JP4230508B2 - Computer-readable recording medium recording a driver program for a photographic printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a driver program for a photographic printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver). In particular, in an order form in which a customer requests print output by delivering an order file describing the details of a photo print order and image data to be printed to a service provider via a medium such as Zip or a network. The present invention relates to a printer driver that enables a customer to set various conditions regarding a printer on a personal computer.

  Conventionally, a lot of software such as Adobe Photoshop is known as application software for processing image data on a personal computer. In addition, photos taken with a film scanner or photos taken with a digital camera are imported into a personal computer, processed using the above software, and then output with a sublimation or inkjet printer. Etc. have been made. However, a photographic image output by an inexpensive printer used in a general household is clearly inferior in terms of image quality (color, resolution, etc.) as compared with a normal photographic print.

  On the other hand, as one of the photographic services, there is a service for creating postcards with photographs having the same quality as that of photographic prints by using a high-functional high-resolution photographic printer. However, since such services are performed by bringing film and photo prints to service shops and telling the service shop of the desired processing (for example, trimming range), they can be freely processed as in the case of a personal computer. There wasn't.

On the other hand, in recent years, digitalization in the field of photographic services has progressed, and instead of bringing in film and ordering prints, image data read from the film and digitized can be recorded on media such as MO, Zip, CD-R, etc. You can bring in and order prints. Along with this, it has been proposed to transfer the order information that has been transferred from the customer to the service provider in the form of an order form as digital data (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-095163

  Here, as described above, according to the order form in which the image data and the order information are recorded on the medium and brought into the print order, the digital image data processed by the customer on the personal computer is converted into the high-functionality of the service store. High-resolution output is possible with a resolution photo printer.

  However, the processed image data is not always output as it is by a photographic printer, unlike the image data as read from the film. For example, when the processed image data received from the customer is larger than the size of the postcard in the postcard order, there are two major options for print output. That is, there are a method of printing image data by reducing it according to the size of the postcard, and a method of printing only a range that cuts out a part of the image and fits within the size.

  In this case, the customer should decide which method to use, and it is not desirable for a laboratory operator or the like to make a judgment without permission. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm with the customer in advance which of the two options is taken.

  In addition, in the case of image data taken and acquired by a digital camera, not only processed image data but also unprocessed image data has a different aspect ratio from that of ordinary photographic prints. The print conditions may not be met. In this case as well, it is necessary to confirm the customer's will in advance when creating a print.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention allows a customer to specify various conditions of a photographic printer on a personal computer in an order form in which photographic image data or order information is recorded on a medium and brought to a service store to request printing. It aims at providing the means for doing so.

  The present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium in which a driver program for a photographic printer is recorded as means for solving the above problems. This driver program is incorporated in a computer different from the photographic printer, and causes the computer to execute the following data exchange processing, print condition display processing, and data transfer processing.

  The data exchange process is a process for exchanging data via an image processing application program running on a computer and a graphical device interface (GDI).

  In the print condition display processing, the print conditions that can be specified when the photographic image data supplied via the graphical device interface is output by the photographic printer are displayed directly on the screen of the display device connected to the computer or the graphical device interface. It is a process to output via. Here, the “display device” is a monitor connected to a computer.

  “Print conditions” include the size of the photo print, the vertical and horizontal orientation, the quality of the print mount, and the like. In addition, when the size of the specified mount is different from the size of the image data, enlargement / reduction is performed with the aspect ratio kept constant, enlargement / reduction is performed by changing the aspect ratio, or enlargement / reduction is not performed (e.g. The print condition also includes whether a white background may remain on the edge) or whether a white edge is added. In addition, the print condition includes a vignetting range when enlargement / reduction is not performed, and a white background range when leaving a white background.

  The display of the print condition includes not only the case where the driver program itself displays the print condition, but also the case where necessary data is exchanged with the application so that the PC application in which the driver program is incorporated can display the print condition.

  Further, the data transfer process includes photographic image data supplied via the graphical device interface and data in which at least a part of print conditions specified based on the display on the screen is described in one or more files. As a process of transferring to the photo printer by recording on a recording medium or sending to a network. For example, photographic image data and print condition data are stored in one file and transferred to a photographic printer. Alternatively, an order file storing data indicating print conditions and an image file may be transferred as a set. Data transferred via a recording medium or a network is input to a photographic printer having a function of performing print output based on the data. However, the digital data receiving function may be provided in the printer body or in a peripheral device connected to the printer.

  The driver program may cause the computer to further execute a print condition reception process for receiving a designation input of the print condition from an input device connected to the computer. Here, the “input device” means any device known as an input device of a personal computer including a keyboard and a mouse.

  The driver program may cause the computer to further execute an image data conversion process for converting photographic image data so as to conform to the print conditions based on the designated print conditions.

  Here, “convert the photographic image data so as to conform to the printing conditions” means that, for example, when the specification of the photographic print mount size is accepted as the printing conditions, the photographic image data is changed to the specified mount size. It means converting the resolution to suit. In addition, color conversion and sharpness processing may be performed as necessary. This image data conversion function may be incorporated in the driver program as in the present invention. However, when a computer or a photographic printer has an image data conversion function, this function is incorporated in the driver program of the present invention. It is not necessary.

  Here, depending on the type of printing conditions, there are cases where the finish does not always match the customer's image even though the customer has specified the conditions himself. For example, when a part of an image is cut out, the cutout range may slightly differ from the range imaged by the customer. Therefore, it is desirable that some print conditions can be ordered after confirming beforehand as an image how the printer conditions are set and what kind of finish is obtained.

  For this purpose, the driver program allows the computer to confirm the finished image of the photographic print by displaying the photographic image data converted in the image data conversion process on the display device so as to overlap the mount image of the photographic print. It is preferable to further execute the finish confirmation process. By doing this, the customer checks the finished image after setting the print conditions on his / her personal computer, sets the print conditions again if the image is not what he wants, and repeats this process several times until he is satisfied. The correct data for creating a photo print according to the image can be transmitted to the photo printer.

  Here, if it is left to the customer to decide whether or not to actually confirm the above-mentioned finish, it will be understood that some customers place orders without confirming. In this case, there is no possibility that the finish according to the customer's image cannot be obtained, and therefore a trouble may occur between the customer and the service store. Therefore, in order to avoid such troubles, regardless of whether or not the customer desires, the finished image is displayed on the display device, and unless the customer confirms (for example, unless the confirmation button is pressed), the image data and the order file May not be transferred to the photo printer. Such a function can be realized by causing the driver program to always execute a finish confirmation process when the computer is instructed to execute a data transfer process.

  Although the driver program exchanges data with the application via GDI, it is called a “driver” program. However, as described above, it does not directly control (drive) the operation of the printer, but controls the operation of the printer. Necessary information is output as a file, and the operation of the printer is indirectly controlled by causing the printer to capture the information.

  By incorporating the program recorded on the recording medium of the present invention into a personal computer, a function for displaying the printing conditions and describing at least a part of the printing conditions specified based on the displayed printing conditions in the order file is realized. Therefore, the print conditions designated by the customer are accurately transmitted to the photo printer, and a photo print as desired by the customer is created. Also, even if a photo service store accepts image data that cannot be processed as it is, it does not take time to confirm the will of the customer.

  In addition, by having a function that allows the input device to specify and input print conditions, the customer can easily specify desired print conditions, and can convey the customer's image to the printer more accurately.

  In addition, by having the function to convert photographic image data to match the printing conditions based on the specified printing conditions, the customer's image is transmitted to the photographic printer more accurately, so the photographic prints as desired by the customer can be created it can.

  At this time, if a function to display the finished image is added to the above program, the customer can re-specify the print conditions until the user is satisfied while confirming the finished image. The number of complaints about can be reduced.

  In addition, if the finished image is always displayed immediately before the image data is written to Zip or transmitted to the photo service store via the network, the customer always confirms the finished state. When a complaint about a problem occurs, trouble that may occur between the customer and the photo service store can be prevented.

  The function of the printer driver recorded on the recording medium of the present invention and the photo print order processing system using this function will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the order processing system. As shown in the figure, this system exchanges data between a customer's personal computer 1 installed in a general home or office, and various devices 4 and 5 for print output installed in a photo service store. And the medium 2 or the network 3 for the purpose.

  In this system, the image data to be printed and the order file describing the order contents related to the image data are created in the personal computer 1 installed in the customer's home or office. Order file creation processing is performed using order processing software provided from a photo service store or the like.

  This software displays information that was previously entered on the order form when placing a print order, such as the orderer's address, name, telephone number, frame number (image file name) to be printed, number of prints, size, and other information. It enables input on the PC screen. Based on the input information, this software creates digital data in a predetermined format predetermined in the system, that is, an order file.

  The created order file is recorded on the order processing medium 2 together with image data to be printed, and delivered to the photo service store. Alternatively, in an environment where a network can be used, the image data and the order file may be transferred by transferring them from the customer's personal computer 1 via the network 3. Here, the order file and the image data may be separate files, or the order file may include image data. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the order file (print001.ord) and the image data file (image001.jpg, image002.jpg ...) may be stored as separate files in the ord directory and the image directory. As shown in FIG. 3, the order contents may be stored in the ord storage order stream of the order file (print001.ord), and the image data may be stored in image streams 1 and 2 of the image storage.

  The photo service store is provided with an order receiving device 4 that reads the media 2 or connects to a network to take in the order file and the image data, and a photo printer 5 that prints out the image data. The order receiving machine 4 is a general-purpose personal computer equipped with a drive device for the medium 2 and incorporating a dedicated order receiving program. The photographic printer 5 is a known digital photographic printer. The media 2 is FD, Zip, CD-R, PC card, SSFDC, compact flash (registered trademark), MO, picture MD, or the like.

  Photo image data subject to print orders in this system are, for example, those obtained by reading developed film with a film scanner, those obtained by reading photographic prints with a reflective scanner, and those taken directly from a digital camera into a personal computer. Etc. Reading by the scanner can be performed by the customer himself / herself, but also at a photo service store, for example, a service for outputting photo image data to a Zip or the like at the time of simultaneous printing is performed.

  In addition, customers use commercially available software such as Photo Factory (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator (both from Adobe Systems Co., Ltd.), etc. Characters and illustrations can be combined, and processing such as trimming can be performed. Such processed image data can also be a print target.

  Here, in general, image data generated at a photo service store is often generated as image data of a size that can be output by a photo printer. However, in the case of image data processed by the above-mentioned software or image data captured from a digital camera, some image data cannot be output as it is because of different aspect ratios, for example. The printer driver described below is originally intended to convert such image data so as to meet print conditions. However, image data that can be output as it is is also in accordance with the customer's request. A similar conversion process can be performed.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of processing performed in a computer by the printer driver of the present invention will be described.

-First embodiment-
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of processing performed by the first embodiment of the printer driver recorded on the recording medium of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing. As shown in FIG. 4, via a GDI (graphical device interface; an interface for exchanging data between the image processing application and the printer driver) between the printer driver incorporated in the personal computer 1 and the image processing application. Data is exchanged.

  First, in step 101, in the image processing application, designation of a print target is received from an input means such as a keyboard or a mouse, and when this is transferred to the printer driver, the printer driver sets the print conditions that can be designated to the image processing application. Transfer (step 102). The image processing application displays the transferred print condition on the monitor (step 103), and accepts a print condition designation input from the input means (step 104). As shown in FIG. 6, a screen (or window) such as the print condition setting screen 7 is displayed on the monitor. In the example of FIG. 6, C size, P size, H size, postcard size, A5 size, A4 size, and multi-sided printing for creating business cards and stickers are displayed as print size options. On this screen, only the print size accepted by the photo service store, that is, the printable size is displayed as the setting condition of the photo printer. In this case, the print size is designated from the input means. In addition to this, the setting screen 7 displays options for whether or not to perform size adjustment when the designated print size and the size or aspect ratio of the image data to be printed are different. It is also possible to specify trimming, image rotation, etc. when printing image data.

  In addition, as a specific method of size adjustment, for example, whether to enlarge / reduce while keeping the aspect ratio constant, to change the aspect ratio to enlarge / reduce, or not to enlarge / reduce, whether to add a white edge Or a white border width option (not shown). The customer can select and specify desired conditions using the keyboard or mouse while viewing the print condition setting screen 7.

  When the designation input is completed, the image processing application obtains image data for printing by converting the resolution of the image data to be printed according to the designated printing conditions, for example, if the size is designated to be adjusted (step 105). The designated print condition and print image data are transferred to the printer driver (step 106). If the image is blurred by resolution conversion, sharpness conversion may be further performed. Further, color conversion or sharpness conversion may be performed in accordance with the characteristics of the printer. Furthermore, at this time, if trimming is designated, the resolution of the image data may be converted, and only the image data corresponding to the area to be trimmed may be extracted and used as print image data.

  Next, the printer driver displays the print image data 9 together with the print mount image 10 on the finished image confirmation screen 8 as shown in FIG. 7 (step 107). For example, the example shown in FIG. 7 is a case where it is specified that the peripheral portion is not formed without size adjustment.

  The customer views the finished image confirmation screen 8 and inputs a confirmation response from the input means. At this time, order information such as an orderer name and a payment method may be input. The printer driver accepts this (Step 108), determines whether or not the confirmation result is OK (Step 109), and if the confirmation result is OK, the order includes the print image data and the designated print condition. Information is recorded on the medium 2 or transferred to the network 3 (step 110). If the confirmation result is not OK, the process returns to step 103 again to display the print condition setting screen 7 so that the customer can specify again. At this time, in order to easily correct the positional relationship (printed range) between the image data and the print mount, print conditions are set by directly operating the frame of the mount image 10 with the mouse on the finished image confirmation screen 8. You may be able to fix it.

  In the present embodiment, unless the customer performs confirmation on the finished image confirmation screen 8, order information is not written to the medium, and there is a trouble as to whether confirmation has been made between the customer and the service store. Prevents getting up.

  The print conditions recorded in the order file as order information by the function of the printer driver are interpreted by the order reception device 4 in FIG. 1, and the order reception device 4 changes the setting conditions of the photo printer 5 according to the print conditions. Instruct to print out photographic image data. As a result, the photographic image data is printed out under the printing conditions designated by the customer. If the photo printer main body has an order receiving function, the printer itself changes the setting according to the designated print conditions.

  As described above, by using the printer driver of the photo printer recorded on the recording medium of the present invention in the photo print ordering process, the customer can set the print conditions of the photo printer of the photo service store in the same manner as the home printer. Desired conditions can be set, and as a result, a desired photographic print can be obtained. In addition, when this printer driver is used, the photo service store will not accept image data that cannot be printed as it is, so that it is possible to quickly process an order without taking time to confirm the will of the customer. it can.

-Second Embodiment-
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an outline of processing performed by the second embodiment of the printer driver recorded on the recording medium of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the printer driver is caused to execute resolution conversion of image data according to print conditions.

  First, in step 121, when an image processing application receives designation of a print target from an input means such as a keyboard or a mouse, and transfers that fact to the printer driver, the printer driver displays the print conditions that can be designated in FIG. As shown, it is displayed on the monitor (step 122), and designation input of print conditions from the input means is accepted (step 123).

  When the designation input is completed, according to the designated print condition, for example, if the size is designated to be adjusted, the resolution of the image data to be printed transferred from the image processing application is converted to obtain print image data. (Step 124). As in the first embodiment, when the image is blurred due to the resolution conversion, sharpness conversion may be further performed. Further, color conversion or sharpness conversion may be performed in accordance with the characteristics of the printer. Furthermore, at this time, if trimming is designated, the resolution of the image data may be converted, and only the image data corresponding to the area to be trimmed may be extracted and used as print image data.

  Next, the printer driver displays the print image data 9 together with the print mount image 10 on the finished image confirmation screen 8 as shown in FIG. 7 (step 125).

  The customer views the finished image confirmation screen 8 and inputs a confirmation response from the input means. At this time, order information such as an orderer name and a payment method may be input. The printer driver accepts this (step 126), determines whether or not the confirmation result is OK (step 127), and if the confirmation result is OK, the order includes the print image data and the designated print condition. Information is recorded on the medium 2 or transferred to the network 3 (step 128). If the confirmation result is not OK, the process returns to step 122 again to display the print condition setting screen 7 so that the customer can specify again.

-Third embodiment-
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an outline of processing performed by the third embodiment of the printer driver recorded on the recording medium of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the printer performs resolution conversion of image data according to print conditions.

  First, in step 131, when an image processing application receives designation of a print target from an input unit such as a keyboard or a mouse, and transfers that fact to the printer driver, the printer driver displays the print conditions that can be designated in FIG. As shown, it is displayed on the monitor (step 132), and designation input of print conditions from the input means is accepted (step 133). Note that in step 133, information such as trimming and image rotation when printing image data is also included in the print conditions and accepted at the same time.

  When the designation input is completed, if the image data transferred from the image processing application is designated to be trimmed, rotated, or adjusted in size according to the designated print condition, the image data to be printed is selected. The image is enlarged or reduced (step 134). At this time, image conversion can be performed at high speed by thinning out pixels of the image data to reduce the data amount.

  Next, the printer driver displays the converted image data together with the print mount image 10 on the finished image confirmation screen 8 as shown in FIG. 7 (step 135). Here, the converted image data has a low resolution in which pixels are thinned out. However, since the displayed image is used only for checking the finished state, there is no problem even if the resolution is low.

  The customer views the finished image confirmation screen 8 and inputs a confirmation response from the input means. At this time, an orderer name, a payment method, and the like may be input. The printer driver accepts this (step 136), determines whether or not the confirmation result is OK (step 137), and if the confirmation result is OK, the image data and the order information including the specified print condition and Is recorded on the medium 2 or transferred to the network 3 (step 138). If the confirmation result is not OK, the process returns to step 132 again to display the print condition setting screen 7 so that the customer can specify again. Here, the order information includes, as print conditions, information indicating the enlargement ratio of the image data and the trimmed area when trimming is performed.

  The order information and the image data are input to the photographic printer 5 via the medium 2 or the network 3. In the photographic printer 5, the image data is converted based on the order information, but the resolution of the image data is converted based on the enlargement ratio of the image data included in the print conditions (step 139). When trimming is designated, the trimmed area is extracted. Then, the resolution-converted image data (image data of the extracted area when trimming is designated) is printed according to the printing conditions (step 140).

-Fourth Embodiment-
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the fourth embodiment of the printer driver recorded on the recording medium of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in that the printer driver accepts designation of a print target.

  First, designation of a print target is received in step 141, printable print conditions are displayed on the monitor (step 142), and print condition designation input from an input means such as a keyboard or a mouse is accepted (step 143). When the designation input is completed, the printer driver obtains image data for printing by converting the resolution of the image data to be printed according to the designated printing condition, for example, if size designation is designated (step 144). If the image is blurred by resolution conversion, sharpness conversion may be further performed. Further, color conversion or sharpness conversion may be performed in accordance with the characteristics of the printer.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the printer driver displays the converted print image data 9 together with the print mount image 10 on the finished image confirmation screen 8 (step 145).

  The customer views the finished image confirmation screen 8 and inputs a confirmation response from the input means. At this time, an orderer name, a payment method, and the like may be input. The printer driver accepts this (step 146) and determines whether or not the confirmation result is OK (step 147). If the confirmation result is OK, the order includes the print image data and the designated print condition. Information is recorded on the medium 2 or transferred to the network 3 (step 148). If the confirmation result is not OK, the process returns to step 142 again to display the print condition setting screen 7 so that the customer can specify again.

Diagram showing an example of an order processing system for photo prints Conceptual diagram showing an example of recording an order file and image data as separate files Conceptual diagram showing an example of recording an order file and image data as one file 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of processing of a printer driver according to a first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process of the printer driver by 1st Embodiment Diagram showing print conditions displayed on the monitor Diagram showing the finished image displayed on the monitor A block diagram showing an outline of processing of a printer driver according to a second embodiment Flowchart showing processing of a printer driver according to the second embodiment A block diagram showing an outline of processing of a printer driver according to a third embodiment A flowchart showing processing of a printer driver according to the third embodiment. Flowchart showing processing of a printer driver according to the fourth embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1 PC 2 Order processing media 3 Network 4 Order acceptance machine 5 Photo printer 6 Photo print 7 Print condition setting screen 8 Finished image confirmation screen 9 Image data for printing
10 Print mount image

Claims (8)

A computer-readable recording medium in which a driver program for a photographic printer is recorded, wherein the driver program is on a computer different from the photographic printer,
An image processing application program operating on the computer, a data exchange process for exchanging data via a graphical device interface (GDI),
Print conditions that can be specified when photographic image data supplied via the graphical device interface is output by the photographic printer are output directly to the screen of a display device connected to the computer or via the graphical device interface. Print condition display processing to
Recording or networking photographic image data supplied via the graphical device interface and data in which at least a part of print conditions designated based on the display on the screen is described on a recording medium as one or a plurality of files A recording medium on which a driver program is recorded, which causes data transfer processing to be transferred to the photographic printer by being sent to the printer.   2. The driver program according to claim 1, wherein the driver program causes the computer to further execute a print condition receiving process for receiving a designation input of the print condition from an input device connected to the computer. Recording medium.   2. The driver program further causes the computer to execute an image data conversion process for converting the photographic image data so as to conform to the print condition based on the designated print condition. Or a recording medium on which the driver program described in 2 is recorded.   The driver program causes the computer to display the photographic image data converted in the image data conversion process on the display device so as to overlap the photographic print mount image, thereby enabling the finished image of the photographic print to be confirmed. 4. The recording medium having a driver program recorded thereon according to claim 3, further comprising performing a confirmation process.   5. The recording medium having a driver program recorded thereon according to claim 4, wherein the driver program causes the computer to execute the finish confirmation process when the computer is instructed to execute the data transfer process. .   6. The print condition display process according to claim 1, wherein the print condition display process is a process of outputting a mount size that can be specified as a mount size of a photo print on the screen as one of the print conditions. Recording medium on which the driver program is recorded.   7. The recording medium having a driver program recorded thereon according to claim 6, wherein the image data conversion process is a process of converting the resolution of the photographic image data so as to fit a designated mount size.   8. The print condition display process according to claim 1, wherein the print condition display process is a process of outputting, as one of the print conditions, an option related to designation of a white edge around a photograph of a photo print on a screen. A recording medium on which the driver program described in the item is recorded.

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