JP5215829B2 - Image forming apparatus, program, and preview display method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of previewing image data obtained by reading a document image before image formation, a computer-executable program mounted on the image forming apparatus, and a preview display method.

2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as scanners, printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and digital multi-functional machines are equipped with image processing apparatuses that perform various types of image processing on image data of originals read by CCD (Charge Coupled Device) line sensors. It has been.
In automatic exposure processing (AE (Automatic Exposure) processing), which is one of image processing performed by this image processing apparatus, undercolor removal is performed for a document with a background, and an optimal image is obtained for a photographic document. The concentration is formed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Conventionally, some image forming apparatuses such as copying machines have a function of displaying a preview of image data for image formation before image formation (see Patent Document 3).
For example, when image data of a document read by a scanner device is image-formed (printed), the image data to be image-formed is temporarily previewed, and the image is formed (printed) after the user confirms the display. It is a thing.
JP 2008-205652 A JP 58-102268 A JP 2003-005471 A

  The image data read from the document is processed by either automatic exposure processing or no automatic exposure processing depending on the user or the image forming apparatus in advance.

  When you want to remove the background color of a newspaper document, an image with automatic exposure processing is preferred. On the other hand, with a very low density pencil document, an image without automatic exposure processing is generally preferred. In some cases, the processing setting is set in reverse to the user's preference.

  Therefore, if the user determines that the user does not like the print result, he / she must read the document again after adjusting the automatic exposure processing preset of the image forming apparatus to his / her preference. It was annoying to work.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and an image forming apparatus, a program, and a program that are displayed by performing a plurality of types of image processing on a read document image, and enabling selection from among them An object is to provide a preview display method.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus having a function of displaying a preview of image data obtained by reading a document image before image formation. A preview image generation unit that performs various types of image processing to generate a plurality of types of preview images, and a preview display control that simultaneously displays the plurality of types of preview images and displays keys corresponding to the preview images. And a preview image selection unit that acquires which one of the preview images displayed by the preview is selected when the key is pressed , and sets one of the keys as a default. If no key is pressed, the default value is selected and the corresponding key is selected. It is assumed that was pressed. And an image forming unit that forms an image by performing the same image processing as the image processing applied to the selected preview image.

In the image forming apparatus, the image data obtained by reading the document image is read from any one of a scanner device, a storage device inside the device, and a removable storage device.
Furthermore, the image data transmitted via the communication line may be image data stored in advance in a storage device inside the apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus, the plurality of types of image processing performed on the image data obtained by reading the document image includes image processing in which γ correction processing is performed on the image data, and γ correction on the image data. Image processing without processing may be performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a preview display method of an image forming apparatus that displays image data obtained by reading a document image before image formation, by applying a plurality of types of image processing to the image data obtained by reading the document image. A preview image generating step for generating a preview image, a preview display control step for simultaneously displaying a plurality of types of preview images and displaying keys corresponding to the preview images, and pressing the key. , of the preview displayed preview image, one is provided with a preview image selection step of acquiring whether the preview image selected, and leave one of the keys and the default value, one of the key also pressed If not, the default value is selected and the corresponding key is pressed. And it can be implemented as a preview display method shall be the thing.

  Further, the image forming apparatus described above may be realized by a computer. In this case, a program that causes the computer to function as each unit and a computer-readable recording medium that records the program are also included in the scope of the present invention. to go into.

According to the present invention, since the read original image is subjected to two types of image processing and displayed as a preview, and the user can select a desired image, an output result that suits the user's preference can be obtained. it can.
Therefore, it is not necessary to perform extra work such as re-reading a document, and it is possible to provide a user-friendly image processing apparatus.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described by applying it to a digital multifunction machine having a print function, a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, a filing function, and the like.

<Configuration of image processing system>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system constructed using a digital multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
In FIG. 1, the image processing system includes a digital multi-function peripheral 1, external computers 2 and 3, an Internet facsimile machine (Internet FAX machine) 4, and a facsimile machine 5. These external computers 2, 3, Internet FAX machine 4, and facsimile machine 5 are connected as many as necessary.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 1 is one of the embodiments of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In addition to a print function and a copy function, a function for transmitting / receiving image data by facsimile (facsimile function) and / or image data for Internet FAX. A function of transmitting and receiving data (Internet FAX function) and / or a filing function of image data. Various external devices are connected to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via a communication network.

  For example, in the case of FIG. 1, an external computer 2 such as a personal computer (PC) is connected to a communication network LN laid as a local communication network, and is connected via a gateway or the like not shown in the figure. An external computer 3 and an Internet FAX apparatus 4 are connected to the Internet network IN. Further, an external facsimile machine 5 is connected to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via a public telephone line network PN.

<Configuration of image forming apparatus>
Next, functions, configuration and operation of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 of FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 includes a touch panel 10, a panel control unit 11, a recording unit 12, a reading unit 13, a format conversion unit 14, an image storage unit 15, an image processing unit 16, an encoding / decoding unit 17, and a main control. Unit 18, control memory 19, key operation unit 20, LAN (Local Area Network) control unit 21, control buffer 22, network control unit (NCU) 23, modem 24, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface (I / F) 25 is provided.

The main control unit 18 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor).
The control memory 19 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM). A control program (firmware) and various setting data are stored in the control memory 19 so as to be readable from the main control unit 18. Among these, at least various setting data are stored in a rewritable memory. These control programs and various setting data may be stored in a rewritable nonvolatile storage unit such as a hard disk (not shown). The control buffer 22 is composed of a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The above-described control program includes instructions related to generation and display of a preview image, which will be described later, according to the present invention, instructions related to generation / transmission / reception of facsimile images and e-mails, instructions related to document reading, and printing. This is for the main control unit 18 to issue such commands, commands for reading and printing (that is, copying) a document to other parts. This control program is developed on the control buffer 22 by the main control unit 18, and is executed while referring to various setting data described later as appropriate, with the control buffer 22 used as a data area for temporary storage (work).

  The reading unit 13 is a scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), reads a document as a bitmap image of RGB (R: red, G: green, B: blue) having a predetermined resolution, and reads the read RGB image data. (Dot image data) is output to the image processing unit 16.

  As will be described later, the image processing unit 16 is configured by an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or the like, and performs various image processing on target image data. Other parts such as the encoding / decoding unit 17 may be incorporated in the ASIC described above.

  The image storage unit 15 is configured by a hard disk or the like, and includes image data read by the reading unit 13, image data obtained as a result of processing by the image processing unit 16, and images received from the outside via the LAN control unit 21, the NCU 23, or the like. Store data etc. When image data is stored in the image storage unit 15, the data encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 17 can be stored. The image storage unit 15 may also temporarily store intermediate data generated during image processing in the image processing unit 16.

  The encoding / decoding unit 17 compresses the image data by encoding, and decodes (decompresses) the encoded image data into the original image data. For example, the encoding / decoding unit 17 performs encoding of image data read from a document, decoding of the encoded data, decoding of encoded image data received from the outside, and the like.

  In the encoding / decoding unit 17, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) generally used in filing, MH (Modified Huffman), MR (Modified READ), and MMR (Modified READ) generally used in facsimile communication are used. (Modified READ) or the like can be used according to the application. As an encoding method, MH can be adopted in IP facsimile communication, and JPEG and JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image Experts Group) can be adopted in Internet facsimile communication in addition to MH, MR, and MMR.

  The format conversion unit 14 converts the read image data or image data received from the outside into a file format such as PDF (Portable Document Format), GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), or TIFF (Tag Image File Format).

  The recording unit 12 includes a printer device that employs a printing method such as an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method, and functions as an image forming unit that records (that is, prints) image data stored in the image storage unit 15 on a recording sheet. To do.

  The USB I / F 25 is an interface for connecting to a USB device such as a USB memory, and outputs image data after reading a document stored in the image storage unit 15 to the USB device or an image from the USB device. Read data.

The modem 24 is composed of a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication, and is connected to the public telephone line network PN and directly connected to the NCU 23.
The NCU 23 is hardware that performs operations for closing and opening a line with an analog public telephone line network (PSTN), and connects the modem 24 to the public telephone line network PN as necessary.
With such a configuration, the image data stored in the image storage unit 15 is transmitted to the outside by facsimile, or the facsimile image data is received from the public telephone line and stored in the image storage unit 15 or directly by the recording unit 12. It is possible to print.

  The LAN control unit 21 is connected to the communication network LN and performs communication of e-mail data and Internet FAX via the Internet. The Internet FAX is for connecting to a computer network via the LAN control unit 21 and transmitting / receiving electronic mail.

  The touch panel 10 or the key operation unit 20 executes an operation for selecting a desired process from processes such as a document reading process, image data transmission, printing, and filing, an operation for starting the process, and each process. This is an operation input unit that receives an operation (selection operation or input operation) for performing settings required when performing the operation.

  The key operation unit 20 includes a group of keys necessary for operation. The touch panel 10 includes a display unit and an operation receiving unit such as a touch sensor. The panel control unit 11 performs display control of the display unit on the touch panel 10 and operation reception control of the operation reception unit.

  The display unit of the touch panel 10 displays the current operation state, setting information, and the like. This display is realized by the panel control unit 11 controlling so as to display a GUI (Graphical User Interface) image. With the GUI, the display and operation reception position can be changed according to a user operation. Each GUI and its image may be stored in the internal memory of the panel control unit 11 or the control memory 19 so as to be readable. As the display unit, various display devices such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display can be adopted.

The user operation received on the touch panel 10 is interpreted by the panel control unit 11 and transmitted to the main control unit 18 as an operation signal.
Further, the user operation received by the key operation unit 20 is interpreted by the key operation unit 20 itself and transmitted to the main control unit 18 as an operation signal.

  The main control unit 18 issues a command according to the operation signal obtained in this way, thereby causing another part to execute a process according to the user operation. Although the touch panel 10 in which the display unit and the operation unit are integrated has been described, only the display device may be provided instead of the touch panel 10, and in this case, the user operation is accepted only by the key operation unit 20.

  The touch panel 10 and the key operation unit 20 are configured as an operation panel 30 as illustrated in FIG. In the example of FIG. 3, the operation panel 30 includes a key operation unit 31 (corresponding to the key operation unit 20) having various hardware keys, and a touch panel 32 (corresponding to the touch panel 10) configured by a liquid crystal display and a touch sensor. Consists of. In the following description, the touch panel 32 and the key operation unit 31 are applied instead of the touch panel 10 and the key operation unit 20 in the configuration of FIG.

  The key operation unit 31 includes, as hardware keys, a numeric keypad 31a for inputting a numerical value, a clear key 31b for clearing an input set value, an all cancel key 31c for canceling all input settings, a copy start, In addition to a start key 31d for accepting an instruction such as transmission start, function switching keys 31e, 31f, and 31g for switching a print function, a transmission function, and a copy function, and a user setting key 31h for accepting a system setting by a user are provided.

<Description of Preview Display in the Present Invention>
Next, taking the copy function as an example, the preview display in the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a standard screen of the digital multi-function peripheral 1. The standard screen 40 is displayed on the touch panel 32 of the digital multifunction device 1 when the power of the digital multifunction device 1 is turned on or when the digital multifunction device 1 is reset. In the standard screen 40 of FIG. 4, the upper copy key 41 is operated, and various conditions can be set for copying.

On the standard screen 40, in addition to copying, by selecting the image transmission key 42 or the document filing key 43, an image transmission mode for performing image transmission such as facsimile communication, or data storage and confirmation is performed. You can enter document filing mode.
Further, on the standard screen 40, in addition to the preview confirmation key 46 used in the present embodiment, a double-sided copy key 44 for setting double-sided copying, a finishing key 45 for setting punch and staple post-processing, and the like are provided. I have.

  The user presses the preview confirmation key 46 on the standard screen 40, and then presses the start key 31d to start copying.

  When the main control unit 18 detects that the start key 31d has been pressed, the main control unit 18 stores the image data of each page read by the reading unit 13 in the image storage unit 15 and a plurality of types for each page by the image processing unit 16. The image storage unit 15 stores the preview image that has been subjected to the image processing (two types of image processing in the present embodiment).

  When all the originals have been read, the main control unit 18 sends a plurality of types of preview images stored in the image storage unit 15 to the touch panel 32 and displays a preview screen on the display unit of the touch panel 32.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a preview screen. On this preview screen 70, a preview image 71 obtained by performing two types of image processing on the image data of the read original is displayed.

  These preview images 71 are displayed for each page, and the user can display two types of preview images of an arbitrary page by appropriately operating the page switching key 72. The page of the image data currently displayed can also be confirmed by the page display 79.

  Further, the setting confirmation key 73, the enlargement / reduction key 74, the display rotation key 75, and the like are displayed on the preview screen 70 shown in FIG. 5, and the user can print the preview image 71 by appropriately operating these. The setting of the condition can be confirmed, and the preview image 71 can be confirmed by enlarging, reducing, or rotating.

  Further, when it becomes necessary to reset the printing conditions by checking the preview image 71, the user can open a screen for resetting the printing conditions by operating the reset key 76. Then, the print condition can be reset using the reset screen, and the preview image 71 based on the reset print condition can be displayed.

  When the user confirms the preview image of each page and determines a favorite preview image from the two types of preview images, the user selects and presses either the left key 80 or the right key 80. Alternatively, if either the left key 80 or the right key 80 is set as a default value and no key is selected, the default value may be selected and pressed.

The user presses the copy start key 77 after performing this operation for all pages.
When the main control unit 18 detects that the copy start key 77 has been pressed, the image processing applied to the preview image selected for each page is applied to the read image data, and an image is formed (printed). A printed matter is output.

<Functional configuration and operation for preview display>
Next, a detailed configuration and operation of the image processing unit 16 will be described.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of types of image processing are performed on the read document image regardless of a preset setting such as automatic density adjustment for the document, and the following two types of image processing are performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
As described above, since images such as newspaper originals are automatically exposed and the background color is skipped, and images with very low density are not exposed, γ correction processing is performed with respect to RGB images. Since the correction is performed so that the brightness has a linear relationship, the automatic exposure is replaced with the γ correction processing.

(1) After the original image processing is performed on the read image data, a γ correction process is performed to perform a print image processing. Hereinafter, this image processing is referred to as “with automatic exposure processing”.
(2) Print image processing is performed on the read image data without performing γ correction processing after document image processing. Hereinafter, this image processing is referred to as “no automatic exposure processing”.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the image processing unit 16 for performing the preview display in the present invention. In the figure, the image processing unit 16 includes a document image processing unit 161, a preview image processing unit 162, and a print image processing unit 163.

The original image processing unit 161 is called from the main control unit 18 when each page of the original is read by the reading unit 13 and the read RGB image data (RGB bitmap data) is stored in the image storage unit 15. The operation is performed in cooperation with the reading unit 13 until all pages are read.
The document image processing unit 161 performs various image processing such as A / D conversion, shading correction processing, document determination processing, and region separation processing on the read RGB image data.

Here, the shading correction process is a process for removing various distortions generated in the illumination system, the imaging system, and the imaging system of the reading unit 13.
The document determination process includes a process for determining the type of document from the image data after the shading correction process and a process for determining whether the document is a color document or a monochrome document. Examples of the type of document include a character document, a printed photo document, and a character printed photo document in which they are mixed. The document image processing unit 161 outputs a determination signal (hereinafter referred to as document determination data) as a result of these document determination processing and monochrome / color document determination processing.

  The area separation process is a process for determining what kind of area each pixel of the image data after the shading correction process belongs to. For example, each pixel has a black character area, a color character area, and a halftone dot area. It is determined which pixel the pixel belongs to. The document image processing unit 161 outputs area separation data as the determination result. This region separation process may be executed based on the results of the document determination process and the monochrome / color determination process described above.

  The document determination data and the area separation data are stored in the image storage unit 15 in association with corresponding image data (image data after document image processing). At this time, after the original determination data and the region separation data are encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 17, each encoded data is stored in the image storage unit 15 in association with the corresponding image data. It should be noted that encoding at the time of storing in the image storage unit 15 is not essential, but in the following description, it is assumed that image data is stored in an encoded state. The same applies to operations other than the document reading operation.

The preview image processing unit 162 is called from the main control unit 18 when all the image data of the document is read and the operation of the document image processing unit 161 is completed, and is previewed from the image storage unit 15 by the encoding / decoding unit 17. And the corresponding document determination data and area separation data are read and decoded, and various image processing is executed on the decoded image data (RGB image data).
Examples of the image processing include image quality adjustment processing, γ correction processing, color correction processing, spatial filter processing, scaling processing, output tone correction processing, and the like. Spatial filter processing and output tone correction processing are processing according to various regions indicated by the region separation data.

  In the image quality adjustment processing, the background is detected by detecting the background from the decoded image data. Further, as image quality adjustment processing, RGB adjustment (overall color adjustment such as color adjustment and reddish bluishness), brightness adjustment, and image data after background removal based on setting information set by the user through the operation panel 30. Also adjust the vividness. At this time, adjustment may be performed according to the document type indicated by the document determination data.

  The γ correction processing outputs image data that has undergone γ correction processing on image data that has undergone image quality adjustment processing, and image data that has not undergone γ correction processing. As a result, two types of image data “with automatic exposure processing” and “without automatic exposure processing” are generated.

In the color correction process, two types of image data (RGB data) after the γ correction process are converted into image data (R′G′B ′ data) based on the display characteristics of the touch panel 32, respectively.
In the spatial filter processing, enhancement processing and smoothing processing are performed on these image data (R′G′B ′ data).

  In the scaling process, the two types of image data (R′G′B ′ data) after the spatial filter processing are subjected to image enlargement processing / image reduction processing in accordance with the print magnification, and the image data (R The number of pixels ('G'B' data) is converted to the number of pixels (display resolution) of the touch panel 32, and image enlargement processing or image reduction processing is performed based on the preview display magnification set by the user operation on the operation panel 30. . Here, the preview display magnification is a fixed magnification such as 2 times or 4 times, for example, and is a magnification of an image at the time of preview display. Of course, the preview display magnification is not limited to the magnification obtained by the user operation, and when there is no operation for the preview display magnification, the preview display magnification is a default magnification.

  In the output tone correction processing, γ correction processing for displaying image data on the touch panel 32 is performed on R′G′B ′ data of two types of preview images. In the output tone correction process, for example, a process corresponding to the document type indicated by the document determination data may be performed, for example, the processing content is different between the character area and the other.

  Next, when the processing of the preview image processing unit 162 is completed for the image data of all the originals, the main control unit 18 performs two types of preview image data (R′G′B ′) stored in the image storage unit 15. Data) is sent to the touch panel 32, and the panel control unit 11 displays an image corresponding to the R'G'B 'data in a GUI image.

  The user gives an instruction (left key 80 or right key 80) to select any preview image on each page on the touch panel 32, and operates the copy start key 77 when the preview is finished for all pages. Here, the instruction selected by the user is stored in the image storage unit 15 in association with each page.

  When the main control unit 18 detects that the copy start key 77 has been pressed, the main control unit 18 calls the print image processing unit 163 to process the image data processed by the document image processing unit 161 and stored in the image storage unit 15. Perform print image processing. Here, in the print image processing, image processing in which γ correction is performed based on a preview image selection instruction for each page instructed by the user is performed, and one type of image data for printing is generated.

The print image processing unit 163 reads out the image data to be printed and the corresponding document determination data and region separation data from the image storage unit 15 by the encoding / decoding unit 17 and decodes them, and the decoded image data (RGB image) Various image processing is executed on the data.
Examples of image processing for printing include image quality adjustment processing, γ correction processing, color correction processing, black generation / under color removal processing, spatial filter processing, scaling processing, output tone correction processing, and halftone generation processing. . The black generation / under color removal process, the spatial filter process, and the halftone generation process are processes corresponding to various areas indicated by the area separation data.

  In the image quality adjustment processing, the background is detected by detecting the background from the decoded image data. Further, as image quality adjustment processing, RGB adjustment (overall color adjustment such as color adjustment and reddish bluishness), brightness adjustment, and image data after background removal based on setting information set by the user through the operation panel 30. Also adjust the vividness. At this time, adjustment may be performed according to the document type indicated by the document determination data.

  In the γ correction process, a γ correction process is performed on the image data after the image quality adjustment process in response to a preview image selection instruction on each page specified by the user. For example, when a preview image processed with “with automatic exposure processing” is selected, γ correction processing is performed on the image data after the image quality adjustment processing. When a preview image processed with “no automatic exposure processing” is selected, the γ correction processing is not performed on the image data after the image quality adjustment processing.

The color correction process is a process for generating CMY data having CMY (C: cyan, M: magenta, Y: yellow), which are complementary colors of RGB, from the RGB data after the γ correction process to improve color reproducibility. I do.
Black generation / under color removal processing generates black (K) data from color-corrected CMY data and generates new CMY data by subtracting K data obtained from black generation from the original CMY data. The under color removal process is performed.
In the spatial filter processing, enhancement processing and smoothing processing are performed on the CMYK data that is the data of these four colors.

  In the scaling process, an image enlargement process or an image reduction process is performed on the CMYK data after the spatial filter process based on the print magnification set by the user operation on the operation panel 30. The printing magnification is the magnification of the image after printing with respect to the image indicated by the read and stored image data. Of course, the print magnification is not limited to the magnification obtained by the user operation, and when there is no operation for the print magnification, the print magnification becomes a default value.

In the output tone correction processing, γ correction processing for outputting to the recording medium such as recording paper is performed on the CMYK data after the scaling processing.
In the halftone generation process, tone reproduction processing for outputting an image is performed on the CMYK data after the output tone correction processing by error diffusion processing or dither processing. In the output tone correction process and the halftone generation process, for example, processing corresponding to the document type indicated by the document determination data may be performed, for example, processing contents are different between the character area and the other areas.

When the process of the print image processing unit 163 ends, the main control unit 18 passes the CMYK data after the halftone generation process to the recording unit 12.
The recording unit 12 receives CMYK data that has undergone printing image processing, and makes a hard copy (printout) by an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like.

With the configuration described above, the read original image is subjected to two types of image processing and displayed as a preview, and the user can select a desired image from them, so that an output result suitable for the user's preference can be obtained. Can be obtained.
Therefore, it is not necessary to perform extra work such as re-reading a document, and it is possible to provide a user-friendly image processing apparatus.

The document data is not limited to the image data read by the reading unit 13, and for example, image data (transferred in advance from an external recording medium, a network-connected PC, etc.) and stored in the image storage unit 15 ( The same applies to image files.
In this case, the image data to be copied, image transmission or document filing is designated from the image storage unit 15, the preview confirmation key is operated, and the start key is operated to copy, image transmission or document filing. Instructs the start of filing. The subsequent processing is the same as in the case of copying described above.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, the above-described functions of the image forming apparatus and other functions can be realized not only by hardware, but also by loading a computer program having the above-described functions into the memory of the computer. This computer program is stored in a magnetic disk, semiconductor memory or other recording medium provided in the image forming apparatus. Each function described above is realized by being loaded from the recording medium into a memory of a computer provided in the image forming apparatus and executed.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system constructed using a digital multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an external view illustrating an example of a touch panel and a key operation unit in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the example of the standard screen of a digital multi-function peripheral. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a preview screen when a preview confirmation key is operated on the standard screen of FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the image process part for performing the preview display in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

LN ... Communication network, PN ... Public telephone line network, 1 ... Digital multifunction peripheral, 2,3 ... External computer (PC), 4 ... Internet FAX machine, 5 ... Facsimile machine, 10,32 ... Touch panel, 11 ... Panel control unit , 12 ... Recording unit, 13 ... Reading unit, 14 ... Format conversion unit, 15 ... Image storage unit, 16 ... Image processing unit, 17 ... Encoding / decoding unit, 18 ... Main control unit, 19 ... Control memory, 20 , 31 ... key operation unit, 30 ... operation panel, 31a ... numeric keypad, 31b ... clear key, 31c ... all release key, 31d ... start key, 31e, 31f, 31g ... function switching key, 31h ... user setting key, 21 ... LAN controller, 22 ... control buffer, 23 ... NCU, 24 ... modem, 25 ... USB I / F, 40 ... standard screen, 41 ... copy key, 42 ... Send image key 43 ... Document filing key 44 ... Double-sided copy key 45 ... Finishing key 46 ... Preview confirmation key 70 ... Preview screen 71 ... Preview image 72 ... Page switching key 73 ... Setting confirmation key 74 ... enlarge / reduce key, 75 ... rotation key, 76 ... reset key, 77 ... copy start key, 79 ... page display, 80 ... left key / right key, 161 ... document image processing unit, 162 ... preview image processing unit, 163: Print image processing unit.

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus having a function of previewing image data obtained by reading a document image before image formation, the image data obtained by reading the document image is subjected to a plurality of types of image processing to generate a plurality of types of preview images. A preview image generating unit, a preview display of these plural types of preview images at the same time, a preview display control unit for displaying keys corresponding to the respective preview images, and the preview display by pressing the key. A preview image selection unit that acquires which one of the preview images is a selected preview image, and when any of the keys is set as a default value and none of the keys is pressed, an image forming apparatus comprising to Rukoto as the default value corresponding key is pressed is selected The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit for forming an image by performing the same image processing as the image processing performed prior Symbol selected preview image.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of image processing performed on image data obtained by reading the document image includes image processing in which γ correction processing is performed on the image data, and the image An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image process that does not perform γ correction processing on data. A program that operates on a computer mounted on an image forming apparatus that displays a preview of image data obtained by reading a document image before image formation,
The image data obtained by reading the document image is subjected to a plurality of types of image processing to generate a plurality of types of preview images, and the plurality of types of preview images are simultaneously displayed as a preview. A preview display control unit that displays a key corresponding to a preview image selection unit that obtains which one of the preview images displayed by the preview is selected by pressing the key ; When functioning as an image forming unit that forms an image by performing the same image processing as that performed on the selected preview image, and any of the keys is set as a default value, and none of the keys is pressed , program that shall the default value corresponding key is pressed is selected. In a preview display method of an image forming apparatus for previewing image data obtained by reading an original image before image formation, the image data obtained by reading the original image is subjected to a plurality of types of image processing to generate a plurality of types of preview images. A preview image generation step, a preview display control step for displaying a plurality of types of preview images at the same time , and a key corresponding to each preview image, and the preview display by pressing the key . A preview image selection step of acquiring which one of the preview images is a selected preview image, and setting any one of the keys as a default value, and when none of the keys is pressed, that apply a key is pressed by the default value is selected and to Turkey Preview display method according to claim.

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