JPH04207857A - Coloration processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the execution of efficient coloration processing even with images including fine character strings by previously removing the parts which appear to take long time for the computation of the coloration processing, i.e., the regions where the fine characters exist and synthesizing the information coloration processing is completed. CONSTITUTION:An operator assigns the region to be removed from a region assigning means 20. This assignment operation suffices if the operation to assign the prescribed region on a display is made by an input appliance, such as mouse. The operator is assumed to assign the region within the rectangular shape of display parts A4 and A5 in this embodiment. An assigned character removing means 30 executes the processing to remove the information on the characters within the assigned region from inputted run length data D1 when such assignment is executed. The run length data D1 from which the information on the fine characters is removed in such a manner is subjected to the coloration processing in a coloration processing means 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a coloring processing device, and particularly to a device that uses a computer to perform halftone processing on an image containing characters.

[Conventional technology]

BACKGROUND ART With the spread of electronic devices, devices that use computers to perform printing plate-making work have been developed and put into practical use. In particular, in plate making for color printing, which has no gradation and is called plain mesh, coloring processing using a computer is also performed. Generally, a plain mesh image is composed of a set of closed regions to be colored with the same color. Therefore, the operator displays a large number of closed regions to be colored on the display screen, specifies a desired color for each closed region, and proceeds with the coloring operation. In such a coloring processing apparatus, an image to be plate-made is treated as digital data, and information regarding color is also expressed numerically. A computer constituting the coloring processing device performs predetermined calculations based on coloring instructions from an operator, and performs coloring processing on manually generated digital data. The operator can check the coloring results on the display and perform the coloring work by interacting with the coloring processing device.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

When performing coloring processing on a plain mesh image as described above,
Normally, arithmetic processing is performed while handling the image to be colored in the form of run-length data. This is because for plain mesh images with no gradations, handling image data in run-length data format is better than handling image data in raster data format because the amount of data is smaller and computational efficiency is improved. It is. However, if the image contains small character strings, the advantages of the run-length data format cannot be taken advantage of, resulting in a large amount of data and a long calculation time. As described above, the conventional coloring processing apparatus has a problem in that the efficiency of coloring processing for images including small character strings is low.

Therefore, the present invention also applies to images containing detailed character strings.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a coloring processing device that can perform coloring processing efficiently.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a coloring processing apparatus that includes: a run-length data input means for inputting an image containing characters in the form of run-length data; and an area for specifying an area containing predetermined characters in the image based on instructions from an operator. From the specifying means and input run length data,
A specified character exclusion means for excluding information related to characters in a specified area; a coloring processing means for coloring run-length data from which information related to characters has been excluded; The information excluded by the exclusion means is provided with a data synthesis means for synthesizing the information.

[For production]

As mentioned above, a plain mesh image is composed of a set of closed regions to be colored with the same color. Therefore, it is easier to perform coloring processing when expressed using run-length data than when expressed using raster data. However, for small character strings, coloring using run-length data requires a large computational load and takes a very long time. In the coloring processing apparatus of the present invention, the operator can specify in advance a portion where calculation time is likely to be long, that is, an area where a detailed character string exists. Information regarding characters within the designated area is excluded from the original run length data and coloring processing is performed.

Then, after the coloring process is completed, the detailed character strings that were excluded are combined.

For this reason, it becomes possible to perform efficient coloring processing even for images containing detailed character strings.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described below based on an illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a coloring processing apparatus according to the present invention. In this diagram, the square blocks are
Each component of this device is shown, and the round blocks represent data handled by this device. The basic components of this device are a run-length data input means 10 for inputting an image in the form of run-length data, an area specifying means 20 for specifying an area specified by an operator within this image,
a specified character exclusion means 30 for excluding information about characters in a specified area from input run-length data; a coloring processing means 40 for coloring the run-length data from which information about the characters has been excluded; It is shown by five blocks: data synthesis means 50 for synthesizing run length data and information regarding excluded characters; Each of these components will be explained in detail below along with their functions.

In this embodiment, the run length data input means 10 includes:
scanner 11, binarization processing section 12, data conversion section 13,
It consists of The scanner 11 has a function of scanning a document on which an image to be processed is drawn, and capturing line drawings, characters, etc. constituting this image in the form of raster data. The binarization processing unit 12 judges whether the value of each pixel of the captured raster data is greater than or equal to a predetermined set value, and binarizes all the pixels. As a result, the captured image is represented by raster data composed of an array of pixels having information of either "0" or "1". FIG. 2 shows an example of such raster data. In the example shown here, pixels are arranged in 12 columns horizontally and 8 lines vertically, and the pixels in the hatched area in the figure have the information "1" and the other pixels have the information "0". . The data conversion unit 13 is a device that converts the raster data imported in this manner into run-length data. One unit of run length data used here has the form (C, a), where C is the color value of a pixel and a is a column value indicating how far pixels having that color value are continuous. FIG. 3 shows the result of expressing the image shown in FIG. 2 in the form of run-length data. One or more units of run length data are defined for each line. Since binarization has already been performed by the binarization processing unit 12, all pixels have a color value of either "0" or []]. For example, in line 1 (
The data 0.12) has 12 pixels with a color value of 0.
Indicates continuity up to the column. Also, line 2
(0°5), (1,7), (0,12
), pixels with a color value of "0" continue up to the 5th column, and from the next pixel (6th column), pixels with a color value of "1" continue up to the 7th column, and then the next pixel (8th column) indicates that pixels with a color value of "0" continue up to the 12th column. If the run length data for each line in FIG. 3 is compared with each line in the image shown in FIG. 2, it will be understood that the two correspond. When performing coloring processing on such a plain mesh image, if the raster data is used as is, data that defines the color value for each pixel would be required, but in the form of run-length data. When processing is performed, as long as the same color continues on one line, it is sufficient to prepare one unit of run length data. In this manner, in this coloring processing device, the data D1 in the run-length data format is prepared by the data conversion unit 13, and coloring processing is thereafter performed in this run-length data format.

In addition, as a way to define run length data having the format (C, a), instead of setting a as a column value, there is also a method of setting it as the consecutive number of pixels with the same color value, and here, simply This is just an example. Further, as the run-length data input means 10, a scanner having a function of directly inputting an image in the form of run-length data can be used. Furthermore, images do not necessarily need to be input using a scanner; for example, characters may be input from data such as a computer typesetting machine. In short, any device may be used as the run-length data input means 10 as long as it has a function of capturing the image to be processed as run-length data by some method.

Now, the following explanation will be continued on the assumption that an image used for a travel flyer as shown in FIG. 4 has been captured by the run-length data input means 10. This image includes a map display area A1, a large text display area A2 that reads "Shikoku," an illustration display area A3, a small text display area A4 that reads "Beautiful Island Tour," and a small text display that reads "Ferry from Tokyo." A column display section A5 is allocated on the base section AO. Here, each display section A
1 to A5 are each subjected to a half-screening process. That is, for these, coloring is specified for each closed area, and color information is given for each closed area. Generally, four colors, C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) are used in printing, and in halftone processing, the halftone density of these colors is determined for each closed area. Information indicating this is given as color information. For example, for the closed area All that makes up the map on display section A1, Y5
0%, C30% + M20% for A12, M80% for A13, Y80% + C10 for A14
Colors such as %10 to 5% are specified. By the way, the objects to be colored in the display sections A1 to A3 are expressed with a relatively small amount of information when expressed in terms of run length.

On the other hand, display section A4. The coloring target in A5 is
Since it contains detailed character strings, the amount of information when expressed as run-length data is quite large.

For convenience of explanation, a relatively simple example of a leaflet is shown here, but in reality, a larger number of small characters are often allocated. Therefore, display section A4. The coloring processing calculation for A5 requires a huge amount of calculation, takes a long calculation time, and becomes a factor that impedes efficient work. The key point of the present invention is to exclude portions including such detailed character strings in advance before starting the coloring work.

Therefore, the operator specifies an area to be excluded using the area specifying means 20. This designation operation may be performed by, for example, using an input device such as a mouse to designate a predetermined area on the display. Here, the explanation will proceed assuming that the operator has designated areas within the rectangles of display sections A4 and A5. Upon receiving such a designation, the designated character exclusion means 30 performs a process of excluding information regarding characters within the designated area from the input run-length data D1. That is, the image corresponding to the run length data D1 is as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the run length data D2 regarding the excluded designated characters is used in the subsequent compositing process.

In this way, the run-length data D1 after information regarding small characters has been removed is subjected to coloring processing in the coloring processing means 40. As mentioned above, the run length data (C, a) before coloring has a color value C of "0" or "
1", and the portion with the color value "1" corresponds to a boundary line that defines a closed region. Therefore, the coloring process performed here converts the run length data (0, a) into the color value
The process is to change the data to (X, a) with .

As a result of performing such coloring processing, run length data D3 after coloring processing is obtained. Finally, the data synthesizing means 50 synthesizes the run length data D2 for the specified character and the run length data D3 after the coloring process to create synthesized data D4.

By performing the above-described processing, the coloring processing means 40
The burden of coloring processing calculations is significantly reduced. For example, as shown in FIG.
Color it to 0% and mark the part that says "Beautiful..." to 1.
When coloring to 00%, if the coloring process is performed in this state, it will be necessary to change the color value for a considerable amount of run length data. In other words, pixels in the so-called ground area without text are given a color value of Y50%, and pixels in the text area are given a color value of Y50% + K100%.
It is necessary to give a color value of However, as described above, if the text portion is excluded, the inside of the rectangle of this display area A4 only needs to be colored with Y50%.

Next, specific data processing methods in each of the above-mentioned processes will be explained in more detail. Now, 8× as shown in Figure 2
Consider a case where a rectangular area composed of 12 pixels is specified by the area specifying means 20. Within this rectangular area,
Only one character "1" is assigned (actually, the area specified by the area specifying means 20 is an area having a large number of detailed character strings, but here, for convenience of explanation, Consider a simple example as shown in Figure 2). Therefore, in this case, the only designated character excluded by the designated character exclusion means 30 is the character "1". Therefore, if the characters rlJ are removed from the designated area shown in FIG. 2, the result will be as shown in FIG. 7. Run length data for this is shown in FIG. The specified character exclusion means 30 extracts run-length data within a specified area from the input run-length data DI (this is data for the entire image including run-length data as shown in FIG. 3). Perform work to modify the . That is,
The area within this specified area is replaced with run-length data (run-length data shown in FIG. 8) that is replaced with a set of pixels with a color value of "0". On the other hand, the original run length data containing information about the character "1" (
The run length data shown in FIG. 3) is extracted and saved as run length data D2 for the specified character. The above is the work of the designated character exclusion means 30.

Now, the coloring processing means 40 performs coloring processing on the run length data D1 modified by the designated character exclusion means 30. For example, when coloring the designated area with the color Y2O5 (this color value is indicated by rYJ), the coloring process is performed to modify the run length data shown in FIG. 8 as shown in FIG. 9. . The calculation for performing this process is very simple. The color value "0" of each run length data shown in FIG. 8 may be bracketed and replaced with the color value rYJ. In this way, the process of coloring the specified area after removing information regarding small characters becomes extremely simple and reduces the calculation time. When the coloring process is completed in this manner, run length data D3 after the coloring process (data regarding the entire image including run length data as shown in FIG. 9) is obtained.

Finally, the data synthesizing means 50 performs a process of synthesizing the run length data D3 and the run length data D2. That is, for the designated area, the run length data shown in FIG. 9 and the run length data shown in FIG. 3 are combined.

This compositing process may be performed by performing the following calculations.

First, from the run length data shown in FIG. 9, it can be recognized that the color value within the specified area is "Y" (ie, Y2O5). Therefore, in the run-length data shown in FIG. 3, the color value "0" portion is collectively replaced with the color value rYJ. Furthermore, the color value "1" portion is replaced with the color value of a color that is a combination of the color given to the excluded character and the color within the specified area. For example, if the excluded characters are to be changed to a color of 100%, they will be replaced with a color value of a composite color of Y50%100% (this color value will be expressed as rKYJ). As a result of performing such a replacement operation, run length data as shown in the tenth factor is obtained. In the end, the composite data D4 becomes data including the run length data shown in FIG. 10 for the designated area. Generally, detailed character strings used in flyers and the like are colored with 100% K. Therefore, as described above, the compositing process performed by the data composing means 50 converts the color value "0" part in the run length data D2 into the color value rYJ, the color value "1" part into the color value rKYJ, It is a simple process of replacing each, and there is no burden on the calculation process. In this way, by adopting a method in which detailed character strings are excluded in advance, subjected to coloring processing, and then combined later, it is possible to reduce the overall calculation processing load.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above based on the block diagram shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment only, and can be implemented in various other ways. be. For example, each component shown as a block in FIG. 1 is actually an element that should be realized by computer software, and the specific hardware configuration is as follows.
A computer with a display device, keyboard, mouse, and other input devices connected to it will probably be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the coloring processing device of the present invention, areas where the calculation of coloring processing is likely to take a long time, that is, areas where small character strings exist, are excluded in advance, and after the coloring processing is completed, Since the information regarding the detailed character strings that have been excluded is combined, it becomes possible to perform efficient coloring processing even for images containing detailed character strings.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a coloring processing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image to be colored by the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. A diagram showing run length data corresponding to an image, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a flyer image to be colored by the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a fine character string from the flyer image shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the image shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the image shown in FIG. 2 with the character "1" removed, and FIG. is a diagram showing the run length data corresponding to the image shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the run length data shown in FIG. 8 after coloring processing, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the run length data shown in FIG. Length data and 9th
It is a figure which shows the state which combined the run length data shown in the figure. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Run length data manual means, 11... Scanner, 12... Binarization processing section, 13... Data conversion section, 20... Area specification means, 30... Specified character exclusion means , 40... Coloring processing means, 50... Data synthesis means, AO... Base part, A1 to A5... Display part,
D1-D3...Run length data. Patent applicant: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. Applicant's agent: Patent attorney Hiroshi Shimura Column 1 (0,12) 2 C0,5) <1. Wa')C0,72')
+ 3 (Q, 4) (7,'7) (0,7
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)(:y', 12) 7-,'7) ('/, 72) f,'7) (Y, 12>) (/<'/, 7) (Y, 12)y, 7)
(Y, 72) (, 8) ('/, 72>

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Run-length data input means for inputting an image containing characters in the form of run-length data; and area specifying means for specifying an area containing predetermined characters in the image based on instructions from an operator. specified character exclusion means for excluding information regarding characters within the area specified by the area specifying means from the input run length data; and coloring processing on the run length data from which information regarding the characters has been excluded. A coloring processing apparatus comprising: a coloring processing means for performing the coloring process; and a data synthesis means for synthesizing the run length data after the coloring process and the information excluded by the designated character exclusion means.