JP5531660B2 - Image composition apparatus and image composition program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image composition device and an image composition program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an output control device that receives and outputs data from an external device, registration means for registering registration information together with attribute information of the registration information, and the registration information based on data from the external device. When the output processing used is instructed, the output processing is performed using the conversion means for converting the registration information in accordance with the attribute information indicated by the data, and the registration information converted by the conversion means. And an output control device characterized by having control means for controlling.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an image processing method for performing image processing on image data and generating the image data in a desired output form, and obtaining output form information for selecting attached image data to be attached to the image data. An image processing method is described in which the attached image data is selected based on the output form information, and image processing is performed on the image data according to the selected attached image data.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a plurality of image data conversion means for performing image data conversion processing in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image formation processing and a program for processing related to image formation, An image forming apparatus comprising: means for registering stamp data to be combined with data; stamp data conversion managing means for retaining conversion processing content to be applied to stamp data at the time of registration; and means for managing registered stamp data Is described.

  Patent Document 4 includes conversion of resolution of image data in an image forming apparatus having an image composition output function for compositing at least stamp image data to input image data and recording and outputting the image on a sheet by image forming means. Original stamp image data registered in the stamp image data storage means, comprising: image processing means for performing various image processing on the image data; and stamp image data storage means for storing the stamp image data combined with the input image data The image processing means performs necessary image processing to generate registered stamp image data, registers the registered stamp image data in the stamp image data storage means, and stores the registered stamp image data in the stamp image data storage means as the input image data. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the registered stamp image data is combined and recorded and output. It has been.

JP-A-8-286860 JP 2003-259114 A JP 2004-201205 A JP-A-2005-212120

  In the present invention, when the drawing image information to be combined is in the vector format, the drawing image information and the drawing image information are compared with the case where the fixed image information acquiring means for acquiring the fixed image information in the vector format to be combined with the drawing image information is not provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image composition device and an image composition program that can prevent an increase in the size of a composite image obtained by combining standard image information.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a drawing image information acquisition means for acquiring drawing image information, and fixed image information to be combined with the drawing image information, in a raster format and a vector format. If each of the fixed form image information in a standard intermediate format in advance and stored fixed form image information storage means, the image format is a vector format of the drawing image information acquired by the drawing image information acquiring unit, the base compactors format acquiring the fixed form image information, when the image format of the drawing image data is raster format, and the fixed form image information acquiring means for acquiring the fixed form image information of raster format, before obtained by the drawing image information acquiring means said standard intermediate format before Symbol fixed form image information by the image format of the serial drawing image information acquired by the fixed form image information acquiring means If the image format of the drawing image information is not the same as the standard intermediate format of the fixed image information, the drawing image information is combined with the standard image information. Synthesis means for converting the image format of the information into the standard intermediate format of the fixed image information , and combining the converted drawing image information and the fixed image information .

The invention according to claim 2 is the case where the image format of the drawing image information acquired by the drawing image information acquisition unit is a raster format, and the fixed image information in a raster format is stored in the fixed image information storage unit. If not, the standard image information acquisition unit acquires the standard image information in the vector format, and the synthesis unit converts the standard image information in the vector format acquired by the standard image information acquisition unit to the standard in the raster format. The image data is converted into an intermediate format, and the drawing image information and the converted fixed image information are combined .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the standard image information storage means is configured such that the image format of the drawing image information acquired by the drawing image information acquisition means is a vector format, and the standard image information storage means stores a vector format. If the fixed image information is not stored, the fixed image information in a raster format is acquired .

Fourth aspect of the present invention, the steps of obtaining drawing image information, when the image format of the acquired drawing image information is vector format, a fixed form image information to be synthesized with the drawings image information, from the fixed form image information storage means for the fixed form image information in a standard intermediate format of each of the raster format and the vector format is stored in advance, obtains the fixed form image information base compactors format, image format of the drawing image information in raster format in some cases, from the fixed form image information storage means, a step of acquiring the fixed form image information of the raster format, an image format of the obtained pre-Symbol drawing image information, the standard intermediate format of the acquired pre Symbol fixed form image information The drawing image information and the standard image information are combined, and the image format of the drawing image information If not the same as the standard intermediate format of the fixed form image information, an image format of the drawing image data converted into the standard intermediate format of the fixed form image information, and the drawing image information the conversion and the fixed form image information And an image synthesis program for causing a computer to execute processing including

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, when the drawing image information to be combined is in the vector format, there is no case where the fixed image information acquisition means for acquiring the fixed image information in the vector format combined with the drawing image information is provided In comparison, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent an increase in the size of a combined image obtained by combining the drawing image information and the fixed image information.

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the drawing image information is stored in the fixed image information storage means as compared with the case where only the fixed image information of the raster format is stored for one fixed image information. And the fixed image information can be prevented from increasing in size.

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, compared to the case where the drawing image information is not converted to the standard intermediate format, the load of the conversion processing for matching the image formats of the drawing image information and the standard image information is reduced. Has the effect of being able to.

It is a schematic block diagram of an image composition system. It is a functional block diagram of a server apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of form data information. It is a figure which shows an example of standard intermediate format information. It is a flowchart of the process performed in an image synthetic | combination part. It is a block diagram at the time of comprising a server apparatus with a computer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image composition system 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image composition system 10 includes, as an example, a server device 12, a distribution data storage device 13, a user terminal device 14, a distribution user terminal device 15, and a printing device 16 connected via a communication line 18. It becomes the composition. In this embodiment, for example, drawing data as drawing information representing a design drawing of a product, for example, predetermined data representing, for example, stamp data indicating an image of a seal of a drawing creator, logo data indicating an image of a company logo, etc. A case will be described in which the form data as the standard image information is combined and the combined image is printed. The form data is not limited to the data of a seal or a logo as long as it represents a standard image.

  The user terminal device 14 and the distribution user terminal device 15 are configured by an ordinary personal computer or the like. For example, the user designates drawing data stored in the user terminal device 14 or the distribution user terminal device 15 as print data, and forms data information, print size, etc. for specifying form data to be combined with the drawing data. When print setting information relating to the print setting is designated, print instruction information including the designated print data and print setting information is transmitted to the server device 12. When drawing data is stored in the server device 12 or another server device, the user designates information for specifying drawing data to be printed, such as a file name of the drawing data, and the server device 12. Send to.

  As will be described in detail later, the server device 12 receives the print instruction information, generates a composite image by combining the designated drawing data and form data based on the print instruction information, and sends this to the drawing distribution destination. The data is converted into distribution data for distribution, stored in the distribution data storage device 13, and notified to the distribution destination user of the storage location or output to the printing device 16.

  The distribution data storage device 13 is a device for storing distributed distribution data, and may have the same configuration as the server device 12 or may be a general data storage device.

  The printing device 16 is, for example, an electrophotographic image forming device or an ink jet image forming device. Upon receiving distribution data from the server device 12, the printing device 16 prints the data on a recording sheet.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the server device 12 includes a print setting information management unit 20, a print data management unit 22, a form data management unit 24, an image composition unit 26, a standard intermediate format definition unit 28, and a distribution data management unit 30. It is configured to include.

  The print setting information management unit 20 stores print setting information among the print instruction information 32 transmitted from the user terminal device 14.

  The print data management unit 22 stores print data in the print instruction information 32 transmitted from the user terminal device 14.

  The form data management unit 24 stores a plurality of form data representing, for example, seal data indicating a seal image of a drawing creator, logo data indicating a company logo image, and the like, as shown in FIG. Information 34 is stored.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the form data information 34 is information indicating the correspondence between the form name of the form data, the form type indicating whether the image format of the form data is a so-called raster format or a vector format, and the file name of the form data. . The raster format is basically data that shows the image of the drawing itself, and is a data format that expresses the image as an array of dots. The vector format is basically a set of drawing commands for drawing a drawing. Is a data format represented by Examples of the raster format include TIFF, bitmap, and JPEG. Examples of the vector format include CAD data, Adobe PS (PostScript), and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the form data information 34, two types of image format files of raster format and vector format are associated with one form data. Note that when the form data in the vector format cannot be prepared like the form data having the form name “form 2” shown in FIG. 3, only the raster format may be used. Similarly, when raster format form data cannot be prepared, only the vector format may be used. In addition, an image format corresponding to a standard intermediate format to be described later is prepared as the image format of the form data.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the standard intermediate format definition unit 28 shows the correspondence between the format of print data (drawing data) instructed to be printed by the user and the standard intermediate format previously defined for this print data format. Standard intermediate format information 36 is stored.

  In this embodiment, as an example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the print data format is TIFF or bitmap, TIFF is defined as a standard intermediate format, and when the print data format is CAD data or PS format, PS is standard. It is defined as an intermediate format. Thus, in this embodiment, TIFF is defined as the standard intermediate format of the raster format, and PS is defined as the standard intermediate format of the vector format. However, the format defined as the standard intermediate format is not limited to this. . Further, in the present embodiment, one standard intermediate format is defined for each of the raster format and the vector format, but there may be two or more standard intermediate formats for each format.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image composition unit 26 includes a print setting information reading unit 40, a print data reading unit 42, a form data reading unit 44, a print data raster converting unit 46, a form data raster converting unit 48, and a raster combining unit 50. The standard intermediate format determination unit 52, the print data vector conversion unit 54, the vector composition unit 56, and the distribution data conversion unit 58 are included.

  The print setting information reading unit 40 reads the print setting information included in the print instruction information 32 transmitted from the user terminal device 14 from the print setting information management unit 20.

  The print data reading unit 42 reads the print data included in the print instruction information transmitted from the user terminal device 14 from the print data management unit 22.

  The form data reading unit 24 reads form data corresponding to the standard intermediate format of the print data determined by the standard intermediate format determination unit 52 from the form data management unit 24. The form data is specified by the print setting information.

  When the standard intermediate format determination unit 52 determines that the standard intermediate format is the raster format, the print data raster conversion unit 46 converts the print data read by the print data reading unit 40 into the raster format standard intermediate format. .

  When the print data and the form data are to be combined in the raster format, the form data raster conversion unit 48 converts the vector format form data to the raster if only the vector format form data is registered in the form data information 34. Convert to format.

  The raster combining unit 50 combines the raster format print data converted by the print data raster converting unit 48 and the form data read by the form data reading unit 44 and outputs the combined data to the distribution data converting unit 58.

  Based on the standard intermediate format information 36 stored in the standard intermediate format definition unit 28, the standard intermediate format determination unit 52 determines the standard intermediate format corresponding to the print data instructed to be printed.

  When the standard intermediate format of the print data instructed to be printed is a vector format, the print data vector conversion unit 54 converts the print data into a standard intermediate format of the vector format.

  The vector synthesis unit 56 synthesizes the vector format print data converted by the print data vector conversion unit 54 and the vector format form data read by the form data reading unit 44, and outputs them to the distribution data conversion unit 58.

  The distribution data conversion unit 58 converts the combined image combined by the raster combining unit 50 or the vector combining unit 56 into a predetermined distribution data format, for example, PDF (Portable Document Format), and the distribution data management unit 30. Output to.

  The distribution data management unit 30 stores the composite image data output from the distribution data conversion unit 58 in the distribution data storage device 13 based on the distribution destination information included in the print instruction information, and sets a storage location for the distribution destination user. The electronic mail described is notified or output to the printing device 16. As a result, the distribution destination user refers to or acquires the distribution data based on the storage destination information described in the electronic mail received by the distribution user terminal device 15. Alternatively, when the printing device 16 is designated as the distribution destination, the composite image is printed by the printing device 16.

  Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, processing executed by the image composition unit 26 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  The process shown in FIG. 5 is executed when the print instruction information 32 is received from the user terminal device 14. When the server device 12 receives the print instruction information 32 from the user terminal device 14, the print setting information is stored in the print setting information management unit 20 and the print data is stored in the print data management unit 22.

  First, in step 100, the print setting information reading unit 40 reads the print setting information from the print setting information management unit 20.

  In step 102, the print data reading unit 40 reads print data from the print data management unit 22.

  In step 104, the standard intermediate format determination unit 52 refers to the standard intermediate format information 36 stored in the standard intermediate format definition unit 28, and based on the standard intermediate format information 36, the print data read by the print data reading unit 40 is read out. Determine the standard intermediate format that corresponds to the data.

  In step 106, the standard intermediate format determination unit 52 determines whether or not the standard intermediate format determined in step 104 is a vector format. If the standard intermediate format determined in step 104 is a vector format, the process proceeds to step 108. If the standard intermediate format determined in step 104 is not a vector format, that is, a raster format, step 122 is performed. Migrate to

  In step 108, the form data reading unit 44 refers to the form data information 34 stored in the form data management unit 24, and determines whether there is a vector format form data specified by the print setting information. To do.

  If vector form data exists, for example, if form data such as the form name “form 1” exists as shown in FIG. If the form data does not exist, the process proceeds to step 118.

  In step 110, the standard intermediate format determination unit 52 determines whether or not conversion of print data is necessary. That is, it is determined whether the print data format is the same as the standard intermediate format. If the print data format and the standard intermediate format are not the same, it is necessary to convert the print data to the standard intermediate format. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 112, and the print data format and the standard intermediate format are not the same. Since there is no need to convert the print data, the process proceeds to step 114.

  In step 112, the print data vector conversion unit 54 converts the print data into a standard intermediate format.

  In step 114, the vector composition unit 56 outputs the composite image data obtained by compositing the vector format print data and the vector form data to the distribution data conversion unit 58. At this time, since the print data and the form data are both in the vector format, the size of the composite image data is smaller than that in the raster format.

  In step 116, the distribution data conversion unit 58 converts the composite image data into a predetermined distribution data format and outputs it to the distribution data management unit 30. The distribution data management unit 30 transmits the distribution data to the printing device 16, and the printing device 16 prints the distribution data, that is, a composite image in which the drawing data as the print data and the form data are combined.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 108 that there is no vector form data, that is, only raster form data exists, for example, form data with the form name “form 2” as shown in FIG. If it is determined, in step 118, the print data raster conversion unit 46 converts the vector format print data into a predetermined standard intermediate format, for example, TIFF.

  In step 120, the raster combining unit 50 combines the raster format print data and the raster form data and outputs the combined data to the distribution data conversion unit 58.

  If it is determined in step 106 that the standard intermediate format is not a vector format, that is, a raster format, the form data reading unit 44 stores the form data information stored in the form data management unit 24 in step 122. Referring to FIG. 34, it is determined whether there is a raster format form data designated by the print setting information.

  If raster form data exists, the process proceeds to step 124. If raster form data does not exist, the process proceeds to step 130.

  In step 124, the standard intermediate format determination unit 52 determines whether or not conversion of print data is necessary. That is, it is determined whether the print data format is the same as the standard intermediate format. If the print data format and the standard intermediate format are not the same, it is necessary to convert the print data to the standard intermediate format. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 126, and the print data format and the standard intermediate format are not the same. Since there is no need to convert the print data, the process proceeds to step 128.

  In step 126, the print data raster converter 46 converts the print data into a standard intermediate format.

  In step 128, the raster composition unit 50 outputs the composite image data obtained by compositing the raster format print data and the raster form data to the distribution data conversion unit 58.

  In step 116, the distribution data conversion unit 58 converts the composite image data into a predetermined distribution data format and outputs it to the distribution data management unit 30. The distribution data management unit 30 transmits the distribution data to the printing device 16, and the printing device 16 prints the distribution data, that is, a composite image in which the drawing data as the print data and the form data are combined.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 122 that the raster form data does not exist, in step 130, the form data raster converter 48 converts the vector print data into a predetermined standard intermediate format, for example, TIFF. Convert.

  In step 132, the raster combining unit 50 combines the raster format print data and the raster form data and outputs the combined data to the distribution data conversion unit 58.

  As described above, in this embodiment, form data information 34 that associates two types of files of raster format and vector format with one form data is stored in advance in the form data management unit 24, and print data, That is, when the drawing data is in the vector format, if the corresponding vector format form data exists in the form data information 34, it is read out and combined with the print data.

  In this embodiment, even if the print data is in the vector format, if there is no form data in the vector format to be combined with this print data, the print data is converted into the raster format and combined with the rasters. Provides a form data conversion unit that converts raster form data into vector form data. This form data conversion unit converts raster form data into vector form data and synthesizes them with each other. You may do it.

  In this embodiment, the standard intermediate format definition unit 28 is provided and the print data is converted into the standard intermediate format and then combined with the form data. However, the print data is directly converted into the same format as the form data. And may be combined.

  In this embodiment, the case where the print setting information management unit 20, the print data management unit 22, the form data management unit 24, and the standard intermediate format definition unit 28 are provided in one server device 12 has been described. For example, the print data management unit 22 may be provided in another device via the communication line 16, and all the functional units are not necessarily provided in the same device.

  Further, the server device 12 is actually configured to include a computer 60 as shown in FIG. A computer 60 shown in FIG. 6 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 60A, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 60B, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 60C, a non-volatile memory 60D, and an input / output interface (I / O) 60E. The hard disk 60G and the communication unit 60H are connected to the I / O 60E. In this case, a program for causing the computer 60 to execute the processing shown in FIG. 5 is written in, for example, the hard disk 60G, and this is read and executed by the CPU 60A. Accordingly, the computer 60 functions as the image composition unit 26 of the server device 12. The program may be provided by a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  Further, the configuration of the server device 12 described in the present embodiment (see FIG. 2) is an example, and unnecessary portions are deleted or new portions are added within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say.

  In addition, the flow of processing of the control program described in the present embodiment (see FIG. 5) is also an example, and unnecessary steps are deleted or new steps are added within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, the processing order may be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image composition system 12 Server apparatus 14 User terminal device 16 Printing apparatus 18 Communication line 20 Print setting information management part 22 Print data management part 24 Form data management part 26 Image composition part 28 Standard intermediate format definition part 30 Distribution data management part 32 Printing Instruction information 34 Form data information 36 Standard intermediate format information 40 Print setting information reading unit 42 Print data reading unit 44 Form data reading unit 46 Print data raster conversion unit 48 Form data raster conversion unit 50 Raster composition unit 52 Standard intermediate format determination unit 54 Print data vector conversion unit 56 Vector synthesis unit 58 Distribution data conversion unit 60 Computer

Claims (4)

Drawing image information acquisition means for acquiring drawing image information;
Fixed image information storage means, which is fixed image information to be combined with the drawing image information, in which fixed image information in standard intermediate formats of raster format and vector format is stored in advance,
If the image format of the drawing image information acquired by the drawing image information acquiring means is a vector format, and obtains the fixed form image information base compactors format, if the image format of the drawing image data is raster format Fixed image information acquisition means for acquiring the fixed image information in raster format ;
When the image format of the previous SL drawing image information acquired by the drawing image information acquiring means is the same as standard intermediate format of the acquired pre Symbol fixed form image information by the fixed form image information acquisition means, the drawing images Information and the standard image information are combined, and if the image format of the drawing image information is not the same as the standard intermediate format of the standard image information, the image format of the drawing image information is changed to the standard of the standard image information. A synthesizing unit that converts the drawing image information into the intermediate format and synthesizes the converted drawing image information and the fixed image information ;
An image synthesizing apparatus.   If the image format of the drawing image information acquired by the drawing image information acquisition unit is a raster format, and the fixed image information in a raster format is not stored in the fixed image information storage unit, the fixed image information The acquisition unit acquires the standard image information in the vector format, and the synthesis unit converts the standard image information in the vector format acquired by the standard image information acquisition unit into the standard intermediate format in the raster format, and the drawing. Combining the image information and the converted standard image information
  The image composition device according to claim 1.   The fixed image information acquisition means is a case where the image format of the drawing image information acquired by the drawing image information acquisition means is a vector format, and the fixed image information in the vector format is stored in the fixed image information storage means. If not, get the standard image information in raster format
  The image composition device according to claim 1 or 2. Obtaining drawing image information;
If the image format of the acquired drawing image information is vector format, a fixed form image information to be synthesized with the drawings image information, the fixed form image information of the standard intermediate format of each of the raster format and vector format in advance from the stored standard image information storage means, obtains the fixed form image information base compactors format, if the image format of the drawing image data is raster format, from the fixed form image information storage means, the fixed form image of raster format Obtaining information ,
Image format acquired before Symbol drawing image information, if it is the same as standard intermediate format of the acquired pre Symbol fixed form image information, synthesizes the relevant drawings image information and the fixed form image information, the drawings When the image format of the image information is not the same as the standard intermediate format of the standard image information, the image format of the drawing image information is converted into the standard intermediate format of the standard image information, and the converted drawing image information And combining the standard image information and
An image composition program for causing a computer to execute processing including

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