JP6517890B2 - Page data inspection method - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an inspection method for page data for creating print products.

Print data created by RIP by performing rasterization processing (hereinafter referred to as RIP) on page data representing page images of printed matter created by a page description language such as PostScript (ADOBE, Inc.) or PDF Printing using is generally performed.
In such a case, since page data created by electronic processing and print data resulting from RIP of the page data are also electronic data, the page data is used until the printed matter by the printing machine is obtained. Display means such as a liquid crystal display, a CRT, an organic EL display, etc. of a computer that processes page data and print data in order to confirm a page image to be expressed and a print image expressed by print data obtained as a result of RIP. I had no choice but to resort to.

  In such a case, the following is known as a prior art in which an image inspection is performed by comparing a page image represented by page data with a print image represented by print data.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-203016

In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the page image represented by the page data created in the page data creation process and the process different between the platemaking and printing processes, and the print data created in the RIP process for the page data are represented. Discloses the detection of differences by comparison with printed images.
However, there is a problem that it is not possible to confirm whether the page data is the cause or the print data is the cause of the difference being detected.

That is, when page data is created using a font that is not installed in the device that performs RIP, or when it is used in a printing machine, a difference between the page image due to the page data and the print image due to the print data occurs. There are cases where the page data creation side has a cause, such as when page data is created in which an impossible color is specified for an object on the page.
Therefore, a mechanism is required for the page data creator to check the comparison result of the page image by page data and the print image by print data, and to confirm whether the page data or print data has the cause of the difference. It is assumed.

Also, as a cause of the difference between the page image due to the page data and the print image due to the print data, the print data creation as a result of failing to call the object linked in the page data and performing RIP, or There may be a problem on the RIP side, such as creation of print data caused by reversing the arrangement direction of the object and performing RIP.
Therefore, a mechanism is necessary for the RIP operator to check the comparison result of the page image by the page data and the print image by the print data, and to check whether the page data or the print data has the cause of the difference. It is done.

As described above, the page data inspection method can confirm the difference in the environment of both the page data creator and the RIP worker and easily confirm which of the page data creation process and the RIP process is the cause of the difference. It is an object of the present invention to provide

In order to solve at least a part of the problem, the present invention can take the following forms or application examples.
Application Example 1
An inspection method for page data, wherein an inspection page image data corresponding to printing page image data for printing with a printing machine is generated based on page data for generating a printed matter An inspection page image data generation step of generating inspection page image data equivalent to display page image data to be displayed by the page data display device based on the image data generation step and the page data, and the inspection page image Difference page image data creation that creates difference page image data representing a difference page image by comparing the inspection page image represented by the data and the inspection page image represented by the inspection page image data process and the image area and the test page of the object to be inspected for the page image corresponding to the difference page image Attribute information in the image area of the image, said by obtaining from the test page image data and the test page image data, a difference page image attribute information generation step of generating a difference page image attribute information, in the difference page image it causes the first image area in which the attribute information is not present before dangerous査用page image exists in the inspection for the page image is generated is a bug in the inspection for the page image data creation step, and in the difference page image, cause the second image area which does not exist in the inspection for the page image the attribute information is present before dangerous査用page image is generated there is improper parts in the page data And a cause identifying step in which the operator determines based on the difference page image attribute information .
Application Example 2
In the page data inspection method, in the difference page image data creation step, annotation image data that emphasizes the presence of a difference page image represented by the difference page image data is created.
Application Example 3
In the page data inspection method, in the difference page image data creation step, the position of the difference page image is acquired from the page data and created as difference position information.
Application Example 4
A page data inspection method, having a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying a page image to be inspected, an inspection page image, and a difference page image, and setting difference page image attribute information as a comment on the difference page image And a confirmation page image data generation step of generating confirmation page image data.
Application Example 5
A page data inspection method, having a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying a page image to be inspected, an inspection page image, and a difference page image, and setting difference page image attribute information as a comment on the difference page image The confirmation page image data generation step of generating the confirmation page image data, and in the confirmation page image data generation step, the annotation image data is added to the hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying the confirmation page image data.
Application Example 6
A page data inspection method, having a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying a page image to be inspected, an inspection page image, and a difference page image, and setting difference page image attribute information as a comment on the difference page image The confirmation page image data generation step of generating the confirmation page image data, and in the confirmation page image data generation step, the difference position information is added as a comment of the confirmation page image data.
Application Example 7
A method of inspecting page data, which associates and stores page image data for confirmation and page data that is a generation source of the page image data for confirmation, and generates report data of the same data format as the page data Having a process.
Application Example 8
A page data inspection method, comprising a display step of displaying difference page image attribute information.

The page image to be inspected and the page image for inspection are compared to create a difference page image. Further, attribute information in the image area of the page image to be inspected and the image area of the page image for inspection corresponding to the difference page image is acquired from the page image data for inspection and the page image data for inspection. Create difference page image attribute information. In difference page image represented by the differential page image data, the attribute information is why the first image area which does not exist in present to test査用page image on a test page image is generated page image data producing step for inspection it in a failure, and the cause of the second image area in which attribute information is not present present in the test page image to be inspected for the page image is generated is because there was inadequate parts in the page data, Is determined based on the difference page image attribute information . This makes it easy to confirm whether the cause of the image area in the difference page image is due to the printing RIP or to the original page data.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an image inspection data creation device 1; It is a figure for demonstrating the image comparison by the image comparison part 173. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating difference feature information STD to difference page picture SI. It is a figure for demonstrating the state to which the annotation image TI was added to difference page image SI. It is a figure for demonstrating the page image data CID for confirmation produced | generated by the page image data production | generation part 174 for confirmation. FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing confirmation page image data CID displayed on the display unit 12 of the image inspection data creation device 1. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of report data RD. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image inspection data creation device 1; FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state in which report data RD generated by the image inspection data generation device 1 is transmitted to the page data display devices 2 and 3 via the network 4;

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described using the drawings.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an image inspection data creation apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The image inspection data creation apparatus 1 has the same configuration as a commonly used 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. Have.

The CPU 11 controls the entire image inspection data creation apparatus 1, and in particular, executes the program P recorded on the media disk 18 inserted in the media drive 15 in the memory 17 to perform the function of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1. It has been realized.
The display unit 12 is used to display information necessary for image inspection processing.
Further, the display unit 12 is used to confirm the result of the image inspection by displaying the report data RD generated in the process described later.
The input unit 13 includes a mouse and a keyboard, and is used by the operator to input an instruction to the image inspection data creation apparatus 1.
The network I / F 14 is for connecting the image inspection data creation device 1 to a network (not shown). Through the network I / F 14, the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 can receive job data JD (described later) storing page data from a terminal (not shown) connected to the network. Moreover, it is also possible to download the program P which implement | achieves the function of the image test | inspection data production apparatus 1 from the server which is not shown in figure. Furthermore, the image inspection data creation device 1 can transmit the report data RD to the terminal (not shown) via the network I / F 14.
The media drive 15 is used to read the program P recorded on the media disc 18. The program P read by the media drive 15 realizes the function of the image inspection data creation device 1.
The storage unit 16 stores the program P read by the media drive 15. The storage unit 16 also stores job data JD. Furthermore, the storage unit 16 also stores report data RD created in a process described later.

  The memory 17 is a work area for the CPU 11 to execute the program P stored by the storage unit 16. As a result of execution of the program P by the CPU 11, in the memory 17, the to-be-tested page image data creation unit 171, the examination page image data creation unit 172, the image comparison unit 173, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174, report data creation The functions of the unit 175 and the page data display unit 176 are realized.

The to-be-inspected page image data creation unit 171 performs RIP corresponding to creation of print page image data for printing with page data on page data, and creates to-be-inspected page image data.
The RIP performed by the to-be-tested page image data creation unit 171 is a conversion process for creating a multi-value bit map image used for printing in a printing apparatus (not shown) based on the page data,
For example, when the data format of the page data is PDF, the to-be-inspected page image data creation unit 171 is realized by a printing RIP such as ADOBE PRINT Engine (trademark of ADOBE).

The inspection page image data creation unit 172 performs RIP corresponding to creation of display page image data for displaying the page data by the page data display device, and creates inspection page image data.
The RIP performed by the inspection page image data creation unit 172 is a multilevel bitmap image data used for displaying on the display unit 12 as a page data display device by the page data display unit 176 described later based on the page data If the data format of the page data is PDF, for example, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 is common to the PDF display / creation application ACROBAT (a registered trademark of ADOBE, Inc.) It is realized by a display RIP such as ADOBE PDF Library (trademark of ADOBE Co., Ltd.) using the core of.

  That is, since the to-be-inspected page image data creation unit 171 and the inspection page image data creation unit 172 are different RIPs such as a printing RIP and a display RIP, they are obtained by performing different RIPs on the same page data. The page image data to be inspected and the page image data for inspection do not necessarily have the same result.

  The image comparison unit 173 compares the page image to be inspected represented by the page image data to be inspected with the page image for inspection represented by the page image data for inspection, and a difference in comparison results. Creates difference page image data.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining image comparison by the image comparison unit 173. In the page image for inspection and the page image for inspection obtained by performing different RIPs on the same page data, there is an inappropriate part in the page data description, or the page image data for inspection is created When a failure occurs in the RIP by the unit 171, etc., a difference page image is generated as a result of comparison, so the image comparison unit 173 creates difference page image data for representing a difference page image.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the page image HI to be inspected. As a result of the page-to-be-tested page image data creation unit 171 performing page data RIP corresponding to the printing RIP, page-to-be-tested page image data representing the page-to-be-tested image HI is created.
Here, the to-be-tested page image HI having three image areas A1, A2, and A3 in the page S is expressed by the to-be-tested page image data. Since the to-be-tested page image data creation unit 171 performs the same RIP as the creation of the page image data for printing, the printed matter obtained as a result of printing the page data is a printed matter in which the representation as shown in FIG. It becomes.

On the other hand, FIG. 2B is a view showing the inspection page image KI. As a result of the inspection page image data creation unit 172 performing the RIP corresponding to the display RIP, the inspection page image data representing the inspection page image KI is created.
Here, three image areas A1, A2, and A4 are represented in the page S by the inspection page image data KID. Since the inspection page image data creation unit 172 performs the same RIP as the display page image data creation, the creator of the page data creates the page image represented by the inspection page image KI shown in FIG. 2B. It is the same image as the one representing the page content.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, even if the same page data is RIPped by the to-be-tested page image data creation unit 171 and the to-be-tested page image data creation unit 172, the created for-test data The page image HI and the inspection page image KI do not necessarily have the same image. Although the page data creator originally created page data for representing a page such as the inspection page image KI, RIP for printing and printing RIP are performed using different resources. Because of this, the processing content of the page data may differ.

For example, when an ink color (referred to as a spot color) other than CMYK used for printing is designated for the image area A4 at the time of page data creation, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 selects the image area where the spot color is used. By performing correct processing for A4, an image area A4 is present in FIG. 2 (b).
On the other hand, since the to-be-tested page image data creation unit 171 processes only the area in which the CMYK ink color to be used for printing is designated, the image area A4 in which the spot color is used in FIG. Not.

Conversely, when the image area A3 is not created at the time of page data creation, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 naturally does not perform processing on the image area A3, so the image area A3 does not exist in FIG. .
On the other hand, the to-be-tested page image data creation unit 171 is originally present in FIG. 2A because the processing is performed on the assumption that the image area A3 having the same shape as the image area A2 exists due to a trouble at the time of RIP. There is an image area A3 which should not be present.

  Therefore, as a result of comparing the inspection page image HI with the inspection page image KI, the image comparison unit 173 creates a differential page image SI as shown in FIG. 2C. The difference page image SI does not have the image areas A1 and A2 that exist in common in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and only the image area A3 that exists only in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. The image has an image area A4 present in the image.

  The image comparison unit 173 can set various conditions in creating difference page image data by comparing the inspection page image HI and the inspection page image KI.

As the image comparison quality by the image comparison unit 173, for example,
Inspection intensity · weak: only large differences check inspection intensity · medium: intermediate quality and check inspection intensity · strong: missing letters also check inspection intensity · custom: comparison inspection when performing image comparison like checking with desired quality Setting of the strength of
Here, “Inspection strength / weak” means that the image comparison unit 173 considers the comparison result of the inspection page image HI and the inspection page image KI as a difference only when there is a difference in a region of a predetermined size or more. . On the other hand, “Inspection strength / strong” means that the image comparison section 173 considers the comparison result as a difference when there is a difference even in a detailed point that has no problem in a practical sense, such as a difference in character font serif. . "Inspection intensity · medium" is compared at the intermediate intensity.

"Inspection intensity custom" indicates that the inspection intensity is changed within the range of inspection intensity low to inspection intensity high. In “Inspection intensity custom”, settings such as “amount of shaking”, “allowable value”, “elimination of isolated point”, etc. are enabled.
When comparing the inspection page image HI and the inspection page image KI, the “amount of shaking” virtually shifts the arrangement position of either image when so-called pixel displacement occurs. When performing image comparison and canceling pixel shift and detecting an original difference value or the like, it is a virtual shift amount. If the amount of shaking is small, the difference resulting from the image comparison is large, and if the amount of shaking is large, the difference is small.
The “permissible value” is an allowable range for differences in image size, differences in image position, or differences in image density when comparing the inspection page image HI and the inspection page image KI. The smaller the tolerance, the greater the difference resulting from the image comparison, and the larger the tolerance, the smaller the difference.
“Isolation point removal” is a setting for determining whether or not to remove an image of a small size which is supposed to be absent when the image comparison is detected. When isolated point removal is set, based on the separately set isolated point size, it is possible to facilitate inspection of the difference page image SI by removing isolated points smaller than the size without making it a difference.

In addition, as the condition setting by the image comparison unit 173, there is another setting of the comparison target page. The comparison target page setting is, for example,
Automatic: Designated page for determining the number of page data based on the page division range considering the reuse parts that are independent images when performing variable printing and the load when using multiple RIPs as designated pages for image comparison: image inspection data The page data designated by the operator of the creation device 1 is determined as the image comparison target page.
All pages: All page data is determined as an image comparison target page.
Thus, since the number of page data to be subjected to image comparison can be set, the image comparison time by the image comparison unit 173 can be within the desired range.

  The image comparison unit 173 can easily execute the difference page image attribute information generation unit 1731, the annotation image generation unit 1732, and the difference position information generation unit 1733 in order to easily confirm the difference page image SI represented by the difference image page image data. Prepare.

  The difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 is configured to detect an image area of the inspection page image HI corresponding to the difference page image SI represented by the difference page image data obtained as a result of comparison by the image comparison unit 173, and an inspection page. The differential page image attribute information STD is created by acquiring attribute information in each of the image areas of the image KI from the inspection page image data and the inspection page image data.

The difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 extracts the color density of the test page image HI as attribute information from the image area of the test page image HI corresponding to the difference page image SI from the test page image data. Do.
Further, the difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 uses the image area of the inspection page image KI corresponding to the difference page image SI from the inspection page image data as the attribute information for the color density and overprint of the inspection page image KI. Extract the specification of, the specification of the spot color.
The difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 combines the attribute information extracted from the inspection page image data and the attribute information extracted from the inspection page image data to create difference page image attribute information STD.

  The generated difference page image attribute information STD is information for specifying the cause of the generation of the difference page image SI as image inspection data, and is used as a comment of the confirmation page image data in a process described later.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining difference page image attribute information STD with respect to the difference page image SI. FIG. 3 shows a state in which two pieces of difference page image attribute information STD are attached to the image areas A3 and A4 in the difference page image SI created in FIG. 2 (c).

  The difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 extracts color density information from the inspection page image HI and the inspection page image KI with respect to the image area A3 in the difference page image SI of FIG. Difference page image attribute information STD “C100, M100, Y100, K100” and “KI: C0, M0, Y0, K0” is displayed. Thus, while the color density does not exist in the image area A3 (= no area) in the inspection page image KI (the originally desired page), the color in the image area A3 is generated in the inspection page image HI. Since it is known that the density exists, the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 determines that there is a problem in the RIP that created the page image HI to be examined by confirming the difference page image attribute information STD. Can.

  On the other hand, with respect to the image area A4 in the difference page image SI of FIG. 3, the difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 specifies that "Spot Color (special color)" is specified for the image area A4 from the inspection page image KI. While being extracted, it is set as difference feature information STD which sets it as "none" which shows that attribute information was not able to be extracted from the field corresponding to image field A4 of page image HI to be examined. As a result, the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 can determine that the problem is that a spot color that can not be printed is specified in the image area A4 of the created page data.

The annotation image creation unit 1732
An annotation image TI for emphasizing the presence of the difference page image SI created by the image comparison unit 173 is created.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the annotation image TI is added to the difference page image SI. FIG. 4 shows a state in which two annotation images TI are attached to the image areas A3 and A4 in the difference page image SI created in FIG. 2 (c). Since the image areas A3 and A4 in the difference page image SI are emphasized by the annotation image TI, the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 can easily pay attention to the difference page image SI when it is displayed.
The annotation image creation unit 1732 obtains a circumscribed rectangle of the image area in the difference page image SI and creates an annotation image TI so as to display the outline in the circumscribed rectangle. The annotation image data creation unit 1732 creates an annotation image data as the annotation image TI, together with the position information of the circumscribed rectangle.
The shape of the annotation image TI is not limited to a circumscribed rectangle, and may be a circle having a predetermined radius centered on the center of gravity of the image area.

  Alternatively, the annotation image creation unit 1732 may set the color information different from the color information possessed by the original pixel of the difference page image SI to obtain the annotation image TI. Also by such processing by the annotation image creation unit 1732, when the image areas A3 and A4 in the difference page image SI are displayed, the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 can easily pay attention to it.

When the annotation image creation unit 1732 creates the annotation image TI emphasizing the difference page image SI, the difference between the page image HI to be inspected and the inspection page image KI can be easily confirmed in the process described later. .
The created annotation page image data is used to be added to the confirmation page image data in the process described later.

The difference position information creation unit 1733 obtains offset information based on the reference point of the page image HI to be inspected or the inspection page image KI for the position of the annotation image TI, and creates difference position information. The difference position information generation unit 1733 further generates the difference page image SI to which the annotation image TI is added in order to specify the position information of the annotation image TI added to the difference page image SI. The page number in the job data JD, the name of the job data JD storing the page data, and the path name in which the job data JD is stored are also handled by the created difference position information.
The generated difference position information is used as a comment of the confirmation page image data in a process described later.

The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 includes a confirmation page image including a confirmation page image CI hierarchically structured so that the inspection page image HI, the inspection page image KI, and the difference page image SI can be switched and displayed. Create image data.
The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 creates the confirmation page image data in a data format in the same format as the page data. For example, when the page data is PDF, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 creates confirmation page image data in a data format of PDF format. At this time, the inspection page image HI, the inspection page image KI, and the difference page image SI are hierarchically structured in accordance with the PDF format. Therefore, it is possible to display confirmation page image data in an ADOBE reader (trademark of ADOBE, Inc.) which functions as a page data display unit 176 described later, and the hierarchically structured inspection page image HI, for inspection The page image KI and the difference page image SI can be switched and displayed.

The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 adds the difference page image attribute information STD created by the difference page image attribute information creation unit 1731 as a comment when creating the confirmation page image data.
This makes it easy to confirm the attribute information of the difference area in the difference page image SI.

Further, since the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 can also hierarchically structure the annotation image data created by the annotation image creation unit 1732, the difference page image SI can be easily confirmed.
Further, in the confirmation page image data creation unit 174, the difference position information created by the difference location information creation unit 1733 can be added as a comment when creating the confirmation page image data, so in the difference page image SI It becomes easy to confirm the position information of the difference area.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the confirmation page image data CID created by the confirmation page image data creation unit 174. As shown in FIG. As illustrated, the layers L1, L2, L3, and L4 are hierarchically structured, and the confirmation page image data CID represents the confirmation page image CI by overlapping all of them.

The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 stores the inspection page image data HID in the layer L1 which is the lowermost layer. Subsequently, the inspection page image data KID is stored in the layer L2. Similarly, hierarchically structured confirmation page image data CID is created by storing difference page image data SID in layer L3 and annotation image data TID created by annotation image creation unit 1732 in layer L4. The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 hierarchically organizes the images so that they can be switched and displayed.
The hierarchical structuring of the confirmation page image data CID by the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 directly stores the inspection page image data HID, the inspection page image data KID, the difference page image data SID or the annotation image data TID. It may be realized by linking data for expressing each image, that is, page image data HID to be inspected, inspection page image data KID, difference page image data SID, and annotation image data TID.
Further, if the difference page image attribute information STD and the difference position information have been created, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 adds them as a comment in the confirmation page image data CID.

  Since the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 creates the confirmation page image data CID in a data format in the same format as the page data, the inspection page image HI, the inspection page image KI, the difference page image SI, The annotation image TI is displayed as a PDF layer, and the confirmation page image data CID can be displayed in an application for displaying a PDF such as ADOBE reader functioning as a page data display unit 176 described later. In addition, the display / non-display of the layers L1, L2, L3, and L4 can be switched.

The report data creation unit 175 creates report data RD in which the confirmation page image data created by the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 is stored.
The report data creation unit 175 associates each of the stored confirmation page image data with the page data that is the creation source of the confirmation page image data. The report data creation unit 175 reports page image data for confirmation, page image data for inspection used to create the page data for confirmation, and page data subjected to RIP to obtain page image data for inspection. Associate.
Associating the check page image data with the page data by the report data creation unit 175 creates a link page image to be an image for linking the page data, and sets the link page image as the confirmation page image data. It is realized by hierarchical structure and adding so that switching display is possible.
By performing such an association, it is possible to easily access the page data targeted for the inspection after the inspection based on the confirmation page data, which is useful for the correction work for the page data, etc. is there.

  The report data creation unit 175 creates cover data when storing the confirmation page image data and creating the report data RD. The cover data is data about a page displayed first when the report data RD is displayed, and displays a report file name, an inspection result, an inspection condition, and a name of page data which is a generation source of confirmation page image data.

The report data creation unit 175 determines the name of the report data RD itself as the report file name when creating the cover data. The determination of the report file name is made as "(date) (job data JD name) report" from the time information of the inspection and the name of the job data JD. Alternatively, the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 may be prompted for a unique name.
As the name of the job data JD for which the report has been made, the file name of the job data JD which is the target of the inspection is used.
As the inspection result, as the information about the inspection result performed by the image inspection data creation apparatus 1, in addition to the name of the job data JD which is the target of the report, the number of pages subjected to the inspection, date and time of inspection, differential image Use the number of data and report file name.
As for the inspection conditions, the report data generation unit 175 acquires the information of the inspection conditions set in the image comparison unit 173, and uses them for generation of cover data.
The name of the page data that is the creation source of the confirmation page image data is that the report data creation unit 175 associates the confirmation page image data with the page data that is the creation source of the confirmation page image data as described above. Use the information at that time.

The report data creation unit 175 creates cover data in the same data format as the confirmation page image data CID, arranges the cover data at the top of the confirmation page image data stored therein, and creates report data RD.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the report data RD. As shown in the drawing, the report data RD is data including the confirmation page image data CID created as a result of the inspection with the cover data FD at the top. When the report data RD is data created in the PDF format, the page display is performed by the ADOBE reader, so that the report data RD can be displayed like a commonly used PDF file.
That is, since the report data RD is also data of the same format as the page data, the display can be performed by the page data display unit 176 described later. For example, if the page data is data of the PDF format, the report data RD is also data of the PDF format, which enables display of the report data RD by the ADOBE reader.

  Report data RD created by the report data creation unit 175 is stored in the storage unit 16. The report data RD is printed by the operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 and displayed on the display unit 12 by the page data display unit 176, as well as the creator of the job data JD or printing based on the job data JD. When the operator needs, the report data RD stored in the storage unit 16 is stored in the media disk 18 and transported, or page data outside the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 via the network I / F 14 Provided for display by a display device.

The page data display unit 176 performs RIP for display on page data described in the page description language and the report data RD, creates a page image for display and a report image for display, and displays the page image on the display unit 12.
The page data display unit 176 controls switching display because the confirmation page image data stored in the report data RD is hierarchically structured so that a plurality of images can be switched and displayed. In addition, display control is performed on a comment included in the confirmation page image data CID.
The page data display unit 176 displays the contents of the report data RD on the display unit 12 to execute the confirmation of the difference between the inspection page image HI and the inspection page image KI in the image inspection data creation device 1 Is possible.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating a state in which the page data display unit 176 displays the report data RD on the display unit 12.

  In FIG. 7, a confirmation page image CI represented by certain confirmation page image data stored in the report data RD is displayed. Further, in the display unit 12, a layer switching field La and a comment switching field Na are displayed by the page data display unit 176.

The layer switching field La is used to select the display of the hierarchy of the hierarchically structured confirmation page image data. In the layer switching field La, L1 storing the page image data for inspection hierarchically structured and the page image data for inspection are stored for display of the confirmation page image CI displayed on the display unit 12 Whether to display L2, L3 storing difference page image data, L4 storing annotation image data is selected by the input of the input unit 13. The selection of the layer switching field La is not exclusive, and a plurality of layers L1 to L4 can be selected or all of them can be displayed simultaneously.
In FIG. 7, the layers L3 and L4 are selected in the selection of the layer switching field La, so the page data display unit 176 is represented by the difference page image data stored in the layer L3 as the confirmation page image CI. The difference page image SI and the annotation image TI represented by the annotation image data stored in the layer L4 are displayed on the display unit 12.

  The comment switching field Na is used to select difference page image attribute information STD and difference position information SPD assigned to the image areas A3 and A4 displayed by the difference image data SID included in the confirmation page image data. . The comment switching field Na is displayed as selection fields Na3 and Na4 in which the difference page image attribute information STD and the difference position information SPD given to the image areas A3 and A4 are grouped.

Here, in the selection field Na3 of the comment switching field Na, “HI: C100, M100, Y100, K100”, “KI: C0, M0, Y0, K0” are used as difference page image attribute information STD assigned to the image area A3. Is displayed, and “JD_PD2” indicating two pages in the job data JD is displayed as the difference position information SPD.
Further, in the selection column Na4 of the comment switching column Na, the difference page image attribute information STD and the difference position information SPD given to the image area A4 are displayed.

When the selection section Na3 is selected by the input unit 13 with respect to the comment switching section Na, the page data display section 176 performs zoom-up display on the image area A3. Further, by selecting the selection field Na4 displayed in the comment switching field Na by the input unit 13, the display can be switched from the image area A3 to the image area A4 as it is in the zoom-up display.
When the comment switching field Na is not displayed, the difference page attribute information STD and the difference position information SPD may be displayed in a balloon attached to the image area.

  Further, in the confirmation page image data, link page images are also hierarchically stored as association with the page data. Accordingly, in the layer switching field shown in FIG. 7, the link page image can be selected as the layer L5. When the display of the layer L5 is selected by the selection by the input unit 13, the display of the link page image is added in the display of the difference page image SI, and the page data associated with the confirmation page image data, that is, the difference The link information for the page data that is also the creation source of the page image SI is displayed.

  The operator of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 can display page data on the display unit 12 by the page data display unit 176 by inputting link information through the input unit 13 as necessary. By displaying the page data, it is possible to confirm the page image represented by the page data.

  The page data display unit 176 may be realized by application software generally used to display page data. For example, when the page data and the report data RD are data in the PDF format, ADOBE reader (trademark of ADOBE, Inc.) can be used as the page data display unit 176.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1. The program P stored in the storage unit 16 is executed on the memory 17 by the CPU 11 of the image inspection data generation device 1 so that the image inspection data generation device 1 executes the following operation.

  In step S1, the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 acquires job data JD in which page data is stored. The CPU 11 of the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 acquires job data JD from a terminal (not shown) via a network (not shown) via a network I / F 14. Alternatively, the image inspection data creation device 1 acquires the job data JD stored in the media disk 18 via the media drive 15. Further, the image inspection data generation apparatus 1 may include page data generation means (not shown), and the image inspection data generation apparatus 1 may acquire job data JD storing page data generated by the page data generation means. .

The job data JD is data in which one or more page data used to create one printout are stored. The print control apparatus (not shown) RIPs the page data stored in the job data JD to create print page image data for printing one page. When the print control apparatus (not shown) RIPs all the page data stored in the job data JD, a plurality of print page image data for creating one printed material is created.
The job data JD acquired by the image inspection data creation device 1 is stored in the storage unit 16.

  In step S2, the print control apparatus (not shown) outputs a page equivalent to the RIP for printing on the page data stored in the job data JD acquired in step S1. The to-be-tested page image data HID representing the to-be-tested page image HI which is a multi-value bit map image of the resolution equivalent to the print page image data is created. The memory 17 temporarily stores the created page image data HID for inspection.

  In step S3, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 performs RIP equivalent to the display RIP on the page data stored in the job data JD acquired in step S1, and the display unit in the page data display unit 176 The inspection page image data KID representing the inspection page image KI, which is a multi-value bit map image having a resolution corresponding to the display page image data to be displayed at 12, is created. In step S3, the inspection page image data creation unit 172 may create the inspection page image data KID using the function of the page data display unit 176. The memory 17 temporarily stores the created inspection page image data KID.

  Here, the page image data to be inspected HID is equivalent to the page image data for printing, and the inspection page image data KID is equivalent to the page image data for display because the difference page created by the image examination data creation device 1 Since the purpose of the image inspection by the image data is to have the same appearance as the page image of the created page data as the page image of the printed matter, the display page image data (inspection page image data KID) is used as a reference. This is to check whether the print page image data (the test page image data HID) is appropriate or not.

In step S4, the image comparison unit 173 compares the inspection page image HI represented by the inspection page image data HID with the inspection page image KI represented by the inspection page image data KID. The difference page image data SID representing the page image SI is created.
When the resolutions of the page image HI to be inspected and the page image KI for inspection do not match, the image comparison unit 173 performs processing to match the resolutions of the both, and the pixels constituting the page image HI to be inspected The pixels making up the inspection page image KI are compared, the difference page image SI is obtained based on the presence or absence of the pixel value in the pixel, and the difference page image data SID is created.
As the two image comparison methods by the image comparison unit 173, known methods are appropriately used.

  Further, in step S4, the image comparison unit 173 generates difference page image attribute information by the difference page image attribute information generation unit 1731 in order to easily confirm the difference page image SI represented by the difference image page image data. Annotation image creation by the annotation image creation unit 1732 and difference position information creation by the difference position information creation unit 1733 are performed.

In step S5, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 determines the inspection page image HI and the inspection page image based on the inspection page image data HID, the inspection page image data KID, and the difference page image data SID. KI and confirmation page image data CID representing the confirmation page image CI hierarchically structured so as to be able to switch and display the difference page image SI are created.
The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 stores the inspection page image data HID in the layer L1 which is the lowermost layer. Subsequently, the inspection page image data KID is stored in the layer L2. Similarly, by storing the difference page image data SID in the layer L3 and the annotation image data TID created by the annotation image creation unit 1732 in the layer L4, the hierarchically structured confirmation page image data having the same data format as the page data Create a CID. The confirmation page image data creation unit 174 hierarchically organizes the images so that they can be switched and displayed.
Also, if the difference page image attribute information and the difference position information have been created, the confirmation page image data creation unit 174 adds them as a comment in the confirmation page image data CID.

In step S6, the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 determines whether there is page data to be inspected in the job data JD. Based on the number of pages designated by the image comparison unit 173, the image inspection data creation apparatus 1 determines from the job data JD stored in the storage unit 16 whether page data to be inspected remains or not. If yes, the process returns to step S1, and the processes of steps S2 to S5 are repeated to create confirmation page image data CID.
In step S6, when the image inspection data creation device 1 determines that there is no page data to be inspected, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, the report data creation unit 175 creates report data RD in which the confirmation page image data CID created in step S5 is stored. Since the report data RD created by the report data creation unit 175 stores the confirmation page image data CID which is data of the same format as the page data, it is also data of the same format as the page data.
When creation of the report data RD is completed, the image inspection data creation device 1 completes its operation.

  FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a state in which report data RD generated by the image inspection data generation device 1 is transmitted to the page data display devices 2 and 3 via the network 4. The page data display device 2 is at the origin of the creator of the job data JD, and the page data display device 3 is at the origin of the RIP operator who performs RIP to print the job data JD.

The creator of the job data JD transmits the job data JD to the image inspection data creation device 1 via the network 4 in order to determine whether printing by the created job data JD can be appropriately executed.
The image inspection data creation apparatus 1 performs processing based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 on the received job data JD to create report data RD, and sends the report data RD to the creator of the job data JD via the network 4.
The creator of the job data JD can check whether the description of the page data included in the created job data JD is appropriate by displaying the report data RD on the page data display device 2, so that the RIP can be performed. It can be determined whether appropriate printing can be performed before RIP by the operator.

On the other hand, when the RIP operator who received job data JD via network 4 and performed RIP does not obtain an appropriate result by RIPing job data JD, the job data JD is used as an image inspection data creation device Send to 1 via network 4.
The image inspection data creation apparatus 1 performs processing based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 on the received job data JD to create report data RD, and sends the report data RD to the RIP operator via the network 4.
The RIP operator displays the report data RD on the page data display device 3 to check whether the RIP mistake is due to trouble during RIP or whether there is an inappropriate description when creating the job data JD. Since this can be done, it is possible to prevent RIP trouble when RIPing job data JD again.

<Modification example>
In the above description, the page image data HID for inspection and the page image data KID for inspection are created before setting the image inspection conditions, but after setting the image inspection conditions in step S4, The page image data HID and the inspection page image data KID may be created.

  In addition, although the image inspection data generation apparatus 1 has been described as a single computer, the functions of the inspection page image data generation unit 171 and the inspection page image data generation unit 172 may be distributed to other computers. . Specifically, a print control apparatus that performs printing RIP on the job data JD is used as the page image data creation unit for inspection 171, and a display for the job data JD is used as the inspection page image data creation unit 172. The page image data HID for inspection and the page image data KID for inspection are created by using the page display device that performs RIP, and the generated page image data HID for inspection and the page image data KID for inspection are network I Alternatively, it may be acquired through the / F 14 or may be acquired through the media disc 18.

1 Image inspection data creation device 2, 3 page data display device 4 Network 11 CPU
12 Display 13 Input 14 Network I / F
15 media disk 16 storage unit 17 memory 18 media disk 171 examination page image data creation unit 172 examination page image data creation unit 173 image comparison unit 174 confirmation page image data creation unit 175 report data creation unit 176 page data display unit 1731 Difference page image attribute information creation unit 1732 Annotation image creation unit 1733 Difference position information creation unit
A1, A2, A3, A4 Image area
Page image for CI confirmation
Page image data for CID confirmation
FD cover data
HI Inspection page image
HID page image data for examination
KI inspection page image
Page image data for KID inspection
P program
RD report data
SI difference page image
SID difference page image data
SPD difference position information
STD difference page image attribute information
TI annotation image
TID annotation image data

Claims (8)

An inspection method of page data for producing a printed matter,
An inspection page image data creation step of creating inspection page image data corresponding to printing page image data to be printed by the printing machine based on the page data;
An inspection page image data generation step of generating inspection page image data corresponding to display page image data to be displayed on the page data display device based on the page data;
Difference page image data representing a difference page image by comparing the inspection page image represented by the inspection page image data with the inspection page image represented by the inspection page image data A differential page image data creation process to be created;
A difference page is acquired by acquiring attribute information in the image area of the page image to be inspected and the image area of the page image for inspection corresponding to the difference page image from the page image data for inspection and the page image data for inspection. Differential page image attribute information creating step of creating image attribute information;
In the difference page image, causes the first image area in which the attribute information is not present in the present to previous danger査用page image in the inspection for the page image is generated defect in the inspection for the page image data creation step it is, and in the difference page image, cause the second image area which does not exist in the inspection for the page image the attribute information is present before dangerous査用page image is generated in the page data not method of inspecting the page data appropriate part there was reason der Rukoto, the operator has a reason specifying step of determining based on the difference page image attribute information. The page data inspection method according to claim 1, wherein
In the difference page image data creating step, creating annotation image data emphasizing the presence of a difference page image represented by the difference page image data.
A method of inspecting page data characterized by The page data inspection method according to claim 1, wherein
In the difference page image data creation step, the position of the difference page image is acquired from the page data and created as difference position information.
A method of inspecting page data characterized by The page data inspection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
A page image for confirmation having a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying the page image for inspection, the page image for inspection, and the difference page image, and setting the difference page image attribute information as a comment on the difference page image Confirmation page image data creation process for creating data,
A page data inspection method comprising: The page data inspection method according to claim 2, wherein
A page image for confirmation having a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying the page image for inspection, the page image for inspection, and the difference page image, and setting the difference page image attribute information as a comment on the difference page image Creating a confirmation page image data creation step of creating data;
In the confirmation page image data creating step, adding the annotation image data to a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying the confirmation page image data.
A method of inspecting page data characterized by The page data inspection method according to claim 3, wherein
A page image for confirmation having a hierarchical structure capable of switching and displaying the page image for inspection, the page image for inspection, and the difference page image, and setting the difference page image attribute information as a comment on the difference page image Creating a confirmation page image data creation step of creating data;
Adding the difference position information as a comment of the confirmation page image data in the confirmation page image data creation step;
A method of inspecting page data characterized by It is the inspection method of the page data of Claim 4, Comprising:
Report data generating step of correlating and storing the confirmation page image data and the page data which is the generation source of the confirmation page image data, and generating report data having the same data format as the page data;
A page data inspection method comprising: The page data inspection method according to claim 1, wherein
Having a display step of displaying the difference page image attribute information;
A method of inspecting page data characterized by

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