JPH0729021A - Picture output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a picture output device which can execute optimum antialiasing by the type of plotting data and which can execute an output processing without adding a frame memory to the output device which does not have the frame memory. CONSTITUTION:Input data is analyzed in a language processing part 1. In the case of a graphics processing, an antialiasing processing 3 and a plotting processing are executed in a graphics processing part 2. In the antialiasing processing 3, a private processing corresponding to data to be plotted is executed. The antialiasing processing is executed by a character-only processing 4, a vector-only processing 5 and an image-only processing 6 according to whether data to be plotted is a character, a vector and an image, and it is rasterized. Raster data is outputted from an output processing part 7 to an output device 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image output apparatus for processing input data and outputting an image, and more particularly to an image output apparatus for performing anti-aliasing processing as one of graphics processing. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image output devices have been widely used in which data described in a page description language (hereinafter abbreviated as PDL) is used as input data, the input data is interpreted and processed, and an output image is obtained. Became.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a conventional image output device. In the figure, 71 is a language processing unit, 72 is a graphics processing unit, 73 is a frame buffer, and 74 is an output device. The input data described in PDL is the language processing unit 71.
Entered in. The language processing unit 71 interprets the input data and performs each processing. For example, various parameter setting processing, processing of converting graphics data to bitmap data, and the like are performed. The image expanded into bitmap data is stored in the frame buffer 73, for example. The image data that has been bitmap-developed for one page is transferred to an output device 74 such as a printer or a CRT and output as an image.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the graphics processing unit in the conventional image output apparatus. First, in S81, the input data described in PDL is read. Then, in S82, the read input data is interpreted, the type of the command described as the input data is determined, and the process corresponding to the type of the command is performed. If the command type is to set a parameter, in S83, the designated parameter is set to the parameter table storing the values of various parameters. If the type of command is to build graphics data, in S84, graphics data for drawing the specified figure is built and used as input data for the drawing command. Also,
If the type of command is to draw graphics data, in S85, bitmap expansion is performed from the graphics data and parameters, and the result is written into the frame buffer 73. The processing of each of these commands will be repeated. When drawing of one page is completed and a page output command is received, in step S86, the bitmap-developed image is read from the frame buffer 73, transferred to the output device, and processed by the graphics processing unit for one page. To finish.

In the image output device as described above, most of the output devices 74 are laser beam printers of 300 dpi (dots / inch) or less, and screen display devices such as CRTs. These devices have relatively low resolution.
In a low-resolution output device, in the bitmap-developed image as described above, there is a problem in that dots in the edge portions become visible and aliasing that looks jagged occurs. Therefore, conventionally, an attempt has been made to improve the image quality of an output image by performing a process called anti-aliasing at the time of outputting.

One of the anti-aliasing processing methods is, for example, the graphic processing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-57175. In this method, characters are treated as a set of vector graphics data and antialiasing processing is performed. In the example of FIGS. 12 and 13,
The anti-aliasing process is incorporated as one function of the graphics processing unit 72, and the anti-aliasing process is performed in the drawing process in S85.

On the other hand, in the graphics of characters and figures,
There are differences in properties. In the case of letters, many fine lines are drawn in a very small area. Therefore, when outputting small characters to a low-resolution output device, antialiasing is performed on the entire character and the character appears to be blurry when the above-mentioned algorithm of the antialiasing process that is normally used is used. Or it may get crushed.

Further, like the graphic processing device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-57175, the commands described in PDL and the like are interpreted one by one to draw graphics primitives such as graphics and characters. In the model, a new graphics primitive is drawn by performing anti-aliasing while referring to the background already drawn in the frame memory and the graphics bitmap. Therefore, the frame memory is frequently read. To do this,
It is necessary to have a hardware configuration that has a frame memory for at least one page and can refer to this frame memory at high speed. However, there are many output devices that do not have a frame memory, such as an output device that uses only a band buffer corresponding to a print area of a certain width. To support such an output device, it is necessary to prepare a separate frame memory for the anti-aliasing process.

Similarly, when outputting from an image output device to an output device connected via a network, the frame memory of the output device cannot be referred to, or the frame memory is not referred to. Even if possible
In some cases, communication can only be performed at a speed that is not practically usable. FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional image output device connected to a printing device via a network. In the figure, 75 is an output processing unit, 76 is a first frame buffer, 77 is a second frame buffer, and 78 is a printing device. The second frame buffer 7 included in the printing device 78
7 cannot be referred to from the image output device, or if the second frame buffer 77 is not available at high speed by referring to the second frame buffer 77 via the network, the graphics processing unit 72 performs the anti-aliasing process.
Alternatively, it is necessary to separately prepare the first frame buffer 76 in the output processing unit 75. Then, the image drawn in the first frame buffer 76 is transferred to the second frame buffer 77 via the network, and the printing device 78
The second frame buffer 77 is read out and printing is performed. As described above, there is a problem that a double frame buffer must be provided.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and makes it possible to perform optimum anti-aliasing depending on the type of data to be output, and output without a frame memory. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image output device capable of performing output processing without adding a frame memory to the device.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in an image output apparatus for interpreting input data and processing to obtain an output image, a language processing section for interpreting the input data and a graphic for performing at least anti-aliasing processing. A graphics processing unit and an output processing unit for outputting the image processed by the graphics processing unit, and the anti-aliasing processing performed in the graphics processing unit performs processing according to the type of the input data. It is characterized by that.

Further, the graphics processing unit includes a process of generating an edge list based on input data, and the anti-aliasing process performed in the graphics processing unit is performed when the edge list is generated, or The output processing unit performs the raster output based on the edge list generated by the graphics processing unit.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the anti-aliasing process performed in the graphics processing unit is performed in accordance with the type of input data. The image becomes a removed image, and there is no blurring or crushing of characters and the like, and an image in which aliasing is removed can be obtained while maintaining visibility.

Further, when the edge list is generated or by performing the anti-aliasing process on the edge list, the anti-aliasing process can be performed only by the positional relationship of the edges of the adjacent lines.
Further, since the raster output can be performed based on the edge list, the anti-aliasing process can be performed without referring to the frame memory, and even if the output device does not have the frame memory, the frame memory is newly added. It is possible to output an image without preparing.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image output apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a language processing unit, 2 is a graphics processing unit, 3 is anti-aliasing processing, 4
Is a character only process, 5 is a vector only process, 6 is an image only process, 7 is an output processing unit, and 8 is an output device. As the input data input to the language processing unit 1, for example, PD
It can be data described in a language such as L. P
As the DL, for example, Post Sc from Adobe
Ript is famous. Not limited to this, Knuth
TeX, vector format data used in many XY plotters, etc. can be used as the input data.

The language processing unit 1 interprets input input data. Based on the interpreted input data, simple control such as loop processing and condition determination, and numerical calculation are also performed. When the input data is interpreted as a process related to graphics, it is sent to the next graphic processing unit 2. The graphics processing unit 2 performs various kinds of processing related to graphics. The anti-aliasing process 3 is included as one of the processes. The anti-aliasing process 3 performs a dedicated process according to the data to be drawn. The character-dedicated processing 4 performs anti-aliasing processing on a character image to be drawn when the drawn data is a character. Similarly,
The vector-only processing 5 performs anti-aliasing processing when the drawing data is vector data, and the image-only processing 6 performs anti-aliasing processing when the drawing data is image data. The output processing unit 7 is, for example, a printer or a CRT.
Output processing to the output device 8 is performed.

When the graphics processing unit 2 has a frame buffer, the drawing and anti-aliasing processing can be performed using the frame buffer. Further, in the case of a configuration having no frame buffer, the graphics processing unit 2 may be configured to format-convert the data to be drawn into an edge list and output it. In this case, the anti-aliasing process can be performed when the edge list is generated or on the edge list. The output processing unit 7 can develop a bitmap for each raster line based on the edge list output from the graphics processing unit 2 and output the rasterized bitmap to the output device 8.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation in one embodiment of the image output apparatus of the present invention.
In S11, the language processing unit 1 interprets the input data described in PDL or the like. The functions of the PDL, such as loop processing, condition determination, and numerical calculation, are processed by the language processing unit 1, and then graphics-related commands are sent to the graphics processing unit 2. The commands related to graphics are roughly divided into four. In S12,
The type of instruction is determined, and the process proceeds to each process.

If the command is parameter setting, S13
At, the parameters are set in the parameter table. After setting, the process returns to S11. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of parameters. As an example of the parameter that can be set, the one shown in FIG. Some of these parameters are used for drawing each part shown in FIG. For example, when drawing the two straight lines of the "K" in FIG. 3 (B), "Current Point"
Is used as a reference, and is drawn based on the coordinates of the start and end points of the straight line. At that time, coordinate conversion is performed by the conversion matrix designated by "matrix". When drawing,
In the color specified by "Current Color",
It is drawn with the line width specified by "Line Width". At this time, the rounding error of the line width is "Stroke
It is set by "Adjust". Further, the tip of the line is drawn in the shape specified by "Line Cap", and the connecting portion between the lines is "Line Joy".
It is connected by the shape specified by n ". When a miter is used as the shape of the connecting portion," MiterLi
"mit" specifies the smoothness of the joint. When drawing a curve such as the tip of a line, joint, or arc, a linear approximation is performed within the rounding error range specified by "Flatness". Converted to straight line vector data.If the line to be drawn is a broken line, "Dash
It is drawn in the shape specified by "Pattern." In addition, at the time of drawing the character of "character output" in FIG.
It is converted into vector data by using “Current Font”. In addition to these, there are parameters such as "Clipping Path" for specifying the clip area and "Current Path" for specifying the processing target area. Of course, in addition to this, various parameters such as the type of transparent or overcoating at the time of filling can be set and can be used at the time of processing.

If the instruction instructs the construction of graphics data, the processing of constructing graphics data is performed in S14. In PDL, a plurality of vector graphics may be collected and segmented to construct one geometric figure, and the figure may be subjected to line drawing and painting. In this step, the work for constructing the graphic for that purpose is performed. The graphics data such as figures, characters and images created in this step is returned to S11 and drawn by a drawing command.

If the command indicates drawing processing,
Rendering is performed by converting to raster data. First, in S15, processing is switched depending on the type of data, and processing according to the type of data is performed. If the data to be drawn is character data, in step S16, the character-only processing 4 performs anti-aliasing processing on the character image to convert it into raster data. If the data to be drawn is vector data, the antialiasing process is performed by the vector-dedicated process 5 in S17 to convert it to raster data. When the data to be drawn is image data, the anti-aliasing process is performed by the image-dedicated process 6 in S18, and conversion into raster data is performed.

If the command indicates page output, the output processing unit 7 outputs the output device 8 in step S19.
Output processing to. Since the drawing commands are processed in order, in many PDLs, the figure to be drawn later is overwritten on the figure drawn before and drawn. A transparent model can be considered in addition to the overwrite, but in any case, it is necessary to handle the overlap. Therefore, instead of sending the drawing command to the output device immediately, for example, after drawing an image of one page, a process of outputting an image of one page at a time by a page output command is performed. In a configuration having a frame buffer, drawing is performed in an output buffer for one page called a frame buffer. The frame buffer is read and output in synchronization with the output synchronization of the output device 8. An output image is obtained by these procedures.

Next, the above-mentioned drawing processing will be described in detail.
In the present invention, in order to perform the anti-aliasing process more effectively, the drawing data is changed to character data, vector data,
Processing is performed after dividing into image data. The reason for this is that character data is considered to be much more limited graphics than vector data. That is, in general documents, characters of 12 points or less are often used, and for example, when displayed on a 72 dpi display, it is conceivable that a line of 1 dot will frequently occur. On the other hand, in vector graphics and the like, there are many lines with a width of at least several dots, and it is possible that a large area such as a filled area is targeted. Therefore, when characters are expressed in outline font, they are originally a set of vector graphics, but if antialiasing processing is performed with the same parameters, they will be blurred as a whole or the gaps between the lines will be crushed. There is a high possibility that the effect of will not be obtained. If uniform processing is performed in this way, the best effect may not be obtained depending on the type of data to be drawn. Therefore, in the present invention, the best effect can be obtained regardless of the type of data by performing dedicated processing for each data of character, vector, and image.

The dedicated processing for each type of data will be described. In the case of character data, the anti-aliasing process is not performed on the horizontal and vertical lines. As a result, the edges of horizontal lines and vertical lines are emphasized, correction is applied only to the portions of diagonal lines and curves, blurring is suppressed, and sharp images are obtained. In the case of vector data, antialiasing processing is performed using an existing algorithm. In the case of image data, anti-aliasing processing may be applied only to the contour.

In the case of image data, if the number of colors is converted at the same time as the anti-aliasing process,
More effective. When the image data and the number of colors that can be expressed by the output device are different, conversion is generally performed using an algorithm such as an error diffusion method. Such an algorithm is effective for discrete data such as image data. On the other hand, since the colors of graphics and the like are constant, there is no need for error diffusion and it is just a linear conversion. Therefore, it is sufficient to selectively process only the image data. By performing this color number conversion together with the contour anti-aliasing processing, the disturbance of the contour portion due to the color number conversion is also smoothed, which is effective.

In the case of character data, a certain PDL may have not only a link between a character code and outline font data, but also separate data called hint information for neatly rasterizing a character. For example, in a character storage format called Adobe's Type1 font format, when an outline vector is a horizontal line or a vertical line,
Information that the line is a horizontal line or a vertical line is added.
When the anti-aliasing process is performed on the character data, the hint information can be used to simplify the extraction process of the horizontal and vertical lines for which anti-aliasing is not performed. Further, in addition to the existing font format, it is possible to obtain a better effect by using a new font format to which another hint information considering anti-aliasing is added.

In general, in the anti-aliasing process, the color of the previous figure already written in the frame memory is read, and the process is performed from the color and the color of the own figure. Therefore, the frame memory is frequently read. Therefore, as described above, if the output device does not have a frame memory, for example, if the device has a band buffer, a separate frame memory is required for the anti-aliasing process. Further, a separate frame memory is required even if the device has a frame memory that cannot be read or if the speed of reading is too slow. As described with reference to FIG. 14, the same applies to those connected by a network.

In order to enable output to these output devices, the graphics data to be drawn is converted into an edge list format, and the edge list of each line is referred to and converted into a dot image for output. There is. The anti-aliasing process can be performed at the time of conversion to the edge list format or after conversion to the edge list. The output of images by this method will be described below.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of conversion of graphics data into an edge list. Now, as an example, FIG.
Consider the case of drawing the triangle shown in FIG. When a graphics drawing command that draws a triangle is received,
As shown in FIG. 4B, scanning is performed line by line according to the resolution of the output device. In FIG. 4B, the triangle to be drawn is magnified twice in both length and width and scanning is performed. As a result of scanning, the starting point, the ending point and the color information can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 4C, the run-length format data called an edge having the start point data and the end point data is created by the number of scan lines of the graphics. This is called an edge list. Although not shown in FIG. 4C, data or a pointer indicating color or brightness may be added.

When referring to the edge list thus converted or creating an edge list, the start point and the end point are determined from the relationship between the start point and the end point of adjacent scan lines and the start point and the end point of the scan line. Adjust the color, density, etc. in. As shown in FIG. 4B, when scanning is performed on an enlarged figure, reference is made every two lines, and every two pixels, that is, every four pixels are referred to as a unit. Determine the positional relationship.
For example, when the start points of the adjacent scans above are even numbers and the start points of the scans are odd numbers, it is determined that the number of dots existing within four pixels is 3 in most cases, and output at a color ratio of 75%. To adjust. Of course, the color ratio can be adjusted by referring to the edge list of adjacent lines instead of the edge list scanned for the enlarged figure.

The anti-aliasing process is performed by adjusting the color ratio in this way. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the edge list after the anti-aliasing processing, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the output image. The dot whose color ratio has been adjusted by the anti-aliasing process is divided into different edges as shown in FIG. Using the edge list shown in FIG.
By raster-converting and outputting each line, an image subjected to anti-aliasing processing as shown in FIG. 6 can be obtained. In the figure, since it is not possible to show the color and shade, the hatching in the dots shows the difference in color and density.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the graphics drawing process. First, in S21, the parameters necessary for drawing graphics are acquired from the parameter table as shown in FIG. In S22, the figure to be drawn is made into an outline vector by using the parameters in accordance with commands such as drawing and filling. Then, in S23, an edge list is generated while performing anti-aliasing processing based on the created outline vector. The generated edge list is merged with the edge lists generated so far in S24.

If the data to be drawn is character data,
Each character can be converted into an outline vector, an edge list can be created in the same manner as graphics data, and anti-aliasing processing can be performed. At this time, the horizon,
When a vertical line is detected, antialiasing processing is not performed on that portion, but processing is performed so as to maintain the original color and density. Hint information can be used to detect horizontal lines and vertical lines.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a character drawing process. First, in S31, such as a character font,
Get the parameters needed to draw a character. In S32, the font dictionary is referred to, and it is determined whether or not there is hint information useful for the anti-aliasing process. If there is hint information, in S33, an edge list is generated while performing anti-aliasing processing using the hint information. If there is no hint information,
In S34, the anti-aliasing process for the normal character data and the generation of the edge list are performed. The generated edge list is merged with the edge lists generated so far in S35.

When the data to be drawn is image data, the information in the image data is not subjected to anti-aliasing processing. Therefore, the outline of the image data is converted into an edge list. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of conversion of image data into an edge list. The scan line is set according to the dot row of the image data, and the coordinates of the start point and the end point of the outer shape are used as the edge list. A pointer that points to the dot image of each scan line can be added to the edge list. The anti-aliasing process is performed only on the outline portion of the image data using the edge list, and is not performed in the image data. At the time of output, the bitmap data is output as it is from this edge list.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the processing for drawing the image data. First, in S41, parameters required for drawing an image are acquired. In S42, the image to be drawn is subjected to correction processing such as error diffusion while using the parameters. Then, in S43, an edge list is generated while performing anti-aliasing processing on the contour portion of the image data on which the correction processing has been performed. The generated edge list is merged with the edge lists generated so far in S44.

Each of the above-mentioned data is rarely output alone, and normally, drawing is performed by a plurality of data and is output for each page. Therefore, the edge list converted into the edge list and subjected to the anti-aliasing process is stored until one page is collected. The edge list is sorted by X coordinate and then put in the same Y bucket. When a new graphic is drawn, it is converted into an edge list, then the edge data in the same Y bucket is further compared, and the overlapping data is processed, for example, by overwriting. The data rendered later has priority. Of course, the previously drawn data can be prioritized so as to be transparent. In this way, the edge list for one page is generated.
That is, it is an edge list for each scan line. When there is a page output instruction, raster data is expanded for each scan line according to the specifications of the output device and output.

As described above, in the anti-aliasing process and the output process, the image output device does not need a frame buffer. On the contrary, although a memory for storing the edge list is required, the edge list does not require so much memory capacity because of the run length method. Therefore, not only is it effective for an output device that is not a frame buffer system, but the same processing system can be used for an output device that is a frame buffer system. The method using this edge list is particularly effective in an environment where various output devices must be supported.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the antialiasing and rasterizing processes are all performed independently for each type of character, vector, and image data. However, in the method using the edge list, the rasterizing process is a common process of converting the edge list into a bitmap. Therefore, adopting the edge list method can not only support various output devices, but also can simplify the processing program and reduce the amount of storage device occupied.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the image output apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 51 is an input device, 52 is a central processing unit, 53 is a storage device, 54 is a language processing program, 55 is a graphics processing program, and 56.
Is an anti-aliasing processing program, 57 is an output processing program, 58 is an edge list storage area, 59, 63
Is an output device, 60 and 62 are buffers, and 61 is a network. In this specific example, each process in the image output device is executed by the central processing unit 52 based on a program.

The image output device comprises an input device 51, a central processing unit 52, a storage device 53, and in some cases an output device 59. On the storage device 53, processing programs such as a language processing program 54, a graphics processing program 55, an anti-aliasing processing program 56, an output processing program 57, and an edge list storage area 58 are arranged. The output device 59 is provided with a buffer 60. The buffer 60 is composed of a frame buffer, a band buffer, or the like.

In some cases, the output device 63 may be connected via the network 61. The output device 63 is provided with a buffer 62. The buffer 62 is also composed of a frame buffer or a band buffer.

When the input data described in PDL or the like is sent from the client, it is received by the input device 51.
Upon receiving the input data, the central processing unit 52 executes the language processing program 54 stored in the storage unit 53 to interpret the input data, draw a command for drawing characters, graphics, images, or set parameters. Commands such as building graphics data are recognized. When the input data is a drawing command, the storage device 5 is classified by type.
Processing is performed by the dedicated graphics processing program 55 and anti-aliasing processing program 56 on each of the three, and is converted into an intermediate output format such as an edge list and then combined. After that, when the output command is recognized, the output processing program 57 writes it in the drawing buffer 60 of the output device 59 and outputs it. In addition, when the drawing buffer is on the network 61, the drawing buffer 6 is passed through the network 61.
The data is written in 2 and output from the output device 63.

When the buffer 60 of the output device 59 is not a frame buffer or when it is connected via the network 61 like the output device 63, the frame buffer is used by adopting the method using the edge list. Without performing the antialiasing process and the rasterization, the image data can be transferred to the output device 59 or the output device 63 as raster data and output.

[0045]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the image quality is improved by the anti-aliasing process, the anti-aliasing process dedicated to each drawing object such as a character, a vector, or an image is performed. By applying
The optimum anti-aliasing processing can be performed for each drawing target, and more effective processing can be performed.

Further, a common data format called an edge list is used, and when the edge list is converted or the edge list is subjected to anti-aliasing processing,
By performing rasterization processing based on the edge list, anti-aliasing processing etc. can be performed without using a frame memory, and it is possible to reduce memory capacity and simplify the device, and to output without the frame buffer method. It is possible to easily output to the device. Further, by using the edge list, even if different anti-aliasing processing is performed according to the drawing target, the rasterizing processing can be made common, and the processing program amount can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image output apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the image output apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of parameters.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of conversion of graphics data into an edge list.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an edge list after anti-aliasing processing.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an output image.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a graphics drawing process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a character drawing process.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of conversion of image data into an edge list.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process of drawing image data.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a specific example of the image output apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a conventional image output device.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of a graphics processing unit in a conventional image output device.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional image output device connected to a printing device via a network.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 language processing section, 2 graphics processing section, 3 anti-aliasing processing, 4 character dedicated processing, 5 vector dedicated processing, 6 image dedicated processing, 7 output processing section, 8
Output device, 51 input device, 52 central processing unit,
53 storage device, 54 language processing program, 55 graphics processing program, 56 anti-aliasing processing program, 57 output processing program, 58
Edge list storage area, 59, 63 output device, 60, 6
2 buffers, 61 network, 71 language processing unit, 72 graphics processing unit, 73 frame buffer, 74 output device, 75 output processing unit, 76 1st
Frame buffer, 77 second frame buffer, 7
8 Printing device.

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image output apparatus for interpreting input data and performing an operation to obtain an output image, a language processing section for interpreting the input data, a graphics processing section for performing at least anti-aliasing processing, and the graphics. It has an output processing unit for outputting the image processed by the processing unit,
The image output device, wherein the anti-aliasing process performed in the graphics processing unit is a process according to the type of the input data. 2. The graphics processing unit includes a process of generating an edge list based on input data, and the anti-aliasing process performed in the graphics processing unit is performed when the edge list is generated, or 2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device performs the raster output based on the edge list generated by the graphics processing unit, which is performed on the edge list.