JP5466059B2 - Print control apparatus, print system, print control method, and print control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print system, a print control method, and a print control program for performing a test print of a printed matter including personal information.

Since the enforcement of the Personal Information Protection Law, it has been well known that sufficient care is required in handling personal information.
The same applies to the creation of a printed material, and attention must be paid to the handling of a printed material including personal information. Therefore, printing that protects personal information as much as possible is performed by various methods.

JP 2001-305962 A

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a base sheet, an adhesive layer and a release sheet are laminated on the back side of an information display sheet for describing personal information, and a partial area of the description area of personal information By separating the personal information description area, it is possible to prevent the acquisition of personal information from the discarded information display sheet by preliminarily providing a cut for separating the personal information from the remaining area and peeling it from the base sheet. .

  However, it is costly to use the information display sheet described in Patent Document 1 in test printing for confirming the state of the printing press or performing calibration for determining whether or not the content of the printed matter is desired. Is difficult.

For this reason, in test printing, it is necessary to prepare test print data in which the portion of personal information is concealed or replaced with different contents in advance, but the cost for preparing such test print data , There is a problem that a burden has arisen.
In addition, since such test print data is different from the main print data for commercial printing, it may be inappropriate for checking the print quality such as layout and color. .

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a print control apparatus, a print system, a print control method, and a print for easily managing and discarding a test print by performing print control so that personal information cannot be confirmed in test print. An object is to provide a control program.

In order to solve such a problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a print control apparatus that performs print processing on page data for printing in the printing apparatus, and an arbitrary page in the page represented by the page data. A print protection area designating unit for designating an area as a print protection area, and printing the page image represented by the page data by performing output processing on the page data for which the print protection area is designated. , the page bitmap image data, a control information corresponding to each pixel of the page image, wherein the page image data is expressed, the page image data is one of the control information including a display setting of the print protected area page data output processing means for generating the display setting data displayed for setting of a One to the page image data A print mode instructing unit for instructing whether to perform main printing or test printing, and when the print mode instructing unit instructs test printing, the print protection area is invisible based on the display setting of the print protection area in the display setting data. And print control means for outputting print data that is subjected to print control to be displayed and outputting print data that does not cause the print protection area to be invisible when the main print is instructed .

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 2 is the print control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control information relating to the display setting of the print protection area of the display setting data is a random number for each pixel constituting the print protection area. It is characterized by applying a net.

In addition, the invention according to claim 3 is the print control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control information related to the display setting of the print protection area of the display setting data includes information about each pixel constituting the print protection area. It is characterized in that the net% is 100%.

Further, the invention provides a print control apparatus according to claim 1, the control information about the display settings of the print protected area of the display setting data, the pixels of each pixel constituting the printing protected area according to claim 4 It is characterized by a value of 0%.

The invention according to claim 5 is a printing system comprising a printing control device and a printing device, wherein the printing control device designates an arbitrary area in a page represented by page data as a printing protection area. Bitmap format page image data for printing a page image represented by the page data by performing output processing on the page data for which the print protection area is specified And display setting data for performing display settings of the page image data, including control information corresponding to each pixel of the page image represented by the page image data , wherein one of the control information includes display settings in the print protection area When the page data output processing means for generating, if the printing or test printing of the page image data instructed That the print mode instruction means, if the test print by the print mode instruction means is instructed, the print control lines stomach to the print protective region invisible displayed based on the display setting of the print protected area in the display setting data , if the printing is instructed, anda rows that will print controller printing control without the invisible display the print protected area, the printing apparatus, the print control means of the print control apparatus, the display And printing means for printing the page image data based on the display settings set in the setting data.

The invention according to claim 6 is a print control method in a print control apparatus for performing print processing on page data for printing in a printing apparatus, and prints an arbitrary area in a page expressed by page data. Bitmap format for printing a page image expressed by the page data by performing a print protection area designating step for designating as a protection area and performing output processing on the page data for which the print protection area is designated Page image data and control information corresponding to each pixel of the page image represented by the page image data, and one of the control information includes display settings for the page image data including display settings in the print protection area. and page data output processing step of generating the display setting data for performing a, for the page image data A printing mode instructing step for instructing whether to print or test printing, and when the test printing is instructed in the printing mode instructing step, the print protection area is displayed invisible based on the display setting of the print protection area in the display setting data print control lines stomach for outputting print data, if the printing is instructed, characterized by having a, a print control step of performing print control of outputting the print data that does not invisible display the print protected area Yes.

The invention according to claim 7 is a print control program for performing print processing on page data, and the CPU of the computer executes an arbitrary print control program in a memory, whereby an arbitrary page in the page represented by the page data is displayed. A print protection area designating step for designating an area as a print protection area, and printing the page image represented by the page data by performing output processing on the page data for which the print protection area is designated , the page bitmap image data, a control information corresponding to each pixel of the page image, wherein the page image data is expressed, the page image data is one of the control information including a display setting of the print protected area Display setting data for setting the display settings of the page data output processing And-up, and print mode instruction step of instructing whether the print or test print on the page image data, if the test print is instructed in the print mode instruction step, the display setting of the print protected area in the display setting data based the printing protection area a print control of outputting the print data rows that have to be invisible displayed, if the printing is instructed, it performs printing control for outputting print data without the print protected area invisible display print And a control step.

The print control apparatus according to claims 1 to 4, specifying any area in the page as the print protected area, the page print data for printing a page image by performing an output process for the page data, the print protection area Display setting data for setting the display of the page print data including the display settings in the print data, and instructing whether to perform the main print or the test print when printing the page print data. Since the print data is displayed invisible, it is possible to create a test print that cannot confirm personal information, and the test print can be easily managed and discarded.

The printing system according to claim 5, when an arbitrary area in a page is designated as a print protection area, page print data for printing a page image by performing an output process on the page data, and display setting in the print protection area Display setting data for setting the display setting of the page print data including is created, and when printing the page print data is instructed to perform the main print or the test print, in the case of the test print, the print protection area is displayed invisible. Since printing is performed and the printing apparatus is controlled so as to perform normal printing in the case of actual printing, it becomes possible to create a test printed material in which personal information cannot be confirmed, and it is easy to manage and discard the test printed material. be able to.

The print control method according to claim 6, when an arbitrary area in a page is designated as a print protection area, page print data for printing a page image by performing an output process on the page data, and display in the print protection area Display setting data for setting the display of the page print data including the settings is created, and when printing the page print data is instructed to perform the main print or the test print, in the case of the test print, the print protection area is displayed invisible. Since the print data to be output is output, it is possible to create a test print with which personal information cannot be confirmed, and it is possible to easily manage and discard the test print.

The print control program according to claim 7 is executed by a computer, and when an arbitrary area in a page is designated as a print protection area, page printing for printing a page image by performing an output process on page data. In the case of test printing, display setting data for setting the display setting of the page print data including the data and the display setting in the print protection area is created, and when the print of the page print data is instructed to be the main print or the test print. Outputs print data in which the print protection area is invisible, so that it is possible to create a test print that cannot confirm personal information, and the test print can be easily managed and discarded.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a print control apparatus 10. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the print control apparatus 10. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between page image data PGD and display setting data HSD. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a print control unit 174 in step S7. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a printed matter obtained as a result of printing with a print data ID and test print data TID. 1 is a diagram for explaining a printing system 100. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printing system 100.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a print control apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The print control apparatus 1 is a commonly used personal computer, and includes a CPU 11, a display unit 12, an input unit 13, a network I / F 14, a media drive 15, a storage unit 16, and a memory 17.

The CPU 11 controls the entire print control apparatus 1 and implements the function of the print control apparatus 1 by executing the program PG1 recorded on the media disk 18 inserted in the media drive 15 in the memory 17 in particular.
The display unit 12 is used to display information necessary for the operation of the print control apparatus 1 such as a page image display or a print protection area designation display.
The input unit 13 includes a mouse and a keyboard, and is used by the operator to input a print protection area specification, a print type specification, and the like to the computer 1.
The network I / F 14 is for connecting the print control apparatus 1 and a network (not shown). Via the network I / F 14, the print control device 1 can download the print control program PG1 from a server (not shown). Also, the print data ID and the test print data TID can be output to a printing apparatus (not shown) via the network I / F 14.
The media drive 15 is used to read the program PG1 recorded on the media disk 18. The function of the print control apparatus 1 is realized by the program PG1 read by the media drive 15.
The storage unit 16 stores the program PG1 read by the media drive 15. The storage unit 16 may temporarily store page data PD, page image data PGD, display setting data HSD, print data ID, and test print data TID.

  The memory 17 is a work area for the CPU 11 to execute the program PG1 stored in the storage unit 16. As a result of the program PG1 being executed by the CPU 11, the functions of the print protection area designating unit 171, the page data output unit 172, the print type instruction unit 173, and the print control unit 174 are realized in the memory 17.

When there is an item to be protected such as personal information in the printed matter, the print protection area designating unit 171 displays the area of the item to be protected invisible at the time of test printing. Then, an arbitrary area on the page image displayed on the display unit 12 is designated as the print protection area IHA. When the operator operates the input unit 13 to designate an arbitrary area on the page displayed on the display unit 12, the print protection area designating unit 171 sets the designated area as the print protection area IHA.
When an arbitrary area on the page image is designated as a protection area when creating the page data PD, the print protection area designating unit 171 designates the designated protection area as the print protection area IHA.

  The print protection area designating unit 171 includes a protection display setting unit 1711 for performing settings for performing invisible display for the designated print protection area IHA. When the test display is performed, the protection display setting unit 1711 displays the area corresponding to the print protection area IHA in the test printed material invisible, by selecting a random number of dots (random number network) for each pixel constituting the area. It is set whether it is invisible, halftone is 100% invisible, or invisible when the pixel value of each pixel constituting the area is 0%. When the operator operates the input unit 13 to select the random number network, the network 100%, or the pixel value 0%, the protection display setting unit 1711 sets the invisible display for the print protection area IHA.

  The page data output unit 172 performs an output process on the page data PD, thereby displaying page image data PGD for printing by the printing apparatus and display setting data HSD for setting display when printing the page image data PGD. Create

If the page data PD representing a page is data described in a page description language such as PostScript (registered trademark of ADOBE) or PDF, printing cannot be performed by the printing apparatus as it is. Therefore, the page data output unit 172 interprets the description of the page data PD and performs rasterization processing. As a result of the rasterization process performed by the page data output unit 172, by generating page image data PGD in multi-value bitmap format having a density value in which each pixel is expressed in 8 bits from page data PD in page description language format, Prints the page represented by the page data PD.
Note that the page image data PGD for printing is created for a plurality of printing plates, for example, YMCK four-color plate, but here, for understanding of the invention, page image data PGD for any one plate The following explanation will be given for.
Further, the page data PD may be compressed multi-level image data such as TIFF format and JPEG format in addition to the above-described page description language format data.

Since the page image data PGD in the multi-value bitmap format cannot be printed as it is, the page data output unit 172 also creates the display setting data HSD. The display setting data HSD is data that has been set to perform halftone processing on the page image data PGD in the multi-value bitmap format, and is 4 bits corresponding to each pixel constituting the page image data PGD. It has control information to be expressed. The page image data PGD is subjected to a halftoning process based on the display setting data HSD by a print control unit 174, which will be described later, and converted to a print data ID that is binary data.
Further, 1 bit out of 4 bits of control information constituting the display setting data HSD is used for setting invisible display of the print protection area IHA. By setting the invisible display of the print protection area IHA in the display setting data HSD, the print control section 174 described later performs the invisible processing of the print protection area IHA.

  The print type instructing unit 173 prompts the operator to select to instruct the print control unit 174 whether to perform test printing or actual printing when performing printing using the page image data PGD. The print type instruction unit 173 displays on the display unit 12 options for performing test printing or main printing. When the operator selects test printing or main printing by operating the input unit 13, whether the print data ID to be generated by the print type instruction unit 173 for the print control unit 174 based on the selection is for test printing. Indicate whether this is for printing. In a process described later, the print control unit 174 creates a print data ID based on an instruction from the print type instruction unit 173.

The print control unit 174 creates a print data ID based on the page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD. The print control unit 174 performs halftone processing on each pixel of the page image data PGD based on the halftone type set in the control information of the display setting data HSD, and creates a print data ID that is binarized data To do.
In order to create a print data ID, the print control unit 174 includes a halftone dot type table 1741, a halftone designation unit 1742, and a pixel value selection unit 1743.

The halftone dot type table 1741 is a table that defines the type of halftone dot that represents a page in a printed matter. A halftone dot type table 1741 defines a plurality of types of halftone dots such as round, chain, and square, for example, and an operator selects a desired halftone dot type from the halftone dot type table 1741 when creating a print data ID. Thus, the print control unit 174 creates a print data ID using the halftone dots.
The halftone dot type can be selected for each object (character, line drawing, pattern, etc.) constituting the page data PD, or for each desired region.

The halftone designation unit 1742 is for arbitrarily designating the halftone dot density of the halftone dot representing the page in the printed material. When the operator operates the input unit 13 to input a desired network% to the network% specifying unit 1742, the print control unit 174 creates a print data ID with the input network%.
Note that halftone% can be input for each object (character, line drawing, pattern, etc.) constituting the page data PD, or can be input for each desired region.

The pixel value selection unit 1743 is for arbitrarily designating a pixel value of a predetermined area representing a page in the printed material. When the operator operates the input unit 13 to select a desired pixel value for the pixel value selection unit 1743, the print control unit 174 creates a print data ID with the selected pixel value.
The pixel value can be selected for each object (character, line drawing, picture, etc.) constituting the page data PD, or for each desired region.

When test printing is instructed by the print type instruction unit 173, the print protection area designation unit 171 for the page represented by the page image data PGD is based on the control information related to the print protection area IHA of the display control data HSD. Test print data TID, which is binarized data subjected to halftone processing, is generated by performing invisible display on the area corresponding to the designated print protection area IHA.
When creating the test print data TID, according to the protection display setting set by the protection display setting unit 1711, the print control unit 174 selects a dot type with a random number from the dot type table 1741 for the print protection display area IHA. Either the selection is performed, the network% is input as 100% by the network% input unit 1742, or the pixel value is selected as 0 by the pixel value selection unit 1743.

  The print control unit 174 transmits the created print data ID or test print data TID to a printing apparatus (not shown) via the network I / F 14 in order to execute print processing.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the print control apparatus 1.
In step S1, the print control apparatus 1 acquires page data PD. The print control apparatus 1 acquires the page data PD created by a terminal (not shown) connected to a network (not shown) via the network I / F 14 or receives the page data PD stored in the media disk 18 from the media drive 15. Or page data PD created by a page data creation unit (not shown) provided in the print control apparatus 1 is obtained. The acquired page data PD is temporarily stored in the storage unit 16.

In step S2, the print control apparatus 1 reads out the page data PD stored in the storage unit 16 and displays it on the display unit 12, and prompts the operator to specify the print protection area IHA. When the operator operates the input unit 13 and designates an arbitrary area on the displayed page, the print protection area designation unit 171 designates the designated area as the print protection area IHA.
The print protection area IHA is designated when a rectangle is designated at an arbitrary position on the page by the operation of the input unit 13, and the print protection area designation unit 171 designates the rectangle as the print protection area IHA. In addition, when an operator designates an object (character, line drawing, pattern, etc.) on the page using the input unit 13, the print protection area designation unit 171 designates the outline or circumscribed rectangle of the object as the print protection area IHA. Good.
If an arbitrary area is designated as the protection area when the page data PD is created, the print protection area designation unit 171 displays on the display unit 12 that the protection area has been designated as the print protection area IHA, and the operator Notify

If the print protection area IHA is designated, the protection display setting unit 1711 sets invisible display of the print protection area IHA. The protection display setting unit 1711 provides the display unit 12 with invisible display options for the print protection area IHA.
(1) Selection of random number network
(2) Selection of 100% net
(3) Display selection of pixel value 0 and prompt operator input.
The operator operates the input unit 13 to select a desired invisible display.

  When the designation of the print protection area IHA and the selection of the invisible display are completed, the print protection area designation unit 171 temporarily stores the area information of the print protection area IHA and the invisible display selection information.

  In step S3, the page data output unit 172 creates page image data PGD and display setting data HSD based on the page data PD and the print protection area IHA specified in step S2 in accordance with an operator instruction.

When the page data PD is data in the page description language format, the page data output unit 172 interprets a script describing the page and performs rasterization processing. The page data output unit 172 performs multi-value processing having a desired resolution input by the input unit 13 by the operator. Create page image data PGD in bitmap format.
Alternatively, when the page data PD is compressed multi-level image data, the page data output unit 172 decompresses the page data PD and similarly has a desired resolution based on the operation of the input unit 13 by the operator. To page image data PGD.
For example, the page image data PGD represents 256 gradations by having 8-bit gradation information for one pixel.

Since page image data PGD is image data in a multi-value bitmap format, it cannot be directly output by a printing apparatus. Therefore, since it is necessary to convert the data into binarized halftone image data, the page data output unit 172 generates display setting data HSD for performing display setting of the page image data PGD based on an instruction from the operator.
The display setting data HSD includes control information expressed in 4 bits corresponding to each pixel of the page image data PGD, and stores settings instructed by the operator. The display setting data HSD stores control information regarding halftone dot types corresponding to the classification of 1 bit as variable printing necessity and 2 bits as text, line drawing, image, and other objects.
The remaining 1 bit is control information for indicating whether or not the corresponding pixel of the page image data PGD is in the print protection area IHA.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD.
FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining an example of the page image data PGD. For the sake of explanation, the number of pixels of the page image data PGD shown in FIG. 3A is smaller than the original number of pixels. As shown in the drawing, the page image data PGD has 8-bit gradation information for each pixel, and realizes multi-value display of 256 gradations.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining an example of the display setting data HSD. Since the display setting data HSD has 4 bits of control information corresponding to each pixel of the page image data PGD, the display setting data HSD has 4 bits of control information as shown in FIG. Are as many as the number of pixels.

  In FIG. 3 (b), PA and PB which are part of the control information of the display setting data HSD are further shown for explanation. The control information PA is control information related to display settings for one of the pixels included in the print protection area IHA. On the other hand, the control information PB is control information related to display setting for one of the pixels that is a normal region.

Since the control information PA is “0” for the bit related to “variable printing”, the variable printing is not performed, and the bit related to “network type information” is “0, 1”. It means a point type. Since the bit related to the “print protection area IHA” is “1”, it indicates that the pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information PA is a pixel included in the print protection area IHA.
When the bit related to the “print protection area IHA” is “1” in the control information, the invisible display selection information set by the protection display setting unit 1711 is associated with this bit. In the control information PA, as shown in the figure, “random number network” is associated as invisible display selection information.

In the control information PB, the bit related to “variable printing” is “0”, whereas the bit related to “net type information” is “1, 1 ”, which is the type of halftone dot related to image display. Means. Since the bit related to the “print protection area IHA” is “0”, it indicates that the pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information PB is a pixel not included in the print protection area IHA. Therefore, the control information PB is not associated with the invisible display selection information.

FIG. 3C is a diagram in which the display setting data HSD related to the “print protected area IHA” and the page image expressed by the page image data PGD are superimposed. As shown in the figure, the enumeration of control information in which the bit related to “print protection area IHA” is “1” is in positional agreement with the print protection area IHA on the page. Therefore, the area designated by the print protection area designating unit 171 is displayed invisible based on the display setting related to the print protection area IHA based on the display setting data HSD.
The page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD thus created by the page data output unit 172 are temporarily stored in the storage unit 16.

  Returning to FIG. 2, in step S4, the print type instructing unit 173 displays on the display unit 12 options for test printing or main printing, and prompts the operator to make a selection. When the operator operates the input unit 13 and selects to perform the main print among the displayed options, the print type instruction unit 173 instructs the print control unit 174 to create a print data ID for performing the main print. To do.

  In step S5, the print control unit 174 creates a print data ID for actual printing based on the page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD. The print data ID is generated as binarized data in a dot format that can be printed according to the operator's request without displaying invisible for the print protection area IHA.

In step S6, the print control unit 174 outputs the created print data ID to a printing apparatus (not shown). Printing is performed by the print control apparatus 1 outputting a print data ID to a printing apparatus connected to a network (not shown) via the network I / F 14.
After outputting the print data ID, the print control apparatus 1 ends the operation.

  On the other hand, if the operator selects test printing among the options displayed by the print type instructing unit 173 in step S4, the print type instructing unit 173 determines that the test print data TID is to be created, and sends it to the print control unit 174. By instructing the creation of the test print data TID, the process proceeds to step S7, and the print control unit 174 creates the test print data TID in which the print protection area IHA is displayed invisible.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the print control unit 174 in step S7.
In step S71, based on the invisible display setting set by the protection display setting unit 1711, the print control unit 174 executes the invisible display processing of the print protection area IHA for creating the test print data TID.
The invisible display processing is performed by using a random number network to make the dots constituting the print protection area IHA halftone, by setting the halftone to 100%, or by setting the print protection area IHA as set by the protection display setting unit 1711. The pixel value of the pixels constituting the pixel is set to 0.

The flow from step S72 is for explaining processing when the print control unit 174 uses a random number network as the invisible display processing of the print protection area IHA. In step S72, for each pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information whose bit related to the print protection area IHA in the display setting data HSD is “1”, the print control unit 174 selects a random number from the halftone dot type table 1741. Select a halftone dot type.
In step S73, for each pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information whose bit related to the print protection area IHA in the display setting data HSD is “0”, the print control unit 174 refers to text, line drawing, image, and other objects. A halftone dot type corresponding to the classification is selected from the halftone dot type table 1741.

As described above, the display setting data HSD includes control information about halftone dots corresponding to the classification of text, line drawing, image, and other objects, and the normal print control unit 174 follows the control information about the halftone dots. By selecting a halftone dot type from the halftone dot type table 1741, the pixels of the page image data PGD are converted into halftone dots.
However, with respect to each pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information whose bit relating to the print protection area IHA is “1”, the halftone dot type corresponding to the classification is not selected for the halftone dot selection from the halftone dot type table 1741. Instead, the print control unit 174 performs random number selection to select a halftone dot type, and for other pixels, the print control unit 174 selects a halftone dot type corresponding to the classification from the halftone dot type table 1741.

  As a result of performing the operations of steps S72 to S73, in step S78, the print control unit 174 causes the test print data TID, which is binarized format data, from multi-value format data based on the page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD. Is created.

The flow from step S74 is for explaining the processing when the print control unit 174 sets the screen% to 100% as the invisible display processing of the print protection area IHA. In step S74, for each pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information in which the bit related to the print protection area IHA in the display setting data HSD is “1”, the print control unit 174 uses the screen% designation unit 1742 to set the screen%. 100%.
In step S73, for each pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information whose bit related to the print protection area IHA in the display setting data HSD is “0”, the print control unit 174 inputs to the network% designation unit 1742 by the operator. Net%.

  For each pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information whose bit related to the print protection area IHA is “1”, the print control unit 174 inputs to the screen% designation unit 1742 such that the screen% is set to 100%. For the other pixels, as described above, the print control unit 174 uses the network% input to the network% designating unit 1742 by the operator.

  As a result of performing the operations from step S74 to S75, in step S78, the print control unit 174 causes the test print data TID, which is binarized format data, from multi-value format data based on the page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD. Is created.

The flow from step S76 is for explaining processing when the print control unit 174 sets the pixel value to 0 as the invisible display processing of the print protection area IHA. In step S76, for each pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information whose bit related to the print protection area IHA in the display setting data HSD is “1”, the print control unit 174 sets the pixel value by the pixel value selection unit 1743. Select 0.
In step S77, for the pixels of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information whose bit related to the print protection area IHA in the display setting data HSD is “0”, the print control unit 174 causes the operator to the pixel value selection unit 1743. Select the input pixel value.

  For each pixel of the page image data PGD corresponding to the control information whose bit related to the print protection area IHA is “1”, the print control unit 174 sets the pixel value to 0 with respect to the pixel value selection unit 1743, and other than that. As described above, the pixel value selected by the pixel value selection unit 174 by the operator is set by the print control unit 174 for the pixels.

  As a result of performing the operations from step S76 to S77, in step S78, the print control unit 174 causes the test print data TID, which is binarized format data, from multi-value format data based on the page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD. Is created.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 2, in step S8, the print control unit 174 outputs the test print data TD created in a printing apparatus (not shown). The print control apparatus 1 outputs test print data TID to a printing apparatus connected to a network (not shown) via the network I / F 14 to perform test printing.
After outputting the print data ID, the print control apparatus 1 ends the operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a printed matter obtained as a result of printing using the print data ID and the test print data TID.
FIG. 5A shows a printed matter obtained as a result of printing with the print data ID. The print protection area IHA is a normal printed matter that is not displayed invisible.

FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining a printed matter obtained as a result of printing using test print data TID using a random number network when halftone dots are formed in the pixels constituting the print protection area IHA. .
As shown in the figure, since the random number network is used for the print protection area IHA, the print contents of the print protection area IHA cannot be read and invisible display is realized.

FIG. 5 (c) is a diagram for explaining a printed matter obtained as a result of printing using test print data TID with halftone dots being 100% when halftone dots are formed in the pixels constituting the print protection area IHA. It is.
As shown in the figure, since the print protection area IHA is 100% of the net, the print contents of the print protection area IHA cannot be read, and an invisible display is realized.

FIG. 5D is a diagram for explaining a printed matter obtained as a result of printing with test print data TID in which the pixel value constituting the print protection area IHA is 0.
As shown in the drawing, since the pixel value is 0 for the print protection area IHA, the print contents of the print protection area IHA cannot be read, and invisible display is realized.

  As described above, when the print control apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, an arbitrary area for which invisible display is desired is designated as the print protection area IHA. Since the test print data TID that makes the print protection area IHA invisible display is output, it is possible to create a test print that cannot confirm personal information, and it is easy to manage and discard the test print .

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a printing system 100 according to the present invention.
The printing system 100 includes a printing control device 10 and a printing device 20.
The print control apparatus 10 is a commonly used personal computer, and includes a CPU 101, a display unit 102, an input unit 103, a network I / F 104, a media drive 105, a storage unit 106, and a memory 107.

The CPU 101 controls the printing control apparatus 10 and the printing system 100, and in particular, by executing the program PG2 recorded on the media disk 108 inserted in the media drive 105 in the memory 107, the functions of the printing control apparatus 10 are realized. To do.
The functions of the display unit 102, the input unit 103, and the network I / F 104 are substantially the same as those of the display units 12 and 13 in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.
The network I / F 104 is for connecting the print control apparatus 10 and a network (not shown). Via the network I / F 104, the print control apparatus 10 can download the print control program PG2 from a server (not shown). When the printing apparatus 20 is connected to a network (not shown) so as to be communicable, the print data ID and the test print data TID can be output to the printing apparatus 20 via the network I / F 104.
The media drive 105 is used to read the program PG2 recorded on the media disk 108. The function of the print control apparatus 10 is realized by the program PG2 read by the media drive 105.
The storage unit 106 stores the program PG2 read by the media drive 105. Further, the storage unit 106 may temporarily store the page data PD, page image data PGD, and display setting data HSD.

The memory 107 is a work area for the CPU 101 to execute the program PG2 stored by the storage unit 106. As a result of the execution of the program PG2 by the CPU 101, the functions of the print protection area designation unit 1071, the page data output unit 1072, the print type instruction unit 1073, and the print control unit 1074 are realized in the memory 107.
Note that the functions of the print protection area designation unit 1071, page data output unit 1072, and print type instruction unit 1073 are substantially the same as those of the print protection area designation unit 171, page data output unit 172, and print type instruction unit 173 in the first embodiment. Therefore, explanation is omitted.

The print control unit 1074 outputs page image data PGD and display setting data HSD to the printing apparatus 20 and performs printing control in the printing apparatus 20. Further, the print control unit 1074 controls the main print by the print data ID executed by the printing apparatus 20 or the test print by the test print data TID based on the instruction given by the print type instruction unit 1073.
The printing apparatus 20 performs main printing or test printing based on the control of the printing control unit 1074.

The printing device 20 is a printing device that performs plateless printing such as an electrophotographic method or an ink-jet method in which printing contents can be changed, and is connected to the printing control device 10 through a communication line TL so as to be communicable.
Note that the printing apparatus 20 may be connected to the printing control apparatus 10 via a network (not shown).

The printing apparatus 20 includes a control unit 21 and a printing unit 22 .
The control unit 21 controls printing processing in the printing apparatus 20 based on the control of the printing control apparatus 10, particularly the printing control unit 1074.
Further, the control unit 21 performs page image data based on the dot type set by the control information of the display setting data HSD based on the page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD transmitted from the print control apparatus 10. Halftone dot processing is performed for each pixel of PGD, and a print data ID that is binarized data is created.

The control unit 21 includes a halftone dot type table 2 10 1, a halftone designation unit 2 10 2, and a pixel value selection unit 2 10 3 in order to create a print data ID.
Note that the functions of the halftone dot type table 2 10 1, halftone designation unit 2 102 , and pixel value selection unit 2 10 3 are the halftone dot type table 1741, halftone designation unit 1742, pixel value in the first embodiment. Since the function is almost the same as that of the selection unit 1743, description thereof is omitted.

When a test print is instructed from the print control unit 1074, the control unit 21 prints a print protection area designation unit 1071 for the page represented by the page image data PGD based on control information related to the print protection area IHA of the display control data HSD. For the area corresponding to the print protection area IHA designated by, test print data TID, which is binarized data that has been invisible and subjected to halftone processing, is created.
When creating a test print data TID, according to the protection display settings set by the protective display setting unit 10711, the control unit 21 for printing the protective display area IHA, dot types in random halftone dot type table 2 10 1 Or the pixel value is input as 100% by the network% input unit 2 10 2, or the pixel value is selected as 0 by the pixel value selection unit 2 10 3.

The control unit 21 outputs the generated print data ID or test print data TID to the print unit 22 , and the print unit 22 illustrates the image expressed by the output print data ID or test print data TID. Do not print on a recording medium.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printing system 100. Here, the operations in steps S101 to S103 executed in the print control apparatus 10 are substantially the same as the operations in steps S1 to S3 in FIG.

In step S104, the print control unit 1074 transmits the created page image data PGD and display setting data HSD to the printing apparatus 20. The printing apparatus 20 temporarily stores page image data PGD and display setting data HSD in the control unit 21 .

In step S105, the print type instructing unit 1073 displays a choice of whether to perform test printing or main printing on the display unit 102, and prompts the operator to select. When the operator operates the input unit 103 and selects to perform the main print among the displayed options, the print type instruction unit 1073 instructs the print control unit 1074 to create a print data ID for performing the main print. To do.
Alternatively, when the operator selects test printing from the displayed options, the print type instruction unit 1073 instructs the print control unit 1074 to create test print data TID for performing test printing.

In step S106, the print control unit 1074 instructs the control unit 21 to perform main printing or test printing for printing in the printing apparatus 20.

When the print control unit 1074 instructs to perform the main printing, the process proceeds to step S107, and the control unit 21 of the printing apparatus 20 displays an invisible display for the print protection area IHA based on the page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD. A print data ID for main printing, which is binary data in a dot format that can be printed according to the operator's request, is generated.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S109, where the generated print data ID is transmitted to the printing unit 22, and actual printing is performed using the print data ID.

On the other hand, when the print control unit 1074 instructs to perform test printing, the process proceeds to step S108, and the control unit 21 of the printing apparatus 20 makes the print protection area IHA invisible based on the page image data PGD and the display setting data HSD. Test print data TID, which is binarized data in a dot format that can be printed as a display, is created.

In step S108, the control unit 21 creates test print data TID. This operation is substantially the same as the operation in steps S71 to S78 shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S109, where the created test print data TID is transmitted to the printing unit 22, and actual printing is performed using the test print data TID.

  As described above, the printing system 100 shown in FIG. 6 operates as in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, so that an arbitrary area for which invisible display is desired is designated as the print protection area IHA. Since the test print data TID in which the protection area IHA is displayed invisible is output, it becomes possible to create a test print in which personal information cannot be confirmed, and the test print can be easily managed and discarded.

1, 10 Print control device 11, 101 CPU
12, 102 Display unit 13, 103 Input unit 14, 104 Network I / F
15, 105 Media drive 16, 106 Storage unit 17, 107 Memory 18, 108 Media disk 20 Printing device 100 Printing system 171, 1071 Print protection area designation unit 172, 1072 Page data output unit 173, 1073 Print type instruction unit 174, 1074 Print control unit
21 control unit
22 printing unit 1711, 10711 protection display setting unit 1741, 2 10 1 halftone dot type table 1742, 2 10 2 half% designation unit 1743, 2 10 3 pixel value selection unit
HSD display setting data
ID print data
IHA print protection area
PD page data
PGD page image data
Print data for TID test
TL communication line

Claims (7)

A printing control apparatus that performs printing processing on page data for printing in a printing apparatus,
Print protection area designating means for designating an arbitrary area in the page represented by the page data as a print protection area;
By performing output processing on the page data for which the print protection area is designated, the page image data in the bitmap format for printing the page image represented by the page data and the page image data are represented. Page data output having control information corresponding to each pixel of the page image to be generated, and one of the control information creating display setting data for setting display of the page image data including display settings in the print protection area Processing means;
A printing mode instruction means for instructing whether to perform main printing or test printing for the page image data;
When test printing is instructed by the printing mode instructing means, print data that is subjected to printing control for making the print protection area invisible display based on the display setting of the print protection area in the display setting data is output, and the main print Print control means for outputting print data that does not render the print protection area invisible ,
A printing control apparatus comprising: The print control apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The control information relating to the display setting of the print protection area of the display setting data is to apply a random number network to each pixel constituting the print protection area;
A printing control apparatus characterized by the above. The print control apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The control information related to the display setting of the print protection area of the display setting data is such that the half-% of each pixel constituting the print protection area is 100%;
A printing control apparatus characterized by the above. The print control apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The control information relating to the display setting of the print protection area of the display setting data is such that the pixel value of each pixel constituting the print protection area is 0%;
A printing control apparatus characterized by the above. A printing system comprising a printing control device and a printing device,
The printing control device is
Print protection area designating means for designating an arbitrary area in the page represented by the page data as a print protection area;
By performing output processing on the page data for which the print protection area is designated, the page image data in the bitmap format for printing the page image represented by the page data and the page image data are represented. Page data output having control information corresponding to each pixel of the page image to be generated, and one of the control information creating display setting data for setting display of the page image data including display settings in the print protection area Processing means;
A printing mode instruction means for instructing whether to perform main printing or test printing for the page image data;
If the test printing by the print mode instruction means is instructed, the display the print control lines stomach to print protected area and invisible displayed based on the display setting of the print protection area in the setting data, the printing is instructed If, with the will print protected area row was not print control invisible display print control means,
Have
The printing device is
Printing means for printing the page image data based on the display settings set in the display setting data by the print control means of the print control device;
A printing system comprising: A printing control method in a printing control apparatus for performing printing processing on page data for printing in a printing apparatus,
A print protection area designating step for designating an arbitrary area in the page represented by the page data as a print protection area;
By performing output processing on the page data for which the print protection area is designated, the page image data in the bitmap format for printing the page image represented by the page data and the page image data are represented. Page data output having control information corresponding to each pixel of the page image to be generated, and one of the control information creating display setting data for setting display of the page image data including display settings in the print protection area Processing steps;
A printing mode instruction step for instructing whether to perform main printing or test printing for the page image data;
If, in the printing mode instruction step test printing is instructed, the print control lines stomach to print protected area to output the print data to be invisible displayed based on the display setting of the print protected area in the display setting data, the When printing is instructed, a print control step for performing print control for outputting print data that does not display the print protection area invisible ;
A printing control method characterized by comprising: A print control program that performs print processing on page data, and when the CPU of the computer executes the print control program in a memory,
A print protection area designation step for designating an arbitrary area in the page represented by the page data as a print protection area;
By performing output processing on the page data for which the print protection area is designated, the page image data in the bitmap format for printing the page image represented by the page data and the page image data are represented. Page data output having control information corresponding to each pixel of the page image to be generated, and one of the control information creating display setting data for setting display of the page image data including display settings in the print protection area Processing steps;
A printing mode instruction step for instructing whether the page image data is a main print or a test print;
If the test printing in said printing mode instruction step is instructed, the print control lines stomach to print protected area to output the print data to be invisible displayed based on the display setting of the print protected area in the display setting data, the When printing is instructed, a print control step for performing print control for outputting print data that does not display the print protection area invisible ; and
A print control program characterized by executing

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