JP5513224B2 - Print control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus for adding additional data such as a watermark image to original data when performing booklet printing.

  Conventionally, booklet printing has been performed, in which two pages of original data are allocated and printed on one side of each printing paper so that a booklet can be created by folding the central portion of the printing paper. It has been broken. In this booklet printing, each page of document data is recorded on a printing paper surface in a predetermined order, and a booklet can be obtained by binding the output printing paper at the center (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, conventionally, in the case of an important document, a so-called watermark image such as “important” is also inserted according to the document. By providing the printer driver with such a function of adding a watermark image, it is possible to print the watermark image over the original data on the printing paper.

  For example, Patent Document 2 discloses watermark image printing that allows a watermark image to be clearly recognized by overwriting a watermark image that has been subjected to a transparency process on document data. Also disclosed is a print control technique that can set whether additional data such as a watermark image is overlapped in units of logical pages or original pages of original data (for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2001-16425 A JP 2007-048160 A Japanese Patent No. 3363793

However, in booklet printing, when a watermark image is superimposed on document data, there are the following problems. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a problem of the prior art.
In the case of booklet printing, in order to allocate and print two pages of original data on one side of each printing paper, the logical pages of the original data are replaced with physical pages, and the physical pages are assigned to one side of the printing paper. It has been.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, document content data (logical page number 2) and cover data (logical page number 2) are created as original data by a document creation application or the like. In this case, pages that receive a print command from the application are logical pages 1 to 4 (original content data is logical pages 2 to 3 and cover data is logical pages 1 and 4).

  To make this a booklet, logical pages 1 and 4 need to be allocated to the front side of the printing paper (physical page 1), and logical pages 2 and 3 must be allocated to the back side of the printing paper (physical page 2). As a result, the physical page to which the logical page is allocated is output as a printed matter, and the document contents in which the logical pages 2 and 3 are replaced with the physical page 2 by binding the center of the printing paper to the left, the logical pages 1 and A booklet composed of a cover (front cover and back cover) in which 4 is replaced with the physical page 1 is created.

  At this time, it is possible to set the physical page unit or the logical page unit when the watermark image “secret” is superimposed on the document data by applying the above-mentioned Patent Document 3. In this case, there are the following disadvantages.

  When set in units of logical pages, watermark images are also superimposed on the respective logical pages in the spread pages (logical pages 2 and 3) indicating the document contents. However, in many cases, it is considered sufficient for a user to have one watermark image in the spread portion.

  As a result, the user gets a terrible impression. In addition, an excessive amount of ink is consumed. Therefore, it is desirable that one watermark image is superimposed on the spread portion (logical pages 2 and 3).

  On the other hand, when the physical page unit is set, one watermark image can be set in the spread portion. However, in this case, as shown in FIG. 13B, one watermark image is also superimposed on the physical page corresponding to the cover portion (front cover, back cover). As a result, when the booklet is made, one watermark image is divided between the front cover and the back cover. As a result, in the divided watermark image superimposed on each cover, it may be unclear what is meant.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and provides a print control device in which additional data is appropriately superimposed on a cover part and a spread original part when a booklet is created. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention replaces each logical page of document data with a physical page in units of one or two pages, assigns the physical page to the front or back surface of the printing paper, When printing on the printing paper, printing is performed so as to perform booklet printing showing the printing so that a booklet with the cover of the original document covered can be created by folding the central portion of the printing paper into a bound state. A print control apparatus (for example, the terminal apparatus 3) that controls the apparatus, wherein one or a plurality of unit additional data (for example, unit watermark images) to be added to the document data is converted to document data (for example, a unit watermark image) , The original cover data) includes first appending data adding means (for example, a watermark image by the UI processing module 331) that is added in units of logical pages. A setting process, a developing process for adding a watermark image to the document data by the print processing module 332, step S43, and the one or more unit additional write data, the document data corresponding to the document content (for example, the document content) The data) includes a second additional data addition unit (for example, the setting process and the expansion process, step S43) that is added in units of physical pages.

  In the above invention, when a plurality of unit additional data is added to the original data corresponding to the original content by the second additional data adding means in units of physical pages, printing is performed instead of the first additional data adding means. The document data corresponding to the cover includes the plurality of pieces of additional data so that at least one unit additional data is added to each of the logical pages corresponding to the cover when the central portion of the sheet is folded. You may make it provide the 3rd additional recording data addition means (For example, the said setting process and said expansion | deployment process, step S44) which adds unit additional recording data per physical page.

  Further, in the above invention, when a booklet binding area is provided at the center of the printing paper, the original data and the one or more unit additional data are missing when the center of the printing paper is folded. There may be provided data arrangement means for arranging the document data and the one or more unit additional data in each physical page in an area other than the binding area.

  According to the present invention, when creating a booklet, it is possible to provide a print control apparatus in which additional data is appropriately superimposed on both a cover part and a spread original part.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a printing control method according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the booklet print setting screen of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows a unit watermark image setting process among the printing control methods of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of the unit watermark image of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of the unit watermark image of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of the unit watermark image of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows a print data generation process among the printing control methods of 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the characteristic of unit watermark image provision of 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the characteristic of unit watermark image provision of 1st Embodiment. In 2nd Embodiment, it is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the problem regarding the margin area setting at the time of booklet bookbinding. In 2nd Embodiment, it is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the characteristic regarding the margin area | region setting at the time of booklet bookbinding. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the problem of a prior art.

“First Embodiment”
[Configuration of Printing System 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment includes a printing device 2, a terminal device 3, and a system communication unit 4 that connects them. A post-processing device 5 is connected to the printing device 2. In FIG. 1, one printing apparatus 2 is connected to one terminal apparatus 3 via the system communication unit 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one or more printing apparatuses 2 may be connected to one or more terminal apparatuses 3 via the system communication unit 4.

  The terminal device 3 has a function of generating print data and transmitting the print data to the printing device 2. The terminal device 3 may be, for example, a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, or a portable terminal device (PDA: personal digital assistants).

  The printing apparatus 2 is, for example, an image forming apparatus that employs a system such as an inkjet system, but is not limited thereto, and may be an image forming apparatus that employs a system such as a stencil system or a laser system. Further, the printing apparatus 2 is not limited to simply printing print data transmitted from the terminal apparatus 3, and may be a composite printing apparatus that itself has a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like. Furthermore, the printing apparatus 2 may be either a color printing apparatus or a monochrome printing apparatus.

  The system communication unit 4 is connected to the printing apparatus 2 in an office, at home, between a plurality of offices, between homes, between an office and a home, between an office and a destination, between a home and a destination, etc. This is a data transfer path connecting the terminal device 3. The system communication unit 4 includes at least one data transfer path such as an IEEE1394 standard based on a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, the Internet, a telephone line, an optical cable, a USB (universal serial bus), and a SCSI (small computer system interface) standard. And data transfer technology.

[Configuration of Terminal Device 3]
The terminal device 3 constituting the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment includes an operation system (hereinafter, referred to as software) for performing basic operations of the terminal device 3 such as an input / output function, file processing, and user interface in the terminal device 3. (OS) unit 31, an application unit 32 having software for generating document data such as a document and an image by performing sentence creation processing, image creation processing, communication processing, and the like, and input unit 35, OS unit 31, and application unit 32. The printer driver 33 that performs data communication with the printer 2 and develops the data into data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus 2, and various types of data such as print data are transmitted to and received from the printing apparatus 2 via the system communication unit 4. And a terminal device communication unit 34 for performing The terminal device 3 includes an input unit 35, a display unit 36, a first storage unit 37, and a second storage unit 38.

  The OS unit 31, the printer driver unit 33, and the application unit 32 are configured by the CPU and the like performing processing such as decoding the OS, printer driver software, and application software read from the second storage unit 38.

  The printer driver unit 33 causes the display unit 36 to display a print operation screen, a print setting screen, and the like related to the printing apparatus 2, receives print settings from the user via the input unit 35, and displays setting information and print status regarding printing. The user is notified via the display unit. Furthermore, the printer driver unit 33 generates print data based on the information set by the user and the document data, and the generated print data is sent to the printing apparatus 2 via the terminal device communication unit 34 and the system communication unit 4. Output.

  The printer driver unit 33 is used by the user via the input unit 35 to perform watermark image addition, function settings such as booklet, aggregation, enlargement / reduction, and detailed settings for post-processing such as paper folding and binding processing. The UI processing module 331 and the print request from the application unit 32 and the request from the UI processing module 331 are processed, and the arrangement of document data and watermark image in a page necessary for output to the printing apparatus 2 is determined. Then, a print processing module 332 that generates print data by expanding document data or the like into data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus 2 is provided.

  In the present embodiment, a watermark image will be described as an example of additional data to be added (added) to document data. A watermark image is an image to be overlaid on document data. For example, the watermark image may include symbols, illustrations, and the like in addition to characters.

  The 1st memory | storage part 37 is comprised by RAM etc., for example, and memorize | stores various data temporarily. The second storage unit 38 is composed of, for example, a hard disk. The second storage unit 38 stores application software constituting the application unit 32, printer driver software constituting the printer driver unit 33, and the like. A storage unit that can read an external recording medium such as a CD-ROM may be provided. The display unit 36 is, for example, a liquid crystal display monitor, and the input unit 35 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or the like.

  In the document data generation process by the application unit 32, the document data to print data conversion process, and the print output process by the printing apparatus 2, the following processes are performed.

  For example, when the contents (original contents) of a document such as a document, an image, or an illustration are created by using the application software, the user considers booklet printing, and a portion corresponding to the original content and a portion corresponding to the cover portion. Is generated. Hereinafter, a portion corresponding to the document content is referred to as document content data, a portion corresponding to the display portion is referred to as document cover data, and the two are referred to as document data.

  Then, the logical pages of the document cover data (the logical page corresponding to the front cover and the logical page corresponding to the back cover) are replaced with one physical page. The replaced physical page is printed on one side of the printing paper. The logical page of the document content data is replaced with a physical page in units of one or two pages. The replaced physical page is printed on one side of the printing paper. When a booklet with left-binding settings is created using the front cover and original content printed in this way, the print paper corresponding to the original content is covered with the print paper corresponding to the front cover. At this time, the printing paper corresponding to the document content is arranged in the logical page order with the left binding setting.

  In the printer driver unit 33, various user setting data set by the UI processing module 331 are output to the print processing module 332. At this time, the UI processing module 331 performs various settings for creating a document, settings for adding a watermark image, and settings for performing booklet printing.

  When booklet printing, watermark image addition, or the like is set, the print processing module 332 performs the following processing. That is, based on various set data, the document data is expanded and interpreted by the printing apparatus 2 so that the layout becomes a booklet and the selected watermark image is given to the designated position. Convert to possible data (for example, PDL data such as PostScript). The original data thus converted is transmitted as print data to the printing apparatus 2 by the print processing module 332 via the terminal apparatus communication unit 34.

[Configuration of Printing Apparatus 2]
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment includes a print execution unit 21 that executes a print operation based on print data, a print control unit 22 that controls processing of each unit, and various types of print data and the like. And a printing apparatus communication unit 23 that performs data transmission / reception processing. The printing apparatus 2 includes an operation unit 24, a storage unit 25, and a paper supply / discharge unit 26.

  The operation unit 24 includes, for example, a touch panel display device, and the operation unit 24 can input basic operations of the printing apparatus 2 and can display an operation state and an operation state.

  The print control unit 22 causes the print execution unit 21 to perform print processing on the print paper based on the print data received via the printing apparatus communication unit 23. Note that the print data is not limited to the print data received by the printing apparatus communication unit 23 via the system communication unit 4, but is acquired from a portable memory (for example, a USB flash memory, a memory card, etc.) through a portable memory slot. It may be print data.

  The paper supply / discharge unit 26 supplies the printing paper to the printing execution unit 21 and discharges the printed printing paper from the printing execution unit 21.

  The storage unit 25 stores data such as a program necessary for controlling the printing apparatus 2 and print data. For example, a hard disk is used as the storage unit. The storage unit 25 may be a RAM or ROM that temporarily stores data such as programs, print data, or the like, or may have both the RAM and ROM and a hard disk.

[Configuration of Post-Processing Device 5]
The post-processing device 5 is attached to the printing device 2. When the paper supply / discharge unit 26 performs a face-down type paper discharge process on the print paper discharged from the printing apparatus 2, the post-processing apparatus 5 performs the following booklet folding process. That is, the post-processing device 5 performs a process of bending the center portion of the printed printing paper so that the first physical page present at the bottom is the cover. Then, the post-processing device 5 performs a process of binding with a staple or the like and a process of opening a punch hole on the bent central portion.

[Definition of unit watermark image]
The minimum unit of a watermark image is called a unit watermark image. Specifically, the unit watermark image is the smallest unit image that the user desires not to be divided. The case where it is desired not to be divided is, for example, a case where the intention to be added to the document data is not transmitted if it is divided.
As an example, when there is a watermark image such as “copy prohibited”, if it is divided as “copy” or “prohibited”, it means different from “copy prohibited”. Therefore, “copy prohibited” becomes a unit watermark image, and the number thereof is one.

  On the other hand, if there is a watermark image such as “copy prohibited, copy prohibited, copy prohibited, copy prohibited”, “copy prohibited” is the unit watermark image, and the number thereof is four.

  In the present embodiment, the unit watermark image providing process is different between the case where there is one unit watermark image and the case where there are a plurality of unit watermark images. This process will be described in the following print control method.

[Print Control Method Using Printing System 1]
Next, a printing control method using the printing system 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the application unit 32 generates document data (for example, document data such as characters, image data such as photographs, illustrations, etc.) compatible with booklet printing based on an input operation of the input unit 35 by the user (step). S1). Various kinds of print setting information input by the user through the input operation of the input unit 35 at the time of creating the document data are sent to the print processing module 332 via the UI processing module 331.

  As a specific example, the application unit 32 sets the original cover data corresponding to the front cover portion to logical page 1, the original content data to logical pages 2 to N-1, and the original cover data corresponding to the back cover portion to logical page. Document data is generated so as to have a configuration of N.

  The user sets booklet printing using the input unit 35 (step S2). As a specific example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the UI processing module 331 of the printer driver unit 33 displays a print setting screen related to basic settings on the display unit 36 based on the operation of the input unit 35. When the tab is set to “layout” on the print setting screen, a print setting screen related to the layout as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. Here, when an item for booklet printing is selected, for example, an item for left opening (left binding) is selected and an OK button is clicked, print setting information regarding booklet printing is sent to the UI processing module 331.

  Next, the user sets a unit watermark image using the input unit 35 (step S3). FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a specific process of this process. When the tab is set as an application function on the print setting screen shown in FIG. 5, an item “watermark” is displayed. Here, the user checks (specifies) the item “watermark” using the input unit 35 (step S31).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, an item for checking whether or not booklet printing is performed is displayed on the display unit 36 (step S32). If it is checked that the booklet is printed, a unit watermark image and an item for selecting the number are displayed, and a check for designating either one is performed (step S33).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the unit watermark image is set to “secret” in advance. The items “unit watermark image“ secret ”, number 1” and “unit watermark image“ secret ”, number 2” are displayed. Any of these items can be selected.

  On the other hand, if it is checked that the booklet printing is not performed, the display processing of the item for selecting “watermark”, the selection processing, the position of the watermark image and the font size and editing and addition processing are performed (step S34).

  Next, when the user inputs a print instruction to the printing apparatus 2 using the input unit 35, the print processing module 332 generates print data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus 2 (step S4). At this time, the input request for executing the paper folding process executed by the post-processing device 5 and the request for performing the binding process at a predetermined position are sent to the print processing module 332 via the UI processing module 331.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a specific example of this process. When the UI processing module 331 obtains a print instruction for the document data input by the input unit 35 (step S41), the UI processing module 331 determines which one of the unit watermark image and the two unit watermark images has been selected. (Step S42). When one unit watermark image is selected, the print processing module 332 adds one unit watermark image to the manuscript cover data in units of logical pages, and to manuscript content data in units of physical pages. In step S43, print data is generated.

  An example of specific processing will be described with reference to FIG. The print processing module 332 assigns logical page 4 (back cover portion) and logical page 1 (front cover portion) to physical page 1 (front surface of the first print paper), and physical page 2 (first print paper). Logical pages 2 and 3 (document contents) are allocated to the back side. In this figure, the case where the number of logical pages is 4 is described as an example, but the same applies to the number of logical pages N.

  Then, for the physical page 1 (the front cover portion and the back cover portion), the print processing module 332 outputs the original data on the logical page so that the unit watermark image “secret” is superimposed in logical page units. The arrangement of the watermark image is calculated and the document data is developed. In addition, the print processing module 332 arranges the original data and watermark image in the physical page so that the unit watermark image is superimposed on the physical page 2 (the document content portion to be spread) in units of physical pages. Is calculated and the document data and the unit watermark image are developed. Through these development processes, print data is generated (FIG. 9A).

As a result, the unit watermark image is superimposed on the front display portion and the back cover portion in units of logical pages, and the unit watermark image is overlaid on the spread document content portion in units of physical pages. Add to straddle). Therefore, when the booklet is made, the unit watermark image is not divided (FIG. 9B).
On the other hand, when two unit watermark images are selected, the print processing module 332 adds one unit watermark image to each logical page corresponding to the cover portion, and the document content data includes two unit watermark images. The print data is generated by adding the unit watermark image in units of physical pages (step S44).

  An example of specific processing will be described with reference to FIG. The print processing module 332 calculates the arrangement of the document data and the two unit watermark images in the physical page so that the two unit watermark images “secret” are superimposed on the document data in units of physical pages. Document data and two unit watermark images are developed.

  At this time, the processing of the document cover data and the two unit watermark images superimposed thereon is performed as follows. The print processing module 332 expands the document data so that one unit watermark image “secret” is superimposed on each of the two logical pages with respect to the central portion that is the boundary between the two logical pages to be connected. Thus, print data is generated (FIG. 10A). As a result, the unit watermark image “secret” is added to the front display portion and the back cover portion, respectively, and two unit watermark images are added to the spread document content portion (FIG. 10B). ). Therefore, when the booklet is made, the unit watermark image is not divided.

  In the above description, two unit watermark images have been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a plurality (three or more) of unit watermark images. In this case, the print processing module 332 may be configured so that at least one unit watermark image is superimposed on each logical page corresponding to the cover portion. For example, in the case of three unit watermark images, one unit watermark image may be superimposed on the front cover, and two unit watermark images may be superimposed on the back cover.

  The print processing module 332 includes, in addition to the developed document data, a paper folding process execution request executed by the post-processing device 5 and a request to perform binding processing at a predetermined position in the print data. 2 to send.

  The printer driver unit 33 transmits the generated print data to the printing device 2 via the terminal device communication unit 34 and the system communication unit 4 (step S5).

  The print control unit 22 receives print data via the system communication unit 4 and the printing apparatus communication unit 23. Then, the print control unit 22 performs processing necessary for print execution such as RIP processing on the print data. Then, the print control unit 22 controls the paper supply / discharge unit 26 and the print execution unit 21 to perform a print paper feeding process, a print execution process, and a printed paper discharge process (step S6). .

  The post-processing device 5 performs booklet folding processing and binding processing based on the booklet print settings set by the printer driver unit 33 (step S7). As a specific example, the print control unit 22 performs paper folding processing and binding processing on the post-processing device 5 based on a paper folding processing execution request included in the print data and a request to perform binding processing at a predetermined position. Make it.

[Effects of First Embodiment]
According to this embodiment, when one unit watermark image is superimposed on the document cover data and document content data, the document cover data is superimposed on the logical page unit, and the document content data is superimposed on the physical page unit. For this reason, there are no inconveniences such as the user receiving a terrible impression when all the pages are set in the logical page unit, and when all the pages are set in the physical page unit, the unit watermark image is displayed on the front and back covers There is no inconvenience that will be divided.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of unit watermark images are superimposed on the document cover data and document content data, at least one unit watermark image is superimposed on each logical page corresponding to the cover portion. In addition, a plurality of unit watermark images are overlaid on the cover portion in units of physical pages.

  In this case as well, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects described above. Since the entire plurality of unit watermark images can be overlaid in units of physical pages, it is not necessary to switch the watermark image overlapping process between physical page units or logical page units in accordance with the cover portion and the document content. As a result, it is possible to reduce load processing of the CPU of the terminal device 3 due to switching between physical page assignment and logical page assignment.

[Modification of First Embodiment]
In the above-described embodiment, the case of characters has been described as the unit watermark image. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  Moreover, although the unit watermark image demonstrated the case where it preset, it is not limited to this. For example, the user may set a unit watermark image among the watermark images.

  For example, a watermark image is displayed on the display unit 36, and the user designates a unit watermark image among the watermark images by the input unit 35. This designation result is sent to the printer driver unit 33. The printer driver unit 33 calculates the number of unit watermark images in the watermark image, and displays on the display unit as shown in FIG. Display or display for the user to designate a unit watermark image).

  In addition, when a plurality of unit watermark images are overlaid on the original data, the print processing module 332 is configured to superimpose at least one unit watermark image on each logical page in the original cover data. Not. For example, the print processing module 332 may superimpose the plurality of unit watermark images on each logical page in the document cover data.

  In FIG. 9B and FIG. 10B, the spread document content portion is added so as to straddle the logical page to which the unit watermark image is linked in units of physical pages. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, the unit watermark image may be arranged at some position on the physical page in the spread document content portion.

  In the present embodiment, the post-processing device 5 is connected to the printing device 2 to perform post-processing (paper folding processing, binding processing, punch punching processing), but the post-processing device 5 is connected. There may be no case. In this case, the user performs the paper folding process and the binding process.

  The printer driver unit 33 generates PDL data as print data and transmits it to the printing apparatus 2. The printing apparatus 2 performs RIP processing on the PDL data, and the print execution unit 21 executes a printing operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printer driver unit 33 may perform up to the RIP process and transmit the data after the RIP process to the printing apparatus 2 as print data.

“Second Embodiment”
In the first embodiment, the blank area corresponding to the binding portion at the center of the printing paper is not considered. However, usually, when performing booklet printing, it is necessary to provide a blank area because it is bound at the center of the printing paper. The problem in this case will be described with reference to FIG.

  When creating a booklet, fold it at the center of the printing paper (between the two logical pages allocated to the physical page) and bind the vicinity of the folded center with a needle or glue, or open a punch hole. Need to be bound into a file.

  At this time, in order to make a binding or a punch hole, it is necessary to provide a necessary predetermined blank area such as a margin in the central portion (FIG. 11B). This is because when the printing paper is folded and bound at the center, the original data is hidden in the binding portion when the printing paper is opened. Note that the unit watermark image printed on the binding portion is not limited to the original content, and the unit watermark image printed on the binding portion needs to be printed on an area other than the binding portion.

  For this reason, depending on the setting of the margin area in the printing paper and the method of setting the positions of the document data and the unit watermark image, the document data and the unit watermark image are included in the margin area (FIG. 11C). ). Then, when the document is folded at the center and bound or punched, a document data and a unit watermark image are lost (FIG. 11D). The present embodiment aims to solve the above problem in addition to the first embodiment.

  In the printing system 1 of the second embodiment, components that are the same as or similar to the configuration and operation of the printing system 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and omitted, and only different points will be described in detail. In the second embodiment, the function of the print processing module 332 is mainly different.

  That is, the print processing module 332 prevents the original data and the one or more unit watermark images from being lost when the central portion is folded in a bound state. The arrangement of the unit watermark image is set to an area other than the margin area. An example of a specific description of this process is shown below.

  In the printing control method shown in FIG. 2, steps S1 to S3 are the same. In step S4, the following processes are different. Different processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  The print processing module 332 reads margin area data indicating a margin area from the second storage unit 38 for each physical page. And after the process of step S41-44, the following processes are performed.

  The print processing module 332 performs the following processing based on the margin area data. In other words, the print processing module 332 divides the print data generated in steps S43 and S44 (original data and a composite image of one unit watermark image, FIG. 12B) at the central portion. Then, the print processing module 332 disposes the combined image of the original data and one unit watermark image with respect to the physical page so that each divided print data moves by the blank area data in the direction away from the center. Is calculated. Then, the print processing module 332 generates print data by re-developing the generated print data (FIG. 12C). Thereafter, the processing after step S5 is performed.

  In the above-described second embodiment, the margin area is set to a predetermined fixed value. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the margin area may be changed according to the number of printing sheets included in the booklet. Further, the margin area may be input by the user using the input unit 35 and may be sent to the print processing module 332.

  In the above description, the case of a single unit watermark image has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case of a plurality of unit watermark images (in the above description, a plurality of single unit watermark images are used. Replace the unit watermark image).

[Effects of Second Embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, when a booklet is created, when the booklet is bound at the center, the original data and one or more unit watermark images are hidden in the margin area together with the original data. The unit watermark image is appropriately arranged. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation where the unit watermark image is hidden in the blank area (FIG. 12D). Further, according to the present embodiment, the division is performed in the state of the print data in which the unit watermark image is superimposed on the document data. For this reason, it is not necessary to prepare the unit watermark image divided in advance, and the user does not need to perform the arrangement operation on the screen of the divided unit watermark image.

[Modification of Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment described above, the document data and the unit watermark image are arranged in the central portion, and the document data and the unit watermark image are divided and moved. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the print processing module 332 may calculate the arrangement of the document data and the unit watermark image so that the unit watermark image is arranged in an area other than the blank area without being divided.

  In the second embodiment described above, when the user allocates two logical pages to one physical page using the application unit 32, the user provides a blank area corresponding to the central portion of the physical page. Document data may be generated.

  The print processing module 332 may perform the following process when a plurality of unit watermark images are selected.

  When the original data and a plurality of unit watermark images are arranged on the physical page, the print processing module 332 has at least one unit for each logical page other than the central margin area for the cover portion. If a watermark image can be arranged and at least one unit watermark image can be arranged on any logical page other than the blank area at the center of the physical page with respect to the document content portion, In this way, print data is generated.

  For this reason, as in the second embodiment, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the unit watermark image is hidden in the blank area. Furthermore, when a plurality of unit watermark images are selected, the print processing module 332 does not need to perform image movement processing related to the blank area.

  In the first and second embodiments and the modifications thereof, so-called overlapping of watermark images has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any additional data may be added to (added to) original data. For example, the postscript data may include data indicating the date and time when the document is printed. Further, in the case of booklet printing, the case of the left binding setting is taken as an example, but the same can be applied to the case of the right binding setting and the vertical binding setting.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 2 Printing apparatus 3 Terminal apparatus 4 System communication part 5 Post-processing apparatus 21 Print execution part 22 Print control part 23 Printing apparatus communication part 24 Operation part 25 Memory | storage part 26 Feed / discharge part 31 OS part 32 Application part 33 Printer driver Unit 34 terminal device communication unit 35 input unit 36 display unit 37 first storage unit 38 second storage unit 331 UI processing module 332 print processing module

Claims (3)

When each logical page of the original data is replaced with a physical page in units of one or two pages, the physical page is allocated to the front or back surface of the print paper, and the original data is printed on the print paper, the print paper A printing control apparatus that controls the printing apparatus to perform booklet printing indicating the printing so that a booklet covering the contents of the document with a cover can be created by bending the center part of
Of the logical pages constituting the original data, the first logical page and the last logical page are made to correspond to the cover, and logical pages other than the first logical page and the last logical page are used as the original content. In order to correspond, original data generation means for generating the original data,
An input unit that inputs booklet printing based on a user operation and inputs one or more unit additional data to be added to the document data;
In the case of booklet printing by the input means, and the original data corresponding to the cover among the original data generated by the original data generating means when the one or more unit additional data is input, The one or more unit additional data is added in logical page units, and the original data corresponding to the original content includes additional data addition means for adding the one or more unit additional data in physical page units. A printing control device characterized by that. When a booklet binding area is provided at the center of the printing paper, the center of the printing paper is bound.
In order to prevent the original data and the one or more unit additional data from being lost when folded in a state, the original data and the one or more unit additional data in each physical page are other than the binding area. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data arrangement unit arranged in the area. When each logical page of the original data is replaced with a physical page in units of one or two pages, the physical page is allocated to the front or back surface of the print paper, and the original data is printed on the print paper, the print paper A printing control apparatus that controls the printing apparatus to perform booklet printing indicating the printing so that a booklet covering the contents of the document with a cover can be created by bending the center part of
  First appending data appending means for appending one or more unit appending data to be added to the document data to the document data corresponding to the cover in logical page units;
A second additional data adding means for adding the one or more unit additional data to the original data corresponding to the original content in units of physical pages;
When a plurality of unit additional data is added to the original data corresponding to the original content by the second additional data unit in physical page units,
  Instead of the first additional data adding unit, when the center portion of the printing paper is folded in a bound state, at least one unit additional data is added to each logical page corresponding to the cover. A print control apparatus comprising: a third additional data addition unit that adds the plurality of unit additional data in units of physical pages to document data corresponding to a cover.

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