JPH1188706A - Color printing simulation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color printing simulation device which can recognize a printing color and a dot and moire based on the color even if the output object of press plate or the like is generated. SOLUTION: Binary dot bit map data DB of four editions, which are RIP (raster image processor)-developed in an RIP processing part 51, are converted into display image data DG where data of the same picture elements in respective editions are made into one group in an image data conversion part 52. Display image data DG are converted into R(red)/G(green)/B(blue) luminance signals by a color table 62 reading display color setting data for the respective editions which are set through an indication input part 7 and they are displayed in a state that the dot images of the respective editions are overlapped by a color CRT 63. Thus, the printing color, and the dot and moire based on the color, can be recognized by the printing color.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color printing simulation apparatus for displaying halftone images of a plurality of color components in a superimposed manner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing process, an image of a printed material is edited in a postscript language, and RIP (raster image process) is performed on the postscript data.
or) Expansion and halftone processing are performed. The data after these processes are halftoned data, and a process of outputting the data to a printer, a film output device, or the like is performed.

By the way, in such a printing process, an output product obtained by a final printer or a film output machine is obtained, and a dot or a moiré is checked by using the output. Are wasteful, and extra time is required for their output. Conventionally, image data after RIP development or halftoning is converted to RG image data.
A device that converts the data into B-brightness signals and confirms the data by displaying the data in monochrome on a display device such as a monitor without generating output products (Japanese Patent No. 2511731).
No. JP-A-7-219202).

[0004]

However, in the above-described monochrome display, halftone dots and moiré cannot be confirmed by printing colors. Therefore, in order to confirm them, a printer output or a printing plate must be generated and printed on paper using the printing plate.

The present invention is intended to overcome the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and can confirm a printing color and a halftone dot and a moiré without producing an output such as a printing plate. It is an object to provide a color printing simulation device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for inputting bitmap data of a halftone image of a plurality of color components; The display color when the bitmap data of the halftone image of each component of the component is displayed alone and the display color when the bitmap data of the halftone image of each component are superimposed and displayed are set for all combinations. A display color setting unit for displaying a part or all of the color components of the halftone image of the plurality of color components based on the bitmap data of the halftone image of the plurality of color components. Display means for displaying in color.

A second aspect of the present invention is a color printing simulation apparatus according to the first aspect,
Further, a part or all of the bitmap data of the halftone image of the plurality of color components are grouped into one set for each corresponding pixel, and the data of each color component is converted into display image data having one set. The image processing apparatus further includes a conversion unit, wherein the display unit displays the display image data in a display color.

A third aspect of the present invention is a color printing simulation apparatus according to the second aspect,
Further, the image processing apparatus further includes color component number designating means for designating the number of color components of the bitmap data of the halftone image of a plurality of color components, wherein the converting means has a unit of one byte in units of the color component number designated by the color component number designating means. Data conversion is performed so that the maximum number of display image data is included therein.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the color printing simulation apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising a halftone image of a plurality of color components. And a display color component setting unit for setting a part or all of the color image as a halftone image of a color component to be displayed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the color printing simulation apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the display color setting means sets the color to be set. A target color component designating unit that designates a component, and a target display color display unit that displays a display color using only the color component to be set.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the color printing simulation apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the display color setting means sets the display color of the background portion of the image. Is also settable.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the color printing simulation apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, further comprising a display color set by the display color setting means. Is provided.

Further, an apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the color printing simulation apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a display color set by display color setting means. And an initial setting color storing means for storing the initial setting color.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A color printing simulation apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of color components in a printing process, that is, a plurality of plates (for example, C (cyan), M (magenta), Y
(Yellow), K (black) plate, etc.). Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

<1-1. Apparatus Configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system including a color printing simulation apparatus 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the device configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this printing system, an editing device 1, an output device 2, and a color printing simulation device 3 are connected to a communication line N.
(Corresponding to “input means”).

The editing device 1 is a device in which an editing operator edits the print edit data PD in a postscript language, and outputs the print edit data PD to a color print simulation device 3 to be described later via an interface 1a.

The output unit 2 generates a film for generating an original film based on a binary halftone bitmap data DB of a plurality of color components (plates) input from a color printing simulation device 3 to be described later via an interface 2a. It is an output device provided with a device, a printer, and the like.

The color printing simulation device 3 is interposed between the editing device 1 and the output device 2, and based on the print editing data PD generated by the editing device 1, singly or superimposes the halftone images of the respective color components. Color CRT6 to be described later
3 is a device to be displayed.

Next, the configuration of the color printing simulation apparatus 3 will be described in detail.

The color printing simulation apparatus 3 includes magnetic disks 4 and 9, an image processing system 5 and an image display system 6,
An instruction input unit 7 and a system controller 8 are provided.

The magnetic disk 4 captures and saves the print editing data PD generated by the editing apparatus 1 and divided into print original units via the interface 4a.

In the image processing system 5, the print edit data PD is read out from the magnetic disk 4 for each print original, and is RIP-expanded by the RIP expansion processor 51, and a plurality of color components (pages) corresponding to the print original. Is generated (binary job). Then, the generated binary halftone dot bitmap data DB is sent to the magnetic disk 9 via the interface 9a and stored for each job. The binary halftone bitmap data DB is once read out to the input data buffer 53 for each page, and then read out to an image data conversion unit 52 having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown). The data is converted into data DG and transmitted to the image display system 6. Further, the magnetic disk 9 also stores a display color setting data file described later.

The display image data DG sent from the image processing system 5 in the image display system 6 is stored in the display image memory 61. The display image data DG is a RGB (luminance) signal of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by the color table 62 based on the control of a display controller 64 having a CPU and a memory (not shown). After being converted to image data RD, it is sent to the color CRT 63,
Is displayed. The color CRT 63 can display various setting screens such as a display color setting screen described later.

The display operator makes various settings using the keyboard and mouse 71 (not shown) of the instruction input unit 7 while watching the display on the color CRT 63. Further, the system controller 8 controls the exchange of various data of the above-described units based on an instruction from the display operator via the instruction input unit.

<1-2. Processing Procedure and Features> is a flowchart showing a printed matter display processing procedure in this embodiment. Hereinafter, the printed matter display processing procedure in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the printed material display processing in this embodiment, the print edit data PD of each print original stored on the magnetic disk 4 is pre-RIP-developed in the RIP-developing processing section 51 and generated by the RIP-developing processing. The binary halftone bitmap data DB is stored in the magnetic disk 9 for each job.
Is stored in

First, the display operator designates a job to be displayed by the instruction input unit 7 (FIG. 2: step S1), whereby the printed matter display processing is started.

Then, under the control of the system controller 8, the binary halftone bitmap data DB of the job specified in step 1 is read into the image conversion unit 52 (FIG. 2: step S2).

At the same time, the display control section 64 causes a display color setting screen, which will be described in detail later, to be displayed on the color CRT 63 via the color table 62, and the display operator makes the "version number n" of the binary halftone dot bitmap data DB. (Ie, the number of separations specified by the editing operator when outputting the editing data PD for printing from the editing apparatus 1) and the setting input to the RAM in the image data conversion unit 52 of the "order of displaying the plates". Input unit 7
(FIG. 2: Step S3).

FIG. 3 is a view showing a display color setting screen. The display operator clicks the version number setting button PN with the mouse 71 of the instruction input unit 7 to display a version number menu, and selects and sets a version number corresponding to the version number n of the job to be displayed from the menu. . In this apparatus, the version number n is 1 to 6
Up to the version can be set. As described above, this device can display halftone images of various versions. However, the number of versions that can be handled may be further increased.

According to the setting of the edition number n, the first edition to the n-th edition
A display order setting box DS of a version (FIG. 3 shows the case of version n = 4), a non-display check box UD of each version, a version display color sample PC, and a changed version button MB, which will be described in detail later, are set. The same number as the version number n is displayed. The display order of each version can be changed by changing each setting of each display order setting box DS. The other setting items on this screen will be described later in detail.

Next, the image data converter 52 converts the binary halftone bitmap data DB stored in the magnetic disk 9 into the input data buffer 5 for each page, that is, for each plate.
Read it once into 3 Thereafter, the image data conversion unit 52
Reads binary halftone bitmap data DB from the input data buffer 53, and converts them into display image data DG based on the "version number" and "display order of plates" previously set in step 3 (FIG. 2: Step S4).

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the concept of the data conversion process. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, all the color components of the binary halftone bitmap data DB of a plurality of versions are converted into display image data DG that is grouped for each corresponding pixel.

More specifically, in the case of the 1st edition, as shown in FIG. 4A, each pixel data (each bit) of the binary halftone dot bitmap data DB is directly converted into one byte of display image data D.
G is set to each bit (ON and OFF of the binary halftone dot bitmap data DB are the display image data D
G is turned on and off). That is, the original binary halftone bitmap data DB and the display image data DG are completely the same. In the case of the 2nd edition, the data of each pixel of the 1st edition and the 2nd edition of the binary halftone bitmap data DB is the minimum bit position LSB (bit 0) of the display image data DG.
Are sequentially set in two bits at a time, and four pixels are set up to the maximum bit position MSB (bit 7).

Similarly, in the case of the third plate shown in FIG.
The data of the first to third versions of the value halftone dot bitmap data DB correspond to bits 0 to 2 and bits 4 to 6 of the display image data DG, and 2 in the case of the fourth version of FIG.
The first to fourth versions of the value halftone dot bitmap data DB correspond to bits 0 to 3 and bits 4 to 4 of the display image data DG.
In the case of the 5th edition of FIG. 5A, the first to fifth editions of the binary halftone bitmap data DB correspond to bits 0 to 4 of the display image data DG in the case of the 5th edition of FIG. In the case of the sixth edition, the first to sixth editions have bits 0 to 0 of the display image data DG.
Bit 5 is set respectively.

As described above, when the binary halftone bitmap data DB has four or less versions, one byte of the display image data DG holds data of a plurality of pixels. That is, the number m of data per byte of the display image data DG is set so as to satisfy the following relationship, where n is the number of versions. That is, m = [8 / n]. Here, [x] represents a Gaussian symbol, and represents the largest integer not exceeding x. In short, 1 in units of version number n
The format of the display image data DG is set so that the maximum number of display image data DG for one pixel is included in the byte. Therefore, for example, one byte (8
In the case where the bits cannot be occupied by data for a plurality of pixels (three bits of data for two pixels in this example), the remaining bits are vacant bits having no image information.

Further, corresponding information indicating which version of each bit position in one byte of the display image data DG is the data (for example, in the case of the 3rd version, as shown in FIG. Bit 0 is the first edition, bit 2 is the second edition, bit 3 is the third edition, bit 4 is free data, etc.)
Are stored in the ROM of the image data conversion unit 52 in advance.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the image data conversion processing by the image data conversion unit. In the following, the version number n, the version number i, and the pixel number j are held in the RAM inside the image data conversion unit 52.

First, of the binary halftone bitmap data DB of each color component, the display start pixel which is the pixel at the end of the pixel range to be displayed on the color CRT screen and the read size s which is the pixel size of the image to be displayed are determined. It is calculated and stored in the RAM in the image data conversion unit 52 ((Step S4
1)).

Next, the version number i is set to "1" to initialize the version number i (step S41).

Next, the input data buffer 53 is cleared, and the binary halftone bitmap data DB of the version number i is read into the input data buffer 53 (step S4).
3)).

Next, the pixel number j is set to "1" to initialize the pixel number j as a pixel processing counter (step S44).

Next, the binary halftone bitmap data DB of the pixel number j with the version number i is read (step S4).
5)).

Next, the RA in the image data
With reference to the correspondence information corresponding to the version number n stored in M, the version number i of the display image data DG corresponding to the pixel number j based on the binary halftone bitmap data DB of the pixel number j with the version number i. The ON / OFF of the bit position is set ((step S46)).

Next, the pixel number j is incremented (step S47).

Next, the pixel number j is compared with the read size s. If the former is equal to or smaller than the latter, the process returns to step S45 to repeat the processing up to step S47. If the former is larger than the latter, the process proceeds to the next step 49. The process proceeds ((step S48)).

Next, the version number i is incremented (step S49).

Next, the version number i is compared with the version number n. If the former is equal to or less than the latter, the process returns to step S43 and returns to step S43.
When the former is larger than the latter, the image data conversion processing is terminated ((Step S5
0)).

Returning to the description of the printed matter display processing procedure according to the flowchart of FIG.

Next, the display operator sets the following plates and the display color when they are superimposed on the display color setting screen of FIG. 3 displayed on the color CRT 63 (FIG. 2:
Step S5). When the screen is first opened, the default values (corresponding to “initial setting colors”) of the display colors of the respective plates, which will be described below, are read from the magnetic disk 9 into the memory of the display control unit 64. At the same time, a plate display color sample PC and a superimposed display color sample D of the set value described later.
C is displayed on this screen.

In the color printing simulation apparatus 3, when an image based on the printing image data PD generated by the editing apparatus 1 is displayed on a color CRT, setting of a plate to be displayed (display plate) and setting of a display color of each plate. Can be performed on the screen of FIG.

The display operator checks the currently set display colors by looking at the plate display color sample PC indicating the display color of each plate and the superimposed display color sample DC indicating the display color obtained by overlapping a plurality of plates. can do. Then, if you want to display only one version of all the versions of the job you are trying to display, or if you want to display only some of the versions overlaid (if you do not want to display other versions), display The operator leaves only the non-display check box UD of the version to be displayed as it is, and clicks the version of the version not to be displayed with the mouse 71 of the instruction input unit 7 to display the check mark (the non-display of the fourth version in FIG. 3). Check box UD). As a result, when the execution button SU is clicked to finally display the image of the job, it is possible to display only the specific version or display only the superposition of the specific version.

The setting of each plate or a display color in which the plates are superimposed is performed as follows. First, the display worker
To set the display color change button MB of the version for which the display color is to be set or to set the superimposed display color of a plurality of versions, the display color change button MB of each of the versions is designated by the mouse 71.
Click by. Then the display color change button MB
Changes from white to black, a designation line DL between those buttons and the change button CB is displayed, and lines to the other changed version buttons MB are grayed out (shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3).
I do. Subsequently, when the change button CB is clicked, the screen display of the color CRT 63 is switched, and a display color change screen is displayed. The display color change screen (not shown) allows a display color to be changed to be set by designating hue, saturation, and brightness. When the setting is completed, the display returns to the display color setting screen again, and the changed display color is reflected on the plate display color sample PC and the superimposed display color sample DC.

The above-described display color setting is performed for all the combinations of each plate alone and each plate. Thus, the display color can be easily set in this device. Note that when the display color change button MB of any of the versions is not clicked (white display), a background color is displayed on DC, and the background color can be set on the display color change screen.

When the display color setting is completed as described above, the display operator clicks the save button SB and uses the display color setting as a display color setting data file on the magnetic disk 9.
Can be saved. If the user does not want to save the set display color settings, the user clicks the cancel button CC. Further, when reading the previously stored display color data file, the user clicks the read button RB.

Table 1 is a table showing a setting example of the display color setting file. This table shows the case of the 4th edition.

[0058]

[Table 1]

In Table 1, Rq, Gq, Bq (q = C, M,
(Y, K, N) represent RGB components of C, M, Y, K and the background color, and X1 to X99 represent RGB luminance signal values other than "0". Thus, in this file, the RGB luminance signal values are prepared for all the superimposed combinations of each plate, and a conversion table which can uniquely determine the RGB luminance signal for the on / off signal of each plate is provided. Has become. At the time of setting the display color, such data is formed in the memory of the display control unit 64, and is finally saved on the magnetic disk 9 by clicking the save button SB and reused later.

Finally, the display plate set in step S5 is displayed on the color CRT 63 with the set display color from among the display image data DG of all plates (FIG. 2: step S6), and the printed matter display process is terminated.

That is, when the display operator clicks the execution button SU on the display setting screen and instructs the display control unit 64 to display the halftone image, the display control unit 64 stores the display color setting data in the internal memory. Color table 62
Send to Further, the display image data DG is also stored in the color table 62 from the display memory 61 under the control of the display control unit 64.
The color table 62 converts the data of each plane of each pixel of the display image data DG into RGB image data RD and outputs the RGB image data RD to the color CRT 63. This enables color CR
A halftone image is displayed on the T63 screen.

If the non-display version has been specified in step S5, the display control unit 64 sets the bit corresponding to the non-display version in the pixel data of the display image data DG. By causing the display memory 61 to output the display image data DG from the display memory 61 to the color table 62 with the mask applied to the bits (bits 3 and 7 in FIG. 4D in the example of FIG. 4D), the image of the plate is converted to the color CRT 63. Not to be displayed. Thus, the color CRT 63
Only a specific version can be displayed on the screen.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a part or all of the halftone images of the multiple versions are based on the binary halftone bitmap data DB of the multiple versions by the color CRT 63. Is displayed in the display color set by the display control unit through the instruction input unit. Therefore, it is necessary to check the print color and check the halftone dots and moiré using the print color without generating an output such as a printing plate. Can be.

Further, the operator can set some or all of the halftone images of the multiple versions as halftone images of the display version on the display color setting screen displayed on the color CRT. Therefore, it is possible to confirm the printing colors of some of the printing plates and the halftone dots and moire due to the printing colors.

Further, according to this embodiment, the binary halftone bitmap data DB is converted into display image data DG, and the display image data DG is converted into RGB image data with reference to display color setting data. It is converted to data RD. C
The display color of the image displayed on the RT 63 can be changed only by changing the content of the display color setting data. That is, it is only necessary to change the RGB luminance signal values shown in Table 1.

To display one pixel on the CRT 63, 6 bytes are normally required for one color, so 3 (color) * 6 (byt
e) 18 bytes are required. If the CRT 63 is 600
* Assuming that it displays 400 pixels,
(Color) * 3 (byte) * 600 (pixel) * 400 (pixel) =
144,000 bytes of RGB data had to be developed and stored in the display image memory 61. on the other hand,
According to this embodiment, the RGB data is not developed and stored in the display image memory 61 as image information.
On the display image memory 61, display image data DG in which one pixel is composed of 1/2 byte is developed and held. Therefore, the storage capacity required for the display image memory 61 is:
1/2 (byte) * 600 (pixel) * 400 (pixel) = 12
Only 0000 bytes are required. As described above, according to this embodiment, the storage capacity required for the display image data memory is smaller than before.

Further, for example, when converting into RGB image data RD for each pixel, the binary halftone bitmap data DB
When referring as is, it is necessary to access the data of that pixel in each version file, whereas in the display image data DG, it is only necessary to read adjacent bit information in one byte, so that The conversion speed to the RGB image data RD increases.

[2. Modification] In this embodiment, the color printing simulation apparatus 3 includes the RIP development processing unit 51. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The halftone dot map data may be read and a halftone image may be displayed based on the halftone bitmap data.

In this embodiment, the binary halftone bitmap data DB is converted into display image data DG and a halftone image is displayed based on the converted data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the binary halftone bitmap data DB may be directly converted into an RGB luminance signal and displayed.

In this embodiment, the binary halftone bitmap data DB is used as the original halftone image data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is based on bitmap data other than binary. A halftone image may be displayed on the screen.

Further, in this embodiment, the display image data DG is configured to hold data of a plurality of pixels in one byte when the display image data DG is four or less. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
One byte may hold only one pixel, and the remaining bits may be empty bits.

[0072]

As described above, according to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of halftone dots of a plurality of color components are displayed on the basis of bitmap data of a halftone image of a plurality of color components. Since some or all of the color components of the image are displayed using the display colors set by the display color setting means, the print colors and the resulting halftone and moiré patterns can be generated without generating an output such as a printing plate. Confirmation can be performed.

In particular, according to the present invention, a part or all of the halftone images of a plurality of color components are set as halftone images of the color components to be displayed by the display color component setting means. It is also possible to confirm the printing color of the halftone image of some color components and the halftone dots and moiré resulting therefrom.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a color printing simulation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a printed matter display processing procedure according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display color setting screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the concept of a data conversion process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the concept of a data conversion process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a data conversion process.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Color printing simulation device 4, 9 Magnetic disk 7 Instruction input section (display color setting means, color component number specifying means,
Display color component designating means) 8 system controller 9 magnetic disk (display color storage means) 52 image data conversion unit (conversion means) 61 display image memory 62 color table 63 color CRT (display means) 64 display control unit DB binary network Point bitmap data DG Display image data

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An input means for inputting bitmap data of a halftone image of a plurality of color components, and a display color for displaying the bitmap data of a halftone image of each of the plurality of color components alone. A display color setting means for setting all combinations of display colors when the bitmap data of the halftone images of the respective components are superimposed and displayed, based on the bitmap data of the halftone images of the plurality of color components. Display means for displaying a part or all of the halftone images of the plurality of color components with the display color set by the display color setting means. apparatus. 2. The color printing simulation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a part or all of the bitmap data of the halftone image of the plurality of color components, one set for each corresponding pixel. Color printing simulation, further comprising a conversion unit for converting the data of each color component into a set of display image data, wherein the display unit displays the display image data in the display color. apparatus. 3. The color printing simulation apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a color component number designating unit for designating the number of color components of bitmap data of the halftone image of the plurality of color components. Means for performing data conversion so as to include the maximum number of the display image data in one byte in units of the number of color components designated by the number of color components designation means. . 4. The color printing simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The color printing simulation apparatus further comprises display color component setting means for setting a part or all of the halftone images of the plurality of color components as halftone images of color components to be displayed. 5. The color printing simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display color setting means specifies a color component to be set. And a target display color display means for displaying a display color based on only the color component to be set. 6. The color printing simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display color setting means can set a display color of a background portion of an image. Color printing simulation device. 7. A color printing simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
Further, the color printing simulation apparatus further comprises a display color storage unit for storing the display color set by the display color setting unit. 8. A color printing simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The color printing simulation apparatus further comprises an initial setting color storage unit that stores an initial setting color of the display color set by the display color setting unit.