JP6747250B2 - Information processing device and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program for processing print data including a foil stamp object.

Conventionally, in order to confirm the finish of printed matter, a color patch image for color adjustment, a QR code (registered trademark) that is a two-dimensional code in which information for identifying a job is embedded, an eye mark for alignment, and a color. A method is known in which an object such as a character indicating information regarding conversion is added to the submitted data and printed. In this method, a cutting area to be cut off after printing is completed is added to the submitted data, and each object is printed in the cutting area. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain a deliverable printed product unless the cutting area is cut after printing is completed, and paper is wasted by the cutting area.

In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-242242 discloses that paper is wasted (cutting) by omitting the printing of the eye mark only when the document image includes an object that can be substituted as an eye mark for alignment. Area) is disclosed.

JP2012-153073A

However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 limits the objects that can be substituted as eye marks, and the printing of the eye marks can be omitted only when the substitute objects are included. The cases where it could be demonstrated were limited.

In view of the above situation, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the waste of paper and the trouble of cutting, because it is not necessary to set a cutting area for printing an object that is not necessary for a finished printed matter.

An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is print data that generates foilless print data excluding a foil stamp object and print data for foil stamping that includes only a foil stamp object from print data that includes a foil stamp object that is an object to be foil stamped. A generation unit, an object inclusion determination unit that determines whether the area of the foil stamping object in the foil stamping print data that includes only the foil stamping object can include an unnecessary object that becomes unnecessary after foil stamping, and the object inclusion determination unit When the judgment result of can be included, the object synthesizing unit that synthesizes the unnecessary object and the foilless print data that synthesizes the unnecessary object are placed at the position corresponding to the area where the foil stamping object is stamped in the foilless print data. A communication unit for transmitting the first job including the data to the image forming apparatus and transmitting the second job including the print data for foil stamping to the foil stamping apparatus.

According to at least one aspect of the present invention, an object that is no longer needed after foil stamping is printed in the area of the foil stamping object. Therefore, it is not necessary to set a cutting area for printing an object that is unnecessary after the foil stamping is performed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce waste of paper and cutting work.
Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of whole structure of the foil stamping printing system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of submitted print data. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of foilless printing data except the foil pushing object. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of foil stamping print data only of a foil stamping object. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the PC terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing an example of hardware constitutions of a foil stamping device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structural example of the PC terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a designation reception screen for receiving an object to be combined according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of print data without synthetic foil (without cutting area) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is an explanatory view showing an example of synthetic foilless printing data (with a cutting field) concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the foil stamping printing system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process (subroutine) for generating foil stamping print data and foilless print data in step S3 of FIG. 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process (subroutine) for compositing an unnecessary object with foilless print data in step S4 of FIG. 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the circumscribing frame of the foil pushing object and the circumscribing frame of an unnecessary object which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process (subroutine) which produces|generates the list of foil stamp objects in step S21 of FIG. 14 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the list|wrist of the foil pushing object which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process (subroutine) which produces|generates the list of the unnecessary object in step S22 of FIG. 14 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 15 is a flowchart showing inclusion determination and combination processing (subroutine) of two objects in step S26 of FIG. 14 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the inclusion determination of two objects (foil stamp object, unnecessary object) which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an explanatory view showing the state where a foil stamping object contains an unnecessary object. 20 is a flowchart showing an object combining process (subroutine) in step S74 of FIG. 19 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the process which synthesize|combines an unnecessary object to foilless print data based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the resetting of the bounding box which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the PC terminal which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 8 is a designation reception screen for receiving an object to be combined and division availability according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the list of the unnecessary object which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the odd-numbered page of the composite foilless print data (without cutting area) which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the even-numbered page of the synthetic foilless print data (there is no cutting area) which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 9 is a flowchart corresponding to a process (subroutine) for composing an unnecessary object with foilless print data in step S12 of FIG. 4 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 31 is a flowchart showing a process of dividing unnecessary objects into m groups in step S91 of FIG. 30 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 31 is a flowchart showing a process of compositing a group n of unnecessary objects with foilless print data in step S93 of FIG. 30 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of whole structure of the foil stamping printing system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Examples of modes for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings, constituent elements having substantially the same function or configuration are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

<1. First Embodiment>
[Overall structure of foil stamping printing system]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a foil stamping printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the foil stamping printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a PC terminal 10, an image forming apparatus 20, and a foil stamping apparatus 30 are connected to a network 2 capable of mutually transmitting and receiving data.

The PC terminal 10 is an example of an information processing device, and is a client terminal to which a personal computer, a tablet-type terminal, a smartphone, or the like is applied. The PC terminal 10 prints the print data excluding the foil image object (hereinafter referred to as “foilless print data”) from the submitted print data and the print data including only the foil image object (hereinafter, “for foil stamping”). Print data”). Then, after performing various determinations and processing, the PC terminal 10 transmits the foilless print data to the image forming apparatus 20 and the foil stamping print data to the foil stamping apparatus 30.

[Example of each print data]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of submitted print data.
The print data 3 shown in FIG. 2 includes an image object Ob_l of foil, an image object Ob_n other than foil, and a text object Ob_t other than foil. A foil image object (hereinafter referred to as "foil stamping object") is represented in a color space of a spot color. Objects other than the foil are represented in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) and RGB (red, green, blue) color spaces other than the special colors.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the foilless print data excluding the foil stamping object.
Since the foil-free print data 4 has the foil image object Ob_l removed, it is composed only of the objects Ob_n and Ob_t in a color space other than the spot color, such as CMYK or RGB.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of foil stamping print data for only the foil stamping object.
The foil-printing print data 5 does not include objects Ob_n and Ob_t other than the foil, and thus is composed of only the object Ob_l of the special color space.

The image forming apparatus 20 receives the foilless print data excluding the foil image object from the PC terminal 10 via the network 2, and forms an image indicated by the foilless print data on a print medium such as paper (print processing). To do. After that, the user sets the print medium (printed matter) discharged from the image forming apparatus 20 on the foil stamping device 30.

The foil stamping device 30 receives the foil stamping print data including only the foil image objects from the PC terminal 10 via the network 2, and the image forming apparatus 20 performs image forming processing on the image indicated by the foil stamping print data in advance. Stamped (additional printing) on the printed media.

[Hardware configuration of each device]
(PC terminal)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the PC terminal 10.
The PC terminal 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a hard disk 14, a display device 16, an input device 17, and a network interface 18. The respective units are connected to each other via a bus 15 so that data can be transmitted and received between them.

The CPU 11 is an arithmetic processing unit that controls each unit of the PC terminal 10 and performs various arithmetic processes. The CPU 11 reads out a program code (hereinafter referred to as “program”) of software that realizes each function according to the present embodiment from the ROM 12 or the hard disk 14 and executes it. Note that the PC terminal 10 may be provided with another arithmetic processing device, for example, an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) or the like, instead of the CPU 11.

The ROM 12 is a non-volatile recording medium that stores various programs and various data for causing the PC terminal 10 to function. The RAM 13 (main storage device) temporarily stores programs and data as a work area. For example, various data such as variables and parameters generated during the arithmetic processing by the CPU 11 is temporarily written in the RAM 13.

The hard disk 14 is a storage device that plays an auxiliary role of the RAM 13, and usually has a mechanism capable of storing long-time data and large-capacity data. The hard disk 14 stores various programs for operating the PC terminal 10 in addition to the operating system and various parameters. Instead of the hard disk 14, SSD (Solid State Drive), flexible disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, etc. may be used.

The various programs recorded in the ROM 12 and the hard disk 14 are, for example, a program that receives a designation of an object (unnecessary object) that is unnecessary after foil stamping, and generates a designated object, a print data generation program, and a cutting area load necessity determination program. , An object composition program.

Further, various data recorded in the RAM 13 and the hard disk 14 are, for example, submitted print data, print data excluding the foil stamping object (print data without foil), print data composed only of the foil stamping object (print data for foil stamping). , Objects that are unnecessary after foil stamping (unnecessary objects).

The display device 16 is a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT display, or the like, and is used to display various kinds of information.

The input device 17 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used to input various information.

The network interface 18 is an example of a communication unit, and is an interface for communicating with other devices via a network. The network interface 18 uses, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) or the like, and is configured to be able to transmit and receive various data between each device via a network such as a LAN.

The PC terminal 10 generates image data to be printed by a document creation or image creation application based on a user's input operation. Further, the PC terminal 10 has a function of generating a print job including print setting information (also referred to as “job ticket”) and image data (print data), and outputting the print job to the image forming apparatus 20. The print setting information includes information such as the presence/absence of foil stamping print setting and page layout.

(Image forming device)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 20.
The image forming apparatus 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a hard disk 24, an image forming unit 26, and a network interface 27. The respective units are connected to each other via a bus 25 so that data can be transmitted and received between them. The CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, hard disk 24, and network interface 27 have the same functions as the CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, hard disk 14, and network interface 18 of the PC terminal 10, respectively. In the following, among the respective units of the image forming apparatus 20, the description of the units having the same functions as the respective units of the PC terminal 10 will be omitted.

The data recorded in the ROM 22 and the hard disk 24 is, for example, print data excluding the foil stamping object (print data without foil).

The program recorded in the RAM 23 and the hard disk 24 is an image forming program that controls the image forming unit 26 to form an image corresponding to print data (print data without foil) on a print medium.

The CPU 21 reflects the print settings included in the print job transmitted from the PC terminal 10 on the print data (print data without foil) and converts the print settings into a language (PDL: Page Description Language) that can be identified by the image forming unit 26 ( RIP processing) is performed. Languages that can be identified by the image forming unit 26 include PCL and PostScript.

The image forming unit 26 forms an image on a print medium based on the print data after RIP processing (print data without foil). The image forming unit 26 is configured as a printer engine. The image forming apparatus 20 may include the display device 16 and the input device 17.

(Foil stamping device)
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the foil stamping device 30.
The foil stamping device 30 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a hard disk 34, a foil stamping unit 36, and a network interface 37. The respective units are connected to each other via a bus 35 so that data can be transmitted and received. The CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, hard disk 34, and network interface 37 have the same functions as the CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, hard disk 14, and network interface 18 of the PC terminal 10, respectively. In the following, among the units of the foil stamping device 30, the description of the units having the same functions as the units of the PC terminal 10 will be omitted.

The data recorded in the ROM 32 and the hard disk 34 is print data for only the foil stamping object (printing data for foil stamping), for example.

The program recorded in the RAM 33 and the hard disk 34 is a foil stamping program that controls the foil stamping unit 36 in order to form an image corresponding to the print data (printing data for foil stamping) on the print medium.

[Function of PC terminal]
Next, the function of the PC terminal 10 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of the PC terminal 10. The PC terminal 10 includes a reception processing unit 41, a print data generation unit 42, a foil stamping object list creation unit 43, a foil stamping object list 43D, an unnecessary object list creation unit 44, an unnecessary object list 44D, a cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45, an object. A combining unit 46 and an output processing unit 47 are provided. The functions of the PC terminal 10 are realized by the CPU 11 executing various programs stored in the ROM 12 or the hard disk 14.

The reception processing unit 41 (an example of a reception unit) performs a reception process of the submitted print data (submission data) and a reception process of the designation content of the designation reception screen 50 (see FIG. 9 described later). The designation reception screen 50 is an interface screen for designating an object (unnecessary object) that is unnecessary after the foil is pressed. The submitted data may be print data generated by the PC terminal 10 or print data received from an external device via the network 2.

[Specified reception screen]
FIG. 9 is a designation reception screen for receiving an object (unnecessary object) to be combined.
The PC terminal 10 creates an unnecessary object based on the user's designation. By operating the input device 17 and appropriately designating the object displayed on the designation acceptance screen 50, the user can designate, for example, the following object as an object (unnecessary object) that becomes unnecessary after foil stamping.
-"Foil stamping area guide" indicating the area where foil stamping is performed
・"2D code for job identification" in which information necessary for job identification is embedded
・"Color bar" used to check the color

On the designation reception screen 50, a check box 51 for designating the printing of the "foil stamping area guide", a check box 52 for designating the printing of the "two-dimensional code for job identification", and a "color bar" for printing Check box 53 is displayed. The check box 53 is provided in the color bar editing area 54. By inputting a check mark in the check box 53, the patches forming the color bar can be designated.

When a check mark is entered in each check box, the OK button 55 at the bottom of the designation reception screen 50 is pressed to confirm the designation of each object. The patch 12 is added by pressing the patch addition button at the bottom of the designation reception screen 50. An object (eye mark) for aligning the foil stamping object may be displayed as the specifiable object.

Returning to the description of FIG. The print data generation unit 42 performs a process of generating foilless print data excluding the foil stamping object and foil print data including only the foil stamping object from the submitted data including the foil stamping object to be foil stamped.

The foil stamping object list creation unit 43 performs a process of creating a foil stamping object list 43D that creates a list of foil stamping objects included in the foil stamping print data.

The unnecessary object list creation unit 44 receives the information of the unnecessary object designated by the reception processing unit 41 from the reception processing unit 41, and performs a process of generating the unnecessary object list 44D.

The cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 (an example of an object inclusion determination unit) compares the foil stamping object registered in the foil stamping object list 43D and the unnecessary object registered in the unnecessary object list 44D, and the area of the foil stamping object is unnecessary. Performs a process to determine whether an object can be included. Then, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines that it is not necessary to add the cutting area to the print medium if the area of the foil stamping object can include the unnecessary object, and if there is an unnecessary object that cannot be included. , It is determined that a cutting area needs to be added, and the object synthesis unit 46 is notified of the determination result.

The cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 may have the functions of the above-described foil stamping object list creation unit 43 and unnecessary object list creation unit 44.

The object combining unit 46 performs a process of combining an unnecessary object with the foilless print data according to the determination result of the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45. That is, when the area of the foil stamping object can include an unnecessary object, the object synthesizing unit 46 synthesizes the corresponding unnecessary object at a position corresponding to the area where the foil stamping object is foil-stamped in the foilless print data, and synthesizes the unnecessary object. Performs processing to generate foilless print data. On the other hand, when there is an unnecessary object that cannot be included in the area of the foil stamping object, the object combining unit 46 adds a cutting area to the foilless print data, and combines the unnecessary object in the cutting area.

The output processing unit 47 performs a process of outputting the composite foilless print data and the foil stamping print data to the network interface 18. As a result, the network interface 18 transmits a print job (first job) including the composite foilless print data to the image forming apparatus 20, and a foil stamping job (second job) including the foil stamping print data. Send to.

[Print data without synthetic foil]
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of print data without synthetic foil (without cutting area). 9 shows an example of the composite foilless print data after composing an unnecessary object to the foilless print data when the judgment result of the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 indicates that the cutting area is unnecessary. Since unnecessary objects can be included in the foil stamping area, the unnecessary objects are combined in the foil stamping area.

The synthetic foilless print data 4A has a foil stamping area guide 62 (broken line portion) and a two-dimensional code 63 in an area corresponding to the area (foil stamping area) where the foil stamping object Ob_l in the foilless print data 4 (FIG. 3) is foil stamped. A color bar 64 including a plurality of color patches is printed. Inside the foil stamping area guide 62, a message 65 is displayed to call attention to the foil stamping.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of print data without composite foil (with a cutting area). When the determination result of the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 indicates that the cutting area is required, an example of the composite foilless print data after composing an unnecessary object in the cutting area of the foilless print data is shown. Since the unnecessary object cannot be included in the foil stamping area, the cutting area Arl is added to the outside of the submitted data, and the unnecessary object is combined in the cutting area Arl.

In the synthetic foilless print data 4B, the two-dimensional code 63, which is an unnecessary object, and the color bars 64 and 64M are printed in the cutting area Arl along the long side direction. The color bar 64 is for color adjustment, and the color bar 64M is for monochrome adjustment. The foil pushing area guide 62 (broken line portion) is printed as in the case of the synthetic foilless print data 4B in FIG. The shape of the foil stamping area guide 62 is formed based on the slightly reduced outline of the foil stamping object Ob_l. Therefore, the foil stamping area guide 62 is included in the foil stamping object Ob_l. An eye mark 66 that defines an area to be cut on the print medium is printed near the four corners of the print data 4B without synthetic foil.

[Processing of foil stamping system]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing of the foil stamping printing system 1 according to the first embodiment.

First, the acceptance processing unit 41 (FIG. 8) of the PC terminal 10 accepts print data to be submitted (submitted data) (S1). Next, the reception processing unit 41 receives an object (unnecessary object) that is unnecessary after the foil is pressed on the designated reception screen 50 (S2).

Next, the print data generation unit 42 generates print data configured only by the foil stamping object (printing data for foil stamping) and print data configured by other than the foil stamping object (print data without foil) (S3). Here, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines whether the area of the foil stamping object of the foil stamping print data can include an unnecessary object. The process of step S3 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Next, the object combining unit 46 combines the unnecessary object with the foilless print data based on the determination result of the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 (S4). The process of step S4 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. Then, the output processing unit 47 controls the network interface 18 to transmit a print job including the foilless print data after synthesis (synthetic foilless print data) to the image forming apparatus 20. Further, the output processing unit 47 controls the network interface 18 to transmit a foil stamping job including the foil stamping print data to the foil stamping device 30.

The image forming apparatus 20 prints the image of the synthetic foilless print data on the print medium based on the print job including the synthetic foilless print data transmitted from the PC terminal 10 (S5). The user sets the print medium (primary printed matter) on which the image of the synthetic foilless print data is formed in a paper feed tray or a paper feed device (not shown) of the foil pressing device 30.

Next, the foil stamping device 30 foil stamps the image of the foil of the foil stamping print data on the print medium (primary printed matter) based on the foil stamping job including the foil stamping print data (S6). When the process of step S6 is completed, a printed matter as a finished product is obtained.

[Process to generate print data for foil stamping and print data without foil]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process (subroutine) for generating the foil stamping print data and the foilless print data in step S3 of FIG. 12 according to the first embodiment.

First, the print data generation unit 42 creates empty print data as foil press print data (S11). Next, the print data generation unit 42 creates blank print data as foilless print data (S12).

Next, the print data generation unit 42 selects the first object of the submitted print data (S13), and determines whether the selected object is the last object of the submitted print data (S13). S14). Here, when the selected object is the last object of the submitted print data (YES in S14), the process of this flowchart is ended and the process proceeds to step S4 of FIG.

Next, when the selected object is not the end object of the submitted print data (NO in S14), the print data generation unit 42 determines whether the selected object is a spot color object indicating a foil stamping object. It is determined whether or not (S15).

Here, when the selected object is the spot color object (YES in S15), the print data generation unit 42 copies the selected object to the foil stamping print data (S16). On the other hand, if the selected object is not the spot color object (NO in S15), the print data generation unit 42 copies the selected object to the foilless print data (S17).

Next, the print data generation unit 42 selects the next object in the submitted print data (S18). After selecting the next object, the print data generation unit 42 proceeds to the determination process of step S14 and determines whether the selected object is the last object of the submitted print data, If it is not the last object of the submitted print data (NO in S14), the processes of steps S15 to S18 are continued.

Through such processing, the objects included in the submitted print data are distributed to either the foil stamping print data or the foilless print data, and the foil stamping print data and the foilless print data are generated.

[Process to combine unnecessary objects with foilless print data]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process (subroutine) for synthesizing an object (unnecessary object) that is not needed after foil stamping in step S4 of FIG. 12 into foilless print data according to the first embodiment.

First, the foil stamping object list creating unit 43 creates a list of foil stamping objects (foil stamping object list 43D) from print data for foil stamping (S21). The process of step S21 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

In addition, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44 creates a list (unnecessary object list 44D) of objects (unnecessary objects) that are unnecessary after the designated foil stamping (S22). The process of step S22 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. The foil stamping object list 43D and the unnecessary object list 44D are held in the RAM 13 (FIG. 5) as an example.

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 selects the first foil stamping object from the foil stamping object list 43D (S23). The cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 selects the leading unnecessary object from the unnecessary object list 44D (S24).

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines whether the bounding box of the selected foil stamping object includes the bounding box of the selected unnecessary object (S25). A bounding box is a frame that circumscribes an object (a circumscribing rectangular frame, hereinafter referred to as a "circumscribing frame").

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a circumscribing frame of a foil stamping object and a circumscribing frame of an unnecessary object according to the first embodiment. The bounding box Box_l on the left side of FIG. 15 is an example of a circumscribing frame of the foil stamping object L. The bounding box Box_s on the right side of FIG. 15 is an example of a circumscribing frame of the unnecessary object S.

Returning to the description of FIG. Next, when the bounding box of the selected foil stamping object includes the bounding box of the unnecessary object being selected (YES in S25), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 and the object combining unit 46 The inclusion determination and combination processing of two objects (foil stamping object and unnecessary object) are performed (S26). The process of step S26 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines whether the result of the inclusion determination in step S26 includes the selected foil stamping object including the selected unnecessary object (S27). Here, when the selected foil stamping object includes the selected unnecessary object (YES in S27), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 deletes the selected unnecessary object from the unnecessary object list 44D ( S28).

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines whether or not the unnecessary object list 44D is empty (S29). If the unnecessary object list 44D is empty (YES in S29), the processing of this flowchart is ended and the processing in FIG. It proceeds to step S5.

Next, if the unnecessary object list 44D is not empty (NO in S29), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 proceeds to the process of step S23 and selects the next foil stamping object from the foil stamping object list 43D. .. Then, the processing after step S24 is continued.

Next, in the case of NO in step S25 or S27, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines whether the foil stamping object list 43D is empty (S30).

If the determination result is empty (YES in S30), the object combining unit 46 discards the foilless print data that is being combined in step S26 (S31). Then, the object combining unit 46 adds a cutting area to the foilless print data as shown in FIG. 11 (S32), and combines an unnecessary object with the cutting area (S33). In this case, the size of the print medium on which the image indicated by the foilless print data is formed is larger than initially planned. When the process of step S33 ends, the process of this flowchart ends and the process proceeds to step S5 of FIG.

On the other hand, if the foil stamping object list 43D is not empty (NO in S30), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 selects the next foil stamping object from the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 (S34). Then, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 proceeds to the determination processing of step S25, and determines the inclusion relation of the binding boxes of the two target objects. Then, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 moves to the process of step S26 or S30 according to the determination result.

As described above, when there are a plurality of unnecessary objects to be printed, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines whether the area of one or a plurality of foil stamping objects can include all unnecessary objects. .. Then, when the determination result of the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 can include the object combining unit 46, the object combining unit 46 can include it in each region in which one or more foil stamping objects in the foilless print data are foil stamped. Synthesize unnecessary objects.

[Process to create a list of stamped objects]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process (subroutine) of creating a list of foil stamp objects in step S21 of FIG. 14 according to the first embodiment.

First, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 selects the first foil stamping object from the foil stamping print data (S41).

Next, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 determines whether or not the foil stamping object being selected is the last object of the foil stamping print data (S42). Here, when the object is the last object of the foil stamping print data (YES in S42), the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 lists the elements (records) in ascending order of the length of the bounding box of the foil stamping object in the x direction. ) Is sorted (S43). When the process of step S43 ends, the process of this flowchart ends and the process proceeds to step S22 of FIG.

In the case of this step S43, the object synthesizing unit 46 can compare the objects whose bounding box has a long length in the x direction in step S25 (FIG. 14) and abort the calculation midway.

Next, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 sets a bounding box for the foil stamping object being selected (S44). Then, it is determined whether or not the length of the bounding box in the x direction is shorter than the length of the bounding box in the y direction (S45), and when the length of the bounding box in the x direction is short (YES in S45). ), the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 rotates the selected foil stamping object and its bounding box by 90 degrees (S46). This unifies the orientation of the bounding box.

On the other hand, when the length of the bounding box in the x direction is longer than the length of the bounding box in the y direction (NO in S45), the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 proceeds to the process of step S47.

Next, after step S46 is completed or in the case of NO in step S45, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 adds the foil stamping object for which the bounding box is set to the foil stamping object list 43D (S47).

Next, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 selects the foil stamping object next to the foil stamping print data (S48). Then, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 proceeds to the determination processing of step S42, determines whether or not the selected foil stamping object is the last object of the foil stamping print data, and the processing of step S43 or S44 depending on the determination result. I do.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the foil stamping object list 43D. The structure of the unnecessary object list 44D is the same as that of the foil stamping object list 43D.

The foil stamping object list 43D has items of “foil stamping object”, “bounding box”, and “image” as an example. The "foil stamping object" is some identification information such as the name or number of the foil stamping object. The length (width) in the x direction and the y direction is registered in the “bounding box”. Further, the image data of the bounding box is directly registered in the “image”. For example, the first record, the width in the x direction of the bounding box 'x _A', the width in the y direction is 'y _B' 'object A' is registered. Note that the “image” field may be deleted if there is a “bounding box”.

By the processing in step S43 described above, as can be understood from the “image” in the foil stamping object list 43D, the records in the list are arranged in the order in which the length of the bounding box in the y direction is long.

[Process to create a list of unnecessary objects]
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a process (subroutine) of creating a list of unnecessary objects in step S22 of FIG. 14 according to the first embodiment. The process of creating a list of unnecessary objects is almost the same as the process of creating a list of foil stamping objects, and therefore will be briefly described.

First, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44 selects the first object (an unnecessary object that becomes unnecessary after foil stamping) from the objects specified by the specification reception screen 50 (S51). For example, the uppermost object checked on the designated reception screen 50 is the first object.

Next, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44 determines whether the unnecessary object being selected is the last unnecessary object (S52). Here, if it is the last unnecessary object (YES in S52), the unnecessary object list creation unit 44 sorts the elements (records) of the list in ascending order of the x-direction length of the bounding box of the unnecessary object. (S53). When the process of step S53 is completed, the process of this flowchart is completed and the process proceeds to step S23 of FIG.

Next, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44 performs the processes of steps S54 to S57. The processing in steps S54 to S57 corresponds to the processing in steps S44 to S47 in FIG. 16, and in the description of steps S44 to S47, “foil stamping object” is replaced with “unnecessary object” and other parts are appropriately replaced.

After the processing of step S57 is completed, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44 selects the next unnecessary object (S58). Then, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44 proceeds to the determination process of step S52, determines whether the selected unnecessary object is the last unnecessary object, and performs the process of step S53 or S54 according to the determination result.

[Including determination and composition process of two objects]
Next, the flowchart of FIG. 19 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the inclusion determination and combination processing (subroutine) of two objects in step S26 of FIG. 14 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing inclusion determination of two objects (a foil stamping object and an unnecessary object) according to the first embodiment.

First, as shown in FIG. 20, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 sets an object L to be a foil stamping object filled with diagonal lines, and the position on the xy plane of the upper left apex of the bounding box Box_l is L_lt(0,0), The width of the bounding box Box_l in the x direction is L_x_width, and the width in the y direction is L_y_width (S61).

Further, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 sets the unnecessary object after the foil stamping represented by the broken line as the object S, the position on the xy plane of the upper left apex of the bounding box Box_s is S_lt(x, y), and the width in the x direction. Is S_x_width, and the width in the y direction is S_y_width (S62).

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 substitutes 0 into the x coordinate and the y coordinate of the upper left vertex of the bounding box Box_s of the object S, that is, the position on the xy plane is set to (0, 0) ( S63). Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 substitutes 0 for the x coordinate of the upper left vertex of the bounding box Box_s, that is, sets the position on the xy plane as (0, y) (S64). However, the y coordinate is 0 at this stage.

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 generates an object C filled with dots, which is composed of a common area of the object L (foil stamping object) and the object S (unnecessary object) (S65), and the object S and the object It is determined whether C is different (S66).

When the object S and the object C are different (object S≠object C) (YES in S66), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 substitutes x+1 into the x coordinate of the upper left vertex of the bounding box Box_s, that is, the The position on the xy plane is set to (x+1, y) (S67). At this stage, (x+1,y) is (1,0).

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines that the width'L_x_width' of the bounding box Box_l of the object L in the x direction is the length S_x_width of the bounding box Box_s of the object S in the x direction plus the x coordinate. It is determined whether it is shorter than x+S_x_width' (S68). If the width L_x_width in the x direction is long (L_x_width>x+S_x_width) (NO in S68), the process proceeds to step S65.

On the other hand, when the width L_x_width in the x direction is short (L_x_width<x+S_x_width) (YES in S68), y+1 is substituted for the y coordinate of the upper left vertex of the bounding box Box_s, that is, the position on the xy plane is (x+1, y+1). ) (S69).

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines that the width'L_y_width' of the bounding box Box_l of the object L in the y direction is the length S_y_width of the bounding box Box_s of the object S in the y direction plus the y coordinate. It is determined whether it is shorter than y+S_y_width' (S70). If the width L_y_width in the y direction is long (L_y_width>y+S_y_width) (NO in S70), the process proceeds to step S64. Then, 0 is substituted for the x coordinate of the upper left vertex of the bounding box Box_s, that is, its position on the xy plane is set to (0, y+1) (S64).

On the other hand, when the width L_y_width in the y direction is short (L_y_width<y+S_y_width) (YES in S70), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines that the object L does not include the object S (S71). When the process of step S71 is completed, the process proceeds to step S27 of FIG.

When the object S and the object C match in step S66 (NO in S66), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 determines that the object L includes the object S (S72), and the coordinates at this time are determined. (X, y) is recorded in the RAM 13 (S73).

Next, the object synthesizing unit 46 performs a process of synthesizing the object S (unnecessary object) with the foilless print data (S74). The process of step S74 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. When the process of step S74 ends, the process proceeds to step S27 of FIG.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the foil stamping object includes unnecessary objects. As shown in FIG. 21, when the object S (unnecessary object) is included in the object L (foil stamping object), the object S and the object C are completely matched (NO in S66).

[Object synthesis processing]
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the object combining process (subroutine) in step S74 of FIG. 19 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a process of combining an unnecessary object with the foilless print data. FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of resetting the bounding box.

First, as shown in FIG. 23, the object synthesizing unit 46 sets the position of the upper left apex of the bounding box Box_l of the object L (foil stamping object) on the XY plane in the foil stamping print data to (X, Y)=(X′, Y ') (S81).

Further, the object combining unit 46 sets the position of the upper left apex of the bounding box Box_s of the object S (unnecessary object) on the XY plane in the foilless print data to be (X, Y)=(X′+x, Y′+y). The object S is combined with the position (S82). The xy coordinates are the xy coordinates when it is determined that the object L includes the object S.

If the object and its bounding box have been rotated by 90 degrees in step S46 of FIG. 16 or step S56 of FIG. 1, the object combining unit 46 performs the object and its bounding in the processing of steps S81 and S82. The box is rotated 90 degrees (returned).

Next, as shown on the left side of FIG. 24, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 deletes the common area with the object S (the area of the object C) from the object L and resets the bounding box Box_l (S83). The right side of FIG. 24 shows an example of the object L after the common area is deleted. Subsequent processing of steps S84 to S87 is performed by the foil stamping object list creation unit 43.

The left side of FIG. 24 shows an example in which the common area (the area of the object C) with the object S forming a part of the circle (substantially arc-shaped common fan shape) is deleted from the circular object L. The right side of FIG. 24 shows an example of the object L modified by deleting the common area corresponding to the object S.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. Here, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 determines whether the length of the bounding box Box_l in the x direction after resetting is shorter than the length of the bounding box Box_l in the y direction (S84). When the length of the bounding box Box_l in the x direction is longer than the length in the y direction as shown in the right side of FIG. 24 (NO in S84), the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 proceeds to the process of step S86.

On the other hand, when the length in the x direction of the bounding box Box_l is shorter than the length in the y direction (YES in S84), the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 sets the object L after deleting the common area and the bounding box Box_l thereof. Rotate 90 degrees (S85).

Next, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 updates the object L (and its bounding box) included in the foil stamping object list 43D (S86).

Then, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 sorts the elements (records) of the list in ascending order of the length of the bounding box of the object L in the x direction (S87). When the process of step S87 ends, the process of this flowchart ends. That is, the process of step S74 of FIG. 19 is ended, and the process proceeds to step S27 of FIG.

In the above-described first embodiment, the color bar (color patch image) for checking the tint and the job identification, which are unnecessary after the foil stamping and are only for confirming the print quality before the foil stamping, are performed. An object such as a two-dimensional code for use and text indicating color conversion information is printed in the area of the foil stamping object. Therefore, it is not necessary to set a cutting area for printing an object that is unnecessary after the foil stamping is performed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce waste of paper and cutting work.

In addition, in the first embodiment, it is possible to arrange a mark (foil stamping area guide) indicating the position of the foil stamping object for the purpose of supporting the foil stamping process, so that a printing accident such as missing of the foil stamping object can be facilitated. Can be found.

<2. Second Embodiment>
The second embodiment classifies unnecessary objects into groups based on whether or not each unnecessary object received on the designated reception screen can be divided into a plurality of pages, and whether the area of the foil stamping object can include the unnecessary objects. This is an example of determining whether or not each is classified.

The hardware configuration of the PC terminal according to the present embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration of the PC terminal 10 (FIG. 5) according to the first embodiment. In the ROM 12 or the hard disk 14 of the PC terminal according to the present embodiment, a program for accepting the designation of the page to be printed as whether or not each unnecessary object can be divided into a plurality of pages on the designation reception screen, and unnecessary objects are grouped based on the possibility of division. There are recorded a program for classifying and a program for determining whether or not the area of the foil stamping object of the foilless print data can include an unnecessary object for each classified group.

[Function of PC terminal]
FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing functions of the PC terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Compared with the internal configuration of the PC terminal 10 according to the first embodiment, the internal configuration of the PC terminal 10A mainly includes a reception processing unit 41A, an unnecessary object list creation unit 44A, and a cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A. Functions are different.

In addition to the function of the reception processing unit 41 (FIG. 8), the reception processing unit 41A (an example of the reception unit) further designates a page to be printed as a propriety of division of each unnecessary object into a plurality of pages by a designation reception screen 50A described later. Has a function of accepting.

The unnecessary object list creation unit 44A has a function of classifying the unnecessary objects into groups based on whether or not the unnecessary objects can be divided into a plurality of pages, in addition to the function of the unnecessary object list creation unit 44 (FIG. 8). Have.

In addition to the function of the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45 (FIG. 8), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A further determines whether the area of the foil stamping object of the foilless print data can include an unnecessary object. , Has a function of making a determination for each classified group.

[Specified reception screen]
FIG. 26 is a designation acceptance screen for accepting an object to be combined (unnecessary object) and the possibility of division according to the second embodiment.

The designation reception screen 50A is different from the designation reception screen 50 (FIG. 9) according to the first embodiment in that the print target page designation unit 57 for the two-dimensional code and the print target page that designates the print target page for each patch. The difference is that it has a designating section 56. The user uses the designation reception screen 50A to designate a print target page as whether or not each object can be divided into a plurality of pages. Although FIG. 26 shows an example of dividing into two groups of an odd page and an even page, it may be divided into three or more groups.

The printing target page designating section 57 for the two-dimensional code has an odd number page, an even number page, and all pages prepared as options for the printing target page. In FIG. 26, the print target page designating unit 57 designates that the two-dimensional code is printed on “all pages”.

The print target page designating unit 56 can designate a print target page for each patch. When a check mark is input in the check box of the patch to be printed, the print target page designating section 56 of the designated patch is operably displayed. In FIG. 26, odd-numbered pages are designated as the print target pages of patches 1 to 6, and even-numbered pages are designated as the print target pages of patches 7 to 11.

It should be noted that the designation receiving screen 50A does not include the print target page designation portion of the foil stamping area guide. This is because the foil stamping area guide is a display for indicating the area where the foil stamping is performed, and is displayed on the page where the foil stamping is performed.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the unnecessary object list according to the second embodiment.
The unnecessary object list 44D has items of "unnecessary object", "bounding box", and "group (page to be printed)", for example. The “group (page to be printed)” represents the classification of unnecessary objects designated on the designation reception screen 50A. For example, the unnecessary object a belongs to the “odd page” group, and the unnecessary object b belongs to the “even page” group. The unnecessary object c belongs to both the “odd page” and the “even page” because the pages to be printed are all pages.

[Print data without synthetic foil]
The unnecessary object list creation unit 44A creates unnecessary objects based on the specified contents of the specification reception screen 50A, and classifies the generated unnecessary objects. By creating the unnecessary object list 44D, the unnecessary object list creating unit 44A executes the process of classifying the unnecessary objects into groups.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing odd-numbered pages of the composite foilless print data (no cutting area) according to the second embodiment. When the determination result of the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A indicates that the cutting area is not necessary, an example of the composite foilless print data after composing an unnecessary object on an odd page of the foilless print data is shown. Among unnecessary objects, an object designated to print on odd pages and an object designated to print on all pages are combined in the foil stamping area.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing even-numbered pages of composite foilless print data (no cutting area) according to the second embodiment. When the determination result of the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A indicates that the cutting area is not required, an example of the composite foilless print data after composing an unnecessary object on an even page of the foilless print data is shown. Among unnecessary objects, an object designated to print on even-numbered pages and an object designated to print on all pages are combined in the foil stamping area.

An example of the composite foilless print data after the unnecessary objects are composited in the cutting area of the foilless print data has the same form as in FIG. 11.

[Processing of foil stamping system]
The processing of the entire foil stamping printing system according to this embodiment is almost the same as the processing according to the first embodiment (FIG. 12). Hereinafter, the processing according to the present embodiment will be described focusing on the points different from the processing according to the first embodiment.

(Process to combine unnecessary objects with print data without foil)
FIG. 30 is a flowchart corresponding to the process (subroutine) of combining the unnecessary object with the foilless print data in step S4 of FIG. 12 according to the second embodiment.

First, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44A divides the objects (unnecessary objects) designated by the designation reception screen 50A that are unnecessary after the foil stamping into m groups (S91). The process of step S91 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Next, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44A sets the first group to the group n (n is a natural number) (S92). Then, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A and the object combining unit 46 execute a process of combining the group n of unnecessary objects with the foilless print data (S93). The process of step S93 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A determines whether the object combining unit 46 has succeeded in combining the group n of unnecessary objects with the foilless print data (S94). When the combination is successful (YES in S94), it is determined whether the group n is the last group (S95). Here, when the group n is the last group (YES in S95), the unnecessary object list creation unit 44A ends the process of this flowchart and proceeds to the process of step S5 of FIG.

When the group n is not the last group (NO in S95), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A sets the next group to the group n (S96), and proceeds to the process of step S93.

On the other hand, if the composition fails (NO in S94), the object composition unit 46 discards the foilless print data that is being combined in step S93 (S97). Then, the object combining unit 46 adds a cutting area to the foilless print data as shown in FIG. 11 (S98), and combines an unnecessary object with the cutting area (S99). When the process of step S99 ends, the process of this flowchart ends and the process proceeds to step S5 of FIG.

(Process to divide unnecessary objects into multiple groups)
FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a process of dividing unnecessary objects into m groups in step S91 of FIG. 30 according to the second embodiment.

First, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44A selects the first object of the unnecessary objects (unnecessary objects) after the designated foil stamping (S101), and determines whether the selected unnecessary object is the last object of the unnecessary objects. It is determined whether or not (S102). Here, if the unnecessary object being selected is the last object (YES in S102), the process of this flowchart is ended and the process proceeds to step S92 in FIG.

Next, when the unnecessary object being selected is not the last object (NO in S102), the unnecessary object list creating unit 44A determines whether the unnecessary object being selected is instructed to print on all pages. It is determined whether or not (S103).

If the unnecessary object being selected is an instruction to print on all pages (YES in S103), the unnecessary object list creation unit 44A adds the unnecessary object being selected to all the groups. (S104). On the other hand, if the unnecessary object being selected is not an instruction to print on all pages (NO in S103), the unnecessary object list creation unit 44A causes the group corresponding to the page to be printed (print target page). The unnecessary object being selected is added to (S105).

Next, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44A selects the next unnecessary object (S106). Then, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44A, after selecting the next unnecessary object, moves to the determination process of step S102, determines whether or not the unnecessary object being selected is the last object, and determines that the last object is the last object. If not (NO in S102), the processes of steps S103 to S106 are continued.

Through such a process, the designated unnecessary object is sorted into any of the groups based on whether or not the page can be divided (print target page).

(Process of combining group n of unnecessary objects with foilless print data)
FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a process of combining the unnecessary object group n with the foilless print data in step S93 of FIG. 31 according to the second embodiment. This process corresponds to the process of step S14 of FIG.

First, the foil stamping object list creation unit 43 creates a list of foil stamping objects (foil stamping object list 43D) from print data for foil stamping (S111). The process of step S111 is the process described in FIG.

In addition, the unnecessary object list creation unit 44A creates a list of unnecessary objects (unnecessary objects) after the designated foil stamping (unnecessary object list 44D), and classifies the unnecessary objects into groups (S112). The process of step S112 corresponds to the description given in FIG.

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A selects the first foil stamping object from the foil stamping object list 43D (S113). The cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A selects the unnecessary object at the head of the group n from the unnecessary object list 44D (S114).

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A determines whether or not the bounding box of the foil stamping object being selected includes the bounding box of the unnecessary object being selected (S115).

Next, when the bounding box of the selected foil stamping object includes the bounding box of the unnecessary object being selected (YES in S115), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A and the object compositing unit 46 The inclusion determination and combination processing of two objects (foil stamping object and unnecessary object) are performed (S116). The process of step S116 is the process described in FIG.

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A determines whether the result of the inclusion determination in step S116 includes the selected foil stamping object including the selected unnecessary object (S117). Here, when the selected foil stamping object includes the unnecessary object being selected (YES in S117), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A selects the unnecessary object selected from the group n of the unnecessary object list 44D. It is deleted (S118).

Next, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A determines whether the group n in the unnecessary object list 44D is empty (S119). Then, if the determination result is empty (YES in S119), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A determines that the composition of the group n has succeeded (S120).

Next, if the group n of the unnecessary object list 44D is not empty (NO in S119), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A proceeds to the process of step S113, and determines from the foil stamping object list 43D that the group n is within the group n. Select the next foil stamping object. Then, the processing after step S1114 is continued.

Next, in the case of NO in step S115 or S117, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A determines whether the group n of the foil stamping object list 43D is empty (S121).

Then, when the determination result is empty (YES in S121), the object composition unit 46 determines that composition of the group n has failed (S122). When step S120 or S122 ends, the process of this flowchart ends and the process proceeds to step S94 of FIG.

On the other hand, if the group n in the foil stamping object list 43D is not empty (NO in S121), the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A selects the next foil stamping object in the group n from the unnecessary object list 44D (S123). ). Then, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A proceeds to the determination processing of step S115, and determines the inclusion relationship of the binding boxes of the two target objects. Then, the cutting area addition necessity determination unit 45A proceeds to the processing of step S116 or S121 depending on the determination result.

According to the above-described second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, an object that is unnecessary after foil stamping is printed in the area of the foil stamping object. Therefore, it is not necessary to set a cutting area for printing an object that is unnecessary after the foil stamping is performed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce waste of paper and cutting work.

Further, according to this embodiment, the designation of the print target page is accepted as the propriety of division of each unnecessary object into a plurality of pages on the designation acceptance screen, the unnecessary objects are classified into groups based on the propriety of division, and print data is grouped for each group. It is determined whether or not the area of the foil stamping object can include an unnecessary object. For unnecessary objects that need to be printed once on several pages, such as a color bar, specify the pages to be printed and classify them into groups, and print the unnecessary objects in groups on the specified pages at the position of the foil stamping area. You can As a result, the frequency of printing unnecessary objects is reduced, which contributes to a reduction in printing time and a reduction in printing cost.

<3. Third Embodiment>
The third embodiment is an example in which the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a device other than a PC terminal, for example, a printer controller.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the foil stamping printing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the foil stamping printing system 1A shown in FIG. 33, the PC terminal 10, the printer controller 70, the image forming apparatus 20, and the foil stamping apparatus 30 are connected to the network 2.

The PC terminal 10A has the same hardware configuration as the PC terminal 10 (FIG. 5). The PC terminal 10A generates image data to be printed by a document creation or image creation application based on a user's input operation, and creates a print job including print setting information (job ticket) and image data (print data). , To the image forming apparatus 20.

The printer controller 70 analyzes the print job received from the PC terminal 10A and performs processing such as RIP processing. The printer controller 70 has all or some of the functions of the PC terminal 10 shown in FIG. The printer controller 70 transmits a print job including the foilless print data in which unnecessary objects are combined to the image forming apparatus 20, and transmits a foil stamping job including the foil stamping print data to the foil stamping apparatus 30. A personal computer or a server, for example, is used as the printer controller 70, and as an example, the printer controller 70 may have the same hardware configuration as the PC terminal 10. The display device 16 and the input device 17 may be selected.

Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 20 may include all or some of the functions of the PC terminal 10 shown in FIG.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various other application examples and modifications can be taken without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims. is there.

For example, the above-described embodiment is a detailed and specific description of the configuration of the device and the system in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to one having all the configurations described. .. Further, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment. Further, it is possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. In addition, it is possible to add, delete, or replace a part of the configuration of each embodiment with another configuration.

Further, each of the above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, etc. may be realized in hardware by designing a part or all of them with, for example, an integrated circuit. Further, each component may be mounted on any hardware as long as the hardware can send and receive information to and from each other via the network.

Further, in the present specification, the processing steps describing the time-series processing are not limited to the processing performed in the time-series according to the described order, but are not necessarily performed in the time-series, and may be performed in parallel or individually. It also includes processing executed by (for example, parallel processing or processing by objects).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Foil stamping printing system, 10... PC terminal, 20... Image forming apparatus, 30... Foil stamping apparatus, 41... Reception processing section, 42... Print data generating section, 45... Cutting area addition necessity determination section, 46... Object synthesizing section , 47... Output processing unit

Claims (11)

From print data including a foil stamping object that is an object to be foil stamped, a print data generation unit that generates foilless print data excluding the foil stamping object and foil stamping print data including only the foil stamping object,
A region of the foil stamping object in the foil stamping print data including only the foil stamping object, an object inclusion determination unit that determines whether or not an unnecessary object that becomes unnecessary after foil stamping can be included.
When the determination result of the object inclusion determination unit is inclusive, at a position corresponding to a region where the foil stamping object in the foilless print data is foil stamped, an object synthesizing unit that synthesizes the unnecessary object,
A first job including the foilless print data in which the unnecessary objects are combined is transmitted to an image forming apparatus, and a second job including the foil stamping print data is transmitted to the foil stamping apparatus. Processing equipment. Further comprising a reception unit that receives an input of the unnecessary object,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object inclusion determination unit determines whether or not the area of the foil stamping object in the foil stamping print data can include the unnecessary object accepted by the accepting unit. .. The object inclusion determination unit, when there are a plurality of unnecessary objects to be printed, determines whether the area of one or a plurality of the foil stamp objects can include all the unnecessary objects,
The object synthesizing unit may include the unnecessary information in each region where one or more of the foil stamping objects in the foilless print data is foil stamped when the determination result of the object inclusion determining unit is inclusive. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the objects are combined. The accepting unit further has a function of accepting whether or not each of the unnecessary objects can be divided into a plurality of pages,
Further comprising a group classification unit that classifies the unnecessary objects into groups based on whether or not each of the unnecessary objects received by the reception unit can be divided into a plurality of pages,
The object inclusion determination unit, for each of the groups classified by the group classification unit whether the area of the foil stamping object in the foil stamping print data including only the foil stamping object can include the unnecessary object. The information processing device according to claim 2. The object inclusion determining unit determines that it is necessary to add a cutting area to the print medium when there is an unnecessary object that cannot be included in the area of the foil stamping object,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object combining unit adds a cutting area to the foilless print data and combines the unnecessary data in the cutting area so as to arrange the unnecessary object. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unnecessary object is a foil stamping area guide that indicates an area in which foil stamping is performed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unnecessary object is a color patch for color adjustment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unnecessary object is a two-dimensional code in which information for identifying a job is embedded. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unnecessary object is an object for aligning the foil stamping object. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unnecessary object is a character indicating information regarding color conversion. From print data including a foil stamping object that is an object to be foil stamped, a procedure for generating foilless print data excluding the foil stamping object and foil stamping print data including only the foil stamping object,
A step of determining whether or not the area of the foil stamping object in the foil stamping print data including only the foil stamping object can include an unnecessary object that becomes unnecessary after foil stamping,
If the determination result can be included, in the area corresponding to the area where the foil stamping object in the foilless print data is foil stamped, a step of synthesizing the unnecessary object,
A procedure of transmitting a first job including the foilless print data in which the unnecessary objects are combined to an image forming apparatus, and transmitting a second job including the foil stamping print data to the foil stamping apparatus;
A program that causes a computer to execute.