JPS62286055A - Component color mask generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To conform to correction and change to cope with the increase of printed matters by using a contour line extracting means, etc., and obtaining mask forming data with a high precision in a short time by an easy operation while referring to contour line data displayed on a display device and efficiently forming a complicated decoloring mask. CONSTITUTION:When a pattern picture is fetched from a picture reading means, the contour line extracting means 1a extracts contour line data from the pattern picture and stores it; and when component color mask generating plates colors of the contour line data read out on the display device from a plate color selecting means are selected from color charts, a line element correcting and display means 16 expands or reduces contour line elements forming a closed loop out of outline data, which is displayed on a display device 5, in a prescribed direction based on adjacent plate colors. An outline forming and display means 1c connects optional contour line elements out of the contour line data displayed on the display device. After this correction processing, the contour line coloring means 1d colors the contour line forming the selected closed loop in the selected plate color and displays it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a color separation mask creation device that creates color separation masks according to printing plate colors.

[Conventional technology]

There are many plain mesh portions in color printed matter, but the plate-making process for these plain mesh portions is carried out in a special process that is different from the plate-making process for general color portions, so-called tone products. Hereinafter, the conventional process will be explained based on the drawings.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a printed matter consisting of a plain mesh portion.

In this figure, printed matter 50 includes a person 51 and a mask 52.
It is composed of one character part 53 and has an area Al.

A2. Areas B1 to B6. The area ci, the area DI-D3, the area E1, the contour line S, and the character W each have a constant color. The plate making of such a printed matter 50 is performed as follows.

First, a block copy 60 as shown in FIG. 9 is created. This is a drawing of only the outline appearing in the printed matter 50 shown in FIG. Based on this block 60, a color instruction sheet 61 as shown in FIG. 1O is created. This color instruction book 61
A contour line corresponding to the contour line drawn on the block copy 60 is roughly drawn, and the area A-H surrounded by this rough contour is given color instructions as shown in the figure, and colored pencils, etc. It is painted in a color close to the color specified. Here, YIO, M2O, and C20 of area A are the halftone dot area ratio (hereinafter referred to as "halftone %") of the yellow plate when creating the separation plate is 10%, the halftone area ratio of the magenta plate is 50%, and the halftone dot area ratio of the cyan plate is 50%. This indicates that the dot % of the black plate is 20%, and the dot % of the black plate is 0%.

Next, the block copy 60 shown in FIG. 9 is photographed with a camera, and the 11th
A positive 71 and a negative 72 as shown in Figures (a) and (b) are created. The positive 71 is the area A- shown in the color instruction sheet 61.
Used for the mask corresponding to H. The mask is made by laminating a colorless and transparent base film and a light-shielding film, and allows light to pass through only the portion where the light-shielding film is removed. Therefore, a desired mask can be created by overlapping the positive mask 71 and the -1- marking mask and cutting and peeling the optical film along the contour of the positive mask 71.

In FIG. 12, (a) to (e) are schematic diagrams illustrating the created masks, and the areas without diagonal lines are the parts where the light-shielding film has been peeled off.

In these figures, masks 81 to 85 correspond to areas A to H, respectively.

In other words, the mask 81 hides areas other than areas Al and A2 of the printed matter 50 shown in FIG. , the mask 84 covers the area D of the printed matter 5o.
1 to D3, and the mask 85 hides areas other than the area E1 of the printed matter 50.

Next, a transparent film in which halftone dots are uniformly provided at a predetermined halftone percentage (hereinafter referred to as "flat dot") and -1- mask 8 are prepared.
1 to 85 are used to create a limited edition film for each color, but this is done by overlapping a mask and a flat screen and printing them onto the limited edition film, forming halftone dots only in the desired areas of the limited edition film. It will be done.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, -1- the above-mentioned mask is made by a skilled worker using a cutter to cut the mask material based on boundaries between colors or imaginary lines, so if an error occurs in the cutting accuracy, During printing, there were problems in which colors were missing, that is, the base material was visible through the printer, and the image quality was degraded. Furthermore, as there has recently been an increasing demand for processing a large amount of printed matter in a short period of time, there is a strong demand for accuracy in the mask making process and for shortening the process processing time.

This invention was made in order to solve the problem described in -1-, and by electronically processing a pattern original for creating a color separation mask, a large amount of color separation masks for the plate making process can be produced in a single hour. The purpose of this invention is to obtain a color separation mask creation device that can automatically create color separation masks.

[Means for solving problems]

The color separation mask creation device according to the present invention includes an image reading means for reading a pattern image, a contour line extraction means for extracting contour line data from the pattern image read by the image reading means, and a contour line data extracted by the contour line extraction means. A line data storage means for storing outline data; the outline data stored in the line data storage means is read out onto a display; and a plate color for creating a color separation mask is selected from a color chart prepared in advance. A plate color selection means, and for each plate color selected by the plate color selection means, out of the contour line data displayed on the display, contour line elements forming a closed loop are predetermined based on adjacent plate colors. A line element correction display means that expands or reduces in the direction and displays it on the display, and a closed contour line by forming arbitrary line elements between arbitrary outline elements among the outline data displayed on the display device. a contour line forming display means for displaying the element on a display; and a contour coloring means for displaying the contour line corrected by the contour line forming display means and the line element correction display means in a plate color selected by the plate color selection means. a mask data creation means for creating cutout mask data for each color plate from the outline colored by the outline coloring means; and a mask for cutting a predetermined mask material based on the cutout mask data created by the mask creation means. It is equipped with a cutting means.

[Effect]

In this invention, when a picture image is taken in from the image reading means, the outline extraction means extracts outline data from the picture image and stores it in the line data storage means. Here, when the plate color for creating a color separation mask of the outline data read out to the display unit by the plate color selection unit is selected from color chart 1, the line element correction display unit selects the outline line displayed on the display unit. Among the data, contour line elements forming a closed loop are enlarged or reduced in a predetermined direction based on adjacent plate colors. Further, the contour line forming display means connects arbitrary contour line elements among the contour line data displayed on the display device. After these correction processes are completed, the contour coloring means colors and displays the contour forming the selected closed loop in the selected plate color. The mask data creation means creates mask data for cutting the mask material based on the outline data forming a closed loop for each plate color colored by the outline coloring means, and the mask cutting means creates mask data for cutting the mask material. Cut the required mask material based on this.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a color separation mask production apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, and 1 is a host computer, which includes an outline extracting means 1a, a line element correction display means 1b, an outline It is composed of a line formation display means 1c, an outline coloring means 1d, a mask data creation means]e, etc. Note that the host computer has a function of temporarily storing crowd count data, calculation data, etc. in an internal memory (not shown). Reference numeral 2 denotes an input scanner which serves as the image reading means of the present invention, and converts a pattern image into a rask with an accuracy of 18 lines/mm, for example, and stores it in an external memory (for example, composed of a magnetic disk device) 3 which serves as the line data storage means of the present invention. register. Reference numeral 4 denotes a tablet (tablet)/input device which also serves as a plate color selection means of the present invention, including a tablet 4a and a stylus pen 4.
It is composed of b, etc. 5 is a display device that converts the binary image input from the input scanner 2 into a raster vector.
Display vector data, that is, outline data. Further, the display 5 displays a processing menu and a color chart prepared in advance for creating plate colors, and notifies the operator of the processing contents. Reference numeral 6 denotes a mask production device that cuts a predetermined mask material using, for example, a plotter with a cutter, based on the mask data for each printing color produced by the mask data production means 1e. Note that each of 2 to 6 is connected to the host computer via an interface (not shown).

FIG. 2 is an external view illustrating the configuration of the color separation mask producing apparatus of the present invention, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a picture original, which is placed at a predetermined position on the input scanner 2, and its image is optically read by pressing a reading key on an operation unit (not shown). 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a mask material, which is placed at a predetermined position in the mask making device 6 and cut by a cutting member such as a block with a cutter. 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13 are cutout masks, which are cut out by the mask creation device 6.

Next, an outline of the color separation mask creation operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for creating a color separation mask according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (20)
indicates each step.

First, set the pattern original 11 on the input scanner 2.1)
, the optically read mask image of the pattern original 11 is converted into vector data (2), and the contour extraction means 1a creates contour data based on the converted vector data (3). Next, the created contour line data is registered in the external memory 3 (4). Next, the system waits for the plate color designation to be input (5), and when the plate color designation is input, the outline data registered in the external memory 3 is displayed on the display 5, as well as the processing menu and color chart 1. Do (6)
, here, waits for the color plate designation to be input using the tablet 4a and stylus pen 4b (7), and when the color plate designation is input, displays the selected color plate on the display 5 (8).
). Next, the dot % for selecting the dot % is displayed on the display 5 to wait for the dot % specification (9), and the brightness of the specified dot % is set to -
1- is displayed (io), then it is determined whether the processing menu selected by the tablet 4a and the stylus pen 4b is a duplicate process (11), and if YES, the duplicate process routine is executed (12), and the process returns. do. Next, after the end of the duplication process, the system waits for a return command to be input (13), and when it is input, the contour line data subjected to the duplication process is registered in the external memory 3 (14). Here, it waits for a mask creation command to be input (15), and when the mask creation command is input, the mask data is transferred to the mask creation device 6 (18).

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (11) is NO, it is necessary to judge whether the selected processing menu is a transition process.
), if YES, execute the connection processing routine 18)
, return.

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (17) is No, it is determined whether the selected processing menu is an exclusion process or a diversion process (18), and if No, the process returns to step (13) and Y.
If it is ES, after executing the exclusion or diversion processing routine (
20), return to step (13).

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(f) are schematic diagrams for explaining the color plate designation procedure according to the present invention, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals H.

When the plate color specification is input, as shown in FIG. (for special color printing) are displayed in characters (for example, katakana) along with each color. Then, when a specified plate color is selected using the tablet 4a and the stylus pen 4b, a mark (ne) is displayed on the selected plate color in the work area 21. Next, as shown in Figure 1 (b), when you start the spot color in the -1 first row of the work area 21, the special color (registered in advance) will appear in the second row of the work area 21 as shown in Figure (C). For example, each of the seven colors is displayed cyclically in sequence, and when the color change in the upper row of the work area 21 is activated, the spot colors in the upper row are replaced in groups (see FIG. 3(d)). Also, if you start the return of the upper part of the work area 21 while specifying a color change, the same figure (e)
As shown in FIG. As shown, the selected plate color can be excluded.

5(a) to 5(e) are schematic diagrams illustrating the procedure of color separation work according to the present invention, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

After the plate color designation is completed, the desired outline data 22 stored in the external memory 3 is transferred from the tablet input device 4 to the display 5.
(See FIG. 5(a)). At this time, if you specify the plate color to be created, the processing menu (double processing, joining processing, exclusion processing, diversion processing) will appear in the work area 21.
is displayed, the halftone percentage (for example, 10% increments) is displayed in the lower row (see FIG. 5(b)), and the selected plate color is displayed in the plate color area 23. Furthermore, color separation is displayed in the processing menu area 24. Next, when a closed segment (closed contour loop) in the contour line data 22 is ticked (* in the figure) as shown in FIG. 5(C) using the tablet input device 4, it becomes as shown in FIG. 5(d). The dotted line shown blinks. Here, if you start the mesh percentage displayed in the lower part of the work area 21 shown in FIG. 5(d), for example 50%, and also start the mask in the second stage of the work area 21 (see FIG. 5(e) ), selected mesh %
are displayed, and the mask data creation means 1e creates mask creation data based on each dot percentage.

Next, the duplication processing operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6(a) to 6(k).

6(a) to 6(k) are schematic diagrams for explaining the duplication processing operation by the line element correction display means 1b shown in FIG. 1, and the same parts as in FIG. are doing.

In the figure (a), a processing menu is displayed in the upper part of the work area 21, a selected dot percentage, for example, lOO, is displayed in the lower part of the work area 21, and furthermore, the plate color area 2
3 shows a state in which the red version is displayed, and outline data 31 and 32 have just been read out from the external memory 3. Here, if you specify the dot percentage to 50 and start the double processing, the display of 100 at the bottom of the work area 21 becomes weaker, and the brightness of the number 50 (indicated by the thick solid line) becomes 4.
At the same time, a duplicate is displayed in the processing menu area 24 (see (b) in the same figure). Next, when the contour line data 31 to which the duplication process is to be performed starts as shown in FIG. For example, if you start a part, it will wait for you to specify the part, and as shown in FIG.
~ When you start Q3, as shown in the figure (h), the double information indicating whether the double is thickening processing or thinning processing is displayed in the second row of the work area 21. When a start is made, the increment information of the thickening pitch (for example, 0.1 increments) is displayed in the second row of the work area 21, as shown in FIG. For example, if you jump 0.3, the calculation process shown in (j) of the same figure will be in progress, and after the calculation process is completed, the thickened outline line element 33 will be displayed as shown in (k) of the same figure.
is a dotted line and is colored in the selected plate color and blinks. If this fattening state is not to be changed, the return of the work area 21 is surprised and the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. The coloring operation described above is performed by a contour coloring means 1d shown in FIG. Note that when contour lines with different halftone percentages are adjacent to each other, masks of the same color are divided and created.

Next, the connection processing operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7(a) to 7(f).

7(a) to 7(f) are schematic diagrams illustrating the connection processing operation by the contour line forming and displaying means 1c shown in FIG. 1, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals. There is.

6(a) shows the process menu displayed in the upper row of the work area 21 shown in FIG. The selected halftone percentage is displayed at the bottom of 21, and the key plate is further displayed in the plate color area 23. Here, as shown in FIG.
, the data for forming a new contour line element has been checked, and the contour line formation display means 1C calculates new contour line element data from the data picked at five points, and creates a new contour line element. A line element 41b is formed and displayed.

Next, as shown in the figure (e), when a point indicating which side of the contour line data 41 the contour line element 41b belongs to, for example, two points pH, P12, is checked, the result is shown in the figure (f). , the closed outline data 42 is blinked with a dotted line in the plate color (yellow). This colored display is performed by the outline coloring means 1d.

Note that if you specify diversion or exclusion in the processing menu of the work area 21 shown in FIG. Out of the displayed outline data, selected outline data can be excluded from the designation.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention includes an image reading means for reading a pattern image, a contour line extraction means for extracting contour line data from the pattern image read by the image reading means, and a contour line extraction means for extracting contour line data from the pattern image read by the image reading means. A line data storage means for storing the contour line data stored in the line data storage means, and a line data storage means for reading out the contour line data stored in the line data storage means on a display to create plate colors for creating a color-separated mask using pre-created colors. For each plate color selected by this plate color selection means, the plate color selection means selects from the chart, and among the contour line data displayed on the display, the closed loop data is selected from among the contour line data forming a closed loop. Line element correction display means capable of enlarging or contracting contour line elements forming a loop in a predetermined direction based on adjacent plate colors and displaying the result on a display; a contour line forming display means for forming arbitrary line elements between contour line elements and displaying a closed contour line element on a display; and a contour line corrected by the contour line forming display means and the line element correction display means. Contour coloring means for displaying in the plate color selected by the plate color selection means, mask data creation means for creating cutout mask data for each color plate from the contour colored by the contour coloring unit, and the mask creation means Since the mask cutting means is provided to cut a predetermined mask material based on the cutout mask data created by can be created, complex color blanking masks can be efficiently created, the process of creating a conventional color blanking mask can be greatly simplified, corrections can be made immediately, and the number of printed materials can be increased. In addition, since the mask data created twice is saved, it has many advantages that allow you to directly move on to the mask creation process of cutting the mask material without going through the color removal mask creation process again. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a color separation mask device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. Flowchart for explaining the procedure of color separation mask creation operation according to the invention, FIGS. 4(a) to (f) are schematic diagrams for explaining the procedure for color plate designation operation according to the invention, and FIGS. 5(a) to 5(f) are
(e) is a schematic diagram for explaining the color separation work processing procedure according to the present invention, and FIGS. 6(a) to (k) are schematic diagrams for explaining the double processing operation by the line element correction display means shown in FIG. 7(a) to 7(f) are schematic diagrams illustrating the connection processing operation by the outline forming and displaying means shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a printed matter composed of plain mesh portions. figure to do,
Figure 9 is a schematic diagram explaining the composition of the block, Figure 10 is a schematic diagram explaining the color instructions, and Figures 11 (a) and (b) are schematic diagrams explaining the relative relationship between negative and positive. , Figure 12(a)
-(e) are schematic diagrams illustrating the created masks. In the figure, 1 is a host computer, 1a is an outline extraction means, 1b is a line element correction display means, 1C is an outline formation display means, 1d is an outline coloring means, 1e is a mask data creation means, 2 is an input scanner, 3 is an external memory, 4 is a tablet input device, 5 is a display device, and 6 is a mask creation device. To J Figure 5 C) Figure 5 (r) Special opening aB2-286055 (10) Figure 6 (q) To Figure 6 - ↓ Gu C) Lj] (NC'J 2 & A Yana Figure 12 ( b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image reading means for reading a pattern image, a contour extraction means for extracting contour data from the pattern image read by the image reading means, and a line data storage means for storing the contour data extracted by the contour extraction means. and plate color selection means for reading out the outline data stored in the line data storage means on a display and selecting a plate color for creating a color separation mask from a color chart prepared in advance;
For each plate color selected by the plate color selection means, of the outline data displayed on the display, contour line elements forming a closed loop are enlarged or reduced in a predetermined direction based on adjacent plate colors. a line element correction display means for displaying the line element on the display; and a line element correction display means for displaying closed contour line elements by forming arbitrary line elements between arbitrary contour line elements among the outline data displayed on the display; a contour line forming display means for displaying on a display; a contour coloring means for displaying the contour line corrected by the contour line forming display means and the line element correction display means in a plate color selected by the plate color selection means; , mask data creation means for creating cutout mask data for each color plate from the outline colored by the outline coloring means, and cutting a predetermined mask material based on the cutout mask data created by the mask creation means. A means for creating a color separation mask, comprising: a mask cutting means.