JPH09179861A - Page design supporting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to design a page needed for the production of printed matter without skill. SOLUTION: Data which are close to the current plan are retrieved from a style data base and a material data base (S1) and the number of style frames is adjusted (S2). Then respective materials which should be put in each style frame are linked with the frame (S3). A permissible range such as the upper and lower limits of the size of the frame, etc., are specified by conditions (S4). Then style frames are arranged within a range meeting the conditions (S5). Respective materials are put in the respective style frames. If a problem occurs to the arrangement at this time, not only the materials, but also the size of the style frame, etc., are changed to automatically retrieve the best arrangement.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for supporting the design of a page that constitutes a printed matter, and more particularly, when designing a page by pouring a material such as a document into a style frame provided in the page. On how to help.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are several possible methods for producing printed matter, and one of the general methods is the following steps.

Step 1. Planning Planning the contents of printed materials.

Step 2. Production of materials In accordance with the planning, create elements such as documents, pictures, and drawings (hereinafter referred to as "materials") that compose printed matter.

Step 3. Page design Design each page that composes printed matter (hereinafter referred to as "page design"). Page design is performed by first providing a style frame (a frame in which a material is placed, hereinafter also simply referred to as “frame”) on each page, and inserting a material in each style frame. The number, size, shape, etc. of style frames depend on the number of materials and the area, shape, etc. of the area required for pouring the materials.

Step 4. Plate making (typesetting, pattern layout, plate collection) The plate is actually made using the style frame and materials determined by the page design.

Step 5. Printing Actually print the result of prepress.

The above is the rough working process. In recent years, various computer systems have been introduced in order to save labor in these operations. For example, the work in step 4 is
It is being automated by production software. Also,
In step 3, the DTP system is starting to be used. D
When a page design is performed on the TP system, the design result may be used as it is as typesetting and layout data at the time of printing. In such a case, it is not necessary to separately perform the platemaking process of step 4.

The use of the DTP system has improved the efficiency of page design to some extent. However, page design is largely dependent on the craftsmanship, experience and taste of the designer. If an inexperienced person designs a page, it takes a lot of time for trial and error until the design is confirmed. This is a property inherent in the work of design, and is not a problem solved by the introduction of a normal DTP system. An experienced designer remembers or holds the designs he has made in the past as a design collection and can bring out the necessary design depending on the situation, but this is impossible for those who have no experience.

In view of this point, recently, a system user may create a template from past printed matter and make it a database. Templates are design collections that hold examples of typical page designs, and even beginners should find a design that is close to the one needed this time from past designs, make partial corrections and replace the contents, and perform page design. You can

[0011]

Currently, as a supporting method for performing page design without skills, a method of creating and using this template is conceivable. However, this approach also has the following problems.

Problem 1. The limit of improvement of work efficiency The design registered as a template is the printed matter itself that combines style and material. Therefore, both the style frame and the material are fixed. When reusing this, it is necessary not only to replace the material, but also to redetermine the size and shape of the style frame suitable for the replaced material. This work is still a matter of trial and error,
There is a limit to the improvement of work efficiency.

Problem 2. Poor system processing efficiency Each template has a considerable amount of data, which is registered as a combination of styles and materials. Therefore, the load on the system side incorporating this becomes large, and the processing efficiency centered on the search is very poor.

Problem 3. Poor applicability to all operations A DTP system with a template can support step 3 (page design) above, but this support cannot extend to steps other than step 3. Originally, process 1
At the stage of (planning) or process 2 (production of materials), the physical conditions such as the positional relationship and the shape of the styles and materials (since this condition ultimately affects the layout of the style frame, Although there may exist a "condition", it cannot be automatically referred to and dealt with in the step 3 of the process. For example, even if the layout condition that "the style frame of article A and the style frame of article B must be put on the same page" is specified in the stage of step 2, (hereinafter, the specified layout condition is "specified layout". In other words, in Step 3, there is no choice but to handle it manually.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is a page design support method which enables improvement of page design efficiency, improvement of system processing efficiency, and page design overlooking the whole work. To provide. Therefore, in the present invention, first, the database is held in a state where styles and materials are separated. Search for the desired style and material from these and make the necessary modifications to the latter. After that, a certain allowable range is set for the deformation of the style and the material, and both are automatically arranged.

[0016]

A page design support method according to the present invention comprises a style search step of searching a style holding means for holding styles of various printed materials for a style of a page to be designed this time, and a search. The linking process of linking each style frame and each material that should be poured into them, the temporary pouring process of temporarily pouring each said material into the linked style frame, and the result of the temporary pouring is not good At this time, the method includes a material deformation calculation step of calculating a deformation to be given to each material, and a style frame deformation calculation step of calculating a deformation to be given to each style frame when the material deformation deviates from a predetermined allowable range.

In this aspect, the styles of various printed matter are held in advance. This depends on the form of the style database, for example. Although the present invention is practicable even when the materials are integrally contained in this style,
It is more effective from the viewpoint of reducing the load on the system that the style is retained with the material removed.

The style is searched by a keyword such as “travel magazine” or “supermarket sale”. “Temporary casting” refers to casting performed on a trial basis in order to perform final plate making (also referred to as “actual casting” in the present specification). “Filling” means inserting and arranging a material in a style frame. If the result of temporary casting is good, this may be treated as it is as actual casting.

On the other hand, if the result of the temporary casting is not good, it is first judged whether or not it is possible to deal with it by deforming the material. “Transformation” refers to any operation that produces different results when printed, and includes, for example, when the material is a character, a character series, a typeface change, and the like. Therefore,
If, as a result of provisional pouring, the characters did not fit into the style frame (that is, they overflowed), a modification that reduces the character series can be considered. In the case of this example, in the material deformation calculation step, a character series for solving the above problem is calculated. This calculation is performed based on information such as the actual overflow amount (hereinafter referred to as “overflow amount”).

Here, if the character series is reduced infinitely, the overflow will naturally be eliminated. However, in reality, there is a lower limit that is allowed as a character series. For example, in general, the text of a document is in the 10th to 13th grades, and if it is in the 5th grade or lower, problems arise in readability. Therefore, the allowable range is determined based on empirical rules and relationships with other materials.

If the result calculated as the material deformation is "3rd grade", this deformation deviates from the allowable range. Therefore, in this case, the deformation to be given to the style frame is calculated. This is because the overflow can be eliminated by expanding the style frame. The deformation of the style frame can be described as a general form by an affine transformation (and possibly a perspective transformation). That is, for example, vertical / horizontal enlargement / reduction of the style frame, rotation given to the style frame, and the like. In this specification, the case of rotating while maintaining the shape is also called “deformation”.

Another aspect of the present invention comprises a style frame number adjusting step of adjusting the number of style frames in advance when the number of style frames forming the searched style is excessive or insufficient, and After that, the linking step is performed. This is because the content to be designed this time does not match the number of style frames in the searched state. This process is performed in accordance with, for example, interactive input. If you consider adding a style frame, in this step "add two frames"
Just give some instructions. The layout and shape of the added frame are determined, for example, in the style frame layout step described later.

Still another aspect of the present invention includes a material searching step of searching for a material that can be used as a material of a page to be designed this time from a material holding unit that holds materials constituting various printed materials, and the searched material is searched. After making the necessary corrections, the linking step is performed. This is to improve workability by using past actual examples not only for styles but also for materials. The material to be held may also be present in an integrated state with the style, as in the case of the aforementioned style, but in the present invention, it is more preferable that the style and the material are held in a separated state.

Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a style frame arranging step for optimally arranging each style frame linked to each material as a result of the linking step. This step is performed before the temporary casting step. The size, positional relationship, shape, and the like of each style frame are not necessarily optimal in the state of being searched by the style holding unit. The same applies when the number of style frames increases or decreases as a result of the style number adjustment process described above. The “optimal arrangement” refers to the optimum arrangement as long as the condition (for example, the deformation allowable range) allowed at that time is satisfied, and can change according to the condition.

Still another aspect of the present invention includes a restriction relaxation step of relaxing the restriction of the allowable range when the deformation to be given to each style frame deviates from the predetermined allowable range. After this step, the steps following the temporary casting step are re-executed. If it does not deviate, the processing can be ended by deforming each style frame.

In the restriction relaxing step, the range restriction may be relaxed in order from the one having the lowest priority among the plurality of range designating parameters determining the allowable range. In addition to the character series mentioned above, examples of parameters include the size of the style frame, line-up conditions (line-up size, line-up width), line-up conditions (line-up size, line-up width), and the pasting ratio of the image to the style frame. There is. A numerical range can be specified for each of these, and the parameter for which the range is actually specified is called a "range specification parameter".
The range designation parameter may be provided not only on the material side but also on the style side alone or together with the material side. In this aspect of the present invention, the restriction relaxation step is terminated when the deformation to be given to the material and / or the deformation to be given to the style frame come into the relaxed allowable range.

In still another aspect of the present invention, in the temporary pouring step, when the material to be poured into a certain style frame is a character string (typically a sentence), a pouring effective area in this style frame is calculated in advance. The amount of overflow that occurs when the character string is poured into this effective area is calculated. In response to the result, the material deformation calculation step calculates the deformation to be given to the character string from the overflow amount.

Here, the "flow effective area" (hereinafter simply referred to as "effective area") refers to the entire area in which the character string can be flowed within a range that does not extend from the style frame. As an example, when arranging the character strings in the style frame, it can be considered as an area that can be spread so that the virtual body of the character does not cover the frame. Therefore, the effective area is at least a function of the character series.

Once the effective area is determined, the overflow amount when the character string is poured into this area can be known. When the overflow amount is positive,
For example, a modification that reduces the character series can be considered.
When it is negative, it may be left as it is or the character series may be increased. The deformation calculation is performed in the material deformation calculation step.

In still another aspect of the present invention, in the style transformation calculation step, when the material to be poured into a certain style frame is an image, the main part of the image is fit in the style frame in a desired display state. Calculate the transformation parameters to give to the style frame. Here, “image” refers to all materials other than character strings, such as figures, pictures, illustrations, logo marks, and photographs. The "image main part" refers to an image portion that should not be cut in the final printed matter. Examples of the “desired display state” include that the image is not too small, and that the image is only vertically or horizontally long. Examples of the “deformation parameters” include the parameters of the affine transformation described above.

Further, in the present invention, a page is constructed by superposing a plurality of layers to which priority is given,
The above steps may be performed for each layer, and the material of the layer having the higher priority may be prioritized with respect to the portion where the materials overlap between the layers when the layers are overlapped. That is, a page is formed by laminating layers, and for example, a layer including a plurality of patterns is overlaid on a layer of a background image to produce a certain page. In this case, by setting the priority of the pattern layer higher than that of the background image, the pattern is given priority over the background image, and the pattern is overwritten on the background.

In still another aspect of the present invention, another style frame is hierarchically provided in the style frame, and each material is linked to each of these style frames. Specifically, by resembling a certain style frame as a page, another style frame is provided therein.

[0033]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a page design system 2 using the page design support method of the present invention. As shown in the figure, this system consists of a workstation 4 for design support, and various printed materials produced in the past.
A style database 6 that extracts and holds only styles, a material database 8 that similarly extracts and holds only materials, and a simple proofreading printer 9 are included.

The workstation 4 searches and modifies styles and materials, and executes page design.
The page design support method of the present invention is provided in the form of software that runs on the workstation 4. In order to input the material from other than the material database 8, an image scanner or the like may be provided.

The style database 6 is constructed on a general-purpose relational database or an object-oriented database that runs on the workstation 4, for example. Styles are based on genres of printed materials (for example, “weekly magazines” and “technical information magazines” in the category of printed matter, for convenience of later retrieval.
For leaflets such as "Minicom magazine,""Supermarketleaflets,""Department store leaflets,""Mail order leaflets, etc."
It is summarized in the ledger. On the other hand, material database 8
Holds a string and an image. Both databases shall be configured so that users can additionally register and change them.

The simple proofreading printer 10 is for confirming the contents by actually printing the page design result. This printer is not essential to the system because you can check the design on the workstation 4 display when designing the page.
In the case of printing a small number of copies, this printer is useful in that the product can be produced as it is. In addition to these configurations, there may be an output server that performs automatic plate-making processing or the like, or a printing and binding machine that is connected to this system and that automatically performs printing and binding in a rural area.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the flow of page design work by this system. Here, the procedure from the time when the planning of the printed matter has already been completed is shown. Hereinafter, each step will be described.

(S1) Style and Material Search First, the style database 6 and the material database 8 are searched for past styles and materials close to the current project (S1). The search is performed by using the words indicating the above-mentioned genres as keywords. When multiple candidates are found for a keyword, the best one is selected from them. Regarding the style, the one finally selected (hereinafter referred to as “selected style”) is displayed on the display in the graphic display format of the style frame. At this time, the number of style frames is also displayed at the same time.

On the other hand, regarding the material, the content is replaced based on the selected material. For example, if the material is "concert information," generally, a specific noun is entered for each item such as "singer (group) name, place, date and time of event, sponsorship, ticket purchase method, ticket price". Since the material is specified, this material can be easily produced by simply correcting the proper noun portion. Also in the case of "Supermarket leaflets for sale", under the items such as "Meat, vegetables", "Beef,
Since past ingredients exist in the form of subordinate subitems such as "pork" and "radish and carrot", it is often sufficient to change the price. At this stage, the number of style frames required for the material is also decided.

(S2) Adjustment of Number of Style Frames Next, the number of style frames is adjusted with reference to the display of the number of style frames of the selected style. The number is adjusted by adding or deleting frames. This is because the number of style frames of the selected style does not usually match the number of style frames required for the printed matter this time. If you need 20 frames
If the number of frames of the selected style is 18, the instruction of “add two” is input to the workstation 4 in an interactive manner. At this point, enter only the excess and deficiency numbers, and do not specify what kind of frame is added to which part. Since the size of the frame depends on the material,
This is because it is necessary to wait for the optimum arrangement of the frames by S4 and S5 described later.

(S3) Linking Subsequently, the material to be poured into the style frame is allocated, that is, linking is performed. Here, it is assumed that the material is displayed one by one in a window having a display and the style frame is displayed in another window. Here, the operator may point the style frame to be linked to the material with a mouse or the like.

(S4) Designation of Arrangement Condition Since the combination of the style frame and the material has been concretely determined, the arrangement condition is specified for each combination. In this embodiment, the layout conditions are classified into the following two types and designated. 2
The layout conditions are further classified into those related to style frames and those related to materials, and the latter are further classified into those related to character strings and those related to images.

[1] Range-description type layout condition This is a layout condition that can be specified by a numerical range, and there are the following types. The allowable range of deformation is described by specifying the range allowed for these parameters. S
If there is no explicit specification in 4, the default allowable range set by the system is given. This default value is
It realizes plate making that is easy to see according to the rule of thumb. At this stage, it is sufficient to set the condition very gently.

[1-1] Style frame size: Style frame size magnification (horizontal, vertical) X, Y For example, X and Y are both 0.7 to 1.2, or X is 0.9.
Specify the allowable range as ~ 1.1 and Y as 0.6-1.5. When one style frame extends over a plurality of pages, the style frame size indicates the size of the frame within each page.

[1-2] Material-related [1-2-1] Character string-Character series q For example, the body of a document is grades 10 to 13, and headings are
Grade 12 to 15 etc. This parameter is an example that is known to some extent at the planning stage.

Character-spacing dimension a The front-spacing amount and the rear-spacing amount of each character with respect to the virtual body are designated by numerical values when the width of the virtual body is 1000. For example, in the case of consecutive numbers, a range centering on a relatively large numerical value is specified.

Average spacing width d represents the average value of the spacing character size in the entire character string. It is specified to determine the degree of clogging of characters on the entire page.

Line-Filling Dimension b For a character between adjacent lines, the amount of separation between character frames described later is specified for each line.

Average line-filling width t Specifies the average value of line-filling dimensions in all lines of the character string that fit in the style frame.

The amount of blank space v _{c in the} style frame Specifies the allowable value of the amount of blank space generated at the bottom of the style frame when a character string is poured. The designation is performed, for example, "up to 3 blank lines". Finally, when the blank line of the character string exceeds the allowable range, "Place the character string in the center of the frame",
It is also possible to set an option that enables sub-designation such as "place a predetermined illustration corresponding to the empty size in the empty area".

[1-2-2] Image-related-Image pasting ratio (horizontal, vertical) x, y When pasting an image in a style frame, specify the enlargement / reduction rate given to the image separately for horizontal and vertical To do.

Blank amount v _{i in} style frame: Specify the allowable amount of blank amount generated in the style frame when an image is poured. The designation is performed, for example, "the area of the blank area is up to 30% of the total area". Finally, when the ratio of the blank area exceeds the allowable range, it is possible to set options that enable sub-designations such as "arrange image in center of frame" and "insert illustration in blank area".

[2] General arrangement condition This is an arrangement condition other than [1], that is, a condition that cannot be generally specified as a numerical range. There are the following types. As for this condition, it is sufficient to make a gentle setting within a range that the operator can notice. The system default value is prepared according to the general rules of plate making.

[2-1] Style frame-Outline layout As necessary, for each style frame, "on the right side of the page"
Specify the rough layout such as "top", "center", "center of empty area", "along the bottom edge of page". In order to realize the “floating block (floating frame)” in typesetting, it is possible to specify across multiple frames. For example,
"Arrange so that the top of one frame matches the top of another""Frame A
Is placed after frame B "" Frame A and frame B are placed on the same page "
“Frame A and frame B are arranged on different pages” or the like is considered.

[2-2] Material-related [2-2-1] Character string-Type of character (character type) For example, Mincho type is used for text and Gothic type is used for columns. To do. Also, it is possible to specify a link between frames, such as "unify character types in multiple style frames corresponding to text".

[Prohibition] Specify the beginning or end of a line.

Allocation The heading portion is designated to unify the character filling dimensions.

Characteristic point "Specify a position such that the position of a specific word in a character string or the center of a heading is located in the center of a style frame". The position of the feature point may be designated by a pointing device or the like.

[2-2-2] Items relating to image-Image main part When an image is pasted into a style frame, an area which should not be cut is designated.

Characteristic points “arranged so that the center of gravity of the image is in the center of the frame” “certain frame A
The image A to be entered and the image B to be entered in another frame B are arranged such that the heights of the eyes of the persons included in the images A and B match. The position of the "eye" may be designated by a pointing device or the like.

(S5) Optimal Layout of Styles When the layout conditions have been specified, the optimal layout of styles is first performed. One of the features of the present invention is that the style frame is automatically arranged in the page before the material is poured. This is to consider that the style frame may be increased or decreased in S2 and that various arrangement conditions are specified in S4. The optimum layout referred to here is determined based on suitability for layout conditions regarding the style, and the optimum layout for the entire page after the material is poured is S6.
Determined by.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the detailed procedure of S5. As shown in the figure, first, the processing of the designated placement condition is performed (S51). Here, the processing of the specified placement condition is
Regarding the range description type placement condition related to the style frame, it means to determine which value within the range is to be used for placement. There are various methods for making the determination, but here, the median value of the allowable range is simply adopted. That is, if the allowable range of the style frame size magnification X is 0.7 to 1.2,
Decide to 0.95. If there are other range description type layout conditions, the same processing is performed for them, and the initial value of each parameter is determined.

Then, temporary placement is performed (S52). At this time, the range description type arrangement condition follows the initial value of the parameter. Regarding the above-mentioned "general layout", which is a general layout condition, pages are roughly divided into meshes, and then frames are arranged so that the reference points on the style frame fit on the grid of the mesh. At this time, if there is a frame specified to be "placed at the upper left of the page", this is placed at the upper left of the page. Other frames are also placed in consideration of the specified position and the context of the frame.

The temporary placement is completed as described above. However, at this stage, overlapping of frames and partial protrusion of the frame from the page (hereinafter referred to as "overlap") may occur. Therefore, such a state is detected ( S53). If there is no overlap or the like, S5 ends (NO in S53), but if there is, it is first determined whether the overlap or the like can be eliminated by adjusting the frame (S5).
4). Specifically, one or both of the following measures will be taken to solve the problem.

A) The 0.95 adopted as the initial value of the magnification X of the style frame size is reduced within the allowable range (to 0.7). The same applies to Y.

B) The problematic style frame is moved to the extent that another overlap does not occur.

If it is found that these measures eliminate the duplication, etc., the measures are actually taken and S5 is ended (S55).

If the problem is not resolved, consider the adjustment by restriction relaxation (S56). In this case, a value less than 0.7 is adopted as the X, or a part of the rough arrangement conditions is relaxed. As a specific example of the latter, it is conceivable to move the frame designated as "arrange in the center of the page" to a position on the right side or the like.

If the above-mentioned consideration does not eliminate the overlap, the above a) and b) are sequentially applied to the style frames other than the problematic style frame. When the condition is relaxed in the process of S5, the operator may be separately inquired about the result.

(S6) Optimal arrangement of materials (modification of style
Correct) Since the layout of the style frames has been completed, the material is poured into each style frame, and adjustment is performed so that these are optimally arranged. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of S6. The same drawing is applied regardless of whether the material is a character string or an image. Hereinafter, processing similar to S5 will be briefly described.

[When the Material is a Character String] Before the material is poured, first, the processing of the designated arrangement condition, that is, the range description type arrangement condition related to the character string, adopts the median value within the allowable range (S61). However, the amount of blank space in the style frame v
_Since there is no concept of median for _c , if the specification is "up to 3 blank lines", up to 3 lines are allowed. As for the general arrangement condition, the designated contents are used as they are.

Next, temporary casting is performed (S62). For this purpose, the effective area in the style frame is first calculated. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the effective area 12 when the style frame 10 is circular. The total of 30 square frames shown in the figure are
Each represents an area for one character (hereinafter referred to as "character frame"), and all the character frames indicated by diagonal lines are the effective area in this case. The effective area is determined by the following conditions.

-Character series-Width of character frame (assumed here to be equal to full-width virtual body) -Character-filling dimension a (designated here as 0) -Line-filling dimension b (designated as 0 here) In the present embodiment The size of the effective area is shown in units of character frames. Therefore, in FIG. 5, "30" is the size of the effective area. Of course, the larger the character series, the smaller this number.

Next, the overflow amount generated when a character string is poured into this effective area is calculated. In this embodiment, the overflow amount is also digitized in character frame units. Therefore, if the character string to be filled is composed of 32 characters, the overflow amount is "+2". Conversely, if there are 27 characters, the overflow amount is "-3".

According to the determined overflow amount, it is judged whether the result of the pouring is good or bad (S63). When the overflow amount is negative and the number of blank lines is equal to or less than the specified number, the result is “good” and the actual pouring is performed (S69). If not good (NO in S63)
Judges whether or not it is possible to deal with the deformation of the material (S6).
4). Here, if the result of the casting becomes good by changing the allowable range of the character series (YES in S64), the modification is performed (S65), and the actual casting (S69) described later is performed.

When the deformation of the material exceeds the allowable range (S6
No. 4) returns to the transformation of the style once, and
It is determined whether or not the modification by S54 is applicable. If applicable, the frame is adjusted (S67), and if the frame is not deformed (NO in S67A), actual casting is performed. On the other hand, if the frame is deformed in the frame adjustment (S67) (YES in S67A), the process returns to S53 and the subsequent steps in FIG. 3 to check and eliminate the occurrence of duplication, and then to S.
6 is resumed. If it is determined in S66 that it is not possible to cope with the adjustment, consideration is given to adjustment by restriction relaxation (S6
8). The target of the restriction relaxation may be not only the material but also the condition on the style side. For example, the following conditions may be relaxed in order from the top.

1) Designation that character series is unified even in different style frames in the text (series can be changed within a specified range) 2) Average line width t 3) Average line width d 4) Line size a 5) Filling dimension b 6) Style frame magnifications X, Y 7) Character series q (series can be changed outside the specified range) Relaxation continues until the condition is satisfied, and ends when it is satisfied. After the end, actual casting is performed (S69). In provisional casting, it is assumed that all characters are put in a character box of the same size in order to execute rough registration with a light calculation load. However, the actual pouring is performed by taking into consideration all the layout conditions such as the character packing size and the prohibition. As a result, if a new overflow or an excessive blank occurs, the process returns to S64 via a route not shown, and the optimum arrangement is found again. When the result is good, the plate-making data for printing has been created, and all processing is completed.

[When the Material is an Image] Even when the material is an image, first, the processing of the designated arrangement condition is performed (S61). The specified contents are used as they are for the general arrangement conditions (image main parts and characteristic points). In the case of an image, unlike a character string, the processing is characterized in that an area other than the main part of the image may be cut at the time of pasting. On the other hand, in the case of the range description type arrangement condition, the median value of the permissible range is set as the parameter initial value in the case of a style frame or a character string, but it is determined differently in the case of an image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a dimensional relationship between the style frame 20 and the image 22, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing a state in which the image 22 is actually pasted on the style frame 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the horizontal and vertical lengths of the style frame 20 are A, B, and
Those in the image 22 are a and b. The image main part 24 is designated in the image 22. Here, the horizontal and vertical ratios of the style frame 20 to the image 22 are Ra = A / a and Rb = B /.
Put b. Here, it is assumed that Ra = 2.0 and Rb = 1.2. Also, the specified placement condition is set as follows.

(Condition 1) Image pasting magnification (horizontal, vertical)
x, y: 0.5 <x, y <3.0 (Condition 2) Blank amount v _i in the style frame: “The area of the blank area is 20% or less of the total area” (Condition 3) Image main part: specified in FIG. As described above, in the present embodiment, the initial values of x and y are not the median values, and the larger value of Ra and Rb, that is, Ra = 2.0. This is how to decide when the design concept is "it is better to cut out the protruding image portion than to leave a blank in the style frame".

Under these conditions, temporary casting (temporary pasting) is performed (S62). Now, Ra = 2.0 is the above condition 1
Since x is satisfied, x = y = 2.0 is set as the initial value. At this time, the horizontal length of the image 22 matches the horizontal length of the style frame 20. In the actual pasting, the image main part 24 needs to enter the style frame 20, and the result is as shown in FIG. 7. The part of the image that extends beyond the frame is simply cut.

In the case of FIG. 7, the blank amount v _i is 0, which satisfies all the conditions. The same process is performed for the other style frames, and if the results are good for all the frames (YES in S63 of FIG. 4), actual pouring is performed (S69), S6.
To end.

Now, let us consider a case where the condition 1 is 0.5 <x, y <1.5. At this time, Ra deviates from the allowable range of the magnification, so that x = y = 1.5 must be set for the time being. In this case, the paste is as shown in FIG. 8, and (2.0-1.5) /2.0×100=25, and the area of the blank area in the style frame is 25% of the total area. This does not satisfy the condition 2 (NO in S63).

At this time, first consider the deformation of the material (S
64), since x and y cannot be 1.5 or more now, it is understood that they cannot be handled (NO in S64). Next, the style frame 20 is adjusted (S66). If the lower limit of the magnification X of the style frame 20 is 0.9, (2.0 * 0.9-1.5) /2.0*0.9*100=16.66 ... <20, so the style frame 20 is reduced (S67). On the other hand, if the lower limit of the magnification X of the style frame 20 is 1.0,
The problem cannot be solved by reducing the size of the frame (N in S66).
O), consider relaxation of restrictions (S68). The restrictions will be relaxed according to the priority, for example, the following conditions will be relaxed in order from the top.

1) Specification regarding feature points 2) Style frame magnification X, Y 3) Blank amount in style frame v _i 4) Image pasting magnification x, y 5) Range of image portion Relaxation conditions are satisfied It continues until it is performed, and after the end, actual pouring is performed (S69), and the process is completed.

The above is the outline of S6, but when the material is an image, it is of course possible to change the vertical and horizontal magnifications before performing the pasting. In that case, in order to avoid a situation where the image becomes too long or vertically long, an allowable range may be set for the ratio of vertical and horizontal magnifications. Further, the image may be rotated in addition to the simple vertical / horizontal scaling described here. These transformations may be described by an affine transformation, or perspective transformation may be added. Further, an image-editing designation may be added, such as filling a blank area with a neighboring image color.

The above is the outline of the present embodiment. The following improvements or modifications can be considered in this embodiment.

1. Designation of Overlapping Area of Style Frame FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of style frames when two style frames 30 and 32 have an overlapping area 34. Depending on the content of the material, the specific parts of the frame may overlap. In such a case, the overlapping possible range may be designated as the range description type arrangement condition for each frame. In FIG. 9, since the style frames 30 and 32 both have the overlapping possible area, both frames are arranged while forming the overlapping area 34 in the style frame optimal arrangement step. The non-overlapping area is designated by a rectangle, an arbitrary closed figure, or the like.

2. Layer structure of page FIG. 10 is a layer structure diagram when the page 40 is composed of two layers 42 and 44. Layer 42
Has one large style frame 46, and the layer 44 has three style frames 48-50. Depending on the printed matter, for example, it may be desired to fill the background of the product with a light-colored pattern. In FIG. 10, the background pattern is entirely attached to the style frame 46, and the three products may be attached to the style frames 48 to 50 of different layers 44. At this time, the layers of products are pasted, and the layers are prioritized so that the background pattern is not printed. In the case of the same drawing, the product layer 44 has a higher priority than the background layer 42, and printing is performed in a state where the product is overwritten on the background. In this case, the style frame and the material are arranged for each layer. In addition, as a placement condition in that case, a restriction may be added to maintain a positional relationship with a style frame or a material placed in another layer.

3. Hierarchical Style Frames One style frame can be regarded as a new page, and style frames can be recursively provided in it. FIG.
12 is a diagram showing the structure of a hierarchical style frame.
In FIG. 11, the original style frame 70 for explaining a certain product
In the figure, a style frame 72 for a character string indicating a price, a style frame 73 for an image indicating a product appearance, and a style frame 74 for a character string of a product description are included. Style frame 72-7
The hierarchy of 4 is one rank lower than the hierarchy of the original style frame 70, and each overlaps partially due to the designation of the overlap possible area. Of course, for example, another style frame may be provided further below the style frame 73.

Similarly, in FIG. 12, a subdivided illustration is provided as style frames 82 to 85 for an image in a style frame 80 for a certain illustration.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a leaflet for sale for sale, which is produced by using the style frame shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. It is assumed that the content of the style frame 70 in FIG. 11 is “product pattern A”, and that other patterns B to D are prepared separately. Similarly, the content of the style frame 80 in FIG. 12 is set to “illustration pattern A”. As shown in the figure, it can be seen that the desired printed matter can be obtained by utilizing the hierarchization of the style frame, the designation of the overlapping area or the layering of the page.

[0094]

【The invention's effect】

(1) Improvement of work efficiency Since the style holding means and the material holding means are separately provided, the reusability is higher than that of the conventional fixed template. Also, since styles and materials can be optimally arranged separately, each process is simple, and skillless and easy-order page design can be performed. Further, in the present invention, after the layout of the style frame, the layout of the style frame is considered again in accordance with the layout condition of the material, so that it is not necessary to inquire the operator in principle. If you have problems with placement,
Since the optimum arrangement state is searched from both the deformation direction of the material and the deformation direction of the style, the final result tends to be good. According to the present invention, since the automation rate is increased, the effect of shortening the printed matter production time is large.

(2) Improving the processing efficiency of the system Since the style and the material can be separately made into a database, the load on the system side incorporating this is small. The processing efficiency centered on search is also greatly improved.

(3) Realization of high applicability to all operations Since the arrangement conditions determined at the planning stage can be considered without omission, and the processing is performed consistently from the initial arrangement to the completion of typesetting, the design support of the present invention It covers all work. Therefore, the working efficiency can be further improved and the versatility of the system can be enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a page design system 2 using a page design support method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of work of page design by the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of S5.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of S6.

FIG. 5: Effective area 12 when style frame 10 is circular
It is a figure showing the example of.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a dimensional relationship between a style frame 20 and an image 22.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which an image 22 is actually attached to a style frame 20.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which an image 22 is actually pasted in a style frame 20.

FIG. 9 shows an overlapping area 34 in the two style frames 30 and 32.
It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a style frame when there exists.

FIG. 10 is a layer structure diagram when the page 40 is composed of two layers 42 and 44.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a structure of layered style frames.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a structure of hierarchical style frames.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a leaflet for sale for sale, which is produced using the style frames of FIGS. 11 and 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20, 30, 32, 46, 48 to 50, 70, 7
2 to 74, 80, 82 to 85 style frame, 22 image, 24 image main part, 34 overlapping area, 40 pages,
42, 44 layers.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Nakayama 5-38-7 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Dainichihon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. Tokyo Laboratory

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A style search step of searching for a usable style of a page to be designed this time from a style holding means for holding the styles of various printed matters, each searched style frame, and pouring it into them. A linking process that links each material, a temporary casting process that temporarily fills each of the materials into the linked style frame, and a material that calculates the deformation to be given to each material when the result of the temporary casting is not good A page design support method comprising: a deformation calculation step; and a style frame deformation calculation step of calculating a deformation to be given to each style frame when the material deformation deviates from a predetermined allowable range. 2. The page design support method according to claim 1, wherein the method adjusts the number of style frames in advance when the number of style frames forming the retrieved style is excessive or insufficient. A page design support method including a frame number adjusting step, and performing the linking step after this step. 3. The page design support method according to claim 1, wherein the method can be used as a material of a page to be designed this time from a material holding unit that holds materials constituting various printed materials. A page design support method including a material search step of searching for a material, and performing the linking step after making necessary corrections to the searched material. 4. The page design support method according to claim 1, wherein the method is a style frame arrangement for optimally arranging each style frame linked to each material as a result of the linking step. A page design support method including a step, and performing this step before the temporary pouring step. 5. The page design support method according to claim 1, wherein when the deformation to be given to each style frame deviates from a predetermined allowable range, the allowable range is relaxed. A page design support method including a restriction relaxation step for executing the step, and re-executing the step and steps subsequent to the temporary flow step. 6. The page design support method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, in the restriction relaxation step, a range of a plurality of range designating parameters that determines an allowable range is in descending order of priority. A method for supporting page design, wherein restrictions are relaxed, and the method ends when the deformation to be given to the material or the deformation to be given to the style frame comes within a relaxed allowable range. 7. The page design support method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the material to be poured into a certain style frame is a character string, the temporary flow step is performed in advance within this style frame. Is calculated, and the overflow amount that occurs when the character string is poured into the effective area is calculated, while the material deformation calculating step calculates the deformation to be given to the character string from the overflow amount. 8. The page design support method according to claim 1, wherein in the style transformation calculation step, when a material to be poured into a certain style frame is an image, this image essential part is a desired one. A page design support method for calculating a transformation parameter to be applied to a style frame in order to fit the style frame in a display state. 9. The page design support method according to claim 1, wherein the method forms a page by superimposing a plurality of layers to which priority is given, A page design support method that gives priority to the material of the layer with the higher priority when the steps overlap and layers overlap. 10. The page design support method according to claim 1, wherein another style frame is hierarchically provided in the style frame, and each style frame is provided with a different style frame. A page design support method that links materials.