JPH06215096A - Menu selecting/displaying method in image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily select a menu and image data, and also, to display informa tion for executing smoothly an editing work, in the menu selecting/displaying method in an image processing system for generating a printing use block copy. CONSTITUTION:When a command menu change instruction is given to a menu displayed in a CRT display part (S106), each time it is instructed, a command group to which an instructed command belongs is rotated and displayed successively (S107), and the displayed command is defined as a new command menu (S108). In such a way, an optimal menu for an operator can be prepared. In this regard, selection of image data can be executed by designating an image on a retrieval screen displayed by an album format, and in a state display area on a divided screen, various states are displayed in accordance with a work state of the operator.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a menu selection / display method in an image processing system for preparing a printing block.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image processing system for a printing company requiring high quality, there is no system for comprehensively integrating and editing images such as characters and pictures, or even if it exists, it has low capability and is practically used. It was not the target. In particular, the desktop publishing field is becoming possible with a page description language such as Postscript, but since this type of system is premised on code characters, a character type (typeface type) is required to reach a practical level as a printing block. It is necessary to implement more. Especially in Japanese, it takes a lot of time and effort to install a font of one typeface into the system, and the current code character type in the desktop publishing field has a very low ability for printers. Furthermore, the current image processing capability in the desktop publishing field is too low for printers to use. On the other hand, as an image processing system for printers, an image processing system capable of batch processing of character originals and photographic images, which is not limited to the font type used, has been put into practical use.

An example of such an image processing system is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the system configuration diagram of No. 3. The system shown in the figure includes an input device 1 for reading a document and an input controller 3 for storing data from the input device 1 in a file server 2.
A file server 2 for storing various image files, and a workstation 100 for instructing image processing while displaying stored images as needed.
And an image setter 4 that performs image processing, an output device 5 that receives data from the image setter 4 and outputs a block for printing, and a plain paper printer 6 that performs galley output.

An operator uses the input device 1 such as a scanner to copy an original (picture, character, figure, layout mount, block mount, etc.)
, The input information is sent to the input controller 3 as image density data DD, and the input controller 3 generates image data consisting of output device data, plain paper output data, and display data based on the density data DD. To do. Then, halftone processing is performed on continuous-tone originals, binarization processing is performed on characters, illustrations, and graphic originals, and compression processing is performed on output device data and plain paper output data. After that, the image data PD is stored in the hard disk 21 of the file server 2. The display data and the plain paper output data are the density data D.
After thinning out D at a predetermined interval, halftone processing is performed.

The workstation 100 has a plurality of sets of terminal devices each having a CRT display as a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse and a digitizer as an input operation unit, and a hard disk and a floppy disk as a storage unit. The workstation 100 is mutually connected to the file server 2 via Ethernet.

The operator uses the input operation means and display means of the workstation 100 to operate the hard disk 21.
When the layout editing is performed while displaying the images and the document contents stored in the file and the output instruction of the editing data is issued, the output data PD converted into the page description data format is stored in the hard disk 21 of the file server 2. After being stored, it is transferred to the imagesetter 4. The image setter 4 performs raster image conversion of code data, decompression of compressed image data, and logical operation to generate output device data OPD, which is output to the printing device for printing to the output device 5 or to the plain paper printer 6. Galley output. (See JP-A-3-108073).

[0007]

However, in the conventional image processing system as described above, since there are many commands for selecting various commands such as editing commands and processing commands, the command menu is displayed on the screen. When displaying, it is not possible to display them all at once, so commands can be grouped into multiple menus, and the menu screen can be displayed hierarchically by switching the menus, or can be displayed overlapping the window in which the image is displayed. Was there. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the command operation is troublesome, and the images are often displayed in an overlapping manner, and at that time, the image below cannot be seen, which is inconvenient. Moreover, since the command menu is a fixed menu preset by the system, it is impossible to make it an optimum menu for all operators.

Further, since the image and the document stored in the storage medium are selected by instructing the number given by the user when the image is input from the input device, the operator corresponds to the image data. It had the drawback of having to remember. The present invention has been made under the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a menu selection / display method in an image processing system which is easy to edit and has good operability.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a menu selection / display method in an image processing system for preparing a printing block, and the above object of the present invention is to provide an input device for reading a document and an input device. A personal computer configured to store data from the input device in a storage medium via an output controller, and to perform layout editing by command instructions while displaying the stored image data on a display unit as necessary; In a menu selection / display method that can be placed in an image processing system that is configured with an output device that inputs edit data from a personal computer through the input / output controller and outputs a printing block, the display unit is multi-windowed. Command menu displayed in the command area on the divided window It is achieved by allowing the setting change in the command menu change instruction by mouse.

Further, it is achieved by displaying various situations in the situation display area on the divided window in accordance with the work situation of the operator, and the selection of the image data is performed by the image on the divided window. This is achieved by displaying a list of image data as a search image in the display area so that the image can be designated.

[0011]

In the present invention, since the operator can change the setting of the command menu, the menu can be optimized for the operator. In addition, since the image data stored in the storage medium can be selected by designating an image from the search images displayed in the album format, a troublesome operation such as designating an image file number is unnecessary. . Further, since various situations are displayed in the situation display area on the split screen according to the operator's work situation, the operator's editing work can be performed more smoothly.

[0012]

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the basic configuration of the image processing system of the present invention, in which an image obtained by reading an original such as a photograph, characters, a figure, or a copyboard with an input device 1 such as a scanner. The density data DD is the input / output controller 300.
It is input to the input / output interface 301 inside. The input / output interface 301 converts photographic data into 8-bit data for photographs thinned at predetermined intervals, converts 1-bit data for line drawings into 1-bit data for line drawings, and then, via the SCSi bus. The density data DD 'is transferred to the personal computer 200.

The personal computer 20 receives the density data DD 'from the input / output interface 301, and the search data ST for displaying the image data list described later.
D (gradation data) is generated, further, in the case of photographic data, photo editing data EDp (gradation data) is generated, and in the case of line drawing data, line drawing editing data ED1 (decimation at predetermined intervals is performed. The performed 1-bit data) and the line drawing compressed data OD1 for operation (1-bit compressed data) are generated and stored in the magneto-optical disk 201 together with the input image data (density data DD ') from the input / output interface 301.

Then, in response to a command from the operator using an input operation means such as a mouse, the personal computer 200 causes the magneto-optical disk 201 to retrieve the search data S.
Read the TD, display the image data list on the CRT screen,
Further, the image data corresponding to the image selected and instructed by the operator is read from the magneto-optical disk 201 and the image is displayed. Here, when a line drawing is designated, a layout editing screen is displayed, and when a photo is designated, a cutout screen is displayed. The operator edits the layout while looking at the editing screen, and the edited processed image data EDn is stored in the magneto-optical disk 201 according to a command from the operator.

Then, in response to an image output instruction, the personal computer 200 performs a logical operation based on the line drawing compressed data ODl to create the line drawing 1-bit compressed data FLN and the mask 1-bit compressed data FMS after the composite operation, and After being stored in the magnetic disk 201, the photograph data ODp is sent to the expansion box 302 in the input / output controller 300 together with the line drawing data FLN and the mask data FMS. And the expansion box 302
The masking process of the photographic data ODp is performed, and the synthesizing process with the line drawing data FLN is performed to output the image O.
The DF is generated and sent to the output device 5 via the input / output interface 301, and the output device 5 performs halftone processing of the output image ODF and outputs the printing block.

Next, an operation example of the personal computer 200 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 4 and the flowchart of FIG. Each image data (input image data, search data, editing data, output device data) for performing layout editing is stored in a storage medium such as a magneto-optical disk 201, a hard disk 202, a floppy disk 203 by the file management means 240. A divided work area (hereinafter referred to as a BOX) divided in units of a volume or in the form of a multi-file volume
And is managed in BOX units.

First, the operator designates the BOX for storing the input image data by the input operation means such as the mouse 204, and inputs the original in an appropriate size using the input device 1. The storage control means 210 is the input / output controller 300.
Image data for layout editing is generated based on the input image data input via the, and stored in the BOX via the file management means 240 (step S401). When the storage in the BOX is completed, the file management unit 240 displays the image data list including the input image on the CRT 206 as a search screen, and the image data corresponding to the image selected by the operator from the search screen is boxed.
The image is read by reading from X (step S40)
2).

The operator displays the image in the BOX on the CRT 206 as necessary, and uses the layout editing function (processing, drawing, image selection, etc.) and the cutout function of the editing means 220 to paste the photographic image on the blockboard. Layout editing work such as insertion is performed (step S403). The edited image is stored in the file management means 240 according to the operator's saving instruction.
It is stored in the BOX (BOX in which the block copy sheet used at the time of editing exists) via (step S404). Then, according to the instruction of the output image on the search screen, the output control means 230 performs the logical operation of the instructed image and generates the output device data including the line drawing data, the mask data and the photo data after the composite operation. Then, the data is sent to the input / output controller 300 to end the output processing (step S40).
5).

In the basic configuration of FIG. 2, the input / edit work and the output / edit work by the personal computer 200 can be carried out in parallel by the respective personal computers, and the data by the magneto-optical disk 201 can be stored. By the transfer, the editing work can be performed by any personal computer using any image data stored in the BOX.

Next, the outline of the operation of the personal computer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the display screen examples of FIGS. 7 and 8, the original example of FIG. 9 and the output image example of FIG. The display portion of the CRT is divided into multiple windows as shown in FIG. 7A, and has a page area a1 for displaying a search image and an editing image, a command area a2 for displaying a command menu, and various other areas. It is composed of a status display area a3 for displaying the status. In addition to the above-mentioned constant display window, a sub-edit window for displaying a detailed menu list, a processing content display window for displaying the current processing content (such as inputting image data), an application mode (image processing) The mode switching window for displaying the switching menu for mode, input / output file management mode, conversion mode, etc., and the error message display window for displaying the error status, etc. may be overlaid on the continuous display window depending on the operator's instruction or the processing status. Wrapped and displayed.

Now, the originals G1 and G shown in FIGS.
An operation example will be described assuming that the printing block shown in FIG. 9 is created based on G2 and G3. First of all, the operator
The command menu b1 of (B) is designated by a mouse or the like to call the mode switching window, and the input / output file management mode (not shown) is designated on the mode switching menu to set the application mode to the input / output file management mode ( Step S501). Next, command menu b
2 is designated to designate the BOX in which the original is stored, and the input execution menu b3 is designated (step S502). next,
The operator uses the input device 1 to copy the document G1 shown in FIG.
Input (blockboard) as a line drawing (step S50)
3). When the input of the original is completed, a list of the image data stored in the BOX is displayed as a search screen in the page area a1 as shown in FIG. 7B.

Similarly, the originals G2 and G shown in FIGS.
3 is input (steps S501 to S504), and the input operation ends. It is not necessary to specify the BOX in step S502 if it is stored in the same BOX. Further, the manuscript may be input each time it is necessary during the layout editing work described below. Next, the operator sets the application mode to the image processing mode, designates a BOX to be edited, and displays a list of image data stored in the BOX as shown in FIG. 7C. Then, on the search screen of FIG. 7 (C), the image G1 of the copyboard is designated by using an input operation means such as a mouse. The instructed image G1 is displayed in the page area a1 of the layout editing screen as shown in FIG. 8D (step S505). The images displayed on the page area a1 are all WYSIWYG (What You See).
Abbreviation for Is What You Get, meaning that a hard copy can be obtained as seen on the CRT screen).

Next, the operator uses an input operation means such as a mouse to designate an area to be pasted in preparation for pasting the photograph G2 into the frame F1 of the block mount G1 shown in FIG.
Display the search screen and select the image (picture G2) to be pasted. At this time, the left, right, up and down positions of the photographic image can be trimmed by using an input operation means such as a mouse (step S506). Then, when the process execution menu is instructed, the process is executed and the screen after the paste process as shown in FIG. 8E is displayed.

Next, in order to paste the characters "● topics" of the original G3 of FIG. 9C, similarly, after the area to be pasted is determined, the search screen is displayed and the character image to be pasted is selected and displayed. , Command execution command. continue,
By giving a Suminote instruction, a desired block image as shown in FIG. 8F is obtained (step S507). In this way, even if it is a character, it is easy to scan even if you do not have a font by scanning the image as an image and synthesizing it, and instructing outlines, white borders, bag characters, halftone characters, etc. as needed. You can make a printing block. In the image synthesizing process in steps S506 and S507, the images are synthesized in an overlapping manner in the input order, and the gradation portion (photograph, flat screen, halftone characters) is non-transparent and is synthesized below.
The line drawing portion is transparent and is combined with the portion below it, and the white portion is combined with the image below it being erased.

When the editing process is completed, the operator saves the edited image with a new save command (step S
508), an output image is instructed on the search screen, and output to the output device is instructed by an output execution command. As a result, the printing block shown in FIG. 10 is output from the output device 5 (step S509), and all the processes are completed. If a plurality of images are to be output at one time, all output images may be instructed on the search screen and then the output instruction may be given.

As shown in the above operation example, the menus in the image processing system of the present invention include a constant display menu and a pop-up menu, and the constant display menu is displayed in the command area. And the display location of the popup menu differs depending on the type of menu, such as the one displayed at the position of the mouse cursor like the processing menu, the detailed menu of the instructed menu or the type of menu that asks the operator from the system side. , Some are displayed in the default position of the system.

A specific example of the menu display method and menu selection method in the image processing system of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
A description will be given with reference to the menu example of 1 (A) and the flowchart of FIG. The display control means in the output control means of the personal computer displays the initial menu in the command area a2 of the CRT display section when the power is turned on. When the operator wants to switch the application mode (image processing mode, file management mode, etc.), the operator displays the application mode switching menu by the button instruction on the right side of the menu C1. The display control means displays the mode switching menu at the system default position in the page area a1 (not shown), and then the menu corresponding to the mode name selected by the operator (FIG. 11A).
Is the image processing mode menu example) command area a2
Is displayed (steps S102 and S103).

Here, the selection of the menu by the operator is performed by, for example, selecting the menu item by pressing the left mouse button. When there is an instruction to display the processing menu in the sub-editing window in step S104, the processing menu S1 is displayed at the position of the mouse cursor (step S105). In this case, in the processing menu S1, for example, a menu item is selected by pressing the left mouse button and deleted by pressing the right mouse button.

The operator has a menu on the image as described above and a menu assigned to the function keys (screen composition screen display, composite screen display, screen switching between enlarged screen and entire display screen, drawing command menu, etc.). Make a menu selection. Although such an interactive menu selection method has been conventionally used, it has been difficult to set a menu that is easy for all operators to use. In the image processing system of the present invention, a user's own menu can be set, and an example of the setting method after step S106 will be described below.

In the example of the layout editing screen of FIG. 11A, the part of the menu m1 of the command area a2 is the part where the setting can be changed by the operator. For example, any three items are selected from the processing menu S1 and the user's own The menu of can be set. When the operator gives an instruction to change the command menu (for example, the button on the right side of the command) (step S106), the display control means selects another command from the command group (for example, the processing menu list) to which the instructed command belongs. Select and display instead of instructed command.

At this time, the command selection is performed by selecting the command located next to the instructed command, and the commands in the command group are sequentially rotated and displayed each time there is a command menu change instruction (step S107). In this way, by performing the same operation for each command of the menu part m1, it is possible to set an arbitrary menu. The new menu of the menu part m1 is stored by the display control means (step S108), and thereafter, the set menu is displayed. Then, all the operations are ended according to the operator's instruction of the end mode (step S109).

Next, referring to FIGS. 7A and 12, CR
A specific example of the content displayed in the status display area of the T display unit will be described. In the image processing system of the present invention, the status is displayed in the status display area 3 of FIG. 7A automatically or in accordance with the operator's instruction so that the editing work can be smoothly performed. It is like this. The display control means of the personal computer determines whether the position of the cursor is in the page area a1 or the command area a2, and if it is in the page area a1, an enlarged image at a predetermined magnification (for example, 4 times) is displayed together with the cursor shape. The area a3 is displayed as shown in FIG.

The magnified image displayed in the status display area a3 is a magnified image centered on the cursor position, and is displayed with the above determination as the cursor moves. Therefore, when the operator wants to accurately recognize the cursor position, the operator can easily recognize the accurate position by looking at this display without switching to the enlarged display of the image. In this case, the X and Y coordinate values of the cursor position are displayed above the situation display area a3 (not shown).

When the position of the cursor is within the command area a2, the remaining capacity of the BOX is displayed in the status display area a3 as shown in FIG. 11 (B). The example in the figure is a display example when the storage medium is divided into four volumes, and when the volume exceeds four volumes, four boxes including the currently specified box are displayed.

Next, a concrete example of the contents displayed in the status display area a3 according to an operator's instruction will be shown. Various settings set by the operator (plate making processing, border width,
(% Of mesh, etc.) is displayed in the status display area a3 as shown in FIG. 12C in response to a command for confirming the set value, so that the operator can easily confirm the processing content of the processed image. That is, when the operator positions the cursor on the image to be confirmed and issues a command to confirm the set value,
The display control means sets the area at the cursor position to the status display area a.
3 and the processing attribute is displayed. For multiple machining, each time the setting value confirmation command is issued,
The above contents are sequentially displayed in the order of being closer to the copyboard.

FIG. 12D is a diagram showing a fourth example of the contents displayed in the status display area a3. When it is desired to put a flat mesh in the closed area or when the artwork is added (a supplementary line to the artwork is used). When writing is desired, it is necessary to specify the area, but the instruction result of the automatic recognition command for automatically recognizing the area (image outline portion) is displayed as shown in FIG. That is, when the operator moves the cursor by using the input operation means so that the cursor enters the closed area where the operator wants to confirm the set value and gives an automatic recognition command, the command execution unit in the editing means causes the command execution unit in the cursor frame to move. Automatic tracking of the contour line is started by starting the image contour part that was first found by swirling clockwise from the center point, and the tracking status is shown by changing the display color of the contour line and the tracking result is displayed and controlled. It is displayed in the status display area a2 via the means.

The traced result is displayed as shown in FIG. 12 (D), and when the operator gives an instruction to "end the trace", the processes of the flat screen and the block copy correction are executed. In this way, by providing a status display area in the constant display area on the divided windows and displaying various statuses according to the work status, information is provided to the operator without overlapping with other windows. You can

Next, with reference to FIG. 11B, a specific example of the method of displaying the search image and the method of selecting the image data will be described. Image data stored in a storage medium such as a magneto-optical disk is selected by designating a desired image on a search screen as shown in FIG. 11B, as shown in the operation example and operation example of the personal computer. Is done by doing. The figure shows an example when the image data stored in the BOX 1 is displayed. By switching the BOX by the BOX switching command C8 or C9 in the command area a2, the image data of another BOX is similarly displayed. You can choose. Further, the image data edited by another personal computer can be used by replacing the magneto-optical disc or the like. An image data list is displayed in an album format on the page area a1 as shown in FIG. 1, and pages are switched by page switching commands p1 to p4.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an operation example when image data is selected.
The button on the right side of the command C1 of (B) is designated, the mode switching window is called to be the image processing mode, and the BOX to be edited is the BOX switching command C8 or C.
9 is designated (step S201). The display control means in the output control means of the personal computer reads the search data of the BOX from the storage medium via the file management means, and displays the image data list as a search image in the page area a1 based on the search data. Yes (step S202). Here, in the upper part of each image of the search image, the year, month, day, and year are set as the image ID for confirming the image.
Serial numbers (numbered in order of creation on the day) are displayed so that you can check the creation date of image data.

When the operator gives an instruction for a page switching command, the display control means displays the retrieved image of the corresponding page in the page area a1 according to the instruction. For example,
In FIG. 11B, the first two pages when the page switching command p1 is instructed, the two pages before the displayed page when p2 is instructed, and the next two pages when p3 is instructed. 2 pages, and when p4 is designated, the last 2 pages are displayed together with the page display (step S203). The operator then selects an image to edit by pointing the image on the search screen using an input operation means such as a mouse. The display control means recognizes the selected image based on the cursor position, reads the image data of the image from the storage medium via the file management means, displays the image data in the page area a1, and ends the processing (step S204).

[0041]

As described above, according to the menu selection / display method in the image processing system of the present invention, since the operator can change the setting of the command menu at any time by a simple operation, the operator can make the optimum menu. Thus, the work such as layout editing can be performed more smoothly, the operability is improved, and the work time can be shortened. Further, since the image data stored in the storage medium can be selected by designating an image from the search images displayed in the album format, the operator can easily find the desired image while looking at the image data list. It becomes possible to select.

Further, it is not necessary to output the image data list to the plain paper printer and manage the image data or check the correspondence between the image data and the image number as in the conventional case. Therefore, the plain paper printer is not essential for the configuration. Therefore, the plain paper printer can be deleted in the configuration, and the price of the image processing system can be reduced. In addition, various statuses are automatically displayed in the status display area on the split screen according to the operator's work status or by command instructions of the operator, so that the constant display area of the screen can be used effectively and The editing work of can be done more smoothly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a menu selection method in the image system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an image data selection method in the system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an image processing system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the personal computer of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the personal computer in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example such as layout editing in the system of the present invention.

7 is a diagram showing a screen configuration example and a display screen example of a CRT display unit of the personal computer in FIG.

8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the personal computer of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a document used for an example of creating a block copy of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an output image of block copy creation by the system of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for explaining a menu selection / display method in the system of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a specific example of contents displayed in the situation display area of FIG. 7 (A).

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional image processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 200 personal computer 201 magneto-optical disk 210 storage control means 230 output control means 300 input / output controller 301 input / output interface 302 expansion box

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An input device for reading a manuscript, and data from the input device is stored in a storage medium via an input / output controller, and the stored image data is displayed on a display unit as necessary, by a command instruction. Menu selection in an image processing system including a personal computer adapted to perform layout editing and an output device for inputting edit data from the personal computer through the input / output controller and outputting a printing block / In the display method, the display unit is divided into multiple windows, and the command menu displayed in the divided command area on the window can be changed by a command menu change instruction using a mouse or the like. A method for selecting / displaying a menu in an image processing system. 2. When changing the setting of the command menu, every time the command menu change instruction is issued, the commands of the command group to which the instructed command belongs are sequentially rotated and displayed, and the displayed command is updated. The menu selection method in the image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed by using a command menu. 3. A status display area is provided on the divided window, and at least one of the following status display processing for displaying in the status display area is included. Menu selection / display method in the described image processing system. 1) When the cursor is located in the page area on the window for image processing or image selection, the image at the cursor position is enlarged and displayed at a predetermined magnification. 2) When the cursor is located in the command area,
Display the remaining capacity of each BOX, which is a divided area of the storage medium in which image data is stored. 3) Display the area at the cursor position according to a command for confirming the set value, and display its processing attribute. 4) Display Automatically traces the contour line of the image of the composition board displayed on the screen and displays the instruction result of the automatic recognition command that automatically recognizes the image contour part 4. A search image consisting of a plurality of images per page is displayed in an album format in an image display area on the divided window, and the page is switched by a page switching command to be displayed. 2. The menu selection in the image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image data stored in the storage medium can be selected by designating the image of FIG.
Display method.