JP2692064B2 - Image editing device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus having an image synthesizing function. (Problems to be Solved by Related Art and Invention) A digital color copying apparatus reads a color original with a color sensor and prints it. Since color originals are read as digital values, data processing becomes easy. Therefore, it is indispensable for the digital color copying apparatus to have a function of performing various editing operations. In editing, the image compositing function, which takes out necessary parts from two or more originals and combines them into one image, has a large weight. Conventionally, a copying machine is equipped with an image memory for work, and
When synthesizing one document, each document was stored in an image memory, and then a composite image was formed by transfer between the memories and the image was printed out. At the time of this composition, the trimmed area had to be input again as a mask area. An object of the present invention is to provide an image editing apparatus that can perform image composition without using an image memory. (Means for Solving Problems) A first image editing apparatus according to the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads an image by using an image sensor, and an edit attribute including a rewrite-prohibited attribute in a predetermined area of the image. An attribute setting unit that sets each attribute, and sets an attribute that does not set a rewrite-prohibited attribute in all areas in the initial setting and that outputs white, and an editing attribute set by the attribute setting unit. Attribute storing means for storing, image synthesizing instructing means for instructing image synthesizing, image data read by the image reading means corresponding to the editing attribute stored in the attribute storing means, and output to an output device. When the image is output and output to the output device, the image editing unit that outputs white in the area having the rewrite-prohibited attribute, and the image editing unit outputs the image when the image composition instruction unit instructs the image composition. Image editing control means for rewriting the editing attribute of the area where the output other than white is performed to the rewriting prohibited attribute each time the force is applied. A second image editing apparatus according to the present invention is an image reading unit that reads an image using an image sensor, and an attribute setting unit that sets an editing attribute including a rewrite-prohibited attribute for each predetermined area of the image. In the initial setting, an attribute setting unit that does not set the rewrite prohibited attribute in all areas and sets an attribute that outputs white, an attribute storage unit that stores the editing attribute set by the attribute setting unit, and an image composition Image synthesizing instructing means for instructing, and editing the image data read by the image reading means in correspondence with the editing attributes stored in the attribute storing means, and editing the edited image data and the rewrite prohibited attribute. An image editing unit that outputs in synchronization with the output device, and an editing attribute of an area in which an output other than white is output each time the image editing unit outputs an image when the image composition instructing unit instructs image composition And having an image editing control means for rewriting the attribute of the e prohibited. (Operation) By using an attribute that prohibits rewriting of attributes as an editing attribute, it is possible to set these attributes at the time of image composition and to output devices that have a recording medium of a type that cannot be overwritten like paper. Perform unlimited number of edits. In addition, an attribute that prohibits rewriting as an editing attribute is output in synchronization with image data to an output device that has an overwritable output medium such as an image memory. As a result, it is possible to overwrite by using the editing attribute at the time of image composition. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. (A) Color image editing using attribute memory In this embodiment, the image is divided into areas of 1 mm × 1 mm unit, and attributes such as binary / halftone for each area are written in the attribute memory for editing. To do. The attribute data written in the attribute memory is 8 bits (d ₇ , d
₆ , ..., d ₀ ) and each bit indicates the attribute information shown in Table 1. That is, d ₇ indicates a single color fill. d ₆ indicates inversion of the output signal. d ₅
Indicates whether to perform binary processing or dither processing according to the color density of the read pixel. d ₄ is, to specify whether or not to print in monochrome mode. The colors d _{3 to} d ₁ are used to specify the colors for d ₇ and d _{4, and the} colors shown in Table 2 are used. d ₀ is
Request the output device to prohibit recording on the recording medium. Table 2
Single color designation (color code) d ₃ d ₂ d ₁ designated color 0 0 0 white 0 0 1 yellow 0 1 0 magenta 0 1 1 red 1 1 0 0 cyan 1 1 0 1 green 1 1 0 blue 1 1 1 1 black Using the attribute memory, editing such as masking, trimming, designated color single color mode, full color halftone mode can be performed. An example will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Now, read in the color original as shown in FIG.
Suppose that each part of ~ F is processed and output as follows. That is, the part A is a full-color halftone part. Since the portion B is a monochromatic halftone portion, and the designated color is blue here, even if the same portion of the original is a full-color photograph, it is reproduced as a blue halftone. The section C is a multi-color character section, and selects one of the eight colors shown in the color code for each pixel. This mode is effective for reproducing multicolored character parts. Part D is a monochromatic character part, and black is selected as the designated color here. Part E is a part that reproduces outline characters. Here, red is selected as the background color. The F part is a designated color painting part, and yellow is selected here. At this time, data may be written in the attribute memory as shown in FIG. At the time of output, as will be described later, the A section is subjected to full-color halftone processing, the D section is subjected to binary processing, etc.
The area of 1mm x 1mm is processed and output according to the data of the attribute memory. (B) Color image editing apparatus FIG. 4 schematically shows image reading by the color image editing apparatus. The light emitted from the fluorescent lamp (2) which is the exposure source illuminates the original (102) on the original glass (101), and the reflected light is incident on the CCD (1) through an optical system (not shown). CCD
(1) is equipped with a filter that selectively transmits the three colors of red, green, and blue for each pixel, and CCD (1) outputs the reflected light intensity resulting from the separation of the three colors. The fluorescent lamp (2), the optical system, and the CCD (1) are one unit, and are moved by a drive system (scanner) (not shown) while keeping a certain distance from the original glass (101). , Scan the original (102). The control of this drive system may be performed by the CPU (3) shown in FIG. 5, or a CPU other than this may be provided. A reference white plate (103) is provided on the original glass (101) outside the original area. The color signal information on the original (102) thus obtained is output to a color printer device, an image memory device or the like serving as a recording medium through a processing system having a block configuration as shown in FIG. The attribute of image editing is designated by the operation panel (15), and the attribute data is stored in the attribute memory (8) via the CPU (3).
Is stored. An output signal is obtained from the color signal obtained from CCD (1). First, the reference white plate (10
CPU (3) while getting CCD (1) output for 3)
Instructs the line RAM (6a, 6b, 6c) to write the image signal. The CPU (3) refers to this content, and the A / D converter (4a, 4a, 4a, 4a, 4a, 4a, 4a, 4a, 4b, 4c) reference voltages (V _ref R, V _ref G, V _ref B) are set. After setting V _ref R, G, B, the data written in the line RAM (6a, 6b, 6c) is held as reference data for shading correction. Now, when the scanner enters the original area, the CPU
(3) sets the exposure amount of the fluorescent lamp (101) based on the exposure amount data preset by the operation unit (15). Each color signal under such exposure amount is A /
Converted to digital value by D converter (4a, 4b, 4c),
After the shading correction processing is performed by the shading circuits (5a, 5b, 5c), it is input to the color processing circuit (7).
The color processing circuit (7) generates signals Y, M, C after masking correction processing according to the ink characteristics of the output printing device. If the output device is a printer for frame sequential printing, the method of repeating the scan for the number of print colors and outputting the required output signal (either Y, M, or C) for each scan is advantageous from the viewpoint of memory reduction. Is. (Here, the description is given in the form of sequential output, but if you want to obtain Y, M, and C at the same time, you can essentially parallelize the print color components after the color processing circuit. Among the output signals of the color processing circuit (7), any one of Y, M and C is shown as "color mode signal" in FIG. Further, the color density averages (or weighted averages) of red, green and blue are calculated at the same time and output as a "monochrome mode signal". This corresponds to the density signal when the original is handled as monochrome. Both the "color mode signal" and the "monochrome mode signal" are input to the selector (9). The selector (9) is provided with a bit d ₄ indicating attribute memory information at a position corresponding to the current document reading position as a select signal. When d ₄ = φ, a monochrome mode signal is transmitted downstream, and d _{When 4} = 1, the color mode signal is transmitted. The dither ROM (11) generates a halftone threshold value, and the threshold value is generated in a matrix cycle of (m × n). Selector (10) uses dither ROM according to attribute information d _5.
The data from (11) and binary threshold information are selected and sent to the comparison circuit (12). The comparison circuit (12) compares the signal (image signal) of the selector (9) with the signal (threshold information) from the selector (10). Further, d ₇ and d _{4 to} d ₁ are input to the comparison circuit (12) as control signals. Where d ₇ =
If φ, d ₄ = φor1, the output of the comparison circuit (12) is always a constant value according to the color code. For example, when the scan for obtaining the Y signal is being performed now, the output of the comparison circuit is "1" if d ₁ = 1 and the output is "φ" if d ₁ = φ. If d ₇ = 1 and d ₄ = φ, if the bit of the color code related to the print color to be scanned is 1, the comparison result is output as it is. If the bit is φ, the comparison circuit (12)
Output is "φ". If _{d 7 = 1, d 4 =} 1, the comparison result directly outputs. To the selection output circuit (14),
The inverted data is also sent via the inverter (13). The selective output circuit (14) outputs inverted or non-inverted data in synchronization with the effective image signal from the CPU (3) according to d ₆ , and outputs it to a printer device and a memory device (not shown). (C) Image Synthesis Next, the function of the attribute information d ₀ (synthesis) will be described. With this information, an image in which a plurality of originals are combined can be easily obtained. SW (16) to start and end composite editing
The CPU (3) is instructed by operating. In the following, a case will be described as an example where an image c obtained by combining two originals a and b is obtained as shown in FIG. Here, the method of obtaining a composite image is effective only when information cannot be overwritten such that the recording medium fixes the toner on the paper, and when overwriting is performed as in the memory device (buffer memory of the output device). When it becomes, it is slightly different. The method of advancing recording from the foreground to the background (a method) in the former case and the method of advancing recording from the background to the foreground in the latter case (b method) are determined by the CPU performing processing on the attribute memory. Therefore, a user should select a switch such as SW (17) in FIG. 5, for example, if SW (17) is OFF, the a method is used, and if SW (17) is ON, the b method is used. Make it selectable. <C-1> Image combining method according to the present invention First, the former method will be described with reference to FIG. When SW (16) is turned on (SW (17) is turned off) and the start of composite editing is transmitted to the CPU (3), the CPU (3) stores the attribute memory (8) in FIG. 1 (a). Like this, the whole surface is'white 'and d ₀ = 1
Initialize so that Then, an attribute is set for the portion on which the trimming operation is performed on the first original (foreground) a by an appropriate input means (not shown) of the operation panel (15) (FIG. 1 (b)). Here, the part of the house of the original a is set to halftone full color. When the scanning operation is performed once in this state, an image as shown in FIG. 1C is formed on the recording medium. After the end of this scanning operation, the CPU (3) automatically prohibits the recording of the contents of the attribute memory (8), as shown in FIG. 1 (d), for the part that is not'white 'once edited (d ₀ ← φ). And Next, edit the second manuscript (background) b.
In (3), rewriting of the attribute memory (8) is not performed for the region where d ₀ = φ is set. In other words, it is not necessary to be aware of the region in which the image was formed last time in the next edit. For example, even if the original b is set to full-color halftone full color, the contents of the attribute memory are set as shown in FIG. 1 (e). When a scanning operation is performed on the same recording medium on which the image was formed last time in such a state, an image is formed as shown in FIG. 1 (f). As a result, the composite image c shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. Here, the information of d ₀ is also input to the selection output circuit (14), and when d ₀ = φ, φ (not printed) is always output to the output of the selection output circuit (14). It In this example, after two scans, d ₀ = φ for the entire area of the attribute memory. However, the color area (φ1 × φφφφ
If 1) remains, it is possible to perform composition for an unlimited number of times even if editing is performed twice or more. To end this synthesis mode, turn off SW (16). Next, a description will be given of composite editing when the recording medium of the output device is a memory device (buffer memory) that can be overwritten. In the case of a memory device or the like, if'white 'is written on an area where an image has been written once, that area will be rewritten to'white'. Therefore, the above method cannot be applied as it is. Therefore, d ₀ is transmitted to the memory device in synchronization with image output.
The memory device writes the image output to the memory if d ₀ = 1 and prohibits the writing if d ₀ = φ and holds the previously written information. Other points are based on the above-mentioned paper as a recording medium. <C-2> In the above method, recording is repeated sequentially from the foreground to the background. However, when data is overwritten like a memory device (buffer memory of an output device), the information written later is effective. In such a case, it is possible to use a method in which overwriting is repeated in order from the background to synthesize. A combining method of recording from the background to the foreground will be described below with reference to FIG. First, turn on SW (16) and SW (17), and start CP editing.
Informed to U (3). Next, the attribute information for the document b (background) is sent to the CPU by an appropriate input means on the operation panel (15).
Set via (3). (FIG. 7 (a)). Here, the overall halftone. When the scanning operation is performed in this state, an image (background) as shown in FIG. 7B is formed on the recording medium on the memory. After completion of this scan, the CPU (3) automatically sets the contents of the attribute memory (8) to the entire area d _{0 as} shown in FIG. 7 (c).
= Φ (recording prohibited) is initialized. Subsequently, trimming editing is performed on the original a. At this time, even if d ₀ = φ, the attribute memory (8) can be rewritten. In this way, the attribute memory (8) as shown in FIG. 7D is generated for the original a. That is, the trimmed portion has d ₀ = 1 and is set to an appropriate attribute mode (halftone here). The scanning operation is performed on the document a in the state of the attribute memory. At that time, the information of d ₀ is also transmitted to the recording device in synchronization with the image output. If d ₀ = 1, the recording device overwrites the image output on the image of FIG. 7B (writes the image as shown in FIG. 7E). On the contrary, if d ₀ = φ. If writing is prohibited. In this way, the composite image c (FIG. 6) of the originals a and b is formed. In this case as well, by repeating the same editing operation, the composite editing is performed without any limitation on the number of times. To end this synthesis mode, turn off SW (16). (Effects of the Invention) No working memory is required for composite editing. Since the image is not output from the next time on the area where the image is output once, the user does not need to consider the protection for overwriting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e),
(F) is a figure which sequentially shows image composition. FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of color image editing. FIG. 3 is a diagram of the attribute data stored in the attribute memory. FIG. 4 is a diagram of an optical system for reading a document. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the image data processing circuit. FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example of image synthesis. 7 (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) are diagrams sequentially showing image composition. 1 ... CCD, 3 ... CPU, 8 ... Attribute memory, 15 ... Operation panel.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image reading unit that reads an image using an image sensor, and an attribute setting unit that sets an editing attribute including a rewrite-prohibited attribute for each predetermined area of the image. Attribute setting means for setting an attribute that does not set and outputs white, attribute storage means for storing the editing attribute set by the attribute setting means, image synthesis instruction means for instructing image synthesis, and attribute storage means The data of the image read by the image reading means corresponding to the editing attribute stored in is edited and output to the output device, and the area having the rewrite prohibited attribute when output to the output device is white. And the image editing means for outputting the image rewriting the editing attribute of the area where the output other than white is performed every time the image editing means outputs the image when the image synthesizing instructing means instructs the image synthesizing. Image editing apparatus characterized by having an image editing control means for rewriting the attribute of the stop. 2. An image reading unit that reads an image using an image sensor, and an attribute setting unit that sets an editing attribute including a rewrite-prohibited attribute for each predetermined area of the image. Attribute setting means for setting an attribute that does not set and outputs white, attribute storage means for storing the editing attribute set by the attribute setting means, image synthesis instruction means for instructing image synthesis, and attribute storage means Image editing means for editing the data of the image read by the image reading means corresponding to the editing attribute stored in, and outputting the edited image data and the rewrite-prohibited attribute in synchronization with the output device. An image in which the editing attribute of an area other than white is rewritten to the rewrite-prohibited attribute every time the image editing means outputs an image when the image synthesizing instruction means instructs image synthesizing Image editing apparatus characterized by having a current control means.