JP4958117B2 - Halftone data production apparatus and production program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a halftone data production apparatus and production program that require a particularly delicate halftone dot configuration in printed matter that requires prevention of counterfeiting and tampering such as banknotes, passports, securities, cards, and valuable printed matter.

  In recent years, with the increase in image quality of color copying machines and computerization of color platemaking technology, counterfeiting means for banknotes and securities tend to be diversified. In particular, the resolution of image input / output devices used in the printing industry has significantly improved, and the extraction of fine lines and minute characters used in securities has become relatively easy. As a result, it was possible to extract with high precision the input and output devices such as scanners, which are composed of fine lines, such as the background pattern, the color pattern, and the relief pattern, which are adopted in many of the current securities. Not only counterfeiting by the general commercial printing method consisting of a four-color halftone dot composition, but a more full-fledged counterfeit ticket using many special color plates has increased.

  Therefore, the applicant of the present invention is a method for producing a halftone print in which a measure for preventing forgery is added to a continuous tone image, that is, as shown in FIG. Each type of halftone area is assigned to a single continuous tone image corresponding to each of the two types of halftone areas after providing each type of halftone area without gaps. As a printing method of a halftone print product that prints halftone dots for expressing a continuous tone image corresponding to, and prints two continuous tone images in a predetermined area, it is composed of circular dots in two types of halftone areas The first threshold data generation unit is provided, and is composed of circular dots having a pixel density lower than that of the first threshold data in the two types of halftone regions. The second threshold data generating unit is provided, and circular dots are arranged, whereby the image data obtained by the first threshold data generating unit and circular dots having a low pixel density are arranged, so that the second threshold is obtained. A command conversion unit is provided for converting each image data of the image data obtained by the data generation unit into a command conforming to HalftoneType16 of the Postscript halftone generation method, and the first threshold data generation unit and the second threshold data generation are provided. A part for storing halftone dot data corresponding to both of the parts is provided, and a raster processing part for giving a command for generating halftone dots is provided to generate a TIFF monochrome binary halftone image 1. Next, there is provided a first threshold data generating unit composed of inverted circular dots obtained by inverting black and white in two types of halftone areas, and circular dots having a pixel density lower than that of the first threshold data in the two types of halftone areas. By providing the second threshold data generating unit configured by the above and arranging the inverted circular dots, the second threshold data can be obtained by arranging the image data and the circular dots obtained by the first threshold data generating unit. A command conversion unit for converting each image data of the image data obtained by the generation unit into a command conforming to Halftone Type 16 of the Postscript halftone generation method is provided, and the first threshold data generation unit and the second threshold data generation unit A halftone dot data storage unit corresponding to both The obtaining raster processing unit provided, halftone image 2 black and white binary TIFF is generated. Then, an image calculation processing unit for the generated TIFF monochrome binary halftone images 1 and 2 is provided, a generation unit for the mask 1 in which m × m pixels are painted black is provided, an inversion unit for the mask 1 is provided, and n A generation unit for the mask 2 in which xn pixels are painted black is provided. The halftone area is divided into a halftone area of m × m pixels and a halftone area of n × n pixels by the masks 1 and 2 thus obtained, and one continuous tone image is obtained for each type of halftone area. Is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  According to this method, regardless of which type of functional ink is used, the latent image is visually recognized under predetermined viewing conditions corresponding to the optical characteristics of the functional ink used for printing the latent image. However, such an anti-counterfeiting measure has a problem that it can only be applied to products that are economical in terms of production cost because expensive functional materials are required.

  In view of this, the present applicant, when two types of halftone images are equally arranged on the same plane, uses cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black ( Among the basic four-color inks or toners of K), the black (K) ink is a black pigment mainly composed of carbon black, and an ink having absorption characteristics over the entire region from the ultraviolet region to the infrared region is used. If the superposition of cyan (C) ink, magenta (M) ink, and yellow (Y) ink among the four basic colors does not absorb infrared rays, a special appraisal device such as an infrared camera is used. It was noticed that only images printed with carbon black-containing black (K) ink can be viewed.

  As shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of sets of one first halftone region (1 ′) and one second halftone region (2 ′) adjacent to the first halftone region (1 ′). The first halftone region (1 ′) is arranged to be larger than the second halftone region (2 ′) so that it can be observed with the naked eye, and cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow ( Y). Further, the second halftone area (2 ′) includes a 2a area (2a ′) formed using a monochrome black color material (for example, carbon black) containing an infrared absorbing dye, and a background portion thereof. 2b region formed by using black (so-called process black) ink obtained by superimposing cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y) color materials that do not contain an infrared absorbing dye. According to the ratio to (2b ′), when a printed matter in which a latent image with gradation is formed is prepared and observed in an infrared environment, only the latent image formed with carbon black is present. When copying, and a copy is formed in black without distinction between the two, a halftone dot arrangement that makes it impossible to visually recognize a latent image (for example, patent document) 2).

  Furthermore, in the Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-303901, the present applicant obtains the delicate halftone dot configuration in the above-described latent image printed matter as an output matter in a desired state. Therefore, the actual shape of the printed matter and the penetration of the ink into the paper We have proposed a halftone dot production method that allows the design of halftone dots to be output in a desired state, taking into account errors between the design values before output and the measured values of the output. . This is because (1) the net value on the actual printed matter according to various printing conditions such as the type of the output device such as the printer and the base material stored in advance with respect to the design value of the desired halftone dot to be applied on the base material. From the data regarding the difference in the shape and size of the points, the setting value of the appropriate halftone dot is calculated. (2) Based on the design value of the appropriate halftone dot, the first halftone dot region and the second halftone dot are calculated. A basic mask for dividing the dot area into images is prepared. (3) In the first halftone area and the second halftone area, halftone dots constituting a visible image having a density gradation are generated. 4) Arrange so that the 2a halftone dot region constituted by using the color material containing the functional material and the 2b halftone dot region constituted by using the color material not containing the functional material do not overlap. (5) Finally, the halftone dot of the visible image is generated. A method of combining the dots of the latent image.

JP 2001-205917 A Japanese Patent No. 3544536 Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-303901

  However, in both methods, those who have mastered the halftone dot data creation method needed to create the plate data manually. Since it depends on manual work, it takes time and mistakes may be mixed.

  The present invention aims to solve the above-described problems. Specifically, the present invention has setting item setting means, image input means, calculation means, and image output means, and makes necessary settings by the setting item setting means. Thus, a halftone dot data production apparatus and production program capable of automatically producing halftone dot data in a halftone print are provided.

  The halftone dot data producing apparatus according to the present invention has a first halftone region and a plurality of second halftone regions arranged on a substrate to form a visible image having a density gradation, and the first halftone region is formed on the substrate. The tone area and the second halftone area are composed of an image forming part that forms an image and a background part surrounding or adjacent to the image forming part, or the first halftone area is light or dark or by color The second halftone region includes an image forming unit that forms an image and the background portion that surrounds or is adjacent to the image forming unit, and the second halftone region includes the second halftone region. The image forming portion and the background portion of the tone region are configured using a color material including and not including a functional material, and a halftone region including and not including the functional material. Visible to the naked eye, the latent image is formed depending on the presence or absence of the functional material, or the strength of the characteristics of the same functional material, and / or the type of the functional material. In the halftone dot data producing apparatus in which the latent image is visually recognized by using a discriminating means that matches the characteristics of the functional material, the visible image is displayed on the halftone printed matter. Input a first image that is a source of a first continuous tone image to be recognized and a second image that is a source of a second continuous tone image that is recognized as the latent image only under specific observation conditions Image input means, setting item setting means for performing setting of resolution, coloring and halftone dot shape in the halftone dot data for each setting item, and the first image and the image input by the image input means. Calculation for generating the first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image from the second image, respectively, and synthesizing the generated first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image It has the means.

  In the halftone dot data producing apparatus according to the present invention, the setting item setting means sets the resolution of the halftone dot data, and an arbitrary resolution is input or generated data resolution setting that can be selected from a plurality of prestored resolutions The ratio of the cyan component to the halftone dot data of each of the image forming unit and the background portion in the first halftone region, and the image forming unit and the background portion in the second halftone region, A color setting unit that arbitrarily sets or sets a ratio of a magenta component with respect to the halftone dot data, a ratio of a yellow component with respect to the halftone dot data, and a ratio of the black component with respect to the halftone dot data, or a preset value stored therein. , The height of the first halftone area and the number of the first halftone areas arranged in the height direction, the first halftone area The width of the halftone area and the number of the first halftone areas arranged in the width direction, the number of the second halftone areas arranged in the height and height directions of the second halftone area, and the second halftone area A halftone dot shape setting unit for setting the width of the tone region and the number of the second halftone regions arranged in the width direction, and the shape of the image forming unit of the first halftone region and the second halftone region. It is characterized by having.

  In the halftone dot data producing apparatus according to the present invention, the computing means is constituted by pixels having a size of a single color halftone dot from the first image, a density of a single color pixel distribution, or pixels having gradation information. A first continuous tone image generating unit that generates a first continuous tone image, and the second image has the same image width, image height, and image resolution as the first continuous tone image. A second continuous tone image generating unit configured to generate the second continuous tone image configured by the size of a single color halftone dot or the density of a single color pixel; and an image from the first image. A gray image that acquires width and image height information, assigns the same image width and image height as the image width and image height of the first image, and generates a gray image by assigning gray pixels to all pixels And the gray image. A mask image generating unit for generating a mask image for assigning the first continuous tone image to the halftone region and the second continuous tone image to the second halftone region; and A mask processing unit that performs a mask process for replacing all the portions corresponding to white pixels of the mask image with white pixels with respect to the second continuous tone image by the continuous tone image and the mask image; After performing a coloring process on at least two images including the mask image and the second continuous tone image among the mask image, the first continuous tone image, and the second continuous tone image And an image composition unit that superimposes the mask image on the first continuous tone image, and further superimposes the second continuous tone image on which the mask processing is performed to compose each image. That And butterflies.

  In the halftone data generating apparatus according to the present invention, the mask image generation unit has the same shape as the first halftone region, and is set with a minimum threshold value that is a darker color than the darkest color of the gray image. The first threshold data generation unit for generating the first threshold data, and the highest threshold value that is the same shape as the second halftone area and is a brighter color than the brightest color of the gray image. A second threshold data generator for generating second threshold data, a command converter for converting the first threshold data and the second threshold data into a predetermined command, and the predetermined command. The first threshold data and the second threshold data are combined to generate a threshold data. A threshold data storage unit that stores the data as a data, and converts all pixels included in the first halftone region into white for the stored threshold data, and converts all pixels included in the second halftone region A raster processing unit that performs raster processing for converting pixels to black is provided.

  The halftone dot data generating apparatus according to the present invention includes an image output unit that obtains a halftone print or a printing plate surface by outputting the calculation result obtained by the calculation unit. Features.

  The halftone dot data creation program according to the present invention inputs a first image and a second image as a method for creating halftone dot data of a halftone print having a visible image and a latent image visible by a predetermined discrimination means. A computer comprising image input means, setting item setting means for setting each setting item, and arithmetic means for creating halftone dot data based on the first image, the second image, and the set setting item In the halftone dot data creation program to be executed by the image processing means, the first image that is the source of the first continuous tone image and the second image that is the source of the second continuous tone image are input to the image input means. A resolution setting of halftone dot data for generating the first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image from the first image and the second image, respectively. Coloring And a setting item setting step for setting the dot shape setting by the setting item setting means, the first image and the second image, and the setting for each setting item. Halftone dot data including a gradation step and a calculation step of generating the second continuous gradation image and combining the generated first continuous gradation image and the second continuous gradation image by a calculation means. A generation method is executed by a computer.

  In the halftone dot data generation program according to the present invention, the setting item setting step is configured to select a resolution of the halftone dot data that can be selected from a plurality of resolutions that are input or stored in advance by the generated data resolution setting unit. The halftone dot data resolution setting step to be set, and the coloring setting unit, respectively, the image forming unit and the background unit in the first halftone region, and the image forming unit and the background unit in the second halftone region, respectively. The ratio of the cyan component to the halftone data, the ratio of the magenta component to the halftone data, the ratio of the yellow component to the halftone data, and the ratio of the black component to the halftone data are arbitrarily set or stored in advance. The color setting step set according to a certain recommended value and the halftone dot shape setting unit The number of first halftone areas arranged in the height and height direction of the halftone area, the number of first halftone areas arranged in the width and width direction of the first halftone area, The number of the second halftone regions arranged in the height and height direction of the halftone region, the number of the second halftone regions arranged in the width and width direction of the second halftone region, the first And a halftone dot shape setting step for setting the shapes of the image forming portions of the second halftone area and the second halftone area.

  In the halftone dot data generation program according to the present invention, the calculation step is constituted by pixels having a size of a single color halftone dot from the first image, a density of a single pixel distribution, or gradation information. Generating the first continuous tone image; and the size of a single color halftone dot so as to have the same image width, image height and image resolution as the first continuous tone image; Generating the second continuous tone image composed of pixels having coarse or dense pixel distribution or tone information; obtaining image width and image height information from the first image; and Assigning the same image width and image height as the image width and image height of the image and assigning gray pixels to all pixels to generate a gray image; In Generating a mask image for assigning the second continuous tone image to the second halftone region, and the second continuous tone image and the mask. Performing mask processing for replacing all portions corresponding to white pixels of the mask image with white pixels for the second continuous tone image by an image; and the mask image, the first continuous tone After color processing is performed on at least two images including the mask image and the second continuous tone image among the image and the second continuous tone image, the image is applied to the second continuous tone image. The method further comprises the step of superimposing the mask images, and further superimposing the second continuous tone image on which the mask processing has been performed to synthesize the images.

  According to the halftone dot data creation program of the present invention, the step of generating the mask image has the same shape as the first halftone region, and a minimum threshold value that is a darker color than the darkest color of the gray image. Generating a set first threshold data; and a second threshold set in the same shape as the second halftone area and set to a highest threshold value that is a brighter color than the brightest color of the gray image. Generating threshold data; converting the first threshold data and the second threshold data into a predetermined command; the first threshold data converted into the predetermined command; and the second threshold data Combining threshold data and storing the data as halftone data; and A raster process for converting all pixels included in the first halftone area to white and converting all pixels included in the second halftone area to black. It is characterized by that.

  The halftone data production program according to the present invention includes an image output program for obtaining a halftone print or printing plate by outputting the calculation result obtained by the calculation step. And

  Even a person who does not have special knowledge about halftone dot data produced by the production program for executing the halftone dot data producing apparatus according to the present invention and the halftone dot printed matter produced from the produced halftone dot data can be easily used. Data can be generated. In addition, there is less room for work mistakes and the time required for data preparation is dramatically reduced.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a halftone dot configuration of halftone dot data in the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for producing halftone data in the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a block diagram of computing means in the device for creating halftone data in the present invention. FIG. 5 shows an example of an operation screen of a program for creating halftone data in the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a difference in halftone dot area ratio in setting the shape of the image forming unit, which is one of setting items when creating halftone dot data in the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method for creating halftone data in the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a detailed halftone dot design of halftone dot data in the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a mask image generation method in the halftone data creation method of the present invention. FIG. 10A shows the first threshold data of m × m pixels in the present invention, and FIG. 10B shows the second threshold data of n × n pixels in the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a first image (a), a gray image (b), and a second image (c) in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows a mask image (a), a second continuous tone image (b) before mask processing, and a second continuous tone image (c) after mask processing in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 shows a composite image in one embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 (a) shows an example of a halftone print produced by the halftone data in the present invention, and a partially enlarged view of this halftone print is shown in FIG. 1 (b). Hereinafter, the structure of halftone dot data as shown in FIG.

(Structure of halftone dot data)
In the halftone dot data, the first halftone area (1) and the second halftone area (2) include the first halftone area (1) as one of the basic units constituting the halftone dot data. A plurality are regularly arranged so as to surround the second halftone region (2). When a plurality of first halftone areas (1) and second halftone areas (2) are arranged, the shapes of the areas may be the same or different, but they are arranged adjacent to each other without a gap. It is necessary to be done.

(First halftone area)
The first halftone regions (1) are all the same shape, and may be polygonal, circular, or graphic, but are more preferably square or rectangular. The first halftone area (1) is composed of an image forming part (1a) and a background part (1b). By arranging a plurality of first halftone areas (1), a first continuous tone image to be recognized as a visible image on the printed matter is obtained.

(Second halftone area)
The second halftone regions (2) are all the same shape and may be polygonal, circular, or graphic, but are preferably square or rectangular. The second halftone area (2) includes an image forming part (2a) and a background part (2b). By arranging a plurality of second halftone areas (2), a second continuous tone image that is recognized as a latent image only under specific observation conditions on the printed matter is obtained.

  When obtaining a halftone print from halftone data, the ink for printing is the image forming part (1a) of the first halftone area (1) and the background part (1b) of the first halftone area (1). ), Ink having different characteristics is applied to at least part of the image forming portion (2a) of the second halftone region (2) and the background portion (2b) of the second halftone region (2). To do. As a result, under a specific observation condition, only the image forming part (1a) or the background part (1b) of the first halftone region is observed, and the first continuous tone image appears, and another specific observation is performed. Under the conditions, only the image forming portion (2a) or the background portion (2b) in the second halftone area is observed, and a halftone print is obtained in which the second continuous tone image appears. The technology used for this halftone print is “ImageSwitch (trademark registration number 4718813)”.

(Configuration of other halftone dot data)
FIG. 2 shows another example of halftone dot data in the present invention. In the above halftone data, the first halftone area (1) is composed of the image forming part (1a) and the background part (1b), and the second halftone area (2) is composed of the image forming part (2a) and the background. As shown in FIG. 2, the first halftone area (1) may be composed of pixels having gradation information expressed by light and dark or color.

(Device for creating halftone dot data)
An apparatus for creating the above-described halftone dot data will be described based on the block diagram of the apparatus shown in FIG. An apparatus for creating halftone dot data includes image input means, setting item setting means, calculation means, and image output means.

(Image input means)
The image input means is means for inputting the first image and the second image. The first image is an original image of a first continuous tone image that is to be recognized as a visible image on the printed material. In addition, the second image is an original image of a second continuous tone image that is recognized as a latent image on a printed material only under specific observation conditions.

(Setting item setting means)
The setting item setting means has a generation data resolution setting unit for setting resolution in halftone dot data, a coloring setting unit for setting coloring, and a halftone dot shape setting unit for setting halftone dot shape. Set up.

(Generation data resolution setting part)
The generated data resolution setting unit sets the resolution of halftone dot data in the present invention. As the resolution setting, an arbitrary resolution may be input, or a plurality of resolutions stored in advance may be selected.

(Coloring setting part)
The coloring setting unit includes “C”, “M”, “Y”, and “K” in the image forming unit in the first halftone region, and “C”, “M”, “Y”, and “K” in the background portion. And “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K” in the image forming section of the second halftone area and “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K” in the background section Is arbitrarily set or set with a recommended value stored in advance.

  “C” indicates the ratio of the cyan component to the halftone print produced from the halftone data, “M” indicates the ratio of the magenta component to the halftone print, and “Y” This indicates the ratio of the yellow component to the halftone print, and “K” indicates the ratio of the black component to the halftone print.

(Halftone dot shape setting section)
The halftone dot shape setting section includes the number of first halftone areas arranged in the height and height directions of the first halftone area, the number of first halftone areas arranged in the width and width directions, The number of second halftone areas arranged in the height direction and the height direction of the halftone area, the number of second halftone areas arranged in the width and width direction, the shape of the image forming unit in the first halftone area, and The shape of the image forming unit in the second halftone area is set.

(Calculation means)
The computing means calculates the first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image based on the first image and the second image input by the image input means and the setting information set by the setting item setting means. And the generated first continuous tone image and second continuous tone image are synthesized.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the calculation means includes a first continuous tone image generating unit that generates a first continuous tone image from the first image, and a second continuous tone image that generates a second continuous tone image from the second image. 2 continuous tone image generation units, a gray image generation unit that generates a gray image from the first image, a mask image generation unit that generates a mask image from the gray image, and a mask that performs mask processing on the second continuous tone image The processing unit includes an image synthesis unit that colors and synthesizes the first continuous tone image, the mask image, and the masked second continuous tone image.

(First continuous tone image generation unit)
The first continuous tone image generation unit is configured to include a first continuous tone image composed of pixels having a single-color halftone dot area size, a single pixel distribution density, or gradation information from the first image. Is generated.

(Second continuous tone image generation unit)
The second continuous tone image generation unit is configured so that the area of the single-color halftone dot is small or large so that the second image has the same image width, image height, and image resolution as the first continuous tone image. A second continuous tone image constituted by the density of the pixel distribution is generated.

(Gray image generator)
The gray image generation unit assigns the same image width and image height as the image width and image height of the first image after acquiring the image width and image height information from the first image as shown in FIG. At the same time, a gray image is generated by assigning gray pixels to all pixels.

(Mask image generator)
The mask image generation unit generates a mask image for allocating the first continuous tone image to the first halftone region and the second continuous tone image to the second halftone region based on the gray image. .

(Mask processing part)
The mask processing unit performs mask processing for replacing all the portions corresponding to the white pixels of the mask image with the white pixels by using the second continuous tone image and the mask image.

(Image composition part)
In accordance with the designation content of the coloring designation unit, the image composition unit selects the black color of the mask image from among the black part of the mask image, the black part and the white part of the first continuous tone image, and the black part of the second continuous tone image. After replacing the color of the pixel with each specified color for at least two regions including the black portion of the portion and the second continuous tone image, the mask image is superimposed on the first continuous tone image, and further Each image is synthesized by superimposing the second continuous tone image on which the mask processing is performed.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the mask image generation unit includes a first threshold data generation unit, a second threshold data generation unit, a command conversion unit, a threshold data storage unit, and a raster processing unit.

(First threshold data generator)
The first threshold data generation unit generates first threshold data having the same shape as that of the first halftone area and a minimum threshold value that is darker than the darkest color of the gray image.

(Second threshold data generator)
The second threshold data generation unit generates second threshold data having the same shape as the second halftone region and a maximum threshold value that is a brighter color than the brightest color of the gray image.

(Command conversion part)
The command conversion unit converts the first threshold data and the second threshold data into a predetermined command.

(Threshold data storage)
The threshold data storage unit combines the first threshold data and the second threshold data converted into a predetermined command, and stores them as threshold data.

(Raster processing part)
The raster processing unit performs raster processing on the gray image using the stored threshold data, and converts the gray image to halftone, thereby converting all pixels included in the first halftone region to white, All pixels included in the halftone area are converted to black.

(Image output means)
The image output means obtains a printing plate and / or printed matter based on the produced halftone dot data. Specific examples of the image output means include a storage device such as a hard disk, a plate making device such as a film plate output device, or a printing device such as a printer.

(Operation screen in halftone data creation program)
FIG. 5 shows an example of an operation screen in a program for creating halftone dot data. The operation screen includes an “image file” setting unit, a “generated data resolution” setting unit, an “Image Switch type” setting unit, a “coloring” setting unit, and a “halftone dot shape” setting unit.

("Image file" setting part)
The “image file” setting unit (a) inputs the first image and the second image to be input to the image input means described above. The input method of the first image and the second image may be specified by a halftone data designer (hereinafter referred to as “designer”) by, for example, reading an image file recorded in advance on a hard disk. .

("Generation data resolution" setting part)
The “generated data resolution” setting unit (b) sets the resolution of the dot data in the present invention by the setting item setting means described above. The resolution setting may be arbitrarily input by the designer, or may be selected from a plurality of resolutions stored in advance. The resolution set here is preferably matched to the resolution of the plate making apparatus or printing apparatus used to obtain the printed matter produced from the halftone dot data. For example, a resolution of 2540 DPI is generally used for a film plate output machine. is there.

("Image Switch type" setting part)
The “Image Switch type” setting unit (c) sets the type of Image Switch used for the dot data in the present invention by the setting item setting means described above. “Image Switch type” includes “Mono”, “YMCK”, “Material 1 used”, “Material 2 used”, “Material 3 used”, “Half dot only (non-YMCK)” and “Half dot only” ( YMCK) ”and“ free setting ”.

(Mono)
“Mono” is a type in which a visible image of a halftone print can be viewed in a single color, and transmits infrared light to the image forming portion of the first halftone region and the background portion of the second halftone region. Ink is applied, and ink that absorbs infrared rays is applied to the image forming portion in the second halftone area. Moreover, it is preferable that the ink which permeate | transmits infrared rays and the ink which absorbs infrared rays look the same color with the naked eye. With the above setting, in the visible light, the first continuous tone image is observed in a single color depending on the size of the image forming unit in the first halftone region, and in the infrared light, the size of the image forming unit in the second halftone region. Thus, the second continuous tone image is observed.

(YMCK)
“YMCK” is a type that allows the visible image of the halftone print to be viewed in the process color. As shown in FIG. 2, the first halftone area is applied with light or dark ink. In this setting, ink that transmits infrared rays is applied to the background portion of the second halftone region, and ink that absorbs infrared rays is applied to the image forming portion of the second halftone region. The ink applied to the first halftone region preferably transmits infrared rays, and the ink that transmits infrared rays and the ink that absorbs infrared rays preferably have the same color with the naked eye. With the above settings, the first gradation image is observed with light or darkness or color by the ink applied to the first halftone region in visible light, and the image forming unit in the second halftone region in infrared light. The second gradation image is observed depending on the size of.

(Use of material 1, use of material 2, use of material 3)
“Use of material 1, use of material 2, use of material 3” is a setting for obtaining an ImageSwitch print using a functional material for ink. A functional material is applied to each part of the image forming portion of the first halftone region, the background portion of the first halftone region, the background portion of the second halftone region, and the image forming portion of the second halftone region. Which of the ink used and / or the normal ink not using the functional material is applied depends on the type of the functional material used, and the effect of the printed matter obtained is also the same as the type of the functional material used. It depends on.

(Halftone dot only (non-YMCK))
“Only halftone dot addition (non-YMCK)” does not perform coloring and image synthesis of the first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image, and ends the process in the previous step of synthesizing the image. In the calculation means, based on the first image and the second image input by the image input means and the setting information set by the setting item setting means, the first image is subjected to resolution conversion and halftone dot addition. A continuous tone image is generated, a second continuous tone image is generated by applying resolution conversion and halftone addition to the second image, a gray image is generated from the first image, and a mask image is generated from the gray image To do.

(Only halftone (YMCK))
“Only halftone dot addition (YMCK)” does not perform coloring and image synthesis of the first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image, and ends the process in the previous step of synthesizing the image. In the calculation means, the first continuous tone image is obtained by performing resolution conversion on the first image based on the first image and the second image input by the image input means and the setting information set by the setting item setting means. The second image is subjected to resolution conversion and halftone dot addition to generate a second continuous tone image, a gray image is generated from the first image, and a mask image is generated from the gray image.

(Free setting)
“Free setting” is an item selected when the designer arbitrarily sets each setting in the “coloring” setting unit and the “halftone dot shape” setting unit, which will be described later.

("Coloring" setting part)
The “coloring” setting unit (d) performs “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K” in the image forming unit (halftone dot unit) of the first halftone area by the setting item setting unit described above. Setting of “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K” in the background portion and “C”, “M”, “Y” and “C” in the image forming portion (halftone portion) of the second halftone area “K” and “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K” in the background portion are set. This setting includes an automatic setting by a recommended value and an arbitrary setting by a designer.

  Coloring is set in the range of 0% to 100%. When it is 0%, it is completely white, and when it is 100%, it is the darkest color that can be expressed as an image.

  “C” in the color setting is for setting the ratio of the cyan component to the halftone print produced from the halftone data, and “M” is for setting the ratio of the magenta component to the halftone print. Yes, “Y” is for setting the ratio of the yellow component to the halftone print, and “K” is for setting the ratio of the black component to the halftone print.

  The color setting specified here is interpreted later by the image output means and affects the result of the output product such as a printed product or a printing plate. The color setting interpretation method and its influence depend on each image output means. For example, when output by a home inkjet printer, the color setting values are “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K”. It is common to affect the discharge amount of each ink and the size of the landing ink density. For example, when printing with a film plate output machine, each plate of “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K” It generally affects the size of halftone dot area.

  Further, when “YMCK” is selected in the “Image Switch type” setting section, as shown in FIG. 2, the first halftone area (1) is a pixel having gradation information expressed by light or dark or color. And the gradation information of the first image is directly reflected in the gradation information of the first halftone area (1), so that the setting of the “coloring” setting unit in the first image is generated. Not reflected in halftone dot data. Each recommended value stored in advance is called and set in the “coloring” setting section in the second halftone area. The recommended value is an optimum value stored in advance by a halftone dot data designer based on experience in the process of creating halftone dot data.

  In addition, when “Mono”, “Use Material 1”, “Use Material 2”, or “Use Material 3” is selected in the “Image Switch Type” setting section, the “Coloring” setting section displays each recommended value. Is called from a pre-stored recommended value.

  Also, in the “Image Switch type” setting section, when either “halftone addition only (non-YMCK)” or “halftone addition only (YMCK)” is selected, the image is not colored and combined, and the image is combined. The process is completed in the previous step. For this reason, the setting of the “coloring” setting unit is not reflected in the generated halftone data.

  When “free setting” is selected in the “Image Switch type” setting section, “C”, “M”, “Y” and “C” in the image forming section (halftone dot section) of the first halftone area (first image) “K” and “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K” are set in the background portion, and “C” in the image forming portion (halftone portion) of the second halftone region (second image) is set. ”,“ M ”,“ Y ”and“ K ”and“ C ”,“ M ”,“ Y ”and“ K ”in the background portion are arbitrarily set by the designer.

  When the designer arbitrarily sets the color, the color is set in consideration of the function of the halftone print to be produced and the characteristics of the output device to be used. As an example, the infrared transmitting black ink is applied to the image forming portion of the first halftone area and the background portion of the second halftone area, and the infrared absorbing black ink is used to form the image of the second halftone area. In the case where the printed matter given to the copy is produced using an offset printing machine, the image forming portion of the first halftone area and the background portion of the second halftone area are designated as 100% only for “C”. Specify 0% for all of “M”, “Y” and “K”. Further, the image forming unit in the second halftone area designates 100% only for “M” and designates 0% for all of “C”, “Y”, and “K”. For the background part of the area, 0% is specified for all of “C”, “M”, “Y”, and “K”.

  After setting as above, the halftone dot data finally generated is output to the “C” plate and “M” plate using a film printing plate output machine, and infrared transmission black ink is applied to the “C” plate. The target printed matter can be obtained by applying the infrared absorbing black ink to the “M” plate surface and performing printing. Moreover, as a result of producing the printed matter, for example, when the color of the infrared absorbing black ink is too dark and conspicuous, in addition to the method of dimming and adjusting the color of the infrared absorbing black ink itself, the second halftone region There is a method of outputting the “M” plate again after changing the designated color of the image forming unit from “M” 100% to, for example, “M” 90%.

("Dot shape" setting part)
The “halftone dot shape” setting unit (e) performs the first halftone area (1) in the first image and the second halftone in the second image shown in FIG. The size of area (2) is set. The size to be set includes the height of the first halftone area (1) and the number of first halftone areas arranged in the height direction, the number of first halftone areas arranged in the width and width directions, the number of first halftone areas. The number of second halftone areas arranged in the height and height directions of the second halftone area (2) in the two images and the number of second halftone areas arranged in the width and width directions are set.

  Further, the “halftone dot shape” setting unit (e) sets the shape of the image forming unit of the first halftone region (1) in the first image and the second in the second image by the setting item setting unit described above. The shape of the image forming portion of the halftone area (2) is set.

  As the types of shapes in the image forming section of the first halftone area (1) and the second halftone area (2), “reverse mesh shape”, “normal mesh shape”, “divided” or “special” are available. Can be mentioned. However, the shape of the image forming unit is not limited to the type described in the present embodiment, and other shapes may be added to the program and selected.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the difference in halftone shape between when the “reverse mesh shape” is set and when the “normal mesh shape” is set. When the “regular mesh shape” is set, the image forming portion is a region extending in a circular shape from the center of the halftone region as shown by the black portion in FIG. 6A, and the outer periphery excluding the image forming portion The side area is the background. In addition, when “reverse mesh shape” is set, the background portion is a region extending in a circular shape from the center of the halftone region as shown by the black portion in FIG. 6B, and the outer periphery excluding the background portion The area on the side becomes an image forming unit.

  When “division” is set, the first halftone region (1) and the second halftone region (2) are used by the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-35296 proposed by the present applicant. The image forming unit is set.

  Furthermore, when “special” is set, it is possible to set an arbitrary figure such as an arbitrary figure, a logo mark, a character, or the like as the shape of the image forming unit as shown by a black portion in FIG. . As a method for specifying an image forming unit having an arbitrary shape, for example, the method described in Japanese Patent No. 3478474 or Japanese Patent No. 3855013 can be used.

  However, the ratio of the area of the image forming part to the area of the halftone area is constant regardless of the shape of the image forming part in any case of “reverse mesh shape”, “normal mesh shape”, “divided” or “special” If the image forming unit is in the first halftone area, it depends on the brightness of the first image, and if it is in the second halftone area, it depends on the brightness of the second image.

  For example, when a halftone dot is given to a gray image having only 80% of the “K” component as shown in FIG. 6D, as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, Regardless of the shape, the image forming portion occupies 80% of the halftone area.

  In addition, when any one of “Mono”, “Use Material 1”, “Use Material 2”, and “Use Material 3” is selected in the “Image Switch type” setting unit, the image forming unit in the first halftone region For the setting of the shape and the setting of the shape of the image forming unit in the second halftone region, a recommended shape stored in advance is set. The recommended shape is an optimum shape stored in advance by a halftone dot designer based on experience in the process of creating halftone dot data.

  In addition, when “YMCK” or “only halftone dot addition (YMCK)” is selected in the “Image Switch type” setting unit, as shown in FIG. 2, the first halftone region (1) is light and dark. Alternatively, since the image forming unit (1a) is configured by pixels having gradation information expressed by colors, the setting of the shape of the image forming unit in the first image is not reflected in the generated halftone data. . The shape of the image forming unit in the second halftone area is set by the designer from “normal mesh shape”, “reverse mesh shape”, “division”, or “special”.

  When “free setting” or “halftone addition only (non-YMCK)” is selected in the “Image Switch type” setting section, the shape of the image forming section in the first halftone area and the image formation in the second halftone area The shape of the part is set by the designer from “normal mesh shape”, “reverse mesh shape”, “division”, or “special”.

(How to create halftone dot data)
A method of creating halftone dot data using the above-described halftone dot data producing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

(Image input step)
First, the designer inputs the first image and the second image using the image input means in the “image file” setting section (a) of the operation screen (STEP 1). An image input method is specified by a halftone data designer by reading an image file recorded in advance on a hard disk.

(Setting item setting step)
Secondly, the designer sets the type of Image Switch in the “Image Switch type” setting unit (c) of the operation screen by the setting item setting means (step 2). FIG. 8 shows the details of the image switch type and the setting of each setting item.

  The types of Image Switch types are, for example, “Mono”, “YMCK”, “Material 1 used”, “Material 2 used”, “Material 3 used”, “Only halftone dot addition (non-YMCK)”, “Halftone dot” Grant only (YMCK) ”and“ Free setting ”.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the setting contents of the “coloring” setting unit (d) and the “halftone dot shape” setting unit (e) differ depending on the type set in the “Image Switch type” setting unit (c). Also, the recommended setting or the setting by the designer is different.

  Also, the resolution setting, coloring setting, and halftone dot data for generating the first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image from the first image and the second image, respectively, by the setting item setting means. Point shape settings are set (STEP 3).

(Generation data resolution setting step)
By the setting item setting means, the designer sets the resolution of the halftone data in the present invention in the “generated data resolution” setting section (b) of the operation screen. The generation data resolution setting method may be arbitrarily input by the designer, or may be selected from a plurality of resolutions stored in advance.

(Coloring setting step)
By the setting item setting means, in the “coloring” setting part (d) of the operation screen, the designer sets the coloring of the first halftone region (first image) and the second halftone region (second image). . Specifically, “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K” in the image forming portion (halftone dot portion) of the first halftone area and “C”, “M” and “Y” in the background portion. And “K” and “C”, “M”, “Y” and “K” in the image forming section (halftone dot section) of the second halftone area and “C”, “M” in the background section, Set “Y” and “K”.

(Halftone dot shape setting step)
By the setting item setting means, in the “halftone dot shape” setting part (e) of the operation screen, the designer sets the “size” of the first halftone area (first image) and the second halftone area (second image). "And the shape of the image forming unit are set. Specifically, the “size” setting is the number and width of the first halftone areas arranged in the height and height directions of the first halftone area in the first continuous tone image shown in FIG. The number of first halftone areas arranged in the width direction, the number of second halftone areas arranged in the height and height directions of the second halftone area in the second continuous tone image, the width and the width The number of second halftone areas arranged in the direction is set. Further, the shape of the image forming unit in the first halftone area in the first continuous tone image is set, and the shape of the image forming unit in the second halftone area in the second continuous tone image is set.

(Calculation step)
When the input of the image by the image input unit, the setting of the generated data resolution by the setting item setting unit and the setting of the halftone dot are completed, “conversion” on the operation screen is performed. All subsequent steps are processing by the calculation means. Note that this processing is performed according to Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-46966 filed by the present applicant.

  It is preferable that the sizes of the input first image and the second image are the same, but when the sizes of the images are different, first, the second image is subjected to enlargement / reduction processing or / and second By adding a margin to the image and / or truncating the peripheral portion of the second image, the program performs processing for adjusting the second image to the size of the first image.

(First continuous tone image generation step)
Next, the first continuous tone image generation unit performs halftone processing on the first image by a method according to HalftoneType16 of the Postscript halftone generation method, thereby reducing the area of the single color halftone dot or A first continuous tone image expressed by the density of the monochrome pixel distribution is generated. However, when “YMCK” or “halftone addition only (YMCK)” is selected in the “Image Switch type” setting unit, the generated data resolution setting unit performs the first image instead of the halftone process. By performing only the conversion processing to the set resolution, a first continuous tone image expressed by pixels having tone information is generated.

(Second continuous tone image generation step)
Next, the second continuous tone image generation unit performs halftone processing on the second image by a method according to HalftoneType16 of the Postscript halftone generation method, thereby reducing the area of the single color halftone dot or A second continuous tone image expressed by the density of the monochrome pixel distribution is generated.

(Gray image generation step)
Next, the gray image generation unit generates a gray image from the first image (STEP 4). The gray image is generated by acquiring the image width and image height information from the first image, creating a new image file, assigning gray pixels to all the pixels, and generating the image width and image height of the first image. By assigning the same image width and image height, a gray image is generated.

  The gray pixels may be anything from 1 to 99% halftone gray excluding the darkest and lightest colors that can be represented in the image format used for the gray image, but the 100% gray image that is the darkest color. It is preferable that the color is sufficiently different from both the (black) and the brightest 0% gray image (white). The reason for using the 1-99% gray image will be described later.

  Note that the acquisition method of the image width and image height information differs depending on the image format used. For example, when the image format is the EPS format, a tag in which the image width and image height information is described is included in the image file. For example, when the image format is the BMP format, the image resolution information and the pixel number information described at a predetermined position in the image file are acquired and calculated to obtain the image width. And obtaining image height information. Similarly, the gray pixel assigning method and the image width and image height assigning method are also carried out according to a method determined for each image format. The gray image generated by the above method has the same image width and image height as the first image.

(Mask image generation step)
Next, the mask image generation unit converts the gray image generated from the first image and generates a mask image (STEP 5). A detailed process for generating a mask image from a gray image will be described. The mask image is an image necessary for assigning the so-called first halftone area to the first continuous tone image and assigning the second continuous tone image to the second halftone area. The mask image is black and white binarized data that can be generated by Halftone Type 16 of the Postscript halftone generation method. In order to generate a mask image, “1 to 99% gray image” and “No. 1 threshold data "and" second threshold data "are required.

(First threshold data generation step)
First, the first threshold data generator generates first threshold data (STEP 5-1). FIG. 10A shows the first threshold data of m × m pixels, and the bit map data becomes the first threshold data. The first threshold data has the same shape and the same size as the first halftone area, and is generated in a state in which a sufficiently dark color is set for all the pixels of the first threshold data. The sufficiently dark color refers to a darker color than the darkest color included in the gray image, and is set by a so-called minimum threshold, and is an image format used in the first threshold data. The darkest color that can be expressed, that is, “black” is preferable. The reason why it is preferable that the first threshold data is “black” will be described later.

(Second threshold data generation step)
Next, the second threshold data generator generates second threshold data (STEP5-2). FIG. 10B shows the second threshold data of n × n pixels, and the bit map data becomes the second threshold data. The second threshold data has the same shape and the same size as the second halftone area, and is generated in a state in which a sufficiently bright color is set for all the pixels of the second threshold data. A sufficiently bright color refers to a lighter color than the brightest color included in the gray image, which is set by the so-called maximum threshold and is expressed in the image format used in the second threshold data. The brightest color possible, i.e. "white" is preferred. The reason why it is preferable that the second threshold data is “white” will be described later.

(Command conversion step)
Next, the command conversion unit converts the first threshold data and the second threshold data into commands conforming to HalftoneType16 of the Postscript halftone generation method (STEP 5-3).

(Threshold data storage step)
Next, the output result of the command conversion is combined and stored by the threshold data storage unit (STEP 5-4). A command conforming to HalftoneType16 of the Postscript halftone dot generation method for giving a halftone dot to a gray image is assigned to the output result using the first threshold data and the second threshold data. As described above, this gray image is preferably a single-color image using only halftone gray, but all the pixels constituting the gray image are used in the first threshold data and the second threshold data. It needs to be brighter than the darkest color that can be expressed in the image format and darker than the brightest color that can be expressed in the image format.

(Raster processing step)
Next, the raster processing unit performs raster processing on the gray image using the stored output result, thereby converting the gray image into halftone dots (STEP 5-5). In this process, since the first threshold data is set to a sufficiently dark color for all the pixels, all the pixels included in the first halftone region of the gray image are converted to white. Similarly, in the second threshold data, since a sufficiently bright color is set for all the pixels, all the pixels included in the second halftone area of the gray image are converted to black.

  A method for converting a gray image into halftone dots will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the “first halftone area” and the “first threshold data” in the gray image are compared. In this case, the “first halftone area” is determined to be brighter than the “first threshold data” and is converted to white. Next, the “second halftone area” and the “second threshold data” in the gray image are compared. In this case, it is determined that the “second halftone area” is darker than the “second threshold data” and is converted to black.

  Through the series of processes described above, a mask image in which white pixels are assigned to the first halftone area and black pixels are assigned to the second halftone area is generated (STEP 5-6). . By using this mask image, it is possible to provide two types of halftone areas in one printed matter, and it is possible to independently assign different continuous tone images to each of the two types of halftone areas. .

  The reason why a 1 to 99% gray image is necessary for mask generation is that if the gray image is not 1 to 99%, that is, if the gray image is 0%, it is white, and white and the “second threshold” Even if the “data” is compared, since the colors are completely the same, it is not possible to determine the brightness and darkness, and no pixel conversion is performed. On the other hand, 100% of the gray image is black, and even if black is compared with the “first threshold data”, it is completely the same color, so it cannot be judged whether it is bright or dark, and pixel conversion is not performed. . Therefore, a gray image excluding white and black is necessary.

  Further, assuming that the gray image is 1 to 99%, the “first threshold data” for comparison with the gray image is 100% gray image in which all pixels are sufficiently dark, that is, black. The “second threshold data” is preferably 0% of a gray image in which a sufficiently bright color is set for all pixels, that is, white.

(Mask processing step)
Next, the mask processing unit performs mask processing on the mask image and the second continuous tone image (STEP 6). This is because the second continuous tone image is subjected to a process of replacing all the portions corresponding to the white pixels of the mask image with white pixels, so that the first halftone region in the second continuous tone image is replaced. All corresponding parts are replaced with white.

  In the “Image Switch type” column, when either “halftone addition only (non-YMCK)” or “halftone addition only (YMCK)” is selected, the processing up to this point ends.

  The following processing steps are only performed when "Free Setting", "Mono", "Use Material 1", "Use Material 2" or "Use Material 3" is selected in the "Image Switch Type" column. It becomes.

(Image composition step)
Next, the image composition unit replaces the black portion of the mask image and the black portion of the second continuous tone image with each specified color in accordance with the designation content of the coloring designation unit, and the first continuous tone image is a monochrome network. When the gradation is expressed by the size of the area of the dots or the density of the single-color pixel distribution, the black portion of the first continuous tone image and the white portion of the first continuous tone image are represented by the designated colors. replace. After the color replacement processing, the image composition unit further superimposes the mask image on the first continuous tone image, and further superimposes the second continuous tone image after mask processing on the first continuous tone image. Synthesis is performed (STEP 7).

  The dot data is created through the above steps. The generated halftone dot data includes two continuous tone image information of a first continuous tone image using the first image as an original image and a second continuous tone image using the second image as an original image. included.

(Image output step)
Furthermore, it is also possible to produce a halftone print based on the produced halftone data (STEP 8). For producing the halftone print, for example, there are a method in which image data is color-separated and a printing plate surface is output and printed by a commercial printing machine, or a method in which the image data is directly output by an inkjet printer.

  In the following, an example of halftone dot data specifically produced according to the best mode for carrying out the invention will be described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to this example.

(Image input by image input means)
First, the “image file” setting unit on the operation screen inputs the first image and the second image. FIG. 12 shows the first image (a) and the second image (c). The first image (a) is an image that becomes a visible image in the final halftone dot printed material, and the second image (c) is a latent image that appears in the final halftone dot printed material under specific conditions. It is an image.

(Detailed setting by setting item setting means)
Secondly, the resolution of halftone data is set in the “generation data resolution” setting section on the operation screen. In this example, 2540 DPI was directly input in accordance with the resolution of the film printing plate output machine.

  Third, the type of image switch is selected in the “Image Switch type” setting unit on the operation screen. In this embodiment, “YMCK” is designated.

  Fourth, in the “color specification” setting unit on the operation screen, the image forming unit and the background unit of the first halftone region in the first continuous tone image, and the second in the second continuous tone image Specifies the coloring of the image forming portion and the background portion of the halftone area. In this embodiment, cyan (C) 100% + magenta (M) 100% + yellow (Y) 100% is designated as the background portion of the second halftone region, and the image forming portion of the second halftone region is designated. Black (K) 100% was specified. In the other coloring designation fields, 0% was entered. However, since “YMCK” is designated in the “Image Switch type” field this time, the color designation of the first continuous tone image is automatically performed.

  Fifth, in the “halftone dot designation” setting unit on the operation screen, the number of first halftone areas arranged in the height and height direction of the first halftone area, and the first arranged in the width and width directions. The number of second halftone areas, the number of second halftone areas arranged in the height and height directions of the second halftone area, the number of second halftone areas arranged in the width and width directions, The shape of the image forming unit in the halftone area and the second halftone area is set.

  In this embodiment, the size of the first halftone area is set to height × width = 50 × 50 pixels, and the size of the second halftone area is set to height × width = 30 × 30 pixels. . The number of halftone areas was all set to 1. Since 2540 DPI is set in “Generation Data Resolution”, the first halftone area is 0.5 mm in width and height, and the second halftone area is in width and height. Both are 0.3 mm in size. Furthermore, “regular net shape” is designated as the shape of the image forming portion in the second halftone area. Thereby, the halftone dots of the second continuous tone image are generated from the center of the second halftone region toward the outer peripheral direction. In addition, since “YMCK” is designated in the “Image Switch type” field this time, the halftone dot shape of the first continuous tone image cannot be designated.

  Sixth, the “conversion” button on the operation screen was pressed to specify the file name of the output image.

  The first image in FIG. 12A is 4 cm wide × 3 cm high, has a resolution of 300 DPI, and depends on color information of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). The image is composed.

  The second image in FIG. 12C is a grayscale image having the same size as the first continuous tone image, a width of 4 cm × a height of 3 cm, and a resolution of 72 DPI.

  The gray image in FIG. 12B is automatically generated by the program, and gray of 50% density is assigned to all pixels. The gray image is generated as a grayscale image having a width of 1 pixel × height of 1 pixel and a resolution of 72 DPI at the time of automatic generation, but later, in the image processing unit, the width is 4 cm × height is 3 cm which is the same size as the first image. And will be resized.

(Processing content by calculation means)
The contents of processing performed by the computing means after image input by the image input means and detailed setting by the setting item setting means will be described.

  The first image (a) is input to the image input unit of the image processing apparatus, and then the color conversion of the first image (a) is performed in the image processing unit, and the black (K) component of the first image (a) Were all replaced with cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y) components. There is no change in the appearance of the image before and after this color conversion, but the first image after color conversion does not contain any black (K) component. Thereafter, the first continuous tone image was generated by converting the resolution to 2540 DPI while maintaining the image size of the first image after color conversion at a width of 4 cm and a height of 3 cm.

  At the same time, the gray image (b) is input to the image input unit of the image processing apparatus, and then, in the image processing unit, the image size of the input gray image is the same size as the first image, 4 cm wide × 3 cm high. Changed. Thereafter, a first threshold image having a size of 50 × 50 pixels in which black is assigned to all the pixels is generated, and a second threshold image having a size of 30 × 30 pixels in which white is assigned to all the pixels is further generated. Generated. Next, a process of embedding a postscript command for generating a halftone dot using the first threshold image and the second threshold image by the command conversion unit was performed. After the output result of the command conversion unit is stored in a file by the halftone data storage unit, the raster processing unit converts it to a 2540 DPI bitmap image having the same resolution as that of the first continuous tone image. A mask image which is a binary image was obtained.

  At the same time, the second image (c) is input to the image processing unit of the image processing apparatus. After that, the image processing unit maintains the resolution of the image size of the second image (c) at 4 cm wide × 3 cm high. Converted to 2540 DPI. Thereafter, halftone processing was performed by a method according to HalftoneType16 of the Postscript halftone generation method, thereby generating a second continuous tone image which is a black and white binary halftone image.

  Next, the mask image (FIG. 13 (a)) obtained from the gray image (FIG. 12 (b)) and the second continuous tone image (FIG. 13 (b)) obtained in the image processing unit are masked. The second continuous tone image input to the processing unit is subjected to a process of replacing all portions corresponding to white pixels of the mask image with white pixels, as shown in FIG. In the continuous tone image, a portion corresponding to the first halftone region (portion corresponding to (1) in FIG. 1) was all replaced with white pixels.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the obtained images were colored and synthesized. First, the black portion of the mask image (FIG. 13A) obtained from the gray image (FIG. 12B) is cyan (C) 100% + magenta (M) 100% + yellow (Y) 100%. After all the colors are replaced, the black portion of the mask image is the color color (cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y)) on the first continuous tone image (FIG. 12A). The mask images after being replaced with are superimposed (STEP 8-1). Further, the black portion of the second continuous tone image (FIG. 13C) after the mask processing is replaced with a black (K) 100% color, and then superimposed (STEP 8- 2) The image data is completed. However, in the process of coloring and combining these three images (STEP 8-1 and STEP 8-2), the white pixel portion of the image to be overlaid is treated as transparent, leaving the lower image. The other parts are overwritten with the image superimposed thereon.

(Production of halftone dot printed matter by output means)
The image data produced through the above steps includes two pieces of continuous tone image information. Based on this image data, printing plates of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K) were output to produce a halftone print. At this time, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) used general process ink that transmits infrared rays, and black (K) used carbon black ink that absorbs infrared rays.

  The printing method was performed using an offset printing machine and the above-described four printing plates. At the time of printing, the portion of cyan (C) 100% + magenta (M) 100% + yellow (Y) 100% and black (K) 100% on the halftone printed material is seen to be almost the same color with the naked eye. The ink density was adjusted.

The halftone dot printed matter produced by the above method was observed under predetermined observation conditions. First, with the naked eye, a first continuous tone image, which is a color original image first input to the image processing unit, is visually recognized, and in infrared observation, a second continuous floor composed of carbon black is used. A toned image was visually recognized.

It is a figure which shows the halftone dot structure of the halftone dot data in this invention. It is a figure which shows the halftone dot structure of the halftone dot data in this invention. It is a figure which shows the block diagram of the apparatus which produces the dot data in this invention. It is a figure which shows the block diagram of a calculating means among the apparatuses which produce the dot data in this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation screen of the program which produces the halftone dot data in this invention. It is a figure which shows the difference in the shape of the image formation part in the setting of the shape of an image formation part which is one setting item at the time of producing the halftone dot data in this invention, and a background part. It is a figure which shows the flowchart which shows the preparation method of the halftone data in this invention. The detailed halftone dot design of halftone dot data in the present invention is shown. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a mask image generation method in the halftone data creation method of the present invention. (A) is the first threshold data of m × m pixels in the present invention, and (b) is the second threshold data of n × n pixels in the present invention. Mask generation with gray image It is a figure which shows the 1st image (a), gray image (b), and 2nd image (c) in one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mask image (a) in the Example of this invention, the 2nd continuous tone image (b) before a mask process, and the 2nd continuous tone image (c) after a mask process. It is a figure which shows the synthesized image in one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the halftone dot block diagram of the conventional halftone dot data.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 'first halftone area 1a first halftone area image forming portion 1b first halftone area background 2, 2' second halftone area 2a, 2a 'second halftone Image forming section 2b, 2b 'of background area of second halftone area a "Image file" setting section b "Generated data resolution" setting section c "Image Switch type" setting section d "Coloring" setting section e "Net Point shape setting section

Claims (10)

A plurality of first halftone areas and second halftone areas are arranged on a substrate to form a visible image having a density gradation, and the first halftone area and the second halftone area are The image forming unit that forms an image and the background unit that surrounds or is adjacent to the image forming unit, or the first halftone region is a pixel having gradation information expressed by light or dark or color. And the second halftone region includes an image forming unit that forms an image and the background unit surrounding or adjacent to the image forming unit, and the image forming unit and the background unit of the second halftone region. Is composed of a color material including a functional material and a color material not including the functional material, and the halftone region including the functional material and the halftone region not including the functional material are visually recognized by the naked eye. A latent image is formed depending on the presence / absence, strength and / or type of the image, the visible image having the density gradation is visually recognized by the naked eye, and the latent image is formed by using a discrimination unit that matches the characteristics of the functional material. In a device for creating halftone dot data in a halftone dot print that is visually recognized,
On the halftone print, the first image that is the basis of the first continuous tone image that is recognized as the visible image, and the second continuous tone that is recognized as the latent image only under specific observation conditions Image input means for inputting a second image as a source of the image;
Setting item setting means for performing setting of resolution, setting of coloring and setting of halftone dot shape for each setting item in the halftone data;
The first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image are generated from the first image and the second image input by the image input means, respectively, and the generated first continuous tone image and An apparatus for creating halftone dot data, comprising arithmetic means for synthesizing the second continuous tone image. The setting item setting means sets a resolution of the halftone dot data, an arbitrary resolution is input or a generated data resolution setting unit that can be selected from a plurality of pre-stored resolutions;
A ratio of a cyan component to the halftone dot data of each of the image forming portion and the background portion in the first halftone region and the image forming portion and the background portion in the second halftone region; A color setting unit that is set with a recommended value that is arbitrarily set or stored in advance, a ratio of a magenta component to data, a ratio of a yellow component to the halftone data, and a ratio of a black component to the halftone data;
The number of the first halftone regions arranged in the height and height direction of the first halftone region, the number of the first halftone regions arranged in the width and width direction of the first halftone region, The number of the second halftone regions arranged in the height and height direction of the second halftone region, the number of the second halftone regions arranged in the width and width direction of the second halftone region, 2. A halftone dot data producing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a halftone dot shape setting unit for setting shapes of image forming portions in the first halftone area and the second halftone area. The computing means generates a first continuous tone image composed of pixels having a size of a single color halftone dot, a density of a monochrome pixel distribution, or pixels having gradation information from the first image. 1 continuous tone image generation unit;
From the second image, it is configured by the size of a single color halftone dot or the density of a single color pixel so as to have the same image width, image height and image resolution as the first continuous tone image. A second continuous tone image generating unit for generating the second continuous tone image; and acquiring image width and image height information from the first image, and having the same image width and image height as the first image A gray image generating unit that assigns an image width and an image height and generates a gray image by assigning gray pixels to all pixels;
A mask for generating a mask image for allocating the first continuous tone image to the first halftone region and the second continuous tone image to the second halftone region by the gray image, respectively. An image generator;
A mask processing unit that performs a mask process for replacing all portions corresponding to white pixels of the mask image with white pixels by using the second continuous tone image and the mask image. When,
Coloring processing was performed on at least two images including the mask image and the second continuous tone image among the mask image, the first continuous tone image, and the second continuous tone image. Thereafter, an image composition unit that superimposes the mask image on the first continuous tone image and further superimposes the second continuous tone image on which the mask processing is performed to synthesize each image. The halftone dot data producing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising: The mask image generation unit generates first threshold data that has the same shape as the first halftone region and is set with a minimum threshold value that is a darker color than the darkest color of the gray image. A threshold data generator of
A second threshold data generation unit configured to generate second threshold data having the same shape as the second halftone region and set by a maximum threshold value that is a brighter color than the brightest color of the gray image;
A command converter for converting the first threshold data and the second threshold data into a predetermined command;
A threshold data storage unit configured to combine the first threshold data and the second threshold data converted into the predetermined command and store the data as threshold data;
Raster processing is performed on the stored threshold data to convert all pixels included in the first halftone area to white and convert all pixels included in the second halftone area to black. 4. A halftone dot data producing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a raster processing section. The halftone dot data producing apparatus includes image output means for obtaining a halftone print or a printing plate surface by outputting a calculation result obtained by the calculation means. 4. A device for producing halftone data according to item 4. A method of creating halftone dot data of a halftone dot printed matter having a visible image and a latent image that can be visually recognized by a predetermined discriminating means is set for each setting item and image input means for inputting the first image and the second image. In a halftone dot data creation program to be executed by a computer comprising setting item setting means to be performed, and arithmetic means for creating halftone dot data based on the first image, the second image, and the set setting item,
An image input step of inputting, by an image input means, the first image that is the source of the first continuous tone image and the second image that is the source of the second continuous tone image;
Resolution setting, coloring setting, and dot shape setting for generating the first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image from the first image and the second image, respectively. A setting item setting step set by the setting item setting means;
The first continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image are generated based on the input first image and the second image and the setting for each setting item, respectively, and the generated first image A halftone dot data producing program that causes a computer to execute a halftone dot data generation method comprising a computing step of synthesizing one continuous tone image and the second continuous tone image by a computing means. The setting item setting step includes a halftone dot data resolution setting step for setting a resolution of the halftone dot data that can be selected from a plurality of resolutions inputted or stored in advance by an arbitrary resolution by the generation data resolution setting unit,
The ratio of the cyan component to the halftone dot data of each of the image forming unit and the background unit in the first halftone region and the image forming unit and the background unit in the second halftone region by the coloring setting unit. A coloring setting step for arbitrarily setting or setting a ratio of a black component to the halftone dot data according to a recommended value stored in advance or a ratio of a magenta component to the halftone dot data, a ratio of a yellow component to the halftone dot data, ,
The halftone dot shape setting unit arranges the first halftone area in the height and the height direction of the first halftone area, and the first halftone area in the width and width direction of the first halftone area. Of the second halftone area, the number of the second halftone area arranged in the height direction and the height direction of the second halftone area, and the second halftone area arranged in the width and width direction of the second halftone area. 7. A halftone dot setting step for setting a number of halftone areas and a shape of an image forming portion in the first halftone area and the second halftone area. Data creation program. The calculation step generates the first continuous tone image composed of pixels having the size of a single color halftone dot, the density of a single color pixel distribution, or gradation information from the first image. Steps,
Depending on the pixels having the same image width, image height and image resolution as the first continuous tone image, the size of the area of the monochrome dot, the density of the monochrome pixel distribution, or the gradation information. Generating the configured second continuous tone image; obtaining image width and image height information from the first image;
Assigning the same image width and image height as the image width and image height of the first image, and assigning gray pixels to all pixels to generate a gray image;
Generating a mask image for allocating the first continuous tone image to the first halftone region and the second continuous tone image to the second halftone region based on the gray image; When,
Performing a mask process for replacing all portions corresponding to white pixels of the mask image with white pixels by using the second continuous tone image and the mask image;
Coloring processing was performed on at least two images including the mask image and the second continuous tone image among the mask image, the first continuous tone image, and the second continuous tone image. And then superimposing the mask image on the first continuous tone image, and further superimposing the second continuous tone image on which the mask processing has been performed to synthesize each image. A halftone dot data creation program according to claim 6 or 7. The step of generating the mask image generates first threshold data having the same shape as the first halftone region and set by a minimum threshold value that is a darker color than the darkest color of the gray image. Steps,
Generating second threshold data having the same shape as the second halftone region and set by a maximum threshold value that is a brighter color than the brightest color of the gray image;
Converting the first threshold data and the second threshold data into a predetermined command;
Combining the first threshold data and the second threshold data converted into the predetermined command and storing them as halftone data;
Raster processing for converting all the pixels included in the first halftone area to white and converting all the pixels included in the second halftone area to black for the stored halftone data. 9. The halftone dot data creation program according to claim 6, 7 or 8, further comprising a step of performing. The halftone dot data generation program includes an image output program for obtaining a halftone print or a printing plate by outputting the calculation result obtained in the calculation step. Or a halftone dot data creation program according to 9;

Images