JPH05210720A - Color image processing system and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a color image processing system capable of synthesizing documents, images, etc., by optimum processing and synthesizing the synthesized result with other image data inputted by an image input means. CONSTITUTION:A PDL code sent from a host computer 400 is separated and analyzed by a PDL/mask/raster image separating controller 500 and multi- valued raster image data, a command relating to a mask and others are respectively transferred to a raster image storing part 700, a mask part 900 and a PDL interpreter part 600. The interpreter part 600 develops PDL raster image data based upon a PDL command and the mask part 900 analyzes mask information. A PDL raster/raster image synthesizing controller 800 applies mask processing to the PDL raster image data and the multi-valued raster image data and synthesized color image data are outputted from a printer part 300 in a digital color copying machine 1000.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention analyzes a code or instruction defining a document or an image laid out on a host computer, and analyzes a vectorized portion such as a document or an illustration and a natural image. Color image processing that can be output by separating the value raster image data part and adding the image for masking in the code or instruction and performing logical processing to synthesize and synthesize each image. The present invention relates to a system and an image processing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a PDL interpreter section inside a printer is based on a PDL (Page Description Language) code which is a code or command defined for expressing a document / image created and converted on a host computer. There is an increasing number of printers that analyze them, develop images that match the resolution of the printer, and output them.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, image data obtained by synthesizing vectorized portions such as documents and illustrations and multivalued raster image data such as natural images is input by, for example, a scanner. There is a drawback that other multi-valued raster image data cannot be combined and output.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is a color image processing system capable of synthesizing a document, an image, etc. by an optimum process and synthesizing with other image data input by an image input means. And an image processing method.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing method of the present invention obtains by expanding a specific command in the page description language input by a predetermined input means and the page description language. It is characterized in that at least a part of the raster image data thus obtained is used to process the raster image data inputted from another input means. Further, according to another aspect of the invention, a separating means for separating a specific command in a page description language input from a predetermined input means, a generating means for generating expanded raster image data in which the page description language is expanded, and And a processing unit for processing the raster image data input from the other input unit by using at least a part of the expanded raster image data according to the specific command separated by the separating unit.

According to another aspect of the invention, a color image is separated based on the separating means for separating the command data, the mask information, and the multivalued raster image data from the input information, and the command data separated by the separating means. Image forming means for forming data, mask information managing means for managing the mask information separated by the separating means, storage means for storing the multi-valued raster image data separated by the separating means, and according to the mask information. An image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the image data by masking the color image data formed by the image forming unit and the multi-valued raster image data stored in the storage unit.

[0007]

In the above structure, the command data, the mask information, and the multi-valued raster image data are separated from the input information, the color image data is formed based on the separated command data, and the separated mask is formed. It manages information and stores the separated multi-valued raster image data. Then, according to the managed mask information, the formed color image data and the stored multivalued raster image data are masked, and the image data is combined and output.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a color image forming and outputting system according to the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the system in the embodiment is a digital color image reading unit (hereinafter referred to as “color scanner”) 100 that reads a digital color image and a digital color image printing unit (hereinafter “color printer”) that prints out the digital color image. (Referred to as a) 300, a digital color copying machine 1000, an image storage / synthesis device 200, and a control host computer 400.

First, the structure of the color digital copying machine 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. In the color scanner 100, the scanner controller 101 is the center of control and performs the following control. The original on the original table is color-separated by the contact type CCD line sensor controlled by the exposure system controller 103 for each color of R, G and B.
It is converted into a dot-sequential analog image signal. This analog image signal is converted into a digital image signal of 8 bits for each color by an A / D converter (not shown), and each of the RGB colors of luminance is output as a line-sequential signal. The digital image signal is converted by the image processing unit 102 from the brightness levels of R, G, and B to the levels corresponding to the toner amounts of the four colors of C, M, Y, and Bk, and the colors (not shown). The image is calculated by the correction unit, and various image processing such as composition, scaling, and movement is performed.

In the color printer 300, the C, M, Y, and Bk digital image signals sent from the color scanner 100 are converted into semiconductor laser lighting signals by the printer controller 301, and are converted to the levels of the respective digital image signals. The corresponding pulse width is output to the laser drive unit 310 of the image forming unit 302. Laser lighting level is 2
There are 56 levels (corresponding to 8 bits). Next, the laser from the laser drive unit 310 is output to the polygon scanner drive unit 311 and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 315. Then, the CMYK colors are limited according to the digital image signal to be output, and the color images sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 315 in a digital dot format are developed by the developing unit 314, and the transfer unit 316 and the transfer drum are performed. At 319, the paper cassette 323 to the paper feed controller 3
After being copied and transferred to the paper fed to 18, the separation unit 32
It is separated by 0, is fixed by the fixing unit 322 through the conveying unit 321, and is output to the tray 324. Thus, the color printer 300 is an electrophotographic laser beam printer.

Further, the color scanner 100 and the color printer 300 in the embodiment can control the printer 300 under the control of the scanner 100 and can function as the digital color copying machine 1000 independently.

That is, a manuscript image is set on the manuscript table of the color scanner 100, the copy start key is pressed, and the image is read from the color scanner 100, image processing, exposure and development in the color printer 300 are performed in accordance with the above-described process.
An image is formed and output through the transfer and fixing processes.

FIG. 3 shows a control host computer 400.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. As shown in the figure, the host computer 400 is connected to the image storage / synthesis device 200 and P.
Interface controller 4 for exchanging DL (Page Description Language) data code / instruction
20, a CPU 405 for central control, and a CPU 40
5, a ROM 406 for storing commands and control data, a hard disk controller 450 for controlling a hard disk 451 for temporarily registering image data and storing various data, a main memory 460 for storing programs and data, and work. On the display memory 411, a keyboard / mouse controller 430 for controlling the mouse 431 and the keyboard 441 as an instruction input means from a person, a display memory 411 and a display controller 410 for controlling a display 412 for displaying a menu and the like. And an image editing controller 413 for performing image layout / editing of the image.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the image storage / synthesis device 200 in the first embodiment. This device
A main controller 210 that controls the entire image storage / synthesis device 200, a command (data other than a multi-valued raster image) in the PDL data that analyzes the contents of the PDL data, and a mask-related command that performs mask processing in the command. PDL for separating and further separating multi-valued raster image data
/ Mask / raster image separation controller 500, PDL interpreter unit 600 that analyzes and expands the command data in the separated PDL data, and the separated mask command is analyzed, and the position / attribute information of the mask target image is analyzed. A mask unit 900 for registering the color multi-valued raster image data and the separated position / attribute information thereof, and the color multi-valued raster image data from the color scanner 100 and the position / attribute information thereof are stored / managed to perform layout. A raster image storage unit 700 that performs the above-described processing, and a mask unit 900 that stores and manages the position / attribute information of the mask target image.
A mask image is created from the PDL raster image developed by the separated PDL data on the basis of the mask area signal from, and the mask image data and the separated color multi-valued raster image data are designated by the designated logic. A multi-valued raster image that has been composited by calculation and cropped is obtained. Then, the PDL raster image (image in which the areas other than the mask target area are valid) image-developed by the separated PDL data and the multi-valued image data which is subjected to the above logical operation and cropped by the mask image are transmitted to the host computer 400. PDL raster / raster image compositing controller 800 for compositing according to the image created above
It mainly includes and.

Further, as an interface, an external interface (I / F) controller 2 for exchanging PDL instructions / codes with the host computer 400.
20 and a color digital interface controller 230 for exchanging image data and commands with the digital color copying machine 1000.

The main processing units of the image storage / synthesis device 200 having the above configuration will be described below.

First, the operation of the PDL interpreter unit 600 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The PDL main controller 610 receives a PDL vector (non-raster image data) system command sent from the PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 500, and temporarily registers the command in the buffer memory 630. Then, the PDL main controller 610 develops an image of the PDL command on the PDL raster image memory 640 based on the analysis information of the ROM 631. When the image is developed, if the character is designated by the PDL command, outline font data is extracted from the outline font ROM 650 and developed into a font image of a designated size. After that, the expanded font image is once registered in the RAM 632, and the image is fitted into the designated position on the PDL raster image memory 640. As a result, when the font of the same code is designated again, it is only necessary to use the font image already registered in the RAM 632, and the development time can be shortened.

Finally, the image information designated by the PDL will be expanded in the PDL raster image memory 640.

Next, the raster image storage unit 700 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the raster image storage unit 7
00 is capable of storing a plurality of color images, and the stored plurality of image data are laid out by a command from the host computer 400, combined, output to the color printer 300, and recorded as a color print image. .. At this time, the input destination of the image data can be switched to either the host computer 400 or the color scanner 100 by an arbitrary instruction from the host computer 400.

The image data and instructions of the host computer 400 and the image storage / synthesis device 200 are based on a specific format.

The raster image storage unit 700 has a color raster image data from the PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 500 as a center, and an image main controller 710 for controlling the color raster image data. To 761 efficiently allocate and manage the memory management controller 720
And an image editing controller 730 that performs image conversion regarding the color of the registered image data, and a layout controller 750 that performs layout editing.

In addition, it includes raster image memories 760 to 761 for storing image data and a bus controller 740 for controlling the main bus of the image storage / synthesis device 200. Further, the layout controller 750 includes a plurality of pages in one page. Layout is possible, and in accordance with an instruction from the image main controller 710, it operates in conjunction with the bus controller 740 and can send a plurality of laid out images to the PDL raster / raster image synthesizing controller 800.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of the mask portion 900. In the mask unit 900, the mask image main controller 910 detects the position information, the unit of position, the mask calculation type, from the mask-based command of the separated PDL.
A mask location table 970 for creating a mask location table of a mask target plane and registering the plurality of tables, and a PDL based on the table data
It is composed of a mask area signal generation unit 920 for generating a signal of the mask target area and a mask logic operation code generation unit 921 for generating a corresponding code according to the mask operation type.

The operation procedure of the color image forming and outputting system having the above construction will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. (A) Processing on the host computer 400 On the host computer 400, DTP (disk top publishing) software is loaded from the hard disk 451 onto the main memory 460, and C
It is executed by the PU 405. User is mouse 43
1. Using the keyboard 441, the layout is directly performed while checking the document and various image data (for example, an illustration formed by a vector or a multivalued image such as a natural image captured by a scanner) on the display 412.

When a multi-valued natural image is laid out on a document image, it is also possible to perform masking on the image with a binary bitmap image to crop it.

The processing procedure / multi-valued image data / binary bit map mask image etc. of the created arbitrary document image is
Main memory 460 by the image editing controller 413
The information is registered on the hard disk 451 under the control of the hard disk controller 450 when the appearance of one page is completed.

In the meantime, the document image expanded on the display memory 411 by this is displayed on the display 41.
The various information of the document image displayed through 2 and laid out on the hard disk when it is finally completed is displayed by the device driver software in the ROM.
It is converted into a PDL code that defines a document or image created by layout.

The PDL code converted in this way includes:
It includes vector-based information such as characters and illustrations, multivalued raster image data such as a laid-out natural image, a mask command for mask processing, and binary bitmap mask image data of the mask data.

Here, the host computer 400 uses the interface controller 420 for the external interface controller 22 of the image storage / synthesis device 200.
0 to communicate the PDL code with the image storage / synthesis device 20.
Transfer to 0 side. (B) Separation of PDL data On the other hand, on the image storage / synthesis device 200 side, the transferred PLD code is stored in the buffer memory 240 at any time, and when the size becomes a certain fixed size, the main controller 210 causes the PDL / mask / raster to be separated. PDs stored in the buffer memory 240 for the image separation controller 500
Instruct separation analysis of L code.

The PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 500 judges the contents of the PDL code line by line, and in the case of a command relating to multi-valued raster image data,
First, information indicating the layout position of the image, the image size, the number of bits per pixel, and the transfer order of raster image data is analyzed from the PDL command, and the information is transferred to the raster image storage unit 700. If the command is not a command related to multi-valued raster image data (vector system / mask system), it is checked whether the command is a mask command, and if it is a mask command, the command / parameter is duplicated and transferred to the mask unit 900. Other PDL codes are sent to the PDL interpreter unit 600 as they are. Further, the substance of the multi-valued raster image data sent after the above-mentioned raster system PDL command is read from the PDL code, and only the multi-valued raster image data is sent after the information such as the image size and position sent earlier. Transfer to the raster image storage unit 700.

Here, the separated PDL multi-valued raster system command parameters and substance data of the multi-valued raster image are the PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 50.
From 0 to only the raster image storage unit 700, PDL
It is not transferred to the interpreter unit 600. As a result, the PDL interpreter unit 600 can develop an image without a multi-valued raster image into a PDL image and improve the PDL image development speed.
At that time, the PDL interpreter unit 600 operates to develop an image as all binary CMYK data. (C) Processing of PDL (vector system / mask system) data The PDL main controller 610 executes PDL vector system (non-raster image data) / mask system commands sent from the PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 500. The command is received and the command is once registered in the buffer memory 630. Then, the PDL main controller 610 stores the sent PDL command in the ROM.
PDL raster image memory 6 based on analysis information 631
Image development on 40. If a character is designated by the PDL command at the time of developing the image, the font data of the outline information is extracted from the outline font ROM 650, is developed into a font image of a specified size, and the above-mentioned developed font image is temporarily registered in the RAM 632. , PDL raster image memory 640 at a specified position. As a result, when the same code font is specified again, the RAM 632 has already been specified.
It is possible to use the font image registered in the file and shorten the development time.

In addition, the PDL main controller 610
In the case of a PDL mask system command / parameter, the mask image is created according to the resolution of the printer unit 300, and the image is fitted to a designated position on the PDL raster image memory 640.

Finally, the mask / vector image information is developed as a binary CMYK image in the PDL raster image memory 640 according to the resolution of the printer unit 300, which is the same image created on the computer 400. (D) Processing of Mask Unit In the mask unit 900, the bus controller 9 is instructed by the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 200.
The mask command / parameter separated from the PDL data is transferred via 40. The mask image main controller 910 analyzes the mask command / parameter and registers the position / attribute information of the mask target image as the mask location table 970. As shown in FIG. 8, the mask location table 970 is composed of mask ID / mask position information / mask position information unit / mask operation type / mask target plane.

A plurality of mask location tables 970 can be registered, and the mask image main controller 910 first assigns an arbitrary mask ID. Next, from the mask command / parameter,
The target rectangular area of the mask is calculated, and its unit and position coordinates are set in the table. The area position coordinates are composed of upper left coordinates (SX, SY) and lower right coordinates (EX, EY), and the coordinate unit (mm / inch or the like) at that time is set as the unit of position information. As other parameters,
A calculation method for calculating the mask image 854 and the multi-valued raster image 852, for example, designation of AND, XOR, etc. is set to the mask calculation type. Further, when creating the mask image 854, a parameter that specifies which CMYK plane of the PDL raster image 850 to perform the mask calculation is set as the mask target parameter. As described above, by using the mask commands / parameters separated / created from the PDL data, as many mask location tables as one page are laid out as mask area data for creating a mask of a multi-valued color image. Part 900
Be registered with. (E) Processing of Raster Image Data The image main controller 710 of the raster image storage unit 700 first receives from the PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 500 via the bus controller 740 according to an instruction from the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 200. Based on the image file name / layout designated position information and attribute information of the sent multi-valued raster image data, an arbitrary image ID for identifying the raster image is assigned and the information is sent to the memory management controller 720. give.

The memory management controller 720 then uses the PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 50.
The multi-valued raster image data entity sent from 0 and its image ID, image size, and attributes are stored in the raster image memory 7
60 is efficiently stored, and the attribute information such as the storage position and size of the multi-valued raster image at that time is linked to the image ID attached beforehand, and the position / attribute information together with the layout position information / image attribute information is linked. It is stored in the memory 770.

This information is used when actual print output is performed. These processes can be performed on a plurality of images, and a plurality of multivalued raster image data can be stored in the raster image memory 760. (F) Input of Multivalued Raster Image Next, in order to replace the multivalued raster image laid out on the host computer 400 with another image or an image of higher resolution, the original image to be replaced is the digital color copying machine. It is placed on 1000 color scanners 100.

The host computer 400 instructs the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 200 to read the maximum area that can be read from the color scanner 100 of the digital color copying machine 1000.
As a result, the original image on the color scanner 100 is read at a low resolution matching the resolution of the display memory 411, and the image storage / synthesis device 2 is used as a prescan image.
00, is transferred to the display memory 411 via the interface controller 420. And CPU4
The pre-scan image is displayed on the display 412 by 05, the area to be actually scanned and the resolution are specified by the mouse 431 and the keyboard 441, and the image ID at the time of registration in the raster image storage unit 700 in the image storage / synthesis device 200 is displayed. Is specified.

That is, when the CPU 405 sets the above-mentioned information to the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis apparatus 200 and issues an instruction to capture an image, the color scanner 100 of the digital color copying machine 1000 designates the designated area / resolution. The image data is captured by the raster image storage unit 7 with the image ID in which the read image data is designated.
00 is registered. Then, as described above, the storage position of the raster image and the attribute information such as the size are also stored together with the image data. (G) Link of multi-valued raster image Based on the position / attribute information of the raster image which is separated from the PDL code at the output destination, the host computer 400
Displays a list of the image file names, image sizes, and layout positions of the layouts on the display 412. Then, from among them, other image data read from the scanner 100 or high resolution data and data to be linked at the time of output are selected.

First, a list of image file names and image sizes of images laid out in one page is displayed,
A target image to be exchanged (to be linked) is selected from them with the mouse 412 / keyboard 441. After selection, a list of image data registered in the raster image storage unit 700 is displayed, and images to be replaced are selected. As a result, the image data created on the host computer 400 and the image data newly input by the scanner 100 are exchanged, and it is possible to relink with the image ID of the selected position / attribute information memory 770.

In the PDL raster / raster image synthesizing controller 800, three processes are performed. First, from the mask area signal 852, the target PDL raster image 8
50 is used to create a mask image 854. And
The mask image and the multi-valued raster image 852 are cropped by a designated logical operation to create a cropped image 855. Next, the PD of the previous mask target area
The PDL raster image 853 from which the L image has been cleared and the cropped image 855 are combined to create a combined image 856. Hereinafter, the procedure will be described in detail.

Incidentally, each unit 810 to 830 shown in FIG.
The process of is performed based on the synchronization signal from the timing generation unit 840. (H) Mask Image Creation When the PDL interpreter unit 600 develops an image for one page and the raster image storage unit 700 completes the above-described raster image link processing, the host computer 4
00, the main controller 210
The bus controllers 620 and 720 request the PDL raster / raster image synthesizing controller 800 to transfer the image data that has been image-developed. At the same time, the mask area signal generation unit 920 of the mask unit 900 turns ON the mask target area signal 851 in the mask target area for each line based on the data in the mask location table and turns it OFF in areas other than the target area.

The mask creating unit 820 uses this mask target area signal 851 to synchronize the binary PDs.
A binary mask image 854 is created from the L raster image signal 850. That is, when the mask target area signal 851 is ON, the PDL raster image signal 850 becomes valid, and the PDL raster image signal 850 in the valid range becomes the mask image signal 854. Then, the mask making unit 820
When the mask target area signal 851 is ON, the PDL raster image signal 850 is set to “0” to erase the PDL image in the mask target range, and the new PDL raster image signal 85
Create 3. (I) Multi-Valued Cropping Image Creation In the raster image storage unit 700, the layout controller 750 of the raster image storage unit 700 uses the scanner image as described above in accordance with the timing of each line from the PDL raster / raster image composition controller 800. Based on the contents of the position information / attribute information memory 770 replaced with, the registered multi-valued raster image data is enlarged / reduced to the designated size laid out using the image editing controller 730. Then, the multi-valued raster image 852 is transferred to the PDL raster / raster image combination controller 800 via the bus controller 740.

The mask logical operation code generation unit 921 of the mask section 900 sets a specific logical operation code 857 in the mask target image forming unit 830 based on the data of the mask location table. The masking target image creating unit 830 is based on the previously created masking image signal 854 and is synchronized with it.
52 is a logical operation AND
Cropping processing is performed by a logical operation such as XOR.

For example, when the logical operation code 857 is AND, the masking target image forming unit 830 allows the signal of the multi-valued raster CMYK image to be valid as it is when the masking image signal 854 is ON, and when it is OFF, it is multi-valued. The signal of the raster CMYK image is dropped to "0", that is, the white level.

As described above, the masking target image forming unit 830 uses the mask image signal 854 created from the PDL raster image 850 to create the image signal 855 obtained by cropping the multi-valued raster image 852 with the mask. (J) Combining PDL image / raster image The image from the PDL interpreter unit 600 is transferred as it is for one page and the data is transferred line by line. This image data is the image “0” of the mask target area, as described above.

Finally, the PDL raster image signal 853 and the multi-valued raster image 85, which have been subjected to the above-mentioned mask processing,
The PDL raster / raster image synthesizing unit 810 synthesizes the two raster images of No. 5 and the image storing / synthesizing device 200
The main controller 210 of the digital color copying machine 100 sends the command to start the printing operation and the composite image data via the color digital interface controller 230.
Transfer to 0.

At this time, ON / OFF of the bits of the PDL raster image signal 853, which is a binary CMYK image of characters / illustrations developed by the PDL interpreter unit 600.
Are converted into the maximum density (FFH) / minimum density (00H) data of the multi-valued image data, and the multi-valued raster image 8
It is combined with 55 color multi-valued data. (K) Printer output by digital color copying machine On the digital color copying machine 1000 side, a command to start a print operation is received from the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 200 via the color digital interface controller 230/104, and according to the command. By performing the copying process as described above, it is possible to obtain the image output of the multi-valued image image signal 856 in which the binary image such as the PDL character / illustration and the multi-valued color raster image are combined.

In the embodiment, the host computer 4
Although the image control command from 00 is described as a programmable type such as PDL, it can be applied to a control code system of character code. In that case, the character code data sent from the host computer 400 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 240 of the image storage / synthesis device 200 from the external interface 420. The data is sequentially checked in the order of stored character data by the character control code corresponding to the PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 500 and the controller for separating the raster image data from the control system code or the simple character code. .. Here, in the case of the character-based control code, it is sent to the interpreter unit 600 which develops an image corresponding to the control, and the ROM
The image development operation based on the processing of the control system code on 631 is performed.

In the case of the image control code, the data size / position information of the image is designated, and thereafter the actual image data is sent as image data. Therefore, these are sent to the raster image storage unit 700, and the above-mentioned various types are sent. Processing becomes possible.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a color image forming / outputting system in the second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the image storage / synthesis device 201.

In this embodiment, the image storage / synthesis device 200 is used.
The vector system / mask system / raster system separation of the PDL code, which has been performed inside the computer, is performed in the host computer 400 to simplify the configuration of the image storage / synthesis device 200.

In the case of the second embodiment, the user uses the mouse 431 and the keyboard 411 on the computer 400 as in the above-described embodiments to capture a document and various image data (illustrations formed by vectors, a scanner, etc.). A multi-valued natural image etc.) and display 41
Do it directly while checking on 2.

When a multivalued natural image is laid out on a document image, it is also possible to perform masking on the image with a binary bitmap image and perform cropping. The image editing controller 413 stores in the main memory 460 the processing procedure / multi-valued image data / binary bitmap mask image of any document image created during that time.
Register at any time above, and when the appearance of one page is completed,
It is registered on the hard disk 451 by controlling the hard disk controller 450.

When the appearance is finally completed, various information of the document layout image stored on the hard disk 451 is laid out by the device driver software in the ROM and converted into a PDL code defining the created document. To be done. Then, at this time, the color multi-valued image data such as a natural image is not described in the PDL and is stored as separate data in the hard disk 451 together with the image data and the image file name / layout position / image size / attribute information. be registered. Furthermore, position information about the mask image, mask calculation information, etc. are also stored in the hard disk 451.
Registered above. However, the mask information and the actual mask image are left as they are in the PDL code and converted.

On the other hand, the PDL code converted in this way is used as the vector system information such as characters and illustrations for one page via the vector interface 421 of the interface controller 420 and the image storage / synthesis device 2 is transmitted.
01, sent first.

The PDL interpreter unit 600 in the image storage / synthesis device 201 develops the PDL image for one page as a binary CMYK image in the PDL raster image memory 640 of the PDL interpreter unit 600, as in the first embodiment. .. At this time, the image of the PDL raster image is developed including the image image to be masked.

Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the scanner section 100 of the digital color copying machine is controlled on the host computer 400 to read the original to be laid out at a high resolution, and the raster image storage section 700 of the image storage / synthesis apparatus 201. Register with. This is repeated for the required number of images.

Next, as described in the first embodiment, all the layout positions, image file names, image sizes and attribute information stored in the hard disk 451 are read out and displayed on the display 412 as a list. The image data to be exchanged with the image input from the scanner 100 first is selected from among them, and a substitute image is selected from the list of images already registered in the raster image storage unit 700. As a result, instead of the low resolution image laid out on the host computer 400, it is possible to relink with the high resolution image read from the scanner 100. Further, there is no need to transfer large data with high resolution, which leads to high speed and simplification.

At the time when the above-mentioned link is completed, the data of the raster image that has not been re-linked is stored in the hard disk 4.
51, the interface controller 4 is added to the raster image storage unit 700 in the image storage / synthesis device 201.
It is sent together with information such as layout position information, image size, and attributes of the image through 20 raster system interfaces 421, and is registered as in the first embodiment.

Next, the host computer 400 calls the mask image data registered together with the multi-valued raster image from the hard disk 451 and transfers it to the mask section 900 via the raster interface 421 of the interface controller 420. , The layout position information of the mask image, the image size, and the attribute are registered in the mask location table. At this time, as in the first embodiment, an arbitrary mask image ID is assigned and a plurality of mask image information data can be managed.

The data for one page corresponds to the image storage / synthesis device 2.
When 01 is set, the CP of the host computer 400
U405 is a command GP for PDL / raster image combination.
RINT is sent to the image storage / synthesis device 201.
With this command, the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 201 instructs the PDL raster / raster image synthesis controller 800, and in the same procedure as in the first embodiment, a two-series character image (binary image) and a mask. It is possible to combine and output an image and a natural image image (color multi-valued image) that is logically operated and combined.

[Third Embodiment] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a color image forming / outputting system in the third embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the image storing / synthesizing device 202.

In this embodiment, the image storage / synthesis device 200 is used.
Raster image expansion of PDL code that was done inside
In order to support a plurality of PDL interpreters, a plurality of PDL interpreter units are prepared in the image storage / combining apparatus 200 so as to support various types of PDL commands.

As a result, the host computer 400 can deal with various types of PDL commands to be converted, and various PDLs registered in the external storage medium can also be output via the host computer 400. It will be possible.

In the case of the third embodiment, the user uses the mouse 431 and the keyboard 441 on the computer 400 as in the first embodiment, and captures the document and various image data (illustration formed by vector, scanner, etc.). (A multi-valued natural image, etc.) that has been laid out and is checked directly on the display 412 while directly observing it.

When a multi-valued natural image is laid out on a document image, it is possible to perform masking on the image with a binary bit map image and perform cropping. The image editing controller 413 stores in the main memory 460 the processing procedure / multi-valued image data / binary bitmap mask image of any document image created during that time.
The page is registered at any time, and when the appearance of one page is completed, the hard disk controller 450 is controlled to be registered as an appearance of one page on the hard disk 451.

When the appearance is finally completed, various information of the document layout image stored on the hard disk 451 is laid out by the device driver software in the ROM and converted into a PDL code defining the created document. To be done. At this time, the color multi-valued image data such as a natural image is not described in the PDL but is registered in the hard disk 451 as separate data together with the image data and the image file name / layout position / image size / attribute information. To be done. On the other hand, the PDL code converted in this manner is sent to the image storage / synthesis device 202 via the interface 421 as vector-based information such as characters and illustrations for one page.

This converted PDL code can be converted into not only one type of PDL command but also another type of PDL command by changing the device driver. In addition, another PDL code registered in the external storage medium is used as the host computer 400.
It can also be captured and output on top.

The PDL code thus created is transferred from the host computer 400 to the PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 501 in the same manner as in the procedure of the first embodiment. Then, the PDL / mask / raster image separation controller 501 judges the contents from the transferred PDL code, and the built-in PDL interpreter 6
It is determined which type of PDL code 00-1 or 600-2, and PDL separation units 500-1 and 500-2 are added to the PDL vector system / raster system according to each PDL type.
Process. Furthermore, position information about the mask image,
Mask calculation information and the like are also separated and registered in the mask unit 900. At that time, the mask information and the actual mask image are left in the PDL code as they are, and the processing is performed in each corresponding PDL interpreter unit as in the first embodiment.

Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the scanner unit 100 of the digital color copying machine is controlled on the host computer 400 to read the original document to be laid out at a high resolution, and the raster image storage unit 700 of the image storage / synthesis device 202. Register with. This is repeated for the required number of images.

Next, as described in the first embodiment, all the layout positions, image file names, image sizes, and attribute information stored in the position / attribute information memory of the image storage / synthesis device 202 are read out, and the display 412 is displayed. Display as a list above. The image data to be exchanged with the image input from the scanner 100 first is selected from among them, and a substitute image is selected from the list of images already registered in the raster image storage unit 700. As a result, instead of the low resolution image laid out on the host computer 400, the high resolution image read from the scanner 100 can be linked.

After that, as in the first embodiment, the binary CMYKPDL raster image processed by each PDL interpreter unit, the mask image information (image information / position / attribute information) registered in the mask unit 900, The value raster image images are respectively sent to the PDL raster / raster image combination controller 800, and the mask target image is created in the same manner as in the first embodiment to combine the multivalued raster image and the PDL raster image.

Finally, by the same procedure, it is possible to synthesize and output a two-series character image (binary image) and a natural image image (color multi-valued image) obtained by mask logical operation synthesis. Become.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 15 is a system configuration diagram of a color image forming and outputting system in the fourth embodiment. As shown in the figure, the digital color copying machine 1000 includes a color scanner 100 that reads a digital color image and a color printer 300 that prints out the digital color image, an image storage / synthesis device 203, and a control host computer 400. ing.

The configurations of the color digital copying machine 1000 and the host computer 400 are similar to those of the first embodiment described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. here,
The image storage / synthesis device 203 will be described.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the image storage / synthesis device 203 in the fourth embodiment. The device is
A main controller 210 that controls the entire image storage / synthesis device 203, analyzes the contents of PDL (Page Description Language) data, and outputs commands / binary bitmap mask image data (data other than the multi-valued raster image) in the PDL data. PDL / which separates from multi-valued raster image data
Raster image separation controller 502 and separated PD
Analysis and image development of command data in L data, 2
A PDL interpreter unit 601 for expanding the value mask image, a mask image storage unit 901 for registering the position / attribute information of the created binary mask image, separated color multivalued raster image data and its position / position. A raster image storage unit 700 for storing / managing attribute information, color multi-valued raster image data from the color scanner 100, and position / attribute information thereof, and a mask image storage unit 901 for storing and managing mask images. Mask image data and the separated color multi-valued raster image data are combined by a logical operation, a mask logical operation unit 860, a PDL raster image image-developed based on the separated data, and a logical operation is performed. Multivalued image data and P
It mainly includes a PDL raster / raster image composition controller 801 for DL composition.

Further, as an interface, an external interface (I / F) controller 2 for exchanging PDL instructions / codes with the host computer 400.
20 and a color digital interface controller 230 for exchanging image data and commands with the digital color copying machine 1000.

The main processing units of the image storage / synthesis device 203 having the above configuration will be described below.

First, the operation of the PDL interpreter unit 601 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The PDL main controller 610 receives a PDL vector (non-raster image data) system command sent from the PDL / raster image separation controller 502, and temporarily registers the command in the buffer memory 630. And P
The DL main controller 610 sends the PDL command to the R
An image is developed on the PDL raster image memory 640 based on the analysis information of the OM631. When the image is developed, if the character is designated by the PDL command, outline font data is extracted from the outline font ROM 650 and developed into a font image of a designated size. After that, the expanded font image is once registered in the RAM 632, and the image is fitted into the designated position on the PDL raster image memory 640. As a result, when the font of the same code is specified again, the RAM 63 has already been specified.
It is only necessary to use the font image registered in No. 2, and the development time can be shortened.

Finally, the image information designated by the PDL is expanded in the PDL raster image memory 640. At that time, if there is an image designated as a mask by the PDL command, the PDL main controller 610 temporarily registers the mask image and its position / attribute information in the buffer memory 630, and then masks it in the mask image storage unit 901. Send images, position, and attribute information and register separately.

Next, the raster image storage unit 700 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the raster image storage unit 70
0 is capable of storing a plurality of color images, and the stored plurality of image data are laid out by a command from the host computer 400, combined, output to the color printer 300, and recorded as a color print image. .. At this time, the input destination of the image data can be switched to either the host computer 400 or the color scanner 100 by an arbitrary instruction from the host computer 400.

The image data and instructions of the host computer 400 and the image storage / synthesis device 203 are based on a specific format.

The raster image storage unit 700 efficiently arranges and manages color raster image data in a plurality of registration raster image memories 760 to 761 centering on an image main controller 710 which controls color raster image data. A memory management controller 720,
An image editing controller 730 that performs image conversion regarding the color of the registered image data and a layout controller 750 that performs layout editing are mainly configured.

In addition, it includes a raster image memory 760 to 761 for storing image data and a bus controller 740 for controlling the main bus of the image storage / synthesis device 203. Further, the layout controller 750 includes a plurality of pages in one page. Layout is possible, and in accordance with an instruction from the image main controller 710, it operates in conjunction with the bus controller 740, and it is possible to send a plurality of laid-out images to the PDL raster / raster image synthesizing controller 801.

Next, FIG. 19 shows a mask image storage section 901.
It is a figure which shows the structure of. As shown in the drawing, the mask image storage unit 901 efficiently stores data in the mask image memory 960-961 that can register a plurality of mask image data, centering on the mask image main controller 910 that controls the binary bitmap mask image data. It is configured by a mask memory management controller 920 that performs placement and management.

The operation procedure of the color image forming and outputting system having the above construction will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. (A) Processing on the host computer 400 On the host computer 400, DTP (disk top publishing) software is loaded from the hard disk 451 onto the main memory 460 and executed by the CPU 405. The user directly lays out the document and various image data (illustration formed by vector / multivalued image such as natural image captured by a scanner) on the display 412 by using the mouse 431 and the keyboard 441. To do.

When a multivalued natural image is laid out on a document image, it is also possible to perform masking processing on the image with a binary bitmap image and perform cropping. The processing procedure / multi-valued image data / binary bit map mask image etc. of any document image created during that time is registered in the main memory 460 at any time by the image editing controller 413, and when the appearance of one page is completed, the hard disk By the control of the controller 450, the appearance of one page is registered on the hard disk 451.

During this time, the document image expanded on the display memory 411 is displayed on the display 41.
The various information of the document image displayed through 2 and laid out on the hard disk when it is finally completed is displayed by the device driver software in the ROM.
It is converted into a PDL code that defines a document or image created by layout.

The PDL code converted in this way includes:
This includes vector-based information such as characters and illustrations, multivalued raster image data such as laid out natural images, and binary bitmap mask image data.

Here, the host computer 400 sends the external interface controller 22 of the image storage / synthesis device 203 to the interface controller 420.
0 to communicate the PDL code with the image storage / synthesis device 20.
Transfer to 3 side. (B) Separation of PDL data On the other hand, on the image storage / synthesis device 203 side, the transferred PLD code is stored in the buffer memory 240 at any time, and when the size becomes a certain size, the main controller 210 separates the PDL / raster image. The controller 502 is instructed to separate and analyze the PDL code stored in the buffer memory 240.

PDL / raster image separation controller 50
2 judges the contents of the PDL code line by line, and if the command is not a command related to multi-valued raster image data (vector system / mask system), the PDL code / binary bit map mask image data is directly sent to the PDL interpreter unit 601. send. In the case of a command relating to multi-valued raster image data, first, information indicating the layout position of the image, the image size, the number of bits per pixel, and the transfer order of the raster image data is analyzed from the PDL command,
The information is transferred to the raster image storage unit 700. Furthermore,
The substance of the multi-valued raster image data sent after the above-mentioned raster-based PDL command is read from the PDL code, and only the multi-valued raster image data is sent in advance to the information such as the image size and position, which is followed by the raster image. Transfer to the storage unit 700.

Here, the separated PDL multi-valued raster system command parameters and the actual data of the multi-valued raster image are transferred only to the raster image storage unit 502 by the PDL / raster image separation controller 502, and the PDL interpreter unit 601. Not transferred to. This allows PD
The L interpreter unit 601 can develop an image without a multi-valued raster image into a PDL image and improve the image development speed of the PDL. At that time,
The PDL interpreter unit 601 uses all binary CMY
It operates to develop an image as K data. (C) Processing of PDL (vector system / mask system) data The PDL main controller 610 receives the PDL vector (non-raster image data) system / mask system command sent from the PDL / raster image separation controller 502, The command is once registered in the buffer memory 630. Then, the PDL main controller 6
The image development unit 10 develops the transmitted PDL command on the PDL raster image memory 640 based on the analysis information of the ROM 631. When the image is developed, the characters are PD
If specified by the L command, the font data of the outline information is extracted from the outline font ROM 650, expanded into a font image of the specified size, the expanded font image described above is temporarily registered in the RAM 632, and the PDL raster image memory 640 is stored. Fit the image in the specified position. As a result, when the font of the same code is designated again, the font image already registered in the RAM 632 can be used, and the development time can be shortened.

At this time, the PDL main controller 610
Is a PDL mask command, the mask image is created according to the resolution of the printer unit 300, and P
The mask image / position / attribute information is transferred to the mask image storage unit 901 via the DL bus controller 620,
Store as a mask image.

Finally, the vector image information designated by the PDL code other than the mask is the computer 4
The same image as the one created on
PDL raster image memory 640 according to the resolution of 0
Will be developed as a binary CMYK image. (D) Processing of Mask Image Data The mask image main controller 910 of the mask image storage unit 901 is first sent from the PDL interpreter unit 601 via the bus controller 940 according to an instruction from the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 203. An arbitrary mask image ID for identifying the mask image is assigned based on the layout designation position information and the attribute information of the binary bitmap mask image data, and the information is passed to the mask memory management controller 920.

The mask memory management controller 920
After that, the substance of the mask image data sent from the PDL interpreter unit 601 and its mask image ID, image size, and attribute are stored in the mask image memory 960. This attribute information includes the logical operation information of the mask and the raster image ID information corresponding to the mask. The raster image ID is associated with the storage of a raster image described later.

At this time, the attribute information such as the storage position and size of the mask image and the previously attached mask image ID are linked and stored in the position / attribute information memory 970 together with the layout position information / image attribute information. ..

As described above, the mask image data separated / created from the PDL data is registered in the mask image storage unit 901 as mask data of a multi-valued color image for the number laid out on one page. It (E) Processing of Raster Image Data The image main controller 710 of the raster image storage unit 700 first sends from the PDL / raster image separation controller 502 via the bus controller 740 according to an instruction from the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 203. Based on the image file name / layout designated position information and attribute information of the multi-valued raster image data that has been obtained, an arbitrary image ID for identifying the raster image is assigned and the information is sent to the memory management controller 720. hand over.

The memory management controller 720 efficiently stores in the raster image memory 760 the substance of the multivalued raster image data sent from the PDL / raster image separation controller 502 and its image ID, image size, and attribute. At this time, the attribute information such as the storage position and the size of the multi-valued raster image and the image ID added beforehand are linked,
It is stored in the position / attribute information memory 770 together with the layout position information / image attribute information.

At this time, the position attribute information of each raster image is compared with the position attribute information in the mask image storage unit 901, and if they are the same, it is determined that they are corresponding mask information, and the mask attribute is set. The corresponding raster image ID is entered in the information. This information is used when the print output is actually performed. These processes can be performed on a plurality of images, and a plurality of multivalued raster image data
It can be stored in the raster image memory 760.

As described above, the multi-valued raster image data separated from the PDL data is registered in the raster image storage unit 700 as many as the multi-valued color image laid out on one page. (F) Input of Multivalued Raster Image Next, in order to replace the multivalued raster image laid out on the host computer 400 with another image or an image of higher resolution, the original image to be replaced is the digital color copying machine. It is placed on 1000 color scanners 100.

The host computer 400 instructs the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 203 to read the maximum area readable by the color scanner 100 of the digital color copying machine 1000.
As a result, the original image on the color scanner 100 is read at a low resolution matching the resolution of the display memory 411, and the image storage / synthesis device 2 is used as a prescan image.
03, is transferred to the display memory 411 via the interface controller 420. And CPU4
The pre-scan image is displayed on the display 412 by 05, the area to be actually scanned and the resolution are specified by the mouse 431 and the keyboard 441, and the image ID at the time of registration in the raster image storage unit 700 in the image storage / synthesis device 203 is set. Is specified.

That is, when the CPU 405 sets the above-mentioned information to the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 203 and issues an instruction to capture an image, the color scanner 100 of the digital color copying machine 1000 specifies the designated area / resolution. The image data is captured by the raster image storage unit 7 with the image ID in which the read image data is designated.
00 is registered. Then, as described above, the storage position of the raster image and the attribute information such as the size are also stored together with the image data. (G) Link of Multivalued Raster Image Based on the position / attribute information of the raster image separated from the PDL code, the host computer 400 obtains the information of the image file name, image size, and layout position of those laid out. List on the display. Then, from among them, other image data read from the scanner 100 or high resolution data and data to be linked at the time of output are selected.

As a result, a list of image data registered in the raster image storage unit 700 is displayed, and a substitute image to be output is selected from the list with the mouse / keyboard. At that stage, the selected position / attribute information memory 77
It is possible to relink the image ID of 0 with the selected image ID. (H) Mask Logic Operation Synthesis When the PDL interpreter unit 601 develops an image for one page and the raster image storage unit 700 completes the above-described raster image link processing, the host computer 4
00, the main controller 210
The PDL raster / raster image synthesizing controller 801 is requested to transfer the image data developed by the respective bus controllers 620 and 720.

In the raster image storage unit 700, the layout controller 750 of the raster image storage unit 700 is moved to the position where the scanner image is replaced as described above according to the timing of each line from the PDL raster / raster image combination controller 801. Based on the content of the information / attribute information memory 770, the registered multi-valued raster image data is enlarged / reduced to the designated size laid out by using the image editing controller 730. Then, the mask logic operation unit 860 via the bus controller 740.
Transferred to the PDL raster / raster image composition controller 801.

On the mask logical operation unit 860, the multi-valued raster image data has mask image data having the corresponding raster image ID of the mask image storage unit 901 in the attribute information and the attribute information of the mask image data. , AND
-Processed by logical operation such as XOR and cropped. For example, when the attribute information of the mask image data is AND, the multi-valued raster image data in the part where the bit of the mask is "1" is valid, and the part where the bit "0" is cropped in white. (I) Combining PDL image / raster image The image from the PDL interpreter unit 601 is transferred as it is for one page, and data is transferred line by line.

Finally, the PDL raster / raster image synthesizing controller 80 converts the two raster images of the PDL image and the above-described mask-processed multivalued raster image.
1 and the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 203 outputs the command to start the printing operation and the synthesized image data to the color digital interface controller 2
Transfer to the digital color copying machine 1000 via 30.

At this time, ON / OFF of the bits in the binary CMYK image such as characters / illustrations developed by the PDL interpreter unit 601 is converted into the maximum density / minimum density data of the multi-valued image data and stored in the raster image storage. It is combined with the color multi-valued data of the section 700. (J) Printer output by digital color copying machine On the digital color copying machine 1000 side, a command to start the printing operation is received from the main controller 210 of the image storage / synthesis device 203 via the color digital interface controller 230/104, and according to the command. By executing the copying process as described above, it is possible to obtain the output of the image in which the binary image such as the PDL character / illustration and the multi-value color raster image are combined.

In the embodiment, the host computer 4
Although the image control command from 00 is described as a programmable type such as PDL, it can be applied to a control code system of character code. In that case, the character code data sent from the host computer 400 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 240 of the image storage / synthesis device 203 from the external interface 420. The data is sequentially checked by the controller for separating the character system control code corresponding to the PDL / raster image separation controller 502 and the raster image data, in the order of the stored character data, as a control system code or a simple character code. It In the case of the control system code, it is sent to an interpreter unit 601 which develops an image corresponding to the control, and performs an image development operation based on the processing of the control system code on the ROM 631.

In the case of the image control code, the data size / position information of the image is designated, and then the actual image data is sent as image data. Processing becomes possible.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a color image forming / outputting system in the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the image storage / synthesis device 204.

In this embodiment, the image storage / synthesis device 203
The vector system / mask system / raster system separation of the PDL code, which has been performed inside the computer, is performed in the host computer 400 to simplify the configuration of the image storage / synthesis device 203.

In the case of the fifth embodiment, the user uses the mouse 431 and the keyboard 411 on the computer 400 as in the above-described embodiments to capture a document and various image data (illustration formed by a vector, a scanner, etc.). A multi-valued natural image etc.) and display 41
Do it directly while checking on 2.

When a multivalued natural image is laid out on a document image, it is possible to perform masking on the image with a binary bitmap image and perform cropping. The image editing controller 413 stores in the main memory 460 the processing procedure / multi-valued image data / binary bitmap mask image of any document image created during that time.
The page is registered at any time, and when the appearance of one page is completed, the hard disk controller 450 is controlled to be registered as an appearance of one page on the hard disk 451.

When the appearance is finally completed, various information of the document layout image stored on the hard disk 451 is laid out by the device driver software in the ROM and converted into a PDL code defining the created document. To be done. At this time, the color multi-valued image data such as a natural image / binary bitmap image for mask is not described in the PDL, but as separate data, the image data and the image file name / layout position / image size / attribute information. Is registered in the hard disk 451 together with.

On the other hand, the PDL code converted in this way is used as the vector system information such as characters and illustrations for one page via the vector interface 421 of the interface controller 420 and the image storage / synthesis device 2
First sent to 04.

The PDL interpreter unit 602 in the image storage / synthesis device 204 develops the PDL image for one page as a binary image in the PDL raster image memory 640 of the PDL interpreter unit 602, as in the first embodiment.

Then, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the scanner section 100 of the digital color copying machine is controlled on the host computer 400 to read the original document to be laid out at high resolution, and the raster image storage section 700 of the image storage / synthesis device 204 is read. Register with. This is repeated for the required number of images.

Next, as described in the fourth embodiment, all the layout positions, image file names, image sizes and attribute information stored in the hard disk 451 are read out and displayed on the display 412 as a list. The image data to be exchanged with the image input from the scanner 100 first is selected from among them, and a substitute image is selected from the list of images already registered in the raster image storage unit 700. As a result, instead of the low resolution image laid out on the host computer 400, it is possible to relink with the high resolution image read from the scanner 100. Further, there is no need to transfer large data with high resolution, which leads to high speed and simplification.

At the time when the above-mentioned linking is completed, the data of the raster image which has not been re-linked is stored in the hard disk 4.
51, and the interface controller 4 is added to the raster image storage unit 700 in the image storage / synthesis device 204.
It is put together with information such as layout position information, image size, and attribute of the image through 20 raster system interfaces 421, and registered as in the fourth embodiment.

Next, the host computer 400 calls the image data for the mask registered together with the multi-valued raster image from the hard disk 451 and the position information of the registered mask and the registration in the raster image storage unit 700. The position information of the generated raster image data is compared with the registered image, and if there is a match, the corresponding raster image ID is entered in the mask attribute information as in the fourth embodiment. Then, the image data of the mask image is transferred to the mask image storage unit 901 through the raster interface 421 of the interface controller 420, and the layout position information, the image size, and the attribute of the mask image are registered. At that time, an arbitrary mask image I
D is assigned.

The data for one page corresponds to the image storage / synthesis device 2.
CP of host computer 400 at the time
U405 is a command GP for PDL / raster image combination.
RINT is sent to the image storage / synthesis device 204.
By this command, the main controller of the image storage / synthesis device 204 uses the PDL raster / raster image synthesis controller 801, and in the same procedure as in the fourth embodiment.
It is possible to combine and output a two-series character image (binary image) and a mask image and a natural image image (color multivalued image) that is logically operated and combined.

[Sixth Embodiment] A sixth embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a color image forming / outputting system in the sixth embodiment, and FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the image storage / synthesis device 205.

In this embodiment, the image storage / synthesis device 203
Raster image expansion of PDL code that was done inside
In order to support a plurality of PDL interpreters, a plurality of PDL interpreter units are prepared in the image storage / synthesis device 203 so that various types of PDL commands can be supported.

As a result, the host computer 400 can deal with various types of PDL commands to be converted, and various PDLs registered in the external storage medium can also be output via the host computer 400. It will be possible.

In the case of the sixth embodiment, as in the fourth embodiment, the user uses the mouse 431 and the keyboard 441 on the computer 400 to capture the document and various image data (illustration formed by vector, scanner, etc.). (A multi-valued natural image, etc.) that has been laid out, and is checked directly on the display 412 while being directly displayed.

When a multi-valued natural image is laid out on a document image, it is also possible to perform masking on the image with a binary bitmap image and perform cropping. The image editing controller 413 stores in the main memory 460 the processing procedure / multi-valued image data / binary bitmap mask image of any document image created during that time.
The page is registered at any time, and when the appearance of one page is completed, the hard disk controller 450 is controlled to be registered as an appearance of one page on the hard disk 451.

When the appearance is finally completed, various information of the document layout image stored on the hard disk 451 is laid out by the device driver software in the ROM and converted into a PDL code defining the created document. To be done. At this time, the color multi-valued image data such as a natural image is not described in the PDL but is registered in the hard disk 451 as separate data together with the image data and the image file name / layout position / image size / attribute information. To be done.

This converted PDL code can be converted into not only one type of PDL command but also another type of PDL command by changing the device driver. In addition, another PDL code registered in the external storage medium is used as the host computer 400.
It can also be captured and output on top.

The PDL code created in this way is transferred from the host computer 400 to the PDL / raster image separation controller 503 in the same manner as in the procedure of the fourth embodiment. Then, the PDL / raster image separation controller 5
03 judges the contents from the transferred PDL code, and the built-in PDL interpreters 600-1, 6
The type of PDL code 00-2 is determined, and the PDL vector / raster system corresponding to the type of PDL is processed by the PDL separation units 503-1 and 503-2.

Then, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the scanner unit 100 of the digital color copying machine is controlled on the host computer 400 to read the original document to be laid out at a high resolution, and the raster image storage unit 700 of the image storage / synthesis device 205. Register with. This is repeated for the required number of images.

Next, as described in the fourth embodiment, the layout position, the image file name, the image size, and the attribute information stored in the position / attribute information memory of the image storage / synthesis device 205 are all read out and displayed on the display 412. Display as a list above. The image data to be exchanged with the image input from the scanner 100 first is selected from among them, and a substitute image is selected from the list of images already registered in the raster image storage unit 700. As a result, instead of the low resolution image laid out on the host computer 400, the high resolution image read from the scanner 100 can be linked.

Thereafter, as in the fourth embodiment, the mask image (image information / position / attribute information) processed by each PDL interpreter unit is transferred from each PDL interpreter and registered in the mask image storage unit 902. ..

Finally, it is possible to combine and output a two-series character image (binary image) and a mask image and a natural image (color multi-valued image) logically combined by the same procedure. Becomes

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this embodiment described above,
The “image processing” is so-called mask processing, but the present invention is not limited to such mask processing and may be so-called texture processing that takes a weighted average of two images at a predetermined ratio.

[0140]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By synthesizing documents, images, etc. with optimum processing and synthesizing with other image data input by the image input means,
The convenience of the user and the system can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a color image forming and outputting system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a digital color copying machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a control host computer in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an image storage / synthesis device according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a PDL interpreter unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a raster image storage unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a mask unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a mask location table in the first embodiment.

[Figure 9]

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating PDL raster / raster image combination processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a color image forming and outputting system in a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an image storage / synthesis device according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a color image forming and outputting system in a third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of an image storage / synthesis device according to a third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a color image forming and outputting system in a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of an image storage / synthesis device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of a PDL interpreter unit in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram of a raster image storage unit in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of a mask image storage unit in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing how PDL data and separated raster images are combined in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram of a color image forming and outputting system in a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram of an image storage / synthesis device according to a fifth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram of a color image forming and outputting system in a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a configuration diagram of an image storage / synthesis device in a sixth exemplary embodiment.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A specific command in a page description language input by a predetermined input means and at least a part of raster image data obtained by expanding the page description language, and input from another input means. An image processing method characterized by processing raster image data. 2. Separation means for separating a specific command in a page description language input from a predetermined input means, generation means for generating expanded raster image data in which the page description language is expanded, and separation by the separation means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit that processes raster image data input from another input unit by using at least a part of the expanded raster image data according to the specified command. 3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is an image scanner. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing means is means for masking the raster image data input from the other input means by using the expanded raster image data. 5. Separation means for separating command data, mask information, and multi-valued raster image data from the input information, and an image forming color image data based on the command data separated by the separation means. Forming means, mask information managing means for managing the mask information separated by the separating means, storage means for storing the multivalued raster image data separated by the separating means, and the image forming means according to the mask information. A color image forming system comprising: an image synthesizing unit configured to perform a mask process on the color image data formed in 1) and the multivalued raster image data stored in the storage unit to synthesize the image data. 6. An image forming unit that forms color image data based on command data created by an information processing device, a mask information management unit that manages mask information created by the information processing device, and the information. Storage means for storing multi-valued raster image data created by the processing device, and mask processing of the color image data formed by the image forming means and the multi-valued raster image data stored in the storage means according to the mask information. A color image forming system comprising: an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes image data; and an image output unit that outputs the color image data synthesized by the image synthesizing unit. 7. Separation means for separating command data containing mask information from input information and multi-valued raster image data, and an image forming color image data based on the command data separated by the separation means. Forming means, storing means for storing the multi-valued raster image data separated by the separating means, and color image data formed by the image forming means and the storing means for storing the color image data according to the mask information included in the command data. A color image forming system, comprising: a mask processing unit for performing a mask process on the multi-valued raster image data to be processed; and an image combining unit for combining the image data processed by the mask processing unit. 8. A separation means for separating command data, mask information, and multi-valued raster image data from input information, and an image forming color image data based on the command data separated by the separation means. Forming means, mask information managing means for managing the mask information separated by the separating means, multivalued raster image data separated by the separating means, and multivalued raster image data input by the image inputting means are stored. Storage means, and image combining means for performing mask processing on the color image data formed by the image forming means and the multi-valued raster image data stored in the storage means according to the mask information to combine the image data. A color image forming system characterized by the above. 9. An image forming unit that forms color image data based on command data created by an information processing device, a mask information management unit that manages mask information created by the information processing device, and an image input. Storage means for storing the multivalued raster image data input by the means, and masking the color image data formed by the image forming means and the multivalued raster image data stored in the storage means according to the mask information, A color image forming system comprising: an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing image data; and an image output unit for outputting the color image data synthesized by the image synthesizing unit.