JPH11327117A - Inspection device for plate making - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the repetition of the mistake of same output by extracting a difference between an initial layout data and a history layout data, thereby making the layout data a past correction object. SOLUTION: A plate making system 2, in order to perform a film output again, receives inputs of layout data prepared by a layout device such as DTP and full original image data to generate an initial layout data and outputs the same to a difference point extraction means 6. A history layout data control means 5 retrieves the hystory layout data whose belongings correspond to the initial layout data among the stored hystory layout data and outputs the same to the means 6. The means 6 compares the history layout data with the initial layout data and outputs a difference in data therebetween. An output control means 8 suspends film output of the initial layout data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention belongs to the technical field of a plate making process. In a plate making process as a pre-printing process, film output layout data corresponding to a printing plate of each color ink is edited from document data such as characters, photographs, line drawings, etc. using a layout system or the like. The present invention relates to a plate making inspection apparatus for inspecting whether or not editing has been properly performed on the film output layout data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a plate making process, processes such as trimming and layout are performed on continuous tone image data such as photographs using a layout system (for example, layout software in a desktop publishing system). In that case, in order to reduce the processing load of the layout system, thinned-out low-resolution image data is usually used in the layout processing. Then, in order to output a film to be subjected to contact exposure on a printing plate, when outputting a film from layout data, it is necessary to replace the image data with the original resolution with a plate making system and generate layout data for film output. Will be

[0003]

However, since low-resolution image data is used in the layout processing,
Unwanted objects (for example, film perforations) that could not be confirmed on the screen of the display of the layout system in the corners of the image may appear on the output film. In this case, the plate making system corrects the film output layout data and then outputs the film again. At this time, the modification of the original layout data stored in the layout system is not performed due to restrictions on time, equipment, personnel, etc. in the work progress. Therefore, when proofreading is repeatedly performed each time proofreading is performed, when the layout data itself or the layout data corrected by proofreading is used to generate the film output layout data again, the same output error occurs. It will be repeated.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent the same output error from being repeated in the past when the film output data is generated again from the layout data and the layout data has been corrected. To provide a plate making inspection apparatus.

[0005]

The above objects are achieved by the present invention described below. That is, the present invention provides a history layout data management unit that stores history layout data, which is layout data for film output including correction history data, and attribute data thereof, and searches for the history layout data from the attribute data; The initial layout data that does not include the correction history data that has been converted to the film output layout data from the original layout data and the history layout data retrieved by the history layout data management means whose attributes correspond to the initial layout data are compared with each other. Plate making inspection device having a difference extracting means for extracting a difference.

According to the present invention, the history layout data management means and the history layout data (including the product name, the order number, etc.) which is the film output layout data including the correction history data (including the case of no correction) are provided. Attribute data is stored. Therefore, the initial layout data which does not include the correction history data as it is converted from the layout data to the layout data for film output by the difference extracting means, and the history searched by the history layout data managing means whose attribute corresponds to the initial layout data. The layout data is compared with the data to extract differences between the data. Therefore, when the film is output again from the initial layout data, there is provided a plate making inspection apparatus capable of eliminating the fact that the initial layout data has been corrected in the past and the same output error is repeated. .

The present invention also provides a plate making inspection apparatus that determines whether or not the difference satisfies a predetermined condition and outputs the difference and the data on the determination to a display at least. ". According to the present invention, the difference extracting means determines whether or not the difference satisfies a predetermined condition, and outputs at least data relating to the difference and the determination to the display. Further, the present invention provides a `` plate making inspection apparatus having output control means for setting whether to output a film or not to output a film based on the initial layout data based on the data on the determination output by the difference extracting means ''. is there. According to the present invention, the output control means sets whether to output a film or not based on the layout data based on the determination.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The color proofing method of the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a plate making process and a process of storing history layout data. In FIG. 1, 1 is a layout device, 2 is a plate making system, 3 is an image data storage device, 4 is a film output device, and 5 is a history layout data management means. The layout device 1
Even if it is not a layout-only system, for example, DTP
(Desktop publishing) can be realized by the layout processing function of the system. As described above, the layout apparatus 1 uses low-resolution image data in which the original image data is thinned to reduce the data amount. In the layout apparatus 1, not only continuous tone image data such as photographs, but also characters, line drawings, patterns, and the like are subjected to layout processing. However, here, since characters, line drawings, pictures, and the like have no particular meaning, only processing of image data will be described.

An operator operates the layout apparatus 1 and inputs a predetermined layout instruction based on a prepress instruction or the like, thereby obtaining layout data. The layout data obtained by the layout device 1 may be in a data format specific to the layout device 1.
When the data format is different between the layout apparatus 1 and the plate making system 2 where the next processing is performed, the data format is converted. As the layout data obtained by the layout device 1, low-resolution image data in which the data amount is reduced by thinning out the original image data is used. This image data is the original image data stored in the image data storage device 3. Replacement with image data is performed.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the conversion of the data format and the replacement of the image data are performed in the plate making system 2. The plate making system 2 inputs layout data from the layout device 1 and also inputs original image data stored in the image data storage device 3. And
The plate making system 2 lays out the original image data in an area where the image data specified by the layout data is to be laid out, and generates new layout data. That is, the thinned image data assigned to the area is replaced. Plate making system 2
The newly generated layout data is referred to as initial layout data here.

The generated initial layout data is displayed on the display of the plate making system 2. Based on the display on the display, the operator can visually inspect the initial layout data. Layout device 1
, Unnecessary objects (for example, film perforations) that could not be confirmed on the display screen of the layout apparatus 1 may appear on the display screen of the plate making system 2 in the corners of the image. is there. In that case, the plate making system 2 corrects the initial layout data and then outputs the film. Here, the layout data obtained by modifying the initial layout data is referred to as history layout data.

The layout data that has been newly generated in the plate making system 2 or that has been corrected is output to the film output device 4. The film output device 4 receives the input and generates a film output for obtaining a printing plate by contact exposure. Using a printing plate obtained by contact exposure of the film output,
Proof prints and product prints are printed. In some cases, the defect is not found in the inspection on the display but is found in the inspection of the film output. In this case, the plate making system 2 corrects the initial layout data or the history layout data. At this time, the layout device 1 does not normally modify the layout data due to restrictions on time, equipment, personnel, etc. in the work progress.

The initial layout data or the history layout data is stored in the history layout data management means 5. As for the layout data stored in the history layout data management means 5, not only the corrected layout data but also all the unmodified initial layout data are referred to as history layout data here. The history layout data management means 5 includes:
The layout data newly generated in the plate making system 2, correction history data including an uncorrected history, and attribute data are stored. The attribute data is data relating to the attributes of the history layout data, such as the file name, the item name, the order number, and the page of the history layout data, whereby the history layout data can be specified.

Next, a description will be given of a plate making inspection performed using data stored in the history layout data management means 5 described above. The film output is generated, for example, to print a proof print, as described above. The proofreading material is proofread by a customer or the like, and an instruction regarding correction is given. The correction instruction is corrected in the layout device 1 (see FIG. 1) or the plate making system 2. For the correction, the original layout data stored in the layout device 1 is reused.
In addition, even when there is no correction instruction, an original film is created for printing a printed product, but the original layout data stored in the layout device 1 is reused.

For such a purpose, the original layout data stored in the layout device 1 is reused.
At this time, by performing the inspection using the plate making inspection apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the case where the layout data has been corrected in the past and the same output error is repeated. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the processing steps of the plate making inspection apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 2, FIG.
The same parts as in FIG. In FIG.
2 is a plate making system, 4 is a film output machine, 5 is a history layout data management means, 6 is a difference extracting means, 7 is a display means, and 8 is an output means.

In order to output the film again, layout data created by the layout device 1 such as DTP,
Initial layout data is generated in the plate making system 2 by inputting original image data without thinning. The plate making system 2 outputs the initial layout data to the output control means 8.
Output to When transferring the initial layout data between the film output device 4 and the plate making system 2, the output control means 8 serves as a buffer storage device for absorbing differences in data processing speed and the like and obtaining consistency. When a large amount of data is transferred from the plate making system 2 beyond the processing speed of the film output device 4, the data is stored, and when the film output device 4 is released from the processing, the stored data is deleted. The images are output to the film output device 4 in a predetermined order.

The plate making system 2 outputs the generated initial layout data to the difference extracting means 6. The difference extracting means 6 inputs the initial layout data.
On the other hand, the history layout data management means 5 stores initial layout data and history layout data generated in the past. The history layout data stored in the history layout data management means 5 is searched for the history layout data whose attributes correspond to the initial layout data. The search execution command is issued from the difference extracting unit 6 to the history layout data managing unit 5. The history layout data retrieved by the history layout data management means 5 is output to the difference extracting means 6.

The difference extracting means 6 inputs the history layout data and compares it with the initial layout data to extract a difference between the data. Then the difference extracting means 6
Determines whether the difference meets a predetermined condition.
Further, the difference and the data relating to the judgment are displayed on the display means 7 and output to the output control means 8. The output control means 8 inputs data relating to the determination and sets whether to output a film or not based on the initial layout data based on the data.

Next, the extraction and determination of the differences performed by the difference extracting means 6 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of extracting and determining a difference performed by the difference extracting means 6. The difference extracting means 6 creates a list of layout-related data from the history layout data and the initial layout data. In FIG. 3, list 1 shows an example of a history layout data list, and list 2 shows an example of an initial layout data list. Lists 1 and 2 record coordinates (corner coordinates) and lengths (lengths of sides) of figures (rectangular figures). Based on these lists, the x, y coordinates and the length and width of the same figure are compared.

If d is a permissible value and (coordinate x of FIG. 1 in List 1) − (coordinate x of FIG. 1 in List 2)> d, it is determined that the difference is not permissible. If (coordinate x) − (coordinate x of FIG. 1 in list 2) ≦ d, it is determined that the difference is allowable. Further, if d is an allowable value and (coordinate y of FIG. 1 in list 1) − (coordinate y of FIG. 1 in list 2)> d, it is determined that the difference is not allowable, and (coordinates of FIG. 1 in list 1) If y)-(coordinate y of FIG. 1 in list 2) ≦ d, it is determined that the difference is acceptable. Further, if e is an allowable value and ((vertical length of FIG. 1 of FIG. 1) − (vertical length of FIG. 1 of list 2)> e, it is determined that the difference is not allowable, and (FIG. 1 of list 1) If (vertical length) − (vertical length of FIG. 1 in list 2) ≦ e, it is determined that the difference is acceptable.

In this way, the difference is extracted and determined. When a difference is extracted, the difference extracting means 6 displays the data on the difference and the judgment on the display means 7 and outputs the data to the output control means 8. If there is an unacceptable difference, the output control means 8 performs processing to suspend the film output of the initial layout data. Then, when the operator makes a comprehensive judgment based on the display on the display means 7 and gives an output instruction to the output control means 8, the output control means 8 performs processing for releasing the hold of the film output. When an instruction for no output is given, the output control means 8
Performs the process of stopping the film output.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Provided is a plate making inspection apparatus that prevents the layout data from being repeatedly corrected in the past and the same output error from being repeated when the film output data is generated again from the layout data.
Further, according to the present invention, the difference extracting means determines whether or not the difference satisfies a predetermined condition, and outputs at least the data relating to the difference and the determination to a display. It is determined whether or not they match, and at least data regarding the difference and the determination is output to the display. According to the present invention, there is provided the output control means for setting whether or not to output a film from the initial layout data based on the data on the determination outputted by the difference extracting means. Is set based on the layout data based on the layout data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a plate making process and a process of storing history layout data.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a process of the plate making inspection apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of extracting and determining a difference performed by a difference extracting unit.

[Description of Signs] 1 Layout device 2 Plate making system 3 Image data storage device 4 Film output device 5 History layout data management means 6 Difference extracting means 7 Display means 8 Output control means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A history layout data management means for storing history layout data, which is layout data for film output including correction history data, and attribute data thereof, and for searching the history layout data from the attribute data. Differences between the initial layout data that does not include the correction history data that has been converted to the film output layout data and the history layout data retrieved by the history layout data management means whose attributes correspond to the initial layout data are compared. A plate making inspection device comprising: a difference extracting means for extracting points. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said difference extracting means determines whether or not said difference satisfies a predetermined condition, and outputs at least a data relating to said difference and said determination to a display. Item 2. A plate making inspection apparatus according to Item 1. 3. An output control means for setting whether to output a film or not to output a film from the initial layout data based on the data on the determination outputted by the difference extracting means. Claim 1 or 2
The plate making inspection device described in the above.