JP4732199B2 - Image data printing apparatus and image data printing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image data printing apparatus that reads data from a scanner or a digital camera and efficiently prints a part of the read image on a printer or the like, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

  When printing an image taken by a scanner or digital camera, it may be desirable to print a portion of the image as well as the entire image. For example, when a part of a photo is enlarged and printed and printed so as to have the same aspect ratio (the ratio of length to width) of output media such as A4, peripheral data other than necessary data It is necessary to cut off.

  In addition, in order to match the subjective impression of the colors on the monitor and the colors actually output from the printer, the test printing may be repeated by performing delicate color adjustments many times.

  In this case, it is efficient if it is possible to print not only the entire image, but particularly a specific image area that is desired to match colors.

  In addition, with the recent increase in resolution of image data, the size of image data obtained with a scanner or digital camera has increased. If a printer connected via a network prints the entire image unnecessarily, the load on the network is reduced. large.

In order to cope with this, in recent years, a trimming setting function for specifying an image printing area is installed in the printer main body or printing software, and an apparatus that can confirm this trimming area by a personal computer connected separately is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-70862 A

  The above-described conventional apparatus has a problem that the load on the network is large especially when the actual image data is very large in order to transfer the actual image data to the personal computer PC that confirms the trimming area.

  In addition, since image data stored in a memory card mounted on the printer is transferred to the personal computer PC, the image size that can be handled is limited, and the load on the printer itself is large. .

The present invention reduces the processing load caused by handling data of a large data size when printing a desired area among original image data having a large data size obtained by a digital camera, a scanner, or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide an image data printing apparatus and an image data printing method capable of determining an area .

An image data printing apparatus of the present invention includes application software for reading or generating original image data, and a print data generation application for receiving the original image data from the application software, converting the print data into print data, and transmitting the print data to a printer. In the image data printing device, the preview image data obtained by reducing the resolution of the original image data from the application software and information indicating the trimming area of the original image data specified in the application software are displayed in the print data generation application. A preview image receiving means for receiving, and the trimming area of the preview image data based on the preview image data and the trimming area received by the preview image receiving means; Preview image display means for performing processing for displaying a preview image that can be specified in the print data generation application, designation means for designating a trimming area on the preview image displayed by the preview image display means, and the designation means The original image data in the area corresponding to the trimming area designated by the original image receiving means for receiving from the application software in the print data generation application, and the designation means received by the original image receiving means Print data conversion means for converting the original image data in the area corresponding to the trimming area into print data in the print data generation application.

In the present invention, the print data generation application receives preview image data obtained by reducing the resolution of the original image data and information indicating the trimming area designated in the application software from the application software that reads or generates the original image data. Then, based on the preview image data received by the print data generation application and the information indicating the trimming area, a preview image capable of specifying the trimming area is displayed, and the trimming area is designated on the preview image. Then, the original image data of the area corresponding to the trimming area is received from the application software. As a result, the amount of data exchanged between the application software and the print data generation application can be reduced and the processing load can be reduced. A desired print area can be determined by interactively specifying a trimming area on the application software side and the print data generation application side.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating image data reading / generating application software 10 and a print data generating application 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image data reading / generating application software 10 operates on the personal computer PC1, and the print data generating application 20 operates on the personal computer PC2. Further, it is assumed that the image data reading / generating application software 10 and the print data generating application 20 are respectively operating on different personal computers PC1 and PC2 via a communication interface such as a LAN.

  The image data reading / generating application software 10 includes an image data reading / generating process 12, a preview display process 13, a trimming area setting process 14, and a trimming information transfer process 15. Further, the image data reading / generating application software 10 includes a preview image generating process 16, a preview image transferring process 17, an image data storing process 18, and an actual data transferring process 19.

  In the image data reading / generating application software 10, the image data reading / generating process 12 reads image data captured by the scanner 31 or the digital camera 32 connected to the personal computer PC 1. The read image data is stored in the external storage device 33 such as a hard disk by the image data storage process 18.

  The print data generation application 20 includes a preview display process 22, a corrected trimming information transfer process 23, a print data generation process 24, and a trimming area resetting process 25.

  Next, based on the read image data, the preview image generation process 16 creates a low-resolution image for preview.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for briefly explaining the preview image generation process.

  The original image 41 captured by the scanner or digital camera is thinned out using a half thinning filter 42. That is, by extracting only the ON portion (the portion indicated by black in FIG. 2) of the filter 42 from the original image 41, the preview image 43 whose width and height are half of the original image is obtained.

  Similarly, the preview image 45 whose width and height are 1/3 of the original image is obtained by using the 1/3 thinning filter 44. Increasing the thinning amount when generating a preview image reduces the image size accordingly, and increases the processing speed in preview display and image transfer. On the other hand, since the image size is reduced, the setting accuracy of a trimming range described later is deteriorated.

  It is desirable to change the thinning rate according to the purpose of use. In some cases, image data read from the digital camera is accompanied by a preview thumbnail image in advance, and in this case, the thumbnail image may be handled as a preview image.

  Next, the preview display processing 13 displays the generated preview image on the monitor of the personal computer PC1. An operator who operates the image data reading / generating application 10 on the personal computer PC1 (hereinafter referred to as “operator A”) sets an area necessary for printing by a trimming area setting process 14 with reference to the preview image.

  A trimming area is set by operating a mouse connected to the personal computer PC1, and the trimming area is an area surrounded by a square frame.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user interface UI1 of the image data reading / generating application software 10.

  A “read from scanner” button 54 or a “read from digital camera” button 55 is clicked, and a preview image of the read image is displayed in the preview frame 52. The operator A can set the size and position of the trimming frame 53 by operating the mouse. The designation of the trimming area is only a guide and does not need to be set strictly.

  Accurate trimming area setting is executed by the print data generation application 20 described later.

  When the outline of the trimming setting is completed, data is transferred to the print data generation application 20 on the personal computer PC2 connected via the communication interface by pressing the data transfer button 56.

  Next, data transfer processing will be described.

  In the preview image transfer process 17, the preview image generated in the preview image generation process 16 is transferred.

  The important point here is that the transfer target is not the actual image data for printing with a large data size, but a preview image with a small data size, and the actual image data for printing with a large data size is not transferred. is there.

  In the trimming information transfer process 15, the set trimming information is transferred.

  When there are a plurality of types of images necessary for printing, the above series of operations is repeated for the number of images.

  The print data generation application 20 operating on the personal computer PC2 receives the preview image transferred from the image data reading / generation application software 10 and the trimming information. In the preview display process 22, an image preview is performed on the monitor of the personal computer PC2. At this time, the trimming information set by the operator A as a guide is displayed on the preview of the personal computer PC2, and in this case, the trimming frame 53 as the trimming information is displayed as a square dashed frame.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user interface UI2 of the print data generation application 20.

  The transferred preview image is shown in the preview frame 62. Further, the trimming information set by the operator A is displayed as a trimming frame 63. An operator who operates the print data generation application 20 on the personal computer PC2 (hereinafter referred to as “operator B”) can change the size and position of the trimming frame set by the operator A by operating the mouse.

  FIG. 4 shows a state after the operator B has changed the trimming frame (shown by a broken line). If there are a plurality of transferred images, the image number designation button 64 can be used to select an image to be adjusted.

  When the operator B presses the print button 65 after the readjustment of the trimming area, printing is performed.

  Next, the printing process will be described.

  First, the corrected trimming information set by the operator B is transferred to the image data reading / generating application software 10 by the corrected trimming information transfer processing 23 of the print data generation application 20.

  The image data reading / generating application software 10 transfers only trimming designation data in the actual image data read by the image data reading / generating process 12 to the print data generating application 20 based on the corrected trimming information. The “real image data” is expressed as a real image in the sense that it is not a preview image.

  At this time, the real image data may be read directly from the scanner 31 or the digital camera 32, or may be read from the external storage device 33 when already stored in the external storage device 33. What is important here is that the object to be transferred is not the entire actual image data, but the actual image data existing in the trimming area, and only the actual image data existing in the trimming area is transferred.

  The print data generation application 20 converts the received actual image data into print data that can be recognized by the printer 34 connected to the personal computer PC2 by the print data generation process 24. Then, the print data is transferred to the printer 34, whereby actual printing is performed.

  In the first embodiment, the preview image displayed on the image data reading / generating application software 10 and the preview image transferred to the print data generating application 20 are implicitly the same. Note that the preview image displayed on the image data reading / generating application software 10 and the preview image transferred to the print data generating application 20 are preview images generated at different thinning rates as shown in FIG. Also good. If the thinning amount of the transfer preview image is reduced, it can be expected that the trimming area reset accuracy in the print data generation application 20 is increased.

  Further, since the trimming setting and the color adjustment are often repeated and finely adjusted in practice, it is desirable to install the personal computer PC2 in the vicinity of the printer. Further, if the personal computer PC1 for reading data and the personal computer PC2 for printing are installed at locations separated from each other, an installation location of an input device such as a scanner or a digital camera and an output device such as a printer. There is no need to worry about.

In other words, the first embodiment includes an image data reading / generating unit that reads or generates image data, a print data generating unit that receives image data from the image data reading / generating apparatus, converts the image data into print data, and transmits the print data to a printer. Have The print data generating unit includes a preview image receiving unit that receives a low-resolution preview image from the image data reading and generating unit, and a preview display unit that displays the received preview image. The print data generating means receives a trimming area designating means for designating a trimming area on the preview display, and a high-resolution image reception for receiving high-resolution data for printing in the designated trimming area from the image data reading / generating means. Means. Furthermore, the print data generation means has print data conversion means for converting the received high resolution data into print data.

1 is a block diagram illustrating image data reading / generating application software 10 and a print data generating application 20 that are Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure explaining simply the process of preview image generation. It is a figure which shows the example of user interface UI1 of the image data reading production | generation application software 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface UI2 of the print data generation application 20. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10. Image data reading / generating application software,
12: Image data reading / generating process,
13 ... Preview display processing,
14 ... Trimming area setting process,
15 ... Trimming information transfer processing,
16 ... Preview image generation processing,
17 ... Preview image transfer processing,
18 ... Image data storage processing,
19 ... Real data transfer processing,
20 ... print data generation application,
22 ... Preview display processing,
23 ... Correction trimming information transfer processing,
24 ... print data generation processing,
25: Trimming area resetting process.

Claims (4)

In an image data printing apparatus comprising: application software that reads or generates original image data; and a print data generation application that receives the original image data from the application software, converts it to print data, and transmits the print data to a printer.
Preview image receiving means for receiving preview image data obtained by reducing the resolution of the original image data from the application software and information indicating a trimming area of the original image data specified in the application software in the print data generation application ; ;
Preview image display means for performing processing for displaying, in the print data generation application, a preview image capable of specifying the trimming area of the preview image data based on the preview image data received by the preview image receiving means and the trimming area ;
Designation means for designating a trimming area on the preview image displayed by the preview image display means ;
Original image receiving means for receiving the original image data in the area corresponding to the trimming area designated by the designation means from the application software in the print data generation application ;
Print data conversion means for converting the original image data in the area corresponding to the trimming area designated by the designation means received by the original image receiving means into print data in the print data generation application ;
An image data printing apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The application software includes a generation unit that generates the preview image data by reducing the resolution of the original image data, a display unit that displays a preview image based on the preview image data generated by the generation unit, and the display unit And a second designation unit for designating a trimming area on the preview image displayed by the step, wherein the preview image receiving unit receives information for identifying the preview area designated by the second designation unit. An image data printing apparatus. In an image data printing method using application software that reads or generates original image data, and a print data generation application that receives the original image data from the application software, converts the print data into print data, and transmits the print data to a printer.
A preview image receiving step for receiving , in the print data generation application, preview image data obtained by reducing the resolution of the original image data from the application software and information indicating a trimming area of the original image data specified in the application software ; ;
A preview image display step for performing processing for displaying, in the print data generation application, a preview image that can identify the trimming region of the preview image data based on the preview image data received in the preview image receiving step and the trimming region ;
A designation step for designating a trimming region on the preview image displayed in the preview image display step ;
An original image receiving step of receiving the original image data in an area corresponding to the trimming area designated in the designation step from the application software in the print data generation application ;
A print data conversion step of converting the original image data in the region corresponding to the trimming region designated in the designation step received in the original image reception step into print data in the print data generation application ;
An image data printing method comprising: In claim 3,
The application software includes a generation step of generating the preview image data by reducing the resolution of the original image data, a display step of displaying a preview image based on the preview image data generated in the generation step, and the display step A second designating step of designating a trimming area on the preview image displayed in the step, wherein the preview image receiving step receives information specifying the preview region designated in the second designating step. An image data printing method characterized by the above.

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