JPH0778624B2 - Layout scanner device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a layout scanner device used for plate making of an original such as a color photograph, and particularly, shortens the processing time to significantly increase the operating rate of the system. The present invention relates to a layout scanner device that is improved and can avoid deterioration of image quality. [Prior Art] In the field of plate making, a layout scanner device has been developed and put into practical use at the time of plate making of an original such as a color photograph. This layout scanner device
It has an editing function capable of outputting one or more images in a desired layout on one film. This type of layout scanner device is sold by many manufacturers, and is an epoch-making one as a plate making system.

Its general usage is, for example, a special process for eliminating acne, wrinkles, etc. of a person image, and a method for plate making (plate making). Moreover, printing of color photographs is generally handled as a temporary process, but for catalogs, pamphlets, leaflets, etc.
In many cases, image processing such as reduction / rotation is performed, trimming is changed, reused, and reused. Such work is generally called the former as a plate-making work and the latter as a plate-making work using a database.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, frequently used (used or reused) color photographs or the like can be stored in an external storage medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk and reused.

At this time, processing such as enlargement / reduction / rotation is also possible, but not only the rotation processing takes a long processing time and productivity is lowered, but also the nature of the interpolation processing causes the image Quality may be significantly degraded.

From this point of view, in consideration of the practical use, there are cases where the rotation process is not substantially performed only by trimming. For example, a second hand of a clock, a spoke of a bicycle, or the like.

That is, when the image rotation process is performed, the value of each pixel of the image data is stored for each area E arranged in a grid on the image memory as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

When this image data is rotated and, for example, the pixel A is rotated to the position of the pixel A ′, the position of the pixel A ′ is the arrangement of the areas E on the image memory and the position thereof is 1: 1.
In many cases, the values do not coincide with each other and overlap with a plurality of areas, in this case, four areas E, and the original value of the pixel A cannot be stored in many cases.

In such a case, the pixel value after rotation, that is, each pixel value of the four areas E that overlap the pixel A ′ is subjected to an average value of the peripheral pixels, interpolation calculation, etc., and using the value of the calculation result. There is. When the value of each pixel after rotation is obtained by such calculation, the original value of each pixel A before rotation is erased, and the value of each pixel after rotation is stored in the image memory.

Therefore, the value of each pixel after the rotation becomes a value different from the original value of the pixel A because the average value of the peripheral pixels and the interpolation calculation are performed.

In this way, the value of each pixel after the rotation processing is different from the original pixel value, so that the effect appears in the actual image and the image quality deteriorates. In particular, as described above, the deterioration of the image quality becomes conspicuous in the image of a thin line such as the second hand of a clock or the spoke of a bicycle.

For this reason, in plate making work using a database, when image rotation processing is required, a means for outputting the image alone to a plate making film or the like is often employed. However, in this case, in the trimming work performed on the color monitor of the layout scanner, it is often first judged whether there is an angle difference between the image in the database and the layout designation desired this time. In addition, in order to output to plate making film etc. independently, the operator must perform all operations such as designation of the relevant file name,
As a result, the operating rate of the system is significantly reduced.

As described above, in the conventional layout scanner device,
Not only the system operation rate decreases, but also the image quality after image processing deteriorates, resulting in lower work efficiency, improving the quality of plate making, which is an important part of the printed matter production process, and shortening the delivery time. There was a problem in trying.

Therefore, in the present invention, even if the rotation processing is necessary, the rotation processing is not performed for the things that should not be rotated, and the processing time at the time of performing various image processing can be shortened to significantly improve the operation rate. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a layout scanner device capable of avoiding deterioration of image quality due to rotation processing.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The present invention relates to an image input unit for inputting image information of a document, and a rotation process for determining whether or not the image information input by the image input unit can be rotated. Rotation information input means for inputting permission / prohibition information, image storage means for adding rotation processing feasibility information inputted by the rotation information input means to the image information inputted by the image input means, and storing it as a database, image information Trimming area input means for inputting position information of the trimming area, angle input means for inputting a rotation angle in the finished state of the original, and position information input by the trimming area input means and a rotation angle input by the angle input means Layout processing means for determining the layout position of the image information stored in the image storage means based on the Of the image information stored in the image storage means, the image information to be image-processed is subjected to rotation processing when it can be processed by the rotation processing availability information, and the image information is placed at the position laid out by the layout processing means. And an image processing unit that outputs the image information alone when the processing cannot be performed by the rotation processing availability information, that is, outputs the image information without performing the rotation processing and without performing the layout processing. This is a layout scanner device that aims to achieve

Further, the present invention is a determination means for comparing the rotation angle input by the angle input means with a preset allowable range to determine whether or not to perform rotation processing on image information, and the rotation processing by the determination means. And a unit that does not perform the rotation process in the image processing unit when it is determined that the process is not performed.

[Operation] By providing such means, the image information of the document is input, the rotation processing availability information is added to this image information, and the image information is stored in the image storage means as a database.

On the other hand, the position information of the trimming area in the image information is input and the rotation angle in the finished state of the document is input, and the layout processing means stores it in the image storage means based on the position information and the rotation angle of the trimming area. Determine the layout position of the image information.

Then, the image processing means performs rotation processing on the image information of the image processing target stored in the image storage means when the rotation processing availability information allows processing, and the layout processing means performs layout processing. The image information is output to the designated position, and the image information is independently output when the rotation processing availability information indicates that the image information cannot be processed. This makes it possible to eliminate unnecessary rotation processing and avoid deterioration of image quality.

[Embodiment] In the present invention, when storing image information as a database, consideration is given to whether or not the image can be rotated, and whether or not the image can be rotated. That is, when storing the image information as a database, the rotation processing availability information indicating whether or not the rotation processing may be performed is added to the image information and stored as a database, and when the image is diverted (operated), its layout is used. Whether the rotation processing is necessary is determined by whether the difference between the tilt angle between the specified image and the layout specification at the time of capturing the image is within the allowable range, and if the image information is necessary, the image information is rotated. It is determined whether the rotation processing should be performed or the single output processing is performed based on the rotation processing availability information in the image, and based on the determination result, the editing processing of the image not requiring the rotation processing and the image to be subjected to the rotation processing. Is output to the film, and subsequently, the image for which the single output process is designated is independently output to the film.

An embodiment of the present invention based on the above concept will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a layout scanner device according to the present invention.

This layout scanner device includes a color scanner 1 as an image input means, a magnetic disk 2, an interactive digitizer 3 as a trimming area input means, a graphic display 4, a magnetic disk 5 or a floppy disk 6, and an angle input. A magnification angle setting device 7 and a floppy disk 8 as means, a color display 9 as image display means, an optical disk 10 as image storage means having a function as rotation information input means, a layout processing means and an image processing means. It has a computer 11 and an output machine 12 which is an output means.

Here, the color scanner 1 is for inputting an image of a color photograph which is a document, and for color-separating this image information for output. Further, the magnetic disk 2 stores image information output from the color scanner 1. On the other hand, the digitizer 3 reads the positional information such as the plate making size and the mask information shown on the layout-designated paper or the block copy,
This is also displayed on the graphic display 4. The magnetic disk 5 or the floppy disk 6 stores the position information output from the digitizer 3. Further, the magnification angle setting device 7 measures the magnification and inclination angle of the document in the finished state,
In addition, this is stored in the floppy disk 8.

On the other hand, the optical disc 10 stores the image information output from the color scanner 1 as a database by adding rotation processing availability information indicating whether or not the rotation processing may be performed to the image information. Further, the computer 11 reads out the image information and the position information stored in the magnetic disk 2 and the magnetic disk 5, respectively, and based on the information of the magnification and the tilt angle stored in the floppy disk 8, the computer 11 reads the information. The function to determine whether or not the rotation process is necessary is based on whether the tilt angle between the layout specification when diverting (operating) the image and the layout specification when capturing the image is within the allowable range. Have

Here, the allowable range of the tilt angle is a range in which the rotation process is not performed even when the rotation instruction is given.

That is, the rotation process causes deterioration of the image quality as described above and takes a long processing time. Therefore, if the rotation instruction is small, it is preferable not to perform the rotation processing on the image quality. Therefore, if the rotation instruction is within the predetermined tilt angle allowable range, the rotation processing is not performed. To instruct.

In addition, the layout designation paper, which is the instruction (reference) for how many times the image is rotated, is often drawn roughly, and the angle measured by the magnification angle setting device 7 from this layout designation paper is
Often inaccurate.

Therefore, it is meaningless to rotate such an instruction by a small angle (because the instruction itself is not accurate),
If the tilt angle is within the allowable range, the rotation is not performed.

It should be noted that the allowable range of the tilt angle is determined by the operation in the work and is not limited to a fixed value.
In the present embodiment, since there are some types of images that are easily noticeable and some are not easily noticeable, the allowable value is set according to the type of rough image.

For example, the permissible range of the tilt angle is ± 1 ° when the type of image is a product, ± 2 ° when cooking, ± 1 ° when interior, ± 1.5 ° when a person, and ± 1.5 ° when landscape. 2 °,
In the case of lighting, a value of ± 1 ° is used.

If the rotation processing is necessary, the computer 11 determines whether the rotation processing should be performed based on the rotation processing availability information in the image information to be image-processed stored in the optical disc 10, and the single output processing. Based on the result of this determination, and based on the result of this determination, the image that does not require rotation processing and the image that should undergo rotation processing are edited and output to the output device 12, and then the independent output processing is performed. It has a function of outputting the designated image to the output device 12 independently. Further, the output machine 12 outputs the processing information in the computer 11 as a plate-making film.

Next, in the layout scanner system configured as described above, the image information of the color photograph color-separated by the color scanner 1 is once stored in the magnetic disk 2. Further, position information such as plate-making size and mask information shown on the layout-designated paper or block copy is read by an appropriate means such as the digitizer 3 and stored in the magnetic disk 5 or the floppy disk 6, and a graphic display is made. 4 is displayed above. Further, the magnification and the tilt angle of the original document in the finished state are measured by the magnification angle setting device 7 and stored in the floppy disk 8. Furthermore, the image information output from the color scanner 1 is stored in the optical disc 10 as a database by adding rotation processing availability information indicating whether or not the rotation processing may be performed to the image information.

On the other hand, the computer 11 reads out the image information and the position information stored on the magnetic disk 2 and the magnetic disk 5, respectively, and this information is displayed on the color display based on the magnification and tilt angle information stored on the floppy disk 8. 9 is displayed. In this case, the layout processing means of the computer 11 adjusts the relative positions of the line indicating the mask, that is, the line indicating the trimming area displayed on the color display 9 and the color-separated image information to perform color separation. The image information is automatically arranged at a predetermined position, and the image information and the position information are combined.
By performing such image processing on each color-separated image, the positions of all the images to be output on one film are determined and output as a plate-making film. If necessary, a color hard copy machine (not shown) may be used to output the color hard copy.

Further, in this case, based on the tilt angle information stored in the floppy disk 8, that is, the tilt angle between the layout designation at the time of diversion (operation) of the image and the layout designation at the time of capturing the image, this is within the allowable range. Whether or not the rotation processing is necessary is determined depending on whether or not there is the rotation processing. as a result,
When it is determined that the tilt angle is out of the allowable range and the rotation process is necessary, the rotation process is performed based on the rotation process availability information in the image information to be image-processed stored in the optical disc 10. Whether to perform the single output process is automatically determined without the operator's hand. Then, in the computer 11, based on the above determination result, the image whose tilt angle is within the allowable range and which does not require the rotation process and the image which should be subjected to the rotation process are edited, and the laid-out image is output. It is output as a film for plate making. Furthermore, following this, an image for which the tilt angle is outside the allowable range and rotation processing is necessary, but which is designated for single output processing is output independently, that is, without rotation processing and layout processing. It is output as a film for plate making by the machine 12. When the pixels are individually output in this way, the image is hand-touched, that is, the image is manually attached to perform plate collection.

As described above, in the layout scanner system of the present embodiment, when storing the image information of the color photograph which is the document as the database, the rotation processing availability information indicating whether or not the rotation processing may be performed is included in the image information. Since it is added, when diverting (operating) the image information stored as a database, when outputting it alone to the platemaking film etc., the operator can specify the relevant file name etc. as in the past. Since it is not necessary to perform all of them, it is possible to shorten the image processing time and significantly improve the operation rate of the system. Furthermore, depending on whether or not the tilt angle between the layout designation when diverting (operating) the image and the layout designation when capturing the image is within the allowable range, when diverting (operating) the image stored as the database. Whether or not rotation processing is necessary is determined, and even if rotation processing is necessary, the image that is not subjected to rotation processing is output separately to the film, so the second hand of a clock, the spokes of a bicycle, etc. Unnecessary image rotation processing can be deleted to avoid deterioration of image quality due to the rotation processing.

In the above embodiment, the case where the original is a color photograph has been described, but it goes without saying that it may be something other than this.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is determined whether or not the rotation process is necessary depending on whether or not the inclination angle between the layout designation at the time of diversion (operation) of the image and the layout designation at the time of capturing the image is within the allowable range. The case where the computer 11 is provided with the function to perform is described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the magnification angle deriving device 7 may be provided with the function to determine information, and the information may be passed to the computer 11 by the floppy disk 8. It is possible.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the rotation processing is necessary, the rotation processing is not performed for the processing that should not be rotated. It is possible to provide a layout scanner device that can be significantly improved and can avoid deterioration of image quality due to rotation processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a layout scanner device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a rotation process. 1 ... Color scanner, 2 ... Magnetic disk, 3 ...
Digitizer, 4 ... Graphic display, 5 ...
... magnetic disk, 6 ... floppy disk, 7 ... magnification angle setting device, 8 ... floppy disk, 9 ... color display, 10 ... optical disk, 11 ... computer, 12 ... output machine.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Image input means for inputting image information of an original, and rotation information for inputting rotation processing availability information as to whether or not rotation processing may be performed on the image information input by the image input means. An input unit, an image storage unit that adds the rotation processing availability information input by the rotation information input unit to the image information input by the image input unit and stores the image information as a database; and a trimming area in the image information. Trimming area input means for inputting position information of the original, angle input means for inputting a rotation angle in the finished state of the document, rotation information input by the trimming area input means and rotation input by the angle input means A layer for determining the layout position of the image information stored in the image storage means based on the angle. And a layout processing means for performing rotation processing on image information to be image-processed among the image information stored in the image storage means when the rotation processing availability information allows processing. A layout scanner device comprising: an image processing unit that outputs the image information to a position laid out by the above, and outputs the image information independently when the rotation processing availability information indicates that the image information cannot be processed. . 2. A determination means for comparing the rotation angle input by the angle input means with a preset allowable range to determine whether or not to perform rotation processing on the image information, and rotation by the determination means. The layout scanner device according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that does not perform a rotation process in the image processing unit when it is determined that the process is not performed.