JPH07314644A - Image data editor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image data editor which can process the ink volume data calculation of a press plate in a short time. CONSTITUTION:An editor 150 samples image data input from an image input scanner 110 at a specific interval, and produces rough image data having low resolution. The editor 150 edits character, graphic data input from a line drawing processor 120 and the rough image data at a page unit, and produces page data. An RIP 160 unwinds the page data to bit map data at a page unit, and returns it to the editor 150. The editor 150 disposes the bit map data of the page unit at each press plate, produces paging data, and an area rate calculator calculates the halftone area rate of a press plate area as ink volume data based on the paging data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data editing apparatus for producing printing plate output data used in a plate making process, and more particularly to an image data editing apparatus capable of calculating ink amount data used in a printing process. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, a printed matter is prepared by setting a printing plate (printing plate) prepared in a plate making process on a printing machine, supplying ink to the printing surface, and transferring the ink onto a sheet or the like. The printing machine has a plurality of ink fountains arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the printing plate, and the ink supplied from the ink fountain is supplied to the surface of the printing plate via various rollers. It The ink supplied from one ink fountain is supplied to the ink zone virtually divided on the surface of the printing plate corresponding to each ink fountain. The amount of ink is adjusted by adjusting the opening of the ink fountain.

Usually, the printing surface corresponding to the inking zone is
Since the printing area and the non-printing area, or the area with a high image density and the area with a low image density coexist, the opening amount of the ink fountain is adjusted in the initial operation stage of the printing machine to determine the ink amount to be supplied to each ink zone. Need to be adjusted. For this reason, conventionally, there has been proposed a method of calculating the ink amount data for each printing plate using printing plate image data for creating a printing plate and setting the opening degree of the ink fountain based on this data. ing.
Such a method is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-12227 or Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-500031.

[0004]

However, in the conventional device for calculating the ink amount data, since the halftone dot area ratio of the printing plate is obtained using the high definition halftone image data, the calculated data is calculated. There is a problem that the amount is huge and the calculation time is long. For this reason, if you try to calculate the ink amount data before performing the plate making process, the plate making process will be delayed, and if you try to perform it in parallel with the plate making process, the plate making process will end at the same time. Since the ink amount data is calculated, the opening degree of the ink fountain of the printing machine cannot be adjusted in advance, which causes a problem that the preparation of the printing machine is delayed.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image data editing apparatus capable of calculating ink amount data of a printing plate in a short time. To do.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, an image data editing apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is a plate output data for directly exposing the surface of a plate material to create a plate. And an input means for inputting character / figure data forming a character / figure area of a printed matter and image data forming a picture area. , Coarse image data generation means for generating coarse image data having a lower resolution than the image data by extracting the input image data at predetermined intervals, and editing the character / graphic data and the coarse image data page by page. A page data generation unit that generates page data, a data expansion unit that rasterizes the page data to generate bitmap data in page units, and a page unit created by the data expansion unit. Imposition data generating means for generating imposition data by arranging the map data for each plate, and the halftone dot area ratio of the plate area based on the imposition data generated by the imposition data generating means. Area ratio calculation means for calculating as data is provided.

An image data editing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an input unit for inputting character / graphic data forming a character / graphic area of a printed matter and image data forming a picture area, and the input image data. For generating rough image data having a resolution lower than that of the image data by extracting at a predetermined interval, and a page for generating page data by editing the character / graphic data and the rough image data page by page. Data generation means, imposition data generation means for arranging the page data generated by the page data generation means for each printing plate to generate imposition data, and bitmap for each printing plate by rasterizing the imposition data Data development means for generating data, and the dot area ratio of the printing plate area as ink amount data based on the bitmap data for each printing plate generated by the data development means. And a area ratio calculating means for calculating Te.

[0008]

In the invention of claim 1, when the character / figure data forming the character / figure area of the printed matter and the image data forming the picture area are inputted from the input means, the rough image data generating means makes the inputted image. By extracting the data at a predetermined interval, coarse image data having a lower resolution than the image data is generated. Then, the page data generation means edits the character / graphic data and the rough image data page by page to generate page data. The page data is output to the data expansion unit, expanded into page-unit bitmap data, and output to the imposition data generation unit. The imposition data generating means arranges the bitmap data in page units for each printing plate to generate imposition data. Then, the area ratio calculation means calculates the halftone dot area ratio of the plate area as ink amount data based on the imposition data.

In the invention of claim 2, when the character / graphic data forming the character / graphic area of the printed matter and the image data forming the picture area are input from the input means, the rough image data generating means causes the input image to be input. By extracting the data at a predetermined interval, coarse image data having a lower resolution than the image data is generated. Then, the page data generation means edits the character / graphic data and the rough image data page by page to generate page data. Further, the imposition data generation means arranges the generated page data for each printing plate to generate imposition data. The imposition data is output to the data developing means and rasterized into bitmap data in plate units. The area ratio calculation means calculates the halftone dot area ratio of the plate area as ink amount data based on the bit map data for each plate generated by the data development means.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall construction of a plate making system. This plate making system is composed of an image data editing device 100 and a printing plate making device 200 connected online to the image data editing device 100. The image data editing device 100 includes an image input scanner 110, a line drawing processing device 120, an operation input device 130 such as a keyboard and a graphic display, a hard disk 140 as a storage unit for storing image data and the like, an editing device 150, RIP (Raster Image Processor) 16
With 0 and. The printing plate creation device 200 is a device that creates a printing plate by directly exposing the plate material surface based on printing plate output data (high-definition imposition data 5 described later) output from the image data editing device 100. Yes, for example CTP (C
A computer ToPlate) device is used.

FIG. 2 shows the processing flow of each device in the plate making system based on the transition of data.
Hereinafter, the image data editing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The configuration and processing operation of 0 will be described. The image input scanner 110 reads the photographic original 2 and performs color separation processing to create the pattern data 3 for each color (Y, M, C, K) in units of originals. The line drawing processing device 120 is composed of a computer typesetting machine, a word processor, a digitizer, or the like, and inputs characters or figures to create the line drawing data 4.

The editing device 150 performs two processes according to their functions. The first process is a process for generating high-definition imposition data 5 (print plate output data) for making a printing plate, and the second process is for adjusting the ink fountain opening of the printing press. This is a process of generating necessary ink amount data (average halftone dot area ratio data). Prior to each processing, the editing device 15
0 receives the pattern data 3 from the image input scanner 110 and the line drawing data 4 from the line drawing processing device 120. Each of these data 3 and 4 is stored in a predetermined area of the hard disk 140. Then, in the first process, an instruction from the operator regarding layout information and the like is received from the operation input device 130, and the pattern data 3 and the line drawing data 4 are edited in accordance with the instruction to create image data in page units. When the page-by-page editing is completed, a plurality of pages are arranged on one printing plate area according to the bookbinding specifications and the like to create high-definition imposition data 5. This imposition data 5
, The line drawing area is created with character / graphic vector data,
The picture area is created by image density data.

Next, the second processing will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4. First, in the process of reading image data, when the operator inputs a scan start instruction of the image input scanner 110 (step S10), the high-definition pattern data 3 for each color separated from the image input scanner 110 is input in document units. Stored in the hard disk 140 (step S1)
2).

Next, the high-definition pattern data 3 stored in the hard disk 140 is sampled at a constant pixel interval to generate thinned-out rough image data 3a. For example,
High-definition pixel data is sampled every 10 pixels, and this sampling data is assigned to the data area divided at the sampling intervals. This gives, for example, 10
When the data is sampled every other piece, the rough image data 3a having a data amount of 1/100 is generated in the two-dimensional area (step S14). The sampling interval can be arbitrarily set in consideration of the resolution of the scanner and the arrangement interval of the ink fountains of the printing machine. The rough image data 3a is stored in an area different from the storage area of the high definition image data in the hard disk 140 (step S).
16). Further, the editing device 150 includes the line drawing processing device 12
The line drawing data 4 of characters and figures is read from 0 and stored in the hard disk 140.

Through the above processing, the reading processing of the data necessary for calculating the average halftone dot area ratio is completed. The data reading process from the image input scanner 110 and the line drawing processing device 120 is actually the same process as the first process. Next, the editing device 150 sets the layout of a predetermined image area and character / graphic area in each page of the printed matter.
Then, the arrangement information of each area is stored in the hard disk 140 (steps S20 and S22 in FIG. 4). Further, it is determined whether or not the necessary layout in the page is completed, and if it is not completed, the above process is repeated. If it is completed, the process moves to the next process (step S24).

The editing device 150 includes a hard disk 140.
The rough image data 3a and the line drawing data 4 are read from the inside in page units and output to the RIP 160 (step S26). R
The IP 160 is a raster expansion of the line drawing data 4 with the coarse resolution specified by the editing device 150, and the rough image data 3a.
Shading processing is performed. As a result, bitmap data in page units is generated (step S28).

When the data expansion process is completed, the RIP 16
0 returns the bitmap data in page units to the editing device 150 (step S30). The editing device 150 stores the bitmap data in page units in the hard disk 140 (step S32). The above process is repeated for all page data (step S34). And
At this point, bitmap data for calculating the average halftone dot area ratio is created page by page.

Further, the editing device 150 creates the printing plate data by imposing each page on the printing plate area and, at the same time, adding out-of-page data such as register marks and control charts as necessary. The printing plate data is generated not as a form in which the substantive data of the page data and the out-of-page data are combined, but as data indicating a combining procedure and arrangement information of each data (step S36). The generated plate data is stored in the hard disk 140 (step S38).

If the above imposition processing is common to the first processing, the entire processing in the editing device 150 can be performed efficiently. In this case, the plate data showing the composition procedure and the layout information and the pattern data 3 obtained by the above-mentioned reading process
The high-definition imposition data 5 in the first process is created based on the line drawing data 4 and the line drawing data 4. When the printing plate data is generated, the editing apparatus 150 calculates the average halftone dot area ratio based on the combining procedure and layout information for each printing plate and the previously obtained rough image bitmap data.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration relating to the calculation of the average halftone dot area ratio in the editing device 150. In FIG. 5, the editing device 150 includes an imposition data generation unit 40 that generates imposition data based on bitmap data of a rough image for each page stored in the hard disk 140 and a synthesis procedure and arrangement information, and the imposition data generation unit 40. The area of the drawing area for each divided area based on the drawing area calculation unit 50 that calculates the area of the drawing area based on each signal from the unit 40 and the data of the drawing area calculated by the drawing area calculation unit 50. Area ratio calculation unit 60 for calculating the ratio (ink amount data), and CPU 70 for controlling the operation of each processing unit
And a memory 80. The image area calculation unit 50 further includes a first counter 51, a second counter 52, a third counter 53, a register 54, a comparator 55, and a latch 5.
6 and an OR gate 57.

First, setting of divided areas for obtaining ink amount data will be described. FIG. 6 schematically shows the relationship between the scanning direction of the exposure beam of the printing plate making apparatus 200 and the printing direction of the printing press with respect to the plate material 13 (size XL in the main scanning direction: sub-scanning direction YL). The main scanning direction X of exposure on the plate material 13 and the printing direction P of the printing machine do not necessarily match depending on the type of printing machine. For example, FIG. 6A shows a printing plate creating apparatus 20.
When the main scanning direction X at 0 and the printing direction P at the printing machine are different from each other, FIG. 6B illustrates a case where the main scanning direction X and the printing direction P coincide with each other. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 is a printing plate after the plate material 13 is exposed, and reference numeral 9 is a page area.

When they are different from each other, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 6A, the size x of the divided area 8 in the main scanning direction is obtained.
1 is set by dividing the size XL of the plate material 13 in the main scanning direction by the division number input by the operator. The number of divisions is the number of inking zones 7 defined by the arrangement of the ink fountains 300. In addition, the divided area 8 has a sub-scanning direction Y.
It becomes a long strip-shaped rectangle. Hereinafter, this setting method is referred to as a main scanning direction division method.

If they match, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 6B, the size y2 of the divided area 8 in the sub-scanning direction is input by the operator as the size YL of the plate material 13 in the sub-scanning direction. It is set by dividing by the divided number. The number of divisions is also the number of inking zones 7 as described above. In this case, the divided area 8 is a strip-shaped rectangle that is long in the main scanning direction X. Hereinafter, this setting method will be referred to as a sub-scanning direction division method. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the ink amount data calculation process. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7, first, the operator sets the division direction (main scanning direction X or sub-scanning direction Y) and the number of divisions (n, figure) for setting the division area 8 for which the ink amount data is to be calculated from the operation input device 130. In the case of 6, n = 4) is input (step S100).

If the input division direction is the main scanning direction X, it is determined to be the main scanning direction division method and the process proceeds to step S120. If the sub scanning direction Y is input, it is determined to be the sub scanning direction division method. Then, the process proceeds to step S130 (FIG. 8) (step S110). (Main scanning direction division method) When the main scanning direction X is input as the division direction, in step S120, the total number of dots TD (determined by the resolution of the coarse image) of the plate material 13 in the main scanning direction X is input. Number of divided dots divided by the number n (TD
/ N) is stored in the register 54 as the size x1 of the divided area 8 in the main scanning direction. Further, in step S121, the total number of lines TL determined by the size YL of the plate material 13 in the sub-scanning direction and the coarse image resolution is recognized and registered in the CPU 70. Further, in step S122, the memory 80
Is cleared.

Next, when the operator gives a data calculation command, the imposition data generation section 40 generates imposition data of low resolution based on the rough image bit map data for each page and the combining procedure and arrangement information. (Step S1
23). The bitmap data is set to "1" in the image area and "0" in the non-image area. Further, the imposition data generation unit 40 uses the reference timing signal L for each main scanning line.
S, the exposure data detection signal DD whose bit map data is "1", and the clock signal DC for each bit map data are output. Although it is expressed as “exposure data”, it is not used for actual exposure.

The first counter 51 counts the number of clocks DCN of the input clock signal DC, that is, the number of bit map data. The second counter 52 counts the number of times the exposure data detection signal DD is generated, that is, the number when the bitmap data is "1" (exposure data number Di, j) (step S124). In the exposure data Di, j, i means the number of divided areas, and j means the number of lines.

The comparator 55 compares the count value DCN of the clock signal DC read from the first counter 51 with the divided dot number (TD / n) stored in advance in the register 54 (step S125). And the first counter 5
When the count value DCN of 1 is smaller than the number of divided dots (TD / n), the process of step S124 is continued.
Further, when the numbers of both are the same, the comparator 55 outputs the count end notification signal ES, whereby the exposure data number Di, j counted by the second counter 52 is stored in the latch 56. , The first counter 51 and the second counter 52 are cleared by the output of the OR gate 57 (step S126). At this time, the count end notification signal E
S is also given to the CPU 70. The first and second
The counters 51 and 52 are also cleared by the reference timing signal LS for each line.

When the count end notification ES is received, CP
U70 reads the value stored in the latch 56. Then, the CPU 70 reads the already-stored already-calculated data from the storage area of the memory 80 corresponding to the divided area 8 in which the number of exposure data Di, j newly stored in the latch 56 is stored, and is stored in the latch 56. Exposure data Di, j
And the calculated data read from the memory 80 are added,
It is again stored in the storage area of the corresponding memory 80 (step S127).

The third counter 53 counts the reference timing signal LS for each main scanning line from the imposition data generating section 40, that is, the number of lines LN. If the counter 53 is not counting, the CPU 70
It is determined that the processing for the one line is not completed (step S128), and the above steps S124 to S124 are performed.
The process up to 127 is repeatedly executed, and the obtained data is stored in the memory 80.

An example of the storage area of the memory 80 is shown in FIG.
Is shown in. For example, the read / count processing of bitmap data is the first divided area 81 (FIG. 6A).
Latch 5
In 6, the number D1,2 of exposure data of the second line is stored. At this time, the corresponding storage area m1 of the memory 80
Is the exposure data D of the first line of the same divided area 81.
1,1 has already been stored. Then, the CPU 70 adds the data D1,2 read from the latch 56 and the data D1,1 read from the storage area m1 of the memory 80, and stores the added data in the same storage area m1 of the memory 80 (step S127).

When the above-mentioned processing for the one line is completed in step S128, in step S129
It is determined whether or not the processing of all lines has been completed. This determination is executed by the CPU 70 comparing the total number of lines TL registered in step S121 with the count value LN of the third counter 53. That is, when LN <TL, it is determined that the processing of all lines is not completed,
When LN = TL is obtained by repeating the processing from step S124 to step S128, the process proceeds to calculation of the image area partial area ratio (ink amount data) (described later).

(Sub-scanning direction division method) Further, step S
When it is determined that the division direction input in 100 is the sub-scanning direction Y (step S110), the total number of dots TD in the main scanning direction X is stored in the register 54 in step S130 (see FIG. 8). In step S131,
The CPU 70 recognizes the number of divided lines (TL / n) obtained by dividing the total number of lines TL by the input number of divided lines n as the size y2 in the sub-scanning direction of the divided area 8 and registers it. Further, in step S132, the memory 80 is cleared.

Then, when the operator gives a data calculation command, low-resolution imposition data is generated (step 133). The first counter 51 counts the number DCN of the clock signals DC, and the second counter 52 counts the number of times the exposure data detection signal DD is generated (exposure data Di, j) (step S134). The comparator 55 uses the count value DCN read from the first counter 51 and the register 5
The total number of dots TD stored in advance in No. 4 is compared (step S135). Then, if the count value DCN of the first counter 51 is smaller than the total number of dots TD, the processing is continued. Further, when the numbers of both are the same, the comparator 55 outputs the count end notification signal ES, whereby the exposure data Di, which is counted by the second counter 52,
j is stored in the latch 56 and the first counter 51
And the second counter 52 is cleared (step S13).
6). At this time, the count end notification signal ES is the CPU 7
It is also given to 0. Counter end notification signal E in this case
S also means the end of one line.

When the count end notification ES is received, CP
U70 is the exposure data D newly stored in the latch 56.
Read i, j. Then, the CPU 70 reads the already-stored already-calculated data from the storage area of the memory 80 corresponding to the divided area 8 in which the exposure data Di, j stored in the latch 56 is calculated, and stores the new data stored in the latch 56. The calculated exposure data Di, j and the already-calculated data read from the memory 80 are added and stored again in the storage area of the corresponding memory 80 (step S137).

An example of the storage area of the memory 80 is shown in FIG. 9 (b).
Is shown in. For example, the read / count process of the bitmap data in the main scanning direction X is the first divided area 8
In the case of the second line of 1 (see FIG. 6B), the latch 56 stores the exposure data number D1,2 of the second line. At this time, the number D1,1 of exposure data of the first line of the same divided area 81 is already stored in the corresponding storage area m1 of the memory 80. And
The CPU 70 reads the data D1,2 read from the latch 56.
And the data D1, read from the storage area m1 of the memory 80.
1 is added, and the added data is stored in the same storage area m1 of the memory 80 (step S137).

Further, the CPU 70 compares the count value LN of the third counter 53 with the number of divided lines (TL / n), and determines whether or not the processing for each divided area 8, that is, the number of divided lines (TL / n) is completed. Is determined (step S138). Next, the CPU 70 determines the count value LN of the third counter 53.
Is compared with the total number of lines TL to determine whether or not the processing of all lines is completed (step S139).

When the data calculation of the entire plate material 13 is completed (steps S129 and S139), the area ratio calculation unit 60.
Reads out the count value (exposure data) of the image area obtained for each of the divided areas 81 to 84 from the respective storage areas m1 to m4 of the memory 80. Then, the area ratio of the image area or the area ratio of the non-image area is calculated by the following formula (step S140).

Area ratio of image area = unit pixel area ×
Image area count value / divided area area Non-image area partial area ratio = 1-Image area partial area ratio The unit pixel area indicates the area of one dot defined by the low resolution in the rough image. The calculated area ratio data of the image area is stored in the hard disk 140 as ink amount data (step S42 in FIG. 4) and delivered to the printing machine offline or online. The printing press, for each divided area virtually set on the printing surface of the printing plate,
The opening of the ink supply port of the ink fountain corresponding to the area ratio data is set. This makes it possible to optimize the ink supply amount by decreasing the ink supply amount in the print region having a small image region and increasing the ink supply amount in the print region having a large image region.

The printing plate creating apparatus 200 receives the bitmap data for printing plate output from the RIP 160, and directly exposes the plate material surface according to this data to create a printing plate. (Second Embodiment) Image data editing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment.
Is different from the apparatus of the first embodiment in that the average halftone dot area ratio data is calculated by the RIP 160, as shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a plate making system using the image data editing apparatus of the second embodiment, and is a schematic diagram showing image data generation processing according to the transition of data. In FIG. 11, the editing device 1
Reference numeral 50 is for loading the pattern data 3 and the line drawing data 4,
The rough image data 3a is generated, the page data is generated, and the printing plate data is generated to generate the imposition data of the rough image for calculating the average halftone dot area ratio. After that, the RIP 160 expands the imposition data of the rough image into bitmap data, and calculates the average halftone dot area ratio based on this data.

In order to perform such an operation, the RIP 160 in this embodiment has a configuration and procedure for calculating the average halftone dot area ratio described in the first embodiment. The editing device 150 also generates high-definition imposition data 5 for plate making and also generates rough image imposition data for calculating average halftone dot area ratio data. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image data editing device 100. First, in the editing apparatus 150, when the operator inputs a scan start instruction in the image data reading process, the color-separated high-definition pattern data 3 for each color is input from the image input scanner 110 and stored in the hard disk 140. (Step S50).

Next, the high-definition picture data 3 stored in the hard disk 140 is sampled at regular pixel intervals to generate thinned-out rough image data 3a. The generation method uses the same method as in the first embodiment (step S).
52). The rough image data is stored in the hard disk 140 in an area different from the area for storing the high definition image data (step S54). Further, the editing device 150 reads the line drawing data 4 of characters and figures from the line drawing processing device 120 and stores it in the hard disk 140.

Through the above processing, the reading processing of the data necessary for calculating the average halftone dot area ratio is completed. Next, the editing device 150 uses a predetermined image area, characters,
Set the layout of the graphic area. Then, the arrangement information of each area is stored in the hard disk 140 (step S5).
6). Further, it is determined whether or not the necessary page layout is completed. If the layout is not completed, the above process is repeated. If completed, the process moves to the next process.

The editing device 150 creates the printing plate data by imposing each page on the printing plate area and, at the same time, adding out-of-page data such as register marks and control charts as necessary. This printing plate data is generated not as a form in which the actual data of the page data and the out-of-page data are combined, but as data indicating the combining procedure and arrangement information of each data (step S5).
8, S60).

The editing device 150 RIPs the rough image imposition data based on the generated plate data and page data.
(Step S62). The RIP 160 develops the line drawing data in the plate area with a coarse resolution and performs a meshing process on the rough image data to generate bit map data of the rough image for each plate. Then, based on this bitmap data, the average halftone dot area ratio is calculated according to the same procedure as in the first embodiment (step S64). RIP
160 sends the calculated average dot area ratio data (ink amount data) for each divided area to the editing device 150 (step S66).

The editing device 150 receives the average dot area ratio data and stores it in the hard disk 140. Then, for example, when there is a request from the control computer of the printing machine connected online, this data is transmitted (step S68).

[0046]

As described above, the image data editing apparatus according to the first and second aspects of the present invention creates imposition data based on the rough image data sampled from the input data, and this imposition Since the halftone dot area ratio data is calculated as the ink amount data using the data, the area ratio can be calculated in a short time by reducing the data amount for calculating the halftone dot area ratio.

Further, since it is configured to handle page units (page data), even if a part of the pages required for one printing plate is changed, it is possible to deal with it at any time. It is possible to calculate the halftone dot area ratio, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in processing efficiency due to the occurrence of waiting time. In particular, according to the first aspect of the invention, since the bitmap data in page units in which page data is raster-developed is handled, the effect of preventing the reduction in calculation processing efficiency becomes more remarkable even when the necessary page is changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a plate making system including an image data editing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a change in data along a processing flow of the plate making system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an image data reading process of the image data editing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an imposition data generation process and an average halftone dot area ratio calculation process of the image data editing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main configuration relating to an average halftone dot area ratio calculation process of the editing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of setting divided areas on a printing plate in the average dot area ratio calculation processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of an average halftone dot area ratio calculation process of the editing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of an average halftone dot area ratio calculation process of the editing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a storage area of a memory in an average halftone dot area ratio calculation process.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a plate making system including an image data editing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a change in data along a processing flow of a plate making system including the image data editing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image data editing apparatus in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Image Data Editing Device 110 Image Input Scanner 120 Line Drawing Processing Device 130 Operation Input Device 140 Hard Disk 150 Editing Device 160 RIP (Raster Image Processor)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image data editing device for producing printing plate output data for directly exposing the surface of a printing plate to produce a printing plate, and for calculating ink amount data required in a printing process. Input means for inputting character / graphic data forming a character / graphic area of a printed matter and image data forming a pattern area, and a lower than the image data by extracting the input image data at a predetermined interval. Coarse image data generating means for generating coarse image data of resolution; page data generating means for generating page data by editing the character / graphic data and the rough image data page by page; and rasterizing the page data. Data expansion means for generating page-by-page bitmap data, and the page-by-page bitmap data created by the data expansion means for each plate. Imposition data generating means for generating print data, and area ratio calculating means for calculating the halftone dot area ratio of the plate area as ink amount data based on the imposition data generated by the imposition data generating means. An image data editing device comprising: 2. An image data editing device for producing printing plate output data for directly exposing the surface of a printing plate to produce a printing plate, and for calculating ink amount data required in a printing process. Input means for inputting character / graphic data forming a character / graphic area of a printed matter and image data forming a pattern area, and a lower than the image data by extracting the input image data at a predetermined interval. Coarse image data generating means for generating coarse image data of resolution; page data generating means for generating page data by editing the character / graphic data and the rough image data page by page; and the page data generating means. Imposition data generating means for arranging the generated page data for each plate to generate imposition data, and a bitmap for each plate by rasterizing the imposition data Data developing means for generating data, and area ratio calculating means for calculating the dot area ratio of the plate area as ink amount data based on the bitmap data of the plate unit generated by the data expanding means. An image data editing device comprising: