JPH091871A - Printer and plotting controlling method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To shorten the plotting processing time of print information for one page by processing the print information of a band unit by a plurality of plotting means in parallel. CONSTITUTION: Dividing means in a CPU 111 divides print information for one page in response to the dividing number. Plotting units 118, 120 analyze the divided print information, and expand to output images. Control means in the CPU 111 sequentially allocates the print information for the divided one page to the units 118, 120. Accordingly, the print information of the band unit can be processed by a plurality of plotting means in parallel, and the processing time of the print information for one page can be shortened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a plurality of drawing means for drawing print information supplied from an information processing device in band units, and driving the drawing means in parallel to perform drawing processing. And a drawing control method for the printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus that processes print information in page units, one drawing apparatus is used to process print information.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has a problem that the processing time is long because print information is sequentially processed by using one drawing apparatus.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the objects of the first to fourth inventions of the present invention are to provide a band unit in which one page is divided into a predetermined number. By processing the print information in parallel by the plurality of drawing means, it is possible to significantly reduce the drawing processing time of the print information for one page, and determine the overlapping state of each object in the print information to determine each It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a drawing control method for the printing apparatus, which can perform drawing processing on an object in the same area at high speed by controlling the drawing processing in the same area of the drawing unit.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatus acquires print information from an information processing apparatus and analyzes the acquired print information to perform printing. A dividing unit that divides the print information acquired according to the number of divisions into the drawing areas, a plurality of drawing units that analyzes each divided print information and draws and develops the output image, and one divided page. And a control means for sequentially allocating each print information item to each drawing means in parallel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus that acquires print information from an information processing apparatus, analyzes the acquired print information, and prints, analyzes each print target in the print information and outputs it. A plurality of drawing means for drawing and developing on an image, a control means for sequentially allocating each print object in the print information to each drawing means, and a judging means for judging an overlapping state between the print objects allocated to each drawing means And drawing control means for controlling parallel drawing processing in the same drawing area by each drawing means on the basis of the result of overlap judgment of the judging means.

A third aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus which comprises a plurality of drawing means for drawing and developing an output image, acquires print information from an information processing apparatus, analyzes the acquired print information, and prints. The drawing control method includes a judgment step of judging a drawing state by each drawing means, and an allocation step of sequentially allocating print information for one page divided into any drawing means capable of drawing by the judgment. is there.

A fourth invention according to the present invention is a printing apparatus which comprises a plurality of drawing means for drawing and developing an output image, acquires print information from an information processing apparatus, analyzes the acquired print information, and prints. In the drawing control method, a determination step of determining an overlapping state of each print target assigned to each drawing means, and a parallel drawing process in the same drawing area by each drawing means based on the determination result of the overlapping state And a limiting step to do so.

[0009]

In the first aspect of the invention, the control means divides the print information obtained according to the number of divisions in which one page is divided into a plurality of band drawing areas, to divide each print information for one page divided by the dividing means. It is possible to sequentially and parallelly allocate the drawing means to each drawing means, and to perform the drawing processing of the print information for one page at high speed.

In the second aspect of the present invention, when each drawing object develops each print object in the print information sequentially assigned by the control means, the determining means determines between the print objects assigned to each drawing means. The overlapping state is determined, and the drawing control unit controls the parallel drawing processing in the same drawing area by each drawing unit based on the overlapping judgment result, and when the respective print targets do not overlap each other, in the same drawing area. It is possible to perform parallel drawing processing on each print target.

In the third aspect of the invention, the drawing state of each drawing means is determined, and the print information for one page divided into any one of the drawing means capable of drawing is sequentially assigned to print one page. It is possible to automate the process of drawing information at high speed.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, the overlapping state of each printing object assigned to each drawing means is determined, and the parallel drawing processing in the same drawing area by each drawing means is performed based on the determination result of the overlapping state. If the print targets do not overlap with each other, it is possible to automate parallel drawing processing of the print targets in the same drawing area.

[0013]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The system is composed of an information processing apparatus 100 and a printing apparatus 110 connected by a line 140. To be done.

As shown in this figure, print information is input from the input device 104, and the CPU 101 stores the print information in the storage device 1.
02, the stored print information is stored in the communication device 10
Storage device 112 of printing device 110 via 3, 113
Is forwarded to Reference numeral 105 is a display device.

Then, the transferred print information is stored in the CPU.
The image area (hereinafter referred to as a band) is divided by 111 and is assigned to the drawing unit 130 and the drawing unit 131. The divided print information is acquired and interpreted by the control devices 117 and 119 in the drawing unit, and the drawing devices 118 and 120 are activated according to the contents of the print information.

Then, the activated drawing devices 118, 12
0 acquires the already drawn image information and the print information to be drawn from the storage device 112, updates the image information by the drawing process, and the updated image information is stored again in the storage device 112.

When all the print information assigned to the band is drawn by the drawing units 130 and 131, the drawn image information is used as a recording device 1 as an engine.
Printing is performed by transferring to 16.

The drawing units 130 and 131 can be composed of a dedicated circuit or a CPU that operates drawing software. Therefore, the CPU 11
In some cases, 1 also serves as a drawing unit. Further, in this embodiment, an example in which the number of drawing units is set to "2" is shown, but the number is not limited.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the first invention and its operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus that obtains print information from an information processing apparatus, analyzes the obtained print information, and prints, one page is divided into a plurality of band drawing areas. A dividing unit (CPU 111) that divides the print information acquired according to the number of divisions, and a plurality of drawing units that analyzes each divided print information and draws and develops the output image (the drawing units 131 and 130 shown in FIG. 1). Drawing devices 118 and 120 or a drawing unit 701 shown in FIG. 7 which will be described later) and a control unit (by the CPU 111) that sequentially and parallelly allocates each print information for one divided page to each drawing unit. Provided, the CPU 111 divides the print information acquired according to the number of divisions in which one page is divided into a plurality of band drawing areas, and the respective print information for the divided one page Sequentially allocated in parallel to each drawing 118,120, it makes it possible to draw processing print information of one page at a high speed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing divided areas of the image area of one page set in the recording device 116 shown in FIG.

As shown in this figure, one page is divided into n bands in the sub-scanning direction of the recording device 116. However, n is (the number of drawing units + 1) or more.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the memory map of the storage device 112 shown in FIG.

As shown in this figure, the storage device 112 is
Band memories 601, 60 having a number of drawing units + 1 or more
2, 603 and print information 604, 6 corresponding to the number of bands
05 and 606, and an object data area 607 that stores object data that is a target for drawing print information,
It is composed of a work area 608.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a first embodiment of the band control method for the printing system according to the present invention, in which the CPU 111 shown in FIG.
This corresponds to the procedure of allocating to 0 and 131. In addition,
(1) to (13) show each step.

First, the drawing unit 130 is provided with a band 201.
And the print information 604 of the band memory 601 and the band 1,
The band 201 and the band memory 60 in the drawing unit 131
After allocating the print information 605 of 2 and band 2 and erasing the contents of the band memories 601, 602 and 603, the control devices 117 and 119 of the two drawing units are activated (1).

Next, waiting for an interrupt to occur, and if an interrupt occurs, it is judged whether the type of interrupt is drawing end or transfer end (2). If it is judged that the interrupt is a drawing end interrupt, If it is determined that the image information is currently being transferred to the recording device 116 (3), and if it is determined that the image information is not currently being transferred, the image information of the band for which drawing has been completed precedes the band for which the image is being drawn in parallel. It is judged whether or not the data can be transferred (4), and if it is judged that the data can be transferred, the transfer is started (5).

Next, it is judged whether or not there is a band memory which is not currently being drawn or being transferred (6), and if there is no band memory, the process returns to waiting for an interrupt (2). If it is judged that there is a band memory, band n (band 204 ) Is drawn (7), and if it is drawn, step (2)
When it is determined that drawing is not performed, the empty band memory, the band to be drawn next, and the print information are assigned to the drawing device of the drawing unit that has stopped drawing and stopped. After erasing the band memory, it is activated (8).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step (2) that the type of interrupt is transfer end, it is determined whether the lowest band n (band 204) has been drawn (9), and it is determined that drawing has been performed. If it is determined that the drawing is not completed and the drawing is completed for the band to be transferred next (10), if it is determined that the band is not drawn, the step ( If it is determined that drawing has been completed by returning to the interrupt generation wait in 2),
The image information transfer to the recording device 116 is started (11).

Next, it is judged whether or not there is a drawing unit that is currently stopped (12). If it is judged that there is no drawing unit, the process returns to the interrupt waiting in step (2).
The vacant band memory, the band to be drawn next, and the print information are assigned to the drawing device of the drawing unit that has stopped drawing and stopped, and the area memory is erased and then activated (13).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a first embodiment of the drawing control method of the printing system according to the present invention.
This corresponds to the drawing control procedure of the control devices 117 and 119 shown in FIG. Note that (1) to (6) indicate each step.

First, when the control devices 117 and 119 are activated, they acquire the first print information of the allocated band from the storage device 112 (1). Next, it is judged whether the acquired drawing information is a drawing end command (2). If it is judged that the drawing information is a drawing end command, an interrupt is generated (6) and the work is ended.

On the other hand, if it is judged that the drawing end command is not received, the drawing coordinates of the print information are converted into addresses on the band memory (3), and the converted addresses are given to the drawing device to activate the drawing device (4). ). Next, the drawing apparatus waits for the processing to be completed (5), and if completed, the procedure returns to step (1) to acquire the next print information.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a first embodiment of the drawing processing method of the printing system according to the present invention.
This corresponds to the drawing processing procedure of the drawing devices 118 and 120 shown in FIG. (1) to (8) indicate each step.

First, image information is acquired from the band memory of the storage device 112 (1), and then data of an object to be drawn is acquired from the object data area 607 of the storage device 112 (2).

Next, the object is expanded into image information from the acquired object data (3), the image information of the expanded object and the image information acquired from the band memory are logically operated (4), and the result of the logical operation is banded. Store again in memory (5).

Next, it is judged whether or not the width of the object has been drawn (6). When it is judged that the drawing has not been executed, the drawing address in the band memory is increased by the data amount of the logical operation. Then, the process returns to step (1) and the next image information is acquired from the band memory of the storage device 112.

On the other hand, if it is judged in step (6) that drawing is being performed, the drawing address is changed to the beginning of the line next to the object (7) and it is judged whether or not all the objects have been drawn ( 8) If it is determined that the process is not finished, the process returns to step (1) to obtain the next image information from the band memory, and if it is finished, the work is finished.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. . The system is composed of the printing device 110 connected to the information processing device 100 by the line 140.

As shown in this figure, print information is input from the input device 104, and the CPU 101 causes the storage device 1 to perform printing.
02 is stored. The stored print information is the communication device 10
Storage device 112 of the printing device 110 via 3, 113
The transferred print information is divided into image areas (hereinafter referred to as bands) by the CPU 111 and assigned to the drawing unit 701.

The divided print information is acquired / interpreted by the control device 117 in the drawing unit, the drawing devices 118 and 120 are activated according to the contents of the print information, and the activated drawing devices 118 and 120 are stored in the storage device. The already drawn image information and the print information to be drawn are acquired from 112, the image information is updated by the drawing process, and the updated image information is stored in the storage device 112 again.

When all the print information assigned to the band is drawn by the drawing unit 701, the drawn image information is transferred to the recording device 116 to perform printing. The drawing unit 701 can be configured by a dedicated circuit or a CPU that operates drawing software. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the number of drawing devices is “2” is shown, but the number is not limited.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the second invention and its action will be described below with reference to FIG. 7 and the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus 110 which obtains print information from the information processing apparatus 100, analyzes the obtained print information and prints, each print object in the print information is analyzed and an output image is obtained. A plurality of drawing means (drawing devices 118 and 120) for drawing and developing, and a control means (control device 1 that sequentially assigns each print target in the print information to each drawing means)
17) and a determination unit (CPU 111) for determining the overlapping state between the print targets assigned to the drawing units.
And drawing control means (by the control device 117) for controlling the parallel drawing processing in the same drawing area by each drawing device based on the overlapping judgment result of the judging device, and the print information sequentially assigned by the control device 117. When each drawing means expands each print object therein, the CPU 111 determines the overlapping state between the print objects assigned to the drawing devices 118 and 120, and the control device 117 based on the overlap determination result. Controls parallel drawing processing in the same drawing area by the drawing devices 118 and 120, and enables parallel drawing processing of each print object in the same drawing area when the print objects do not overlap. .

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a second embodiment of the band drawing control method of the printing system according to the present invention, in which the CPU 111 shown in FIG. 7 controls the band processing order and activates the drawing unit 701. Corresponding to. In addition, (1) to (12) indicate each step.

First, the band 201 is attached to the drawing unit 701.
Print information 604 of the band memory 601 and the band 201
Is assigned to erase the contents of the band memories 601, 602, and 603, and then the control unit 11 of the drawing unit 701.
Start 7 (1).

Next, the generation of an interrupt is awaited. If an interrupt occurs, it is judged whether the type of interrupt is drawing end or transfer end (2). If it is judged that the interrupt is a drawing end interrupt, It is judged whether the image information is transferred to the recording device 116 (3), and if it is judged that the image information is not transferred at present, the transfer of the image information to the recording device is started (4), and step (5) and thereafter. Proceed to.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that image information is currently being transferred to the recording device, it is determined whether or not there is an empty band memory that is not currently being transferred (5). If so, step (2)
Return to and wait for an interrupt.

On the other hand, if it is judged in step (5) that there is a space, it is judged whether or not band n (band 204 shown in FIG. 2) is drawn (6). The process returns to step (2) and waits for an interrupt to occur.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step (6) that the drawing has not been performed, the vacant band memory, the band to be drawn next, and the print information are assigned to the control device 117 of the drawing unit 701, and the band memory is allocated. Is erased, then this is activated (7) and the process returns to step (2).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that the type of interrupt is transfer end, it is determined whether the lowest band n (band 204) has been drawn (8), and it is determined that drawing has been performed. If it is determined that the band has not been drawn, it is determined whether the drawing process of the band to be transferred next is finished (9). If it is determined that the band is not drawn, the step (2) is performed. ) Return to the interrupt generation wait state, and if it is determined that the drawing is completed, the image information transfer to the recording device 116 is started (10).

Next, it is judged whether or not the drawing unit 701 is currently drawing (11). If it is judged that the drawing is not being executed, the process returns to the interrupt wait in step (2) to execute drawing. If it is determined that there is an empty band memory, the band to be drawn next and print information,
The band memory is allocated to the control device 117 of the drawing unit 701, and the band memory is erased and then started (12) and the process returns to step (2).

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a second embodiment of the drawing control method of the printing system according to the present invention, which corresponds to the operation procedure of the control device 117. In addition, (1)-
(9) shows each step.

First, when the control device 117 is activated,
First print information of the allocated band is acquired from the storage device 112 (1). Next, it is judged whether the acquired drawing information is a drawing end command (2). If it is judged that the drawing information is a drawing end command, an interrupt is generated (9), the work is ended, and the drawing end command is not issued. If it is determined, the drawing coordinates of the print information are converted into addresses on the band memory (3), and it is judged whether there is a drawing device that is not currently drawing (4). When it is determined that there is no drawing device, the drawing devices 118 and 12
Wait for either one of the 0s to complete the drawing process, then determine whether there is another drawing device that is performing the drawing process in addition to the drawing device that is not performing the drawing process (5). If it is determined that the drawing device that is not performing the drawing process is activated (8), and if it is determined that there is a drawing device, the object currently undergoing the drawing process and the object to be processed by the drawing device to be activated next are It is judged whether or not they overlap (6). If it is judged that they overlap, it waits for the drawing apparatus currently being processed to finish the processing (7). If it is judged that they do not overlap, the drawing apparatus is started ( 8),
Returning to step (1), the next print information is stored in the storage device 112.
To get from.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the method of determining the overlap of objects in the printing system according to the present invention, and corresponds to the case of drawing objects A and B, for example. Hereinafter, the object A is the object 10
01 and the object B are called an object 1011.

As shown in this figure, the drawing command of the object which constitutes the print information is used as the information for indicating the drawing position of the object, and the coordinates (Ax, Ay) of one single point (1002) of the object 1001 and the object 10 are displayed.
The information includes the width Aw of 01 and the height Ah. Therefore, the four endpoints of object A (1002, 1003, 1
The coordinates (004, 1005) are as shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of an object overlapping judgment processing procedure in step (6) shown in FIG. Note that (1) to (6) indicate each step.

The object 1011 is the object 10
In order to determine whether or not 01 overlaps with 01, it is determined whether the endpoint 1012 of the object B is within the drawing range of the object A (1), and whether the endpoint 1013 of the object B is within the drawing range of the object A ( 2), it is determined whether the end point 1014 of the object B is within the drawing range of the object A (3), and the end point 1015 of the object B is determined.
Is within the drawing range of the object A (4),
If any of these four conditions is true, it is determined that they overlap (6), and if all the conditions are false, it is determined that they do not overlap (5).

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each step of the third and fourth inventions and their actions will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The third aspect of the invention is to use a plurality of drawing means (drawing units 131, 1 shown in FIG. 1 for drawing and developing an output image.
30 or a drawing unit 701 shown in FIG. 7, which acquires print information from an information processing apparatus, analyzes the acquired print information, and prints in a printing apparatus. Determination step (steps (7) and (9) of FIG. 4) and an allocation step of sequentially allocating each print information for one page divided by any of the drawing means capable of drawing by the determination (FIG. 4). By executing the steps (12) and (13)), it is possible to automate the process of drawing the print information for one page at high speed.

The fourth invention is provided with a plurality of drawing means (drawing devices 118 and 120) for drawing and developing an output image, acquires print information from the information processing device 100, analyzes the acquired print information, and prints. In the drawing control method of the printing apparatus 110 to be performed, a determination step (step (6) in FIG. 9) of determining the overlapping state of each print target assigned to each of the drawing apparatuses 118 and 120, and the determination result of the overlapping state. If the print targets do not overlap with each other, a limiting step (step (7) in FIG. 9) for limiting the parallel drawing processing in the same drawing area by each drawing means based on It is possible to automate parallel drawing processing of each print target in.

[Third Embodiment] In the second embodiment, one page is divided and the drawing process is performed. However, with the system configuration of FIG. 7, even when one page is collectively drawn. The present invention can be applied. In this case, the band memories 601, 602, 603 become one page memory,
Further, the print information 604, 605, 606 also becomes one print information storage area without being divided for each band. The embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the band drawing control method for the printing system according to the present invention, which corresponds to the procedure in which the CPU 111 activates the drawing unit 701 and transfers the image information to the recording apparatus. In addition,
(1) to (4) show each step.

First, the page memory and the print information 604 are assigned to the drawing unit 701, the contents of the page memory are erased, and then the controller 117 of the drawing unit 701 is activated (1). Next, waiting for the occurrence of an interrupt (2), if an interrupt occurs, it is determined whether the type of interrupt is drawing end, and if it is determined that the interrupt is a drawing end interrupt, to the image information recording device 116. Transfer is started (3), the transfer is completed (4), and the work is ended.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0066]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, the control means divides the print information acquired according to the number of divisions in which one page is divided into a plurality of band drawing areas, and each print information for one page divided by the dividing means is drawn in each drawing means. The print information for one page can be drawn at a high speed because the print information for one page is sequentially allocated in parallel.

According to the second aspect, when each drawing means develops each print object in the print information sequentially assigned by the control means, each print object assigned to each drawing means by the determining means. The overlapping state is determined, and the drawing control means controls the parallel drawing processing in the same drawing area by each drawing means based on the overlapping judgment result. Therefore, when the print targets do not overlap, the same drawing area It is possible to perform parallel drawing processing for each print target in the inside.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the drawing state by each drawing means is determined, and each print information for one page divided into any of the drawing means capable of drawing is sequentially assigned. It is possible to automate the process of drawing minute print information at high speed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the overlapping state of each print object assigned to each drawing means is judged, and the parallel drawing in the same drawing area by each drawing means is performed based on the judgment result of the overlapping state. Since the processing is limited, it is possible to automate parallel drawing processing of the print targets in the same drawing area when the print targets do not overlap.

Therefore, the drawing processing time of the print information for each one page can be greatly shortened, and the objects in the same area can be drawn at high speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing divided areas of an image area of one page set in the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of the storage device illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of a band control method for a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of a drawing control method for a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the drawing processing method of the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to second and third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the band drawing control method for the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the drawing control method of the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of determining overlapping of objects in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed procedure of an object overlapping determination process shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the band drawing control method for the printing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Information processing device 101 CPU 102 Storage device 103 Communication device 104 Input device 105 Display device 110 Printing device 111 CPU 112 Storage device 116 Recording device 117 Control device 118 Drawing device 119 Control device 120 Drawing device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus that obtains print information from an information processing apparatus, analyzes the obtained print information, and prints the print information according to the number of divisions into which one page is divided into a plurality of band drawing areas. A dividing unit that divides the print information, a plurality of drawing units that analyzes each divided print information and draws and develops the output image, and the divided print information for one page is sequentially parallel to each drawing unit. And a control unit for dynamically allocating the printing device. 2. A printing apparatus that obtains print information from an information processing apparatus, analyzes the obtained print information, and prints, analyzes a plurality of print targets in the print information, and draws and develops on an output image. Drawing means, control means for sequentially allocating each print object in the print information to each drawing means, judging means for judging an overlapping state between the print objects allocated to each drawing means, and overlapping of the judging means A printing apparatus comprising: a drawing control unit that controls parallel drawing processing in the same drawing area by each drawing unit based on a determination result. 3. A drawing control method for a printing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of drawing means for drawing and developing an output image; acquiring print information from an information processing apparatus; analyzing the acquired print information; Drawing of the printing apparatus, which comprises: a judgment step of judging the drawing state by the means; and an allocation step of sequentially allocating the print information for one page divided into any drawing means capable of drawing by the judgment. Control method. 4. A drawing control method for a printing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of drawing means for drawing and developing an output image; acquiring print information from an information processing apparatus; and analyzing the acquired print information to perform printing. A determining step of determining an overlapping state of each print target assigned to the printing means, and a limiting step of limiting parallel drawing processing in the same drawing area by each drawing means based on the determination result of the overlapping state. And a drawing control method for a printing apparatus.