JPH0620056A - Method and device for picture processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the processing speed by reducing the data volume of picture data and storing picture data in a small storage capacity. CONSTITUTION:Picture data is generated by a KBD 4 while having the resolution changed every page and is expanded in a picture memory 9. Besides picture data, resolution data of the expanded page is stored before picture data in the picture memory 9. At the time of output, resolution data is sent to a printer 2 before picture data, and the printer 2 forms an image from picture data in accordance with resolution data and prints out it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and method provided with an image output device capable of displaying and outputting image information to form an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of apparatus, the resolution of an image scanner which is an input device and a printer which is an output device are fixed, and various processes are performed in the image processing apparatus at the fixed resolution. .

The contents of the image information created by such an apparatus are composed of various areas such as an area for writing a character, an area for drawing a figure, and an area created from an image read by an image scanner. All of them were treated as fixed at the same resolution.

[0004]

Therefore, the higher the resolution of the image information of the image to be handled, the larger the amount of data, the larger the storage capacity required to store the image, and the more image processing and data transfer. It also takes a long time. When there is a sufficient image area even at low resolution depending on the type of image information, creating the area at low resolution is an effective means for reducing the amount of data while shortening the processing time while maintaining image quality. Is. However, in the conventional apparatus, it is impossible to perform image formation and image formation that reduce such image data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and divides image information into a plurality of regions having different resolutions, and an image which enables image creation and image printing with different resolutions in each region. It is an object to provide a processing apparatus and method.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. Creating means for creating image data at a desired resolution by dividing the areas having different resolutions, and storage means for storing the image data together with the resolution data representing the resolution for each area having different resolutions of the image data created by the creating means. Reading means for reading the image data stored by the storage means and the resolution data corresponding to the image data; and forming means for forming an image based on the image data according to the resolution data read by the reading means, Output means for outputting the image formed by the forming means.

Further, a conversion means for reading an image at a desired resolution and converting it into image data, an input means for inputting resolution data for designating a resolution, and the resolution data and the image data are inputted, and the resolution data and the image are inputted. Output means for forming and outputting an image on the basis of data, and the resolution data input by the input means and the image data obtained by the conversion means, which are between the conversion means and the output means. And means for inputting to the output means.

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing method of the present invention has the following configuration.

A creation step of creating image data at a desired resolution by dividing the areas having different resolutions, and an area having different resolutions of the image data created by the creation step,
According to the storing step of storing the image data together with the resolution data indicating the resolution, the reading step of reading the image data stored by the storing step and the resolution data corresponding to the image data, and the resolution data read by the reading step, A forming step of forming an image based on the image data and an output step of outputting the image formed by the forming step are provided.

[0010]

With the above arrangement, the image data is stored together with the resolution data, and an image is formed from the image data at a resolution according to the resolution data and output.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached screen. First Embodiment <Explanation of Image Processing System (FIG. 1)> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image processing system according to the present embodiment. In the figure, a control unit 1 is used to create or edit document data, create image data for printing, or use a printer 2
Output control, and further, image data input control from the scanner 10 and the like. The image printer 2 records an image on a recording medium such as recording paper according to the image data sent from the control unit 1. The resolution of the printer 2 is variable according to the resolution of the image to be recorded. Examples of such image printers include laser beam printers, inkjet printers, and thermal transfer printers. The image scanner 10 photoelectrically reads an image of an original with an image pickup device such as a CCD, converts the image into digital image data, and outputs the digital image data. The CRT display unit 3 inputs and displays image data and document data as dot images by the control unit 1.

Next, the structure of the control unit 1 will be described. The CPU 5 such as a microprocessor is a CP stored in the ROM 6.
The control program of U5 is executed to perform various controls of the control unit 1. As described above, the ROM 6 stores, for example, the control program of the CPU 5 and various data for the process shown in the flowchart described later. The RAM 7 is used by the CPU 5 as a work area and temporarily stores various data. Further, the RAM 7 temporarily stores the document data (character code data) input from the keyboard (KBD) 4 or the like before being expanded for printing. Floppy disk (F
D) 8 stores various document files as an external storage device. The hard disk (HD) 11 is a large-capacity internal storage device that stores created document data and image data. The keyboard (KBD) 4 is operated by an operator to input various control commands in addition to creating / editing document data. CRT interface (CRT
The I / F 13 controls the CRT display unit 3 to control the CRT display unit 1.
Image data is displayed. Video RAM (VR
AM) 15 stores image data to be displayed on the CRT display unit 3.

Reference numeral 14 is a system bus of the CPU 5. The image memory 9 stores the image data read by the image scanner 10 and the image data developed by the CPU 5 into a bit image for printing. The input I / F 19 receives the digital image data of the original read by the image scanner 10 from the control unit 1.
To enter. The output I / F 18 transfers the image data expanded in the image memory 9 to the image printer 2. <Creation of image data> Image data and document data are performed in the control unit 1. The operator uses the keyboard 4 to create documents, figures, and the like. Image data being created is VRAM
Deployed on 15 and constantly monitored by CRT3.
In the created image data, the resolution required when printing is specified for each page. The designation of the resolution may be performed, for example, by allowing the operator to designate a numerical value for each page, or may be designated by the type of image data to be created and determined by the system according to the type. For example, if a natural image is designated, the data is created as the highest resolution image, and if a figure is designated, a lower resolution than the natural image is sufficient, and a low resolution image is created. In this way, the predetermined resolution is designated. When creating data, it is common to specify what kind of data the data is, such as text data or graphic data. If the resolution is determined in accordance with the above, it is possible for the operator to save the trouble of designating the resolution.

The information on the designated resolution is added to the beginning of the image data for one page (FIG. 7). The image information created in this way is stored in the floppy disk 8 or the hard disk 11. When printing the image information stored in the floppy disk 8 or the hard disk 11, it is developed and printed page by page in the image memory 9. If the image data is composed of a plurality of pages, the page to be printed first is first expanded in the image memory 9. At this time, the resolution information added to the head of the image information is also developed in front of the image information in the image memory 9 at the same time. When the deployment is complete,
The image information is transferred to the image printer 2 via the output I / F 18. When the transfer of the full screen data is completed, the development of the image data of the next page is started. On the other hand, the image printer 2 to which the image data is transferred reads the resolution information added before the image data, and prints out the subsequently transferred image data at that resolution. <Description of Operation of Control Unit During Image Printing (FIG. 2)> FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit during image printing. It is realized by the CPU 5 executing a program stored in the ROM 6.

Step S1 is the start of operation.

Step S2 is image development for one page. The image data stored in the hard disk 11 or the floppy disk 8 is read out for one page and expanded in the image memory 9. At this time, the resolution information of the added image is simultaneously developed before the image data.

In step S3, it is determined whether the image data for one page has been expanded in the image memory 9. When the image data for one page has been expanded in the image memory 9, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, image data transfer is performed.
That is, the image data expanded in the image memory 9 is transferred to the image printer 2 via the output I / F 18. The resolution information is transferred to the image printer 2 prior to the image data.

In step S5, it is determined whether the image data expanded in the image memory 9 has been transferred to the image printer 2 for one page. When the transfer of the image data for one page is completed, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the image output of all the designated pages has been completed. If the image output of all the specified pages is not completed, step S
The operation from 2 is repeated. When the output of all pages is completed, the process proceeds to step S7 to end all operations. <Explanation of image printer operation during image printing (FIG. 3)>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image printer 2 when printing an image.

Step S11 is the start of operation.

Step S12 is resolution determination. The resolution information, which is the leading data transferred via the output I / F 18 of the control unit 1, is received, and the resolution of the print is determined.

In step S13, the current printer resolution setting is compared with the resolution determined in step S12 to determine whether resolution switching is necessary. If resolution switching is not necessary, the process proceeds to step S15. If resolution switching is necessary, the process proceeds to step S14.

Step S14 is resolution switching. The resolution is switched to the resolution determined in step S12.

In step S15, the image data transferred after the resolution information is received.

In step S16, image output based on the image data received in step S15 is performed.

In step S17, it is determined whether the output of all image data for one page has been completed. If the output of all images for one page has not been completed, step S
15. The operation of step S16 is repeated.

In step S18, it is determined whether the output of all the designated pages has been completed. If the output of all the designated pages is not completed, the operation from step S12 is repeated. When the output of all the designated pages has been completed, the process proceeds to step S19 to end all the operations.

A laser beam printer can be used as a mechanism for forming and outputting an image.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) in this case. The LBP can be printed on recording paper by inputting character pattern data and the like.

In the figure, 740 is the LBP body,
An image is formed on a recording paper, which is a recording medium, based on the supplied character pattern and the like. Reference numeral 700 denotes an operation panel on which a switch for operation and an LED display are arranged.
Is a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 740 and analyzing character pattern information and the like. The printer control unit 701 mainly converts character pattern information into a video signal and outputs it to the laser driver 702.

The laser driver 702 is a semiconductor laser 70.
Laser light 7 emitted from the semiconductor laser 703 according to the input video signal.
Switch 04 on / off. The laser beam 704 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 705 and scans the electrostatic drum 706. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 706. After the latent image is developed by the developing unit 707 around the electrostatic drum 706,
Transferred to recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 708 attached to the LBP 740, taken into the apparatus by a sheet feeding roller 709 and conveying rollers 710 and 711, and supplied to the electrostatic drum 706. To be done.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment can be applied to an ink jet printer described below. <Schematic Description of Apparatus Main Body> FIG. 17 is a schematic view of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has pins (not shown). And arrows a and b
It is reciprocated in the direction. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Fifty
A paper pressing plate 02 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. 5007,5
Reference numeral 008 denotes a photo coupler, which is a carriage lever 5006.
Is a home position detecting means for confirming the existence of the motor 5013 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head.
The suction recovery of the recording head is performed via 3. Reference numeral 5017 is a cleaning blade, and 5019 is a member that allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction.
These are supported by. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which is a cam 5 that engages with the carriage.
It moves with the movement of 020, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. As long as the desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the above can be applied to this example. <Description of Control Configuration> Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit,
1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 17
Reference numeral 01 is an MPU, 1702 is a program ROM that stores a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 is a dynamic ROM that stores various types of data (the above-described recording signals and recording data supplied to the head). A gate array 1704 controls supply of print data to the print head 1708, and also controls data transfer between the interface 1700, the MPU 1701, and the RAM 1703. Reference numeral 1710 is a carrier motor for carrying the recording head 1708, and 1709 is a carrying motor for carrying the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 is a head driver for driving the head, and 1706 and 1707 are motor drivers for driving the carry motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.

The operation of the above control structure will be described. When a recording signal is input to the interface 1700, the gate array 1
A recording signal is converted between the 704 and the MPU 1701 to print data for printing. And the motor driver 1
The recording heads 706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform printing.

It is obvious that the constituent elements of the present invention can be incorporated in the control configuration of the ink jet printer as described above, and the present invention can be applied not only to the laser beam printer but also to the above ink jet printer and the like.

Using such a printer, the control unit 1 sends the image data together with the resolution to the printer 2 according to the procedure described above, and the printer 2 records the image according to the received resolution.

As described above, when resolution information is added to the head of image data and transferred to the printer, the printer reads the resolution, determines the resolution, and prints.
By passing such resolution information, the resolution of the image data can be switched according to the type of the image, not only the storage capacity for holding the data can be reduced, but also from the control unit that transfers the image data. The communication for switching the print resolution is not required, and the print time can be shortened.

[0039]

[Other Examples]

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, and the functions of the first embodiment can operate similarly. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the input I / F 1
9 and the output I / F 18 are directly connected by the passport 20. The passport 20 enables the image printer 2 to print an image read by the image scanner 10 without using the image memory 9.

This operation will be described. The operator specifies the image reading resolution and other necessary modes for the printer in the operation unit provided in the image scanner 10. Next, the operation unit of the image scanner 10 issues a print start command. The print start command is input I / F1
9. The image printer 2 is instructed via the output I / F 18. The image scanner 10 starts image reading in response to the start command. The read image data is sequentially transferred to the image printer 2, but before the image, the information of the resolution designated by the scanner is transferred. The image printer 2 receives the resolution information transferred to the beginning of the image data,
Switch to that resolution. After that, image printing is performed based on the image data that is continuously transferred. During this operation, the control unit 1 is operationally separated from the image scanner 10 and the image printer 2 and can perform other operations. <Description of Operation of Image Scanner (FIG. 5)> FIG. 5 shows an image from the image scanner 10 as an input I / F 19 and an output I / F 1.
8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image scanner 10 in the operation of printing in the image printer 2 via

Step S21 is the start of operation.

Step S22 is image reading. When a reading start command is issued from the operation unit of the image scanner 10, reading of an image is started. Resolution information is added to the beginning of the image data.

In step S23, it is determined whether the image reading is completed. When the image reading is completed in step S23, the process proceeds to step S24 and the operation is completed. <Description of Printer Operation (FIG. 6)> FIG. 6 shows the operation of the image printer 2 in the operation of directly printing the image from the image scanner 10 via the input I / F 19 and the output I / F 18 by the image printer 2. It is a flowchart showing.

Step S31 is the start of operation.

Step S32 is a resolution determination. The resolution information transferred from the image scanner 10 to the head of the image data is received, and the designated resolution is determined.

Step S33 is resolution comparison. It is compared whether the resolution determined in step S32 is the same as the current resolution setting of the printer.

In step S34, as a result of the comparison in step S33, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to switch the resolution. If resolution switching is necessary, the process proceeds to step S36. If resolution switching is necessary, the process proceeds to step S35.

Step S35 is resolution switching. It returns to the resolution transferred at the beginning of the image data.

In step S36, it is determined whether or not printing of all images has been completed. When all the images have been printed, the operation proceeds to step S37 and ends.

By the above procedure, it is possible to output from the printer at the resolution specified when reading with the scanner.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. [Third Embodiment] As a third embodiment, an image processing system capable of handling images having different resolutions depending on regions within one page will be described instead of page units.

The structure of the apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. However, the printer 2 is a serial printer that records in a raster scanning manner, such as a laser printer. With this configuration, the procedure when the operator creates image data will be described.

Creation of image data is performed by the controller 1.
The operator uses the keyboard 4 to create an image such as a document or a figure. The image data being created is expanded on the VRAM 15 and is constantly monitored by the CRT 3. The created image data is divided into a plurality of areas for each scanning line of the image printer 2. The resolution required for printing is designated for each of the divided areas. Similar to the first embodiment, this resolution may be designated by a numerical value by the operator, or may be selected by the system according to the image. For example, a one-page image as shown in FIG. 8 is created. Figure 8
The image for one page in is divided into three areas, area 20, area 21, and area 22. Then, for this core region, for example, the region 20 is 600 dpi and the region 21 is 4
The resolution is designated to 00 dpi, the area 22 to 360 dpi, and the like. It is possible to specify one kind of resolution for one page without division. The divided area information of the image and the information of the resolution designated for each area are added to the image data for one page. Since the area is divided by the unit of the image printer 2, it becomes the number information of the image printer 2. The image information created in this way is stored in the floppy disk 8 or the hard disk 11. When the image data stored in the floppy disk 8 or the hard disk 11 is to be stored in the image data, the image data is developed and printed page by page in the image memory. At this time, the divided area information of the added image and the resolution information designated for each area are set in the output I / F 18. When the expansion is completed, the image information is output to the I / F 18
Is transferred to the image printer 2 via. Output I / F 18
There is only one physical signal line for transferring image data between the image printer 2 and the image printer 2. FIG. 9 shows a schematic time chart of the data transferred on this signal line.

Image data for one scanning line of the image printer 2 is continuously transferred as one unit on the image data line.
When the image data for one scanning line is transferred, the data indicating the resolution is transferred next. The data indicating this resolution indicates the resolution of the scanning line to be transferred next, and the output I / F1
Created from the area information and resolution information set in 8,
Transferred.

When the transfer of all the image data is completed, the development of the image data of the next page is started. On the other hand, the image printer 2 to which the image data is transferred prints the image at the specified resolution according to the resolution information transferred before the one scanning line data.

<Explanation of Operation of Control Unit during Image Printing (FIG. 10)> FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 1 during image printing.

Step S41 is the start of the operation.

Step S42 is image development for one page. Hard disk 11 or floppy disk 8
The image data stored in is stored in the image memory 9 for one page. At this time, the image division area information added to the image data and each resolution information are output I / F 18
Is set to.

In step S43, the resolution information of the image data for one scanning line to be transferred next is transferred to the image printer 2 through the data signal line based on the divided area information set from the output I / F. .

At step S44, the output I / F 18 is set to 1
The image data of the scanning line is read from the image memory 9 and simultaneously transferred to the image printer 2. Output I / F 18
To the image printer 2, the image data is transferred via the same signal line after the resolution information.

In step S45, the image memory 9
It is determined whether or not the image data expanded in (1) has been transferred to the image printer 2 for all scanning lines (one page). If the image data transfer for all scanning lines has not been completed, the operation from step S43 is repeated. When the transfer of the image data for all scanning lines is completed, the process proceeds to step S46, and all the operations are completed. <Explanation of image printer operation during image printing (Fig. 11)
> FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the image printer 2 when printing an image.

Step S51 is the start of operation.

Step S52 is resolution determination. The resolution information transferred before the image data for one scanning line is received from the output I / F 18 of the control unit 1, and the resolution of the next scanning line is determined.

In step S53, the resolution setting of the current printer, that is, the resolution setting of the previous scanning line and S52 are performed.
It is determined whether or not it is necessary to switch the resolution by comparing it with the resolution determined in. If resolution switching is not necessary, the process proceeds to step S55. If resolution switching is required, step S
Proceed to 54.

Step S54 is resolution switching. The resolution is switched to the resolution determined in step S52.

In step S55, while receiving the image data for one scan transferred after the resolution information,
Image output is performed based on the image data received at the same time.

In step S56, it is determined whether the output of the image data of all the scanning lines for one page has been completed. If the image output of all scanning lines is not completed, the operation from step S52 is repeated. When the image output of all the scanning lines is completed, the process proceeds to step S57 to complete all the operations.

As described above, even in one page of image data, different resolutions can be set and recorded in that part.

As described above, for a printer that prints at different resolutions on each of the areas divided in units of scanning lines, the resolution data for each area divided together with the image data can be transferred to the printer for printing. it can.
Therefore, the resolution according to the type of image can be set for each divided area, the amount of data can be reduced, and the speed of image processing can be increased. [Embodiment 4] The configuration of the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. The output I / F 18 is almost the same as that of the first embodiment.
And the configuration of the signal line between the image printer 2 are different. In this embodiment, the image data is transferred between the output I / F 18 and the image printer 2 on one dedicated line 21. Only image data is transferred on the signal line 21. In addition to the data signal line 21, a control signal line 22 for transmitting a signal indicating the resolution of the image data at the same time during the transfer of the image data is provided. For example, the resolution that the image printer 2 can output is 600 dpi / 400 dpi / 360 d.
With four types of pi / 240 dpi, the control signal line 22 indicating the resolution information is composed of 2 bits. FIG. 12 is a schematic time chart of the data signal line 21 to which the image data is transferred and the control signal line 22 to which the resolution information is transferred. The resolution information consists of 2 bits. While the image data is being transferred, the resolution information is displayed on the signal line 22.
Indicated by.

<Explanation of Operation of Control Unit during Image Printing (FIG. 13)> FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 1 during image printing.

Step S71 is the start of operation.

Step S72 is image development for one page. Hard disk 11 or floppy disk 8
The image data stored in is stored in the image memory 9 for one page. At this time, the divided area information added to the image data and the resolution information of each area are output I / F1.
Set to 8.

Step S73 is image data transfer. The image data expanded in the image memory 9 is output I /
The images are transferred to the image printer 2 in the order of printing via F18. The output I / F 18 determines the area of the image information to be transferred, and the signal line 2 indicating the image information and the resolution information at the same time.
2 is controlled and a resolution signal synchronized with the image data being transferred is input to the printer 2. The output I / F 18 may receive the resolution of the image data prior to the image data even if it does not receive the information about the resolution in step 72. Only the data may be sent to the printer 2 and the resolution data may be output on the signal line 22.

In step S74, the image memory 9
It is determined whether or not the image data expanded in (1) has been transferred to the image scanning device 2 for all scanning lines (one page). If the image data transfer for all scanning lines, that is, one page has not been completed, the image data transfer from step S73 is repeated. When the transfer of the image data for one page is completed, the process proceeds to step S75, and all the operations are completed. <Description of image printer operation during image printing (FIG. 14)
> FIG. 14 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the image printer 2 when printing an image.

Step S81 is the start of operation.

In step S83, while receiving the transferred image data, the image output based on the simultaneously received image data is performed. The resolution of the image formed at this time follows the resolution signal input from the control signal line 22.

In step S84, it is determined whether the output of the image data for one page has been completed. If the image output for one page has not been completed, step S82.
The operation from is repeated. When the image output of all the scanning lines is completed, the process proceeds to step S84 to end all the operations.

As described above, even in one page of image data, different resolutions can be set and recorded in that part.

[0079]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and method according to the present invention, the image information is divided into a plurality of areas having different resolutions, and image creation and image printing with different resolutions can be performed in each area. The effect is that it is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing system according to first and third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit when printing an image.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image printer when printing an image.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image scanner in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image printer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of image data with resolution data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example in which a one-page image is divided into a plurality of regions having different resolutions.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an example of image data accompanied by resolution data for each scanning line.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit when printing an image according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image printer according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of resolution information parallel to image data.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit when printing an image according to the fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image printer according to the fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a laser beam printer.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the structure of an inkjet printer.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of an inkjet printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Control unit, 2 ... Image printer, 3 ... CRT display unit, 5 ... CPU, 9 ... Image memory, 10 ... Image scanner.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Creating means for creating image data at a desired resolution by dividing the areas having different resolutions, and image data together with resolution data representing the resolution for each area having different resolutions of the image data created by the creating means. Storing means for storing the image data, reading means for reading the image data stored by the storing means, and resolution data corresponding to the image data; and, according to the resolution data read by the reading means,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a forming unit that forms an image based on image data; and an output unit that outputs the image formed by the forming unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein pages having different resolutions are divided into pages. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the regions having different resolutions are divided in units of pixel columns. 4. The interface means is further provided between the reading means and the forming means, and is connected to the forming means by a data signal line for carrying image data and a control signal for carrying a resolution signal. The image data read by the reading unit is input to the forming unit via the data signal line, and in parallel with this, the resolution data read by the reading unit is input to the forming unit via the control signal line. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit prints out an image by a laser beam method. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit prints out an image by an inkjet method. 7. A conversion means for reading an image at a desired resolution and converting it into image data, an input means for inputting resolution data for specifying a resolution, and the resolution data and the image data, which are inputted with the resolution data and the image data. Output means for forming and outputting an image based on the data, and the resolution data input by the input means and the image data obtained by the conversion means, which are between the conversion means and the output means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a means for inputting to an output means. 8. A creating step of creating image data at a desired resolution by dividing the areas having different resolutions, and image data together with resolution data representing resolution for each area having different resolutions of the image data created by the creating step. A storing step for storing the image data, a reading step for reading the image data stored by the storing step and the resolution data corresponding to the image data, and a reading step for reading the resolution data read by the reading step
An image processing method comprising: a forming step of forming an image based on image data; and an output step of outputting the image formed by the forming step.