WO2004073985A1

WO2004073985A1 - Screen creating method, its device, and crating program

Info

Publication number: WO2004073985A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/001442
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rie Fujii; Kazuya Oshima
Original assignee: National Printing Bureau, Incorporated Administrative Agency
Priority date: 2003-02-21
Filing date: 2004-02-10
Publication date: 2004-09-02
Also published as: JP3855013B2; JP2004261979A

Abstract

A method for creating a screen for expressing a continuous tone pattern. Cells (C) of one type constitutes the screen. Each cell is composed of a set of parameters including units (u) having the same function and arranged in different directions, one or more regions (a) in each unit (u), and an element (e) having a variable printing element area in each region (a). The method comprises the steps of inputting a preset value to each of the parameters and calculating definition information (definitioner) on variation of the screen by using the inputted preset value. Thus, a high-definition screen can be easily created.

Description

Description Screen Creation Method and Apparatus and Creation Program Technical Background

The present invention relates to a method for producing a screen.

Countermeasures to prevent forgery and falsification are important factors in printed materials such as banknotes, stock certificates, securities such as receivables, various certificates, and important documents. On the printed surface of such a printed material, the pattern is composed of extremely fine lines (ink-colored portions in printing) that have room for countermeasures to prevent forgery and falsification.

Typical techniques for the method using fine lines include tint block and iris pattern. Basically, these are geometric figures composed of a set of curved objects with a fixed image width, and these geometric figures can take into account design features such as the design of printed matter. . Complicating the pattern using fine strokes makes it difficult to extract with a photoengraving device or reproduce with a copying machine due to resolution problems in the forgery process, and its role as a counterfeit prevention measure is enhanced.

Also, the designability of securities is a very important factor for securities. Designability helps people to recognize printed matter as securities and memorize the properties of the securities, which are used to determine authenticity.

Today, with the establishment of computer processing algorithms, software for generating geometric figures composed of thin lines has been developed and commercialized. · However, continuous gradation (full-range continuous gradation with an image area ratio of 0 to 100%) could not be given to the image of the aforementioned geometric figures. Therefore, in the case of a security that has been subjected to the forgery prevention measure having the advanced image configuration as described above, when a continuous tone image is used, the continuous tone must be added to an area other than the portion. On the other hand, for securities that make heavy use or continuous tone (for example, stamps, stamps, etc.), there is not enough room to attach the geometric figures described above, and sufficient counterfeiting prevention measures cannot be taken. Was.

To add a continuous tone image to a printed material, a screen In this case, an image structure that is translated into a halftone dot is required. The screen has small (about 100 to 600 values per inch) objects that have the shape of circles, ellipses, diamonds, squares, and grains, and the size of the image per unit area of printed matter depends on the size. Continuous gradation is reproduced by changing the line area ratio. The screen must have not only a point-shaped object but also a line-shaped object such as a line screen (scanning line) or a cross (crossing line) and change the image line width. In some cases, a continuous tone is reproduced.

In securities, these streaks can be easily created by existing plate-making or image processing techniques, making it difficult to judge authenticity, and the problem that ordinary screens are unsuitable for securities. there were.

Accordingly, there has been an increasing demand for a special screen capable of expressing a continuous tone image and having a function of preventing forgery. This special screen is a screen cell (hereinafter referred to as “cell”), that is, the shape per unit (hereinafter referred to as “screen shape”) while having a change in the image area ratio sufficient to reproduce the gradation. It is a screen that has the same fine strokes and design characteristics as the tint block and the color pattern.

Many technologies for such screens with high anti-counterfeiting effects have been proposed, and some of them have commercialized software. When screen processing of continuous tone is performed using the technology already proposed or commercialized, it is generally performed according to the flow shown in FIG.

The person who performs the screen processing creates a screen (ss1). The screen creation is the design of the screen, that is, the design of the image shape at each image area ratio, and the definition data based on the design result. is created. the definition data, in accordance with the arrangements required by the screen processing software is data that defines the shape of the screen. examples of definition data, in FIG. 2 a, 2 B, 2 C s 2 D For example, there are a plurality of 1-bit format bitmap data representing each image shape, one multi-bit format bitmap data, or text data representing a program.

In parallel with the screen creation, create the bitmap data '(hereinafter referred to as the original image) to be subjected to the screen processing (ss 2). The original image is a continuous tone image as shown in Fig. 3. The definition data and the original image are screened. When supplied to lean processing software and subjected to screen processing, an image whose tone is reproduced by a screen having a design characteristic as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

Of the flows shown in FIG. 1, software for s s s 2 and s s s 3 is already on sale. However, for s s 1, there is no software with functions that are sufficiently specialized for screen design and definition data creation. At present, the screen design is a trial and error of the creator in the process of creating the definition data.

For example, when creating bitmap data as definition data, the work following the flow shown in Fig. 5 is required.

When creating bitmap data as definition data, the creator of the definition data first draws a screen shape, that is, creates an image, using image processing software or drawing software (ss1-1). ). Next, the distribution of the number of pixels with respect to the brightness of the image (hereinafter, referred to as a histogram) is confirmed (s s1 -2), and the image area ratio is calculated (s s1 -3). Based on the results of s s l-2 and s s 1-3, the creator of the definition data determines whether the created image is suitable as the definition data. If not, the creator of the definition data modifies the image based on intuition, and repeats s s s 1-2 and s s s 1-3 again.

Bitmap data that is suitable as definition data is, for example, a histogram that has no significant bias (Fig. 6A) or lack (Fig. 6B) (a significant bias or lack reduces the quality of the reproduced gradation), and the intended screen shape. And the transition of the image area ratio coincide with each other.

Thus, in the process of creating the definition data, the screen shape must be designed while taking into account the gradation reproducibility and the image area ratio. In particular, in the case of securities design, strict design of individual strokes (minimum stroke width, etc.) is required from the viewpoint of stroke management, and this is extremely difficult. In addition, some screen processing software requires 30 to 60 bitmap data as definition data.

Therefore, it takes time to create the definition data, and it is almost impossible to create a screen with a complex shape that is comparable to a tint block and a color pattern. As a method for creating a special screen having such a design, a trademark, a family crest, a logo mark, a symbol mark, a character, etc., which have already been designed by the applicant, is made to correspond to one halftone pixel. And ream An application has been filed as a method of expressing a continuous tone image. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 11-262882)

However, in this method, cells are formed using an image having a design as an input image, and cells are not created from nothing.

Furthermore, the applicant applied for a method of arranging a trademark, a family crest, a logo mark, a symbol mark, a character, etc. having a design property in a screen cell and expressing a continuous tone image using a shape reproduced by a function. I have. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 11-26882-29) 'However, expressing a screen shape by a function is the same, but this method constructs a complicated function by manual calculation, It was not easy to create a screen with a special shape simply by operating parameters.

Therefore, in order to easily create a forgery prevention screen having high designability, software for easily creating a screen is desired. Overview of the invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a screen creation method, a creation device, and a creation program capable of creating a screen having a complicated and high design property.

The present invention provides a screen for expressing continuous tone,

Using a screen creation device including: a setting item setting unit that selects an option for each setting item; and a calculation unit that generates a definer that defines a change in a screen based on the selected option.

In the method of creating,

The screen has a plurality of cells,

The cell has at least one unit,

If the unit is one, the unit has at least two regions; if there are multiple units, the unit has at least one region;

Each early region has one element,

Functions are prepared in advance corresponding to a plurality of options provided for each setting item of the unit, area, and element to form a function group, Selecting one of the options for each of the setting items by using the setting item setting means to design each of the unit, the area, and the element;

Using the function corresponding to the selected option out of the group of functions prepared in advance, generating, by the arithmetic means, a definer that defines the change of the designed screen;

A method for creating a screen, comprising:

In the present invention, a setting item of the unit includes a first option for selecting the number of the cuts obtained by dividing the cell and a shape of the unit.

In the case of having a plurality of the wits, a second option of selecting any of line symmetry, point symmetry, or random as the orientation of the unit in the cell, and is there.

The present invention is characterized in that the setting items of the area include: a first option for selecting a shape of the area; and a second option for selecting at least a position of the area and a size of the area. This is a method of creating a screen.

In the present invention, the setting item of the element includes a first option for selecting a three-dimensional shape of the element;

A second option for selecting a position of the element and a range in which an image area ratio provided by the element changes;

A method for creating a screen characterized by having:

A step of generating a bird's-eye view in which a unit or an area to which each coordinate in the cell belongs and an image area ratio of the cell when each coordinate is an image portion is represented by brightness or hue; , '

Displaying the overhead view;

The method for creating a screen further comprises:

The present invention further comprises: generating a cross-sectional view of the cell at a predetermined image area ratio representing a change in the image area ratio of the cell;

Displaying the cross-sectional view;

A method for creating a screen, further comprising:

The present invention includes a step of selecting an output mode of the generated diffuser. Have more,

As the output form,

Text data expressing the differencer using a predetermined program description language;

1-bit bit map data,

Multi-bit format bitmap data,

A method for producing a screen, characterized by having at least one or all of the following. ·

In the present invention, in the step of selecting the output mode, when the bit map data in the multiple bit format is selected,

Setting the number of pixels of the output bitmap data;

Converting the set definitioner into the bitmap data in the above-described multi-bit format including the set number of pixels;

A method for creating a screen, comprising:

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for creating a screen, wherein in the step of converting the bitmap data into the bitmap data, no bias is found in the distribution of the number of pixels with respect to the brightness of the bitmap data.

In the present invention, in the step of selecting the output mode, when the 1-bit format bitmap data is selected,

Setting the number of pixels of the bitmap data to be output;

Converting the generated refiner into a plurality of the 1-bit bitmap data composed of a set number of pixels;

A method for creating a screen, comprising:

The present invention provides an apparatus for creating a screen for expressing continuous tone, wherein the screen has a plurality of cells,

The cell has at least one unit,

If the unit is one, the unit has at least two regions, and if there are multiple units, the unit has at least one region, and each of the regions has one element. , Function storage means for storing a function group including functions corresponding to a plurality of options provided for the unit, area, and element for each setting item;

Setting item setting means for selecting one of the options for each of the setting items to design each of the unit, area, and element;

Calculating means for generating a definer for defining a designed screen change by using a function corresponding to the option selected by the setting item setting means among the functions stored in the function storage means;

A screen creation device comprising:

How to create a screen to represent continuous tone,

In a program to be executed by a computer comprising: a setting item setting means for selecting an option for each setting item; and a calculating means for generating a definer for defining a change of a screen based on the selected option.

The screen has a plurality of cells,

The cell has at least one unit,

If the unit is one, the unit has at least two regions; if there are a plurality of units, the unit has at least one region; each of the regions has one element;

A step of preparing in advance a function corresponding to a plurality of options provided for each setting item of the unit, area, and element to form a function group, and storing the function group in function storage means;

Selecting one of the options for each of the setting items using the setting item setting means, in order to design each of the unit, area, and element;

Using the function corresponding to the selected option among the function groups stored in the function storage means, generating a definer that defines a designed screen change by the calculation means;

A screen creation program that causes a computer to execute a screen generation method including: Brief description of drawings ·

In the attached drawings,

FIG. 1 shows an example of a flow of screen processing of continuous tone.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an image when a plurality of 1-bit format bitmap data is used as definition data.

Figure 3 shows an example of the original picture.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the image of FIG. 3 is reproduced in gradation by a screen having a design.

Fig. 5 shows an example of the flow when bitmap data is created as definition data.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show examples of histograms having bitmap data that is not suitable as definition data.

FIG. 7A shows an example of a continuous tone image, and FIG. 7B shows an example of a screen-processed image.

8A to 8F show examples of cuts in the case where the cell is square.

FIG. 9A to FIG. 9D show examples of the orientation of the YOUET.

FIG. 10 shows an example in which a unit has three regions.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the cell C shown in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 12 shows the cell C shown in FIG. 7B in three dimensions.

FIG. 13 shows the cell C shown in FIG. 7B in three dimensions.

FIG. 14 shows an example of options included in setting items relating to units, areas, and elements.

FIGS. 15A and 15B show a procedure for creating each area shown in FIG.

FIGS. 16A to 16F show examples of area setting items.

FIGS. 17A to 17F show examples of setting items of the element.

Figure 18 shows the screen creation device.

Figure 19 shows the flow of processing in screen creation.

FIG. 20 shows the flow of processing in unit design.

Fig. 21 shows an example of a design screen for areas and elements. Figure 22 shows the flow of processing in the area design.

Figure 23 shows the flow of processing in element design.

FIG. 24 shows the flow of processing in calculating the refiner.

Figures 25A, 25B, and 25C show examples of artwork images.

FIG. 26 shows the flow of the artwork image generation process.

FIG. 27 shows the flow of the preview image generation processing.

FIG. 28 shows an example of a preview image.

FIG. 29A, FIG. 29B, and FIG. 29C show examples of a screen for displaying a preview image. 30A, 30B, and 30C show examples of a preview image display screen. FIG. 31 shows the flow of processing in displaying a preview image.

FIGS. 32A and 32B show examples of shape priority data and its histogram. FIGS. 33A and 33B show examples of gradation priority data and its histogram.

1 Setting item setting method

2 Setting result storage

3 Function storage

4 Definer storage means

5 Screen shape display means

6 Text data conversion output means

7 Bitmap data conversion output means

8 Calculation means

a 1 area

a 2 area

a 3 area

a '1 shape

a '2 shapes

a B area diameter

a c area center

a R X Length of area figure in X direction

a R y Length of area figure in y direction as area shape

C cell

D Image area ratio

e 1 element

e 2 element

e c element center

e R x Length of element solid in X direction

e R y Length of element solid in y direction

e s element solid

G 1 Setting result display

G 2 Option display section

G 2-1 Setting target option display area

G2-2 area selection display area

G 2-3 Option 1 Display

G 2-4 X direction length option display area

G 2-5 y direction length option display section

G 2-6 center option display

G 2-7 Area diameter selection display

G 2-8 Object change range option display area

G 3 artwork image display section

G 8 preview image display area

G 9 Screen angle setting section

G 1 0 Image area ratio setting section

L

P h Number of horizontal pixel cells in multi-bit format bitmap data

Pv Vertical pixel senor in bitmap data in multi-bit format ^:

S 1 unit design SI— 1 Display of Option 1

S I— 2 Choice of Option 1

S I— 3 Setting result storage

S I— 4 Judge option 2 to be displayed, display option 2

S I—5 Choice 2

S I—6 Setting result storage

S2 area design

S 2— 1 Select whether to split

S 2— 2 Display option 1

S 2-3 Select option 1

S 2-4 Setting result storage

S 2-5 Judge option 2 to be displayed, display option 2

S 2— 6 Choice 2

S 2-7 Storing setting result

S 3 element design

S 3—Select 1 area

S 3-2 Display option 1

3 Choice 1

S 3-4 Setting result storage

S 3-5 Judge option 2 to be displayed, display option 2

S 3-6 Choice 2

S 3-7 Setting result storage

Calculation of S 4 definitioner

S 4-1 Input of setting result

S 4-2 Function input of unit

Function input representing the shape of the S 4-3 area

S 4— 4 Deformation of function based on size and flatness

S 4—Function input representing a 5-element solid

S 4— 6 Deformation of function based on size and flatness S 4-7 Calculation of maximum and minimum values

S 4-8 Calculation of function representing element

S 4-9 Storage of the refiner.

55 Indication

56 Selection of display format

S 7 Artwork image generation process

S7-1 Pixel allocation of artwork image

S 7-2 Calculation of Diffuser

S 7-3 Determination of Hue for Coloring Pixels

S 7-4 Determining lightness for coloring pixels

S7-5 Generating Artwork Images

S 8 Display artwork image

S 9 Preview image generation processing

S 9—1 Input of definer

S 9-2 Input of the differencer

S 9-3 Creating 1-bit image

S 9-4 Store 1-bit image

S 10 Preview image display

S 10-1 Selection of image area ratio

S 1 0-2 Image input

S 10—3 Repeated image transfer

S 10-4 Selection of rotation angle

S 10— 5 Select 0 degree for angle

S 10- 6 Image rotation

5 10-7 Image Display

51 1 Select screen shape

S 1 2 Output type selection

51 3 Text Data Generation Processing

514 Output of text data S 1 5 Select image format

5 1 6 Multi-bit bit map data generation processing

5 1 7 Output of multi-bit format bitmap data

S 1 8 1 Hit-type pit map

S 19 Bitmap data in 1-bit format

Creating an S S 1 screen

,

S S 1— 1 Create Image

S S 1-2 Measurement of density distribution of image

S S 1— 3 Calculation of object surface Kong ratio

S S 1— 4 Select the image area ratio

S S 2 Creation of original picture

S S 3 Screening

S r Filter for setting image area ratio

u unit

u 1 unit

μ 2 ut

u 3 units

u 4 units

u 5 unit

u 6 unit

u i unit

u i i unit

u i i i unit

u i v nit

W Preview image display screen Detailed description of the invention

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. <(Screen Structure) FIG. 7A shows an example of a continuous tone image, and FIG. 7B shows an example of an image obtained by screen-processing this image. Hereinafter, the structure of the screen as shown in FIG. 7B will be described.

(Cell)

Cells are repeatedly arranged on the screen as the basic units that make up the screen. The cell C shown in FIG. 7B has a square shape, but is not limited to this, and may have any other shape such as a rectangle, a regular hexagon, or any other shape that can completely fill a plane without gaps. You can also.

(Unit)

A cell has one or more identically shaped units. The units constituting one cell have the same object configuration.

Fig. 8 shows an example of a unit when the cell is square. Fig. 8A shows an example in which cell C has one unit, and Fig. 8B shows an example in which cell C has two units divided by a line connecting the centers of the opposite sides (hereinafter referred to as two opposite sides). Figure 8C shows an example where cell C is divided into two diagonal lines and has two units (hereinafter referred to as two diagonal divisions). Figure 8D shows cell C divided into two lines connecting the centers of two pairs of opposite sides. In this example, cell C is divided into four diagonal lines and divided into four units in Fig. 8E (hereinafter referred to as four diagonal divisions). FIG. 8F shows an example in which a cell C has eight units divided into eight by two lines connecting two centers of two opposite sides and two diagonals (hereinafter, referred to as eight diagonal sides). Cell C in FIG. 7B is an example having the cut shown in FIG. 8D.

The cell C has one or more units, and when the cell has a plurality of units, the units in the cell C may be congruent with each other, and are not limited to the shape and the number of units shown in FIG. .

Also, as shown in FIG. 9, even when the units are arranged in different directions in the cell, an image with the same shape can be obtained when the same gradation is screen-processed. FIG. 9A shows an example in which four units ui to uiv are arranged line-symmetrically, FIG. 9B shows an example in which units are arranged point-symmetrically, and FIGS. 9C and D show examples in which units are randomly arranged. Cell C in Fig. 7B has the units arranged in the orientation shown in Fig. 9B. Equivalent to.

When the cell has a plurality of units, the direction in which the units are arranged, and the direction in which no gap is generated between the cells, may be used, and the direction is not limited to the direction shown in FIG.

(Area)

A unit has one or more areas. One area has one element described later.

FIG. 10 shows an example in which the unit U6 shown in FIG. 8F is divided by a part of an arc and a part of a hyperbola and has three regions. In this way, units are divided by any straight line or curve, creating a zone. There is no limit to the number of areas a unit can have. If the cell has one unit, with the intention of creating a screen with a complex shape, the unit will have multiple regions. An example of cell C shown in FIG. 7B is shown in FIG. The unit u shown in FIG. 11 is an example which is divided into two by a straight line L and has regions a1 and a2.

(Element)

The element has an image area ratio of 0% to 100 in the area to which the element belongs

The result is a screen change that varies between%.

FIG. 12 shows an example in which the cell C shown in FIG. 7B is superimposed from 0% to 100% in the z-axis direction to form a perspective view. In this perspective view, only two elements of the two regions a1 and a2 of the unit u are illustrated for easy viewing. The z-axis in FIG. 12 represents the image area ratio. The solids e 1 and e 2 in the figure are elements, and the cross-sections of e 1 and e 2 cut along a plane parallel to the xy plane passing through D correspond to the object at the object area ratio D. . Cell C shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to a cross section at an image area ratio D in the perspective view shown in FIG.

(Screen setting items)

Next, when a screen having the above-described structure is created by selecting a desired one from among the options prepared in advance by a screen designer (hereinafter referred to as a designer), items to be set by the designer are as follows. An example of the bay option will be described. Fig. 14 shows examples of options for setting items related to units, areas, and elements. (Setting items related to unit)

The setting items for the unit are the type and orientation of the unit. Option 1 of the setting items of the unit shown in Fig. 14 is related to the type of unit, that is, the shape of the unit and the number of units in one cell, and is shown in Fig. 14. The example corresponds to the units ul to u6 shown in FIG.

Option 2 relates to the orientation of the user and corresponds to the orientation shown in Figure 9. However, random orientations other than those shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D are possible.

(Example of area design method and setting items related to area)

《Example of area design method》.

As described above, the area is generated by dividing the unit by an arbitrary straight line or curve. First, as an example of an area design method, a method of using a part of the outer periphery of a figure as a line for dividing a unit will be described.

For example, three regions a1 to a3 as shown in FIG. 10 can be created in the order shown in FIG. That is, a circle a 1 is set, and a portion where the unit u and the circle a ′ 1 overlap is defined as a region a 1 (hereinafter, a portion in the unit where a region is not designed is referred to as a region unset portion). . Next, an X-shaped a'2 drawn by two sets of hyperbolas is set, and a portion where the unset area and the X-shaped a'2 overlap each other is defined as an area a2. Lastly, the unset area at the time when the designer has finished setting the figure is the last area, in this example, area a3.

<< Setting items related to area >>

As an example of designing a region using the method described above, the setting items related to the region shown in Fig. 14 are used. Hereinafter, these setting items will be described with reference to the diagram shown in FIG.

Option 1 of the setting item of the area relates to the shape of the figure to be set. The actual shape of the shape shown in Option 1 for the area corresponds to the shape as in FIGS. 16 to 16F. The cross (Fig. 16C) and the X-shape (Fig. 16D) are figures drawn by two sets of hyperbolas. The horizontal line (Fig. 16E) and the vertical line (Fig. 16F) Two straight lines parallel to each other. The figure as selected by the designer is called an area figure.

Option 1 is an example, and other shapes (for example, triangle, regular hexagon, etc.) May be adopted.

Next, the area setting item has three options as option 2. These three options are examples of how to determine the position of the figure, the slope of the straight line and the curvature of the curve of the periphery of the figure, and the size of the figure.

As a method of determining the position of the figure, an option regarding the center of the figure is used. However, for a figure whose center cannot be represented by a point, such as a horizontal line and a vertical line, the center line should be selected. The center ac or center line ac selected by the designer is referred to as a region center.

As a method for determining the inclination of a straight line or the curvature of a curve of the outer periphery of a figure, an option related to the flatness of the figure is used. The oblateness is the ratio of the length a R X in the X direction and the length a R y in the y direction, a R x / a R y, of the figure shown in FIG. The flatness selected by the designer is called the area flatness. However, this option does not exist for figures for which flatness cannot be applied, such as crosses (which implies that flattening is applied in the direction of the asymptote, and impossible), and horizontal and vertical lines.

As a method of determining the size of the figure, an option regarding the length in the X direction is used. However, since the X-direction is infinite for crosses and horizontal lines, different lengths are used as options. That is, the cross shape uses the length in the diagonal direction of 45 degrees, and the horizontal line uses the length in the y-axis direction as selection options. The length a B selected by the designer is called the region diameter.

These two options for the domain are the minimum elements for determining the specific size and size of the domain. Other options may be added to make the region more complex, such as rotation or deformation.

(Setting items related to elements)

As an example of an element design method, objects such as solids e1 and e2 shown in FIG. 12 at an object area ratio of 0% to 100% are superimposed in the _Z- axis direction. Is used.

As an example of designing an element using such a solid, the setting items for the element shown in Fig. 14 are used. Hereinafter, these setting items will be described with reference to the diagram shown in FIG.

Option 1 of the setting item of the element relates to a three-dimensional shape. The The actual shape of the figure listed in Option 1 for the element corresponds to the solid es in Figs. 17A to 17F. The cross sections of the solid es parallel to the xy plane are ellipse (circle), rhombus, cross, X-shape, horizontal and vertical lines, respectively. The solid es selected by the designer is called an element solid.

Option 1 for elements shown in Fig. 14 is an example, and other solids (for example, triangular pyramids, hexagonal pyramids, etc.) may be adopted as option 1. The element can be set regardless of the area. For example, when an ellipse (circle) is selected in the option 1 for the area, the option 1 for the element is not limited to the ellipse, and another shape such as a diamond or a cross can be selected for the element.

Next, the three-dimensional setting item has three options as option 2. These three options are the position of the solid, the slope of the straight line and the curvature of the curve of the outer circumference of the Xy cross section of the solid, and the height and _Z- axis position of the solid within the range where the image area ratio provided by the element changes This is an example of the determination method.

As a method of determining the position of the solid on the xy plane, an option relating to the center of the xy cross section of the solid is used. However, in the case of a figure that cannot represent the center of the xy section by a point, such as a horizontal line and a vertical line, the center line should be selected. The center e c or center line e c selected by the designer is called the element center.

As a method for determining the inclination of the straight line or the curvature of the curve of the outer periphery of the XY cross section of the solid, an option regarding the flatness of the XY cross section is used. The oblateness is the ratio of the length e R X in the X direction and the length e R y in the y direction, e R x / e R y, of the figure shown in FIG. The flatness selected by the designer is called the element flatness. However, this option does not exist for figures for which flatness cannot be applied, such as crosses (applied flatness in the direction of the asymptote, which is impossible), and horizontal and vertical lines.

As the method of determining the height of the solid and the position on the Z axis, an option for the range where the image area ratio changes (hereinafter referred to as the range of image change) is used. The range of the object change indicates the start point and the end point of the element change based on the object area ratio in the entire cell. For example, in the element represented by the solid e1 shown in Fig. 12, the change starts from the cell image area ratio of 0% (the starting point of the element change), and the area belonging to the cell image area ratio of 50% The image area ratio of 100% to 100% End point of the change of the statement). The range of the image change in such a case is set to 0 to 50%. Similarly, the range of the object change of the solid e2 is 5% to 100%.

Option 2 for the element is the minimum element to determine the specific position and size of the element. Other options may be added to make the element more complex, such as rotation and deformation.

(Equipment)

As shown in Fig. 18, the screen creation device includes: setting item setting means 1, setting result storage means 2, function storage means 3, diffusion storage means 4, screen shape display means 5, text data conversion and output means 6, , Bitmap data conversion and output means 7, and arithmetic means 8.

The setting item setting means 1 is a means for inputting a setting result of an option for each setting item shown in FIG. The setting result storage means 2 is a means for storing the setting result set by the setting item setting means 1. The function storage means 3 stores a function list and coordinates prepared in advance for units, areas, and elements. According to the setting result stored in the setting result storage means 2, the definitioner storage means 4 uses the function and the coordinates stored in the function storage means 3 to construct the definitioner constructed by the arithmetic means 8, This is a means for temporarily storing numerical values obtained in the process of construction. The screen shape display means 5 is a means for displaying the definer stored in the definer storage means 4. The text data conversion output unit 6 converts the definition stored in the storage unit 4 into a general-purpose program language by the arithmetic unit 8 and outputs it as definition data composed of text data. Means. The bit map data conversion and output means 7 converts the definition stored in the definer storage means 4 into multi-bit or 1-bit bitmap data (image) by the arithmetic means 8. Is a means for outputting as definition data composed of one or a plurality of bitmap data.

Next, a method of creating a screen using the above-described screen creating apparatus will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

(Overview of processing flow)

Figure 19 shows an example of the software processing flow. Hereinafter, symbols S 1 to S 19 shall correspond to the description of the steps shown in the figure. Also, as an example of the setting items necessary for the designer to design the screen and the options of the setting items, a case where the software has at least the options shown in FIG. 14 will be described.

(Design of the unit) '

Figure 20 shows the detailed flow of unit design S1. In the design of the unit S1, the software displays the option 1 of the setting item of the unit (S1-1), and the designer selects the desired option from the displayed option 1 and sets the setting item. The setting is made by using the means 1 (S1-2). The software stores the setting result in the setting result storage means 2 (S1-3).

Next, the software determines the option 2 to be displayed based on the result of the setting by the designer, and displays the option 2 (S1-4). For example, if the designer selects two opposite sides from Option 1 using the setting items shown in Figure 14, the software will select either Line Symmetry, Point Symmetry, or Random as Option 2. Display options for selecting. The designer selects a desired one from the displayed options 2 and sets it using the setting item setting means 1 (S1-5). The software stores the setting result in the setting result storage means 2 (S1-6).

The types of options the software has depend on the degree of functionality of the software, but have at least options regarding the number of cells to split, the shape of the cutout, and the orientation of the unit. Option 1 shown in Figure 14 is an example of an option where the number of cell divisions and the unit shape are already combined, assuming that the cells are limited to squares. If you want to use a screen design using cells with shapes other than squares, or if you want to use a more flexible option, use another option, for example, an option to set an arbitrary number of cell divisions, An option for selecting the shape and an option for selecting the direction of the unit may be provided.

(Area and element design screen)

After storing the setting results for the unit, the software displays a design screen as shown in Fig. 21 as an example. The design screen helps the designer to select and set his / her favorite choices from the choices of the setting items related to the area and elements. Things. The design screen shown in Fig. 21 is a part that displays the result of setting by the designer as a numerical value (hereinafter, referred to as a setting result display part) Gl, and a part that displays options (hereinafter, referred to as an option display part) G 2, and a portion (hereinafter, referred to as an artwork image display portion) G3 for displaying an artwork image described later. Note that the layout and display form in the design screen shown in FIG. 21 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

The setting result display section G1 is a section for displaying a list of setting results by the designer. In FIG. 21, the setting result is displayed as a numerical value, and four displayable areas are provided. However, the display form of the setting result and the number of displayable areas are not particularly limited.

The option display section G2 serves both to display the options of the area setting items and the options of the element setting items. When an area or an element is selected from the options displayed in the setting target option display section G2-1, the option display sections G221 to G218 display the area or element among the options shown in FIG. Displays one of the element options. The designer designs the area S2 and the element 1 for the area (S3), relying on the options displayed on the option display units G2-2 to G2-8.

(Area design)

Fig. 22 shows an example of the detailed flow of the step (S2) of the area design. In the area design step (S2), the designer first selects whether or not to divide the unit (S2-1). For example, when dividing the unit, the area a1 is selected by using the setting item setting means 1 from the options displayed in the area option display section G2-2. In the example of G2-2 shown in FIG. 21, the area a1 is displayed as red (1). This red matches the hue of the artwork image described later. If the unit is not divided, the whole unit is set as one area, and the process proceeds to element design S3.

The designer selects (S 2-2) from the options 1 displayed by the software in the option 1 display section G 2-3, and selects the one that the designer prefers using the setting item setting means 1. (S2-3). The software stores the setting result in the setting result storage means 2. (S2-4).

Next, the software determines the option 2 to be displayed based on the result of the setting by the designer, and displays the option 2 on G2-2 to G2-7 (S2-5). For example, if the designer uses the setting items shown in Fig. 14 to select a circle from ① of option 1, the software will select option 2 for the center as the option 2 in the center option display section G2-6, and The options are divided into the X direction and the y direction, and the X direction length option display section G 2-4 and the y direction length option display section G 2-5, and the size options are displayed in the area diameter option display section G 2-7 Respectively. Alternatively, if the designer selects the horizontal line from the selection fel, the software will select the option related to the center as option 2 in the center option display section G2-6 and the option related to the size as the area diameter option. This is displayed on the display unit G2-7.

The designer selects a desired one from the displayed options 2 and sets it using the setting item setting means 1 (S2-6). The software stores the setting result in the setting result storage means 2 (S2-7). If necessary, the designer returns to step S2-1 to select a region a2, a3, and so on, and design a desired number of regions.

(Element design)

Figure 23 shows an example of the detailed flow of the element design step (S3). In the element design step (S 3), the designer first designs the element in which area from the options displayed in the area option display section G 2-2 using the setting item setting means 1. Is selected (S3-1).

Next, the software selects the desired one from among the options 1 displayed on the option 1 display section by the software (S 3-2) and sets it using the setting item setting means (S 3-3) . The software stores the setting result in the setting result storage means 2 (S3-4). After storing the setting result of option 1, the software determines the option 2 to be displayed based on the setting result of the designer, and displays option 2 on G2-2-2 to G2-6 and G2-8. (S3-5). For example, if the designer selects a circle from among the options 1 using the setting items shown in Fig. 14, as the option 2, the software selects the option related to the center in the center option display section G2-6 and the oblateness Options in the X and y directions are divided into the X direction length option display section G2-4 and the y direction length option display section G2-5. 選択肢 The options related to the range of the image area ratio are displayed in the object change range option display area G2-8, respectively. Alternatively, if the designer selects the horizontal line from option 1, Soft to Air will select option 2 for the center in the central option display section G2-6 and option for the range of the image area ratio as option 2. Is displayed in the object change range option display section G2-8, respectively.

The designer selects a desired one from the displayed options 2 and sets it using the setting item setting means 1 (S3-6). The software stores the setting result in the setting result storage means 2 (S3-7).

As described above, the setting is repeated (i-1) times (i is an integer of 1 or more) for the area and i times for the element, and the screen design is completed when one unit has i areas.

(Calculation of Diffuser)

Next, the software performs the calculation S4 of the definer shown in Fig. 24. A definer is data representing a screen whose image area ratio changes from 0% to 100%. As shown in Fig. 12, the screen is represented as a three-dimensional object in which the object area ratio, which varies in the range of 0% to 100%, is superimposed in the z-axis direction. Of the refiner.

《Defitioner》

As an example, the range in the coordinate space occupied by the differencer is, for example, X and y are each set to 11 or more and 1 or less, and z is set to 0% or more and 100 ° or less. Since the definer is calculated or used in the course of the internal calculation processing of the software, the range of the coordinate space occupied by the definer is not particularly limited. For example, in order to enhance versatility with PostScript (registered trademark), which is one of the representative page description languages in the printing field, a spot function, which is one of the methods for defining a screen in PostScript (registered trademark), is used. Similarly, x, y, and z may be set to 11 or more and 1 or less, respectively.

《Input of setting result and input of function related to unit》

The software inputs the screen setting result stored in the setting result storage means 2 (S4-1). Next, the software corresponds to the setting results for the cut. The function to be selected is selected from the functions related to the cut stored in the function storage means 3 and input (S4-2).

As an example of a function related to the cut, when the type of the unit is expressed by an inequality of X and y, and the direction of the cut is expressed by an expression that converts coordinates (x, y) to (χ ', y'). explain about.

For example, the functions for the screen unit shown in Fig. 12 are as shown in the following equations (1) to (8).

If the space occupied by the cell is 1 <== (x, y) <= 0 <= z <00> 0, y> 0,

= X (1)

y '= y (2)

When x <= 0, y> 0,

x '= y (3)

y = — x (4)

When x <= 0, y 0,

x = X (5)

y, = — y (6)

When x> 0, y = 0,

'= ~ y (7)

y '= χ (8)

《Calculation of a function representing the area》>

In addition, the software inputs the setting result regarding the area from the setting result storage means 2 and, based on the setting result, performs a function a regarding the shape of the figure for each area a _n (n = 1... I-1). 'f _n is input from the function storage means 3 to the calculation means 8 (S4-3). A shown in FIG. 1 5 'function a, f 1, for example, the following equation (9), the function a of a ⁵ 2' f _2, for example to become the following equation (1 0).

a 'f 1 (x, y) = x ² + y ² (9)

a 'f ₂ (x, y) = I x ² -y ² | (1 0)

Further, the software stores the second selection of the area from the setting result storage means 2. Limb, for example, options for the center, options for ellipticity, a choice of settings results on及Pi size, and input to the arithmetic unit 8, a function af _n representing the function a 'f _n or al regions an about the shape of the figure Lead (S4-4). For example, the setting result for the centers of a and 2 shown in Fig. 15 is (x, y) = (1, 1), the setting result that functions as an oblateness is 1, and the setting result for the size is 0.5. In this case, the function af ₂ representing the area a 2 is, for example, the following equation (1 1).

\ (X— 1) ^2- (y-1) ² I = 0. 2 5 (1 1)

《Calculation of function representing element 1》

After calculating the function representing the area, the software inputs the setting results for the elements from the setting result storage means 2 and, based on the setting results, calculates a three-dimensional image for each element e _n (n = 1.... I). function e on the shape, inputs the f _n to the function storage unit 3 or. et computing means 8 (S 4- 5). The function e ′ of e 1 shown in FIG. 12 is, for example, the following equation (1 2).

e f i (x, y) = x-+ y-(1 2;

Further, the software inputs, from the setting result storage means 2, the setting results of the second options relating to the elements, for example, the options relating to the center and the options relating to the oblateness, to the calculating means 8, and the functions e and f relating to the shape of the solid. _The function ef _n is derived from _n (S 4-6). For example, if the setting result for the center of e 1 shown in Fig. 12 is (x, y) = (0.75, 0.5) and the setting result that functions as an oblateness is 1, then the function efi Becomes, for example, the following equation (13).

efi (x, y) = (x— 0 · 7 5) ² + (y—0.5) ² (1 2) 《Calculation of the function representing the element 1, 2》

The function ef _n does not take into account the range of the object change. Taking into account the range of object line change means that the minimum z value is the element start point and the maximum z value is the end point, as the definition calculation result z is as set. For that purpose, the maximum values eMa χ _η and eM in _n of the function ef _n are obtained (S4-7).

The method for obtaining the maximum values eMa _xn and eM in _n of the function ef _n is not particularly limited. As an example, using the matrix Us _t as each coordinate (X y _t ) (s = 1 to j, t = l to k) of the cell U, the software calculates the function ef _n and calculates the function ef _n Calculation A case in which the maximum value and the minimum value are searched from the result matrix will be described.

Software for U _st, performs determination in order from the function representing the region set to the first to one first i, U _st is determined whether the ordinal number of the regions (S 4- 8). Further, the function e ί _η set in the corresponding area is calculated.

The software temporarily stores the obtained calculation result as a matrix zst in the setting result storage means for each area. Then, the maximum value or the minimum value from among the matrix _Z 'st for each region, the maximum value or the minimum value search commands describing programming language software, search. The maximum value in the region an the resulting matrix z 'st e M ax _n, the minimum value and e M in _n.

《Calculation of function representing element 3})

The software stores eM a χ _η and eM in _n in the differencer storage means 4. Finally, the software calculates the function zf _n (x, y) representing the element en of the area a 11 by taking into account the obtained e M a X _n and e M in _n and the range of the image change. (S4-8).

Starting from e S _n of the change in the element, if the end point and e E _n, function number zn representing the element, y) can be expressed for example by the following equation (1 4).

zf _n , x, y) = (efn— e M in _n ) / ■ (e M ax _n — eM in _n )

* I e En-e S n | + e S n (1 4) For example, the setting result regarding the range of the object change of the element e 1 shown in FIG. 12 is 0% to 50%, and eMa xl Is 0.31 25 and eM in 1 is 0, the function z 1 representing the element _e 1 is, for example, the following equation (15).

z 1, y) = {(X— 0.25) ² + (y-0.5) ”/ (0.3 1 2 5 — 0) * | 5 0-0 1 + 5 0 (1 5) in the above equation (1 5), the e S _n and e E _n, with numerical when representing the streaked area ratio in percentage. However, other values, for example, in PostScript (registered trademark) The spot function expresses the range from completely black (100% image area ratio) to white (0% image area ratio) in the range of 1 to 1 and less than 1. Is also good.

As mentioned above, software represents functions representing units, functions representing areas, and elements The functions are combined to form a deviation, and the obtained refiner is stored in the definer storage means 4 (S4-9).

(Selection of display and display format)

After the software completes the calculation of the definer S4, the designer selects whether or not to display the screen to check what screen shape can be obtained with the obtained refiner. (S5). When displaying the screen, the user selects the form to be displayed, which is either an artwork image or a preview image (S6).

An artwork image is an image that assists in screen design. The Artwork image is intended to confirm the following two points so that the designer can grasp the position and shape of the unit, area, and element. 1. What is the shape of the area, and what is the designed area? 2. How the elements are produced and changing, that is, how they look at each concentration (highlight, middle, shadow).

As an example of an artwork image, an image in which each region is represented by a difference in hue and a change in element is represented by a difference in brightness is used. The image in this example has the appearance of a bird's-eye view as used for a map. That is, an area corresponds to a division such as an urban area (for example, red), a mountain (for example, green), and a sea (for example, blue). If the element is represented by a body, a change in the element corresponds to the elevation of the land. FIG. 25A shows an example of a diagram in which the colors of such an image are represented by symbols. Among the symbols in the figure shown in Fig. 25A, the location of a round symbol such as a black or white circle is red, for example, a black or white square, and the location of a square symbol is green, a horizontal line or The location of a linear symbol such as a cross has a hue such as blue, for example, and represents a region. FIG. 25B shows an example of a diagram representing the brightness of such an image. For example, it is assumed that an image becomes an image when the image area ratio of the cell is lower at a lower brightness. The images represented by the diagrams shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B are examples of a screenwork image of a screen that reproduces, for example, the gradation shown in FIG. 25C.

An example of such an artwork image generation process will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. The software creates two matrices for the calculation result of the refiner and the area to which each pixel belongs by the arithmetic means 8 through the following steps. First, the number of pixels to be used as an artwork image is allocated to the cell coordinate space, that is, the _xy coordinate space used in calculating the diffusion (S7-1).

Allocation means that when the image is regarded as one cell, the center of each pixel constituting the image is located in the coordinate space of the cell.For example, the cell is -1 = (x , Y) = 1 the center of the upper left pixel is (—1, 1), the center of the upper right pixel is (1, 1), and the center of the lower left pixel is (1, 1, 1 1) The center of the lower right pixel is (1, 1). For the inner pixels, first, divide the cell size (in this case, 2) by the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions minus 1 to calculate the distance between the pixels (the distance between the centers of adjacent pixels),

(d x, d y). Based on this (d x, d y), the x coordinate is increased by d X from left to right of the image, and d y is decreased by y from the top to the bottom of the image. That is, the center coordinate of the pixel on the right of the pixel p (px, py) is (pX + dX, py), and the center coordinate of the pixel immediately below is (px, py-dy).

Next, the calculating unit 8 calculates a definer for each pixel. The calculation of the divisioner is described below. That is, it is determined whether each pixel belongs to which unit of the cell (for example, any of u i to u i v shown in FIG. 9A), and a function indicating the direction of the unit to which the pixel belongs is executed. The function that represents the direction is generally an affine transformation that does not involve scaling, such as exchanging X and y and inverting the sign, as shown in examples (1) to (8).

Next, the function of the region is executed to determine which of the pixels a1 to ai each pixel belongs to. The domain function is an inequality as shown in equation (11).

In the process of generating the artwork image, an integer from 1 to i is returned based on the result obtained in the process of determining the area, and this integer is temporarily stored in the diffusion storage unit 4 as a matrix 1.

Further, the function of the element in the corresponding area, zfn (x, y), is calculated, and the calculation of the refiner is completed. The data is temporarily stored in the second storage means 4 (S7-2).

'Determine the hue to color the pixel based on the matrix 1 (S7-3). The color の of each area is not particularly limited. For example, the following processing is performed assuming that the pixel belonging to the area a1 is red, the area a2 is green, and the area a3 is blue. The software first determines the hue based on the matrix 1 for each pixel, and then determines the lightness of the color for coloring the network image based on the matrix 2 (S7-4).

Based on the judgment result of the calculation result of the diffuser, the brightness for coloring the pixel is determined, and an image is generated (S7-5). For example, if a pixel with a higher object area ratio is to be brighter, the software will use the RGB color system to represent the color of the pixel. And bitmap data that increases the blue light emission intensity. That is, area _a

If 1 is set to red, the software sets the color of the pixel that becomes an object at an image area ratio of 1% to red, that is, RGB = (25, 0, 0), and sets the image at an image area ratio of 50%. The color of the pixel that becomes a line is light red, that is, RGB = (255, 127, 127), and the color of the pixel that becomes an image at an image area ratio of 100% is white, that is, RGB = ( 255, 255, 255). The hue used for the region is not particularly limited.

In the above-described method, a function such that the calculation result is 0 or more and 100 or less is used for the refiner, and the calculation result, that is, the image area ratio of the cell when the coordinates become the image is used. However, the process after s7 may be performed on the definer using a known technique such as a spot function in Postscript (registered trademark). For example, when using the same determination method as the spot function, it is first assumed that the diffuser satisfies the conditions of the spot function. A spot function is a three-dimensional function that defines the shape of the screen, where x, y, and z are 11 or more and 1 or less. In defining a screen using a spot function, the relative value of the value returned by the spot function is used rather than the value returned by the spot function corresponding to the calculation result of the refiner. That is, the value returned by the spot function is set such that the pixel having the highest value among the values returned by the spot function becomes an object at an image area ratio of 1%, and the pixel having the next highest value becomes 2%. Objects are drawn in order from the highest pixel. (Preview image generation processing S 9)

When the designer selects a preview image in the selection of the display mode in FIG. 19, the software executes a preview image generation process S9.

《Necessity of preview image》

By looking at the artwork images displayed by the software, the designer can correctly grasp the set units, areas, and the shapes and positional relationships of the elements. By simply checking the artwork image, there is a possibility that the actual image that reproduces the continuous tone using the designed screen will differ greatly from the prediction. This is due to the fact that the artwork image does not display a specific image shape at each image area ratio. The artwork image is an image for checking the state of one cell. Therefore, it is not possible to confirm how the shape of the object caused by the adjoining cells affects the impression of the entire object, as seen in the object when the gradation is actually reproduced using a screen. Can not. Furthermore, it is not possible to confirm a change in image impression that can occur when the orientation of a cell, which is generally called a screen angle, is changed.

Therefore, apart from the artwork image, software is provided with a function to generate and display an image representing the shape of the object at each image area ratio, which is used for final confirmation of the designed screen. The image representing the shape of the object at each image area ratio is called a preview image, and a series of software functions for displaying preview images under various conditions by operating the software is called a preview function.

<< Details of preview image generation processing >>

FIG. 27 shows an example of a detailed flow of generation of preview image S9. The software inputs the calculated division initiator from the definer storage unit 4 to the calculating unit 8 (S9-1), and uses the calculating unit 8 to define the pixel to be used as a preview image for the pixel. The calculation of the shifter is performed (S9-2), a plurality of 1-bit images each having a different image area ratio are created (S9-3), and temporarily stored in the definitioner storage means 4 (S9-2). 4) For example, each pixel is allocated to the coordinate space used in the calculation of the refiner, the refiner is calculated for each pixel, and the calculation result is stored as a matrix. Area ratio or less The color of the pixel is determined so that the pixel is black and the others are white, and one 1-bit image is created. Create an image in order from the image area ratio 0 to 100%, and save it.

Figure 28 shows an example of the image obtained by the calculation. The number next to each image shown in FIG. 28 indicates the number of black pixels per 255 pixels in the image.

There is no particular limitation on the method of determining the pixel color used when creating a 1-bit image. For the purpose of obtaining a preview image having the same image shape as the image obtained by reproducing the gradation with commercially available screen processing software, a known technique may be used for the method of generating the preview image.

For example, when the same algorithm as the tone image reproduction method using a spot function in PostScript (registered trademark) is used, a three-dimensional function in which x, y, and z are -1 or more and 1 or less is used as a differencer. z = f (x, y) is used, xy coordinates are assigned so that the center of the image is (x, y) = (0, 0), and z at each xy coordinate is obtained. A 1-bit image is created in which the pixel corresponding to the XY coordinate having the highest value of the obtained z is black and the others are white, and this image is the image with the lowest image area ratio. Similarly, create a 1-bit image in which the pixel with the highest z and the next highest pixel are black and the others are white, and this image is the image with the second lowest image area ratio.

This is repeated to create a 1-bit image until the image area ratio reaches 100%. Also prepare an image in which all pixels are white. If there is more than one pixel that returns the same z, a random number is used to determine which pixel will be the black first in the image with a low image area ratio.

(Display preview image S10)

FIGS. 29 and 30 show examples of the preview image display screen when the preview image shown in FIG. 28 is displayed. In order to display a preview image, the software has a preview image display screen W as shown in FIG. 29A, for example. The preview image display screen has a preview display section G8 for displaying a preview image obtained by generating the preview image S9. The software also has options for screen angle and image area ratio as preview functions. The designer selects a favorite image from these two options and sets a preview image to be displayed on the G8. The preview image display / screen has a screen angle setting unit G9 for setting the screen angle of the preview image, and an image area ratio setting unit Sr for setting the image area ratio of the preview image.

The preview image display screens shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 are examples. Therefore, the screen design is not limited to the example shown in the figure.

The screen W shown in FIG. 29 is an example when the screen angle is 0 degree, and the screen W shown in FIG. 30 is an example when the screen angle is 45 degrees. Screen W shown in FIGS. 29A and 30A is an example in which an image area ratio of about 25% is selected, and screen W shown in FIGS. 29B and 30B is an image. The screen W shown in FIGS. 29C and 30C is an example in which about 50% is selected for the line area ratio, and is an example in which about 75% is selected for the image area ratio. The detailed flow of 10 is shown in FIG. The software inputs the image with the image area ratio (S10-1) set by the designer from the temporarily stored 1-bit image (S10-2). If the number of generated 1-bit images is small and there is no 1-bit image with the image area ratio selected by the designer, 1-bit with the image area ratio closest to the image area ratio selected by the designer Enter the image. The calculation means 8 repeatedly transfers the image to create an image in which about 5 * 4 cells are arranged (S10-3).

Next, the software determines whether or not to rotate the 1-bit image based on the screen angle set by the designer (S10-4) (S10-5). If the screen angle set by the operator is other than 0 degrees, a rotation process is performed (S10-6). Finally, the image is displayed on the preview display section G8 (S10-7).

Examples of the preview image and the preview function as described above have three features. The three features are that the shape of the object at each image area ratio can be confirmed. It is necessary to be able to check the state where multiple cells are arranged instead of cells, and to check the case where the screen angle is changed.

(Is the screen shape good? S 1 1)

Artwork image or preview as shown in step S11 of Figure 19 Check the image, and if the designer can confirm that the screen shape is satisfactory, proceed to the next step. If the screen shape is not satisfactory to the designer, the designer returns to the cut setting S1 to the element setting S3 and redoes the design of the diffuser.

(Selection of output type S 1 2)

The text data conversion and output means 6 and the bitmap data conversion and output means 7 convert the definitioner created by the software into definition data conforming to the definition of the screen processing software desired by the designer and output the converted data. . As shown in Fig. 19, the software has a function to select the output form of the differencer. That is, as described in the prior art, text data describing a function in a computer language such as Bostscript (registered trademark), 1-bit bitmap data, or 8-bit or other multi-bit bitmap data. The software outputs definition data in a form suitable for the screen processing software that the designer wants to use, such as data. The form of the definition data output by the software is an example, and is not particularly limited.

(Text data generation processing S1 3)

If the software has a function of outputting text data as the form of definition data, and the designer selects text data as the form of definition data to be output, the software performs a text data generation process S13. An example of the text data generation process S13 in the case where the definition data having the form of text data is a function (definitioner) described in a programming language will be described below. Based on the setting results related to the unit stored in the setting result storage means 2, the software selects the type, position, and type of each cell unit from the text stored in the function storage means 3. The text data (hereinafter referred to as unit text 1) and the text data representing the orientation (hereinafter referred to as unit text 2) are input to the arithmetic means 8. The calculating means 8 inserts the unit text 2 after the unit text 1 for each unit, and completes the text data representing all the units of the cell.

Next, text data representing the area an and the element en of the area an Generate. First, the software inputs text data representing the shape of the area an to the arithmetic means 8 based on the setting result regarding the shape of the area an stored in the setting result storage means 2. The software inserts the setting result regarding the center, flatness, and size of the area as a number (not as a numerical value, but as a part of text) at a predetermined position in the text data by the arithmetic means 8, and sets the area an Complete the text data to be represented. Similarly, the software generates text data representing the element en and inserts it after the text data representing the area an. The software performs this from n = 1 to the end, and inserts it after the text data representing the unit to complete the definition data in the form of text data. The software outputs the completed definition data to the text data conversion output means, and ends.

(Process of generating bitmap data in multiple bits format S 16)

If the software has a function to output bitmap data as the form of definition data, and the designer selects bitmap data of a multi-bit format (hereinafter referred to as multi-bit definition data) as the form of the definition data to be output, The software performs a process S16 for generating bit map data in a multi-bit format.

For example, the image shown in FIG. 32A is an example of the multi-bit definition data obtained from the same diffuser as the preview image shown in FIG. This data is an example in which a pixel colored black has a lower image area ratio as an image. An example of a method of generating the multi-bit definition data in such a case will be described below. The multi-bit definition data is not limited to the image shown in FIG. 32A. For example, an image in which pixels are colored whiter may have an image with a lower image area ratio.

As an example of the multi-bit definition data, a method of generating 8-bit format bit map data (hereinafter referred to as 8-bit definition data) is as follows. First, the software allocates the number of pixels to be used as 8-bit definition data to the coordinate space of the cell, that is, the X and Y coordinates used when calculating the diffuser, by the calculating means 8. When the designer sets the number of pixels of the multi-bit definition data, the designer selects the multi-bit definition data as the output form of the diffuser at the stage of selecting the image format in step S15. This is performed using

Next, the software executes the definer from the definer storage means 4. Input to the calculation means 8 and calculate the refiner for each pixel. If the calculation result z is obtained from a definer that indicates the image area ratio (0 or more and 100 or less) of the cell when the pixel becomes an object, the following equation (16) is used. Calculate the black density (gray level) _g (0 or more and 255 or less) of the pixel.

g = 2 5 5 * (1 0 0-z) / 1 0 0 (1 6)

Based on this, the software colors each pixel to complete the multi-bit definition data. The software outputs the completed multi-bit definition data using the bitmap data conversion output means 7, and the processing ends.

A feature of the screen processing using the definition data obtained by the above-described generation method is that the shape of the obtained image is uniform. The reason is that pixels with the same value of the refiner calculation result have the same gray level, so that accurate circles, diamonds, straight vertical lines and horizontal lines are obtained. Therefore, this data is referred to as shape priority data.

However, the histogram of shape-priority data may show slight bias or omission. For example, the graph shown in FIG. 32B is a histogram of the multi-bit definition data shown in FIG. 32A, and the multi-bit definition data shown in FIG. Obtained by the method. If a simple gradation (for example, a band-like gradation) is reproduced using definition data in which a large bias or omission is seen in the histogram, gradations that do not exist in the definition data cannot be correctly reproduced, and the color difference (tone jump) Is generated.

Histogram variation is a phenomenon in which there are multiple pixels in a cell that return the same value when a refiner is calculated. If you want to give priority to smooth gradation reproduction of the original image over the shape of the obtained image, after calculating the refiner, calculate the result using a method that is also used in known screen processing technology. adjust.

For example, if the calculation result obtained by performing the calculation of the definer for each pixel by the software using the calculation means 8 has the same value, the numerical value is distributed using a random number. Suppose there is a pixel that returns 70, 80, 90 as the calculation result, of which pixel P ₈ returns ₈₀ . If there are five, the software is random To generate a number, P _8. In order. Then, P _8. And the difference between the next largest value (in this case, 90) and P ₈ . P ₈ from the number. The power of the change (in this case, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88) is determined, and P ₈ in order. The calculation results of the definer are changed.

The definition data obtained by using the changed numerical value is called gradation priority data. The multi-bit definition data shown in FIG. 33A is an example of gradation priority data obtained from the same refiner as the multi-bit definition data shown in FIG. 32A. In the histogram of the gradation priority data, pixels are evenly distributed as shown in an example in FIG. 33B.

The software has a function of outputting both the shape priority data and the gradation priority data. That is, at the stage of selecting the image format S15, the designer selects which definition data to output, and the software generates the definition data based on this selection.

(1-bit format bitmap data generation processing S 18)

If the software has a function to output the bit map data as the form of the definition data, and if the designer selects the bit map data of the 1-bit format as the form of the definition data to be output, the software will transmit the bit map data of the 1-bit form ( Hereinafter, it is referred to as “1 bit definition data” (S 18).

As an example of 1-bit definition data, a method for generating an image similar to the preview image, for example, a plurality of images represented only by white and black as shown in FIG. 28 will be described below. However, the 1-bit definition data is not limited to this example, and for example, black and white may be reversed from this example.

First, the software allocates the number of pixels to be used as 1-bit definition data to the coordinate space of the cell, that is, the X and y coordinates used when calculating the refiner, by the calculating means 8. The designer sets the number of pixels of 1-bit definition data at the stage when the designer selects 1-bit definition data as the output form of the refiner (S 1

In 5), the setting item setting means 1 is used.

Next, the software inputs the refiner from the refiner storing means 4 to the calculating means 8 and calculates the refiner for each pixel. The calculation result is If a diffuser is used to represent the image area ratio (0 or more and 100 or less) of a cell when pixels of the image become objects, first create bitmap data in which all pixels are white, and then create a file. Output to the bitmap data conversion output means 7 as name “0”. After that, based on the calculation result of the definitioner, for pixels with an image area ratio of 1 to 100%, the pixels that become objects at d (d = l to 100)% or less in order are calculated as black. The bitmap data is created by means 8 and output to the bitmap data conversion output means 7 with the file name "d", and the software ends.

The image area ratio is used as the file name of the 1-bit definition data as an example, but is not limited to this. In addition, in order to cope with the case where there are a plurality of pixels in the cell where the definition result z is the same, as in the case of multi-bit definition data, the order of pixels with the same z is determined using random numbers. A flow for creating bit map data after adding a mark, ie, a flow for generating gradation priority data, may be separately provided. According to the present invention, a screen having a complicated shape can be easily produced by a screen structure having a lower layer concept and a software using the screen structure.

By applying the lower layer concept (unit) that constitutes the cell, the screen area ratio in one cell can be evenly dispersed, and the screen can be designed in consideration of the reproducibility as a screen while maintaining the design.

The screen structure with the lower layer concept makes it possible to easily create a screen with high designability by a simple and clear design method in which one object (element) is arranged in one space (area).

With the options provided for each item, screen design can be realized only by selecting options, and screens can be created without specialized knowledge such as screen processing technology. The present invention can produce not only a simple pattern having a dot in a conventional screen, that is, a so-called one unit in one unit, but also a complicated and designable pattern. By using such a printed material, it is possible to obtain a further forgery prevention effect.

With existing screen processing software, definition data is predetermined, and a large number of definition data was required to satisfy the requirements of the screen designer. There is no need to prepare It is possible to create a lean.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A screen for expressing continuous tone

Using a screen creation device comprising: a setting item setting unit that selects an option for each setting item; and a calculation unit that generates a diffuser that defines a screen change based on the selected option.

In the method of creating,

The screen has a plurality of cells,

The cell has at least one unit,

If the unit is one, the unit has at least two regions; if there are a plurality of units, the unit has at least one region;

Each said region has one element,

Functions are prepared in advance corresponding to a plurality of selections provided for each setting item of the unit, area, and element to form a function group,

Selecting one of the options for each of the setting items by using the setting item setting means to design each of the unit, the area, and the element;

Using the function corresponding to the selected option among the group of functions prepared in advance, generating a definer that defines the designed change of the screen by the arithmetic means;

A method for creating a screen, comprising:

2. A setting item of the unit includes a first option for selecting a number of the units obtained by dividing the cell and a shape of the unit.

The method according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of the units are provided, the unit has a second option of selecting one of line symmetry, point symmetry, and random as the orientation of the unit in the cell. How to create a screen.

3. The setting items of the area include a first option for selecting a shape of the area, a second option for selecting at least a position of the area, and a size of the area, 2. The method for producing a screen according to claim 1, comprising:

4. The setting items of the element are: a first option for selecting a three-dimensional shape of the element;

A second option for selecting the position of the element and a range in which the image area ratio provided by the element changes;

2. The method for producing a screen according to claim 1, comprising:

5. a step of generating a bird's-eye view in which the unit and area to which each coordinate in the cell belongs and the image area ratio of the cell when each coordinate is an image portion are expressed by lightness or hue;

Displaying the overhead view;

The method for producing a screen according to claim 1, further comprising:

6. generating a cross-sectional view of the cell at a predetermined image area ratio representing a change in the image area ratio of the cell;

Displaying the cross-sectional view;

The method for producing a screen according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. The method further comprises the step of selecting the output form of the generated refiner,

As the output form,

Text data expressing the definer using a predetermined program description language;

1-bit bitmap data,

Bit map data in a multi-bit format,

7. At least one or all of the above. The method for creating a screen according to any one of the above.

8. In the step of selecting the output mode, when the bit map data in the multi-bit format is selected,

Setting the number of pixels of the bitmap data to be output;

Converting the generated refiner into the bit map data of the above-mentioned multi-bit format composed of the set number of pixels;

8. The method for generating a screen according to claim 7, comprising:

9. In the step of converting to the form of the bitmap data, a step of creating bitmap data such that an obtained image shape is prepared when gradation is reproduced using the created screen;

A step of creating bitmap data such that when the gradation is reproduced using the created screen, the obtained gradation becomes smooth;

Each of the two steps,

Selecting which of the two steps of creating the bitmap data to create the bitmap data,

9. The method for producing a screen according to claim 8, further comprising:

10. In the step of selecting the output mode, when the 1-bit format bit map data is selected,

A step for setting the number of pixels of the output bitmap data;

Converting the generated diffuser into a plurality of the 1-bit bit map data composed of the set number of pixels. Generation method.

1 1. An apparatus for creating a screen for expressing continuous tone, wherein the screen has a plurality of cells,

The cell has at least one unit, If there is one unit, the unit has at least two regions, if there are multiple units, the unit has at least one region, and each region has one element And

Function storage means for storing a function group including functions corresponding to a plurality of options provided for each of the setting items of the unit, area, and element;

An apparatus for producing a screen, comprising:

1 2. How to create a screen for expressing continuous tone

A program executed by a computer comprising: a setting item setting unit for selecting an option for each setting item; and a calculating unit for generating a definer for defining a change of a screen based on the selected option.

The screen has a plurality of cells,

The cell has at least one unit,

A step of preparing in advance a function corresponding to a plurality of options provided for each of the setting items of the unit, area ', and element to form a function group, and storing the function group in function storage means;

Selecting one of the options for each of the setting items by using the setting item setting means, in order to design each of the unit, the area, and the element;

Using the function corresponding to the selected option among the function groups stored in the function storage unit, a refiner that defines a designed screen change is generated using the arithmetic unit. A program for creating a screen, which causes a computer to execute a method for generating a screen comprising: