JP4332784B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention includes a synthesis processing unit that synthesizes image data set as a print target and a designated one of a plurality of decoration data in a superimposed form, and combines the composite image data generated by the synthesis processing unit. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints on a print medium in a printing unit.

  As technologies related to the above-described printing apparatus, there are those shown in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2. That is, in Patent Document 1, a newly synthesized digital image and a prestored digital image are synthesized by an image synthesizing unit to obtain a digital synthesized image. The synthesis is performed based on the design designated by the designation means from one or more design definition data. With this configuration, for example, it is possible to store character images and illustrations as separate digital images, so that the storage capacity can be saved and a large number of designs can be realized by changing the combination of digital images It has become.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a photographic image of each frame is read from a photographic film by a line CCD scanner, and necessary processing is performed on the photographic image by an image processing apparatus. Based on the photographic image from the image processing apparatus, a laser printer is used. In this case, the color paper is exposed to light, and the hardware after which the color paper after the exposure is developed by the processor is provided, and an image composition unit provided in the image processing apparatus can synthesize the image. In this image composition unit, a photographic image is combined with a decorative image or a character string. This composition covers a photographic image with a mask overlaid, and a form in which the decorative image is inserted into the overlapped area. This is performed by a method called inset synthesis.

  Further, in this Patent Document 2, a template is used to perform inset composition, and print size information of a composite image and layout information of a photographic image and a decoration image are set in this template. . As this template, for New Year's cards, for Christmas cards, for calendars, etc. are set according to the print size.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-326917 (paragraph numbers [0019] to [0021] FIG. 1) JP 2002-218217 A (paragraph numbers [0016] to [0051], FIGS. 1 to 4)

  Taking a printing device called a digital minilab as an example, when printing frame images of photographic film, set the photographic film on a film scanner, convert the frame image into a digital signal, and acquire image data. After the necessary correction processing is performed on the image data, the exposure head is controlled based on the image data to expose the photographic paper, and then the development processing is performed. Even when image data shot by a digital camera is printed on photographic paper, the processing form is the same as when image data from a photographic film is processed except that a film scanner is not used.

  In this type of printing apparatus, when printing a New Year's card, a Christmas card, or a greeting card, a composition process in which decoration data or character data (sometimes referred to as a template) stored in advance is superimposed on image data. Is possible. As an example of one form of the operation, currently used printing apparatuses specify decoration data to be combined first and set conditions for combining the decoration data and image data. In this operation mode, the selected channel is selected and image data to be combined is set when printing is performed on this channel. Further, in the case where the composition processing is performed with the channel set as described above, the decoration data cannot be changed during execution of the channel, and a plurality of decoration data cannot be selected.

  In order to eliminate this inconvenience, considering the technique of Patent Document 1, in Patent Document 1, by specifying one of a plurality of design definition data, a new acquisition is made based on the specified design definition data. In this patent document 1, only a basic processing mode of the synthesis process is described, and an operation for actually printing is performed. There is room to consider in terms of ease of use and simplicity. Further, considering the technology of Patent Document 2, this Patent Document 2 also describes a processing mode when combining image data, and in terms of ease of operation and simplicity in actual printing. There is room to consider.

  An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a printing apparatus that can easily synthesize image data and decoration data without greatly changing a series of processing sequence and processing mode when printing image data on a print medium. In the point.

A feature of the present invention is that a composite processing unit that combines image data set as a print target and a specified one of a plurality of decoration data in a superposed form is provided, and a composite image generated by the composite processing unit In a printing apparatus that prints data on a print medium in a print unit,
A plurality of channels for setting a print size of the print medium and print processing conditions in the print unit are set in advance, and the image data is printed on the print medium in a state where one of the plurality of channels is selected. A simulation display means for simulating the displayed image based on the correction parameter set for the selected channel and displaying it on a display; and the synthesis processing means, wherein the simulation display means includes the simulation display means. In a state where image data is displayed on the display, one of a plurality of decoration data displayed on the display corresponding to the selected channel among the plurality of decoration data stored in the storage unit is designated. by, and the specified decoration data, displayed on the display Processing form to perform synthesis processing of the image data that is the point that has been set.

With this configuration, for example, a channel for printing a postcard is selected, and image data to be printed is simulated based on the correction parameters set for the selected channel, and the simulated display means is displayed on the display. Display . When performing the composition processing, the composition processing means displays a plurality of decoration data corresponding to the selected channel among the plurality of decoration data stored in the storage unit, so that the operator is displayed on the display. A plurality of decoration data to be combined can be specified, and the combination processing means extracts the specified decoration data from the storage unit and superimposes it on the image data. In other words, since the composition processing can be performed based on the display state of the simulated image, the decoration data can be arbitrarily designated as compared with the case where the decoration data is set in advance and then the channel is set. The result of the synthesis process can be confirmed on the display. As a result, a printing apparatus that can easily synthesize image data and decoration data without making a series of processing sequence and processing form when printing image data on a print medium different from that without performing synthesis processing is rational. It was structured.

  The present invention provides a processing form in which the composition processing unit performs composition processing with the image data in a form in which a plurality of designated decoration data are superimposed by designating a plurality of decoration data from the plurality of decoration data. May be set.

  With this configuration, by superimposing a plurality of decoration data, a variety of decoration data can be newly created and combined with image data.

  In the present invention, as the synthesis processing means, when the synthesis processing is completed, the generated synthetic image data is replaced with the image data before the synthesis processing, and the simulated display means replaces the synthesized image. You may comprise so that the process which displays data on a display may be performed.

  With this configuration, when the compositing process is completed, the simulated display means displays the composite image data as a print target on the display, so check the compositing process result and confirm that it has been set as the print target on the display. it can.

  In the present invention, the simulation display unit performs a process of listing a plurality of pieces of image data to be processed for the selected channel and displaying the list on the display, and the synthesis processing unit includes the simulation display unit. A setting step of setting on the display one of a plurality of image data that is listed on the display and displayed on the display, and the plurality of decoration data is displayed on the display and designated as a composition target on the display After executing the specifying step, a composition processing screen is newly displayed on the display, and composition for determining a relative positional relationship between the set image data and the designated decoration data on the composition processing screen. The composition processing sequence is set so as to execute the steps. The composition processing sequence may be configured to be executed individually for each of a plurality of image data that is listed by the simulated display means and displayed on the display.

  With this configuration, when the synthesis processing is performed by the synthesis processing means, the processing is performed in the order set in the synthesis processing sequence, thereby setting the image data to be synthesized and specifying the decoration data to be synthesized. The synthesis process can be performed in this order, and the synthesis process can be performed while checking based on the display on the display.

  According to the present invention, the composition processing means is configured to specify designation data for designating the decoration data, layer data for setting an overlay order of a plurality of decoration data, and a relative positional relationship between the decoration data and the image data. Each of the indicated position data is stored as composite processing data. The composite data storage unit specifies the composite processing data when performing composite processing on the image data newly set as the print target. Thus, the decoration data is extracted from the storage unit based on the designation data included in the composition processing data, and the decoration data extracted in this manner is compared with the position data in the overlapping order based on the layer data. You may comprise so that a synthetic | combination process may be performed by positional relationship.

  With this configuration, after the synthesizing process is performed once by the process of the synthesizing unit, a plurality of decoration data is extracted from the storage unit based on the designation data included in the synthesis processing data, and the decoration is performed based on the layer data. Data overlay order can be set, and the position of each decoration data and image data can be set based on the position data. It is possible to repeat the synthesis process of a predetermined pattern.

  According to the present invention, after the synthesizing process by the synthesizing process unit, the synthesized data storing unit newly generates a channel in which the designated data, layer data, and position data are set as print processing conditions. You may prepare.

  With this configuration, by selecting the channel generated by the composite data storage means, the print processing of the print medium set for that channel and the print conditions in the print section are automatically set and the composite processing is automatically performed. This saves operator time and effort.

  The present invention uses a silver salt type photographic paper as the print medium, and a digital exposure head for exposing the image data or the composite image data to the photographic paper as the print unit, You may provide the development processing tank which performs the development process of the photographic paper after exposure.

  With this configuration, the composition processing can be realized for the silver salt type photographic paper, and the performance of the conventional printing apparatus can be dramatically improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Overall Configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, the image information of the developed photographic film F is acquired as image data converted into a digital signal, or the acquisition of image data stored as a digital signal on a medium is acquired, The digital image signal processing is performed, and an operation unit A that performs basic control of the entire apparatus is provided, and exposure processing and development processing are performed on silver salt type photographic paper P as a print medium. A photographic printing apparatus that is referred to as a digital minilab is provided by including a printing section B that is performed and sent out after being dried. In the present invention, what constitutes a frame image of the photographic film F or what is printed is referred to as image information, and what is converted into digital signals is referred to as image data.

  [Operating Section] The operating section A performs a film scanner 2 that captures the information of the frame image of the photographic film F into the desk section 1 as a digital signal by photoelectric conversion, a display 3 that displays various information, and various processes. A processing device 4 composed of a general-purpose computer is arranged so as to be realized, and a keyboard 5 and a mouse 6 for inputting information are provided on the upper surface of the desk unit 1. A media drive 7 corresponding to the structure of the medium is provided at the upper position of the processing device 4 so as to acquire information from a disk-type medium such as a CD, MO, or FD, or to acquire information from a semiconductor-type medium. ing.

  The film scanner 2 has a light source section having a light emitting diode, a halogen lamp, etc. in the lower part, a zoom lens in the middle part, and image information from the zoom lens in the upper part as R (red) and G (green). A line CCD type photoelectric conversion unit that captures image data separated into the three primary colors B and B is arranged. In this film scanner 2, when scanning the photographic film F, the film carrier 8 suitable for the size of the photographic film F is mounted on the upper surface of the light source section, and scanning is started, whereby the film F is sub-scanned. In synchronization with the operation of conveying in the direction (longitudinal direction), the photoelectric conversion unit performs processing for capturing the image information of the film F as a digital signal along the main scanning direction, and the image data thus captured is The data is transferred to the processing device 4 and stored in the processing device 4.

  The processing device 4 is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) type interface that realizes necessary processing by operating the keyboard 5 and the mouse 6 that function as a pointing device corresponding to information displayed on the display 3. The image data captured by the film scanner 2 as described above or the image data captured via the media drive 7 is stored in the semiconductor memory or hard disk (see FIG. 2) built in the processing device 4. On the other hand, software (which will be described in detail later) that stores the image data and performs necessary processing on the stored image data is installed in the processing device 4.

  [Print Section] The print section B includes an exposure block Ex having a digital exposure head (not shown) for exposing image data to the photographic paper P, a development block De as a development processing section, The drying block Dr is housed in the housing 10, and provided outside the housing 10 is a belt transport mechanism 11 that transports the photographic paper P that is fed from the top of the housing 10 in the horizontal direction after processing, A sorter 13 having a plurality of trays 12 is provided so that the photographic paper P sent from the belt conveyance mechanism 11 is sorted and collected in units of orders, and a large size photographic paper P is placed below the belt conveyance mechanism 11. A rack 14 is provided.

  The development block De includes a plurality of development processing tanks 15 including a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a stabilization tank, and a transport mechanism that supplies the photographic paper P to each of the development processing tanks 15. Although the drying block Dr is not shown in the drawing, a transport mechanism for transporting the photographic paper P sent out from the development block De and air heated by a heater are supplied to the photographic paper P transported by the transport mechanism. Has a blower.

  An outline of the control system of the processing device 4 can be shown as shown in FIG. That is, a microprocessor (CPU) for processing information is provided, and the media drive 7 for accessing information via the data bus to the microprocessor (CPU), a RAM / ROM composed of semiconductor memory, and data storage Hard disk HD, control interface 21, software operating system 22, print execution means 23, simulation display means 24, list display means 25, composition processing means 26, composite image data display means 27, composite data Each of the storage unit 28 and the channel generation unit 29 includes a signal system for outputting an image signal from the processing device 4 to the display 3, a signal system for inputting a signal from the keyboard 5 and the mouse 6, and The signal to the film scanner 2 Access system is formed. The print execution means 23, the simulation display means 24, the list display means 25, the composition processing means 26, the composite image data display means 27, the composite data storage means 28, and the channel generation means 29 are respectively replaced with hardware and software. It may be configured in combination with hardware or only hardware.

  As shown in the figure, the semiconductor memory RAM secures a work area in which image data is expanded at the time of composition processing, which will be described later. The hard disk HD has an image data storage unit, decoration data, and the like. The storage unit, the channel storage unit, and the program storage unit are assigned.

  In this photographic printing apparatus, the image data captured by the film scanner 2 or the image data captured via the media drive 7 is combined with the decoration data in the form of overlaying the decoration data, and the image data is decorated. It is configured to be able to perform synthesis processing in a form in which data is inserted. The decoration data is supplied in the form of a CD-ROM, and is stored in the decoration data storage unit of the hard disk HD by taking in the decoration data from the CD-ROM via the media drive 7. The image data is stored in the image data storage unit of the hard disk HD.

  In this photo printing apparatus, it is possible to show the flow of processing when printing image data as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, and the flow of data when printing is shown as shown in FIG. Is possible. In other words, by first setting a channel for determining the print size and print processing conditions and performing an operation for specifying the order, the operation system 22 reads out the image data stored in the hard disk HD, and simulates based on this image data. As shown in FIG. 6, the image display means 24 displays a plurality of image data in a thumbnail format on a simulated display screen 30 (pre-judge screen) formed on the display 3 (# 01- #). 03 step). When image data is displayed on the simulated display screen 30 in this way, the simulated display means 24 simulates the state printed on the photographic paper P based on the correction parameters set for the channel. The image data of is displayed. Further, in this embodiment, it is assumed that any of a plurality of channels is selected, and that the synthesis process is realized in that channel, but a dedicated channel for realizing the synthesis process is set in advance. Alternatively, the channel for the synthesis process may be selected only when the synthesis process is performed.

  Next, the operation of the keyboard 5 or the mouse 6 is used to select one of a plurality of image data displayed on the simulated display screen 30 with the cursor, and the mouse 6 is turned on, for example. Order data is generated by the process of selecting the items to be set and setting the number of prints (step # 04).

  A display box 31 indicating the number of prints and a “correction” switch 32 are displayed at the bottom of each image data on the simulation screen 30, a “composite” switch 33 is displayed in the lower area, and “ An “OK” switch 34 is displayed. When the number of prints is set as described above, the cursor is positioned on the display box 31 and a switch of the mouse 6 is operated, or a predetermined key of the keyboard 5 is operated, so that the display box 31 is displayed. The numerical value is changed, and this numerical value is set as the number of prints.

  In this print routine, after the image data displayed on the simulation display screen 30 is selected with the cursor, the “composite” switch 33 is operated (step # 05), and the composition processing means 26 performs the composition processing routine (# 100). In the same manner, the image data displayed on the simulation display screen 30 is selected with the cursor and the “correction” switch 32 is operated to display a dialog box 35. Thus, the correction can be performed (steps # 100, # 06, and # 07).

  When the correction process is performed, the correction is executed by operating various slide switches formed in the dialog box 35, and the processing mode is set so that the correction result is reflected in the image data of the simulation display screen 30. Has been.

  Note that when the synthesis process or the correction process is performed in this way, the image data after the synthesis process or the image data after the correction process is stored as image data to be printed, and the image data is Saved as image data to be printed.

  Thereafter, by operating the “OK” switch 34 displayed on the simulation display screen 30, the image data set as the print target is transmitted to the print unit B through the control interface 21 together with the order data, and printed. Processing is realized (steps # 08 and # 09).

  The synthesis processing routine (# 100) is set as a subroutine. That is, by selecting the image data to be combined from the simulation display screen 30 and operating the “composite” switch 33, the operation system 22 loads the image data into the work area, as shown in FIG. A list screen 41 for displaying a plurality of decoration data corresponding to the channel among the plurality of decoration data is displayed on the display 3 (step # 101). The list screen 41 displays a “select” switch 42, a “clear” switch 43, and an “OK” switch 44.

  As described above, after the list screen 41 is displayed on the display 3, a mode is selected in which the “select” switch 42 is operated in a state in which decoration data is arbitrarily selected from the screen by the cursor (a plurality of selections may be selected). When the selection is completed, the “OK” switch 44 is operated to delete the list screen 41, and the decoration data is loaded into the work area by the operation system 22. Thus, the decoration data is loaded. If it has been done, the composition processing screen 47 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display (steps # 102 to # 104). Further, when the image data and the decoration data are loaded, the image data and the decoration data are stored in an independent area managed by the concept of the layer. Are displayed in the preview screen 48 of the composition processing screen 47. In the state before editing as described above, the layers are arranged in the order in which the decoration data is selected, and each decoration data is set to the default position. Placed in. In the composition processing screen 47 shown in FIG. 8, decoration data in which an elliptical window is formed and decoration data having a number of star images are selected, these decoration data are superimposed, and image data The composite processing form superimposed on is shown.

  The composition processing screen 47 includes the preview screen 48 on which the composition state is displayed, a layer display unit 49 indicating the overlay order of decoration data, a “position adjustment” switch 50 for adjusting the positional relationship of the composition processing, “Vertical Flip” switch 51 for flipping decoration data up and down, “Flip Horizontal” switch 52 for flipping decoration data horizontally, “Zoom” switch 53 for enlarging / reducing selected data, and trimming of image data Are formed, a check box 55 for selecting a process for newly generating a channel, and an “OK” switch 56.

  After the composition processing screen 45 is displayed in this way, the layer display unit 49 manages each layer by changing the overlay order of a plurality of decoration data or operating the “position adjustment” switch 50. The decoration data is inverted by adjusting the relative positional relationship between the decoration data and the image data to be applied, and operating the “upside down” switch 51 or the “left / right inversion” switch 52 to switch the “zoom” switch 53. By operating, the decoration data is enlarged or reduced, and by operating the “trimming” switch 54, unnecessary areas can be deleted. By combining these operations, editing such as changing the position of the decoration data with respect to the image data can be performed.

  When the “OK” switch 56 is operated after the editing is finished (step # 105), the channel generation means 29 newly forms a channel only when the check box 55 is checked (# 106). Then, in step 107, a plurality of synthesized image data are stored as print targets in a form that is replaced with the image data before the synthesis process (# 108 step).

  The synthesis processing means 26 can be regarded as performing processing according to a synthesis processing sequence. That is, this composition processing sequence includes a setting step (# 05 step) for setting on the display so that one of a plurality of image data displayed on the display 3 by the simulation display means 24 is a composition target, and a plurality of decorations. After the data is displayed on the display 3 and the designation step (# 101, # 102 steps) for designating one or a plurality of decoration data as synthesis targets on this display is executed, the synthesis processing screen 47 is displayed on the display 3 The composition processing screen 47 is configured to include a composition step (# 104 step) for determining the relative positional relationship between the image data and the designated decoration data on the composition processing screen 47, and a composition processing sequence composed of this series of steps. Repeatedly combine multiple image data in the same order Than it is to what can be achieved.

  As described above, the newly generated channel stores the data for specifying the decoration data and the decoration data while saving the data such as the print size and the print processing conditions set when the composition processing is performed. It has a structure that stores the layer data that specifies the position and the position data that specifies the position of the decoration data, and by printing the image data with the channel thus generated selected, respectively The image data is automatically combined with the decoration data based on the parameters stored in the channel.

  The decoration data used for the composition processing includes data surrounding the image data, data arranged on both sides of the image data, and data arranged in the corner portion of the image data. Includes characters.

  As described above, in the present invention, when printing image data from a plurality of image data acquired from the photographic film F or a semiconductor medium such as a flash memory storing image data taken by a digital camera, Similar to the procedure for normal printing, it is possible to arbitrarily select the image data displayed on the simulation screen 30 (pre-judge screen) as a synthesis target simply by setting a channel. Even in the case of performing, it is possible not only to combine a plurality of arbitrarily selected decoration data with the selected image data, but also to perform this combining process by arbitrarily selecting each of a plurality of image data. It also makes it possible. When the synthesis process is performed in this way, a new channel is generated so that the synthesis process can be reproduced, and different image data is stored in the channel based on the generated channel. It is also possible to reproduce the process of synthesizing the decoration data with the relative positional relationship stored in the channel in the overlapping order stored in the channel.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the embodiment described above.

  When using multiple decoration data, configure the processing system so that the transparency of the decoration data arranged in the upper layer can be adjusted, so that the decoration data arranged in the lower layer can be displayed unclearly. In addition, the image data of the part covered with the decoration data may be displayed indistinctly.

  The printing apparatus may be applied to an ink jet type printer or a sublimation type printer.

Perspective view of photo printing device Block circuit diagram of processing equipment Block diagram showing the flow of data processing Print routine flowchart Flow chart of synthesis processing routine Figure showing the simulated screen Figure showing the decoration data list screen Diagram showing the composition screen

Explanation of symbols

3 Display 24 Simulated display means 26 Composition processing means 47 Composition processing screen B Print part P Print medium

Claims (7)

The image processing apparatus includes a synthesis processing unit that synthesizes the image data set as the print target and the designated one of the plurality of decoration data in an overlapping manner, and prints the composite image data generated by the synthesis processing unit in the printing unit. A printing device for printing on a medium,
A plurality of channels for setting a print size of the print medium and print processing conditions in the print unit are set in advance, and the image data is printed on the print medium in a state where one of the plurality of channels is selected. And a simulation display means for simulating the displayed image based on the correction parameter set for the selected channel and displaying it on the display,
The synthesis processing means displays the display on the display corresponding to the channel selected from the plurality of decoration data stored in the storage unit in a state where the simulation display means displays the image data on the display. A printing apparatus in which a processing mode is set so as to perform synthesis processing of the designated decoration data and the image data displayed on the display by designating any one of the plurality of decoration data .   The composition mode is set such that the composition processing means performs composition processing with the image data in a form in which the plurality of designated decoration data are superimposed by designating a plurality of decoration data from the plurality of decoration data. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.   When the synthesis process is completed, the synthesis processing unit performs a process of replacing the generated synthesized image data with the image data before the synthesis process, and the simulated display unit displays the replaced synthesized image data on the display. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is configured to perform display processing. The simulated display means performs a process of listing a plurality of image data to be processed for the selected channel and displaying the list on the display,
The synthesizing processing means sets on the display one of a plurality of image data listed on the display by the simulated display means and displayed on the display. Then, after executing the designation step of designating as a compositing target on the display, a composite processing screen is newly displayed on the display, and the set image data and the designated decoration are displayed on the composite processing screen. The composition processing sequence is set to execute the composition step that determines the relative positional relationship with the data,
4. The print according to claim 1, wherein the synthesis processing sequence is configured to be executed individually for each of a plurality of image data displayed on the display after being listed by the simulation display unit. apparatus. The composition processing means includes designation data for designating the decoration data, layer data for setting a superposition order of a plurality of decoration data, and position data indicating a relative positional relationship between the decoration data and the image data, respectively. With composite data storage means for storing the data as composite processing data,
The composition processing means designates the composition processing data when performing composition processing on image data newly set as a print target, and thereby stores the storage unit based on the designation data included in the composition processing data. The decoration data is extracted from the image data, and the composition processing is performed on the extracted decoration data in a superposition order based on the layer data in a relative positional relationship based on the position data. The printing apparatus according to any one of the above.   The composite data storage means includes a channel generation means for newly generating a channel in which the designated data, layer data, and position data are set as print processing conditions after the composition processing by the composition processing means is executed. Item 6. The printing apparatus according to Item 5. A silver salt type photographic paper is used as the print medium, a digital exposure head for exposing the image data or the composite image data to the photographic paper as the print unit, and a post-exposure print apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and a developing tank for performing development processing of the photographic paper.

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