transparency processing means that detects an overlap of a plurality of objects, divides the area into areas where the number of overlapping objects differs, and performs color composition for each area, Display means for displaying a message inquiring that the transparency function is used and whether or not drawing is executed using the transparency function when the data using the transparency function is included in the target data; An input means for inputting an answer to an inquiry as to whether or not to perform drawing using the transparency function, and when the input means executes drawing without using the transparency function as an answer, the transparency process by the transparency processing means, processing by replacing the object without the region division and the color synthesizing the normal processing of overwriting the order Characterized in that a control means for.

The present invention includes a transparency processing unit that detects an overlap of a plurality of objects, divides the area into areas where the number of overlapping objects differs, and performs color processing for each area to perform transparency processing. A control program that controls the operation of an image forming apparatus. When data that uses the transparency function is included in the drawing target data, the transparency function is used and drawing is performed using the transparency function. Display processing that displays a message asking whether or not to execute, input processing that inputs an answer to an inquiry as to whether or not to perform drawing using the transparency function, and the transparency function is not used by the input processing when performing a drawing is inputted as the answer, the transparency process by the transparency processing section, the area division and the color synthesizing Possible to perform a control process that processes replaced by a normal process of overwriting the object sequentially in the computer without characterized.

  According to the present invention, when data that uses the transparency function is included in the drawing target data, an inquiry is made as to whether the transparency function is used and whether or not drawing is executed using the transparency function. When a message is displayed and drawing without using the transparency function is entered as an answer, the transparency process is replaced with the normal process, so the process of the transparency function is processed depending on the situation. It is possible to obtain an effect that the printing result can be obtained quickly by controlling the operation.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit that controls the overall processing operation of the image forming apparatus 7. Reference numeral 2 denotes a communication unit that receives image data of an image to be printed from a personal computer 8 or the like connected to the network N. Reference numeral 3 denotes a buffer that temporarily stores image data received by the communication unit 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes an image processing unit that reads out image data stored in the buffer 3 and converts it into bitmap data by performing image processing. Reference numeral 5 denotes an image memory for storing bitmap data obtained in the image processing unit 4. Reference numeral 6 denotes a printing unit that reads bitmap data stored in the image memory 5 and transfers an image based on the bitmap data to a print medium.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 4, drawing (printing) using the transparency function will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram comparing normal drawing (FIG. 4A) and drawing using the transparency function (FIG. 4B). Objects (fill, stroke, text, image) in normal drawing processing are drawn in the order in which the objects are placed in an opaque state (0% transparency), so the overlapping part is placed at the top. Only the new object will be drawn. As shown in FIG. 4A, the object R (for example, the drawing color is red) in a portion where the object B (for example, the drawing color is blue) and the object G (for example, the drawing color is green) overlaps with each other. Is not drawn. In addition, the object B in the portion where the object G (for example, the drawing color is green) overlaps is not actually drawn.

  On the other hand, when transparency (for example, 50%) is set for each of the three objects R, G, and B shown in FIG. 4A, the region RB in which only the object B overlaps the object R is the object R and the object B. The drawing color (red and blue) is mixed. In addition, the region GB where only the object G overlaps the object B is drawn with a color obtained by mixing the drawing colors (blue and green) of the object B and the object G. In addition, a region RG where only the object G overlaps the object R is drawn with a color obtained by mixing the drawing colors (red and green) of the object R and the object G. Further, the region RGB where the object B overlaps the object R and the object G overlaps the object R is drawn with a color obtained by mixing the drawing colors (red, back and green) of the object R, object G and object B. It will be.

Next, the operation of the image processing unit 4 shown in FIG. 1 for processing the transparency object will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in which the image processing unit 4 illustrated in FIG. 1 performs processing of a transparency object.
First, the communication unit 2 receives document data to be printed (hereinafter referred to as print data) described in an electronic document format transmitted from the personal computer 8 and stores the received print data in the buffer 3. When the communication unit 2 receives the print data, the communication unit 2 notifies the control unit 1 that the print data has been received. In response to this, the control unit 1 instructs the image processing unit 4 to execute image expansion processing. In response to this, the image processing unit 4 reads out print data for one page from the buffer 3 and analyzes the print data (step S1). Then, the image processing unit 4 determines whether or not the read print data includes data using the transparency function (step S2). If the transparency function is not used as a result of this determination, the image processing unit 4 executes normal processing (step S15), stores the bitmap data obtained as a result of the processing in the image memory 5, and stores one page. When the minute processing is completed, the bitmap data is discharged to the printing unit 6 and the page discharge processing is executed (step S13), whereby the printing processing is executed in the printing unit 6.

  Next, when the data using the transparency function is included in the print data, the image processing unit 4 sequentially interprets the data described in the read print data, and determines whether or not it is a drawing operator (drawing command). Is determined (step S3). If the result of this determination is that the operator is a drawing operator, the image processing unit 4 generates an object based on the result of interpreting the print data (step S4). The image processing unit 4 investigates the overlap between the object generated here and the object already stored in the table in the image memory 5 (step S5), and determines whether there is an overlap (step S6). If there is no overlap as a result of this determination, the next cut-out process is not executed and the process proceeds to the next process. On the other hand, if there is an overlap, the overlapping area between the objects is divided and the overlapping area is cut out (step S7).

  Here, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the overlapping region cut-out operation (step S7) will be described. An example will be described in which three objects R, G, and B shown in FIG. First, areas that overlap each other (areas consisting of areas RB, RG, GB, and RGB) are obtained based on boundary lines that indicate the outer shapes of the three objects R, G, and B. Then, the obtained overlapping regions are divided, and regions R, G, B, RB, RG, GB, and RGB are cut out (see FIG. 5). In this cutout, the cutout is performed so that the number of overlapping objects is the same in one area. For example, the region RGB is added to the region RB, or the region is a region where the object B overlaps the object R. In this region, the number of overlaps with the region RB where the number of overlaps is “1” is “3”. Therefore, the region RB and the region RGB are cut out to be different regions. By doing so, the three objects are divided into seven regions from the overlapping state, and each region becomes a new object, and the original objects (objects R, G, B) are deleted.

  Next, the image processing unit 4 performs color composition on each object (step S8). In this color composition, if the objects are not overlapped, a color composition process (actually, a single color conversion process is performed because there is no color to be synthesized) based on the color information of the objects. The object cut out from the state in which the objects overlap is subjected to color synthesis processing (generation of mixed colors) based on a plurality of overlapping color information (step S8). The image processing unit 4 stores the color-combined object in a table in the image memory 5 (Step S9).

  Next, the image processing unit 4 interprets the data described in the read print data, and determines that it is a page discharge operator (page discharge command) if it is not a drawing operator (step S10). As a result of this determination, if the page is not a page discharge operator (not a drawing operator or a page discharge operator), the image processing unit 4 performs a normal process (step S11). On the other hand, in the case of the page discharge operator, the image processing unit 4 discharges the bitmap data stored in the table of the image memory 5 to the printing unit 6, and the page discharge process is executed (step S13). A printing process is executed in the printing unit 6. By repeatedly executing this process until the final page is reached (step S14), a drawing process using the transparency function is performed.

  Next, an operation for controlling the execution of the transparency object process shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the communication unit 2 receives document data to be printed (hereinafter referred to as print data) described in the electronic document format transmitted from the personal computer 8, and stores the received print data in the buffer 3. When the communication unit 2 receives the print data, the communication unit 2 notifies the control unit 1 that the print data has been received. In response to this, the control unit 1 instructs the image processing unit 4 to execute image expansion processing.

  In response to this, the image processing unit 4 determines whether there is data using the transparency function in the print data (step S22). If there is no data using the transparency function as a result of this determination, normal processing is executed (step S26), bitmap data obtained as a result of the processing is stored in the image memory 5, and processing for one page is completed. At that time, the bitmap data is discharged to the printing unit 6 and the page discharge process is executed, whereby the printing process is executed in the printing unit 6.

  On the other hand, if the print data includes data using the transparency function, the image processing unit 4 notifies the control unit 1 that the transparency function is used. The control unit 1 displays on the display unit (not shown) that the transparency function is being used, and displays a message asking whether to execute the transparency function (step S23). Here, the user operates the input unit to input an answer to the inquiry as to whether or not to execute the transparency function. The control unit 1 reads the content of this answer and notifies the image processing unit 4 of the content. Based on the contents of the answer, the image processing unit 4 determines whether or not to execute the transparency function (step S24). If the transparency function is to be executed as a result of this determination, the image processing unit 4 executes transparency object processing (object clipping and color synthesis) (step S25). When the processing is completed, the bitmap data is discharged to the printing unit 6 (step S27), and the page discharge processing is executed, whereby the printing processing is executed in the printing unit 6.

  If the transparency function is not executed, the image processing unit 4 replaces the normal process and executes the drawing process (step S26), and stores the bitmap data obtained as a result of the process in the image memory 5. When the processing for the page is completed, the bitmap data is discharged to the printing unit 6 and the page discharging process is executed, whereby the printing process is executed in the printing unit 6. As a result, even if the transparency function is used for the print data, the color composition processing in the overlapping region is not executed, and a result of overwriting in the order in which the objects are arranged is obtained.

  In this way, when data that uses the transparency function is included in the drawing target data, a message inquiring whether the transparency function is used and whether to perform drawing using the transparency function is displayed. Displaying and executing drawing without using the transparency function is processed by replacing the transparency processing with normal processing when the answer is input, so depending on the situation, the processing of the transparency function is changed. It is possible to obtain a printing result quickly by controlling.

  The program for realizing the function of the processing unit in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into the computer system and executed to execute the transparency function process. Operation control may be performed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus 7. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus 7. It is explanatory drawing for comparing the drawing using a normal drawing and a transparency function. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of object division.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Communication part, 3 ... Buffer, 4 ... Image processing part, 5 ... Image memory, 6 ... Printing part, 7 ... Image forming apparatus, 8 ... PC, N ... Network

Claims (2)

A transparency processing means for detecting an overlap of a plurality of objects, dividing the area into different areas where the number of overlapping objects is different, and performing a transparency process by performing color synthesis for each area;
Display means for displaying a message inquiring that the transparency function is used and whether or not drawing is executed using the transparency function when the data to be rendered includes data that uses the transparency function. When,
An input means for inputting an answer to an inquiry as to whether or not to perform drawing using the transparency function;
When the input means inputs the drawing without using the transparency function as an answer, the transparency processing by the transparency processing means is normally overwritten with the objects in order without performing the region division and the color composition. An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for processing instead of processing. In an image forming apparatus provided with a transparency processing unit that detects an overlap of a plurality of objects, divides the area into areas having different numbers of overlapping objects, and performs color composition for each area. A control program for controlling the operation,
Display processing that displays a message asking whether the transparency function is used and whether drawing is executed using the transparency function when the data to be rendered contains data that uses the transparency function When,
An input process for inputting an answer to an inquiry as to whether or not to execute drawing using the transparency function;
When the input processing is input as a response to perform drawing without using the transparency function, the transparency processing by the transparency processing means is normally overwritten in order by overwriting the object without performing the region division and the color composition. A control program that causes a computer to perform control processing that replaces processing.

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