JP4554296B2 - Image processing system, program, recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image processing method, and an image processing program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing systems that read and print image data stored in a removable memory or the like without connecting to a personal computer or the like are known. In such a printing system, if an attempt is made to accept selection of image data to be printed, setting of image processing conditions such as the number of copies to be printed, layout, etc., from a menu displayed on a small screen, the menu hierarchy becomes deep and the operation is complicated. There is a problem of becoming. On the other hand, if the menu is displayed on a large screen, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.

In Patent Document 1, a list of thumbnail images of image files stored in a removable memory or the like and a mark sheet printed with selectable printing conditions are printed, and the marks written on the mark sheet are optically recognized. An image processing system that accepts various print condition setting operations is disclosed.
However, when trying to create a greeting card or the like with the image processing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the following problems arise. In general, a greeting card is filled with not only an image recorded by a digital camera or the like but also a message of the sender. However, it is troublesome to hand-write a message for each card on which only an image is printed by the image processing system disclosed in Patent Document 1. In addition, the dedicated glossy paper for high quality printing has a problem that it is difficult to fix handwriting unless it is a specific writing instrument, and it is difficult to write a message after printing an image.

JP 2002-51283 A

  The present invention has been created in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system, an image processing method, and an image processing program for combining and displaying a handwritten message or the like on a prestored image. To do.

An image processing system for achieving the above object includes an image selection instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction to select any one or more of accessible image data, an image indicating the selected image data, and a free drawing area. Printing control means for printing the area notation shown on a sheet of paper on a printing section, reading control means for causing the imaging section to read the paper on which the object is recorded in the free drawing area, and the selected image data An image representing the image data and the free drawing area printed by the print control means, and a combining unit that combines the image represented by the image and the image of the free drawing area read by the imaging unit. The area notation is characterized by not overlapping .
According to the image processing system of the present invention, an image indicating image data selected from accessible image data and an area notation indicating a free drawing area can be printed on one sheet.
Therefore, the user can record the object to be combined with the image represented by the selected image data in the free drawing area while confirming the image indicating the selected image data.
That is, the user can record an object such as a handwritten character in the free drawing area while imagining the synthesis result.

  The image indicating the selected image data is an image representing a synthesis result obtained by synthesizing the image represented by the selected image data and the sample image of the image of the free drawing area under a first synthesis condition, The means may synthesize the image represented by the selected image data and the image of the free drawing area under a second synthesis condition corresponding to the first synthesis condition. The synthesizing unit synthesizes the image represented by the selected image data and the sample image of the image representing the object under the synthesis condition corresponding to the synthesis condition of the image representing the synthesis result. That is, the image representing the synthesis result represents the synthesis result based on the synthesis condition corresponding to the synthesis condition in the synthesis unit. Therefore, the user can easily imagine the composition result when recording an object such as a handwritten character in the free drawing area.

  A synthesis condition instruction accepting unit for accepting an instruction to select one or more from a plurality of different synthesis conditions for synthesizing the image represented by the selected image data and the image of the free drawing area; The print control unit causes the printing unit to print a plurality of images representing a plurality of the combined results combined under mutually different combining conditions that can be received by the combining condition instruction receiving unit on the paper, and the combining unit includes the combining unit The image represented by the selected image data and the image of the free drawing area may be combined under the combining condition received by the condition instruction receiving unit. The user can recognize a combination condition that can be received by the combination condition instruction receiving unit with a plurality of images representing a combination result that is combined under different combination conditions printed on paper. Further, the user can record the object in the free drawing area while imagining the composition result when the composition is synthesized under the composition condition that is actually selected in the image representing the composition result.

You may further provide the said imaging part and the said printing part.
An interface for connecting the printing unit and the imaging unit may be further provided.

  An image processing method for achieving the above object includes a step of accepting an instruction to select any one or more of accessible image data, an image indicating the selected image data, and an area notation indicating a free rendering area Printing on a sheet of paper on the printing unit, causing the imaging unit to read the sheet on which the object is recorded in the free drawing area, the image represented by the selected image data, and the free drawing area Synthesizing with the image.

  An image processing program for achieving the above object includes: an image selection instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction to select any one or more of accessible image data from a computer that controls a printing unit and an imaging unit; Print control means for causing the printing unit to print the image indicating the image data and the area notation indicating the free drawing area on a sheet of paper, and the imaging unit recording the paper on which the object is recorded in the free drawing area And reading control means for reading the image data, and combining means for combining the image represented by the selected image data and the image of the free drawing area.

The functions of the plurality of means provided in the present invention are realized by hardware resources whose functions are specified by the configuration itself, hardware resources whose functions are specified by a program, or a combination thereof. The functions of the plurality of means are not limited to those realized by hardware resources that are physically independent of each other.
The present invention can be specified not only as an apparatus invention but also as a program invention, a recording medium recording the program, and a method invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on a plurality of examples. Constituent elements and processes corresponding to each embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description of corresponding constituent elements and processes in each embodiment is omitted.
(First Example)
FIG. 2 is a front view showing the external appearance of the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. An MFP 1 as an image processing system includes a function of outputting image data read from a document to a personal computer (PC) (not shown), a function of copying a document, a function of printing data output from a PC, and a removable device. And a function of printing image data input from the memory 3.

The imaging unit 20 of the multifunction machine 1 includes an image sensor 21, an optical system 22, a sensor driving unit 23, a sensor carriage driving unit 24, an AFE (Analog Front End) unit 25, a digital image processing unit 26, and the like.
The image sensor 21 driven by the sensor driving unit 23 is a linear image sensor including RGB three-channel light receiving elements, and is mounted on a sensor carriage 27 that moves in parallel with a document table (not shown). The image sensor 21 outputs an electrical signal correlated with the density of an optical image of a document placed on a document table formed on a light receiving surface by an optical system 22 including a lens and a mirror (not shown).

The sensor carriage drive unit 24 includes a motor, a drive belt, a drive circuit, and the like. The sensor carriage drive unit 24 reciprocates the sensor carriage 27 along a guide rod installed perpendicular to the scanning line. A two-dimensional image can be scanned by moving the image sensor 21 in a direction perpendicular to the scanning line.
The AFE unit 25 includes an analog signal processing unit, an A / D converter, and the like.
The digital image processing unit 26 performs processing such as shading correction on the output signal output from the AFE unit 25 to generate a digital image.

The printing unit 30 of the multifunction machine 1 includes a recording head 31, a head driving unit 32, a head carriage driving unit 33, a paper feeding unit 34, and the like for forming an image on a sheet by an inkjet method. The printing unit 30 may be configured to support other printing methods such as a laser method.
The recording head 31 is provided on a head carriage 37 on which an ink cartridge (not shown) is mounted, and includes a nozzle, a piezo element, an ink passage, and the like.
The head carriage drive unit 33 includes a motor, a drive belt, a drive circuit, and the like (not shown). The head carriage drive unit 33 reciprocates the recording head 31 perpendicular to the paper transport direction.

The paper feeding unit 34 includes a paper transport roller, a motor, a drive circuit, and the like (not shown). The paper feeding unit 34 conveys the paper in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction axis of the recording head 31 by rotating the paper carrying roller.
The card read / write unit 41 includes a card slot (not shown) for inserting the removable memory 3, a memory controller, and the like.

The operation unit 42 includes an LCD 14 for displaying a menu, and various buttons such as a determination button 10 and a cross button 12 for operating the menu (see FIG. 2).
The control unit 50 includes a CPU 51, a ROM 52, and a RAM 53. The CPU 51 executes programs stored in the ROM 52 to control each unit of the multifunction machine 1. The ROM 52 is a flash memory that stores various programs and data, and the RAM 53 is a memory that temporarily stores programs such as an image processing program and data such as image data. These various programs and data may be downloaded from a predetermined server via a network and stored in the ROM 52, or may be read from a computer-readable storage medium such as the removable memory 3 and stored in the ROM 52.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a logical configuration of the multifunction machine 1.
The combination instruction receiving module 61 as a combination instruction receiving unit is a component part of an image processing program that receives a combination instruction. The composition instruction is an instruction for the user to request the multifunction device 1 to perform a series of processes for printing an order sheet for writing handwritten characters and the like, reading the order sheet, and compositing the handwritten characters and the like with another image.

  The image selection instruction receiving module 60 as an image selection instruction receiving means is a component part of a program that receives an instruction (image selection instruction) for selecting an arbitrary image file from accessible image files. Specifically, the accessible image file is, for example, an image file stored in a predetermined folder of the removable memory 3. The image selection instruction receiving module 60 is connected to the ROM 52 and RAM 53 which are internal memories, the memory of a portable electronic device such as a digital camera connected to the multifunction device 1, a mobile phone with a camera function, or the multifunction device 1. The user may select image data stored in a hard disk device of a PC or a file server connected to the multifunction device 1 via a communication line.

A print control module 62 serving as a print control unit reads a template (order sheet template) 100 (see FIG. 5) for printing an order sheet from the ROM 52, and prints the order sheet on the printing unit 30 based on the order sheet template 113. This is a component of the image processing program to be executed.
The order sheet template 113 shown in FIG. 5 includes object information and layout information for printing the reference marks 82 and 107, the verification mark 81, the frame 200, and the area frame 110 on a sheet. A frame 112 means a printing paper size defined by the order sheet template 113.
A frame 200 defined by the order sheet template 113 is a frame to which an image 202 indicating a file selected by the image selection instruction receiving module 60 is allocated. It is desirable that the aspect ratio of the frame 200 matches the aspect ratio of the free drawing area 72. Thus, the user can record the object on the order sheet 70 while predicting where and in what size the object such as the handwritten character is arranged in the selected image. Note that the order sheet template 113 may be defined such that a frame indicating the outer edge of the sheet is printed outside the frame 200. In this way, the user can confirm how the selected image is arranged on the printing paper before printing. The print control module 62 may assign a reduced image generated based on the image selected by the user to the frame 200. Further, if the selected image file is an image file storing thumbnail data such as an Exif file, the print control module 62 may assign the thumbnail image to the frame 200.
The area frame 110 as the area notation defined by the order sheet template 113 is a rectangular frame indicating the outer edge of the free drawing area 72 on the paper surface of the order sheet 70 (see FIG. 6). The free drawing area 72 may be a rectangular frame having an aspect ratio different from that of printing paper for printing a composite image, or may be a non-rectangular frame such as a circular frame. The area notation may be, for example, four marks (cross shape, L shape, etc.) indicating the four corners of the free drawing area 72.
The reference marks 82 and 107 defined by the order sheet template 113 are marks for specifying the positions of the free drawing area 72 and the verification mark 81 when the order sheet 70 is read.
A frame 108 defined by the order sheet template 113 is an area to which the verification mark 81 is assigned. The verification mark 81 includes a removable memory 3 connected to the multifunction device 1 during execution of the process of printing the order sheet 70 and a removable memory 3 connected to the multifunction device 1 during execution of the process of printing a composite image. This is a mark for verifying the identity with the. Specifically, for example, the verification mark 81 represents a checksum calculated based on the file names, the number of files, and the like of all image files of a predetermined format stored in a predetermined folder of the removable memory 3.

  The reading control module 64 as reading control means is a component of the image processing program and has the following functions. First, the prescan image is acquired by causing the imaging unit 20 to read the entire surface (prescan area) of the document table at a low resolution. Second, the free drawing area 72 of the order sheet 70 is specified based on the pre-scan image. Third, the verification mark 81 is verified based on the pre-scan image. Fourth, the free drawing area 72 is read by the imaging unit 20 with high resolution.

The synthesis module 66 as a synthesis unit acquires the image of the free drawing area 72 read by the imaging unit 20 and synthesizes the image of the free drawing area 72 and the image represented by the image file selected by the image selection instruction receiving module 60. It is a component of the image processing program to be performed. Specifically, for example, the synthesis module 66 extracts an area of the object 116 (see FIG. 6) such as handwritten characters from the image of the free drawing area 72, and the image of the object 116 is extracted from the image of the object 116 based on a synthesis template described later. Is combined with the selected photographic image. Hereinafter, the image represented by the image file selected by the image selection instruction receiving module 60 is referred to as another image with respect to the image in the free drawing area 72.
The functions of the control unit 50 realized by executing the synthesis instruction receiving module 61, the print control module 62, the reading control module 64, and the synthesis module 66 described above are ASIC (Application Specific Integrated) that does not involve execution of a computer program. It can also be realized by dedicated hardware such as Circuit).

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a composite template.
The composite template 120 is composed of layout information necessary for printing the composite image 132 on the paper 134. A frame 131 represents the print paper size defined by the composite template 120. A frame 128 defined by the composite template 120 is an area to which the image 122 of the free drawing area 72 and another image 126 are allocated. In the example shown in the figure, the area 122 to which the image 122 of the free drawing area 72 and the other image 126 are allocated are the same, but each image may of course be allocated to a different frame. The aspect ratio of the frame 128 defined by the composite template 120 and the area frame 110 defined by the order sheet template 113 are the same. The alpha channel 124 is information that defines the transmittance of the layer of the image 122 in the free rendering area 72 for each pixel. The compositing module 66 specifies the region 130 of the object 116 such as handwritten characters by region dividing processing on the image 122 of the free drawing region 72, sets the transmittance of the region 130 of the object 116 to opaque, and makes the other regions transparent. The alpha channel 124 is generated by the process of setting to. The composite image 132 is generated by weighting and adding the image 122 of the free rendering area 72 and the other image 126 with the alpha channel 124 for each pixel.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an image processing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 7 is executed by the control unit 50 executing the above-described image processing program.
First, the control unit 50 receives a composition instruction (step S100). Specifically, for example, the composition instruction receiving module 61 displays the menu screen 1000 shown in FIG. 8 on the LCD 14, and then the user selects “handwritten character composition printing” by operating the cross button 12 and presses the decision button 10. Thus, a signal output from the operation unit 42 is accepted as a synthesis instruction. In the drawing, the items selected by operating the cross button 12 among the items displayed on the LCD 14 are hatched.

  When receiving the synthesis instruction, the control unit 50 sets the order sheet template 113 and the synthesis template 120 (step S102). Specifically, the composition instruction receiving module 61 reads the order sheet template and the composition template from the ROM 52 into the RAM 53. By this processing, a free drawing area 72 of the order sheet 70 corresponding to the compositing instruction is set. Also, with this process, the arrangement according to the compositing instruction, the layer vertical relationship, the transmittance of each layer, the printing paper size, and the like are set for the image 122 and the other image 126 in the free drawing area 72. In step S100, the control unit 50 selectively receives a combination instruction corresponding to the order sheet template 113 and the combination template 120 that are different from each other, and sets the order sheet template 113 and the combination template 120 according to the received combination instruction. May be.

  In step S104, the multifunction device 1 receives an instruction to select an arbitrary image file from image files accessible by the user. Specifically, for example, the image selection instruction receiving module 60 displays the image selection screen 1020 shown in FIG. 8 on the LCD 14, and then is output from the operation unit 42 when the user presses the cross button 12 and the determination button 10. In accordance with the signal, an image file of a predetermined format stored in a predetermined folder of the removable memory 3 is selected.

  In step S <b> 106, the multifunction machine 1 prints the order sheet 70. Specifically, the print control module 62 is selected by the reference marks 82 and 107, the verification mark 81, the area frame 110, the frame 200, and the image selection instruction receiving module 60 based on the order sheet template read into the RAM 53. Data of a page to which an image 202 indicating a file is allocated is generated. Next, the print control module 62 performs binarization processing, interlace processing, and the like on the page data to generate print data. Next, the print control module 62 outputs print data to the printing unit 30 and causes the printing unit 30 to print the order sheet 70. At this time, the print control module 62 calculates a checksum based on an image file stored in a predetermined directory of the removable memory 3 and assigns an image representing the verification mark 81 corresponding to the checksum to the frame 108. Further, the printing control module 62 may display the screen 1040 shown in FIG. 8 on the LCD 14 until the printing unit 30 completes printing of the order sheet 70.

The user records an object 116 such as a handwritten character in the free drawing area 72 of the order sheet 70 printed in step S106 as shown in FIG. The outer edge of the free drawing area 72 is clearly indicated by the area frame 110. In the free drawing area 72, in addition to handwritten characters, magazine clippings can be pasted, and characters and images can be printed.
In step S108, the control unit 50 receives a synthesis start instruction. Specifically, for example, the composition instruction receiving module 61 displays the menu screen 1060 shown in FIG. 8 on the LCD 14 and then uses the signal output from the operation unit 42 when the user presses the enter button 10 as a composition start instruction. Accept. Note that after receiving the synthesis start instruction, the control unit 50 may display a screen 1080 shown in FIG.

In step S109, the multifunction device 1 reads the pre-scan area. Specifically, the reading control module 64 causes the imaging unit 20 to read the prescan area and obtain a prescan image.
In step S <b> 110, the control unit 50 specifies the free drawing area 72 of the order sheet 70. Specifically, the reading control module 64 specifies the positions of the reference marks 82 and 107 in the pre-scan image by pattern matching or the like. Next, the reading control module 64 specifies the range of the free drawing area 72 based on the positions of the reference marks 82 and 107. At this time, the reading control module 64 specifies the range of the free drawing area 72 according to the relative positional relationship between the reference marks 82 and 107 and the area frame 110 defined in the order sheet template 113 set in step S102. To do. That is, since the order sheet template 113 is set in response to a composition instruction, the control unit 50 specifies the range of the free drawing area 72 according to the composition instruction.

  In step S110, the control unit 50 identifies the range of the verification mark 81 based on the pre-scan image, recognizes the verification mark 81 represented by the pre-scan image, the checksum corresponding to the verification mark 81, and the removable The identity with a checksum calculated based on an image file of a predetermined format stored in a predetermined folder of the memory 3 is verified. As a result, if the two checksums do not match, the control unit 50 performs error processing. Of course, such error determination and error processing may be omitted.

In step S112, the multi function device 1 reads the free rendering area 72 with high resolution. Specifically, the reading control module 64 causes the imaging unit 20 to read the free drawing area 72 at a higher resolution than during pre-scanning and store the image of the free drawing area 72 in the RAM 53.
In step S114, the control unit 50 extracts an area 130 corresponding to the object 116 recorded in the free drawing area 72 from the image 122 (see FIG. 6) of the free drawing area 72. Specifically, the composition module 66 performs region division processing using a predetermined threshold on the image 122 of the free drawing region 72 and specifies the region 130 corresponding to the object 116. Note that the synthesis module 66 may specify a region corresponding to the object 116 using the pre-scan image. Next, the composition module 66 generates an alpha channel 124 in which the region 130 corresponding to the object 116 is set to be opaque and the other regions are set to be transparent.

  In step S116, the control unit 50 synthesizes the image 122 (see FIG. 6) of the free drawing area 72 and another image 126. Specifically, the synthesis module 66 weights and adds the image 122 in the free rendering area 72 and the other image 126 in step S104 with the alpha channel 124 based on the synthesis template 120, and the result. The resultant composite image 132 is assigned to the frame 128. The synthesis template 120 used at this time is the one read by the control unit 50 from the ROM 52 into the RAM 53 upon receipt of the synthesis instruction. That is, since the image 122 in the free drawing area 72 and the other image 126 are combined based on the combining template 120, the control unit 50 responds to the combining instruction with the image 122 in the free drawing area 72 and the other image 126. Is to synthesize.

  In step S118, the multifunction device 1 prints the composite image. Specifically, the control unit 50 generates data of a page in which the composite image 132 is allocated to the frame 128 based on the composite template 120, and performs binarization processing, interlace processing, and the like on the data to generate print data. The composite image 132 is printed on the paper 134 by generating and outputting the print data to the printing unit 30.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the user combines the handwritten characters with other images by causing the multifunction device 1 to read the order sheet 70 in which the handwritten characters are written in the free drawing area 72. The obtained image can be printed on the multifunction device 1. Therefore, it is possible to easily produce a large amount of printed matter on which the composite image obtained in this way is printed. In addition, it is difficult to cleanly overwrite handwritten characters on a photographic image printed on glossy paper due to the nature of paper and ink. However, according to the above-described embodiment, a user can write handwritten characters on a photographic image printed on glossy paper. It is possible to easily create a print that has been overwritten cleanly.
In addition, the multifunction device 1 prints the image 202 indicating the selected image data and the area frame 110 indicating the free drawing area 72 on one order sheet 70. Therefore, the user can record the handwritten characters and the like to be combined with the selected image in the free drawing area 72 while confirming the selected image on the order sheet 70. That is, the user can record the object in the free drawing area 72 while predicting the synthesis result.

(Second embodiment)
The MFP 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention prints on the order sheet 70 a sample 111 of the synthesis result of the image represented by the selected image file and the image of the object such as a handwritten character (see FIG. 9).
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the composition instruction receiving module 61 corresponds to a composition condition instruction receiving unit. That is, the compositing instruction reception module 61 receives an instruction to select a compositing condition for compositing the image 122 representing the object recorded in the free drawing area 72 and another image 126. The composition conditions are image arrangement, layer vertical relationship, layer transmittance, and the like, specifically, for example, the contents of a composition template. The composition instruction receiving module 61 sets a composition template and an order sheet template according to an instruction for selecting a composition condition.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an order sheet template 113 for printing the order sheet 70. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a composite template corresponding to the order sheet template 113 shown in FIG. That is, the order sheet template 113 shown in FIG. 10 and the composite template 120 shown in FIG. 11 are templates read from the ROM 52 in response to an instruction for selecting the same composite condition.
The order sheet template 113 defines a frame 206 to which an image 208 representing a sample of the free drawing area 72 in which handwritten characters are recorded is assigned. A frame 200 to which an image 202 indicating a file selected by the image selection instruction receiving module 60 is allocated, and a frame 206 are defined inside a rectangular frame 204 that represents the outer edge of a print sheet for printing a composite image. The aspect ratio of the rectangular frame 204 matches the aspect ratio of the printing paper for printing the composite image. When the frame 206 to which the image 208 representing the sample of the free drawing area 72 is allocated and the frame 200 to which the image 202 indicating the file selected by the image selection instruction receiving module 60 overlaps, the order sheet Template 113 defines an alpha channel for setting the transmittance of two images.

  A frame 128a defined by the composite template 120 is an area to which another image 126 is allocated. A frame 128b defined by the composite template 120 is an area to which the image 122 of the free drawing area 72 is allocated. The relationship between the relative size and relative position of the frame 131, the frame 128a, and the frame 128b corresponding to the print paper size defined by the composite template 120 is as follows: the rectangular frame 204 defined by the order sheet template 113; 200 is equal to the relationship between the relative size and relative position of the frame 206. That is, if the frames 128a, 128b, and 131 are regarded as one graphic and the frames 204, 200, and 206 are regarded as one graphic, the two graphics are similar to each other. Therefore, the user can predict the synthesis result by the sample 111 (see FIG. 9) printed on the order sheet 70 based on the frames 204, 200, and 206. The synthesis condition represented by the rectangular frame 204, the frame 200, and the frame 206 defined by the order sheet template 113 corresponds to the first synthesis condition described in the claims. Further, the composition condition represented by the frame 131, the frame 128a, and the frame 128b corresponding to the printing paper size defined by the composition template 120 corresponds to the second composition condition described in the claims.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an image processing method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In step S <b> 101, the multifunction device 1 accepts instructions for different synthesis conditions for synthesizing the image 122 of the object and the other image 126. Specifically, the composition instruction receiving module 61 displays the menu screen 1100 shown in FIG. 13 on the LCD 14, and then the user selects one of the composition conditions by operating the cross button 12 and presses the decision button 10. A signal output from the operation unit 42 is accepted as a synthesis condition instruction. The composition instruction receiving module 61 may guide the user to select a composition condition by displaying a sample 111 specifically indicating the composition result on the screen, or may include “upper and lower two columns”, “superposition”, and the like. The user may be guided to selectable synthesis conditions by displaying a character string on the screen.

  In step S102, the composition instruction receiving module 61 reads the order sheet template 113 and the composition template 120 corresponding to the composition condition instruction received in step S101 from the ROM 52 into the RAM 53. By this processing, the free drawing area 72 of the order sheet 70 corresponding to the compositing condition instruction is set, and for the image 122 and the other image 126 of the free drawing area 72, the arrangement according to the compositing condition instruction, the layer vertical relationship, The transmittance of each layer, the print paper size, etc. are set.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, the sample sheet 111 is printed on the order sheet 70 as a result of combining the image represented by the selected image file and the object such as handwritten characters. The object can be recorded in the free drawing area 72 while specifically imagining.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an order sheet 70 printed by the multifunction machine 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the multifunction machine 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of samples 111 are printed on the order sheet 70, and a synthesis condition instruction is received via the identifier 136 attached to each sample 111. The template for printing the order sheet 70 is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment except that there are a plurality of pieces of definition information for printing the sample 111, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an image processing method according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
After receiving the composite print instruction in step S108, the multifunction machine 1 executes step S101 and receives the composite condition instruction. Specifically, the composition instruction receiving module 61 displays a menu screen 1110 shown in FIG. On the menu screen 1110, one of the identifiers 136 attached to each sample 111 of the order sheet 70 can be selected by pressing the cross button 12 and the determination button 10. The combination instruction receiving module 61 receives any combination condition instruction according to a signal output from the operation unit 42 when the user presses the cross button 12 and the determination button 10.
In step S111, the control unit 50 sets a synthesis template according to the synthesis condition instruction received in step S110. Specifically, the synthesis module 66 reads a synthesis template corresponding to the identifier selected by the user in step S110 from the ROM 52 into the RAM 53.

  According to the third embodiment of the present invention described above, a plurality of samples 111 corresponding to the synthesis conditions that can be selected by the user are printed on the order sheet 70. Therefore, the user can specifically recognize selectable synthesis conditions even when the resolution of the LCD 14 is low and the screen size is small.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an order sheet 70 printed by the multifunction machine 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the multifunction machine 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of check boxes 88 for selecting a synthesis condition are printed on the order sheet 70, and the handwriting 88m filled with the check boxes 88 is optically recognized to synthesize. Set conditions. In the template for printing the order sheet 70, a check box 88 is arranged immediately below each of the plurality of samples 111 representing the synthesis result. The user can select a synthesis condition corresponding to the sample 111 arranged immediately above the check box 88 by painting one of the check boxes 88. The handwriting 88m in which the check box 88 is filled corresponds to the synthesis condition instruction.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an image processing method according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In step S <b> 111, the control unit 50 sets a composite template corresponding to the filled check box 88. Specifically, the synthesis module 66 determines which check box 88 is filled based on the pre-scan image, and reads a synthesis template corresponding to the filled check box 88 from the ROM 52 to the RAM 53. As a result, the control unit 50 recognizes the composition condition represented by the sample 111 instructed by the composition condition instruction recorded on the order sheet 70.

  According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention described above, since the user can instruct the synthesis condition by filling the check box 88 before and after recording the handwritten character or the like in the free drawing area 72, the synthesis condition is easily set. be able to.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing an order sheet 70 printed by the multifunction machine 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the multi function device 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, check boxes 91 and 76 for selecting printing conditions are printed on the order sheet 70, and handwriting 91m and 76m in which the check boxes 91 and 76 are filled are optically recognized. To set the printing conditions. The user can select any one of a plurality of types of printing paper by painting any one of the plurality of check boxes 91. Further, the user can select the number of prints by painting any one of the plurality of check boxes 76.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the user can instruct the printing condition by filling the check boxes 91 and 76 before and after recording the handwritten character or the like in the free drawing area 72, so that the printing condition can be easily set. .

The schematic diagram which shows the order sheet | seat which concerns on the 1st Example of this invention. 1 is a front view of a multifunction machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram which shows the order sheet template which concerns on the 1st Example of this invention. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the synthetic | combination template concerning the 1st Example of this invention. (B) is a schematic diagram showing a synthesis result. The flowchart which concerns on the 1st Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the screen transition which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the order sheet which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the order sheet template which concerns on the 2nd Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the synthetic | combination template concerning the 2nd Example of this invention. The flowchart which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the screen transition which concerns on the 2nd Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the order sheet which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the screen transition which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the order sheet which concerns on 4th Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which concerns on 4th Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the order sheet | seat which concerns on 5th Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 MFP (image processing system), 20 imaging part, 30 printing part, 60 image selection instruction | indication reception module (image selection instruction | indication reception means), 61 composition instruction | indication reception module (composition condition instruction | indication reception means), 62 print control module (printing) Control means), 64 reading control module (reading control means), 66 composition module (composition means), 70 order sheet, 110 area frame (area notation), 116 object

Claims (5)

Image selection instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction to select any one or more of the accessible image data;
Print control means for causing a printing unit to print an image indicating the selected image data and an area notation indicating a free drawing area on a sheet of paper;
Reading control means for causing the imaging unit to read the paper on which the object is recorded in the free drawing area;
Combining means for synthesizing the image represented by the selected image data and the image of the free drawing area read by the imaging unit so that the image represented by the selected image data is overwritten with the image of the free drawing area. When,
With
An image processing system, wherein an image indicating the image data and an area notation indicating the free rendering area printed by the print control unit have the same aspect ratio and do not overlap. The image processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising the imaging unit and the printing unit. The image processing system according to claim 2 , further comprising an interface for connecting the printing unit and the imaging unit. A program for causing a computer to function as the image processing system according to claim 1 to 3, wherein. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 4 is recorded.

Images