JPH1042087A - Method and device image processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly and simply conduct preview in the case of editing and printing out an image. SOLUTION: In the case of receiving image data, when continuous preview is designated (step S104-YES), at first desired edit setting is repeated by a desired number (steps S102, S105). When the setting is finished, in order to display an image by a set number, the image is reduced in matching with the screen size, the position is calculated and it is stored (step S106). Then the edit setting to be stored is applied to the image and the image is reduced by the calculation and the position is decided and displayed (step S108). Thus, when the preview is finished, the desired edit setting is selected and the result is printed out (step S110).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for generating an image signal for previewing an image output by an output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as copiers have become more colorized and more sophisticated, images have been output many times on paper in order to obtain desired colors and desired edited images. In order to solve the problem of inefficiency, a copying machine having a preview function of displaying an image on a CRT or the like and checking the image without outputting the image on paper has been proposed.

Some of these devices use a black-and-white liquid crystal display to display and confirm the read original image. However, if the copier of the main body is full color,
Since a black-and-white liquid crystal display is used, the effects of color adjustment and color conversion cannot be confirmed. Therefore, in recent years, there has been proposed a preview system capable of performing full-color display on a display device.

Further, in addition to simply displaying a read image in full color, even if various image edits are set, the CR
A preview system that can display the image processing result on T while reflecting the image processing result has also been proposed.

[0005]

However, in order to obtain a desired image processing result, it is necessary to make fine adjustments to the color and the editing position by looking at the preview-processed edited image. Labor is high, and there is a problem that time is not efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when editing is performed, a preview image in which a plurality of editing results are reflected on the same image is efficiently created and displayed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of efficiently obtaining an edited image desired by a user and setting the edited content more easily.

[0007]

The present invention has the following arrangement to achieve the above object. That is, input means for inputting image data, editing setting means for inputting a desired number of editing operations performed on the image data input by the input means, and editing setting means for the image data, The image processing apparatus includes editing display means for performing a set number of input editing operations and displaying images edited by the respective editing operations, and printing means for printing and outputting an image obtained by performing an editing operation on the image data.

Further, the image processing method of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an input step of inputting image data, an edit setting step of inputting a desired number of editing operations to be performed on the image data input in the input step,
Performing an editing operation input in the editing setting step on the image data by a set number, and displaying an image edited by each editing operation; and performing an editing operation on the image data. And a printing step of printing out the resulting image.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. This apparatus has a color reader unit 351 for reading a color original and performing digital editing processing and the like, and an image carrier different for each color, and prints out a color image according to a digital image signal of each color sent from the reader unit 351. The printer unit 352 performs the operation.

Further, reference numeral 219 denotes a CR used at the time of preview.
At T, the camera is connected to the main body by a VGA interface, and displays an image created by the preview processing unit 217.

(Configuration of Reader Unit) FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a digital image processing unit in FIG. A color original on the platen 3511 is a halogen lamp 3512.
Exposure. As a result, the reflected image is picked up by the CCD 201, sampled and held by the AD converter 202, and then A / D converted to generate RGB three-color digital signals. The generated digital signal is subjected to image processing in each of the subsequent image processing units. The register set for each image processing unit is executed by the CPU 240 using the program ROM.
241 based on the data written in the work RAM 242 in accordance with the program written in
It is executed through the PU bus 243. Each color separation data is subjected to shading and black correction by a shading correction unit 203, correction to an NTSC signal is performed by an input masking unit 204, and editing processing 1 (color conversion and the like) using luminance data is performed by an editing circuit 205. The result is input to the synthesis unit 206.

The synthesizing unit 206 is a unit for synthesizing the image data of the reflection original and the output data of the image memory 208. The result is subjected to LOG correction processing by the LOG conversion unit 207 and further to the second scaling unit. At 234, a scaling process (when scaling is set) is performed. Here, in the scaling processing, since the compression processing performed in the image memory unit 208 functions as a low-pass filter, specifically, enlargement processing is performed. The signal output from the second scaling unit 234 is input to the image memory unit 208. Further, the synthesizing unit 206 also serves as a bus selector, and can directly transfer the RGB data to the preview processing unit 217 and display it on the CRT 219. Further, at the time of the continuous preview processing, the data input to the image memory 208 is selected by the selector 244, all the subsequent image processing is performed, and the data is again input from the synthesizing unit 206 to the image memory 208 through the LOG conversion unit 207 and thereafter. Can also.

Reference numeral 212 denotes a masking UCR unit that generates a color signal for each drum, and generates a color signal suitable for printer characteristics. Reference numeral 213 denotes a second editing circuit for performing an editing process 2 (free color process, paint process, etc.) based on the density data.
1, the gamma correction is performed, the magnification is changed (specifically, reduction processing) is performed by the third scaling unit 235, and the edge is enhanced by the edge enhancement unit 215, and is sent to the color LBP 216.

A preview processing unit 217 is a CRT image memory for storing edited image data and the CRT image memory.
It comprises a memory control unit for controlling the image memory. 2
A CRT 19 displays data in a CRT image memory. The preview processing unit 217 and the CRT 219 will be described later.

Reference numeral 220 denotes a first area generation unit,
1, 225, 229 and 238 are generated. A signal 229 is a main scanning synchronization signal, which is a signal generated by selecting one of a signal generated inside the first area generation unit 220 and a BD signal (beam detection signal) 228 sent from the LBP printer 216. The signal 221 is the output D of the image sensor.
TOP 226, an ITOP signal generated inside the LBP printer 216 (at the time of printer output, a sub-scanning enable signal synchronized with each drum is generated based on this signal) 22
7 and two write enable signals (main scan 221-
1, one sub-scan 221-2) and five read enable signals (one main scan 221-3, one sub-scan 221-M,
22-C, 221-Y, 221-K), and controls the image memory in the image memory unit.
The signal 238 is the main scanning write enable signal 23
8-1, sub-scanning write enable signal 238-2, main-scanning read enable signal 238-3, sub-scanning enable signals 238-M, 238-C, 238-Y, 238
−K in total, and are generated in consideration of the delays of the compression unit and the expansion unit in the image memory unit in order to synchronize with the ITOP signal 227 and adjust the timing of the image signal and the area signal. The signal 225 is an enable signal for the CRT image memory in the preview processing unit (one main scan, one
(One for each sub-scan).

Reference numeral 230 denotes a second area generation unit which generates an area signal for each editing process. This portion includes a bitmap memory unit that stores each area signal and a bitmap memory control unit that controls the bitmap memory (for example, an AGDC (Advanced Display Control
er), and writing is performed by the CPU, while reading is performed in synchronization with DTOP 226 and HSNC 229 (synchronous with optically scanned original image data). The output is 222, 223-2, and 236, respectively, and the editing process 1
, An enable signal for image composition, a free color or paint and enable signal.

The area memory unit 231, the first DL 232,
The second DL 233, the second scaling unit 235, and the third DL 237 are circuits for timing adjustment for synchronizing the image signal and the area signal.

Specifically, the first DL 232... Input signal 2
23-2 is delayed by the delay of the editing process 1 (output is 2
23-1). Pixel delay is DF / F, line delay is FI
Made in FO.

The second DL 233... Delays the input signal 226 by the delay of the masking UCR (the output is 224-
2). The pixel delay is DF / F and the line delay is FIFO.

A third DL 237...
Delay by delay of editing process + synthesis + LOG conversion. The pixel delay is DF / F and the line delay is FIFO.

Third scaling unit 235... Specifically, in the enlargement processing, exactly the same control as that of the second scaling unit 234 is performed (the delay number is also the same).

Area memory unit 231: A circuit for adjusting delay with the image memory unit. As shown in FIG. 4, a sub-scanning read enable signal 238- corresponding to each color drum is provided.
Four memory units 40 having exactly the same configuration except for M to K
1 to 404. The memory unit for each color is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a write comprising a memory 421, a main scanning counter reset at the rising edge of the signal WLE238-1 and counting up when enabled, and a sub-scanning counter reset at the rising edge of the signal WVE238-2 and counting up when enabled. A read address composed of an address counter 422, a main scanning counter that is reset when the signal RLE238-3 rises and counts up when enabled, and a sub-scan counter that is reset when the signal RVE238-M rises and counts up when enabled. A counter 425,
AND gate 423, 3-input AND gate 426,
Inverters 427 and 431 and buffers 430 and 432
And a register 433 specified by the CPU 240.

Further, at the time of memory write, register 433 ← 0 address ← write address counter is selected. Buffer 430 ← enable buffer 432 ← disable OEN ← 1 WEN becomes 0 when the clock falls, and data in buffer 430 is stored in memory 421. Written.

On the other hand, at the time of memory reading, the register 433 ← 1 Address control ← Read address counter is selected Buffer 430 ← Disable buffer 432 ← Enable OEN ← 0 WEN ← 1, and data in the memory 421 is read through the buffer 432.

With such a configuration, area signals having different timings can be handled as if they were one plane.

(Configuration of Printer Unit) In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a polygon scanner that scans a photosensitive drum with a laser beam. Reference numeral 302 denotes a first-stage magenta (M) image forming unit, which has the same configuration as cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K). 3 image forming units for each color
03, 304, and 305. Polygon scanner 301
Scans a laser beam from a laser element driven independently of MCYK by a laser control unit (not shown) on a photosensitive drum of each color. The scanned laser beam is on a scanning line of each drum, and is provided with a BD detecting unit that detects the laser beam before scanning each line and generates a main scanning synchronization signal. When two polygon mirrors are arranged on the same axis and rotated by one motor as in this embodiment,
For example, the main scanning operation directions of the M and C laser beams and the Y and K laser beams are opposite to each other. Therefore, normally, one of the M and C images and the other of the Y and K image data are mirror images in the main scanning direction.

In the image forming section 302, reference numeral 318 denotes a photosensitive drum for forming a latent image by exposure to a laser beam.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a developing device for performing toner development on the drum 318;
Reference numeral 314 in the developing device 313 denotes a sleeve for applying a developing bias to perform toner development, and 315 denotes a photosensitive drum 31.
8 is a primary charger that charges the battery 8 to a desired potential.
Reference numeral 316 denotes a cleaner for cleaning the surface of the drum 318 after transfer, and 316 denotes a drum 318 cleaned by the cleaner 317.
Is an auxiliary charger which removes the charge of the surface of the photosensitive drum and obtains a good charge in the primary charger 315. Reference numeral 330 denotes a pre-exposure lamp for eliminating residual charges on the drum 318;
A transfer charger 319 discharges the toner image on the drum 318 to the transfer member by discharging from the back surface of the transfer belt 306.

Reference numerals 309 and 310 denote cassettes for accommodating transfer members, reference numeral 308 denotes a paper feed unit for supplying the transfer members from the cassettes 309 and 310, and reference numeral 311 denotes a transfer belt fed by the paper feed unit to the transfer belt 306. An adsorption charger 312 is used to rotate the transfer belt 306 and is paired with the adsorption charger at the same time as the transfer belt 30.
A transfer belt roller 6 attracts and charges the transfer member.

Reference numeral 324 denotes a static eliminator for facilitating separation of the transfer member from the transfer belt 306. Reference numeral 325 denotes a peeling charger for preventing image disturbance due to peeling discharge when the transfer member is separated from the transfer belt. , 327 are pre-fixing chargers for compensating for the toner adsorbing force on the transfer member after separation and preventing image disturbance, and 322 and 323 discharge the transfer belt 306 and initialize the transfer belt 306 electrostatically. And 328, a belt cleaner for removing dirt from the transfer belt 306.
A fixing unit 307 thermally separates the toner image on the transfer member from the transfer belt 306 and recharged by the pre-fixing chargers 326 and 327 onto the transfer member. Reference numeral 340 denotes a paper discharge sensor that detects a transfer member on a conveyance path that passes through the fixing device. Reference numeral 329 denotes a transfer belt 3 by the paper feeding unit 308.
06 is a paper leading edge sensor that detects the leading end of the transfer member fed on the printer unit 06. A detection signal from the paper leading edge sensor 329 is sent from the printer unit 352 to the reader unit 351 and the reader unit 3
It is used to generate a sub-scanning synchronization signal when a video signal is sent from 51 to the printer unit 352.

The control of the entire apparatus is performed by the CPU 240 executing a program stored in the ROM 241 in accordance with an instruction given by an operator on an operation panel 360 realized by a touch panel or the like.

(Configuration of Preview Unit) FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a preview processing circuit 217 for displaying read image data on the CRT 219.

In the FIFOs 503 to 505, the final image data (each of 8 bits of YMC data) output from the edge emphasizing unit 215 is converted into a signal obtained by subjecting the inverse logarithmic conversion unit 502 to a luminance conversion (from CMY to RGB), or synthesized. Part 206
, And either of the RGB signals is inputted. The gate 501 switches which is selected.

These FIFOs 503 to 505 are shown in FIG.
The high-speed image data flowing from the main body is displayed based on the control line 515 generated by the display controller 500 based on the enable signal 225 input from the first area generation unit 220 shown in FIG. 50
8 for speed conversion.

The memories 506 to 508 store video R for display.
AM, and writing to and reading from the memory is performed by control lines 5 from the display controller 500.
16. The memories 506 to 508 have a memory size larger than the display size,
The image signal sent from the edge enhancement unit 215 is written after being scaled to the size of the memories 506 to 508.
By having a memory size larger than the display size, reading from an arbitrary position and reading after scaling are possible.

Reference numerals 509 to 511 denote LUTs for correcting the characteristics of the CRT 219, which can be arbitrarily corrected by the control line 517 from the display controller 500 and the CPU 240.

D / A 512 to 514 are digital-to-analog conversion circuits for sending video to a CRT, and are output as analog signals of an R signal 520, a G signal 521, and a B signal 522, respectively. CR with signal (synchronous signal) 519
It is sent to T219 and displayed.

(Preview Operation) Next, a preview operation of the image processing apparatus provided with the present preview system will be described. FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of the present apparatus. The start is a state at the beginning of the sequence, and is a so-called wait state. Prior to starting the preview operation or the copy operation, the operator first sets the mode such as the image magnification and the paper size from the operation unit 360 (S10).
1). FIG. 6 shows the appearance of the operation unit 360 mounted on the color reader unit 351. 600 is a numeric key, 601
Is a copy start key, 602 is a stop key, 603
604, a preheating key; 604, a display unit such as a liquid crystal display;
Is an edit setting key. The standard screen of the display unit 604 is shown in FIG.
As shown.

Each display of the standard operation screen shown in FIG. 7 is as follows: 701 is the apparatus status, 702 is the number of copies, 703 is the paper size,
704 denotes a copy magnification, and 705 denotes a touch key in a preview mode.

When the operator wants to perform some kind of editing processing, he or she presses any one of the editing setting keys 605 to perform a desired editing setting (S112). FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the edit setting. Edit setting key 605
One of them is an area designation key, which allows the user to select whether to perform the editing process on the entire image or only a part of the region (S1001). When the operator wants to perform an editing process on a part, an area is designated using a coordinate input device or the like (S1002). After determining the editing area, the operator selects and sets a desired editing process from the operation unit (S1003), and returns to the original sequence.

Next, the operator selects whether or not to perform a preview operation (S103). When performing the preview operation, the preview mode key 705 in FIG. 7 is pressed to transition from the standard screen to the preview operation screen. FIG.
Is an example of a preview operation screen, 801 is a preview start key, 802 is a display direction setting key, 803 is an area monitor, 804 is a display position setting key, 805 is a display magnification setting key, and 806 is an area fine adjustment key.

After setting the original on the original platen or the feeder, the operator sets the display direction (vertical or horizontal) of the original using the display direction setting key 802. The display direction is that the image from the original abutment position on the platen is
19 are displayed from the upper right. Display direction setting key 8
When 02 is pressed, the display of the display direction setting key is reversed to black,
Since the image rotated by 90 degrees is written in the image memories 506, 507, and 508, the image from the document abutting position on the document table is rotated by 90 degrees and displayed on the monitor.

The operator operates the preview start key 8 shown in FIG.
When the user presses 01, the continuous preview key appears as a pop-up screen on the operation unit as shown by 901 in FIG. 9 (S104).

When the operator completes the desired editing settings and presses the “No” button 903 to perform a normal preview operation, the scanning sequence of the reader unit 351 is started, and the original placed on the original platen 3511 is scanned. Read. When a document is set on the feeder, the document is sent from the feeder to a document table. At this time, if the setting on the operation unit is set to perform the prescan, the prescan is performed to detect the size of the document placed on the document table. After the end of the pre-scan, a scanning operation for reading an image is started, and the image reading is started (S107). The read image signal is
After performing various set editing processes, the data is sent to the preview processing unit 217, where the data is subjected to color space conversion into RGB space data. Then, based on the set display direction, magnification, document size, and the like, the most efficient size that fits the entire image in the area of the image memory for preview is calculated, and data is written in the image size. The data written in the preview image memory is corrected by the LUTs 509 to 511 according to the characteristics of the monitor, and the display controller 5
00, the data is transferred to the monitor and a preview image is displayed (S108).

Incidentally, the size of the preview image memory is 1920 × 1440 pixels, which is nine times the display size of the monitor 640 × 480 pixels. Therefore, when data is transferred from the preview image memory to the monitor, the display controller 500 scales the data in the preview image memory based on the display size of the monitor 219 and the display magnification set by the display magnification setting key 805, It is necessary to transfer data to the monitor 219.

FIG. 16 shows a specific example. Data 520 is written in preview image memories 506-508. At this time, when the display magnification is set to 1 by the display magnification setting key, the entire data area 520 of the image memory is reduced to 1/9 of that of the display controller, and 5 times.
It is displayed on the monitor as shown at 21. When the double key of the display magnification setting key is pressed, the data in the 4/9 area of the preview image memory is reduced to 1/4 by the display controller, transferred, and displayed on the monitor as shown at 522. As a result, a part of the preview image memory is displayed twice as large as the display at the time of 1 ×. Similarly, when the triple key is pressed, a 1/9 area of the preview image memory is transferred to the display memory at the same magnification, so that a part of the image is tripled as shown in 523. Displayed on the monitor.

When the display magnification setting key is set to 2 × or 3 ×, the preview image memories 506 to 5
Since part of 08 is displayed on the monitor, if the read position is changed to the memory area and transferred to the monitor, the part not displayed on the monitor can be displayed. That is,
When 2 times is set by the display magnification setting key, an image of an arbitrary 1/4 size of the preview image memory is displayed on the monitor. At this time, if the down arrow key of the display-one setting key 804 is pressed, a size of 1/4 is transferred to the monitor from the position where the reading start position of the preview image memory has moved downward by 4 dots, and the display is displayed on the monitor. The image at the bottom of the screen that has not been displayed can be displayed. At this time, if a part of the read area of the memory is the edge of the memory, the next time the read start position is moved toward the edge, the read start position is outside the range of the preview image memory. In order to allow the operator to recognize that cannot be moved, the display-one setting key in the end direction is shaded, and key sensing cannot be performed. Also, the area monitor 8 is provided so that the operator can recognize which area of the memory is displayed on the monitor when the image is moved.
02 is displayed.

After the preview, when the operator presses the copy start key, the print sequence starts (S10).
9), the image data is transferred to the color LBP 216 in FIG. 2 and output on paper (S110). If a key other than the copy start key is pressed, the process returns to S101, and the above-described sequence from S101 is executed according to the content of the pressed key.

On the other hand, in FIG. 9, when the operator presses a button 902 displayed as "YES", a continuous preview mode is entered. The continuous preview mode is a mode in which a plurality of editing settings are made and a processed image according to each editing setting is displayed on a monitor. When the continuous preview is selected, the button 902 is shaded, and the sequence jumps to step S102 in FIG. 1, and editing settings can be performed again in the same manner as the above-described procedure. When each edit setting content is input from the operation unit, the CPU 2 shown in FIG.
By means of 40, each setting is stored in the work RAM 242. When the second setting is completed, the shaded display of the button 902 on the operation unit returns to the original state, and the operator can again select whether or not to perform the next setting (S10).
5). At this time, if the operator selects to perform another editing setting, the second editing setting is also stored by the CPU, and the process returns to step S102 to perform the third editing setting. Similarly, the editing settings can be repeatedly input until the operator presses the “No” button 903.

When the editing setting by the operator is completed, all the images for the n times of the editing processing are all stored in the image memory unit 20 of FIG.
The CPU calculates the reduction ratio and the write address in the image memory so that the image data can be stored in step S8 (S106). For example, it is assumed that the operator sets four editing processes when the image memory unit has a capacity of one A3 size sheet and the size of the document image is A4R size. In this case, the reduction ratio of one image is 50%, and A3 size image memory has
Four 4R size image data can be stored. The write address of the n-th edited image in the image memory indicates the size of the A4R document size in the image memory space by (x,
y), it becomes (xx (n-1), yx (n-1)).

When the size of the original image is A4 and the operator has only two editing settings, the original image can be read at the same magnification only by changing the write address of the second image.

As described above, when the calculation of the reduction ratio and the setting of the write address of the image memory are completed, the scan sequence of the reader is started, and the original placed on the original table is read. The determination of the pre-scan and the setting of the display magnification are the same as those in the normal preview sequence. When the original image is read with the first edit setting and written into the image memory unit 208, the CPU resets each image processing unit to the second edit setting and reads the original image again. When all the original images have been written in the image memory 208 (S107), all the images written in the image memory 208 are read out and displayed on the CRT 219 by the preview processing circuit 217 (S108). The display at this time is performed in the same manner as when the continuous preview is not performed.

By performing the continuous preview in this manner, the images subjected to the respective editing processes can be simultaneously monitored, and the operator can easily select the editing-processed image that is most preferable.

When printing is to be performed after the preview screen display is completed, the operator does not need to set editing contents again, and can easily perform desired editing processing.
The selection number is displayed on the screen of the display unit 604 on the operation unit, so that the editing setting at the time of the continuous preview can be selected. For example, it is assumed that the operator sets four types of editing contents and performs a continuous preview. In this case, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, a pop-up screen 1101 is displayed instead of 901 in FIG.
Indicates the number of editing processes set by the operator, here 1 to
Up to four buttons 1102 and a cancel button 1103 appear. When the editor presses an arbitrary button among the buttons 1102 and selects one of the plurality of editing processes, the editing settings stored in the work RAM 242 are automatically changed to the settings shown in FIG.
CPU 240 executes the call resetting (S11).
1). If there is no continuous preview, there is no room for selection in step S111, and nothing is performed.

Then, the settings such as the reduction ratio and the writing position of the image memory are returned to the same as those for the normal copy, and the print sequence is started. However, all the set editing contents may not meet the operator's wishes. In this case, the operator only needs to press the cancel button 1103. If the cancel button 1103 has been pressed, S10
1 and the above-mentioned S101 according to the content of the pressed key.
The subsequent sequence is executed again.

By doing so, after the continuous preview is displayed, desired editing settings can be made without bothering the operator again, and the editing process can be performed very easily.

<Second Embodiment> Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The overall configuration of the image processing apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of FIG.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a procedure from preview processing to print output in the second embodiment. Steps S1201 to S1205 and S1209 to S1211 correspond to steps S101 to S105 and S1 of the first embodiment.
Same as 09 to S111. The difference from the first embodiment is as follows.

In this embodiment, when the operator selects to perform the continuous preview, the first editing setting is performed, and after the image is displayed on the CRT for a certain period of time (S120).
7) Change the stored settings of the editing unit so that the CPU performs the next editing process. Then, a new document image is read and displayed again on the CRT (S1208).

This operation is repeated until all the editing processes set by the operator are displayed on the CRT. For this reason, a plurality of edit-processed images can be displayed and confirmed on the CRT by exactly the same processing as at the time of copying without reducing the image size.

<Third Embodiment> Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The overall configuration of the image processing apparatus of this embodiment is as follows.
It is the same as FIG.

FIG. 13 shows a third embodiment. Steps S1301 to S1304 and S1308 to S1311 are steps S101 to S104 and S1 of the first embodiment.
Same as 08 to S111.

In the present embodiment, when the operator selects to perform the continuous preview, the continuous preview operation is further performed in a time-sharing manner as in the second embodiment, or in the first embodiment. As described above, it is possible to select whether to perform the division by dividing the image memory (S1305). At the time of continuous preview, a continuous preview screen 1401 as shown in FIG.
Is displayed, the operator can select buttons 1402-1404.
Press any of. When the button 1402 is pressed, the time division preview is selected, and the same continuous preview processing as in the second embodiment is performed (S1306). If the button 1403 is pressed, the memory division preview is selected, and the same continuous preview processing as in the first embodiment is performed (S1307). As described above, by enabling the operation mode of the continuous preview to be switched, finer adjustment of the editing process can be performed.

<Fourth Embodiment> Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The overall configuration of the image processing apparatus of this embodiment is as follows.
It is the same as FIG.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a procedure from preview processing to print output in the fourth embodiment. Steps S1701 to S1705, S1708 to S1213
Are steps S1201 to S120 in the second embodiment.
5, the same as S1207 to S1212. The difference from the second embodiment is that step S120 in FIG.
Immediately before step 7, it is determined whether or not to scan (step S1
706) and scanning and reading the original if it is to be scanned (step S1707).

That is, when the operator finishes the editing setting,
The scanning sequence of the reader unit 351 is started, and the document placed on the document table is read. The read document image is output as preview image output data via each image processing unit, and a preview image is displayed on the CRT for a certain period of time (step S1708). The CPU changes the stored setting of the editing processing unit so that the next editing process set by the operator is performed. When the CRT display of the first image is completed, the CRT display of the second edited image is repeated. Returning to step S1706, if scanning is necessary (step S1706-YES), a new document image is read (step S1707), and the CRT is read.
It is displayed again (step S1708).

In step S1706, the editing process set for the image that has just been preview-displayed is an editing process executed only by the second editing circuit 213 downstream of the image memory unit 208. If the editing process of the image to be preview-displayed is also realized only by the second editing circuit 213, the image data is read from the image memory unit 208 without re-executing the scan sequence of the original image. If the second editing circuit 213 performs an editing process, a preview image can be displayed on a CRT. Conversely, when the editing process set for the image displayed immediately before is performed using the first editing circuit 205, or when the editing process of the image to be displayed is to be performed, the first editing circuit is used. 20
5 is set, the image data stored in the image memory unit 208 is processed upstream or must be processed upstream, so it is necessary to scan and read again. . This operation is repeated until all the editing processes set by the operator are displayed on the CRT (step S1709). The pre-scan setting and the display magnification setting are performed according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment.
This is the same as the device of the embodiment.

As described above, according to the processing procedure of this embodiment, when other image data stored in the image memory 208 can be used, the data in the image memory 208 is diverted without reading the original, and when the other image data cannot be used. By rescanning the original, unnecessary original scanning can be eliminated, and the preview image can be displayed efficiently.

<Fifth Embodiment> Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The overall configuration of the image processing apparatus of this embodiment is as follows.
It is the same as FIG.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a procedure from preview processing to print output in the fifth embodiment. Steps S1801 to S1807, S1810 to S1814
Corresponds to step S12 in FIG. 13 in the third embodiment.
01 to S1207 and S1208 to S1211, respectively. The difference from the third embodiment is that immediately before step S1207 in FIG. 13, it is determined whether or not to scan (step S1808), and if so, the document is scanned and read (step S1809).
At the point where you inserted.

That is, whether the continuous preview operation is performed by dividing the image memory as in the first embodiment,
Step S determines whether to perform the processing in a time-sharing manner as in the second embodiment.
1805. At the time of continuous preview, a continuous preview screen 1401 is displayed as shown in FIG. 14, and the operator presses one of buttons 1402 to 1404. If the button 1403 has been pressed, a memory division preview is selected (step S1807). In this case, when the operator repeats the editing setting procedure shown in FIG. 10 as necessary and finishes the setting, the image reduction ratio and the image writing position are set so that all of the edited and set images can be stored in the memory unit 208. Is calculated and stored in the RAM 242. For example, if the image memory unit has a capacity of one page of A3 size and the size of the document image is A4R size, it is assumed that the operator has set four types of editing processing. in this case,
The reduction ratio of one image is 50%, and four pages of A4R size image data can be stored in the A3 size image memory. The writing address of the n-th edited image to the image memory is (xx (n-
1), y × (n−1)).

When the size and the position of the set image are calculated in this way, the image to be preview-displayed is
If the editing can be performed by the second editing circuit 213 based on the image stored in the image memory 8, the original is not scanned, and the editing process is performed using the image data stored in the image memory 208. , Preview display. If not, the original is scanned again (step S1809) and displayed. In FIG. 18, the CRT display is performed sequentially for each editing setting. However, the display may be performed only after all editing processes are completed and image data is created. In this case, the processing procedure of steps S1808 to S1810 is not shared with the time-division preview, and the processing procedure of step S181 in FIG.
It is determined whether or not the reading of the original is completed immediately before 0. If the reading is completed, the preview display is performed.

On the other hand, when the time division preview is selected, there is no process of reducing the image. After the editing setting by the operator is completed, as described in the fourth embodiment, the images subjected to the set editing are displayed one after another in a size not reduced for each image.

As described above, in the fifth embodiment, the operation mode of the continuous preview can be switched between the time division mode and the memory division mode, so that the preview image can be displayed without performing the unnecessary document reading operation. In addition to being able to display, it is possible to make finer adjustments to the editing process.

The image preview-displayed in this way is printed out by the operator selecting desired editing settings in step S1812 (step S1814).

<Sixth Embodiment> This embodiment is a system having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. However, instead of the procedure of FIG. 1 in the first embodiment, FIG. The preview is displayed according to the procedure. In FIG.
There is no step corresponding to step S111 performed in FIG. 1, that is, a step of selecting the editing content by the operator. For this reason, in this embodiment, the edit settings for preview are used only for preview display, and when printing out, step S1911 is performed again.
Then, in step S1910, the image is edited according to the set editing operation and printed out.

In this way, a preview image can be displayed easily and quickly by editing with various settings. Further, since the editing settings are not stored, the required memory can be saved and the operation procedure itself can be simplified.

[0082]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
Or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and CD.
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By making a plurality of editing settings at once and displaying them on the monitor at the same time, or displaying them successively on the monitor sequentially, the operator can easily compare the respective editing processes. As a result, the operator can quickly determine the most preferable editing content, and can easily print out an image according to the determined editing content.

[0089]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an editing process performed by an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an area memory unit in the image processing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a preview processing unit in the image processing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external view of an operation unit in the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display portion of an operation unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display screen in a preview mode of the operation unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display screen in a continuous preview mode of the operation unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of editing settings of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display screen when editing is selected after the continuous preview mode of the operation unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an editing process in the image processing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an editing process in the image processing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of a mode selection of a continuous preview mode of an operation unit of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a memory unit and a control circuit in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a preview display in the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an editing process in the image processing device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of an editing process in the image processing device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an editing process in the image processing device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (18)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting image data; an edit setting unit for inputting a desired number of editing operations to be performed on the image data input by the input unit; Edit display means for performing the set number of editing operations input by the setting means and displaying an image edited by each editing operation, and printing means for printing and outputting the image obtained by performing the editing operation on the image data. An image processing apparatus comprising: 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an editing and selecting unit for selecting one of the images displayed by the editing and displaying unit, wherein the printing unit prints out the image selected by the editing and selecting unit. The image processing device according to claim 1. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edit display unit simultaneously displays all the images on which the edit operation set by the edit setting unit has been performed. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the editing display unit sequentially displays the images on which the editing operation set by the editing setting unit has been performed, one by one. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a designation unit for designating whether or not to display the image set for editing by the editing display unit. apparatus. 6. The editing and displaying means further comprises a specifying means for specifying a display method, and when the first specification is made,
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all the images on which the set editing operation has been performed are simultaneously displayed, and when the second designation is performed, the images are sequentially displayed one by one. 7. The editing and displaying means includes: first editing means for performing a first editing process on the image data input by the input means; and image data input by the input means; A storage unit for storing the image data edited by the first editing unit; and a second editing unit for performing a second editing process on the image data stored in the storage unit. When the editing operation can be realized by performing the editing by the second editing processing unit on the image data stored in the storage unit, the editing operation is performed on the image data stored in the storage unit. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is performed, and if not, an image is input again from the input unit. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image data input from the input unit is luminance data, and the image data output from the print output unit is density data. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first editing processing means performs an editing process on the luminance data. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second editing processing means performs an editing process on the density data. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing and displaying means corrects image data to be displayed based on characteristics of a display medium. 12. An inputting step of inputting image data, an editing setting step of inputting a desired number of editing operations to be performed on the image data input in the inputting step, Performing an editing operation input in the setting step by a set number, and displaying an image edited by each editing operation; anda printing step of printing and outputting the image obtained by performing the editing operation on the image data. An image processing method comprising: 13. The image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising an edit selection step of selecting one of the images displayed in the edit display step, wherein the printing step prints out the image selected in the edit selection step. The image processing method according to claim 12. 14. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein in the editing and displaying step, all the images on which the editing operation set in the editing setting step has been performed are simultaneously displayed. 15. The image display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein in the editing and displaying step, the images subjected to the editing operation set in the editing setting step are sequentially displayed one by one.
3. The image processing method according to 3. 16. The image processing method according to claim 12, further comprising a designation step of designating whether or not to display the image set for editing in the editing and displaying step. . 17. The editing and displaying step further includes a specifying step of specifying a display method. When the first specification is made, all the images on which the set editing operation has been performed are simultaneously displayed, and 14. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein when 2 is designated, the images are sequentially displayed one by one. 18. The editing and displaying step includes a first editing step of performing a first editing process on the image data input in the input step, and an image data input in the input step, or The image processing apparatus includes a storing step of storing image data edited by the first editing step, and a second editing step of performing a second editing process on the stored image data. For the image data stored in the storing step, the second
If this can be realized by performing the editing in the editing process, the editing process is performed on the image data stored in the storing process. Otherwise, the image is input again from the input process. Claim 12
18. The image processing method according to any one of claims 17 to 17.