JPH06243225A - Image editing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the evolution of a bit map for improvement of the practicability and also to facilitate the editing operations with each device in an image editing method which arranges the character strings in a range of an optional shape. CONSTITUTION:A character string Gt is divided for each character cell C corresponding to each character and then arranged in a character burying area Et of an optional shape, i.e., a part of an image editing area. In such a constitution of an image editing method, the cells C are arranged one by one in the area Et and the positions of these cells C are decided in an entire area Et. Then an character pattern of dot matrix structure is set in each cell C and the dot pattern of the area Et is generated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image editing method for arranging a character string in an area having an arbitrary shape, and is used for forming an image in which sentences and figures (illustrations, etc.) are combined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With DTP (Desktop Publishing) software for workstations, image editing is performed to insert a graphic of an arbitrary shape into a character string, that is, rearrangement of a plurality of characters arranged in a rectangular area is performed. Image editing that can be stored in an area of unspecified shape has been realized.

For example, when preparing an instruction manual for a specific device, an operator separately prepares a descriptive text of a predetermined number of characters (m columns and n rows) and a sketch of the device. At this time,
A document creation function can be used to create a description, and a drawing function can be used to create a floor plan. Also, a photograph or illustration read by an image scanner can be used as a sketch.

After that, when the operator designates the layout position of the sketch on the editing screen and gives an instruction to synthesize the explanatory note and the sketch, a character cell (1) indicating whether or not the explanatory note and the sketch are overlapped as an image editing process. Each character's dot matrix) is examined, and characters that overlap with the sketch are shifted in the line direction and line feed is performed as necessary, and a character moving process is performed to create a one-page image in which explanatory text is placed around the sketch. It At this time, in parallel with the character movement processing,
The image of the image being edited is displayed on the screen, whereby the operator can confirm the image after the editing process and the editing (edited image) on the screen.

The operator edits the created edited image by
It can be stored as image data using a recording medium such as a hard disk device, or can be printed on paper using a printer device.

[0006]

In conventional image editing, a dot pattern corresponding to an edited image is immediately displayed on a bitmap memory such as a video memory for display in response to an instruction to start editing by an operator. Drawing (bitmap expansion) is performed. That is, the operator can determine the quality of the editing only after the edited image is completed as the dot pattern image.

For this reason, it is often the case that the size and position of the figure are changed and the editing is redone several times because, for example, the balance between the characters and the figure is not good, but in such a case, the final editing is performed. Since the bit map expansion other than the time is wasted, there is a problem in that the practicability in which the time required for the processing and the load on the control system for controlling the bit map expansion are comprehensively impaired.

Further, in a print system in which a personal computer and a printer are combined, for example, when the printer is attempted to realize the above-mentioned image editing, the normal printer has a function of partially rewriting the contents of the bitmap memory. Since it does not have it, it is necessary to newly add the function, and there is a problem that the control of the bitmap memory becomes complicated.

In view of these problems, the present invention enhances the practicality of image editing for arranging a character string in an area having an arbitrary shape by minimizing the number of times of bitmap expansion, and at the same time, in printers and the like. The purpose is to facilitate realization of image editing in various devices.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method according to the invention of claim 1 divides a character string into character cell units corresponding to individual characters and forms a part of the image editing area. An image editing method for arranging in a character embedding area of an arbitrary shape, wherein the character cells are arranged one by one in the character embedding area, and the arrangement position of the character cell is fixed for the entire character embedding area. The dot pattern of the character embedding area is generated by incorporating a character pattern having a dot matrix configuration into each of the character cells.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a contour portion of a graphic having an arbitrary shape is extracted, and a part or all of the area in the image editing area excluding the contour portion is set as the character embedding area. , The character cells are arranged so as not to overlap the contour portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the inside or outside of the contour portion is set as the character embedding area, the contour portion is enlarged so that the entire character string fits in the character embedding area. Alternatively, the character embedded area is expanded by reduction.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the inside or outside of the contour portion is set as the character embedding area, the size of the character cell is set so that the entire character string is stored in the character embedding area. And at least one of the intervals between the character cells.

[0014]

The character embedding area is, for example, an area corresponding to a margin of a commercially available greeting card, an area around a pattern of an unspecified shape, an area excluding the outline of a filled figure, and inside and outside of a cloud-shaped frame line. One or both of them are areas of arbitrary shape selected according to the application of the edited image.

Character cells corresponding to each of a plurality of characters are sequentially arranged one character by one character so as not to overflow the character embedding area. When a predetermined number of character cells to be edited are all placed in the character embedding area and there is no need to change the position of the character cell, that is, after the position of the character cell is confirmed, the character for each character cell A pattern is incorporated to generate a dot pattern for the character embedding area.

When the predetermined number of character cells cannot be completely contained in the character embedding area, the character embedding area is expanded, the character cell is contracted, or the character cell interval is contracted.

[0017]

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a composite page printer 1 according to the present invention.

A composite page printer (hereinafter referred to as "page printer") 1 includes a printer body 10 in which an electrophotographic printer unit (engine) and a line scanning type image reader unit (scanner) are integrated, and a paper feed unit. Cassette 1
2, a paper discharge tray 13, and a document cover 22 that covers the document table glass 21.

The printer body 10 forms a hard copy image corresponding to print data input from an external host, original image data obtained by a scanner, or image data obtained by editing these data.

An operation panel OP is provided on the upper front surface of the printer body 10, and the operator can perform desired operation settings according to the purpose by operating keys on the operation panel OP.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of the operation panel OP. The operation panel OP is composed of a touch panel TP that displays a screen for interactive operation. The display content of the touch panel TP is appropriately switched according to the operation (mode selection, etc.). In the example of FIG. 2, a screen in which various operation buttons 71 to 81 are arranged is displayed as an operation screen in the image edit mode for generating an image in which a character string and a graphic of an arbitrary shape are combined.

The prescan button 71 is a button for instructing reading of a document image. The test print button 72 is a button for designating a test print in which character positions are indicated by dots. The enter button 73 is a button for instructing storage of the character layout form (page format). The area selection button 74 is a button for designating the inside or outside of the frame-shaped figure as a character embedding area. The enlargement / reduction button 75 is a button for instructing to change the size of the character embedding area. The position adjustment button 76 is a button for instructing the movement of the figure. The action buttons 77 to 80 are buttons for designating the moving direction of the figure. In addition, action buttons 79, 80
Is used as an enlargement designation button and a reduction designation button of a graphic when changing the size of the character embedding area. The end button 81 is a button for instructing to print an edited image.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printer body 10. The printer body 10 includes a CPU 101 that controls the page printer 1 as a whole, and a ROM 1 that stores control programs, emulation data, and the like.
02, a RAM 103 serving as a work area for temporarily storing various data, a host interface 105 for communication with a host, a scanner IR for outputting document image data obtained by quantizing a document image, and a scanner interface 10.
6, an engine PE that takes charge of the electrophotographic process, an engine interface 107, and the operation panel OP described above. The RAM 103 is used as a print data reception buffer and an image memory for storing and editing document image data.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the page printer 1. The page printer 1 includes a receiving unit 2
10, an editing unit 220, a drawing unit 230, a printing unit 240, an image forming unit 250, and a user interface unit 260 that defines the operations of these units.

The receiving unit 210 comprises a host interface control unit 211, a reception buffer 212, a scanner interface control unit 213, and an image memory 214, and temporarily stores a predetermined amount of print data received by communication with the host in the reception buffer 212. Document image data input from the scanner IR is stored in the image memory 214.

The editing section 220 includes an emulation section 22.
2, the protocol analysis unit 221, the editing control unit 223,
And a packet buffer 224. The protocol analysis unit 221 activates an emulation unit 222, which is software that imitates a printer device of a specific format (for example, a serial printer manufactured by another company), as necessary, analyzes print data, and outputs a control command and other data ( That is, image data of various forms) is identified, and a control command related to control of the engine interface 106 is issued.
Send to 50.

The edit control unit 223 appropriately divides the print data, generates packet data, and writes the packet data in the packet buffer 224. Further, the edit control section 223 edits the document image data on the image memory 214 in the image edit mode.

The drawing unit 230 comprises a drawing control unit 231 and a font memory 232. The drawing control unit 231 generates bitmap data or compressed data based on the packet data, and writes them in the frame buffer (bitmap memory) 242 of the printing unit 240 to virtually draw an output image (print image). . At this time,
If the font is designated, the corresponding font is selected from the font memory 232 and used. In addition, the drawing control unit 2
Reference numeral 31 controls a print position in which a cursor indicating a drawing position on the frame buffer 242 is moved in accordance with the page format when an image is edited and printed, which will be described later.

The printing unit 240 is composed of an image developing unit 241 and the frame buffer 242 described above. The printing unit 240 reads out data from the frame buffer 242 and generates print data used for controlling exposure (printing) of the photoconductor in the electrophotographic process. .

The image forming unit 250 is composed of the engine PE and the engine control unit 251 described above, and prints a predetermined image including characters and figures on the paper taken out from the paper cassette 12.

The user interface section 260 sets the operation set by the operator (worker) via the operation panel OP, and realizes the operation in accordance with the operator's intention.

The page printer 1 having the above configuration is a normal print forming a hard copy image corresponding to print data from the host, that is, an image created on the host (text image consisting of character strings, graphic image, etc.). Not only is it printed on paper as it is, but for example, a text image created on the host is edited (character flow editing) so that a series of character strings that make up a sentence can be stored in a character embedding area of an arbitrary shape. It is possible to realize an image edit print that is reproduced by. At the time of image editing printing, the shape of the character embedding area is specified by the figure of the document read by the scanner IR.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of image editing print. The edit mode of the image edit print is the first mode in which the character string (text) Gt created on the host and the graphic Gg read by the scanner IR are combined so that each character does not overlap the graphic Gg, and the graphic Gg. The frame-shaped figure Ge and the character string Gt from which the outline portion of the above is extracted are roughly classified into a second mode in which they are combined so as not to overlap each other.

The first mode is useful for creating a document in which sentences and illustrations are contained in one page, such as an illustrated instruction manual, and the second mode has, for example, an irregular pattern. This is useful for creating a message label to be attached to the margin of a greeting card.

In the first embodiment, the area around the graphic Gg in the image editing area E having a size corresponding to the sheet is the character embedding area Et. Further, in the second embodiment, the operator uses the area selection button 74 (see FIG. 2) to set the frame-shaped graphic Ge as the character embedding area Et.
The area inside or outside can be specified.

The operation of the page printer 1 will be described in more detail below, focusing on the image editing and printing operation, based on the flow chart. FIG. 6 is a main flowchart showing an example of the operation of the CPU 101.

When the power is turned on, the CPU 101 first initializes the inside (# 1) of unnecessary data in the RAM 103 (the reception buffer 212 and the packet buffer 2).
Data such as 24 is erased (# 2), and an initial setting process of registering default values of print conditions such as paper size and margin as operation set values (parameters) is performed (# 3). Further, if there is an instruction to change the page format by button operation, the page format setting process is executed (# 4, 5).

Next, the CPU 101 stores the print data in the reception buffer 212 and sequentially reads it to generate packet data (# 6), and packet processing for performing drawing control based on the print packet and the control packet. (# 7) is sequentially executed, and then it is checked whether or not there is a paper discharge request (# 8). The paper discharge request is generated at the time of receiving a command instructing to start printing and at the end of editing one page of print data. If there is a paper discharge request, a print control process (# 9) that gives a control command or control signal to the engine PE in a timely manner is executed in parallel with the image development, and then the process returns to the reception data process. Return to data processing.

Further, the CPU 101 responds to a specific operation on the operation panel OP by a panel input process (# 1) for accepting a button operation for operation setting in the form of an interrupt process.
0) is executed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the page format setting process of FIG. In this routine, CP
The U 101 scans the document on the platen glass 21 in response to the pressing of the pre-scan button 71, and writes the document image data in which the photoelectric conversion signal is quantized into the image memory 214 to draw the graphic Gg (see FIG. 5). Is stored, the outline portion (edge) of the graphic Gg is extracted, and the frame-shaped graphic Ge obtained thereby is stored in association with the graphic Gg (# 51).

Next, in accordance with the operation of the action buttons 77 to 80 and the area selection button 74, the layout change processing (# 52) of moving the graphic Gg or the frame graphic Ge to set the character embedding area Et is performed. Then, in response to the operation of the enlargement / reduction button 75, the figure Gg or the frame-shaped figure Ge is enlarged / reduced (that is, the size of the character embedding area Et is changed) (# 53).

Here, in the case of the above-described image editing print of the first embodiment, if the figure Gg is enlarged, the character embedding area Et is reduced, and if the figure Gg is reduced, the character embedding area Et is enlarged. become. On the contrary, in the case of the image editing print of the second form in which the inside of the frame-shaped figure Ge is the character embedded area Et, if the frame-shaped figure Ge is enlarged, the character embedded area Et is also enlarged, and the frame-shaped figure Ge is changed. If it is reduced, the character embedding area Et is also reduced.

When the enter button 73 is pressed as an operation for ending the layout change, the CPU 101 causes the character cell C (one-character dot matrix) corresponding to each character of the character string Gt to be edited, as shown in FIG. Character embedding area E
and the page format which is the arrangement form of the character string Gt in the editing area E is set (# 54, 5).
5). At this time, the character cells C are arranged so as to be arranged one by one from the beginning of the first row of the character string Gt in order at a predetermined pitch (character pitch and row pitch), and part or all of the character cells C are arranged in the process. When the character cell C extends outside the character embedding area Et (that is, when the character cell C and the graphic Gg overlap), the character cell C is stored in the character embedding area Et by shifting the arrangement position to the right in each row.

After setting the page format, the CPU 1
01 responds to the press of the test print button 72,
As shown in FIG. 10, the preview images Gp11, G in which the position of each character cell C is indicated by, for example, a small black circle (dot) d
Print p12, Gp21, Gp22 (# 5
6).

As a result, the operator can confirm the page format by the preview image.
Then, the positional balance between the character and the figure and the size of the margin in the character embedding area Et are examined, and if it is determined that the page format is not bad, the figure G is again displayed.
The shape and size of the character embedding area Et can be appropriately changed by performing an operation of moving g and Ge or instructing enlargement / reduction. In the example of FIG. 10A, the action keys 77 and 80 are printed after the first preview image Gp11 is printed.
The figure Gg is moved (moved to the lower left) by the, and the second preview image Gp is displayed to confirm the result of the movement.
Twelve prints have been made. Further, in the example of FIG. 10B, the frame-shaped figure Ge is enlarged by the action key 79 after the first preview image Gp21 is printed, and the second preview image Gp22 is displayed to confirm the enlargement result. Printing is being done.

After the preview image is printed once or a plurality of times (test print), when the end button 81 which means the approval of the page format is pressed, the CPU 10
1 stores the page format at that time (# 5
8) Return to the main routine. Based on the page format stored at this time, in response to the subsequent pressing of the end button 81, the edited images GH1 and GH2 in which the dot d is replaced with a predetermined character (see FIG. 10)
Is printed.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the packet processing of FIG. First, the type of packet data created in the received data processing is checked (# 71), and if the packet data is a control packet, control corresponding to various commands is performed (# 76).

On the other hand, a print packet in which the packet data is image information (character packet / graphics packet)
If so, the character packet is subjected to print position control for arranging characters by applying it to the page format, and the graphics packet is clipped (contour extraction) for reproducing the frame-shaped figure Ge as necessary.
Processing is performed (# 72-74). Then, in the frame buffer 242, image development is performed to convert the output image into a dot pattern (# 75).

That is, when the image is edited and printed, it is necessary to develop the image of the character so that the character pattern is incorporated at a predetermined position in accordance with the page format. However, the packet data is created regardless of the page format. So for character packets,
As the print position control, a process of appropriately moving the cursor based on the position and size of the character cell C so that the character cell C and the figure do not overlap each other is performed.

FIG. 11 is a main flowchart showing another example of the operation of the CPU 101. In FIG. 11, CP
When the power is turned on, the U101 first performs internal initialization (# 101), erasing unnecessary data (# 102), and initial setting processing of operation setting values (# 103).

After that, when the print data is input,
The write address of the top data of the page in the reception buffer 212 is stored, and the reception data processing and the packet processing are repeatedly executed until the paper discharge request (# 104 to # 1).
07). Then, the print control process (# 108) is performed in response to the paper discharge request, and the receive buffer release process is performed to make the memory area corresponding to the printed page in the receive buffer 212 ready for storing new data. (# 10
9) is performed and the process returns to step # 104.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the initial setting process of FIG. First, a predetermined default value is set as a control parameter that defines the operation (# 301). Next, it is checked whether or not the image edit mode is selected on the mode selection screen (# 302), and if the selected mode is not the image edit mode, the process immediately returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, when the image edit mode is selected, first, the edit mode flag is set, and the original image data is written in the image memory 214 until the scanning (scanning) of one or more originals is completed ( # 304,3
05, 309). At this time, an identification number (ID) is given to the document image data for each document.

Next, according to the operator's instruction, the print data (character string) of each page is associated with the original image (graphic) to be combined with the print data to set the edit target for each page, and then edit conditions ( The editing form and the coping method when a character overflow occurs are set (# 305, 306).

As a coping method when a character overflow occurs, if only automatic scaling for automatically changing the size of the character embedding area Et is set, the process directly returns to the main routine, otherwise (operator: If automatic scaling is not desired and if test printing is to be performed), the page format initialization process is executed and then the process returns to the main routine (# 307, 308).

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the page format initial setting process of FIG. In response to the operation of the action buttons 77 to 80, the CPU 101 performs layout change processing of moving the graphic Gg or the frame graphic Ge to set the character embedding area Et, and performs a test print in response to the pressing of the decision button 73. Perform (# 381-383).
When the end button 81 is pressed, the page format at that time is stored (# 384, 385) and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the packet processing of FIG. First, the type of packet data created in the received data processing is checked (# 601), and if the packet data is a control packet, control corresponding to various commands is performed (# 606). However, the line feed command is invalid in the image edit mode.

On the other hand, if the packet data is the print packet corresponding to the image information, the print position control process for changing the character arrangement is performed for the character packet, if necessary.
For the graphics packet, clipping processing for reproducing the frame-shaped figure Ge is performed as needed (# 6).
02-604). Then, in the frame buffer 242, image development for converting the output image into a dot pattern is performed (# 605).

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of the print position control process of FIG. In the process of image development in which each character pattern of the character string Gt is sequentially drawn character by character according to the page format, when the character to be drawn next protrudes in the line direction, as shown in FIG. Line feed processing for moving the cursor is performed (# 631, 632).

As a result of the line feed, when the next character to be drawn extends in the column direction, that is, when the character overflow occurs such that the character to be edited does not fit within one page, automatic scaling is set as a countermeasure. It is checked whether or not it has been done (# 633, 634).

If the automatic scaling is not set, a feed command for instructing the printing of the edited image in the character overflow state is sent to each predetermined unit, and the reception buffer 212 is used as a process for printing the overflowed character on the next sheet. The read address of is returned by one character (# 635, 636).

When the automatic scaling is set, the automatic scaling processing is executed unless the automatic scaling is prohibited (# 63
7, 640), when all three automatic scaling methods (area expansion, point reduction, character spacing reduction) are prohibited, a message is displayed to inform the operator of the character overflow and the data corresponding to the overflowed character is displayed. Is discarded (# 638, 639).

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of the automatic scaling processing of FIG. 15, and FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of automatic scaling. In this subroutine, the CPU 101 first checks the setting status of the priority order of the automatic scaling method (# 1001),
At present, the method with the highest priority among the automatic scaling methods in the non-prohibited state is applied to deal with the character overflow, and when the handling reaches the limit in each method, the method is set to the prohibited state ( # 1002 to 1004, 1007 to 1009, 1
010-1012).

When the method to be applied is area expansion,
As shown in FIG. 18A, a figure (here, a frame-shaped figure Ge)
Of character embedding area Et by enlarging (or reducing)
To extend. When the method to be applied is the point reduction, as shown in FIG. 18B, the size of the character cell C (that is, the number of points of the character) is reduced to reduce the character embedding area Et.
Increase the number of characters that can be placed inside. When the method to be applied is the character spacing reduction, the spacing between the character cells C is reduced in the row direction to increase the number of characters that can be arranged in the character embedding area Et, as shown in FIG. 18C. .

Then, after the processing corresponding to one automatic scaling method is executed, the read address of the reception buffer 212 is set to the above-mentioned step 104 in preparation for redrawing to perform image development again for the page where the character overflow occurs. The stored address of the top of the page is returned to, and the frame buffer 242 storing the current drawing data is temporarily released (# 1005, 1006).

According to the above-described embodiment, a hard copy image in which the character string Gt is arranged in an area of an arbitrary shape can be easily obtained by reading, for example, a handwritten figure or a design of a commercially available greeting card. it can.

In the above embodiment, the number of characters in the character string Gt (that is, the length of the character string) and the shape of the graphic Gg (including the corresponding frame-shaped graphic Ge) are arbitrary. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the inside or outside of the frame-shaped figure Ge is set as the character embedding area Et at the time of image editing for combining the character string Gt and the frame-shaped figure Ge has been described. The character embedding area Et on both the inside and the outside
It is also possible to

The present invention can be applied not only to printer devices but also to image editing in information processing devices such as various computers and word processors.

[0069]

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the practicability by shortening the time required for editing and reducing the load on the editing control system, and it is easy to realize image editing in various devices such as printers. Can be converted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a composite page printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a printer body.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a page printer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of image editing print.

FIG. 6 is a main flowchart showing an example of the operation of the CPU.

7 is a flowchart of a page format setting process of FIG.

8 is a flowchart of the packet processing of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a procedure for setting a page format.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of changing a page format setting.

FIG. 11 is a main flowchart showing another example of the operation of the CPU.

12 is a flowchart of the initial setting process of FIG.

13 is a flowchart of the page format initial setting process of FIG.

14 is a flowchart of the packet processing of FIG.

15 is a flowchart of the print position control process of FIG.

16 is a flowchart of the automatic scaling process of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of line breaks.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of automatic scaling.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Gt character string C character cell E image editing area Et character embedding area Gg figure of arbitrary shape Ge frame-like figure (contour)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location // G06F 15/20 546 A 7315-5L

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image editing method in which a character string is divided into character cell units corresponding to individual characters and arranged in a character embedding area of an arbitrary shape which is a part of the image editing area, wherein the character cell is 1 One by one in the character embedding area, and after the placement position of the character cell is determined for the entire character embedding area, the character pattern of the dot matrix configuration is incorporated into each of the character cells to create the character embedding area. An image editing method characterized by generating a dot pattern. 2. A contour portion of a figure having an arbitrary shape is extracted, and a part or all of the area in the image editing area excluding the contour portion is set as the character embedding area so as not to overlap the contour portion. The image editing method according to claim 1, wherein the character cell is arranged in the area. 3. When the inside or outside of the contour portion is set as the character embedding area, the character embedding area is enlarged or reduced so that the entire character string fits in the character embedding area. The image editing method according to claim 2, wherein the image editing method is expanded. 4. When the inside or outside of the contour portion is set as the character embedding area, the size of the character cell and the space between the character cells are set so that the entire character string is stored in the character embedding area. The image editing method according to claim 2, wherein at least one is reduced.