JP2020114655A - Printing data creation method, printing data creation device and printing data creation program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printing data creation method, a printing data creation device and a printing data creation program which can reduce a time required in lip processing for performing stereoscopic printing.SOLUTION: A printing data creation method, which creates printing data for performing stereoscopic printing by laminating a plurality of printing layers 20, includes: a step of creating printing data as a reference layer 20A by performing lip processing to coordinate data of a contour 54A of image data 54 showing one layer as a benchmark of the plurality of printing layers 20; and a step of creating printing data as the other printing layer 20 by increasing and decreasing the printing data as the reference layer 20A at a prescribed rate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to a print data creation method, a print data creation device, and a print data creation program.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a technique for performing three-dimensional printing (thick printing) using ink that is cured by heat, ultraviolet rays (UV), or the like has been developed. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-242242, printing is performed in which three-dimensional printing is performed on the surface of the ejection-receiving medium by irradiating the light-irradiating section with light on the ejection-receiving medium multiple times to form a laminated structure. A device is disclosed.

Here, there are cases where processing such as rounding (also referred to as R shape) is performed on the contour of a printed matter formed by three-dimensional printing, and there are a plurality of methods for realizing this.

For example, a method of preparing a plurality of image data for each print layer so that the contour becomes smaller in the upper layer of the print layer and printing the image data (hereinafter referred to as “first method”) or an image by a lip (RIP: Raster Image Processor) process When rendering (also referred to as rasterization), a method for processing a plurality of print data by processing image data for each print layer so that the contour becomes smaller in the upper layer of the print layer (hereinafter referred to as “second method”). ).

JP, 2011-104875, A

However, in the first method, since it is necessary to prepare in advance a plurality of image data having different contour sizes, preparation of the image data requires time and effort. Further, in the second method, it is necessary to extract the contour from the image data when rendering, and it takes time to extract the contour. Furthermore, both the first method and the second method require the lip processing a number of times corresponding to the number of print layers, and this processing requires time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a print data creation method, a print data creation device, and a print data creation program that can shorten the time required for lip processing for performing three-dimensional printing.

A print data creating method of the present invention is a print data creating method for creating print data for performing three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers, wherein one reference layer of the plurality of print layers is used. A first step of performing a lip process on the coordinate data of the contour of the image data shown to create print data to be a reference layer, and increasing or decreasing the print data to be the reference layer at a predetermined ratio to perform the other printing. A second step of creating print data to be a layer.

For example, in order to three-dimensionally print a printed material with rounded contours, lip processing was performed on coordinate data of all contours of a plurality of image data for each of a plurality of print layers, but this requires a long time for lip processing. Was. However, in the print data creating method of this configuration, only the image data showing one layer serving as the reference is subjected to the lip processing to create the print data serving as the reference layer, and the print data serving as the other printing layers are printed as the reference layer. Since it is created based on the data, the lip process for creating other print layers is unnecessary. Therefore, according to this configuration, the time required for the lip process for performing the three-dimensional printing can be shortened.

In the print data creation method of the present invention, the coordinate data of the contour of the print data that is the other print layer before the increase/decrease in the second step is the same as the coordinate data of the contour of the print data that is the reference layer. Yes, the second step increases or decreases the coordinate data of the contour of the print data to be the other print layer at a predetermined ratio with reference to the print data to be the reference layer, so that the contour of the printed matter has a predetermined shape. As described above, print data to be the other print layer may be created. According to this configuration, for example, it is possible to easily create a plurality of print data for three-dimensionally printing a printed material with a rounded contour.

In the print data creation method of the present invention, coordinate data indicating the outline of the image data may be represented by a spot color. According to this configuration, the coordinate data of the contour can be easily acquired.

In the print data creation method of the present invention, the predetermined ratio may be derived based on the coordinate data of the contour of the print data serving as the reference layer and the setting information regarding the printed matter formed by stereoscopic printing. According to this configuration, print data for each of a plurality of print layers having different contours can be created by a simple process.

In the print data creating method of the invention, in the second step, the print data of the other print layer is processed so that the upper or lower print layer has a smaller contour than the print data of the reference layer. May be created. According to this configuration, it is possible to easily form a printed material having a contour according to a user's request.

A print data creating method of the present invention is a print data creating method for creating print data for performing three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers, wherein one reference layer of the plurality of print layers is used. The first step of performing the lip process on the coordinate data of the contour of the image data shown to create print data to be the reference layer, and the coordinate data of the contour of the print data of the other print layer that has been created in advance. And a second step of creating print data to be the other print layer by increasing/decreasing at a predetermined ratio based on the print data to be the reference layer.

According to this configuration, print data to be another print layer is created in advance, and this print data is increased/decreased at a predetermined ratio based on the print data to be the reference layer, which is required for the lip process for performing three-dimensional printing. The time can be shortened, and the printed matter formed by the three-dimensional printing can be more shaped according to the user's request.

A print data creation device of the present invention is a print data creation device that creates print data for performing three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers, wherein one reference layer of the plurality of print layers is used. Rip processing is performed on the coordinate data of the contour of the image data shown to create print data that forms a reference layer, and print data that forms the reference layer is increased/decreased at a predetermined ratio to the other data. Print data processing means for creating print data to be a print layer. According to this configuration, the time required for the lip process for performing three-dimensional printing can be shortened.

The print data creation program of the present invention causes a computer of a print data creation device to create print data for three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers, and sets a reference one layer of the plurality of print layers. Rip processing is performed on the coordinate data of the contour of the image data shown to create print data that forms a reference layer, and print data that forms the reference layer is increased/decreased at a predetermined ratio to the other data. And a print data processing unit that creates print data to be a print layer to function. According to this configuration, the time required for the lip process for performing three-dimensional printing can be shortened.

The print data creation method, the print data creation device, and the print data creation program of the present invention have an effect that the time required for the lip process for performing three-dimensional printing can be shortened.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system of a first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the laminated structure of the printed matter of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the printing PC of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram relating to print data creation processing executed by the printing PC of the first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the image data in which the outline of 1st Embodiment was shown by the special color. It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline information expanded in the print data memory of 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of print data creation processing according to the first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the three-dimensional printing with a small lower contour of another embodiment.

Hereinafter, a print data creation method, a print data creation device, and a print data creation program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system 10 of this embodiment. The printing system 10 includes a printing PC 12 that is a print data creation device (information processing device) and a UV printer 14 that is a printing device. The printing system 10 of FIG. 1 includes one printing PC 12 and one UV printer 14, but this is an example, and a plurality of printing PCs 12 and UV printers 14 may be provided.

Image data creation software is installed on the printing PC 12. The image data creation software is software for the user to create image data (two-dimensional image data) indicating an image to be printed by the UV printer 14. The image data may not be created by the printing PC 12 but may be created by another information processing device and transmitted to the printing PC 12.

A printer driver having lip software and printing software is installed in the printing PC 12. The lip software performs a lip process (also called a raster process) on the image data to create print data. The lip process is, for example, a process in which image data is binarized by rendering, and print data that determines whether or not ink droplets have landed is created according to pixels of the print resolution. The printing software is software for transmitting the created print data to the UV printer 14 and for confirming the printing status of the UV printer 14 and the ink remaining amount of the UV printer 14.

The UV printer 14 of the present embodiment is capable of three-dimensional printing (also referred to as thick printing) in which a printed matter 16 is formed by stacking a plurality of printing layers 20 on a medium 18 that is a recording medium. (See Figure 2). As an example, the UV printer 14 forms a print layer 20 by ejecting an ultraviolet curable ink (hereinafter referred to as “UV ink”) that is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the medium 18 to have a preset thickness. By stacking the print layers 20 in this manner, three-dimensional printing is performed. The type of the medium 18 on which three-dimensional printing is performed is not limited, and for example, the medium 18 such as paper, vinyl chloride film, or rubber sheet can be applied.

Here, the user may request that a corner portion (hereinafter referred to as “edge”) of the printed matter 16 be rounded like an R shape having a predetermined curvature. 2A and 2B are schematic views showing an example of a laminated structure of the printed matter 16 having rounded edges. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the printed matter 16 formed on the medium 18, and FIG. 2B is a printed matter. 16 is a side view of FIG. Note that the shape of the printed matter 16, the number of the printed layers 20, the thickness of the printed matter 16, and the like shown in the example of FIG. 2 are schematic representations, and are not limited thereto. Further, the printed matter 16 may have different colors (colored or non-colored) between the upper layer and the lower layer so that the lower layer of the printed layer 20 is colored while the upper layer is clear (transparent).

When the edge of the printed matter 16 is rounded, the UV printer 14 expresses the roundness of the edge by performing three-dimensional printing so that the contour of the upper print layer 20 becomes smaller stepwise as shown in FIG. To do. In the case of three-dimensionally printing a printed matter 16 having rounded edges, for example, a plurality of image data having different contours are prepared for each print layer 20, and these image data are lip processed one by one to create print data. Was there. However, in this method, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of image data in advance and perform lip processing for all of them, which requires time and labor.

Therefore, the printing PC 12 according to the present embodiment performs the lip process on the coordinate data of the contour of the image data showing one reference layer of the plurality of print layers 20 to obtain the print data to be the reference layer 20A. A print data creation process is performed in which print data is created and the print data to be the reference layer 20A is increased or decreased at a predetermined ratio to create print data for another print layer 20.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printing PC 12. The printing PC 12 includes a main control unit 30, a main storage unit 32, an auxiliary storage unit 34, a display 36, an operation unit 38, and a communication unit 40.

The main control unit 30 is, for example, a CPU and controls the operation of the printing PC 12.

The main storage unit 32 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), or the like, and temporarily stores data and a work area when the main control unit 30 executes processing based on various programs. It is used as a storage area. The auxiliary storage unit 34 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores various data and programs used for the processing of the main control unit 30. The programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 34 are, for example, an OS (Operating System) of the printing PC 12, a driver for controlling various hardware, a printer driver, image data creation software, and the like.

The display 36 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays an image based on the processing by the main control unit 30. The operation unit 38 performs various input operations on the printing PC 12, and includes, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, buttons, and the like.

The communication unit 40 transmits/receives various data to/from the UV printer 14, other information processing devices, and the like.

The main control unit 30, main storage unit 32, auxiliary storage unit 34, display 36, operation unit 38, and communication unit 40 are electrically connected to each other via a system bus 42. Therefore, the main control unit 30 accesses the main storage unit 32 and the auxiliary storage unit 34, displays an image on the display 36, grasps the operation state of the operation unit 38, and the UV printer 14 via the communication unit 40, and other components. It is possible to access the information processing device.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram relating to print data creation processing of the printing PC 12. The printing PC 12 includes the image data creation software 50 and the printer driver 52 as described above. Each function shown in FIG. 4 is realized by the main control unit 30 executing a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 34.

The image data creation software 50 is software for a user to create two-dimensional image data that is a target for stereoscopic printing. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the image data 54 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the outline 54A of the image data 54 is represented by a spot color. Therefore, the image data creation software 50 of the present embodiment is, for example, software capable of specifying spot colors. The color of the spot color is not limited.

The printer driver 52 includes a print setting unit 60, lip software 62, and print software 64. The lip software 62 includes a print data creation unit 66 and a contour information acquisition unit 68, and the print software 64 includes an increase/decrease amount deriving unit 70 and a print data processing unit 72.

The print setting unit 60 has a function of making various settings related to printing (hereinafter referred to as “print setting”), and the print setting is input by the user via the operation unit 38. Of the print settings, the setting information regarding the printed matter formed by stereoscopic printing is input as stereoscopic printing information. The three-dimensional printing information is information indicating whether or not three-dimensional printing is performed, the resolution of the three-dimensional printing, the thickness of the printed matter 16, the setting of whether the edge of the printed matter 16 is rounded, the setting of the rounded shape, and the like.

The print data creation unit 66 creates the print data for the reference layer 20A by performing the lip process on the image data 54 indicating one layer of the reference layers 20A among the plurality of print layers 20. Here, the reference layer 20A is the lowest layer of the printing layers 20 shown in FIG. 2 as an example. The print data creation unit 66 according to the present embodiment creates print data by performing a lip process on the coordinate data indicating the contour 54A of the image data 54.

The contour information acquisition unit 68 acquires coordinate data (hereinafter also referred to as “contour information”) indicating the contour 54A from the image data 54. Note that the contour information acquisition unit 68 of the present embodiment acquires, as an example, contour information indicating the contour 54A of the image data 54 to be stereoscopically printed, from the Pezier curve.

Specifically, the contour information acquisition unit 68 first extracts the contour 54A of the image data 54 as coordinate data in the Pezier format by representing the spot color-designated portion of the image data 54 with a Pezier curve. In this way, the contour 54A of the image data 54 is represented by the spot color, so that the contour information acquisition unit 68 can easily extract the contour 54A of the image data 54.

Next, the contour information acquisition unit 68 develops (depicts) the extracted coordinate data of the contour 54A in the print data memory. The print data memory is set in the main storage unit 32 according to the print resolution set by the stereoscopic print information and the size of the printed matter 16. The information indicating the contour 54A developed in the print data memory is represented by a two-dimensional matrix. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the contour information developed in the print data memory, and the portion shown in black indicates the contour 54A of the image data 54. As shown in FIG. 6, the print data memory is a two-dimensional matrix-shaped memory area, and the coordinates indicating the outline 54A of the image data 54 are expanded in this memory area, so that the number of the row and the column of the row. Data is information that can be determined to be the contour 54A. Then, the contour information acquisition unit 68 acquires the values of the matrix indicating the contour 54A drawn in the print data memory as the contour information (coordinate data). Then, the print data creation unit 66 creates print data for the reference layer 20A by performing a lip process on the contour information.

The contour 54A of the image data 54 does not necessarily have to be represented by a spot color. In this case, the contour information acquisition unit 68 acquires the contour information by developing the image data 54 in the bitmap format and recognizing the edge of the image data 54 developed in the bitmap format as the contour 54A.

Further, the print data creation unit 66 may create the print data by lip processing the image data 54 itself, without using the outline information of the image data 54 acquired by the outline information acquisition unit 68. Even in this case, the contour information is acquired from the image data 54.

The lip software 62 outputs stereoscopic print information, print data, and contour information to the print software 64.

The increase/decrease amount deriving unit 70 included in the printing software 64 derives (calculates) the increase/decrease amount of the print data for each print layer 20 based on the stereoscopic print information and the contour information. More specifically, the increase/decrease amount deriving unit 70 first reads the value of the matrix indicating the contour 54A of the image data 54 (hereinafter referred to as “reference matrix value”) from the input contour information. Then, the increase/decrease amount deriving unit 70 calculates the increase/decrease amount from the reference matrix value based on the thickness of the printed matter 16 (the number of stacked printing layers 20) indicated by the three-dimensional printing information and the information about the processing of the edge of the printed matter 16. It derives every 20th.

For example, as shown in the example of FIG. 2, when the edge of the printed material 16 is set to have roundness, the amount of subtraction from the reference matrix value is used as the amount of increase or decrease so that the contour 54A becomes smaller toward the upper print layer 20. Is derived for each print layer 20. The amount of increase/decrease is derived based on the input three-dimensional printing information, and does not have to be a constant ratio for each print layer 20, and the ratio may be different depending on the print layer 20. There may be a print layer 20 whose amount is 0 (zero).

The print data processing unit 72 increases or decreases the print data to be the reference layer 20A at a predetermined ratio derived by the increase/decrease amount deriving unit 70 to create print data to be the other print layer 20. That is, the print data processing unit 72 creates print data corresponding to the number of the plurality of print layers 20 stacked by the UV printer 14 from one (common) print data input from the lip software 62.

More specifically, the coordinate data of the outline 54A of the print data which becomes the other print layer 20 before the increase/decrease is the same as the coordinate data of the outline 54A of the print data which becomes the reference layer 20A. That is, the print data processing unit 72 first creates print data for the other print layers 20 by duplicating the print data for the reference layer 20A according to the number of layers of the printed matter 16. Then, the print data processing unit 72 increases/decreases the coordinate data of the contour 54A of the print data of the other print layers 20 at a predetermined ratio with reference to the print data of the reference layer 20A. As a result, print data for the other print layer 20 is created so that the contour 54A of the printed matter 16 has a predetermined shape (for example, an R shape having a predetermined curvature).

By such processing, the printer driver 52 can create a plurality of print data necessary for forming the printed matter 16 having rounded edges by one lip processing.

Then, the printing software 64 transmits the print data for each processed print layer 20 to the UV printer 14 via the communication unit 40. The UV printer 14 ejects UV ink based on the print data for each print layer 20 and stacks a plurality of print layers 20 to form a printed matter 16.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of print data creation processing executed by the printer driver 52 according to this embodiment.

First, in step S100, the lip software accepts the input of the image data 54 created by the image data creating software 50, and the print setting unit 60 accepts the input of the stereoscopic print information by the user.

In the next step S102, the contour information acquisition unit 68 extracts the area designated by the spot color from the image data 54 as coordinate data in the Pezier format. In the next step S104, the contour information acquisition unit 68 expands the coordinate data in the print data memory and acquires the contour information.

In the next step S106, the print data creation unit 66 creates print data for the reference layer 20A from the contour information.

In the next step S108, the lip software 62 outputs the stereoscopic print information, print data, and contour information to the print software 64.

In the next step S110, the increase/decrease amount deriving unit 70 reads the reference matrix value indicating the contour 54A of the image data 54 from the contour information.

In the next step S112, the increase/decrease amount deriving unit 70 derives the increase/decrease amount from the reference matrix value for each print layer 20 based on the information regarding the thickness of the printed matter 16 and the processing of the edge of the printed matter 16 indicated by the three-dimensional print information.

In the next step S114, the increase/decrease amount deriving unit 70 processes the outline 54A of the print data for each of the other print layers 20 based on the increase/decrease amount for each print layer 20 derived in step S112.

In the next step S116, the print software 64 transmits the print data for each print layer 20 to the UV printer 14 via the communication unit 40. When the UV printer 14 receives the print data, the UV printer 14 stacks the print layers 20 for each received print data and performs three-dimensional printing.

In the next step S118, the print software 64 determines whether or not the print data of all the print layers 20 has been transmitted to the UV printer 14, and if the determination is affirmative, the print data creation process is terminated. On the other hand, in the case of a negative determination, the process returns to step S114, and steps S114 to S118 are repeated until the transmission of the print data of all the print layers 20 is completed.

(Second embodiment)
Below, 2nd Embodiment of this invention is described. Note that the configuration of the printing system 10 of the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the printing system 10 of the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, print data is created in advance to form the printed matter 16. This print data is not a copy of the print data that forms the reference layer 20A as in the first embodiment, but is print data that is different from the print data that forms the reference layer 20A, for example.

The increase/decrease amount deriving unit 70 of the present embodiment derives (calculates) the increase/decrease amount of the print data for each print layer 20 based on the stereoscopic print information and the contour information as in the first embodiment.

Then, the print data processing unit 72 of the present embodiment increases/decreases the coordinate data of the contour 54A of the print data to be the other print layer 20 which is created in advance at a predetermined ratio based on the print data to be the reference layer 20A. Then, the print data to be the other print layer 20 is created. The UV printer 14 forms the printed matter 16 by stacking the print layers 20 based on the plurality of print data thus created.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the print data to be the other print layer 20 that is created in advance is increased or decreased at a predetermined ratio based on the print data to be the reference layer 20A, so that the edge is rounded. It is possible to easily create a plurality of print data for forming the printed matter 16 by one lip process. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the time required for the lip process for performing three-dimensional printing can be shortened, and the printed matter formed by three-dimensional printing can be formed into a shape more suitable for the user's request.

The present invention has been described above using the above embodiment, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiment. Various modifications and improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention, and modes in which the modifications and improvements are added are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Moreover, you may combine the said embodiment suitably.

In the above-described embodiment, a mode has been described in which stereoscopic printing is performed in which the edges of the printed matter 16 are rounded, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the uppermost printing layer 20 may be used as the reference layer 20A, and the contour 54A of the print data may be processed so that the contour 54A becomes smaller toward the lower printing layer 20. In this case, the support material 80 is discharged to support the upper print layer 20 having a larger area than the lower print layer 20. The support material 80 surrounds the outer periphery of the lower print layer 20 to support the upper print layer 20, and clear ink may be used instead of the support material 80.

FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of the outline 54A of the print layer 20 in another example in which the outline 54A is made smaller toward the lower print layer 20, and the circle shown in FIG. 8B is the discharged UV. Each dot of ink is shown, and a set of dots that are continuous in the horizontal direction corresponds to each print layer 20. In the example of FIG. 8B, the print layers 20 having different sizes of the contour 54A are shifted by half a dot and stacked. As a result, it is possible to support the upper printing layer 20 having a larger area than the lower printing layer 20 without using the support material 80 as shown in FIG. 8A.

Further, the flow of processing described in the above embodiment is also an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Good.

(Effects of the embodiment)
(1) The print data creation method of the present embodiment is a print data creation method for creating print data for performing three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers 20, and is a reference among the plurality of print layers 20. The first step of performing the lip process on the coordinate data of the contour 54A of the image data 54 indicating one layer to form the print data to be the reference layer 20A and the print data to be the reference layer 20A at a predetermined ratio. And a second step of creating print data to be another print layer 20 by increasing or decreasing in step 2.

For example, in order to three-dimensionally print the printed matter 16 in which the contour 54A is rounded, the lip processing is performed on the coordinate data of all the contours 54A of the plurality of image data 54 for each of the plurality of printing layers 20. It took time to process. However, according to the print data creation method of this configuration, only the image data 54 representing one reference layer is ripped to create the print data to be the reference layer 20A, and the print data to be another print layer 20 is used as the reference layer. Since the print data is created based on the print data of 20A, the lip process for creating another print layer 20 is unnecessary. Therefore, according to this configuration, the time required for the lip process for performing the three-dimensional printing can be shortened.

In the print data creation method according to the present embodiment, the coordinate data of the contour 54A of the print data that becomes the other print layer 20 before and after the increase/decrease in the second step becomes the coordinate data of the contour 54A of the print data that becomes the reference layer 20A. In the same manner, the second step increases or decreases the coordinate data of the contour 54A of the print data of the other print layers 20 with reference to the print data of the reference layer 20A, thereby increasing or decreasing the contour data 54A of the printed matter 16. The print data for the other print layer 20 may be created so that the print data has a predetermined shape. According to this configuration, for example, a plurality of print data for stereoscopically printing the printed matter 16 with the contour 54A rounded can be easily created.

In the print data creation method of this embodiment, the coordinate data indicating the outline 54A of the image data 54 may be represented by a spot color. According to this configuration, the coordinate data of the contour 54A can be easily acquired.

In the print data creation method of the present embodiment, the predetermined ratio may be derived based on the coordinate data of the outline 54A of the print data that is the reference layer 20A and the setting information regarding the printed matter 16 formed by the three-dimensional printing. According to this configuration, print data for each of the plurality of print layers 20 having different contours 54A can be created by a simple process.

In the print data creation method of the present embodiment, the second step is to print data for other print layers 20 so that the upper or lower print layer 20 has a smaller outline 54A than the print data for the reference layer 20A. May be created. According to this configuration, the printed matter 16 having the contour 54A can be easily formed according to the user's request.

The print data creation method of the present embodiment is a print data creation method for creating print data for three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers 20, and is a reference among the plurality of print layers 20. The first step of creating the print data to be the reference layer 20A by performing the lip process on the coordinate data of the outline 54A of the image data 54 showing the layer, and the print data to be the other print layer 20 that has been created in advance. The second step of increasing/decreasing the coordinate data of the outline 54A at a predetermined ratio based on the print data for the reference layer 20A to create print data for the other print layer 20.

According to this configuration, print data to be the other print layer 20 is created in advance, and this print data is increased/decreased at a predetermined ratio based on the print data to be the reference layer 20A. Therefore, lip processing for three-dimensional printing is performed. It is possible to shorten the time required for, and to make the printed matter 16 formed by stereoscopic printing more suitable for the user's request.

The printing PC 12 of the present embodiment is a printing PC 12 that creates print data for performing three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of printing layers 20. The print data creation unit 66 that creates the print data that serves as the reference layer 20A by performing the lip process on the coordinate data of the contour 54A of the image data 54 that is shown, and increases or decreases the print data that serves as the reference layer 20A at a predetermined ratio. And a print data processing unit 72 that creates print data to be another print layer 20. According to this configuration, the time required for the lip process for performing three-dimensional printing can be shortened.

The print data creation program of the present embodiment uses a computer of the printing PC 12 that creates print data for performing three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers 20 as one reference layer among the plurality of print layers 20. And a print data creation unit 66 that creates the print data that forms the reference layer 20A by performing the lip processing on the coordinate data of the contour 54A of the image data 54 that indicates the print data that forms the reference layer 20A at a predetermined ratio. The print data processing unit 72 that creates print data to be the other print layer 20 is made to function. According to this configuration, the time required for the lip process for performing three-dimensional printing can be shortened.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as an information processing device such as a printing device that forms a three-dimensional printed matter.

12 Printing PC (print data creation device)
16 printed matter 20 printed layer 20A reference layer 54 image data 66 print data creation unit (print data creation means)
72 Print data processing unit (print data processing means)

Claims (8)

A print data creating method for creating print data for performing three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers,
A first step of performing a lip process on the coordinate data of the contour of the image data showing one reference layer of the plurality of print layers to create print data to be the reference layer;
A second step of increasing or decreasing the print data to be the reference layer at a predetermined ratio to create other print data to be the print layer;
A method for creating print data having the following. The coordinate data of the contour of the print data to be the other print layer before the increase/decrease in the second step is the same as the coordinate data of the contour of the print data of the reference layer,
In the second step, the contour data of the contour of the print data of the other print layer is increased or decreased at a predetermined ratio with reference to the print data of the reference layer so that the contour of the printed matter has a predetermined shape. The print data creating method according to claim 1, wherein print data to be the other print layer is created in the print data. 3. The print data creating method according to claim 1, wherein the image data is represented by coordinate data indicating a contour with a spot color. The printing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined ratio is derived based on coordinate data of a contour of print data serving as the reference layer and setting information regarding a printed material formed by stereoscopic printing. Data creation method. 5. The print data for the other print layer is created in the second step such that the contour of the upper or lower print layer is smaller than that of the print data for the reference layer. The method for creating print data according to any one of 1. A print data creating method for creating print data for performing three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers,
A first step of creating print data to be a reference layer by performing a lip process on coordinate data of the contour of image data showing one layer to be a reference among the plurality of print layers;
The coordinate data of the contour of the print data to be the other print layer that has been created in advance is increased or decreased at a predetermined ratio based on the print data to be the reference layer to create the print data to be the other print layer. The second step,
A method for creating print data having the following. A print data creation device for creating print data for three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers,
Print data creation means for creating print data to serve as a reference layer by performing a lip process on the coordinate data of the contour of the image data showing one layer serving as a reference among the plurality of print layers;
Print data processing means for increasing or decreasing the print data to be the reference layer at a predetermined ratio to create print data to be the other print layer,
A print data creation device including. A computer of a print data creation device that creates print data for three-dimensional printing by stacking a plurality of print layers,
Print data creation means for creating print data to serve as a reference layer by performing a lip process on the coordinate data of the contour of the image data showing one layer serving as a reference among the plurality of print layers;
Print data processing means for increasing or decreasing the print data to be the reference layer at a predetermined ratio to create print data to be the other print layer,
A print data creation program that enables the function to work.

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