JP4390899B2 - Plate inspection method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a plate inspection method and apparatus for comparing the page data at the time of proofreading with the page data on the imposition data at the time of printing and outputting the difference when performing plate making digitally by a computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the plate making process, which is a pre-printing process, first, layout data is created by arranging image data, graphic data, character data, and the like by an editing apparatus having a layout function. This layout data is usually called page layout data because it is usually created in units of one page to be finally printed or two pages of spread. As shown in FIG. 4, the layout data of page A is created by the editing apparatus, and then the proof of page A is output through the film and the printing plate, and the first school is performed. If correction is necessary by looking at the proof of page A, the layout data of page A is corrected by the editing device, and the proof is output again to confirm the contents (re-examination). When there is no need for correction (school completion), imposition is performed by the imposition device, and imposition layout data is created. The imposition apparatus has a function of laying out a plurality of pages according to the designated number of pages. In the example of FIG. 4, four pages are allocated, that is, four pages A to D are allocated. The imposition layout data is RIP-developed by an output RIP device to create an imposition plate, and the imposition state of the plate is confirmed. If there is no problem, printing is performed.
In addition, the content of each impositioned page is checked by visually comparing each page on the imposition printing plate with the completed proof as shown by the dotted line in FIG. Yes. Alternatively, visual comparison is performed using an imposition printout in which imposition layout data is output by a printer instead of an imposition printing plate.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, especially when using an imposition printing plate that is output directly to the printing plate without using a film by means of CTP (Computer To Plate), if you try to check the appearance of specifications and imposition by visual inspection, the plate is large and metallic. There are various problems such as hardness, care must be taken to prevent scratches, and the color of the image line is light.
In addition, when trying to perform plate inspection by imposition printing out instead of imposition printing plate, there is a problem that extra work of printer output occurs.
Furthermore, the output device that outputs the completed data to a film or printing plate and the RIP device that develops layout data into raster data for the output device are different from the RIP device used in the proof printing, Depending on the type of the RIP device, the typefaces to be handled are different, so that the typeface confirmed at the proofreading stage is different at the time of printing.
In view of these points, the present invention compares the page data that has been completed and each page data assigned to the final imposition state without actually outputting a printing plate or film. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plate inspection method and apparatus capable of performing the same. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plate inspection method and apparatus that facilitates alignment between the page data that has been completed at the time of the comparison and each page data assigned to the final imposition state. .
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the inventions according to claims 1 and 3, page layout data is RIP-expanded by a proofreading RIP device to generate page raster data, and the page layout data is impositioned to imposition layout Data is created, the imposition layout data is RIP-developed by the output RIP device to create imposition raster data, and the page raster data and the imposition raster data on the RIP-developed by the calibration RIP device are created. It is characterized in that it is compared with the page raster data.
In the first and third aspects of the invention, the page raster data RIP developed by the calibration RIP device and the page raster data on the imposition raster data RIP developed by the output RIP device are compared. Therefore, the final imposition state can be confirmed without outputting the film or the printing plate, and a problem due to the difference in the model of the RIP apparatus can be found in advance.
[0005]
In the inventions described in claims 2 and 4, in addition to the inventions described in claims 1 and 3, further numerically specify the collation range between the page raster data to be compared and numerically specify the difference in arrangement angle, Based on the specified collation range and arrangement angle difference, the page raster data RIP-developed by the calibration RIP device and the page raster data on the imposition raster data are matched, and the page raster data matches. It is characterized by comparing each other.
In the inventions of claims 2 and 4, particularly, before comparing the raster data, numerically specify the collation range of the page raster data to be compared and numerically specify the difference in the arrangement angle, and match both positions. Therefore, it is possible to easily align the page raster data to be compared.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a plate inspection apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an editing apparatus, which has a function of laying out image data, graphic data, character data and the like at desired positions to create layout data as vector data. Reference numeral 2 denotes a proofreading RIP device having a function of creating raster data by RIP-expanding layout data edited by the editing device 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a proofreading output device having a function of outputting raster data created by the proofreading RIP device 2 to a film or a plate as a proof print. An imposition device 4 has a function of imposing layout data edited by the editing device 1 and creating imposition layout data. Reference numeral 5 denotes a CTP RIP device having a function of creating imposition raster data by RIP-developing imposition layout data created by the imposition device 4. A CTP output device 6 has a function of directly outputting raster data created by the CTP RIP device 5 to the printing plate. Reference numeral 7 denotes a comparison device that has a function of comparing the raster data created by the calibration RIP device 2 and the imposition raster data created by the CTP RIP device 5 and then comparing the two. An inspection result output device 8 has a function of outputting a difference between both raster data to a film, paper or the like based on the result of comparison by the comparison device 7. Reference numeral 9 denotes a data server, which is layout data edited by the editing device 1, raster data created by the proofreading RIP device 2, imposition layout data created by the imposition device 4, and created by the CTP RIP device 5. It has a function of storing necessary data in the processing process of the plate inspection device, such as imposition raster data and comparison results by the comparison device 7. In the figure, arrows indicate the flow of data, and portions without an arrow indicate that data flows in both directions.
[0007]
Specifically, the editing device 1, the imposition device 4, and the comparison device 7 are obtained by incorporating dedicated software having respective functions into a computer, and one computer may have three functions. It may be a separate computer. These computers are connected to devices necessary for work such as a display device such as a CRT display and an input instruction device such as a mouse and a keyboard. The proofreading RIP device 2 and the CTP RIP device 5 are commercially available devices having similar functions, but the detailed specifications of the character font used may be different. A commercially available plate making apparatus can be used as the CTP output apparatus 6. As the inspection result output device 8, a commercially available CRT display device, a printer or the like can be used.
[0008]
Next, the processing operation of the plate inspection apparatus will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, in step S <b> 1, the operator creates page layout data using the editing device 1. Necessary information is attached to the page layout data, which is vector data, and is registered in the data server 9 as reference layout data. One page layout data is recorded in one reference layout data.
[0009]
Next, in step S2, the proofreading RIP device 2 RIP develops the page layout data recorded in the reference layout data to create page raster data. Necessary information is attached to the page raster data, and is registered in the data server 9 as reference raster data. The reference raster data is obtained by adding a positioning mark to one page raster data. In the example of the reference raster data shown in FIG. 3A, eight alignment marks T1 are attached around the page raster data of page A.
[0010]
In step S1 and step S2, reference layout data including page layout data and reference raster data including page raster data are created. In actual operation, the reference raster data is output from the calibration output device 3, The contents are checked, and if correction is necessary, the editing apparatus 1 corrects the page layout data, and rewrites the reference layout data of the data server 9 as new page layout data. Similarly, the page layout data is RIP-developed by the proofreading RIP device 2 to create new page raster data, and the reference raster data of the data server 9 is rewritten. In this way, the reference layout data and the reference raster data are rewritten any number of times until calibration is completed.
[0011]
When correct reference layout data is obtained, that is, when school completion is completed, imposition layout data is created by imposing page layout data by the imposition device 4 and registered in the data server 9 in step S3.
[0012]
In step S 4, the imposition layout data is RIP-expanded by the CTP RIP device 5 to generate imposition raster data, and is registered in the data server 9. The imposition raster data is obtained by imposing a plurality of page raster data, and each page raster data is provided with an alignment mark. In the example of the imposition raster data shown in FIG. 3B, eight alignment marks T2 are attached around the page raster data of page A, and eight pieces are also arranged around the page raster data of page B. The alignment mark T3 is attached.
[0013]
In step S <b> 5, the operator designates a plurality of reference raster data and imposition raster data to be compared to the comparison device 7. For the designation, a mouse, a keyboard or the like is used as a designation means. Both specified data are displayed on the screen. The displayed reference raster data and imposition raster data are as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the collation range and arrangement direction on both raster data are designated. The collation range is specified by designating the plate inspection start position (SR1, SQ1) by designating the screen with the mouse and designating the collation size (X1, Y1) numerically. Since the page raster data of page A on the reference raster data and the page raster data of page A on the imposition raster data have the same size, the collation size is designated to be the same size. However, the operator specifies the collation size so that the page raster data and all the alignment marks are included while viewing the display screen. As a result, the part surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. The arrangement direction is specified when the arrangement angles of the two raster data are different. For example, if the data is arranged upside down as shown in FIG. 3, “180 degrees” is designated. The operation in step S5 is performed for each page raster data on the imposition raster data corresponding to the plurality of reference raster data.
[0014]
In the next step S6, the page raster data designated by the comparison device 7 is aligned. The alignment is performed by aligning eight alignment marks as shown in FIG. Since the alignment of data using the alignment mark is a known technique, it will not be described in detail here. At this time, if the designated arrangement angle is not “0 degree”, the position alignment is performed after rotating either one of the page raster data by the designated angle. For example, when the page raster data of page A shown in FIG. 3 is aligned, the page raster data of page A on the imposition raster data is rotated by the specified angle “180 degrees” together with the alignment mark T2. The alignment mark T1 is aligned with the position of the alignment mark T2 rotated 180 degrees. The processing in step S6 is also performed for each page on the imposition raster data.
[0015]
When the alignment is completed, both raster data are compared by the comparison device 7 in step S7. This obtains the difference between the pixel values of each pixel and records the obtained difference in a storage area having the same size as the imposition raster data. Comparison processing is performed for each page layout data, and finally, difference raster data that is difference data is obtained.
[0016]
In step S8, the differential raster data is displayed on a screen or printed out using an inspection result output device 8 such as a display or a printer. The operator confirms the contents of this screen or printout, and if there is a need for correction, the editing device 1 corrects the layout data. If there is no need for correction, the CTP output device 6 outputs the printing plate. Further, the differential raster data is registered in the data server 9 as necessary.
[0017]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. For example, instead of the CTP RIP device 5 and the CTP output device 6, it is also possible to use a film RIP device and a film output device. Both the CTP RIP device 5 and the film RIP device are used as the main output RIP devices.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the page raster data RIP expanded by the calibration RIP device and the page raster data on the imposition raster data RIP expanded by the output RIP device are compared. Therefore, the final imposition state can be confirmed without outputting the film or the printing plate, and a problem due to the difference in the model of the output RIP apparatus can be found in advance.
Also, before comparing the page raster data, numerically specify the collation range of the page raster data to be compared and numerically specify the difference in the arrangement angle so that the positions of both match, so the pages to be compared Raster data can be easily aligned.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a plate inspection apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the plate inspection method of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing reference raster data and imposition raster data.
FIG. 4 is a printing process diagram for explaining a conventional plate inspection.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Editing apparatus 2 ... Calibration RIP apparatus 3 ... Calibration output apparatus 4 ... Imposition apparatus 5 ... CTP RIP apparatus 6 ... CTP output apparatus 7 ... Comparison apparatus 8 ... Test result output device 9 ... Data server

Claims (4)

RIP expansion of page layout data by a proofreading RIP device to create page raster data, imposition of the page layout data to create imposition layout data, and the imposition layout data for main output RIP development by a RIP device to create imposition raster data, and a step of comparing the page raster data RIP developed by the calibration RIP device with the page raster data on the imposition raster data. A plate inspection method characterized by RIP expansion of page layout data by a proofreading RIP device to create page raster data, imposition of the page layout data to create imposition layout data, and the imposition layout data for main output RIP development by the RIP device to create imposition raster data, a step of numerically designating a collation range between page raster data to be compared and a numerical designation of a difference in arrangement angle, a designated collation range and arrangement A step of matching the positions of the page raster data RIP developed by the calibration RIP device based on the angle difference and the page raster data on the imposition raster data, and comparing the matched page raster data A plate inspection method characterized by comprising: RIP means for calibrating to create page raster data by RIP-expanding page layout data, imposition means for imposing layout data by imposing the page layout data, and RIP-expanding the imposition layout data RIP means for main output for creating imposition raster data, and comparison means for comparing the page raster data developed by RIP by the calibration RIP means with the page raster data on the imposition raster data. Feature plate inspection device. RIP means for calibrating to create page raster data by RIP-expanding page layout data, imposition means for imposing layout data by imposing the page layout data, and RIP-expanding the imposition layout data The output RIP means for generating imposition raster data, the designation means for numerically designating the collation range between the page raster data to be compared, and the numerical designation of the difference between the arrangement angles, the designated collation range and the arrangement angle A comparison means for matching the positions of the page raster data RIP-developed by the calibration RIP device with the page raster data on the imposition raster data and comparing the matched page raster data. A plate inspection device characterized by that.

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