JPWO2020175128A1 - A printing template generator, a print ordering device equipped with the printing template generator, a printing system, and a computer program for creating a printing template. - Google Patents

Abstract

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention provides a printing template generation device that generates a printing template including image data to be printed on a printed matter. This print template generation device provides a display unit, information on objects 90 and 91 that are constituent elements of the image data, and setting information on whether or not to apply special surface processing using transparent ink to the object. A visible mark 92 indicating that the special surface processing is applied is superimposed on the object input unit into which the included object data is input and the object 91 to which the special surface processing is applied, and displayed on the display unit. It is provided with a display data generation unit for generating display data for the purpose.

Description

The present invention relates to a printing template generation device, a print ordering device including the printing template generation device, a printing system, and a computer program for creating a printing template.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-0343390 filed on February 27, 2019, and the entire contents of the application are incorporated herein by reference. There is.

Conventionally, a printing apparatus for printing a desired printed image on a printed matter has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a support member that supports an object to be printed, an ink head that ejects colored ink for image formation, and an ink head that ejects a transparent coating ink used for surface finishing after image formation. An inkjet printer provided is disclosed. Patent Document 1 describes that after the image is formed, a coating ink is used to finish the surface according to the glossiness of the printed matter, thereby making the boundary between the printed image and the printed matter less noticeable.

Japanese Patent No. 6449505

By the way, in recent years, value-added printing services that take advantage of the immediacy and diversity of printing have been expanding. Usually, in this type of service, the store side that receives an order for printing (hereinafter, the side that receives an order for printing is also referred to as a "user") prepares a print template containing image data in advance. Image data is composed of data of one or more objects (for example, characters, numbers, symbols, figures, patterns, patterns, photographs, etc.). The customer, for example, selects a print template on the screen of the customer terminal, edits the image data, for example, adds an object, and orders the original print. The user prints an image on the printed matter based on the original print ordered by the customer.

In such a value-added printing service, it is required to realize various designs according to the hobbies and tastes of customers. Therefore, the present inventors have considered improving the design of the printed matter by applying a special surface treatment to the surface of the printed matter using transparent ink. Furthermore, by making it possible to set special surface treatment using this transparent ink for each object, we thought that the range of customer expression could be further expanded. However, for example, even if an object having a special surface treatment is displayed on the screen of a customer terminal while remaining transparent, it is difficult for the customer to visually determine the presence or absence of the special surface treatment. Therefore, the user needs to create a print template so that the customer can easily determine the setting of the special surface treatment for each object.

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print template generator for generating a print template capable of easily determining the setting of special surface processing for each object, and a print template generator thereof. It is to provide a print ordering device, a printing system, and a computer program for creating a printing template.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention provides a printing template generation device that generates a printing template including image data to be printed on a printed matter. This print template generator has a display unit that displays the image data, information on an object that is a component of the image data by receiving an operation input from the user, and special surface processing using transparent ink on the object. An object input unit in which object data including object data is input, and a visible mark indicating that the special surface processing is applied to the object to which the special surface processing is applied. It is provided with a display data generation unit that superimposes and generates display data for display on the display unit.

In the above-mentioned print template generation device, various facial expressions can be given to the surface of the printed matter by giving a special surface treatment to each object. As a result, the appearance of the printed image can be freely changed, and a printed matter full of originality can be realized. Further, in the above-mentioned printing template generation device, it is possible to easily determine the presence or absence of special surface processing for each object on the screen. Therefore, by using the above-mentioned print template, it becomes easy for the user to edit the image data. It also makes it easier for customers to imagine the print finish. Therefore, the convenience of the user and the customer can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, the print template generation device, a receiving unit that receives the print template from the print template generation device, and a display unit that displays the image data included in the print template are provided. A print ordering device including a printing template display device provided is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, the print order device, the print management device connected to the print order device in data communication, and the ink head connected to the print management device in data communication to discharge transparent ink. A printing system comprising a support member for supporting an object to be printed and a printing apparatus including the same.

According to the print ordering device and the printing system, the customer can easily determine the presence or absence of special surface treatment for each object. Therefore, the customer can quickly select the desired special surface treatment and order printing smoothly. In addition, it is possible to reduce the situation where the printed matter is finished differently from the expected result by mistakenly selecting the special surface treatment. Therefore, customer satisfaction can be improved.

Further, the computer program according to the present invention is configured to operate the computer as the printing template generation device.

According to the present invention, a printing template generation device capable of easily determining a special surface processing setting for each object, a print ordering device provided with the printing template generation device, a printing system, and a computer program for creating a printing template are provided. Can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the carriage according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a pallet in which a plurality of printed matter is stored. FIG. 5 is an example of a screen showing a list of print templates. FIG. 6 is an example of the first creation screen of the print template. FIG. 7 is an example of the second creation screen of the print template. FIG. 8 is an example of a pull-down menu for selecting the type of special surface treatment. FIG. 9 is an example of a screen in which the burnish tab of the second creation screen is clicked. FIG. 10 is an example of a screen in which the color tab of the second creation screen is clicked. FIG. 11 is an example of a screen showing an updated list of print templates. FIG. 12 is an example of a confirmation screen of the print template displayed on the customer terminal. FIG. 13 is an example of the editing screen of the printing template displayed on the customer terminal.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It should be noted that the embodiments described here are, of course, not intended to particularly limit the present invention. In addition, members and parts that perform the same action are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system 100. The printing system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a printing device 10, a print ordering device 50, and a print management device 60. The print ordering device 50 and the print management device 60 are connected to each other by a network so that data communication can be performed with each other. The printing device 10 and the printing management device 60 are connected to each other by a network so that data communication can be performed with each other. The network is, for example, the Internet or a local area network (LAN). The network may be a wired connection or a wireless connection. A part or all of the printing device 10, the printing ordering device 50, and the printing management device 60 may be installed in different buildings or in different rooms.

The printing system 100 is configured so that the printing device 10 prints a printed image on the printed matter 70 (see FIG. 4) according to the contents of the order printing received from the customer by the print ordering device 50. The printed matter 70 is not particularly limited. The printed matter 70 may be, for example, a flat material such as printing paper, transfer paper, or a card, various cases such as a mobile phone case, a small electronic device such as an electronic cigarette, a key holder, a photo frame, a welcome board, or the like. It may be a three-dimensional material such as small parts, daily necessities, cosmetics, and accessories. The material of the object to be printed 70 is not only paper such as plain paper and printing paper for inkjet, but also resins such as polyvinyl chloride, acrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer. , Fabrics such as woven fabrics and non-woven fabrics, leather, metals such as aluminum and stainless steel, carbon, pottery, ceramics, glass, rubber and the like.

<Printing equipment>
FIG. 2 is a front view of the printing device 10. In the following description, the terms left, right, top, and bottom mean left, right, top, and bottom as seen from the user in front of the printing device 10. Further, the side closer to the user from the printing device 10 is defined as the front, and the side away from the printing device 10 is defined as the rear. The symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent front, back, left, right, top, and bottom, respectively. Further, the symbols X, Y, and Z in the drawing represent the left-right direction, the front-back direction, and the up-down direction, respectively. However, this is merely a direction for convenience of explanation, and does not limit the installation form of the printing apparatus 10 at all.

The printing device 10 is configured to receive print data from the print management device 60 and print a printed image on the printed matter 70 based on the print data. The printing apparatus 10 is configured so that at least transparent ink can be used. The printing apparatus 10 is typically configured to be capable of using transparent ink in addition to colored ink. The printing device 10 is a photocurable inkjet printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as “printer”). In the present specification, the term "inkjet printer" refers to various printing methods using conventionally known inkjet technology, such as a continuous method such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, a thermal method, or a piezoelectric element method. Refers to all printers that use the demand method.

The printing device 10 is a so-called flatbed type printer. The printing device 10 is formed in a box shape. The printing apparatus 10 includes a casing 12 having an opening 11 and a front cover 13 that covers the opening 11 so as to be openable and closable. The front cover 13 is supported by the casing 12 so that it can rotate about the rear end. By opening the front cover 13 upward with the rear end of the front cover 13 as an axis, the internal space and the external space of the casing 12 are communicated with each other.

A guide rail 18 is arranged above the casing 12. The guide rail 18 is fixed to the casing 12 and extends in the left-right direction X. A carriage 19 is slidably provided on the guide rail 18. The carriage 19 reciprocates in the left-right direction X along the guide rail 18 by a carriage moving mechanism (not shown). FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the carriage 19. The carriage 19 includes seven ink heads 23 and two ultraviolet lamps 24. The ink head 23 is configured to eject ink toward the printed matter 70. The ink heads 23 are arranged in the left-right direction X, and are arranged in a so-called in-line arrangement. However, the arrangement of the ink heads 23 may be a so-called stagger arrangement in which the ink heads 23 are arranged so as to be displaced from each other in the front-rear direction. Each of the seven ink heads 23 communicates with the four ink cartridges 21 and the ink cartridges 22C, 22Pr, and 22W by a flexible ink tube (not shown).

Ultraviolet curable ink is stored in each of the ink cartridges 21, 22C, 22Pr, and 22W. UV curable inks typically contain a polymerizable compound and a polymerization initiator. Process color inks (CMYK) of cyan ink (C), magenta ink (M), yellow ink (Y), and black ink (K) are stored in each of the four ink cartridges 21. The process color ink is an ink used for image formation. Transparent ink is stored in the ink cartridge 22C. The transparent ink is an ink used after printing an image using, for example, a process color ink or a white ink. The transparent ink is an ink used for imparting design to the printed matter 70 in addition to coating the surface. That is, it is an ink used for special surface treatment, which is one of the special effects described later. The transparent ink has a glossy surface finish (gloss burnish) and a matte surface finish without glossiness, depending on, for example, the number of times the ink is ejected from the ink head 23 and the timing of irradiation of the ultraviolet lamp 24. (Matte burnish) and is possible.

Primer ink is stored in the ink cartridge 22Pr. The primer ink is an ink for pretreatment for improving the ink transfer to the printed matter 70, for example, when printing is performed on the printed matter 70 having high ink repellency. The primer ink is an ink used for a base treatment before printing another ink on the printed matter 70. Primer ink is an ink used for special effects. Primer inks are typically transparent. White ink is stored in the ink cartridge 22W. In addition to image formation, the white ink is an ink used in a base treatment for improving the color development of the process color ink, for example, when the printed matter 70 is transparent or black. White ink is an ink used for special effects. The ink cartridges 21, 22Pr, and 22W are not essential, and in other embodiments, some or all of them may not be provided. The printing apparatus 10 may include, for example, only the ink cartridges 21 and 22C, or may include the ink cartridge 22Pr or the ink cartridge 22W in addition to the ink cartridges 21 and 22C. Further, the number of ink cartridges is not limited at all.

The ultraviolet lamp 24 is configured to irradiate the printed matter 70 with ultraviolet rays for curing the ink. One ultraviolet lamp 24 is arranged on each of the left and right ends of the ink head 23. The ultraviolet lamp 24 is aligned with the ink head 23 in the left-right direction X. The ultraviolet lamp 24 has an ultraviolet wavelength capable of curing the ink. The number of the ultraviolet lamps 24 is two here, but in other embodiments, the number of the ultraviolet lamps 24 may be one or three or more.

A table 25 is arranged below the carriage 19. The table 25 is a table on which the printed matter 70 is placed at the time of printing. The table 25 is an example of a support member that supports the printed matter 70 at the time of printing. The table 25 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction Y by a first table moving mechanism (not shown). The table 25 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction Z by a second table moving mechanism (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the pallet 80 placed on the table 25. A plurality of printed matter 70s are arranged on the pallet 80. The pallet 80 is a jig for aligning the printed matter 70 with respect to the printing apparatus 10. When a plurality of printed matter 70s are printed together at one time, the pallet 80 stores the plurality of printed matter 70s so that the positions of the plurality of printed matter 70s do not shift from each other. The outer shape of the pallet 80 is not particularly limited, but here it has the same shape as the table 25 and is rectangular in a plan view.

The pallet 80 is formed with a plurality of arrangement holes 80h having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the printed matter 70. The plurality of arrangement holes 80h have the same shape and the same size here (processing errors are acceptable). The number of the arrangement holes 80h is not particularly limited, but here, six arrangement holes 80h are arranged in the left-right direction X and two arrangement holes 80h in the front-rear direction Y of the pallet 80, and a total of 12 arrangement holes 80h are formed. However, the number of arrangement holes 80h may be one. The shape of the arrangement hole 80h is not particularly limited, but here it is rectangular in a plan view. However, the shape of the arrangement hole 80h may be, for example, a polygon such as a triangle or a square, a circle, or a star. Further, the arrangement hole 80h is a through hole penetrating the pallet 80 in the height direction Z here. However, the arrangement hole 80h may be, for example, a hole in which the upper portion of the pallet 80 is cut out in a concave shape or the like, or may be formed by a frame projecting convexly with respect to the flat plate-shaped pallet 80. It may be a line or a figure drawn on the surface of the flat plate-shaped pallet 80.

In this embodiment, five printed matter 70s of the same type and size are arranged on the pallet 80. The size and shape of the printed matter 70 arranged in the arrangement hole 80h are not particularly limited, but are the same as the arrangement hole 80h here. However, the size of the printed matter 70 arranged in the arrangement hole 80h may be smaller than that of the arrangement hole 80h. Further, the shape of the printed matter 70 arranged in the arrangement hole 80h may be different from that of the arrangement hole 80h.

The printing device 10 includes a control unit 30 (see FIG. 2). The control unit 30 is configured to control the operation of the printing device 10 based on the print data transmitted from the print management device 60. The control unit 30 is communicably connected to the carriage motor of the carriage moving mechanism, the forward / backward moving motor of the first table moving mechanism, and the vertical moving motor of the second table moving mechanism, and is connected to the printed matter 70. The relative positional relationship with the ink head 23 is controlled. The control unit 30 is communicably connected to the ink head 23 and controls the ejection of ink to the printed matter 70. The control unit 30 is communicably connected to the ultraviolet lamp 24 and controls the start and stop of the ultraviolet lamp 24.

The control unit 30 is typically a computer. The control unit 30 includes, for example, an interface (I / F) for receiving print data transmitted from the print management device 60, a central processing unit (CPU) for executing commands of a control program, and a CPU. It is equipped with a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program to be executed, a RAM (random access memory) that is used as a working area for deploying the program, and a storage device such as a memory that stores the above program and various data. ..

<Print ordering device>
As shown in FIG. 1, the print ordering device 50 includes a user terminal 50A, a customer terminal 50B, and a data server 50C. The user terminal 50A stores the main generation unit 51A, the object input unit 52A, the display data generation unit 53A, the display control unit 54A, the color print unnecessary setting addition unit 55A, the second display data generation unit 56A, and the storage. A unit 57A, a display unit 58A, and a transmission / reception unit 59A are provided. The customer terminal 50B includes a catalog display unit 51B, an input unit 52B, an order data generation unit 53B, a display unit 58B, and a transmission / reception unit 59B. The data server 50C includes a storage unit 57C and a transmission / reception unit 59C.

The user terminal 50A, the customer terminal 50B, and the data server 50C are configured so that they can communicate with each other via a network. A part or all of the user terminal 50A, the customer terminal 50B, and the data server 50C may be installed in different buildings or in different rooms. In the present embodiment, the user terminal 50A, the customer terminal 50B, and the data server 50C are represented as separate bodies, but some or all of them may be configured as one.

The user terminal 50A may be installed in, for example, a store office. The user terminal 50A is configured to be able to generate a print template including image data to be displayed on the customer terminal 50B. The user terminal 50A is configured to navigate the user to create a print template. The user terminal 50A is an example of a printing template generation device.

Each part of the user terminal 50A is configured to be able to communicate with each other. Each part of the user terminal 50A may be configured by software or hardware. Each part of the user terminal 50A may be performed by a processor or may be incorporated in a circuit. Each part of the user terminal 50A is composed of a native application here. However, each part of the user terminal 50A may be composed of a web application.

A print template is a custom print format that a customer can use as a template when ordering prints. An appropriate name (file name) is given to the print template so that the user can identify it. The print template typically contains image data. The image data includes one or more objects 90, 91 (see FIG. 7). Objects 90 and 91 are elements that constitute image data. The object can contain character information and graphic data. Objects 90 and 91 are, for example, letters, numbers, symbols, figures, patterns, patterns, photographs, and the like. Objects 90 and 91 usually have color information. In the image data, the objects 90 and 91 and the display position (layout) for displaying the objects 90 and 91 are defined. The print template may further include print setting information necessary for controlling the printing device 10. The print setting information is defined based on, for example, information on the type of ink used for printing, information on the size of the print area, information on the print origin predetermined as a point for defining print position coordinates, and print origin. Information on the printing start point (offset information) and the like can be mentioned.

The main generation unit 51A is configured to be able to generate a print template file. The main generation unit 51A is configured so that a new print template file can be added and an unnecessary print template file can be deleted. The main generation unit 51A may be configured so that, for example, a default (temporary) print template uploaded to a homepage prepared by the manufacturer can be appropriately downloaded and added. The newly created or acquired print template file is stored in the storage unit 57A. Further, the main generation unit 51A displays the edit screen of the existing print template on the screen of the display unit 58A, and the user arbitrarily selects the image data objects 90 and 91 stored in the print template file, for example. It is configured to be changeable.

The main generation unit 51A is configured to create a list of print templates to be displayed on the screen of the display unit 58A. The main generation unit 51A divides the display unit 58A into a plurality of subregions, and for each subregion, a plurality of print templates and a type of special surface treatment included in the print template are arranged side by side to form one. It is configured to create a list placed on the screen. By including the type of special surface treatment in the list, the user can visually recognize the presence or absence or type of special surface treatment without opening the editing screen of the print template. The main generation unit 51A may be configured to update the list each time a print template is added, deleted, or edited.

The object input unit 52A is an interface on the store side (user side) that receives an order printing from a customer. The object input unit 52A is, for example, an interface to a clerk of a retail store who actually performs printing work. The object input unit 52A is configured to accept user operation input and input object data to be stored in a print template file. One or more object data is input to the object input unit 52A by the user. The object data includes information on the objects 90 and 91 that are constituent elements of the image data, and setting information on whether or not the objects 90 and 91 are subjected to special surface treatment using transparent ink. In the object data, special surface treatment is set (individually) for each of the objects 90 and 91. Margins may be included in the peripheral edges of the objects 90 and 91.

The object input unit 52A includes, for example, a keyboard equipped with cursor keys, number input keys, etc., a pointing device such as a mouse, and an input device (not shown) such as buttons, and the user manually checks the display unit 58A. It may be configured so that object data can be arbitrarily input. The object input unit 52A may be configured so that the user can take in the object data from an external device such as a host computer or a network connected by wire or wirelessly, for example. The object data input by the object input unit 52A is stored in the print template of the storage unit 57A.

The object input unit 52A includes, for example, drawing software, and is configured to generate object data according to the characters and figures when the user inputs character information or draws a figure or the like in an arbitrary color. It may have been done. The objects 90 and 91 may be represented by a colored color that can be visually recognized on the screen of the display unit 58A. The objects 90 and 91 may be represented by a color different from the background of the display unit 58A. Further, in the present embodiment, it is configured so that the color information can be invalidated for the objects 90 and 91. The special surface treatment may include, for example, a plurality of special surface treatments having different degrees of surface gloss and at least one of the textures. When applying special surface treatment to objects 90 and 91, select one of the degree of surface gloss, for example, gloss-like surface finish (gloss varnish) or matte-like surface finish (matte varnish). May be good. Further, when the matte varnish is selected, one of the textures having different surface roughness (texture, texture) may be selected. For example, you may select the type of texture composed of repeating patterns.

The display data generation unit 53A attaches a mark 92 (see FIG. 9) to the object 91 to which the special surface treatment is applied, and displays the display on the display unit 58A of the user terminal 50A and the display unit 58B of the customer terminal 50B. It is configured to generate data. This display data is not used for printing, and merely visually indicates the presence / absence of special surface treatment and / or the type of special surface treatment on the screens of the display unit 58A and the display unit 58B. The mark 92 is a mark for visually determining that the user and the customer perform the special surface treatment. The mark 92 may be visible on the screens of the display unit 58A and the display unit 58B. The mark 92 is stored in, for example, the storage unit 57A.

The mark 92 may be of one type, but if the special surface treatment can be selected from a plurality of types, the mark 92 of a plurality of types associated with the type of the special surface treatment (see FIG. 9). , 94 (see FIG. 13) may be stored in the storage unit 57A. For example, the mark representing the gloss burnish and the mark representing the matte burnish may be stored in the storage unit 57A. As a result, the display data generation unit 53A can change the marks 92 and 94 to be given according to the type of special processing. Therefore, users and customers can easily identify a plurality of types of special surface treatments on the screen. Further, for example, when a pattern can be selected from a plurality of textures, a repeating pattern constituting the texture may be adopted for the mark 92. As a result, the user and the customer can easily grasp the pattern of the texture on the screen, and it becomes easy to imagine the finish of the special surface treatment.

The display data generation unit 53A arranges the mark 92 at a predetermined position in the object 91 to which the special surface treatment is applied, for example. Then, the mark is superimposed on the object 91 to which the special surface treatment is applied to generate display data. The position where the mark 92 is given is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the mark 92 is a margin portion that does not overlap with the image data (characters of ABC in this case) of the object 91. When the image data and the mark 92 overlap, the display data generation unit 53A may be configured to automatically add a margin portion with a predetermined length in a predetermined direction. The predetermined length may be, for example, a length (vertical or horizontal length) in one direction of the mark 92. The predetermined direction may be, for example, one direction parallel to the mark 92. The position where the mark 92 is given may be a portion in contact with the outer edge of the object 91. For example, it may be any of the four corners of the object 91, specifically, any of the upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left of the object 91 on the screen. As a result, the object 91 is less likely to be hidden by the mark 92, and it becomes easier for the user and the customer to collectively confirm the object 91 and the mark 92 (that is, the presence / absence or type of special surface treatment). The generated display data is stored in, for example, the storage unit 57A in a state of being associated with the object 91.

The display control unit 54A is configured to control the display and non-display of the mark 92 on the screen of the display unit 58A. When the display control unit 54A displays the display data of the object 91 including the mark 92 on the screen of the display unit 58A, the mark 92 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 58A when the object 91 is selected by the user. indicate. On the other hand, when the object 91 is not selected by the user, the mark 92 is hidden. For example, when the image data includes a plurality of objects 90 and 91, if the mark 92 is always displayed, it may be difficult to determine the correspondence between the object 91 and the mark 92. By displaying the mark 92 only for the selected object 91, such a problem can be avoided. The display control unit 54A is not essential and may not necessarily be provided.

The color print unnecessary setting addition unit 55A is configured to add color print unnecessary setting information to the object data based on an instruction from the user. The color printing unnecessary setting information is a setting that invalidates the color information of the objects 90 and 91 at the time of printing so that the objects 90 and 91 are not printed in color. For example, when the color printing unnecessary setting information is given to the object 91 to be subjected to the special surface treatment, the colored ink such as CMYK is not used at the time of printing, and only the special surface treatment of the object is performed with the transparent ink. For example, if color printing unnecessary setting information is given to an object 90 to which no special surface treatment is applied, it is considered that the object is not included at the time of printing, and the object 90 is not printed. It should be noted that the color printing unnecessary setting addition unit 55A is not essential and may not necessarily be provided.

The second display data generation unit 56A attaches a no color print mark 93 (see FIG. 10) to the object 91 to which the color print unnecessary information is added by the color print unnecessary setting addition unit 55A, and displays the user terminal 50A. It is configured to generate display data for display on the display unit 58B of the 58A and the customer terminal 50B. This display data, like the display data generated by the display data generation unit 53A, visually indicates that printing in color is not performed on the screens of the display unit 58A and the display unit 58B. The no-color printing mark 93 is a mark for confirming that the user and the customer are colored and do not print the object. The mark 93 without color printing may be visible on the screens of the display unit 58A and the display unit 58B. The non-color printing mark 93 is stored in, for example, the storage unit 57A.

The second display data generation unit 56A first confirms whether or not the storage unit 57C of the data server 50C stores the display data associated with the object 91 to which the color printing unnecessary information is added. When the display data associated with the object 91 is not stored in the storage unit 57C, the non-color printing mark 93 is arranged at a predetermined position in the object 91. Then, the non-color printing mark 93 is superimposed on the object 91 to generate display data. The generated display data is transmitted from, for example, the transmission / reception unit 59A in a state of being associated with the object 91, and is stored in the storage unit 57C of the data server 50C. On the other hand, when the display data associated with the object 91 is stored in the storage unit 57C, the mark 92 already arranged in the display data stored in the storage unit 57C (for example, special surface processing). The mark 93 without color printing is added so as not to overlap with the mark). For example, a mark 93 without color printing may be attached next to the mark 92 so as to be in contact with the already arranged mark 92. This makes it easier for the user and the customer to check the mark 92 and the mark 93 without color printing together. The non-color printing mark 93 may be added so as to overlap the image data of the object 91 (here, ABC characters), or may be added to the margin portion so as not to overlap the image data of the object 91. Then, the display data stored in the storage unit 57C is updated. The second display data generation unit 56A is not essential and may not necessarily be provided.

The storage unit 57A stores one or more types of marks 92 to 94 that can be used by the display data generation unit 53A and the second display data generation unit 56A to generate display data. For example, a mark 94 representing a gloss burnish, a mark representing a matte burnish, and a mark 93 without color printing are stored. The mark representing the matte varnish may include as many variations of marks as the texture type (eg, mark 92). The storage unit 57A may be configured to temporarily store one or more print template files generated by the main generation unit 51A. The print template file stored in the storage unit 57A is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 59A and stored in the storage unit 57C of the data server 50C. The storage unit 57A is not always essential. For example, when each unit of the user terminal 50A is composed of a web application, the storage unit 57C of the data server 50C may also serve as the storage unit 57A.

The display unit 58A displays the information stored in the storage unit 57A so that the user can see it. The display unit 58A displays a screen for creating a print template. The display unit 58A displays the image data of the print template, specifically, one or a plurality of objects 90 and 91. The display unit 58A can also function as a preview screen for confirming the information displayed on the screen of the display unit 58B of the customer terminal 50B. The display unit 58A has, for example, one or more displays. The display unit 58A may also serve as an input device for, for example, the object input unit 52A. The display unit 58A may be a touch panel that the user can directly touch and operate the screen.

The transmission / reception unit 59A is an interface to the data server 50C. The transmission / reception unit 59A transmits / receives a print template file to / from the data server 50C. When using a web application, the transmission / reception unit 59A is always connected to the data server 50C via a network. When using a native application, the transmission / reception unit 59A may be constantly connected to the data server 50C via a network, or may be intermittently connected as needed.

The customer terminal 50B is installed, for example, at a retail store. The customer terminal 50B is configured to be able to display image data included in the print template generated by the user terminal 50A. The customer terminal 50B is an example of a printing template display device. In the present embodiment, the customer terminal 50B also functions as an order print receiving device used when the customer orders printing. The customer terminal 50B is configured to display a print template on the screen of the display unit 58B to navigate the print order by the customer. By automatically accepting orders from customers, the user does not have to enter the order details. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of ordering work, suppress input errors, and improve user convenience.

Each part of the customer terminal 50B is configured to be able to communicate with each other. Each part of the customer terminal 50B may be composed of software or hardware. Each part of the customer terminal 50B may be performed by a processor or may be incorporated in a circuit. Each part of the user terminal 50A is composed of a web application here. However, each part of the user terminal 50A may be composed of a native application. In this case, the customer terminal 50B may have a storage unit.

The catalog display unit 51B is configured to generate a catalog of print templates and display it on the screen of the display unit 58B. When the customer performs an operation related to a print order on the customer terminal 50B, the catalog display unit 51B generates a catalog by referring to the print template file stored in the storage unit 57C of the data server 50C. It is configured as follows. The catalog display unit 51B is configured to, for example, divide the display unit 58B into a plurality of subregions and generate a catalog in which image data of a plurality of print templates are arranged side by side in each subregion. ..

The input unit 52B is an interface for a customer who orders printing. Information necessary for ordering order printing is input to the input unit 52B by the customer. The customer can order the desired print by sequentially inputting the desired print according to the display displayed on the screen of the display unit 58B. Like the object input unit 52A, the input unit 52B may include an input device (not shown) such as a keyboard, mouse, or button, and may be configured so that the customer can manually input necessary information. .. The input unit 52B may be configured so that the customer can take in necessary information from an external device such as a host computer or a network connected by wire or wirelessly.

The order data generation unit 53B displays a predetermined screen on the screen of the display unit 58B, and is configured so that the customer can freely customize the image data based on, for example, a print template prepared in advance. .. The order data generation unit 53B includes drawing software, for example, so that when a customer inputs character information or draws a figure or the like from the input unit 52B, object data corresponding to the character or the figure or the like is generated. It is configured. The object data generated by the order data generation unit 53B is added to the print template. As a result, image data (order data) of order printing from the final customer is generated. The generated order data is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 59B and stored in the storage unit 57C of the data server 50C.

The display unit 58B displays a print template created by the user terminal 50A when the customer orders printing. By using the print template, it is possible to smoothly place a print order and improve the convenience of the customer. The display unit 58B can also function as an order screen for the customer to order the order print. The display unit 58B displays an edit screen in which the customer customizes the image data of the print template. The display unit 58B displays one or more objects. The display unit 58B displays a confirmation screen for order printing. The display unit 58B may be one or more displays like the display unit 58A, for example. The display unit 58B may also serve as an input device for the input unit 52B. The display unit 58B may be a touch panel that the customer can directly touch and operate the screen.

The transmission / reception unit 59B is an interface to the data server 50C and the print management device 60. The transmission / reception unit 59B receives the print template file from the data server 50C. The transmission / reception unit 59B transmits the customer's order data, which is the print template plus the drawing data, to the data server 50C. The transmission / reception unit 59B transmits the order data to the print management device 60. The customer terminal 50B, the data server 50C, and the print management device 60 may be always connected via a network, or may be intermittently connected as needed.

Each of the user terminal 50A and the customer terminal 50B is typically a computer, and includes, for example, an I / F, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a memory, similarly to the control unit 30 of the printing device 10 described above. ing. The user terminal 50A and the customer terminal 50B may be, for example, portable terminals such as desktop type and notebook type personal computers, tablet terminals, and smartphones, respectively. The user terminal 50A and the customer terminal 50B may be computer programs that independently operate the CPU of the computer as each part of the user terminal 50A or each part of the customer terminal 50B. Such a computer program may be a recording medium on which the operation of the user terminal 50A or the customer terminal 50B is written and can be read by a computer.

Examples of the recording medium include a semiconductor recording medium (for example, ROM, non-volatile memory card), an optical recording medium (for example, DVD, MO, MD, CD, BD), and a magnetic recording medium (for example, magnetic tape, flexible disk). Etc. are exemplified. Further, the computer program can be transmitted to the server computer via the recording medium or a network such as the Internet or an intranet. In this case, the server computer is also a form of user terminal 50A and / or customer terminal 50B.

The storage unit 57C of the data server 50C stores the print template file and the order data obtained by adding the drawing data to the print template. The storage unit 57C may further store the information of the palette 80. The information on the pallet 80 includes, for example, the number, position, shape, and size of the arrangement holes 80h in which the object to be printed 70 is arranged (for example, the length in the horizontal direction X, the length in the front-rear direction Y, and the length in the vertical direction Z). Etc. are included. The information of the pallet 80 may be acquired from the print management device 60 via a network such as the Internet or an intranet. Alternatively, it may be obtained from an electronic drawing of the pallet 80 or the like.

The information stored in the storage unit 57C is appropriately transmitted / received to the user terminal 50A and / or the customer terminal 50B via the transmission / reception unit 59C. For example, the print template file is appropriately transmitted to the customer terminal 50B, and is used when displaying the image data of the print template on the screen of the display unit 58B. The data server 50C is an external device connected to the user terminal 50A and the customer terminal 50B here. However, the data server 50C may be built in, for example, the storage unit 57A of the user terminal 50A. Alternatively, when the customer terminal 50B has a storage unit, it may be built in the storage unit.

<How to generate a print template>
Hereinafter, a procedure for a user who receives an order for printing to generate a print template while referring to a screen displayed on the screen of the display unit 58A of the user terminal 50A will be described. In the present embodiment, a plurality of print template files are stored in advance in the storage unit 57C of the data server 50C as a default. When the user instructs to generate a print template, the main generation unit 51A creates a list of print templates and displays the list on the screen of the display unit 58A.

FIG. 5 is an example of a screen showing a list of print templates. On the screen of FIG. 5, a list (Template List) in which a plurality of print template files are listed in a predetermined file name order is displayed. This screen is a web application that runs on a server on the Internet or an intranet. That is, information input / output is performed on the browser via the network.

On the screen of FIG. 5, the user clicks the buttons (1) to (5) arranged side by side above the Template List to (1) add a new print template file to the Template List. Or (2) Select an arbitrary print template file from the Template List to change the image data included in the print template, (3) Download the print template file, (4) You can search for any print template file from the Template List, or (5) delete any print template file from the Template List. When the user clicks the button (1) on the screen of FIG. 5, the display of the display unit 58A is switched to the first creation screen of the print template. The print template creation screen is, for example, a native application that runs on a CPU. That is, the image data is edited inside the user terminal 50A.

FIG. 6 is an example of the first creation screen of the print template. This screen is a screen in which the user sets a printable area (printable area: PRINTABLE AREA) on the printing device 10. On the left side of the screen of FIG. 6, each setting item is illustrated so that the user can easily understand it visually. The user inputs each setting item on the right side of the screen of FIG. 6 while referring to this illustration. In the present embodiment, for example, information on the size of the printed matter 70 (Length: length, Width: width), information on the printed margin of the printed matter 70 (Top: upper margin in the length direction, Bottom: in the length direction). Enter the lower margin, Left: left margin in the width direction, Right: right margin in the width direction), and information on the shape of the corners of the printed matter 70 (Radius: rounded corners). When the input is completed, the user clicks the [NEXT] button displayed at the bottom of the screen of FIG. As a result, the display of the display unit 58A is switched from the first creation screen to the second creation screen.

FIG. 7 is an example of the second creation screen of the print template. This screen is a screen for the user to edit and customize the image data included in the print template. At the left and right edges of the screen of FIG. 7, icons of drawing tools and the like are arranged. The center of the screen of FIG. 7 is an area where the user can freely draw objects such as characters and figures to customize the image data. On this screen, for example, the user selects the [IMAGE] or [CLIPART] icon at the left end of the screen of FIG. 7 to update desired graphic data such as a photo or a pattern, or the [TEXT] icon. Select to enter text information, select the [SPOT COLOR] icon to specify color information, or select the [EDIT AREA] icon to select the editable area of the image. can do. Further, for example, when the printed matter 70 is cut by using a cutting device after order printing, a cut line may be added to the outer periphery of the object by selecting the [CUT] icon. In FIG. 7, the flower pattern (pattern) object 90 and the ABC (character) object 91 are included in the image data.

In this embodiment, the setting of the special effect is included in the [SPOT COLOR] icon. As a result, special effects can be given to the objects 90 and 91 as if a color was selected. For example, by turning on the [PRIMER] button on the left side of the screen of FIG. 7, it is possible to set the primer processing using the primer ink for the entire image data. Further, for example, by turning on the [WHITE] button, it is possible to set the base treatment using white ink for the entire image data. Further, for example, by turning on the [GLOSS] button, special surface treatment can be set individually for each of the objects 90 and 91. When the user turns on the [GLOSS] button and clicks the down arrow (▽), a pull-down menu (see FIG. 8) is displayed. In this embodiment, the pull-down menu displays first and second (two types) special surface treatments with different degrees of surface gloss, namely GLOSS Varnish and MATTE Varnish. Has been done. Here, the user selects only one of the gloss varnish and the matte varnish for one image data, and the surface gloss of the selected object is independent for each of the objects 90 and 91. The desired special surface treatment can be selected.

When the user turns off the [GLOSS] button on the screen of FIG. 7, the special surface treatment cannot be selected, and the special surface treatment is not displayed on the customer's editing screen (see FIG. 13) described later. When the user turns on the [GLOSS] button on the screen shown in FIG. 7 and selects gloss burnish from the pull-down menu shown in FIG. 8, the special surface treatment of gloss burnish can be selected on the customer edit screen described later. Become. When the user turns on the [GLOSS] button on the screen shown in FIG. 7 and selects the matte varnish from the pull-down menu shown in FIG. Can be selected.

In the present embodiment, when the user selects the matte burnish, the [VARNISH] tab is displayed side by side with the [COLOR] tab. FIG. 9 is an example of a screen in which the burnish tab of the second creation screen is clicked. On the [VARNISH] tab, multiple textures with special surface treatment are displayed. The user can select a texture in the same way as when selecting a color. For example, if the user selects a desired texture while the object 91 is selected, the object 91 can be set with a special surface treatment of the texture. Alternatively, if the [APPLY ALL] check box displayed below the texture is checked, special surface treatment can be set for all objects 90 and 91 included in the image data at once. When the object 91 for which the special surface treatment is set is in the selected state, a mark 92 indicating that the special surface treatment is to be applied is displayed. Although not particularly limited, here, a mark 92 imitating a repeating pattern of a texture is added to the upper right of the object 91. At the time of printing, the object 91 to which the mark 92 is given is subjected to a special transparent surface treatment in addition to printing in color.

FIG. 10 is an example of a screen in which the color tab of the second creation screen is clicked. The user may want to apply only a transparent special surface treatment to the object 91, that is, may not want to print in color. However, even if the object 91 to be specially surface-treated is displayed in a transparent color on the screen of the display unit 58A, it is inconspicuous on the screen and it is difficult to distinguish it. Therefore, when it is desired to apply only a transparent special surface treatment to the object 91, the [NOT PRINT COLOR] icon displayed at the bottom of the color palette is used. For example, if the user clicks the [NOT PRINT COLOR] icon with the object 91 selected, only the transparent special surface treatment can be set for the object 91. For the object for which [NOT PRINT COLOR] is checked, a color non-printing mark 93 indicating that printing in color is not performed is displayed. Although not particularly limited, here, a mark 93 without color printing is added to the left of the mark 92 that imitates a repeating pattern of a texture. As a result, the transparently printed object 91 can be displayed in color on the screen, and the visibility of the object 91 and the distinctiveness of the special surface treatment can be ensured. Therefore, the user and the customer can easily perform the work of editing the object 91, and can easily imagine the print finish.

When the input is completed, the user clicks the [SAVE] button displayed at the bottom of FIG. 9 or 10. As a result, the image data is fixed by the user, and the image data is linked with settings such as special effects. Then, the user sets an arbitrary file name in the print template, and the file is saved as one file. Here, for example, the file is saved with the file name "02gift.01phonecase.002". The print template file is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 59A and stored in the storage unit 57C of the data server 50C. As described above, the print template can be generated. When the print template is generated, the list of print templates is updated.

FIG. 11 is an example of a screen showing an updated list of print templates. Compared with the list before the update of FIG. 5, a print template named "02gift.01phonecase.002" is added to the list of FIG. 11 as the third from the top. In addition, in this list of print templates, pictograms representing special effects (SPECIAL EFFECT) are displayed together with the name (NAME) of the print template. For example, the pictogram (6) has a primer treatment using white ink, and the pictogram (7) has a special surface treatment using transparent ink (8). Each of the pictograms indicates that the base treatment using the primer ink is set. Therefore, the user can check the types of special effects included in the print template without opening the edit screen of the print template.

<How to order original order printing>
Hereinafter, a procedure for the customer to place an order for the original order printing by using the printing template displayed on the screen of the display unit 58B of the customer terminal 50B will be described. In the present embodiment, a predetermined top screen (not shown) is displayed in the standby state of the customer terminal 50B. The standby state is a state in which the power of the customer terminal 50B is turned on and the printing order is not started. On the top screen, a [START] button is displayed for the customer to start a print order and move to the print template. In the present embodiment, when the customer clicks the [START] button, the print template file stored in the storage unit 57C is input from the transmission / reception unit 59B to the customer terminal 50B, and the display unit is displayed in a predetermined order. The list is displayed on the screen of 58B. When the customer selects one of these files, the screen switches to the confirmation screen for the print template. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the customer selects a print template containing the same image data as the print template created by the user terminal 50A. The customer can confirm the details of the print template selected on the confirmation screen.

FIG. 12 is an example of a confirmation screen of the print template. A checklist of [PRODUCT SELECTION], [CHECK], [EDIT], and [ORDER] is displayed in the upper center of the screen of FIG. 12 so that the customer can easily understand the process until the order printing is completed. .. On the left side of the confirmation screen, image data included in the print template, here, a plurality of objects 90 and 91 that are the same as those displayed on the screen of the display unit 58A of the user terminal 50A are displayed. On the right side of the confirmation screen, categories and subcategories indicating the classification of the print template, product (PRODUCT) information, special effects information, and product description are displayed. As for the special effect information, the available special effects are displayed in pictograms. The user can determine in advance whether or not the desired special effect can be used on this confirmation screen before moving to editing the print template. When the customer clicks [NEXT] displayed at the bottom of the screen of FIG. 12, the display of the display unit 58B is switched to the edit screen.

FIG. 13 is an example of the editing screen of the print template. The edit screen is a screen on which the customer can freely edit and customize the image data included in the print template. On this edit screen, you can check the details of the special effect. For example, if the user has selected a special gloss varnish surface finish when generating the print template, the [VARNISH] tab will display VARNISH TYPE GLOSS, as shown in FIG. Since gloss varnish is glossy printing, there is no texture selection. The object 91 to which the special surface treatment of the gloss varnish is set is displayed with the mark 94 indicating the gloss varnish superimposed on the predetermined position of the object 91. On the other hand, although not shown, if the user has selected a special surface treatment of matte varnish when generating the print template, the tab of [VARNISH] is displayed as in the user's edit screen shown in FIG. , VARNISH TYPE MATTE is displayed. Matte varnish allows you to choose more textures. For an object to which a special surface treatment of matte varnish is set, a mark indicating a texture pattern is superimposed and displayed at a predetermined position of the object, as in FIG. 9, for example.

When the customer edits the image data on the edit screen, the order data generation unit 53B creates drawing data corresponding to the image data. Then, order data is generated by adding drawing data to the print template. When the customer clicks [NEXT] displayed at the bottom of the screen of FIG. 13, the display of the display unit 58B is switched to the final confirmation screen.

Although not shown, the final confirmation screen displays, for example, order data obtained by adding drawing data to a print template and the price of order printing. After confirming the output image and price of the final order print on this screen, the customer inputs necessary items such as the print quantity and orders the order print. As described above, the customer can order the original order printing by referring to the printing template. When the customer's order is completed, the order data is transmitted to the print management device 60 via the transmission / reception unit 59B.

<Print management device>
The print management device 60 is configured to transmit print data to the printing device 10 and control the printing device 10 to perform printing. The print management device 60 is typically a computer, and includes, for example, an I / F, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a memory, similarly to the control unit 30 of the print device 10 described above. The print management device 60 includes a storage unit 61, a conversion unit 62, a display unit 63, and a transmission / reception unit 64. The print management device 60 receives the customer's order data via the transmission / reception unit 64. The order data is stored in the storage unit 61. The conversion unit 62 converts (rasterizes) the order data into raster data that can be read by the control unit 30 of the printing device 10. The raster data is transmitted to the control unit 30 of the printing device 10 via the transmission / reception unit 64.

The display unit 63 displays a preview screen for order printing in which the order data and the palette 80 are combined. By preparing for printing while checking the preview screen of the display unit 63, the user can proceed with the print preparation efficiently and start printing without delay. In addition, it is less likely that the pallet 80 is mistaken or misplaced when the pallet 80 is placed on the table 25, and printing failures can be reduced.

As described above, in the user terminal 50A of the print ordering device 50, it is possible to apply a special surface treatment to each of the objects 90 and 91, and it is possible to apply various facial expressions to the surface of the printed matter 70. As a result, the appearance of the printed image can be freely changed, and a printed matter full of originality can be realized. Further, in the user terminal 50A, by attaching the mark 94 to the object 91 to which the special surface treatment is applied, the presence or absence of the special surface treatment can be easily determined on the screen. Therefore, it becomes easy for the user to edit the image data of the print template, and the convenience of the user can be improved. Further, the customer terminal 50B makes it easier for the customer to imagine the finish of printing, and can smoothly place an order for printing.

The print ordering device 50 is combined with a stand-alone KIOSK type printer installed in retail stores such as mobile phone stores, home appliance mass retailers, photo stores, general merchandise stores, and shopping centers, for example. Can be preferably used.

The user terminal 50A of the present embodiment displays the mark 92 on the screen of the display unit 58A when the object 91 to be subjected to the special surface treatment is selected, and does not display the mark 92 when the object 91 is not selected. A display control unit 54A for display is further provided. As a result, even when the image data includes a plurality of objects 90 and 91 and the image data is complicated, it is difficult to make a mistake in the correspondence between the objects 91 and the mark 92.

In the present embodiment, the object 91 to which the special surface treatment is applied is the character information of ABC. Character information has many fine line-shaped parts as compared with graphic data. Therefore, for example, if a texture pattern is directly attached to the character information itself, the texture pattern may become unclear or the original color may be difficult to distinguish. By attaching the special surface treatment mark 92 to the object 91, for example, the type of special surface treatment (for example, a texture pattern) can be clearly represented regardless of the area of the object 91. Therefore, visibility can be improved. Further, since the original color of the object 91 is maintained on the screen, there is an advantage that the customer can easily imagine the print finish, for example.

In the present embodiment, the special surface treatment includes a plurality of special surface treatments in which at least one of the degree of surface gloss and the texture is different. The display data generation unit 53A assigns different types of marks 92 and 94 to the objects 91 to which different special surface treatments are applied. As a result, it is possible to increase the variation of special surface treatment and enhance the design. In addition, the range of choices for special surface treatments will be expanded, and it will be easier for customers to imagine the finish of each special surface treatment.

In this embodiment, the special surface treatment includes a plurality of special surface treatments having different textures. The display data generation unit 53A superimposes the mark 92 representing the repeating pattern constituting the texture on the object 91 to which the special surface treatment is applied. This allows the customer to easily grasp the pattern of the texture.

In the present embodiment, the object 91 is represented by a color that can be visually recognized on the screen of the display unit 58A. The user terminal 50A of the present embodiment is provided with the color print unnecessary setting addition unit 55A that assigns the color print unnecessary setting information that the object 91 is not printed in color to the object data, and the color print unnecessary setting information. A second display data generation unit 56A that generates display data for display on the display unit 58A by superimposing a visible non-color printing mark 93 indicating that printing in color is not performed on the object 91. And further prepare. As a result, the special surface treatment can be easily recognized on the screen, and at the time of printing, only the special surface treatment can be applied to the printed matter 70 using the transparent ink.

As shown in FIG. 11, the user terminal 50A of the present embodiment divides the display unit 58A into a plurality of subregions, and for each subregion, a plurality of print templates (NAME) and a print template (NAME) are used. It further includes a main generation unit 51A that creates a special surface processing type (SPECIAL EFFECT) included in the template and a list (Template List) in which the special surface processing types (SPECIAL EFFECT) are arranged side by side. As a result, the user can easily grasp the presence or absence of the special surface treatment without opening the editing screen of the printing template, for example.

The user terminal 50A according to the present embodiment, the print ordering device 50 provided with the terminal 50A, and the printing system 100 have been described above. However, the template generation device according to the present invention, the print order device provided with the template generation device, and the printing system are not limited to this.

For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the user terminal 50A and the customer terminal 50B are external devices connected to the print management device 60, but the present invention is not limited to this. The user terminal 50A and / or the customer terminal 50B may be built in the print management device 60. Further, the print management device 60 may be built in, for example, the control unit 30 of the printing device 10.

Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the printing device 10 is an inkjet printer, but the present invention is not limited to this. The printing apparatus 10 may employ a printing method other than the inkjet method. The printing device 10 may be, for example, a thermal transfer printer (including a sublimation printer), a laser printer, a dot impact printer, a thermal printer, a discharge destruction printer, or the like. The printing device 10 may be, for example, a foil stamping device that performs so-called foil stamping printing by pressing a foil sheet such as a metallic foil or a pigment foil against a printed matter. The number of printing devices 10 may be one, or for example, two or more of the above may be used in combination. For example, an inkjet printer and a foil stamping device can be used by connecting them to the print management device 60, respectively.

Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the customer terminal 50B is an order printing receiving device that directly receives the customer's order printing, but the present invention is not limited to this. The customer terminal 50B may be any as long as the customer can refer to the print template. In that case, the customer terminal 50B does not have to have the input unit 52B.

Further, the configuration of the printing device 10 is not particularly limited. For example, the printing apparatus 10 has at least one of the following configurations: a cutting head for cutting the printed matter 70; a foil pressing tool for transferring a foil sheet (transfer foil) such as metallic foil or pigment foil to the printed matter 70; A decorative tool; which applies at least one of engraving and engraving to the printed matter 70; may be provided.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the so-called shuttle type (serial type) printing device 10 in which the ink head 23 is mounted on the carriage 19 and printing is performed while reciprocating (shuttle moving) in the left-right direction X has been described. However, it is not limited to this. The technique disclosed herein can be similarly applied to a so-called line type printer which includes a line head and prints in a state where the line head is fixed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the carriage 19 of the printing apparatus 10 is configured to move in the left-right direction X, and the table 25 is configured to move in the front-rear direction Y, but the present invention is not limited to this. The movement of the carriage 19 and the table 25 is relative, and either of them may move in the left-right direction X or the front-back direction Y. Further, for example, the carriage 19 may be arranged so as not to be movable, and the table 25 may be configured to be movable in both the left-right direction X and the front-rear direction Y.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the printing device 10 is provided with the ultraviolet lamp 24, but the ultraviolet lamp 24 is not essential and may be omitted. In that case, inks other than the ultraviolet curable type may be stored in the ink cartridges 21, 22C, 22Pr, and 22W, respectively.

10 Printing device (printer)
50 Print order device 50A User terminal (Print template generator)
52A Object input unit 53A Display data generation unit 58A Display unit 50B Customer terminal (print template display device)
50C data server 60 print management device 100 print system

Claims (10)

A print template generator that generates a print template that includes image data to be printed on a printed matter.
A display unit that displays the image data and
Upon receiving the user's operation input, the object data including the information of the object that is a component of the image data and the setting information of whether or not to apply the special surface processing using transparent ink to the object is input. Object input section and
A display data generation unit that generates display data for displaying on the display unit by superimposing a visible mark indicating that the special surface treatment is applied on the object to which the special surface treatment is applied.
A template generator for printing. It further includes a display control unit that displays the mark on the display unit when the object to be subjected to the special surface treatment is selected, and hides the mark when the object is not selected.
The printing template generator according to claim 1. The object to which the special surface treatment is applied is character information.
The printing template generator according to claim 1 or 2. The special surface treatment includes a plurality of special surface treatments in which at least one of the degree of surface gloss and the texture is different.
The display data generation unit assigns different types of marks to the objects to which the special surface treatment is applied.
The printing template generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The special surface treatment includes a plurality of special surface treatments having different textures.
The display data generation unit superimposes a mark representing a repeating pattern constituting the texture on the object to which the special surface treatment is applied.
The printing template generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The object is represented by a color visible on the display unit.
A color print unnecessary setting setting unit that assigns color print unnecessary setting information for not printing the object in the colored color to the object data, and a unit for assigning the color print unnecessary setting.
A visible non-color printing mark indicating that printing in the color is not performed is superimposed on the object to which the color printing unnecessary setting information is given, and display data to be displayed on the display unit is generated. A second display data generation unit and a second display data generation unit are further provided.
The printing template generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The display unit is divided into a plurality of partial areas, and a list in which the plurality of printing templates and the type of special surface treatment included in the printing template are arranged side by side for each of the partial areas is displayed. Further equipped with a main generator to be created,
The printing template generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The printing template generator according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
A print template display device including a receiving unit that receives the print template from the print template generation device and a display unit that displays the image data included in the print template.
A print ordering device. The print ordering apparatus according to claim 8 and
A print management device connected to the print order device so as to be capable of data communication,
A printing device including an ink head that is connected to the print management device so as to be capable of data communication and discharges transparent ink, and a support member that supports the printed matter.
A printing system. A computer program configured to operate a computer as the print template generator according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images