JP2003060885A - Device, method and program for editing image and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output a plurality of images to a single recording medium, where colors of areas such as characters or a surface are variously changed based on the image of one kind of original. SOLUTION: When image column number for changing the image color of a character area R2 is designated in a designation window by the operation of ten keys 104 while displaying a character area change screen G5a in the case of designating an X-direction column in an LCD display part 2b, the selection of a change color by the operation of a color chart 103 is received. When a 'decision' key 105 is operated, the color of the operated key is stored as the image color of the character area in an output image C which comprises in the selected column. The respective 16 colors constituting the color chart 103 are replaced with corresponding color data in a CMY color system by a color converting part 17, stored in a register in a halftone processing part 18 and outputted to an image output device 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a repeat output function for repeatedly outputting the same image data to a single recording medium a plurality of times according to the image size of an input image, the scaling factor and the size of the recording medium. The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus including the image editing apparatus, an image forming apparatus including the image editing apparatus, an image editing method, and an image editing program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital copying machine for processing an image read from a document as digital data has a repeat output function for forming a part or all of the image of the document on a single recording medium repeatedly. There is something. When this repeat output function is used, there are cases where a large number of stickers are created from a single photo image, and cases where a plurality of business cards are created based on a single character image.

As a digital copying machine having such a repeat output function, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-72776, image data read from an original is stored in a storage means and designated by an output screen size designation means. There is a device in which the image data of a portion corresponding to the output screen size is repeatedly read from the storage unit and output to the image forming unit.

Note that such a repeat output function is not limited to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, but a scanner for reading an image of a document and outputting it as image data, and an image on a recording medium based on the input image data. It can also be provided in an image editing apparatus that is configured by a printer to be formed or a personal computer that is connected between a scanner and a printer and that edits image data.

[0005]

However, in the conventional repeat output function, the image data having the same image color as well as the size is formed a plurality of times on a single recording medium. A plurality of images having the same content and the same color combination were formed on the medium. Therefore, for example, when creating a business card, event ticket, bookmark, or the like, the contents of the character information remain the same, and the characters and the background color are changed and classified according to the party, the place or the date and time of the event. In this case, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of types of originals having different characters and background colors, which complicates image editing processing.

An object of the present invention is to output a plurality of images in a state in which the image color of a specific area in one type of original is variously changed according to the setting contents of the operator to a single recording medium. An image editing apparatus capable of easily performing an editing process for forming images of the same content in which the colors of specific areas such as characters and backgrounds are different from each other according to the purpose and specifications on a single recording medium, An object is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image editing method, and an image editing program.

[0007]

The present invention has the following structure as means for solving the above problems.

(1) Base area in input image data,
An area separation means for distinguishing a character area, a halftone dot area, and a photograph area, a storage means for storing image data of each area distinguished by the area separation means together with area determination data for each area, and a storage means are stored. The image data stored in the storage means based on the size of the image data, the setting value of the scaling factor at the time of image output, and the setting value of the size of the recording medium to which the image data is output are stored on a single recording medium. Repeat output function to repeatedly output the image, the layout display function to display the image formation state on the recording medium by the repeat output function before outputting the image data, and the area for each of the plurality of images displayed by the layout display function. Has an image color changing function for accepting the change of the image color, and when outputting the image data stored in the storage means, Characterized by providing a control means colors are outputted by changing the image color for the image data of the modified region.

In this structure, the input image data is stored in the storage means in a state in which each of the ground area, the character area, the halftone dot area and the photographic area is distinguished, and a plurality of images are repeated on a single recording medium. When the repeat output function to form,
The image formation state on the recording medium is displayed, and the change of the image color for each area is received for each of the plurality of displayed images. Therefore, when the same image is formed on a single recording medium by using the repeat output function, a plurality of images having different image color combinations for each area are output to the single recording medium. .

(2) In the image color changing function, the control means sets the image color of a specific area to the same color for each of a plurality of images grouped according to a predetermined procedure based on a selection input. It is characterized by changing or changing the image color of a specific area of all images to the same color.

With this configuration, when a plurality of the same images are formed on a single recording medium by using the repeat output function, the image color of a specific area is grouped for each of the plurality of images grouped by a predetermined procedure. Can be changed, or the image color of a specific area of all images can be changed.
Therefore, among the images formed on the single recording medium, the image in which the image color of the specific area should be changed can be easily selected.

(3) The control means displays a layout when changing the image color of a specific area to the same color for each of a plurality of images grouped in accordance with a predetermined procedure by the image color changing function. It is characterized in that a code for identifying each group in the function is displayed.

In this structure, among the plurality of images formed on the single recording medium by the repeat output function,
When changing the image color of a specific area to the same color for each of a plurality of images grouped according to a predetermined procedure, the output state of the plurality of images on a single recording medium and each group The identifying code is displayed. Therefore, among the images formed on the single recording medium, the group in which the image color of the specific area should be changed is easily selected.

(4) The control means displays the image after the image color of the specific area is changed by the image color changing function in the layout display function.

In this configuration, the output state after changing the image color of a specific area for a plurality of images formed on a single recording medium is displayed. Therefore, the output state after the image color change is displayed in advance before the image is formed, and the suitability of the image color change state is visually recognized.

(5) In the layout display function, the control means displays a combination of colors based on the visibility of a plurality of adjacent areas.

In this structure, when the image color of the specific area in the image is changed by the image color changing function, the color combination based on the visibility of the adjacent areas is displayed. Therefore, by referring to the display content of the color combination, the image colors of the adjacent areas are determined in consideration of the visibility of each area in the image.

(6) In the layout display function, the control means sets a display state of an area instructed to change the image color by the image color changing function to a display state different from other areas.

In this structure, the area where the image color is changed by the image color changing function is displayed in a display state different from the other areas. Therefore, the area where the image color should be changed is clearly visible, and the image color changing operation is performed accurately.

(7) At the time of outputting the image data, the control means sets the image data stored in the storage means or the image color changed by the image color changing function based on the area determination data of each pixel. It is characterized in that the changed image data is selectively output.

In this structure, when the image data for each pixel is output, the image data after the image color is changed or the image is changed depending on whether or not the pixel is included in the area where the image color is changed. Image data whose color has not been changed is selectively output. Therefore, depending on whether or not the image color is included in the changed area, the image data of each pixel is automatically switched between the state in which the image color is changed and the state in which the image color is not changed and is output. Therefore, the output processing of the image data is not delayed.

(8) It is characterized in that the control means stores in advance the colorimetric data at the time of output corresponding to each image color displayed by the layout display function in the image color changing function.

In this structure, the data of the color system at the time of output corresponding to each image color changed based on the display contents by the layout display function is stored in advance. Therefore, the image color changed by the image color changing function is accurately reproduced in the output image.

(9) An image editing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8) is provided, and an image is formed on a recording medium based on the image data output from the image editing apparatus. .

In this structure, the input image data is stored in the storage means in a state where the base area, the character area, the halftone dot area and the photographic area are distinguished from each other, and a plurality of input image data are stored on a single recording medium. When the repeat output function is repeatedly formed, the image formation state on the recording medium is displayed, and the change of the image color of each area is accepted for each of the plurality of displayed images, and the image color of each area is changed. In this state, an image is formed on the recording medium. Therefore, a plurality of images having different combinations of image colors for each area are formed on a single recording medium.

(10) The image data of the background area, the character area, the halftone dot area, and the photographic area included in the input image data are distinguished, and the image data of each distinguished area is stored together with the area determination data for each area. The image data is repeatedly output to a single recording medium based on the size of the stored image data, the set value of the scaling factor at the time of image output, and the set value of the size of the recording medium to which the image data is output. In the repeat output function, based on the selection input, change the specific area to the same color for each of multiple images grouped according to a predetermined procedure, or make the specific areas of all images the same. It is characterized by changing to the color of.

In this structure, the input image data is stored in the storage means in a state where the background region, the character region, the halftone dot region and the photographic region are distinguished, and a plurality of images are recorded on a single recording medium. When the repeat output function is repeatedly formed, the image formation state on the recording medium is displayed, and the image color of a specific area is changed for each of a plurality of images grouped according to a predetermined procedure, or all of them are changed. It is made possible to select whether to change the image color of a specific area of the image data. Therefore, when forming a plurality of images having different image color combinations for each area on a single recording medium, the image color of a specific area is changed among the images formed on the single recording medium. The image to be selected is easily selected.

(11) The input image data is a single recording medium based on the size of the input image data, the set value of the scaling factor at the time of image output, and the set value of the size of the recording medium to which the image data is output. An image editing program that is repeatedly output to a step of distinguishing each image data of a background region, a character region, a halftone dot region, and a photographic region included in input image data, and image data of each distinguished region. Based on the step of storing in the storage means together with the area determination data, and the content of the selection input, the specific area is changed to the same color for each of the plurality of images grouped according to a predetermined procedure, or The step of changing the specific area of all the image data to the same color, and changing the image color by the image color changing function when outputting the image data stored in the storage means. And outputting by changing the image color for the image data of the area, characterized in that it comprises a.

In this construction, the input image data is stored in the storage means in a state where the input image data is divided into the background region, the character region, the halftone dot region and the photographic region, and a plurality of the input image data are stored on a single recording medium. When the repeat output function is repeatedly formed, the image formation state on the recording medium is displayed, and the image color of a specific area is changed for each of a plurality of images grouped according to a predetermined procedure, or A processing procedure for making it possible to select whether to change the image color of a specific area of the image data is supplied as a computer-executable program. Therefore, when a plurality of images having different image color combinations for each area are formed on a single recording medium using a general-purpose computer, a specific image among the images formed on the single recording medium is specified. It is possible to easily select an image whose image color of the area of is to be changed.

[0030]

1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus provided with an image editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10, which is a digital copying machine or a digital multifunctional machine, includes an image input apparatus 1, an operation unit 2, an image editing apparatus 3, an image output apparatus 4, and a CPU (Central Processi).
ng Unit) 5 is included. Image input device 1
Is a color scanner or a monochrome scanner equipped with an image sensor or a contact image sensor, which is a reduction optical system for reading image data from a document. The operation unit 2 has a key switch 2a for inputting all or part of existing copy start, clear / stop, number of copies, multi-function setting and various mode settings existing in a digital copying machine or a digital multi-function machine, and remains. An LCD (Liquid Crystal), which is a display unit of the present invention, is provided with a touch panel for input operation and input operation of image editing conditions.
Display) display unit 2b. LCD display 2b
Displays the image of the document read by the image input device 1 during the image editing process.

The image editing apparatus 3 operates on the basis of the editing conditions input by the operator using the key switch 2a of the operation unit 2.
The image data read by the image input device 1 is subjected to predetermined image processing. The image output device 4 is composed of an electrophotographic or inkjet image forming device, and forms an image on a recording medium such as paper or OHP sheet based on the image data output from the image editing device 3. The CPU 5 corresponds to the control means of the present invention, and controls the operation unit 2 and the image editing device 3 according to a program stored in advance in a memory (not shown).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image editing apparatus. The image editing device 3 includes an input data preprocessing unit 11, a region separation unit 12, a memory 13, and a display output unit 1.
4, a filter processing unit 15, a scaling unit 16, a color conversion unit 17,
A halftone processing unit 18, a memory 19 and an output data preprocessing unit 20 are provided. The input data preprocessing unit 11 performs shading correction for removing various distortions generated in the light source of the image input device 1, the optical system, and the image pickup device and the density value of the image data on the image data input from the image input device 1. Correction processing such as γ correction for correction is performed.

The area separating unit 12 is the area separating means of the present invention, and separates the corrected image data into the background area, the character area, the photograph area and the halftone dot area. As this area separation method, for example, “Society of Image Electronics Engineers of Japan, Proceeding 90-0
The method described in 6-04 ”can be used. That is, the following determination is performed within a block of M × N (M and N are natural numbers) pixels centered on the pixel of interest in the input image data, and the result is used as the region determination data of the pixel of interest.

1. For the central 9 pixels in the block,
An average value (D _ave ) of signal levels is obtained, and each pixel in the block is binarized using the average value. In addition, the maximum pixel signal level (D _max ) and the minimum pixel signal level (D _min ) are calculated at the same time.

2. In the halftone dot (printed photograph) area, the halftone dot area in the input image data is identified by utilizing the large fluctuation of the image signal in the small area and the high density compared with the background. That is, the number of change points Kh from "0" to "1" and the number of change points Kv from "1" to "0" are counted for the binarized image data in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, respectively. If both of them exceed the thresholds Th and Tv, the halftone dot area is set. Also, in order to prevent erroneous determination with the background, the above D _ave , D _max and D _min are compared with the threshold values B1 and B2, and all of D _max −D _ave > B1 D _ave −D _min > B2 Kh> Th Kv> Tv If it satisfies the condition, it is determined as a halftone dot region, and in other cases, it is determined as a non-halftone dot region.

3. In the character area, maximum signal level and minimum signal level
It is considered that there is a large difference from the signal level and that the concentration is high.
And to identify the character area in the input image data.
Separate. That is, in the non-halftone dot area, the previously calculated D
_maxAnd D_minAnd their difference (D_suv) Is the threshold P
Compared to 1, P2, P3, D_max> P1 D_min> P2 D_suv> P3 If any of the
If, ie, D_max, D _min, D_suvIs the threshold P
If it is 1, P2, P3 or less, a photo (photographic paper photo)
Judge as an area.

In the above algorithm, the processing for preventing erroneous determination of the background (background) when detecting the halftone dot area is performed, but in the present invention, the background area is detected in advance. . For example, the signal levels of the data R, G, B of the target pixel are D _R , D _G , D _B , and the threshold value is T.
When it is H _BACK , it is determined to be the base when the following relations are satisfied.

(D _R > TH _BACK ) and (D _G > T)
H _BACK ) and (D _B > TH _BACK ) The area separating unit 12 stores the image data after area separation in the memory 13 as bitmap data. At this time, the bitmap data is stored in the memory 13 together with the area determination data for each area. This bitmap data is
As an example, each pixel is composed of 8-bit data for each of R, G, and B and 2-bit area determination data. The memory 13, together with the memory 19 described later, corresponds to the storage means of the present invention.

At the time of the repeat output function, the display output unit 14 displays the image data stored in the memory 13 as LC of R: 3 bits, G: 3 bits, B: 2 bits, for example.
LCD display unit 2b of the operation unit 2 after being converted into D display data
Output to. The filter processing unit 15 performs a smoothing process on the image data of the halftone dot region and an emphasis process and a smoothing process on the image data of the photographic region according to the region separation result (region determination data), or Only smoothing processing is performed.
At this time, the degree of smoothing processing in the photograph area is weaker than that in the halftone dot area. The scaling unit 16 performs scaling conversion processing according to the scaling set by the operator on the operation unit 2.

The color conversion section 17 performs color space conversion processing so as to match the color reproduction range of the image output device 4. This process is, for example, a process of converting three additive primary colors (R, G, B) into subtractive primary colors including black (C, M, Y, K), or L _CC (luminance chrominance chrominance: Image data consisting of luminance and chromaticity, for example, L ^* a ^* b ^* data of CIE (International Commission on Illumination) In this case, the input data preprocessing unit 11 uses R, G, and B data.
To L _CC . ) Is converted into three subtractive primary colors (C, M, Y, K) including black.

In the intermediate value processing section 18, for the image data after the color conversion processing, for the area determined to be a character by the area separating section 12, a high resolution screen suitable for reproducing high frequency is displayed. Is binarized or multivalued. Further, for the area determined to be a halftone dot, the image output device 4
The conversion process to the halftone dot area ratio, which is the characteristic value of, is performed, and the binarization or multi-value conversion process is performed on the screen with emphasis on gradation reproducibility. For a region determined to be a photograph, binarization or multi-value conversion processing is performed on a screen with an emphasis on gradation reproducibility. The memory 19 is a storage unit used in the repeat output function, and stores the image data processed by the halftone processing unit 18 and the area determination data corresponding to each pixel position. The output data preprocessing unit 20 performs conversion into a format suitable for the image output device 4 and compression processing of image data.

The contents and usage of the repeat output function by the image forming apparatus equipped with the above image editing apparatus will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 5, 8, 16 to 18 and FIGS. 4, 7, 9 to 15. This will be described with reference to the plan view of the display screen of FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 1
When the special function is selected and operated by operating the key switch 2a or the touch switch on the LCD display unit 2b in the operation unit 2 of 0 (s101), the special function shown in FIG. The menu screen G1 is displayed. If the special function is not selected, processing in various modes selected by the key switch 2a of the operation unit 2, for example, a normal copy operation is performed (s10).
2), the process ends. While the special function menu screen G1 is displayed on the LCD display unit 2b, the CPU 5 waits for the operator to operate the operation unit 2, and the "repeat layout" key 4 on the special function menu screen G1 is pressed.
When the display position of 1 is pressed, the touch switch arranged on the upper surface of the LCD display unit 2b detects this (s1
03), the display screen of the LCD display unit 2b transits to the repeat output function setting initial screen G2 shown in FIG. 4B and executes the repeat output function (s104).

If the "return" key 42 in the repeat output function setting initial screen G2 is pressed while the repeat output function setting initial screen G2 is displayed on the LCD display unit 2b, the LCD display unit 2b will be displayed. The touch switch arranged on the upper surface detects this, the display screen of the LCD display unit 2b transitions to the special function menu screen G1 shown in FIG. 4A, and the CPU 5 ends the repeat output function.

When the repeat output function is not selected in s103, other processing (1 set, 2 copies, etc.) selected in the special function menu screen G1 is performed (s
105), and the process ends.

When the repeat output function is continued without pressing the "return" key 42, the processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed. That is, when the operator sets a document on the document table of the image input apparatus 1 (s21) and presses the start key arranged on the operation unit 2 (s22), the image input apparatus 1 scans and scans the document. Done (s
23). For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a business card in which a character image and a photographic image are mixed is placed as a document D on a document table, the read image data is displayed as a region in the region separation unit 12 of the image editing apparatus 3. It is determined and separated into the base region R1, the character region R2, and the photograph / halftone dot region R3. As an example, of these areas, the background area R1 and the character area R2 are areas in which the color of the repeat image can be changed. The CPU 5 stores the image data of each pixel in the memory 13 together with the area determination data (s24).

Next, the CPU 5 scans the document based on the density difference between the color of the document mat attached to the inner surface of the document cover covering the upper surface of the document table and the color of the background of the document, for example. The size is measured (s25), and the number of images that can be formed on the recording medium is calculated for each of the X direction and the Y direction of the recording medium from the measured document size, the set scaling ratio, and the size of the recording medium. Do (s2
6). Further, the CPU 5 creates display data based on the calculation result using the image data scaled by the scaling factor (s27), and as shown in FIG. 7, repeat output including the layout screen 71 based on the display data. The function setting first screen G3 is displayed on the LCD display section 2b (s2
8). In FIG. 7, 8 in the layout screen 71 is displayed.
Although the content of the character area of each output image C is simplified,
Actually, the content of the character area of each output image C is the same as the content of the character area of the document D shown in FIG.

On the repeat output function setting first screen G3,
A “Next” key 72 and a “Return” key 73 are displayed together with the operation explanations 74 to 76, and the CPU 5 causes the “Next” key 72, “by the user” on the repeat output function setting first screen G3. The operation of the "return" key 73 or the start key is accepted. That is, the user who confirms the display state of the layout screen 71 on the repeat layout setting first screen G3 operates the “Next” key 72 to change the document when changing the image color of the background region or the character region. To perform the image formation, the "return" key 73 is operated, and when forming the image while the layout screen 71 is displayed, the start key is operated. It should be noted that the change of the scaling ratio or the size of the recording medium is accepted, for example, on the special function menu screen G1 shown in FIG.

In response to the key operated by the user, the CPU 5 waits for the document to be set when the "return" key 73 is operated (s29 → s21), and when the start key is operated, the layout screen is displayed. In the display state of 71, the image forming process by the repeat output function is executed (s29 → s3
0), when the "Next" key is operated, the display content of the LCD display unit 2b is transited to the repeat output function setting second screen G4 shown in FIG. 9 to perform the image color changing process (s3).
1).

On the second screen G4 of the repeat output function setting,
A layout screen 91, a "return" key 92, a text color change guidance 93 and a background color change guidance 94 are displayed. The layout screen 91 shows the first repeat output function setting.
Similar to the layout screen 71 on the screen G3, the arrangement state of the output image C on the recording medium is displayed. The “return” key 92 accepts an instruction input for returning the display content of the LCD display unit 2b to the repeat output function setting first screen G3. The text color change guidance 93 is an area for receiving selection input of a method for changing the image color of the text area R2 in the image data C displayed on the layout screen 91, and includes an X direction image selection key 93a and a Y direction image selection key 93b. And an all image selection key 93c are arranged. The background color change guidance 94 is displayed on the layout screen 91.
X is an area for receiving a selection input of a method of changing the image color of the background area R1 in the output image C displayed in X.
A direction image selection key 94a, a Y direction image selection key 94b, and an all image selection key 94c are arranged.

The X-direction image selection keys 93a and 94a are used for the character area R2 or the background area for each X-direction (maximum of four types for each of two vertical output images C in the example shown in FIG. 9) on the layout screen 91. An instruction input to change the color of R1 is accepted. The Y direction image selection keys 93b and 94b are
An instruction input for changing the color of the character region R2 or the background region R1 is accepted for each Y direction (maximum two types for each of the four output images C in the horizontal direction in the example shown in FIG. 9) on the layout screen 91. The all image selection keys 93c and 94c accept an instruction input to change the color of the character region R2 or the background region R1 to the same color for all the output images C displayed on the layout screen 91.

That is, while the CPU 5 is displaying the repeat output function setting second screen G4 on the LCD display section 2b,
According to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 8, the image color changing process according to the image color changing function of the present invention is executed. CPU5
When any of the X direction image selection key 93a, the Y direction image selection key 93b, or the all image selection key 93c in the text color change guidance 93 is selected, the LCD display unit 2
The display content of b is changed to one of the character area change screens G5a, G5b, and G5c shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, and the output image C for each X direction, the output image C for each Y direction, or all outputs on the layout screen 91. Character region R2 for image C
The selection of the image color is accepted (s41 to s44).

While the repeat layout setting second screen G4 is displayed on the LCD display section 2b, the CPU 5 displays the X direction image selection key 94a, the Y direction image selection key 94b or the whole image in the background color change guidance 94. When any one of the selection keys 94c is selected, the LCD
The display content of the display unit 2b is changed to any of the background area change screens G6a, G6b, G6c shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, and the output image C for each X direction and the output image C for each Y direction on the layout screen 91 or The selection of the image color of the background region R1 for all output images C is accepted (s45 to s
48).

The process of changing the image color of the character area for each X direction in s42 or the process of changing the image color of the base area for each X direction in s46 is performed on the character area change screen G5a shown in FIG. 10 or in FIG. Base area change screen G6a shown
In, the process is executed according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. That is, the CPU 5 first accepts the designation of the image column number for changing the image color of the character region R2 (s61).
The image column number is specified by operating the ten-key 104 on the character area change screen G5a or the background area change screen G6a to specify a numerical value corresponding to any of the column codes 101a displayed on the layout screen 101. Window 10
It is done by inputting in 2.

Next, the CPU 5 receives the selection of the changed color (s62). The selection of the change color is performed by operating any color key included in the color chart 103 in the character area change screen G5a or the base area change screen G6a. In this example, the color chart 103 is composed of 16 color keys. After this, "OK" key 1
When 05 is operated (s63), the CPU 5 stores the color of the key operated in s62 as the image color of the character area or the background area of the output image C included in the selected row (s64). At this time, the CPU 5 sets each of the 16 colors forming the color chart 103 to, for example, “1” to “16”.
Of 4-bit data ([3: 0]) representing the number of
The character area is stored in the memory 13 as MOJI [3: 0], and the background area is stored as SITA [3: 0]. This data is the corresponding CM in the color conversion unit 17.
The halftone processing unit 18 replaces the Y color system color data.
It is stored in the register inside.

Next, if another column number is input in s65, the process returns to s61 and the processes of s61 to s64 are repeatedly executed. CPU if no other column number is entered
5 determines whether or not the "preview" key 107 is operated in s66. If the "preview" key 107 is operated, the preview screen is displayed (s67), and if not, the series of processes is terminated. In the determination process regarding the input of the column numbers of s61 and s65, the color selection of s62, the operation of the “Enter” key of s63, and the operation of the “Preview” key of s66, for example, a timer is provided and input is made within a predetermined time. It is determined by whether or not there is a key operation. s
If no input is made within a predetermined time at 61, s62, and s63, the repeat output function setting second screen G4 shown in FIG.
Is displayed.

In the designated window 102, for example, "1-
2 ”is input, the character area or the background area of the output image C of the first row and the output area C of the second row are changed to the same color by one image color selection process,
The operation when changing the character area or the background area to the same color for the output images C in a plurality of columns may be simplified.

In the character area change screens G5a to G5c, the character area in each output image C in the layout screen 101 is displayed in a manner different from other areas, and in the background area change screens G6a to G6c, the layout area 101 is displayed. By displaying the background area in each image data differently from the other areas, the user may be able to accurately recognize the target of the image color changing work. In this case, the display mode different from the other areas includes a method of displaying only the character area or the background area in a blinking manner, a method of displaying the area other than the character area or the background area in a faint display, and the like.

Furthermore, the order of the column number input operation and the color selection operation does not matter.

In addition, since the character area R2 is adjacent to the base area R1, the visibility of the character area R2 changes depending on the combination of the two color arrangements, and the information of the character area R2 can be accurately read depending on the combination of the color arrangements. In some cases, it may not be possible. Therefore, a table storing combinations of highly visible color arrangements may be stored in advance in the memory 13 and displayed on the LCD display unit 2b. Further, in the character region R2, when one image color of the base region R1 is selected, a color having a high visibility may be blinked and displayed in the color chart 103 when the other image color is selected. Examples of highly visible color combinations include black and yellow, black and light blue, and white and red.

The process of changing the image color of the character region for each Y direction in s43 or the process of changing the image color of the base region for each Y direction in s47 is performed on the character region changing screen G5b shown in FIG. 11 or in FIG. Base area change screen G6b shown
In accordance with the processing procedure of s71 to s77 shown in FIG. 17, in the same manner as the processing procedure shown in FIG. 16, the character area or the background of the output image C included in the selected row is based on the input line number. The color of the key operated in s72 is stored as the image color of the area (s74).

The process of changing the image color of the character area of the entire output image C in s44 or the process of changing the image color of the base area of the entire output image C in s48 is performed in the character area changing screen G5c shown in FIG. The background area change screen G6c shown in FIG. 15 is executed according to the processing procedure of s81 to s85 shown in FIG. In this case, the input processing of the column number or the row number is not performed, and the CPU 5 sets the color of the key operated in s81 as the image color of the character area or the background area of all the output images C in the layout screen 101. It is stored (s83).

When the "preview" key 107 is operated by the user in s66, s76 or s84, C
The PU 5 has a layout screen 1 that is one of the character area change screens G5a to G5c and the background area change screens G6a to G6c.
The output image C after changing the image color is displayed in 01 (s67, s77, s85). This allows the user to visually recognize the image formation state after changing the image color.

Although not shown in FIGS.
When the "Cancel" key 106 is operated after the input of the column number of s61, the color selection process of s62, the input of the row number of s71, the color selection process of s72, and the color selection process of s81, the CPU 5
Erases the image color data (4-bit data representing the numbers "1" to "16") selected for the character area or the background area in the memory 19.

For example, when the document D shown in FIG. 6 is a monochrome image, the layout screen 101 of each screen is displayed on the layout screen 101 before the "preview" key 107 is operated.
As shown in FIG. 9, in all the output images C, the character region R2 is displayed in black and the background region R1 is displayed in white. In the character area change screen G5a shown in FIG. 10, when black, red, blue, and green are selected as the image colors of the character areas R2 in the output images C of the first to fourth columns, the state shown in FIG. Preview image is displayed in the layout screen 101. Further, in the character area change screen G5b shown in FIG. 11, when black and green are selected as the image colors of the character area R2 in the output images C of the first and second lines, respectively, the preview in the state shown in FIG. The image is displayed in the layout screen 101. Further, in the character area change screen G5a shown in FIG.
After white, green, red, and black are selected as the image colors of the character region R2 in each output image C in the fourth column, 1 to 1 are displayed in the background region change screen G6a shown in FIG.
When black, red, green and light blue are selected as the image colors of the background region R1 in each output image C in the fourth column, the preview image in the state shown in FIG. 22 is displayed in the layout screen 101.

The CPU 5 displays the preview screen by the processes of s67, s77, and s85, and then executes s shown in FIG.
At 49, the operation waits until the start key is operated, and when the start key is operated, the image forming process is started (s
50).

After that, the CPU 5 synchronizes the image data stored in the memory 13 with the area determination data corresponding to each pixel, and outputs it to the filter processing unit 15 in the subsequent stage. The image data subjected to the filter processing is stored in the memory 19 after being subjected to the scaling processing, the color conversion processing and the halftone processing.

The area determination data here is AREA [1:
0] ([1: 0] indicates 2-bit data), the background is 01 _B , the character is 10 _B , the halftone dot and the photograph are 00 _B (subscript B is a binary number). Represents.). FIG. 23 shows an example of the storage state of the image data after the halftone processing and the area determination data in the memory 19.
In the memory 19, the upper 2 bits are used as area determination data,
Image data in which the lower 8 bits are image color data is stored for each pixel. When sending data to the output data preprocessing unit 20, the CPU 5 instructs the memory interface in the halftone processing unit 18 to sequentially read the data stored in the memory 19 in the main scanning direction. In the above example, since the two output images C are arranged in the X direction (main scanning direction), a predetermined gap is obtained after the image data of one line of the main scanning in the first output image C is read. Is secured and the image data of one line in the main scanning direction in the second output image C is read.

At this time, for example, as shown in FIG.
8-bit data (CYA stored in the memory 19
N [7: 0]) and use the read data as it is, or the data of AREA [1: 0] and the data (MOJI) set by the repeat layout setting.
[3: 0], SITA [3: 0]) is automatically selected by the control of the CPU 5, whether to use the changed image color for the character area or the changed image color for the background area. Output to the latter stage.

That is, as shown in FIG. 24, in the selector 3, according to the area determination data AREA [1: 0], the MO
Color data of either JI [3: 0] or SITA [3: 0] is selected, and 8-bit data corresponding to the selected color data is read by the selector 2. The selector 1 reads out the cyan 8-bit data CYAN [7: 0] which is the original data, based on the content set by the repeat layout setting, or the halftone processing unit 18
Select whether to read the changed color data stored in the register in.

The color data of 16 colors selected as the image color after the change of the character area or the background area in the repeat layout setting is register data which has been color-converted from the RGB color system to the CMY color system in advance, and C , M, Y, K 4
It is registration data of plane × 16 bytes. In this way, the data processed by the halftone processing unit 18 is processed by the output data preprocessing unit 20 and then the image output device 4
Is output to.

The image editing apparatus 3 is a general-purpose computer, and a computer-readable recording medium or a computer-readable recording medium readable by a program including the processing procedures shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 5, 8, 16, 17, and 18. It can be configured by installing over the network to which the computer is connected. As a recording medium,
A fixed memory mounted in a computer or a portable recording medium (program medium) mounted in a reading device included in the computer can be used. As the fixed memory, mask ROM, EPROM, EEPRO
Semiconductor memory such as M and flash ROM can be used. Program media include tape types such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks (propy disks, hard disks, etc.) and optical disks (CD-
Disk type such as ROM, MO, MD, DVD), and
Various forms such as a card type such as an IC card (including a memory card) and an optical card can be used. Whether the fixed memory or the program medium is used as the recording medium, the microprocessor of the computer executes the processing operation while accessing the recording medium, or
The program downloaded from the recording medium to the program storage area in the computer can be read out to execute the processing operation.

The download program used when downloading the program from the network or the recording medium may be stored in the computer in advance or supplied via another recording medium.

[0074]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The input image data is stored in the storage means in a state where the input image data is divided into a background region, a character region, a halftone dot region, and a photograph region, and a plurality of input images are repeated on a single recording medium. When the repeat output function to form is displayed, the state of image formation on the recording medium is displayed, and the same image is displayed using the repeat output function by accepting the change of the image color for each of the plurality of displayed images. When forming a plurality of images on a single recording medium, it is possible to output a plurality of images having different combinations of image colors for each area to a single recording medium. Accordingly, based on one input image, it is possible to simultaneously output a plurality of types of images having different color combinations such as characters and a background of the image on a single recording medium, and to output a plurality of types of different color combinations. No need to prepare manuscript.

(2) When a plurality of the same images are formed on a single recording medium by using the repeat output function, the image color of a specific area is changed for each of a plurality of images grouped by a predetermined procedure. Image data of a specific area of a plurality of images formed on a single recording medium by receiving a selection input of whether to change the image color of a specific area of all image data. It is possible to simplify the work of selecting an image to be changed.

(3) Among a plurality of images formed on a single recording medium by the repeat output function, the image color of a specific area is the same for each of a plurality of images grouped according to a predetermined procedure. When changing to the color of, a code for identifying each group is displayed together with the output states of a plurality of images on the single recording medium, so that a specific image among the images formed on the single recording medium is displayed. It is possible to further simplify the work of selecting a group in which the image color of the area should be changed.

(4) By displaying the output state after changing the image color of a specific area for a plurality of images formed on a single recording medium, the suitability of the changed state of the image color is checked before the image formation. Can be seen in advance. As a result, it is possible to avoid wasteful execution of image forming processing, prevent waste of the recording medium, and reduce running costs.

(5) When changing the image color of a specific area in the image by the image color changing function, by displaying a color combination based on the visibility of a plurality of adjacent areas, each area in the image is displayed. It is possible to determine the image colors of the adjacent areas in consideration of the visibility, and it is possible to simplify the image color selection work that does not reduce the visibility of each area.

(6) By displaying the area for which the image color is to be changed by the image color changing function in a display state different from other areas, the area where the image color should be changed can be clearly recognized. , It is possible to accurately change the image color.

(7) When outputting the image data for each pixel, the image data after the image color is changed or the image color is changed depending on whether or not the pixel is included in the area where the image color is changed. By selectively outputting the image data that has not been changed, the image data of each pixel can be changed according to whether the image color is included in the changed area or not. It is possible to automatically switch to either of the non-displayed state and the output state, and it is possible to prevent the output processing of the image data from being delayed.

(8) The data of the color system at the time of output corresponding to each of the image colors changed based on the display contents by the layout display function is stored in advance so that the data can be changed by the image color changing function. The image color can be accurately reproduced in the output image.

(9) The input image data is stored in the storage means in a state where the input image data is divided into the ground area, the character area, the halftone dot area, and the photographic area, and a plurality of images are repeatedly formed on a single recording medium. When the repeat output function is used, the state of image formation on the recording medium is displayed, the change of the image color for each area of each of the plurality of displayed images is accepted, and the image color of the image data of each area is changed and recorded. By forming an image on the medium, it is possible to form a plurality of images having different combinations of image colors for each area on a single recording medium.

(10) The input image data is stored in the storage means in a state where the input image data is divided into the background region, the character region, the halftone dot region, and the photograph region, and the input image is repeatedly formed on a single recording medium. During the repeat output function, the image formation state on the recording medium is displayed in advance, and the image data for which the image color of the specific region should be changed is specified as a specific region for each of a plurality of images grouped by a predetermined procedure. By making it possible to select whether to change the image color of each area or to change the image color of a specific area of all image data, a plurality of images with different combinations of image colors for each area can be combined into a single image. It is possible to simplify the work of selecting an image in which the image color of a specific area should be changed when forming the image on the recording medium.

(11) The input image data is stored in the storage means in a state where the input image data is divided into a background region, a character region, a halftone dot region, and a photograph region, and the input image data is repeated a plurality of times on a single recording medium. During the repeat output function to form, the output state of the image data on the recording medium is displayed, and the image color of a specific area is to be changed and specified for each of a plurality of image data grouped according to a predetermined procedure. Change the image color of the area, or
By supplying a processing procedure that allows you to select whether to change the image color of a specific area for all image data as a computer-executable program, you can use a general-purpose computer When multiple images with different combinations of are to be formed on a single recording medium, select the images for which the image color of a specific area should be changed among the images formed on the single recording medium. It can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus including an image editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image editing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when setting a repeat output function in the image forming apparatus including the image editing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display state of a special function menu screen and a repeat output function setting initial screen on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the repeat output function is used in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image of a document according to a repeat output function.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display state of a repeat output function setting first screen on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of image color change processing in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display state of a repeat output function setting second screen on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display state of a character area change screen when an X-direction column is designated on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display state of a character area change screen when a line in the Y direction is designated on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display state of a character area change screen when all images are designated on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display state of a background area change screen when an X-direction column is designated on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display state of a background area change screen when a line in the Y direction is designated on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display state of a background area change screen when all images are designated on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of image color changing processing for each X direction in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of image color change processing for each Y direction in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of image color change processing for all images having the same color in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display state of the layout screen before the image color changing process on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a display state of the layout screen after the image color changing processing of the character area in each X direction on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a display state of the layout screen after the image color change processing of the character area in each Y direction on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a display state of the layout screen after the image color changing process of the character region and the base region for each X direction on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a storage state of image data in a memory of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a method of selecting output image data in the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-image input device 2-Operation part 2a-key switch 2b-LCD display section 3-Image editing device 4-Image output device 5-CPU 10-Image forming apparatus 12-area separation unit 13, 19-memory

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06T 11/60 100 G09G 5/00 530H 5C077 G09G 5/00 530 H04N 1/46 Z 5C079 H04N 1/40 1 / 40 F 5C082 1/46 G03G 21/00 382 F term (reference) 2C087 AA15 AA18 AB01 BD31 CA03 CB10 CB13 CB20 2H027 FA05 FA06 FD01 FD03 FD08 GA44 GA45 2H030 AA02 BA07 AD13 AD14 AD16 5B050 BA06 BA06 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 BA16 FA02 FA05 5C076 AA17 AA18 AA21 AA22 AA26 AA27 BA05 BA07 CA02 CA09 CA10 CB01 CB02 5C077 LL16 MP06 MP08 PP19 PP27 PP28 PP31 PP57 PP65 PQ08 PQ22 PQ23 SS07 TT06 5C079 HB01 HB03 HB08 LA02 LA17LA02 LA02 LA03 LA02 LA31 LA06 LACLA AA01 AA32 BA12 BA34 BB02 BB25 BB53 BD10 CA12 CA54 CA62 CA76 CB06 DA73 DA86 MM02 MM09

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An area separating means for distinguishing a background area, a character area, a halftone dot area, and a photograph area in input image data, and image data of each area distinguished by the area separating means are stored together with area determination data for each area. And a storage unit that stores the image data size stored in the storage unit, the set value of the scaling factor at the time of image output, and the set value of the size of the recording medium to which the image data is output. Repeat output function to repeatedly output the image data on a single recording medium, layout display function to display the image formation state on the recording medium by the repeat output function before outputting the image data, and layout display function The image color changing function for accepting the change of the image color for each area for each of the plurality of images displayed by When outputting the data, the image editing apparatus characterized by comprising control means for outputting the changed image color for the image data of the area image color is changed, the the image color change function. 2. The control means, in the image color changing function, changes the image color of a specific area to the same color for each of a plurality of images grouped according to a predetermined procedure based on a selection input. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image color of a specific area of all the images is changed to the same color. 3. The layout display function when the image color of a specific area is changed to the same color for each of a plurality of images grouped according to a procedure predetermined by the image color changing function. The image editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a code for identifying each group is displayed in. 4. The layout display function of the control means displays an image after the image color of a specific area is changed by the image color change function. The image editing apparatus described. 5. The image editing according to claim 1, wherein the control means displays a color combination based on the visibility of a plurality of adjacent areas in the layout display function. apparatus. 6. The layout display function of the control means sets a display state of an area instructed to change the image color by the image color changing function to a display state different from other areas. 6. The image editing apparatus according to any one of 5 to 5. 7. The control means, when outputting image data,
The image data stored in the storage unit or the image data changed to the image color changed by the image color changing function is selectively output based on the area determination data of each pixel. 7. The image editing apparatus according to any one of 6 to 6. 8. The control means stores in advance the color system data at the time of output corresponding to each color system of the image colors displayed by the layout display function in the image color changing function. The image editing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. An image forming apparatus comprising the image editing apparatus according to claim 1, and forming an image on a recording medium based on image data output from the image editing apparatus. . 10. The image data of the background region, the character region, the halftone dot region, and the photographic region included in the input image data is discriminated, and the image data of each discriminated region is stored together with the region determination data for each region and stored. Repeat that repeatedly outputs the image data to a single recording medium based on the size of the image data being output, the setting value of the scaling factor when outputting the image, and the setting value of the size of the recording medium that is the output target of the image data. At the time of the output function, based on the selection input, among the plurality of images formed on the recording medium, the same color is changed to a specific area for each of the plurality of images grouped according to a predetermined procedure. Or an image editing method characterized by changing the same color to a specific area of all images. 11. A single recording medium for input image data based on an image size of input image data, a set value of a scaling factor at the time of image output, and a set value of a size of a recording medium to which image data is output. An image editing program that is repeatedly output to a step of distinguishing each image data of a background region, a character region, a halftone dot region, and a photographic region included in input image data, and image data of each distinguished region for each region. Storing in the storage means together with the area determination data,
Whether to change the same color for a specific area for each of a plurality of images grouped according to a predetermined procedure among a plurality of images formed on a recording medium based on the content of the selection input , Or a step of changing to a same color for a specific area of all images, and a step of changing the image color by the image color changing function when outputting the image data stored in the storage means. An image editing program comprising: a step of changing the image color of image data and outputting the image data.