JPH11320490A - Cutting method of printed matter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cutting method of printed matter causing no damage on printed image. SOLUTION: A straight-line part 91 of a ruler 90 as auxiliary member is superposingly placed on a straight line part of a cutting guide consisting of a first guide 61 and a second guide 62, so that a user cuts a paper sheet by moving a cutting means such as a cutter along the straight line part 91 of the ruler 90. With this, the edges of four sides of a printed area 100 are cut off by 1 mm each, providing printed matter without margins. By cutting the paper sheet with the ruler 90 directed toward the outside of the printed matter 100, the printed area 100 having the printed image is prevented from damage, even the user wrongly moves the cutter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for cutting a printed matter such as paper on which an image such as a photograph is printed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital still cameras that convert light condensed by a lens using a light sensor such as a CCD into digital data and store photographic data in a storage medium have been reduced in cost and image quality, and have become popular. ing. The digital still camera can be connected to a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) via a cable, or the photograph data in the digital still camera can be transferred to the personal computer by means such as infrared communication, and the personal computer can take in the photograph data. Some digital still cameras store photo data on a memory card that can be removed from the camera body.The memory card can be inserted into a built-in or external card slot in the PC either directly or through an adapter. Photo data can be easily captured in a short time. By connecting a sublimation-type or inkjet printer to a personal computer that has imported the photo data and printing, the photo can be printed at low cost even at a small office or home.

[0003]

However, when an image such as a photograph is printed by the printer as described above, there is a problem that only an image having a margin at the edge of the paper can be printed because it is necessary for paper feeding of the printer. Was. If the user cuts using a cutter in order to remove the margins of the printed matter, there is a problem that the operation of the cutter is erroneous and the area where the image is printed may be damaged. Further, there is a problem that it is difficult to cut into a fixed size every time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for cutting a printed material which can cut a printed image into a desired size without damaging the image. is there.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for cutting a printed material which can remove margins without damaging a printed image.

[0006]

According to the method for cutting a printed material according to the first aspect of the present invention, a cut provided around a rectangular image surrounded by a first parallel line and a second parallel line. A step of superimposing the guide and the linear portion provided on the auxiliary member, and placing the auxiliary member with the linear portion facing the outside of the image,
Cutting the printed material by moving the cutting means along the linear portion. Therefore, the printed image can be cut to a desired size without damaging the image printed by the cutting unit.

According to the method for cutting a printed material according to the second aspect of the present invention, the cutting guide is provided outside the first parallel line and is parallel to the second parallel line. And a second guide parallel to the first parallel line and provided outside the parallel line. Therefore, an accurate rectangular printed matter can be obtained.

According to the method for cutting a printed material according to the third aspect of the present invention, the first guide and the second guide are paired outside the image and are formed on the same straight line. for that reason,
The cutting position can be accurately determined.

According to the printed material cutting method of the present invention, the first guide is located inside the vicinity of the extension of the second parallel line, and the second guide is located on the first parallel line. Inside the extension line. Therefore, margins at the edges can be removed without damaging the printed image.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a photographic image printing system for printing a printed material used in the method for cutting a printed material according to the present invention. A personal computer 1 as a control unit to which a monitor 20 as a display unit and a mouse 30 as an input unit are connected
0 and a printer 40 such as an ink jet printer as a printing unit. The printer 40 can print characters and images on a print medium such as paper to obtain a printed matter.
The personal computer 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a RAM as a main storage device, a hard disk as an auxiliary storage device, and the like. By executing the printing computer program installed on the hard disk of the personal computer 10, control of displaying a photographic image on the monitor 20, selecting an execution procedure with the mouse 30, and printing the photographic image with the printer 40 is performed. This computer program is provided by being stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as a floppy disk, CD-ROM, or magneto-optical disk (MO), installed on a hard disk of the personal computer 10, read into the RAM, and
U executes.

Further, the program can be provided on a network such as the Internet, and the program can be stored in a location remote from a computer that executes the program.

As a storage medium for storing photographic image data, a memory card 51 detachable from a digital still camera 50 is inserted into a card slot 71 provided in a card reader 70 built in or external to the personal computer 10. The digital still camera 50 having a built-in memory is connected to the personal computer 10 by a serial cable 52 or the like, and the contents of the built-in memory are transferred to the personal computer 1.
0, a hard disk 13 or a floppy disk built in or external to the personal computer 10,
A storage device such as a D-ROM or an MO can be used.

Next, a procedure for printing a photograph using the above-described photograph image printing system will be described. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which a user issues a print instruction.

The user can freely move the position of the arrow-shaped pointer displayed on the monitor 20 by operating the mouse 30. Hereinafter, pressing the mouse button with the pointer over the image displayed on the monitor 20 is referred to as pressing the image.

When the printing program is executed, a start screen as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed (S10).
1). Here, when the image of the button displayed as "Begin" is pressed, a screen for selecting where to load the photographic image data is displayed as shown in FIG. 3B (S).
102). As the process selection buttons, images of a button displayed as “memory card”, a button displayed as “file”, and a button displayed as “serial connection” are displayed.

When a button labeled "Memory card" is pressed, the photographic image data is read into the memory card 51.
(S103), and an instruction to insert a memory card is displayed. When the button labeled "File" is pressed, the destination for reading the photo image data is selected from a storage device such as a hard disk of the personal computer 10 (S10).
4). Press the button labeled "Serial connection"
The reading destination of the photographic image data is a digital still camera 5 connected to the personal computer 10 via a serial cable 52.
0 (S105). "Serial connection"
Is pressed, the program for saving the photographic image data stored in the internal memory of the digital still camera 50 to the hard disk of the personal computer 10 is executed, and the reading destination of the photographic image data is set to the personal computer 1.
0 hard disk.

When the image of the button displayed as "End" is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 3B, an end confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 3C is displayed. On the end confirmation screen,
When the image of the button displayed as “cancel” is pressed, the screen returns to the screen at the time when “end”, which was displayed immediately before, was pressed. When you press the image of the button labeled "From the beginning,"
Return to the start screen. When the image of the button displayed as “end” is pressed, the printing program being executed is ended.

On the screen shown in FIG. 3B, "Help"
When the image of the button displayed is pressed, a help screen is displayed for explaining the terms and operating methods in the currently displayed screen. When the image of the button displayed as "return" is pressed, the screen of the previous stage is displayed.

The "end", "help", and "return" buttons are always displayed in subsequent steps and have the same functions.

When the destination for reading the photographic image data is selected, the photographic image data is read from the storage medium of the reading destination (S106). Using the reduced data of the photographic image stored together with the photographic image data, a plurality of thumbnails are displayed on the monitor 20 as reduced images. In this process, it is possible to read only the reduced data. If there is no reduced data, reduced data is created from the photographic image data and displayed. Here, as shown in FIG. 4D, 20 thumbnails 201 are displayed on one screen of the monitor.
Is displayed.

Next, whether or not to perform index printing is selected (S107). A screen as shown in FIG. 4E is displayed on the monitor 20, and if the button indicating "NO" is pressed, the flow proceeds to step S109 without performing index printing. When the button indicating "Yes" is pressed, a screen as shown in FIG. 4F is displayed, and the print size of the index print is designated. By pressing the image of the button indicating the paper size according to the paper set in the printer 40, FIG.
(G) is displayed, and index printing for printing 20 thumbnails 201 on one sheet is executed (S108).

Here, any one of A4 paper, 4 × 6 paper and A6 paper can be used. A4 paper is 21
It is cut into a size of 0 mm x 297 mm. 4x
The six sheets are cut into a size of 114 mm × 175 mm, and are provided with perforations at four edges. By cutting at this perforation, the size becomes 102 mm × 152 mm, that is, approximately 4 inches × 6 inches. A6 paper is cut into a size of 105 mm × 148 mm. At the time of index printing, a photograph number indicating the order in which the photograph image data is stored is displayed near each photograph image. If the photograph image data includes data of the shooting date and time, characters indicating the shooting date and time can be printed.

Next, a method for selecting a photograph to be printed is selected (S109). On the screen shown in FIG. 5H, when the image of the button displayed as “All” is pressed,
Set to print all photos one by one,
Go to 112. When the button image displayed as “select” is pressed, the process goes to S110. When the button image displayed as “number designation” is pressed, the process goes to S111.

In step S110, a screen as shown in FIG. 5 (i) is displayed, and the user can switch between printing and not printing the photograph by pressing the thumbnail of the photograph. When entering S110,
It is set not to print all photos. By pressing a thumbnail of a photo to be printed, a symbol indicating that printing is to be performed, such as a circle, is displayed above the thumbnail 201, and a single photo image corresponding to the thumbnail is set to be printed. Pressing the thumbnail marked with a circle again removes the circle and cancels the print designation. The total number of prints is also displayed on the screen shown in FIG.

In the screen shown in FIG. 5 (i), it is set so that all the photographs are printed one by one at first, and it is indicated that the thumbnail is pressed and the selected image is not printed such as an X mark. Symbols can also be displayed.

If more than 20 images are stored in the memory card and thumbnails of all the pictures cannot be displayed on the monitor 20, the pictures are distributed to a plurality of sheets of 20 pictures at a time and displayed on the monitor 20 next. A "next sheet" button for displaying the previous sheet and a "previous sheet" button for displaying the previous sheet are displayed. This "next sheet"
By pressing the button or the "previous sheet" button, the sheet to be displayed can be switched. By specifying that one or more photographs are to be printed and pressing a button displayed as “selection completed”, the process proceeds to step S112.

In step S111, a screen as shown in FIG. 6 (j) is displayed. The previous sheet and the next sheet can be displayed similarly to the screen shown in FIG. 5 (i) in step S110. When the user presses the thumb nail of the photographic image, the screen is switched to a screen as shown in FIG. By pressing the button labeled "increase", the number of prints of the photo image can be increased by one, and by pressing the button labeled "decrease", the number of prints of the photo image can be reduced by one. Can be reduced. By pressing the thumbnail again, it is possible to return to the screen shown in FIG.

By pressing the button labeled "zoom", the screen is switched to a screen as shown in FIG. 6 (l), and the photographic image can be displayed in an enlarged manner to check the contents. By pressing a button displayed as "Rotate left" or "Rotate right", the photographic image can be rotated 90 degrees left and right and displayed. When the button displayed as “close” is pressed, the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. Instead of buttons labeled "increase" or "decrease"
Buttons labeled "+" and "-", up arrow,
An image of a button in the shape of a downward arrow may be displayed. An image of a button in the shape of a magnifying glass may be displayed instead of the button displayed as “zoom”.

When a button labeled "Batch designation" is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 6 (j), a screen as shown in FIG. 6 (m) is displayed, and the number of prints is increased or decreased by one. Can be done. By pressing the button labeled "SET", the number of prints of all the photographic images can be set to the same number. When the button "Cancel" is pressed, the number of prints returns to the state before the button "Batch designation" is pressed, and the screen returns to the screen of FIG. 6 (j). After setting the number of prints of all photographic images to a predetermined number on the screen shown in FIG. 6 (m), the number of prints of individual photographic images may be set on the screen shown in FIG. 6 (k).

The screen shown in FIG. 6 (j) also displays the total number of prints. By designating that one or more photographic images are to be printed and pressing the button displayed as "selection completed", the process proceeds to the next step S112.

In step S112, the monitor 20
A screen as shown in (n) is displayed, and the user selects a paper size for printing the photo. Here, using card paper, E size, L size, 4 × 6 size, LL size, and A4 (4L) size photo using A4 paper, 4 × 6 paper, and A6 paper as the photo print paper. Can be.

The card size is 89 mm × 55 mm, which is almost the same as the size of a generally used business card. Here, the photographic image is set to a card size when the edges of the four sides of the print area are cut off by 1 mm after printing so that no margin is left on the periphery.
It is printed in a size of 1 mm x 57 mm. The dimension including the cut-off portion is called the actual print size.

The E size is 110 mm × 74 mm, which is almost the same as a standard photograph size in the past. The actual print size is 112 mm × 76 mm.

The L size is a size of 127 mm × 89 mm, which is almost the same as a standard photograph size at present. The actual print size is 129 mm × 91 mm.

The 4 × 6 size is 152 mm × 102 mm, which is almost the same as a standard photographic size in Europe. The actual print size is 154 mm × 104 mm.

The LL size is 178 mm × 127 mm, which is the size of two L sizes. The actual print size is 180 mm × 129 mm.

The A4 size has a size of 254 mm × 178 mm, and is also referred to as a 4L size because it is the size of four L sizes. Actual print size is 256mm x 180
mm.

On the screen shown in (n) or (p) of FIG. 7, when the image of the tag displayed as “4 × 6” is pressed, 4
4 × 6 size, L size, E printable on × 6 paper
An image of a button indicating the size and the card size is displayed, and by pressing the button, a print size can be selected. In the case of printing on a 4 × 6 sheet in a 4 × 6 size, by cutting along a perforation of the 4 × 6 sheet, it is possible to obtain a photograph having no margins at four edges.

On the screen shown in FIG. 7 (n) or (o), when the tag image displayed as "A4" is pressed, A4
A4 size, LL size, 4x6 that can be printed on paper
An image of a button indicating the size, the L size, the E size, and the card size is displayed, and by pressing the button, a print size can be selected.

On the screen shown in (o) or (p) of FIG. 7, when the image of the tag displayed as “A6” is pressed, A6 is displayed.
An image of a button indicating the L size, the E size, and the card size that can be printed on a sheet is displayed. By pressing the button, the print size can be selected.

In the screens shown in (n), (o), and (p) of FIG. 7, the image of the button indicating the print size displays an image indicating the relationship between the paper size and the print area on the paper. ing. As shown in FIG. 7 (p), in the case of A4 paper, one sheet of A4 size, one sheet of A4 size, two sheets of LL size and 4 × 6 size, four sheets of L size,
A photographic image is laid out for three E-size cards and eight card sizes.

When step S112 is entered, the state may be such that the image of the tag corresponding to the paper size selected by the index print in step S107 is pressed. When the print size is selected, the process proceeds to step S113.

In step S113, a screen as shown in FIG. 8 (q) is displayed. When the user presses the image of the button displayed as "print start", the process proceeds to step S114.
When the button image displayed as “option setting” is pressed, a screen as shown in FIG. 8 (r) is displayed, and the user can set options for printing.

A photographic image taken by a general digital still camera has a pixel number of 640 × 480 or 1024 × 7.
The aspect ratio, such as 68, is 3: 4. On the other hand, generally used photo print sizes such as E size and L size have an aspect ratio different from 3: 4. Here, when the option is not set, or in FIG.
When the “standard trimming” is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 9, the original data is set so that the long side of the photographic image data (original data) and the long side of the print area correspond to each other as shown in FIG. After the rotation, if the aspect ratio of the original data is smaller than the aspect ratio of the print area (close to 1: 1), the long side of the original data is made to correspond to the long side of the print area, and the vertical direction of the original data is trimmed. Is printed. When the aspect ratio of the original data is larger than the aspect ratio of the print area, the short sides of the original data correspond to the short sides of the print area, and the left and right directions of the original data are trimmed and printed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a margin from being formed in the print area.

Further, some users may want to print the entire range without trimming the original data. In this case, "No trimming" is selected on the screen shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the aspect ratio of the original data is smaller than the aspect ratio of the print area, the shorter side of the original data is made to correspond to the shorter side of the print area. If the aspect ratio is larger than the print area, the long side of the original data is printed in correspondence with the long side of the print area. Therefore, all of the original data is printed without being trimmed.

When the difference between the aspect ratio of the original data and the aspect ratio of the print area is small, the area to be trimmed by standard trimming is small, but the aspect ratio (or aspect ratio) of the original data is small. When printing data of a so-called panoramic image having a large size in a print area of a standard photograph size, the area to be trimmed becomes large. Here, by selecting "standard trimming" and pressing the check box of "panorama image is automatically printed in panorama", the aspect ratio (or aspect ratio) is set to a value smaller than 1: 2. The large image data is determined to be a panoramic image.

As shown in FIG. 9 (C), an image which is not a panoramic image can be subjected to the same trimming as in (A), and a panoramic image can be printed without performing the same trimming as in (B). it can. The check box can be unchecked by pressing it again.

On the screen shown in FIG. 8 (r), it is also possible to select whether or not to print the cutting guide 60. The cutting guide 60 is printed outside the photographic image print area 100 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the cutting guide 60 includes a first guide 61 and a second guide 61 provided outside the first parallel line 101 and the second parallel line 102 forming the outer peripheral line of the image print area 100. And a guide 62. First guide 61
Is a straight line having a length of 5 mm, which is 1 mm inward from the left and right outer sides of the print area 100, that is, 1 mm outside the first parallel line, as a straight line having a length of 5 mm in parallel with the second parallel line. Are provided at four positions near the four corners of the print area 100. Second guide 62
Is a straight line having a length of 5 mm in the vertical direction, that is, 1 mm outside of the second parallel line, and 1 mm inward from an extension of the first parallel line from the position 1 mm outside the print area 100. At four locations near the four corners of the print area 100. The first guide 61 and the second guide 62 respectively correspond to the image print area 1
It is composed of two sets of straight lines formed on the same straight line, forming a pair outside of 00.

After the printing is completed, FIG.
As shown in (B), a linear portion 91 of a ruler 90 as an auxiliary member is provided at the position of the first guide 61 and the second guide 62.
Are stacked, and the user moves the cutting means such as a cutter along the linear portion 91 of the ruler 90 to cut the paper, whereby the edges of the four sides of the print area 100 are cut off by 1 mm, and the photograph without margins is cut off. Can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 13, the ruler 90 is attached to the print area 10 of the image.
0, and the straight line portion 91
When the user cuts the paper toward the outside, it is possible to prevent the print area 100 on which the image has been printed from being damaged even if the user makes a mistake in moving the cutter.

When the cutter is moved from one edge to the other edge of the sheet when cutting along the first guide 61, the blank portion is separated from the sheet main body, and the second guide 62.
Therefore, it is desirable to cut out the print area 100 without moving the cutter to the edge of the sheet. The above-described cutting guide 60 is particularly useful when printing on paper that is not provided with perforations corresponding to the print size of a photograph.

In addition, on the screen shown in FIG. 8 (r), it is possible to select whether or not to print the photograph number, photographing date and photographing time together with the photograph image.

In step S114, a screen as shown in FIG. 8 (s) is displayed, and printing of a photograph is started. On the screen shown in FIG. 8 (s), a photographic image being printed and a bar indicating the current progress from the start to the end of printing are displayed. The bar indicating the degree of progress is gradually filled from the left when printing is started, and when all of the bars are filled, printing of all the photos is completed.
Upon completion of the printing, the process returns to the step S101.

In the present embodiment, by pressing a plurality of predetermined positions on the screen within a predetermined time on the start screen shown in FIG. 3A in step S101, the system setting as shown in FIG. The screen 80 can be displayed (S115). For example, by continuously pressing near the four corners of the screen within 5 seconds, the system setting screen 80
Can be displayed. Thus, a general user does not display the system setting screen 80 that is difficult to operate, and can display the system setting screen 80 only when an administrator or the like wants to make detailed settings.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the cutting method of the present invention is applied to a printed matter on which a photographic image taken by a digital camera is printed, but the photographic image read by the image reading device is modified by the image processing software. It is also possible to apply the present invention to printed materials on which photographic images or images other than photographs are printed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a printing procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a photographic image printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a monitor in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a monitor in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a monitor in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a monitor in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a monitor in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a monitor in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining image trimming according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a position of a cutting guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a system setting screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of FIG. 10 illustrating a position of a cutting guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a method for cutting a printed material according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Personal computer 20 Monitor 30 Mouse 40 Printer 50 Digital still camera 60 Cutting guide 61 First guide 62 Second guide 90 Ruler (auxiliary member) 91 Linear part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for cutting a printed matter in which a rectangular image surrounded by a first parallel line and a second parallel line and a cutting guide provided around the image are printed. Cutting the printed material by moving the auxiliary member having the linear part and the cutting guide so that the linear part faces the outside of the image by overlapping the linear part and the cutting guide; and moving a cutting unit along the linear part. And a step of cutting the printed matter. 2. The cutting guide according to claim 1, wherein said cutting guide is provided outside said first parallel line and is parallel to said second parallel line, and said first cutting guide is provided outside said second parallel line. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a second guide parallel to the parallel line. 3. The printed matter according to claim 2, wherein the first guide and the second guide are formed by straight lines that form a pair outside the image and are formed on the same straight line. Cutting method. 4. The first guide is inside the vicinity of an extension of the second parallel line, and the second guide is located inside the first parallel line.
4. The method for cutting a printed material according to claim 2, wherein the printed material is located inside an extension of the parallel line.