JPH06289588A - Layout design device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the efficiency of a layout operation while conducting a layout design for advertising leaflets and catalogs on a layout design device. CONSTITUTION:A layout design device has a conventional material input means 'a' which inputs material data, a layout input means 'd' which inputs layouts, a storage means 'b' which stores material data and a display means 'c' which displays a layout condition. Moreover, a layout design device extracts picture processing conditions of material data or typesetting conditions and has a layout condition extracting means 'f' which correlate the conditions and corresponding material data and stores them. When it is necessary to layout material data which are repeatedly used, the extracted picture processing conditions or typesetting conditions are automatically taken in as the layout data and the layout operations are improved for advertising leaflets and catalogs which repeatedly use material data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a layout design apparatus for printed matter such as a leaflet / catalog which comprises a computer system and performs a layout operation of the leaflet / catalog on a display device of the computer system. In particular, the present invention relates to a layout design device capable of efficiently performing a layout operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, it is known that when a printed matter such as a leaflet or a catalog is created, its layout design or layout simulation is performed by a layout design device using a computer system before the plate making process. . When using the layout design apparatus, the operator projects an image (for example, a rectangular frame) corresponding to the paper surface of the printed matter on the screen of the display device, and the image data registered in advance on the page frame. Material data such as character data is displayed, and the final layout is determined by trial and error while repeating layout simulation of images and character data.

For example, as an operation method of the layout design apparatus, first, as a display format of image data,
The arrangement position of the image data on the page frame is determined to arrange the image data, and then the trimming condition of the image data is set. This trimming condition setting operation is performed while observing the balance between the arrangement of the products copied in the image data and the arrangement of the image data on the page frame. Then, when the image data is rotated and the size of the image data is changed (magnification processing), the rotation angle (rotation value) and the magnification (magnification value) with respect to the image data.
Set.

Further, regarding character data, it is necessary to set a typeface format such as a typeface, series, character spacing, line spacing, line ending alignment, and color for each character data. In the leaflet and the catalog, the above-mentioned operations on the image and the character data are repeated for the number of items of the product to be displayed on the page frame. Further, the above operation is performed for the page frames corresponding to the final number (pages) of the printed matter. The above-mentioned operation is extremely complicated, and since the same operation is repeatedly performed, it is a burden on the operator.

Further, in the case of printed materials such as leaflets and catalogs, the diversion rate of material data such as image data and character data of products published in different editions is higher than that of other printed materials, and the layout appearance is significantly large. Despite the fact that it is not changed often, the placement position of the material data of each product that is repeatedly used is different, so at present,
The above-described operations are repeated for the material data of the same product that is published in different editions, which is extremely inefficient and places a heavy burden on the operator. In particular, in the case of a leaflet, the period of issuance period is short, which imposes an additional burden on the worker.

Therefore, recently, there has been proposed a layout design device for efficiently performing the same type of layout for material data of the same product. For example, JP-A-3
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 37649 discloses the following "allocation device for leaflets and catalogs". That is, since the printed materials such as leaflets and catalogs are often diverted to products and layout formats, the layout device for the above-mentioned leaflets and catalogs requires the printed materials to be targeted in advance in order to efficiently perform repeated layout operations. Analysis is performed, the layout format is classified into several patterns, and these are created and registered as basic layout patterns, and at the time of layout operation, the product is displayed in the page frame from the plurality of basic layout patterns that are registered in advance. It is proposed that one basic layout pattern is selected from the number and the layout is performed with reference to the basic layout pattern so that the repeated layout operation can be performed with a smaller operation amount.

However, for layouts that cannot be classified into patterns, as in the past, for each item of material data for each product,
Layout operations will be performed individually. That is, the basic layout pattern is an arrangement pattern of material data within a paper frame, and does not include rotation of the image data, scaling, trimming processing, setting of character data typesetting format, etc. It is necessary to use the processed material data or refer to the basic layout pattern to arrange the material data on the paper frame and then perform the above processing.

[0008]

By the way, in the above-mentioned leaflet / catalog allocating device, the basic print is produced by analyzing the target printed matter in advance and performing layout work and pattern classification of the material data of the layout product. Need to be kept. In this case, enormous effort is required for pattern classification and basic pattern production.

In many cases, it is not possible to classify all the patterns, and as a result, it may be necessary to finish with only a partial correspondence. That is, if the basic layout pattern, which is the layout pattern of the material data, can support almost all leaflets and catalogs and the material data, it can be automated by selecting the basic layout pattern only by the layout of the material data, It is not possible to classify patterns until all leaflets and catalogs can be handled, so an appropriate layout pattern can be selected from the limited basic layout patterns, and the worker can place material data by referring to it. become. Further, the layout of the material data may be restricted by the basic layout pattern created in advance by the pattern group.

Further, when pattern classification is performed so as to correspond to the arrangement pattern of as many material data as possible, the number of basic layout patterns becomes extremely large,
It takes a lot of time to select the basic layout pattern, which may be changed to reduce the efficiency of the layout operation. Especially in the case of leaflets of large-scale retail stores such as supermarkets, there is a tendency that as many products as possible are posted, and as a result, the layout tends to be complicated,
It is difficult to deal with a small number of basic layout patterns, and as a result, many basic layout patterns are required, making it difficult to improve the efficiency of layout operations.

Further, in the case of a large-scale retail store having a large number of branches, each branch handles substantially the same product, and the same leaflet may be used at each branch, but the regional characteristics of each branch are different. The layout of the same product often changes depending on the branch because of the relationship with other nearby competitors.
That is, there will be a plurality of layout patterns for material data for one product, and in an extreme case, different layouts will be used for each branch. It's extremely difficult.

Next, regarding the correspondence at the time of correcting the basic layout pattern, first, the basic layout pattern is corrected, and the layout is performed again for the page laid out using the basic layout pattern before correction. It will have to be done. Then, this work needs to be repeated every time the basic layout is corrected, resulting in an enormous load on the worker.

[0013] With such a leaflet / catalog allocating apparatus, even if the labor saving and automation of the layout operation is further promoted by patterning, the printed matter has been already made several times with the same layout and the layout is almost fixed. It is possible to save the labor only by the layout operation described above, and the labor is not so much saved in the work for the purpose of designing the normal printed matter (that is, determining the layout format). That is, even if labor saving in layout is promoted by patterning the above-described conventional allocating device, in determining a new layout format, an operator simply refers to the basic layout pattern and manually lays out material data. Can not. Therefore, at the present stage, there is another problem how to efficiently design the printed matter (layout format setting).

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to perform layout pattern classification in advance for layout design of printed materials such as leaflets and catalogs in which the same product is highly diverted. In addition, the layout operation can be performed efficiently, and the layout correction work can be easily performed. The work is performed only by the normal layout operation, and the layout appearance and the product layout condition are automatically created from the layout result. A leaflet that always provides a certain quality unless the layout is changed and can reuse the created data as it is for other printing processes, thus reducing the load of layout work and streamlining the printing process. -To provide layout design equipment such as catalogs.

[0015]

A layout design device of the present invention is for laying out printed materials such as leaflets and catalogs using a display device, and is capable of displaying material data such as image data and character data to be printed on printed materials. Material input means a for inputting respectively, storage means b for storing the material data input by the material input means a, a page frame indicating a paper surface to be printed, and the material data are displayed on the page frame. On the display means c for displaying, and on the display screen by the display means c, the layout data having the name of the material data to be published on the page frame and the display format information of the material data on the page frame are input, and the storage is performed. Layout input means d to be stored in the means, and based on the layout data, the material data is displayed on the page frame displayed on the display means c. Display control means e for performing display control as described above, layout condition extraction means f for extracting the display format information from the layout data and storing the display format information in the storage means, and a material based on the layout data On the display screen of the display means c on which the data is displayed, a layout changing means g for changing the layout data and storing the changed layout data in the storage means b, and an output means h for outputting the layout data are provided. The layout input means d comprises
When inputting material data and layout data for page frames that are repeatedly used for different printed materials, the display format information extracted by the layout condition extracting means f is incorporated into the layout data as a means for solving the above problems.

Further, the layout condition extracting means f is
As the display format information for each image data in the layout data, image processing conditions such as a scaling value in the scaling process for each image data, a rotation value in the rotation process, and trimming information in the trimming process are extracted. The storage means b in association with image data
When setting the image data to be displayed on the page frame as the layout data, the layout input unit d stores the image processing condition associated with the image data in the storage unit c. It is preferable that the image processing conditions be incorporated into the layout data as display format information for the material data.

The layout condition extracting means f
As the display format information for each character data in the layout data, typesetting conditions such as the typeface, series, character spacing, line spacing, line ending, and color for the character data are extracted, and the typesetting conditions are stored in association with each character data. The layout inputting means d stores the typesetting data when setting the character data to be displayed on the page frame when the typesetting conditions associated with the character data are stored in the storage means. It is preferable to incorporate the conditions into the layout data as display format information for the material data.

Further, the layout condition extracting means f
As the display format information for each page frame in the layout data, a basic layout format indicating the arrangement position of each material data on the page frame and the area of each material data is extracted, and this basic layout format is stored in the storage means b. It is preferable that a basic layout format group be generated in the storage means b, and the layout input means d incorporate the basic layout format into the layout data as display format information for the page frame.

[0019]

According to the above construction, when the layout data is inputted by the layout inputting means d, the layout condition extracting means f extracts the display format information from the layout data and stores it in the storing means b. become.
Then, the layout input means d, when inputting layout data for material data and page frames repeatedly used for different printed matter, the layout condition extracting means f.
The display format information extracted in step 3 is taken into the layout data. That is, for the material data and the page frame that are repeatedly used, when the layout data is input for the first time by the layout input unit d,
Since the display format information is extracted from the layout data by the layout condition extracting means f, when the layout data is input for the material data and the page frame that are repeatedly used, the display format information is added to the layout data. By loading, the input of layout data for material data and page frames that are repeatedly used can be saved.

Further, the layout condition extracting means f performs image processing of image processing performed when displaying the image data of the material data as the display format information to be extracted on the page frame. Since the condition is extracted, when repeatedly using the image data, the image data subjected to the same image processing as the previous time is displayed on the display screen of the display means c without setting the image processing condition at the time of layout. You can

Then, the layout condition extracting means f uses, as the display format information to be extracted, the typesetting conditions of the typesetting performed when displaying the character data of the material data on the page frame. Since the character data is extracted, it is possible to display the character data on the display screen of the display means in the same typesetting as the last time, without setting the typesetting condition at the time of layout when repeatedly using the character data.

Further, the layout condition extracting means f extracts, as the display format information to be extracted, the arrangement position and the area of each material data when each material data is arranged in the page frame, and uses this as a basic layout format. Since it is extracted, when repeatedly using the same page frame as the page frame, the layout position of the previous material data and the area of the material data are diverted, and the other material data is arranged in the layout and area of the previous material data. In addition to this, a plurality of layout simulations can be easily performed by using the basic layout format group stored in the storage means b.

Further, the image processing conditions, the typesetting conditions, the arrangement and area of the material data on the page frame can be changed by the layout changing means g as the display format information of the layout data, and the changed layout data can be
The display condition information can be extracted again by the layout condition extracting means g. Although the layout design apparatus of the present invention has been described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 in the means and operation for solving the above problems, the layout design apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of FIG.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The layout designing apparatus of this embodiment uses a computer system. Basically, a designer who designs a sheet of paper inputs a photograph, a figure, and a character as material data and displays it on the computer system. A leaflet on the display screen of the device
A page frame showing the surface of the printed matter of the catalog is displayed, and the material data is displayed on this page frame, and the display format of each material data (size of image data,
The character type of the character data, the arrangement position, etc.) are determined by trial and error, and this is output as a comp, a proofreading hard copy, or as layout data.

The layout data output from the layout designing apparatus of this embodiment is CTS (Com) for outputting a master plate for printing (printing paper), a film for plate making, and the like.
(Puterized Typesetting System) and layout scanner devices, etc., and by inputting the layout data together with the material data into these plate making devices, it is possible to perform layout work in the plate making device without any particular work. It is possible to output a plate for plate making, a film for plate making, and the like.

That is, the layout design apparatus of this embodiment is basically a small-scale computer system used by a designer or the like, and the image data is actually used for plate making due to restrictions on the memory capacity and operation speed of the computer system. The image data used may have a lower resolution (the amount of data is smaller) than the image data used.
Therefore, in many cases, the image data that has been subjected to the image processing performed by the layout design apparatus of this embodiment cannot be used as it is for plate making by the layout scanner apparatus or the like. Therefore, by passing the image processing conditions as layout data to the layout scanner device, the layout scanner device performs image processing on the image data for plate making based on the image processing conditions, and thus the layout of this embodiment is obtained. It maintains compatibility between the design device and the plate making device such as the layout scanner device.

Further, in the layout scanner device of this embodiment, as to character data, so-called character data in which characters are represented by codes and so-called typesetting data (typesetting conditions) such as typeface and series are separated. The typesetting conditions are output as layout data.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of the layout design apparatus 1 for leaflets / catalogs according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the layout design device 1 for leaflets and catalogs according to this embodiment includes an image input means 2 such as a flatbed scanner and an external storage device (not shown) such as a calculation unit, a main storage unit, and a hard disk (not shown). The layout design device main body 3 for leaflets / catalogs, etc., and a color display,
An image display unit 4 including a frame memory and the like, a dialogue input unit 5 including a pointing device such as a tablet, a digitizer and a mouse and a keyboard, and a layout scanner device 8 through a data communication unit (not shown).
And a CTS 9 and a data output means 6 and an image output means 7 composed of a hard copy device such as a color printer.

The image input means 2 has a known function of inputting an image such as a photograph as digital data. The interactive input means 3 has a known function of inputting graphic data and layout data such as a layout position of each material data by the pointing device, and a known function of inputting character data by the keyboard. The image input means 2 and the dialogue input means 5
And the input means (material data input means, layout input means). In the layout design device 1 of this embodiment, character data, image data,
Material data such as graphic data is externally created by another computer system such as a word processor (not shown) and a graphic creation device (not shown), and the created material data can be carried or moved by a well-known communication function. It is also possible to capture by a magnetic disk or magneto-optical disk,
A communication device (not shown) having the communication function and a disk drive device (not shown) for the magnetic disk or the magneto-optical disk may be used as the input means.

The image display means 4 is controlled by the display control function of the arithmetic unit of the layout design apparatus body 3 which will be described later.
The layout design apparatus main body 3 has a function of displaying a page frame indicating a paper surface to be printed and the material data according to the layout data stored in the storage unit. The data output means 6 has a function of outputting the layout data as a result of the layout performed by the layout designing device and also outputting the input material data. Further, the output layout data includes the CTS 9 and the layout scanner device 8 described above.
Also in, it can be used as layout data.

Further, the image output means 7 composes the material data arranged on the page frame based on the layout data based on the layout performed on the display means, substantially the same as the paper surface to be printed. It is a hard copy machine that outputs as a hard copy for proofreading.

On the other hand, the storage unit of the layout design apparatus main body 3 stores each material data input from the input means such as the image input means 2 and the dialogue input means 5, and the layout data and the calculation section to be described later perform layout. The display format information extracted from the data is stored. Further, the storage unit is composed of a hard disk provided inside the layout design apparatus main body 3, a hard disk as an external auxiliary storage device, a magneto-optical disk drive, etc. regardless of whether the layout design apparatus main body is external or internal. May be included.

As a well-known function, the arithmetic unit of the layout design apparatus main body 3 has a function of storing material data input from the various input units in a storage unit, and an operator's instruction input from a dialogue input unit. According to the function, the material data stored in the storage unit is selected by, for example, designating the material data name and read into the main storage unit, and the shape of the paper surface to be printed is set as a page frame to be a part of the layout data. Together with a function of displaying on the screen of the display means, a display control function for displaying the material data read into the main storage unit on the display means 4 based on an instruction from the interactive input means 5 and layout data, Various processes are performed on the material data displayed on the screen of the means 4 in accordance with the operator's instruction input from the dialogue input means 5, and the page frame is displayed. A layout function of setting a layout position of material data, a region of material data at the layout position, and the like, and generating the layout data together with the material data name read in the main storage unit, and display means based on the layout data. The layout change function is provided in which the operator changes the layout of each material data displayed on the display unit while giving an instruction to the calculation unit using the interactive input unit 5 while looking at the display unit.

Further, the arithmetic section has a function of extracting the display format information from the layout data and storing it in the storage section, and the display format information for the material data when the material data is read from the main storage section. In some cases, when the display format information is read into the main storage unit and the material data is laid out, a function of incorporating the display format information into the layout data, and setting the page frame,
When there is display format information (basic layout format) for a page frame similar to the page frame, a function of reading the display format information into the main storage unit and loading the display format information into the layout data, It has a function of selecting a basic layout format from a plurality of basic layout formats corresponding to an instruction input from the dialogue input means 5 and displaying the basic layout format on the image display means 4. As the display format information, as will be described later, image processing conditions for image data, typesetting conditions for character data, allocation conditions for material data for page frames, and allocation conditions for indicating the region of material data at the allocation positions. There is. The functions of these arithmetic units are realized by giving instructions to the arithmetic units, as is well known, according to the programs stored in the main storage unit.

Next, the structure of data in the storage unit of the layout design apparatus main body 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
Reference numeral 3a indicates data in a storage unit in the layout design apparatus body 3, and the data 3a stored in the storage unit is composed of material information 3b and layout data 3g. The material information 3b includes image data 3c input by the image input unit 2 and image processing conditions (image layout conditions) 3d as display appearance information extracted from the layout data corresponding to the image data 3c. 3d is associated with each image data 3c, and a plurality of image processing conditions 3d associated with each image data 3c can be stored.
The image processing condition 3d is that the original image captured as image data is subjected to a rotation value for changing the display angle and a scaling process for changing the size of the original image. Magnification value, trimming information of the mask, etc. in trimming processing to remove unnecessary parts of the original image with a mask, type of filter when filtering the original image, value when changing the brightness and color of the original image, etc. And so on.

Similarly, there are character data 3e created and input from the interactive input means 5 and a word processor and the typesetting conditions (character layout conditions) 3f as display format information extracted from the layout data corresponding thereto. The typesetting condition 3f is associated with each character data 3e, and a plurality of typesetting conditions 3f related to each character data 3e can be stored. The typesetting condition 3f is a format of characters when the character data 3e is displayed on a display screen or a paper surface to be printed. The typeface of each character of the character data, the series indicating the size of the typeface, the character spacing, the line spacing, and the line head.・ Conditions such as line center, line justification, and text color. The display format information stored in association with each piece of material data as described above is stored in the storage section each time the material data is input by the computing section and the material data is laid out. Therefore, the material data used once has the display format information associated with the material data.

Next, the layout information 3g will be described. The layout data (layout format data) 3h of the layout information 3g is the layout data input by the interactive input means 5 or the layout data finally changed by the layout changing function of the arithmetic unit. The layout data 3h is stored for each printed matter or each page of the printed matter. The layout data 3h and the layout positions of the image data 3c and the character data 3e, which are material data, their names, their areas, their image processing conditions or typesetting conditions, graphic data, and ruled lines. Stores data such as, flat screen, gradation, etc. If the basic layout format 3i is used, the name of the basic layout format 3i is also stored.

The basic layout format 3i is the display format information extracted by the layout condition extraction function of the arithmetic unit, and is the shape of each page frame, the position of the material data arranged on each page frame, and the material data. On the screen of the image display unit 4, for example, a rectangular page frame and a rectangular data frame indicating the position and area of the material data displayed on the page frame are displayed on the screen of the image display means 4. Basically, it is coordinate data indicating the positions of these page frames and data frames. By designating the material data name in each data frame, the paper surface to be printed is simulated on the screen of the display means. It is data that can be.

Further, the basic layout format 3i can be extracted from the layout data and stored in the storage section each time the material data is laid out in each page frame, and the basic layout format 3i is stored in the storage section. A large number of stored basic layout style 3i groups are generated. The basic layout format group is searched by the basic layout name given to each basic layout format, the shape of the page frame in the basic layout format, the number of products published in the page frame in the basic layout format, etc. Can be read in and displayed on the image display means 4, and material data can be assigned. The data 3a stored in these storage units can be stored in an external storage medium such as a magnetic disk or a magneto-optical disk, and the stored data can be read.

Next, the processing of the arithmetic unit of the layout designing apparatus configured as described above will be described in detail along the flow of processing with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the image data input and registration process (step S1), image data is input from the image input means 2, transferred to the layout design apparatus main body 1, and registered in the storage unit.
In the character data input and registration process (step S2), character data is input from the interactive input means 5, transferred to the layout design apparatus main body 1, and registered in the storage unit.

The above data input and registration processing can be repeated as many times as necessary for image data and character data. Considering work efficiency and work flow,
Since manuscripts are submitted in batches, it is more efficient to register them all at once, and input errors will be reduced. The image data and the character data can be input in any order.

Layout data input process (step S
In 3), layout data is input from the dialogue input means 5. Mainly, layout figures, layout positions of registered image data and character data, ruled lines, flat screens, gradations, and display format information for material data are input. As is well known, the layout data can be input interactively while displaying the page frame and the material data on the image display means 4. Also, when re-entering layout data for image data or character data that has already been laid out, image processing conditions or typesetting that have been registered in the storage unit at least once corresponding to the image data or character data that has been laid out. The conditions are automatically input to the layout data, and the operator does not need to particularly input the image processing conditions and the typesetting conditions by using the interactive input means 5.

At this time, when a plurality of display style information is registered in one material data, the display style information registered immediately before is given priority. Further, it is possible to change the display format information for each material data. For example, when one material data has a plurality of display format information as described above, the display format information other than the priority display format information is displayed. Can be changed to Furthermore, when there are multiple display format information for each material data, it is possible to specify the priority of the display format information and use the display format information other than the display format information registered immediately before. You can also do what you do.

Layout data display processing (step S
In 4), the material data is processed and allocated according to the data input by the layout data input, and is displayed on the image display means 4 by the display control function of the arithmetic unit of the layout design apparatus main body 3. It also displays ruled lines, flat screens, gradations, etc.

The layout changing process (step S5) is
The layout after display is changed by the display change function of the calculation unit. To change the display format information for the material data after display, specifically, for example, scaling value, rotation value, trimming change of image data, typesetting format of character data (typeface, series, character spacing, line spacing, line ending alignment) , Color, etc.) is changed. It also creates graphics and changes ruled lines, screens, gradations, etc. Then, the final layout is determined.

At this time, while the operator decides the display format after inputting the layout data and looks at the layout of the image data, character data, etc. displayed on the image display means 4,
An instruction is given from the dialogue input means 5 to change the image processing condition or the typesetting condition. The image processing and the typesetting with the changed condition are the original image data and the characters stored in the storage unit. Image data or character data which has been subjected to data and subjected to image processing or typesetting again after changing the conditions is displayed on the image display means 4. Therefore, in the image data, the image data that has been once image-processed and changed is not subjected to the image processing again, so that the image processing condition before the change does not restrict the change of the image processing condition. It is also possible to display again the part erased by the trimming process.

In the data output process (step S6), the page frame in which the laid out material data is arranged,
The image output means 7 outputs the image-processed image data as a hard copy. The output hard copy is used for comp or proofreading. Further, the data output means 6 includes a layout scanner device 8 and a CT.
The S device 9 outputs divertable data, and the layout data generated by the layout designing device 1 of this embodiment is used as it is for plate making.

In the data saving process (step S7), the layout data after layout input or layout change is saved in the hard disk in the layout design apparatus. Further, the image processing condition or the typesetting condition of the image data or the character data is extracted from the layout data and registered as the display format information associated with the corresponding material data. This display format information is taken into the layout data when new layout data is input and used as a part of the layout data. That is, when the same image data and character data are repeatedly laid out, it is possible to always lay out in a fixed display format.

Further, it is possible to hold a plurality of layout conditions for one image data and one character data, and it is possible to deal with the case where the display format information is changed. Further, it is possible to automatically generate a basic layout format group by extracting necessary information from the entire layout format and separately registering it as a basic layout format in the storage means. This can be used by instructing from the layout data input means. This is very effective when the operator (designer) uses it for the purpose of creating a basic layout by simulating the layout format when the layout format is not determined.

That is, the operator simulates some of the product listings and their appearances (number of goods, position, size, balance, etc.), and the basic layout appearance is automatically generated and generated from the results. The basic layout format can be reused when the next layout simulation is performed, so if you think about the original design layout without being concerned about layout pattern classification, the basic layout format will accumulate. This is because a large number of layouts can be easily simulated by using the stored and stored basic layout format.

As described above, the display format information (image processing conditions, typesetting conditions) and the overall layout format (basic layout format) for each material (image, character) data used in the layout operation are automatically extracted and stored. By saving the same material data, the previous display format information can be reused and the basic layout format of the created layout can be reused when the same material data is reused.

Therefore, in the leaflet / catalog that is regularly or irregularly repeatedly published, when the same product is repeatedly published, the layout can be set without setting the image processing condition or the typesetting condition for the same material data that is repeatedly performed. Since the layout operation can be performed, the layout operation can be performed more efficiently. For a page frame that has been laid out once, the layout position of each material data posted in the page frame and the area occupied by each material data are saved as a basic layout format, so When performing layout operations in substantially the same page frame, a layout simulation can be performed by simply calling the stored basic layout format and allocating material data to each material data area. On the other hand, by allocating the material data, comparing them, and changing the layout, it is possible to easily determine the layout of the arrangement of the material data which seems to be optimum.

Furthermore, the material data used repeatedly can be formed with the same quality in the leaflets and catalogs that are repeatedly published, and it is necessary for the viewer of the leaflets and catalogs to see that the same products are re-published. You can impress. Also, for example, when laying out the same material data with different display formats for each branch that issues leaflets, change the image processing conditions, typesetting conditions, and layout conditions of the material data once the display format has been determined. By doing so, it can be easily performed. Also, since multiple display style information can be stored in each material data, both the pre-change condition and the post-change condition can be stored, and different display styles can be stored in one material data as described above. It can also be applied to printed materials such as leaflets that are required.

Further, in the layout design apparatus of this embodiment, the material data that has undergone image processing or typesetting is not stored and the changed material data is not stored, but the original material data and the image processing condition or typesetting condition are stored. Are stored separately, and the image processing condition or the typesetting condition is made a part of the layout data, and when the image display unit 4 or the image outputting unit 7 outputs the image processing condition or the typesetting condition. According to the drawing.

Further, when changing the image processing conditions of the image data, the image processing is performed again on the original image data stored in the storage section according to the changed image processing conditions. The image processing that is newly performed is not restricted by the image processing conditions. Further, in the layout data, the image processing conditions and the typesetting conditions are stored instead of storing the image processed image data and the typeset character data. If you have the ability to typeset,
Data compatibility can be easily obtained with the layout design device.

As described above, in a layout design device that an operator such as a designer can use for simulating the layout of printed matter, the material data and the material data that have undergone image processing and typesetting for layout are not used. By handling image processing conditions and typesetting conditions separately, normal layout work is performed while maintaining compatibility of layout data with the CTS and layout scanner for platemaking. Image processing conditions or typesetting conditions for each material data are automatically extracted and stored, and when the material data once laid out is used again, the extracted image processing conditions or typesetting conditions can be used, and a new image Printed materials such as leaflets and catalogs without the need to set processing conditions and typesetting conditions It can be efficiently high layout work diversion rate of the same material data as layouts.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a layout work in which the same image data, character data, and layout format often used in printed materials such as leaflets and catalogs are often diverted, complicated layout work that is repeatedly performed can be performed easily. By always providing a constant layout quality, it is possible to prevent work mistakes and improve work efficiency. Further, the work time is shortened by reducing the load on the worker and improving the efficiency, and finally the delivery date of the printed matter can be shortened. Furthermore, by diverting the created data to the plate making process, it is possible to further rationalize the plate making process.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a layout design device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the layout design apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of data stored in the layout design device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a layout process by the layout design device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Layout Design Device 2 Image Input Means (Material Input Means a) 3 Layout Design Device Main Body (Storage Means b, Display Control Means e, Layout Condition Extraction Means f, Layout Change Means g) 4 Image Display Means (Display Means c) 5 Dialog input means (material input means a, layout input means d) 6 Data output means (output means h) 7 Image output means (output means h)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masatoshi Otake 1-5-1 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a layout design device for laying out printed materials such as leaflets and catalogs using a display device, material input means for respectively inputting material data such as image data and character data to be printed on printed materials, and the material input. Storage means for storing the material data input by the means, display means for displaying the page data indicating the page to be printed and displaying the material data on the page frame, and on the display screen by the display means, Layout input means for inputting layout data having a material data name to be posted on the page frame and display format information of the material data on the page frame, and storing the layout data in the storage means, based on the layout data, Display control means for performing display control so as to display the material data on the page frame displayed on the display means, Extracting the display format information from the layout data,
The layout condition extracting means for storing the display appearance information in the storage means, and the layout data is changed on the display screen of the display means on which the material data is displayed based on the layout data, and the changed layout data is displayed. The layout changing unit for storing in the storage unit, and an output unit for outputting the layout data, the layout input unit, when inputting layout data for material data or page frame repeatedly used for different printed matter, A layout design apparatus, wherein the display format information extracted by the layout condition extracting means is incorporated into layout data. 2. The layout condition extracting means, as display format information for each image data in the layout data, an image such as a scaling value in a scaling process, a rotation value in a rotation process, trimming information in a trimming process, and the like for each image data. The processing condition is extracted, the image processing condition is stored in the storage means in association with each image data, and the layout input means sets the image data to be displayed on the page frame as the layout data. 2. The layout design apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image processing condition associated with is stored in the storage unit, the image processing condition is taken into the layout data as display format information for the material data. 3. The layout condition extracting means uses, as display format information for each character data in the layout data, a typeface, series, character spacing, line spacing for the character data,
The typesetting conditions such as line endings and colors are extracted, and the typesetting conditions are stored in the storage unit in association with each character data, and when the layout input unit sets the character data to be displayed on the page frame, 3. The layout data is taken into the layout data as the display format information for the material data when the typesetting conditions associated with the character data are stored in the storage means. Layout design device. 4. The layout condition extracting means extracts, as display format information for each page frame in the layout data, a basic layout format indicating an arrangement position of each material data on the page frame and an area of each material data. The basic layout format is stored in the storage unit, a basic layout format group is generated in the storage unit, and the layout input unit captures the basic layout format into layout data as display format information for the page frame. The layout design apparatus according to claim 1, wherein