JPS62271072A - Image producing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the editing operation of images with a high grade by using an electronic pen having its point consisting of a prescribed bit pattern and a display means which displays a pattern drawn by the pen via a pen moving means. CONSTITUTION:A pen attribute box 42 is designated by a mouse 20 to set the pen attribute while a pallet window 41 is displayed on a display 18. While a pattern attribute box 43 is designated by the mouse 20 to set the pattern attribute. Furthermore, a mode attribute box 45 is designated by the mouse 20 to set the mode attribute. Then a line type attribute box 44 and a writing manner attribute box 46 are designated by the mouse 20 to set the line type attribute and the writing manner attribute respectively. When an image editing operation is carried out, a writing action is carried out on an image campus with a designated attribute. Then a prescribed change is given to the attribute during said writing operation and the image production mode can be reset.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention "Industrial Application Field" The present invention relates to an image creation device that processes images, and in particular, the invention relates to an image creation device that processes images, and in particular, the invention relates to an image creation device that processes images, and in particular, processes images on paper using various pens as writing instruments. The present invention relates to an image creation device that can edit an image using a predetermined bit pattern like drawing a figure.

``Prior Art'' Nippon Sango Word processors and combi coaters are used to draw figures and use them in the field of design or by compositing them into a part of a document. In this type of image creation device, a figure is created by specifying the type of figure, such as a circle or triangle, or by specifying the locus of a curved line using a pointing device such as a mouse. The type of line as a component of a figure is determined by selecting a desired line from several preset solid lines and broken lines.

``Problem that the invention seeks to solve'' With such image creation devices, it is not possible to finely adjust the thickness of the lines, and therefore the image that is expressed ends up being uniform with little freedom. I couldn't get it. Recently, it has become possible to read various images into a device using an imaging device such as a CCD and edit the images. It was hoped that an effective means of creating figures would emerge.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image creation device that can electronically create an image by using an image that has already been created as a bit pattern or an image that is being created just like a pen tip.

"Means for Solving the Problem" The present invention provides an electronic pen whose pen tip has a predetermined bit pattern, a pen moving means for moving the pen on a display surface, and a pen moving means for moving the pen on a display surface. The image creating device is equipped with a display means for displaying a pattern drawn by the pen.

Here, it is convenient for the display means to include pattern mask means for superimposing a predetermined mask pattern on the pattern drawn by the pen. It is also convenient to include a pattern overlapping area display means for displaying an image of the overlapping area in a different manner from an image of the non-overlapping area for areas where the patterns drawn by the pens overlap.

The pen tip, which is the basic means of drawing, may be a bit pattern created by cutting out an arbitrary image, or may be registered as a bit pattern of a predetermined matrix size.

The pen moving means for moving the pen tip on the display surface may move the pen pointwise, draw a straight line or curve, or draw a discontinuous line such as a broken line. You may move it to

"Example" The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 shows the main part of the circuit configuration of an image creating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This image creation device is equipped with a CPU (central processing unit) 11, and is connected to each part of the device by a bus 12. Among these, the temporary data storage section 13 is a random access memory for temporarily storing various data. The program storage unit 14 is a device that stores programs for performing various controls of this image creation device, and in the embodiment, a part of a disk device is used.

The image file storage unit 15 is a memory that stores an image file as data created in a bit pattern. Although the document file storage unit 16 is not directly related to the present invention, it is a part that stores files of documents created with characters, symbols, etc.

The attribute storage section 17 is a section that stores five attributes regarding the pen as a drawing means used in this embodiment.

These will be explained in detail later. The display 18 is a device that displays images and document information, and the printer 19 is a device that prints out these. The mouse 20 is a pointing device, and by moving it on the desk, a cursor or a pen tip, which will be explained in detail later, can be moved to a desired position. 2 for mouse 19
By pressing these buttons, various instructions can be given. The keyboard 21 has various keys such as a numeric keypad arranged thereon, and by operating these keys, it is possible to write text manually and give various instructions to the image creation device.

FIG. 2 shows the storage area of the attribute storage section.

The attribute storage unit 17 includes a pen attribute storage unit 25, a pattern attribute storage unit 26, a mode attribute storage unit 27, and a line type attribute storage unit 2.
8 and a universal storage section 29.

Of these, the pen attribute storage section 25 is a section that stores the shape of the pen tip. In this embodiment, a pen tip consisting of a 16×16 bit pattern is prepared, but a desired image can be cut out and used as the pen tip. Furthermore, the pen tip can be subjected to processes such as distortion and rotation to adjust its use condition.

The pattern attribute storage section 26 is, so to speak, a section that stores information regarding the paint applied to the brush, and various paint patterns are prepared, such as 50% gray and pure black, for example. For example, if the pen tip is used to draw a straight line of a predetermined thickness, information for determining the pattern of this straight line portion will be stored in the storage unit 26.

The mode attribute storage section 27 is a section that stores information that determines how to express a newly drawn image in relation to what has already been written in the image area. For example, when a mesh pattern is set in the pattern attribute storage section 26, information such as whether this is set as the pattern drawn by the pen tip or whether it is set as a pattern that allows the underlying image to be seen through is stored. be done.

The line type attribute storage unit 28 is a part that stores information that defines the line type. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, an image is created while shifting the center position of the pen tip pattern (rectangular in this case) by one pixel. This figure shows a state in which the pen tip pattern is expressed pixel by pixel, and in this case, a solid line is expressed as shown in FIG. 4. On the other hand, if attributes are set so that the pen tip pattern is expressed at a predetermined interval, discontinuous lines such as broken lines will be expressed as shown in FIG.

Finally, the writing universal storage section 29 is a section that stores information regarding pictures drawn using a brush coated with paint. In addition to figures such as straight lines, circles, and squares, there are drawing methods such as dots and freehand curves.

Here, "dot" refers to pasting the pattern of a pen tip (brush) with paint applied to the image creation area (image canvas).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the relationship between the work of specifying these various attributes and the work of creating an image.

The operator sets various attributes when creating an image. These may be settings that change only the parts of the currently set attributes, or may change all of them. Creation of an image and setting of attributes are performed while a window called a palette window is displayed on the display 18 (step ■ in FIG. 6).

FIG. 7 shows the display contents of the palette window. The palette window 41 includes a pen attribute box 42 for specifying pen attributes, a pattern attribute box 43 for specifying pattern attributes, a mode attribute box 45 for specifying mode attributes, a line type attribute box 44 for specifying line type attributes, and writing conditions. Each attribute box of the universal character box 46 that defines gender is displayed. Below these attribute boxes 42 to 46 are a first display area 47 that displays the height and width of the pen tip, and a second display area 47 that displays the changed size of the pen tip and various data for drawing figures. Display area 4
8 is provided. An image canvas for drawing an image is provided below this palette window 41.

Now, if you want to set pen attributes while the palette window 41 is displayed on the display 18 (step ■: Y in Figure 6), specify the pen attribute box 42 with the mouse 20 and set the pen attributes. . As a result, the display of pen attributes is updated (step ■).

When setting pattern attributes, follow step ■;Y)
, specify the pattern attribute box 43 with the mouse 20 and set the pattern attribute. As a result, the display of pattern attributes is updated (step ■).

When setting mode attributes (step ■; Y),
Specify the mode attribute box 45 with the mouse 20 to set the mode attribute. As a result, the display of the mode attribute is updated (step ■).

When setting the line type attribute (step 2; Y), the line type attribute box 44 is designated with the mouse 20, and the line type attribute is set. As a result, the display of line type attributes is updated (step ■).

When setting writing style attributes (Step @; Y),
Specify the writing style attribute box 46 with the mouse 20 and set the writing style attribute. As a result, the display of writing style attributes is updated (step ■).

When performing image editing (steps ■, Y), a writing operation is performed on the image canvas with specified attributes (step @). During this step, change the attributes (step ■
~@), make the desired changes, and return to creating the image.

FIG. 8 is for explaining the operation of the mouse in the writing operation shown in step 0 of FIG. 6. Within the image campus, the CPLJ 11 monitors whether or not the button of the mouse 20 is pressed (see Fig. 8 (steps ~).
■). When the button is pressed, step (2): Y), a starting position for creating a figure is set (step (2)). Then, when the button is released (step ■; Y), the end point position is set, an image is written based on the start position for creating a figure, the end point position right, and the attribute area, and the display of the editing target is updated ( Step ■).

Next, we will explain the settings for each attribute, and then show an example of how an image is created.

Setting Pen Attributes The following three types of pens can be used in the image creation device of this embodiment.

(1) System Registration Pen This is a pen provided in advance by the device. These are seven types of black figures of different sizes as shown in FIG.

(2) User Registration Pen This is a pen in which a pen tip pattern is created and registered according to the user's preference.

(3) Cutting Pen This is a pen whose tip is a part of an already created image or a part of the screen cut out. System-registered pens and user-registered pens are limited in the number of pixels that make up one pen (size of the pen tip), but in the case of cut-out pens,
There are virtually no restrictions in this regard.

(Pen Selection) The following FIG. 10 is for explaining the selection operation of the three types of pens described above in a state where the palette window 41 (FIG. 7) is displayed. Step ■ The operator selects a pen mark from among the marks shown in the palette window using the mouse 20.
), a small window called a pen pop-up menu is displayed on a part of the display 18 (step ■).

If a mark other than the pen mark is selected or other work is performed, processing will be performed accordingly (step ■).

In the pen pop-up menu, the pen tip patterns of seven types of pens (system-registered pens) already prepared by the image creation device and marks for selecting user-registered pens and cutting pens are displayed. If the operator selects one of the system-registered pens by moving the mouse 20 to 11 (step 2; Y), that pen will be selected for drawing a figure. On the other hand, if the operator selects the user registration pen mark (step ■;
Y), a window called a pop-up menu for user registration is set (step ■).

The pen tip pattern registered by the user is displayed here. The operator selects one of these with the mouse 20
When you select it (step ■), this becomes the pen for drawing shapes.

On the other hand, when the operator selects a cutting mark from the pen pop-up menu, a window called a pop-up menu for cutting is displayed on the display 18 (step 2). ). This window displays three marks, and by selecting one of these marks, the operator can specify the cutting mode: "Screen", "Transfer", or "Move" ( step 0).

Here, the "screen" cutting mode refers to a mode in which the same thing as what is displayed on the screen is cut out. "Posting"
The cutting mode refers to a mode in which a part of the image stored in the image file storage section 15 is cut out.

The "move" mode is similar to the "transcribe" mode, but the cut portion becomes white. .

When one of the modes "screen", "transcription", and "movement" is specified (Y), cutting is performed in that mode (step 0), and the cut image becomes the pen tip.

(Editing the pen tip and setting the center) By the way, in the image creation device of this embodiment, it is possible to edit the pattern of the pen tip and set the center of the pen tip. In the case of a user-registered pen, this task involves creating and registering a new pen tip. The pen tip pattern of the user registration pen in this embodiment is composed of 16×16 pixels.

These operations will be explained using FIG. 11.

When the operator selects the pen editor mode for editing the pen (step ■), a window called the pen editor window is opened on the display 18, and the pen tip registered by the user or already prepared is displayed in this window. A pattern is displayed (step ■). On the other hand, if the operator selects a mode other than the pen editor mode, the work in the selected mode will be executed (step 2).

While selecting one of the pens in the pen editor window with the mouse 20, the operator specifies whether the work to be performed is shape display editing or size/center grouping. When shape display editing is designated (step 2; Y), information regarding the designated pen (pen information) is read from the attribute storage section 17 and stored in the temporary data storage section 13 (step 2).

As shown in FIG. 12, a pen shape display editing window 31 is opened, and the pen tip of the corresponding pen is displayed in two sizes: an enlarged display 32 and an original size display 33 (step 2).

Here, the enlarged display 32 is for displaying each pixel enlarged in a fold shape, and the original size display 33 is for displaying the pixels in the display 18.
The pixels are displayed in one-to-one correspondence.

In this state, the operator moves the mouse 20 to a change location in the enlarged display 32 and presses the left or right button. If the left button is pressed (step ■
;Y), the 1 sho section is changed to black (step ■
). On the other hand, if the right button is pressed (step ■; Y), the area is changed to white (step ■; Y).
). After this, the enlargement/original size display is updated (step 0).

On the other hand, when size/center editing is specified (step ■;N1■;Y), information regarding the size and center of the pen in the pen information of the specified pen is read from the attribute storage unit 17, and the temporary data storage unit 13 (step 0). Thereafter, a pen size editing window is opened on the display 18, and these data are displayed (step 2). The size of the pen tip can be specified within a predetermined vertical and horizontal range, and the pen tip can be enlarged or reduced by this. The center position of the pen tip can also be specified using vertical and horizontal coordinates. The center position of the pen tip is the center position when moving or rotating the pen, and must be within the size range of the pen tip.

Once the size and center of the pen tip have been changed (step ■; Y
), the contents of the temporary data storage 113 are updated (step 0), and the changed contents are displayed.

In the above state (step 0, @), the operator presses mouse 2
When specifying that the current state is to be saved using 0 (step @; Y), some of the contents of the attribute storage section 17 are saved in the data storage section 1.
Updated according to the contents of step 3). On the other hand, if the operator specifies that a reset is to be performed (step 2; Y), the original pen information is restored. That is, the operator can restart the work from the selection operation of shape display editing and size/center editing (steps ①, ①).

When continuing editing without specifying save or reset (step (211; Y), in the case of shape display editing (step Φ; Y), the work is restarted from step ■, and the size and If central editing is being performed (N),
The work will be restarted from step 0.

Pattern attribute setting pattern is the same as the pen tip, and the pattern is registered by the system.
There are three types: one registered by the user, and one cut out from a part of the image file. 16 each
The basic unit is x16 pixels, and by repeating this in both the vertical and horizontal directions, a desired pattern is expressed.

When the user registers a pattern, the user edits the basic unit of 16×16 pixels in the same way as described for the pen in FIG. 12. At this time, a pattern in which this basic unit pattern is repeated is displayed as an original size display together with an enlarged display.

Setting the mode attribute - E-4R property sets how to express the image of the place based on the relationship between the pen tip pattern, the pattern set in the pattern attribute, and the image of the place where the image is drawn. There are five types as follows:

(1) This is a form of expression in which the picture drawn after the opacity is on top. The brush as paint is written on the black part of the pen tip, and the picture below the written part (the image drawn on the image canvas) is not visible. The white part of the pen is blank (3) Inverted (4) The replaced picture becomes invisible.

(5) When viewed through transparency, it is a black and white 2+a expression. Each of the above modes is expressed by logical relationships as shown in Table 1 below.

(Leaving space below) Table 1 The image creation device is equipped with a circuit section that performs the logic shown in Table 1. The pen, pattern, and image signals are input in predetermined bits, and logical operations are performed according to the mode. A part of the result is written into the data storage section 13, and the contents are displayed on the display 18 or printed out from the printer 19.

Line types for setting line type attributes include line types prepared in advance by the system and line types registered and used by the user. Lines prepared in advance by the system include solid lines, broken lines, one-dot chain lines, and two-dot chain lines. The user can display the line type pop-up menu and select the line type registered by the system. At this time, if the user-registered line type item is selected, the user-registered line type pop-up menu will appear and the user can register the line type. You can select the line type you want.

The line type to be registered by the user can be determined by displaying a window for editing lines on the display 18 and specifying the interval at which the pen tip is drawn on the image as already explained in FIGS. 4 and 5. .

Setting writing style attributes Writing style attributes include points, freehand, straight lines, continuous straight lines,
There are curves, continuous curves, squares, boxes, circles, elliptical sprays, etc. These will be displayed as marks in the pop-up menu and will be selected using the mouse 20.

"Dot" in the writing style attribute means pasting the pen tip pattern specified by each attribute box in a dot-like image. "Freehand" means Mouse 2
A curve drawn along the trajectory drawn while pressing the button at 0. "Continuous straight line" refers to a way of drawing in which the end point of the first straight line becomes the starting point of the next straight line. "Continuous curve" is also a way of drawing a continuous curve. "Box" refers to writing that fills in a rectangle. "Spray" refers to a method of writing in which multiple "dots" are pasted onto an image canvas as if using a spray.

Image Editing Now, as an example, the operation of drawing a rectangle on an image canvas will be explained.

FIG. 13 is for explaining this operation.

After each attribute is specified, when the operator operates the mouse 20 to move the cursor to the image canvas (step ■), the pen tip in the currently specified state is displayed instead of the cursor (step ■ ). In this state, the operator can move the mouse 20 to freely move the pen tip within the image canvas.

When the button of the mouse 20 is pressed at an arbitrary position (step ■), a rectangular creation mark (same as the enlarged display mark) 56 as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed in the second display area 48 (step ■). ). Then, the coordinates of the pressed point are determined and registered in the temporary data storage section 13 (step ■). After this, as long as the button is kept pressed,
As shown in the figure, the lengths L2 and L3 of the two sides (vertical and horizontal (height and width)) of the rectangle corresponding to the diagonal are calculated, and the numerical value and the rectangle are displayed and displayed in the second display area 48. (steps ■, ■). When the mouse button 20 is released (
Step ■; Y), and the display of the mark 56 and the height and width data in the second display area 48 is turned off (Step ■). Then, an image identical to that of the obtained quadrangle drawn with the pen tip is written into the temporary data storage section 13 and displayed on the display 18 (step 2).

Next, if you want to draw a circle, for example, if no other attributes are changed, you can change the drawing style attribute to "circle", move the mouse 20 to the image canvas, and proceed with the same editing work.

In the embodiment described above, various operations are performed using the mouse 20, but similar operations can be performed using other pointing devices, keys on a keyboard, or the like.

According to this embodiment, since the concept of attributes is introduced to image creation, once various attributes are set, it is only necessary to reset the attributes only in the portions to be changed, which speeds up the work. Furthermore, once you understand the concepts of various attributes, you can easily proceed with operations related to complex image editing.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since an image is created using a bit pattern of a predetermined size, advanced editing of the image can be easily performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, of which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main part of the circuit configuration of the image creation device, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the attribute storage section,
FIG. 3 is a principle diagram showing the principle of image creation in the image creation device of this embodiment, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the straight line creation state, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the broken line creation state.
Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the relationship between the work of specifying various attributes and the work of creating an image, Figure 7 is a plan view showing a display example of the palette window, and Figure 8 is for explaining mouse operations during writing work. Figure 9 is a pattern configuration diagram showing the contents of system registered pens, Figure 10 is a flowchart to explain the selection operation of three types of pens, and Figure 11 is a flowchart to explain pen editing work. , Fig. 12 is a plan view showing a display example of the pen shape display editing window, Fig. 13 is a flow chart showing the work of drawing a rectangle on the image canvas, and Fig. 14 is a plan view showing a display example of the second display area. , FIG. 15 is a principle diagram showing the principle of determining the size of a rectangle. 11...CPU, 13...Temporary data storage unit, 14...Program storage unit, 15...Image file storage unit, 17...
... Attribute storage section, 18 ... Display, 2
0... Mouse, 25 Old-hen X Sexual memory! ,
26...Pattern attribute storage section, 27...
-Mode attribute storage unit, 28...Line type attribute storage unit, 29...Write universal storage unit. Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Agent

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic pen whose pen tip has a predetermined bit pattern, a pen moving means for moving this pen on a display surface, and a display of the pattern drawn by the pen moved by the pen moving means. An image creation device comprising: a display means for displaying images; 2. The image creation device according to claim 1, wherein the display means includes pattern mask means for superimposing a predetermined mask pattern on the pattern drawn by the pen. 3. Claim 1, characterized by comprising a pattern overlapping area display means for displaying a pattern overlap area where the patterns drawn by the pen overlap each other and make these images different from other parts drawn by the pen. Image creation device as described. 4. The image creation device according to claim 1, wherein the pen tip is a bit pattern created by cutting out an arbitrary image. 5. The image creation device according to claim 1, wherein the pen tip is a bit pattern composed of a dot matrix of a predetermined size. 6. The image creation device according to claim 1, wherein the pen moving means moves the pen in a dotted manner on the display surface. 7. The image creation device according to claim 1, wherein the pen moving means moves the pen so as to draw a straight line on the display surface. 8. The image creation device according to claim 1, wherein the pen moving means moves the pen in a curved manner on the display surface. 9. The image creation device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the pen moving means moves the pen so as to draw a discontinuous line.