JPH0272354A - Layout simulation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily simulate the layout of printed matter, to decrease the correction rate of the layout, and to reduce the manufacture cost by storing respective data which are inputted from an input means and displaying the layout. CONSTITUTION:Image data, character data, basic layout data which are inputted from input means 2 and 5 are stored temporarily in a storage means and a display control means 3 reads out and displays the basic layout data on a display means 4 and then simulates the layout using the image data and character data stored in the storage means. Further, when the layout pattern needs to be altered, the layout pattern is altered. Then when the layout of the printed matter is determined by the simulation, desired data among the data inputted by the input means 2 and 5 are outputted from a data output means 6. Consequently, the operation load is reduced and a printing process is rationalized.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is used in the design stage of the printing process,
It relates to a layout simulation device that simulates the layout of catalogs, magazines, etc. on a display screen, etc., and in particular, the data used for simulation,
The present invention relates to a layout simulation device that outputs data that can be used in other printing processes.

[Conventional technology]

Traditionally, at the design stage of the printing process, designers
was considering a 6-page layout based on a basic layout plan that included information such as the number of columns and number of divisions of photo manuscripts, single-character manuscripts, line drawings, etc. on layout paper. As a result of such consideration, the layout finally determined was instructed to the printing company using a layout instruction sheet.

However, when producing printed matter for a catalog with a large number of pages, determining the layout of the printed material using the method described above requires an extremely large amount of labor and time.

Therefore, recently, a technique has been proposed in which the layout and design of printed matter are simulated on a display screen at the design stage.

For example, "Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 148574/1983" discloses the following simulation system.

That is, this type of system causes a display means to display a catalog layout based on composition information stored in advance, and displays the pre-stored images in a desired part of the layout displayed on the display means. Change the size, rotate, move, and trim the data to the desired size, then display it.
The layout is simulated, and if the basic layout pattern needs to be changed, the layout pattern is changed to determine the final layout of characters and photos.

Furthermore, an output command is inputted from the input means, and an image is outputted from the image output means.

Now, once the layout of the catalog is determined in the simulation system as described above, the printing process moves to the next process, the plate-making process. When character making is performed using a CTS device, the matrix font used in the simulation system is approximately 24×24, whereas the CTS device requires a resolution of approximately 120×120. Additionally, when photoengraving is performed using a layout scanner device, the amount of data required for one A4 size page is approximately 3 MB in a simulation system, whereas the amount of data required for a layout scanner device is approximately 60 MB. shall be.

In this way, the amount of data used in the simulation system and the amount of data used in the plate-making process are completely different, so data such as image data, character data, layout data (described later), etc. obtained by the simulation system are They did not directly use it in the plate-making process.

Therefore, conventionally, from among the data obtained by the simulation system, a worker separately inputs data needed in a later process, such as layout data and character data, using manual means such as a digitizer or keyboard. Also,
The image data was input again using a plate-making scanner.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, re-entering required data such as layout data and text data using input means such as a digitizer or keyboard means that the probability of making input errors is extremely high. When inputting layout information for printed matter, the amount of data to be input becomes extremely large, the input work becomes extremely complicated, and the burden on the operator becomes heavy.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to be able to easily simulate the layout of printed matter, and to be able to use various data obtained at the design stage as is for other printing processes, thereby reducing the workload of data input, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide a layout simulation device that can streamline a printing process.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the present invention, the following measures have been taken to solve the above problems and achieve the objectives. That is, an input means for inputting image data, character data, and basic layout data, a storage means for storing each data inputted by the input means, and a storage means for storing each data inputted by the input means, and a storage means for inputting the basic layout data stored in the storage means. A display means for displaying a layout; and a display means for displaying the image data and character data stored in the storage means in a desired size at a desired portion of the layout displayed on the display means. display control means for controlling the display, display change means for changing the layout of displayed images and characters, and data output means for outputting desired data after display by the display control means and display change means. That's what I do.

[Effect]

Therefore, the present invention exhibits the following effects by taking the above measures. That is, image data and character data taken in from input means.

The basic layout data is temporarily stored in the storage means, and the basic layout data is called up by the display control means. Then, a layout corresponding to the retrieved basic layout data is displayed on the display means, and then the display control means simulates the layout using the image data and character data stored in the storage means. If the layout pattern needs to be changed, change the layout pattern. When the layout of the printed matter is determined by the above simulation, desired data from among the data input by the input means, for example, at least one of character data or layout data, is output from the data output means. The character data output from the data output means is used as data for a character plate making device such as a CTS device, and the layout data is used as data for a layout scanner device, for example.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a layout simulation device according to the present invention. That is, the layout simulation device 1 according to the present embodiment is a layout simulation device that includes an image input means 2 such as a flatbed scanner, and an external storage device (hereinafter referred to as a storage section) such as a calculation section, a main storage section, and a hard disk. an image display means 4 consisting of a color display, a frame memory, etc.; a human interaction means 5 consisting of a tablet, a digitizer, a mouse, a keyboard, etc.; a data output means 6 connected to a data communication means; and an image output means 7 consisting of a hard copy device such as a printer.

Here, the image input means 2 has a function of inputting image data such as photographs, and the human interaction means 5 has a function of inputting character data, graphic data, and basic layout data. The image input means 2 and the human interaction means 5 constitute an input means. However, as for character data, data input using a device such as a word processor may be input using a floppy disk, communication, or the like.

On the other hand, the storage section of the layout simulation device main body 3 stores each data inputted from the image input means 2 and the human interaction means 5.

In addition, the calculation section stores data in a storage means such as a memory or a hard disk at a desired part of the basic layout displayed on the color display of the image display means 4 based on the display control program stored in the main storage section. image data and text data.

It has a display control function for controlling the display of graphic data. Further, the image display means 4 as a display means has a function of displaying a basic layout pattern according to the basic layout data stored in the storage section of the layout simulation apparatus main body 3. Further, the layout pattern of one character and one figure of the displayed image can be changed by a layout changing means. Furthermore, the data output means 6 has a function of outputting desired data, such as layout data or character data, from among the data after display control by the arithmetic section of the layout simulation apparatus main body 3. Furthermore, a hard copy output means may be added.

Next, the operation of the layout simulation device 1 configured as described above will be described. In FIG. 1, image data input by an image input means 2 is transferred to a layout simulation apparatus main body 3. In addition, basic layout data, character data inputted by the interactive human power means 5,
The graphic data is transferred to the layout simulation device main body 3. Each piece of data input to the layout simulation apparatus main body 3 is temporarily stored in a storage section within the layout simulation apparatus main body 3. Then, the basic layout data is called by a command signal from the human interaction means 5, and a layout pattern corresponding to the called basic layout data is displayed on the image display means 4.

Next, with respect to the layout pattern displayed on the image display means 4, the size and location of characters, photographs, etc. to be displayed are instructed using the interactive human power means 5, and a layout simulation is performed. At this time, data such as character data and layout data obtained through the simulation are stored in a storage section within the layout simulation device main body 3. Of the data related to the layout simulated in this way, layout data and character data are outputted from the pig output means 6 and given to other process devices such as a layout scanner device or a CTS device (not shown) by a data communication means. Note that the layout displayed on the image display means 4 may be outputted as an image (hard copy) from the image output means 7 as needed, and the appearance of the layout may be checked.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of application of the layout simulation device 1. As shown in FIG. In this example, a layout simulation device 1 is linked with a layout scanner device 11 and a CTS device 12 used in the plate-making process. Note that the layout simulation device 1
Of the data obtained in layout scanner 1
Layout data that can be used in 1 is the photo number.

Data related to magnification, angle, cropping, position coordinates, one color band or gradation, and graphic data.

There is layout information such as a one-color code indicating the stacking order.

Furthermore, character data that can be used in the CTS device 12 includes character codes of the first class of characters, coordinate codes, deformation codes, color codes, and the like.

The data obtained by the layout simulation device 1 is sent to the layout scanner device 11 and C as follows.
The data is used as data for the TS device 12. That is, by inputting a command signal from the input means 13, the layout data stored in the storage section in the layout simulation apparatus main body 3 shown in FIG. 1 is called up and outputted from the data output means 6. The layout data output from the data output means 6 is input to the layout scanner device 11, and is used as data for outputting a plurality of color separation films at desired positions. Similarly, the input means 13
A command signal is input from , character data stored in a storage section in the layout simulation apparatus main body 3 is called up, and the character data is outputted from the data output means 6 . The character data output from the data output means 6 is input to the CTS device 12 and is used as data for character printing. Furthermore, a simple typesetting device 14 is provided, and data obtained by this simple typesetting device 14 is input to the CTS device 12 via the layout simulation device 1 or directly, and is used as data for character typesetting in the CTS device 12. It's okay.

As described above, according to the layout simulation device 1 of this embodiment, since the conventional simulation device is equipped with the data output means 6 for outputting layout data and character data, the layout data obtained by the layout simulation device 1 can be , can be used as data for the layout scanner device 1 for photoengraving, and can also be used as data for the CTS device 12 for character engraving.
This eliminates the need for double input of layout data and character data in the printing process, which reduces the burden of input work and significantly reduces the likelihood of input errors. It becomes possible to rationalize the printing process. Also,
Since the printing process is simplified, it is possible to shorten product delivery times. Furthermore, by inputting rough image data from the image input means 2, it becomes possible to further increase the processing speed of the image data in the layout simulation device 1. Note that the image output from the image output means 7 at this time is sufficiently durable for checking the appearance of the layout. Furthermore, since the layout is simulated on the image display means 4, the layout can be easily corrected and the final layout determined at the design stage can be confirmed. The amount of work required to correct the determined layout is significantly reduced, making it possible to significantly reduce manufacturing costs.

In the above embodiment, the data output means 6 of the layout simulation device 1 is configured to output layout data and character data, or is not limited to this, and is configured to output only either layout data or character data. You can also do this. Further, the data output means 6 may output screen data, photograph number, etc. Further, in the above embodiment, the character data input to the layout simulation device 1.

Although data such as layout data is provided from the data output means 6 to other devices via the data communication means, a portable storage medium such as a floppy disk may be used as other means.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the layout simulation device of the present invention, the layout of a printed matter can be simulated on a package, so that the correction rate of the layout determined at the design stage can be reduced, and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Can be done. Also, since it is equipped with a data output means, the data obtained from layout simulation can be used as data for other printing processes, eliminating double input of data and reducing the burden of input work on workers. In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent input errors caused by double input of data. As a result, the printing process can be streamlined and product delivery times can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a layout simulation device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the case where the embodiment is applied to a layout scanner device and a CTS device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Layout simulation device, 2... Image input means, 3... Layout simulation device main body, 4... Image display means, 5... Human interaction means,
6... Data output means, 7... Image output means, 11
... Layout scanner device, 12... CTS device, 13... Input means, 14... Simple typesetting device. Figure 1 Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 2

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An input means for inputting image data, character data, and basic layout data, a storage means for storing each data inputted by this input means, and a response according to the basic layout data stored in this storage means. display means for displaying a layout displayed on the display means, and image data and character data stored in the storage means are scaled to a desired size and displayed at a desired portion of the layout displayed on the display means. a display control means for controlling the display as shown in FIG. A layout simulation device comprising: (2) The layout simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data output means outputs layout data. (3) The layout simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data output means outputs character data. (4) The layout simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data output means outputs layout data and character data, respectively.