JPH04259576A - Open character printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print an open character in an original open state even if the open character pattern is overlapped on image data, such as graphics or image, by a method wherein if a normal character pattern is overlapped on image data when an open character is to be printed, the image data is erased and, thereafter, an open character pattern is drawn. CONSTITUTION:After character patterns of all character data to be printed out of document data 7 are drawn in an image data storage area 3 by repeating the processings of a character pattern receiving means 2 and a character pattern drawing means 4, a printing execution means 5 receives image data from the image data storage area 3 and outputs it to a printer device 6. In this manner, even if an open character pattern is overlapped on image data, such as graphics or images, in the printing of a multi-media document, there is no possibility that the open part of the open character pattern may become solid by the image data disposed thereunder.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for printing multimedia documents, and more particularly to a method for printing white characters on multimedia documents.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Examples of hollow characters include hollow characters that simply leave the outline and cut out the inside, shadowed characters with decorations such as shadows and three-dimensional shapes, three-dimensional characters, and the like. In the conventional outline character printing method, the character pattern acquisition means first searches the document data for character data to be printed (image output), and if the retrieved character data is modified as an outline character, the corresponding Obtain the outline character pattern to be used from the character pattern storage device. Next, the character pattern drawing means logically ORs the obtained white character pattern with the image data already stored in the image data storage area and draws it (an example of a character pattern with a shadow shown in FIG. 3). ). When the character patterns of all the character data to be printed in the document data are drawn in the image data storage area, the print execution means acquires the image data in which the character patterns are logically summed from the image data storage area and prints the image data to the printer device. Output to.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional white character printing method described above, the white character pattern is simply drawn by logically ORing it with the image data already stored in the image data storage area. Therefore, when a white character pattern is drawn, if it overlaps with previously stored image data, the white character cannot be whitened. In other words, when printing a multimedia document, if a white character pattern overlaps image data such as a figure or image, the white character pattern will fill in the white part with the image data such as the figure or image below. There was a drawback that it could be done.

In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to print a multimedia document so that even when a white character pattern overlaps image data such as a figure or an image, the white character pattern overlaps the image data below. To provide a printing method for white characters in which the white parts are not crushed by the white characters.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The white character printing method of the present invention is a multimedia document printing method in which characters can be printed overlapping image data, in addition to a normal character pattern in a size that is one size larger. a character pattern storage device that stores a white character pattern, and a normal character pattern and a white character pattern corresponding to the character data from the character pattern storage device when the character data to be printed is modified as a white character; a character pattern acquisition means for acquiring a character pattern, and a normal character pattern acquired by this character pattern acquisition means is logically summed with the image data in an image data storage area, and the same normal character pattern is drawn in the image data storage area. character pattern drawing means for drawing an exclusive OR with image data and drawing a white character pattern in the image data storage area by performing an exclusive OR with the image data; and acquiring image data from the image data storage area. and a print execution means for outputting to a printer device.

[0006]

[Function] In the white character printing method of the present invention, the character pattern storage device stores a white character pattern of a slightly larger size in addition to the normal character pattern, and the character data to be printed by the character pattern acquisition means is a white character pattern. When the character data is modified as a character, a normal character pattern and a white character pattern corresponding to the character data are obtained from the character pattern storage device, and the character pattern drawing means draws the normal character pattern obtained by the character pattern obtaining means. The same normal character pattern is drawn in the image data storage area by performing an exclusive OR with the image data, and the white character pattern is drawn in the image data storage area by performing an exclusive OR with the image data. The image data is logically summed with the data and drawn, and the print execution means acquires the image data from the image data storage area and outputs it to the printer device.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an outline character printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The white character printing method of this embodiment includes a character pattern acquisition means 2 for acquiring a character pattern from a character pattern storage device 1, a character pattern drawing means 4 for drawing the character pattern in an image data storage area 3, and an image data storage area 3. It is comprised of a printing execution means 5 that acquires image data from the area 3 and outputs it to the printer device 6. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 indicates an image data storage area for storing image data, 6 indicates a printer device capable of printing image data,
7 indicates document data including character data to be printed.

The character pattern storage device 1 stores normal character patterns and corresponding hollow characters, shaded characters,
One type of each type of white character pattern such as three-dimensional characters is stored. Note that the white portions of the white character pattern match the normal character pattern.

Next, the operation of the blank character printing method of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

First, the character pattern acquisition means 2 inputs the document data 7 and searches for character data to be printed (image output). Next, the character pattern acquisition means 2 determines whether or not the retrieved character data is modified as a white character such as a hollow character, a shaded character, or a three-dimensional character, and if so, A normal character pattern corresponding to character data and a corresponding white character pattern among hollow character patterns, shaded character patterns, three-dimensional character patterns, etc. are acquired from the character pattern storage device 1. Note that if the retrieved character data is not modified as a white character, the character pattern acquisition means 2 acquires only the normal character pattern corresponding to the character data from the character pattern storage device 1.

Next, the character pattern drawing means 4 converts the obtained normal character pattern into an image previously stored in the image data storage area 3, as shown in FIG. 2 taking the case of a shaded character pattern as an example. Performs a logical OR with the data and draws it. If the outline character pattern has not been acquired, the character pattern drawing means 4 ends the process here and returns control to the character pattern acquisition means 2. If a white character pattern has been acquired, the character pattern drawing means 4 draws the same normal character pattern at the same location in the image data storage area 3 by performing exclusive OR with the image data. As a result, the image data storage area 3
In the image data stored in , there are gaps in the shape of normal character patterns. Subsequently, the character pattern drawing means 4 draws a white character pattern at the same location in the image data storage area 3 by calculating the logical sum with the image data. As a result, the white character pattern is drawn in the image data storage area 3 without the white portion being crushed by the image data. Thereafter, the character pattern drawing means 4 controls the character pattern obtaining means 2.
Return to

When the character patterns of all the character data to be printed in the document data 7 are drawn in the image data storage area 3 by repeating the processing of the character pattern acquisition means 2 and the character pattern drawing means 4, printing is executed. The means 5 acquires image data from the image data storage area 3 and outputs it to the printer device 6.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention enables printing of white characters such as hollow characters, shaded characters, three-dimensional characters, etc. in printing multimedia documents, and images that are overlapped below in a normal character pattern. By erasing the data and then drawing the outline character pattern, you can print the outline character in its original outline state even if image data such as figures or images overlaps under the outline character pattern. There is an effect that it can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a white character printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image of drawing an outline character pattern using the outline character printing method of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image of drawing an outline character pattern using a conventional outline character printing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Character pattern storage device 2 Character pattern acquisition means 3 Image data storage area 4 Character pattern drawing means 5 Print execution means 6 Printer device 7 Document data

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a multimedia document printing method in which characters can be printed over image data, a character pattern storage device stores an outline character pattern of a slightly larger size in addition to a normal character pattern;
Character pattern acquisition means for acquiring a normal character pattern and a white character pattern corresponding to character data from the character pattern storage device when character data to be printed is modified as a white character; and this character pattern acquisition means. The normal character pattern obtained by is drawn in the image data storage area by logical ORing with the image data,
character pattern drawing means for drawing the same normal character pattern in the image data storage area by taking an exclusive OR with the image data, and drawing a white character pattern in the image data storage area by taking the logical OR with the image data; , and printing execution means for acquiring image data from the image data storage area and outputting it to a printer device.