JP3249498B2 - Image synthesis recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image synthesizing and recording apparatus for synthesizing and recording a plurality of image parts having an arbitrary image format among pictures, figures, and line drawings.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in the field of plate making, a line drawing including a pattern, a tint (flat net), characters and ruled lines as parts having different image formats is synthesized, and a desired entire image is formed on a photosensitive film as a recording medium. Recording is performed, and a layout system, a typesetting system, and the like are conventionally used.

That is, a pattern or tint is recorded on a photosensitive film by collecting a whole image of one page, for example, by a layout system, and then a desired character is created on the photosensitive film by a typesetting system. Record. Then, the final overall image is created by manually synthesizing a photosensitive film on which a pattern or tint is recorded and a photosensitive film on which characters are recorded.

On the other hand, in recent years, for example,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 79791, there has been proposed a system for eliminating complicated manual operations. In this system, a shaded picture signal and a character signal are input to a signal synthesizing circuit, and one of the signals is selectively output according to a mask signal corresponding to a character contour, so that a picture and a character are combined. Is synthesized.

Further, when a pattern and a pattern, or a pattern and a ruled line are combined in a layout system, unnecessary filling and white spots are generated at the boundary of the pattern because the resolution of the pattern is low, and this is prevented. Technology is
For example, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-19194.
In this technique, first, a specific code for identifying a boundary pixel corresponding to a boundary portion is provided, and whether or not the target pixel is a boundary pixel is identified by the specific code. If the target pixel is a boundary pixel, a new picture signal (small picture signal) corresponding to the minute section is created based on the picture signals of the pixels selected from the periphery of the target pixel, and this small picture signal is generated. The composition of the boundary portion is performed by using this. Here, the minute section is a section obtained by subdividing a small section corresponding to a pixel of a picture, and the synthesis of the boundary portion is processed with high resolution.

[0006]

However, these prior arts have the following problems. That is, in the former technique, since either the pattern signal or the character signal is selectively output in accordance with the mask signal corresponding to the character outline, there is a limit on the image format that can be synthesized,
For example, it is not possible to combine a pattern and a pattern, or a pattern and a tint.

In the latter technique, whether or not a target pixel is a boundary pixel is identified, and a specific code must be provided in order to identify the pixel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims at solving the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and there is no restriction on the image format, and high-resolution image components are synthesized at the boundary without the need for a specific code. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image synthesizing and recording apparatus that can perform the above. Another object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of performing efficient processing in such an image synthesizing and recording apparatus.

[0009]

An image synthesizing and recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a contour coordinate signal indicating a contour of an image component in units of minute sections, and the contour coordinate signal includes an attribute indicating the image format of the image component. A signal and a priority signal indicating a priority recording order of each image part are attached. Further, when the image part is a tint image, a tint signal indicating a tint value in a contour figure is attached to a contour coordinate signal, while the image part is a pattern. In the case of an image, based on a layout signal accompanied by an identification signal for identifying a picture signal, an image synthesizing and recording apparatus for synthesizing and scanning-recording a plurality of image parts edited to form an entire image, wherein the picture signal is , there is shown the concentration of each picture pixel to the pre-Symbol cubicle greater than microcompartments a unit, based on said contour coordinate signal and said priority signal,
The attribute signal of the image component related to the intersection is added to a position signal indicating the coordinates of the intersection of the scanning line as the array of the minute sections and the contour of the image component with the highest priority in the recording order, and the attribute signal is a tint image. In the case of indicating, a change point signal creating means for creating a change point signal obtained with the tint value related to the intersection for each intersection coordinate, and sequentially reading out the change point signal, the image for each of the minute sections An image synthesis signal is output based on a clock signal that defines recording, and when the attribute signal indicates a tint image, the tint value is continuously output while holding the tint value up to the intersection coordinates of the next change point signal. Also, when the attribute signal indicates a picture image, the picture synthesis signal is generated by outputting the picture signal specified by the identification signal based on the clock signal. Characterized in that it comprises an image synthesizing means.

[0010]

[Action] In the image synthesizing recording apparatus according to the present invention, on the basis of the outline coordinates signals and priority signals, change point signal is generated by the change point signal generating means. Change point This signal, includes an attribute signal of the position signal and the image part to a small compartment with a unit, if the further indicating the attribute signals tint image also includes a tint value related to the intersection .

[0011] image synthesizing means sequentially reads the change point signal,
If the attribute signal included in the change point signal indicating the tint image, as well as continuous output holds the tint value to the intersection coordinates of the next change point signal, if the attribute signal indicating the picture image, microcompartments An image composite signal is generated by outputting a picture signal specified by the identification signal based on a lock signal that specifies image recording for each image .

[0012] attribute signals to create the change point signal generating means, so changing the microcompartments as unit, the image synthesizing unit pattern, a tint is synthesized in units of small compartments.

[0013]

Embodiment <1. Overview of Image Synthesizing and Recording According to the Present Invention> First, an outline of the technique of the present invention for synthesizing and recording image components will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the entire image 1 for one page for which editing has been completed. Image components 2a to 2e are arranged in the whole image 1. The image format of the image component 2a is tint, and the inside of the tint figure indicating the recording area is recorded with a fixed dot%. Its net%
Is, for example, 50%. Each of the image formats of the image components 2b and 2c is a pattern, and the periphery thereof is formed by a mask figure indicating a recording area of the pattern. The image format of the image part 2d is a character that is a type of line drawing. Line drawings such as characters and ruled lines are 0-1
It is recorded with a fixed halftone dot in the range of 00% (in this embodiment, also expressed as a tint value). The image format of the background portion 2e of these image components 2a to 2d is, for example, tint having a tint value of 10%.

A layout signal corresponds to each of these image parts, and information obtained by editing work,
For example, the layout signal indicates the arrangement coordinates of the pattern itself, the vertex coordinates of a mask figure indicating the recording area of the pattern, and the like.

The image parts 2a, 2b, 2c and 2e are accompanied by a common graphic layout signal (PG signal), and the image parts 2b and 2c are further provided with a picture layout signal (CT).
Signal). The PG signal includes vertex coordinate values of a tint figure and a mask figure (in the collective case, simply referred to as a figure), format information indicating an image format, a tint value when the image format is tint, and a picture format. The corresponding CT signal identification value and priority information indicating the priority (priority recording order) of the overlapping portion are included in the CT signal, and the CT signal includes the arrangement coordinate value at which the picture is arranged and the density value (floor value) of each pixel of the picture. (Signal value).

With respect to a line drawing, a layout signal differs depending on a notation format of an image. When a line image is represented by an outline vector (outline font), it can be treated as a tint, and thus a PG signal is attached. On the other hand, when a line image is represented by a run length, a line drawing layout signal (LW signal) including a run length value and a tint value is attached. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the line image is represented by the run length, and the image component 2d is accompanied by the LW signal.

The coordinate system relating to the CT signal, the PG signal, and the LW signal is based on each pixel corresponding to a section arranged along the main scanning direction MS and the sub-scanning direction SS.

As for the size of the pixel, two types are used depending on the image format. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the size of a pixel. Regarding the PG signal and the LW signal, for example, when an image is finally recorded on a photosensitive film using an exposure beam of an output device, a minute section having a size of 2 × 2 in units of a spot SP which is a minimum exposure unit. Is expressed in units of micro pixels μPIX. Further, with respect to the CT signal, a picture is expressed in units of a pixel PIX, which is a small section of 5 × 5 in units of micro pixels μPIX. In other words, figures and line drawings have their shapes expressed with a resolution corresponding to the size of the micro pixel μPIX, and pictures have density of the pattern expressed with a resolution corresponding to the pixel PIX. In FIG. 3, the outline of the halftone dot NP of 50% is simultaneously drawn. The outline of the halftone dot corresponding to the predetermined density is recorded in units of the spot SP.

In order to record the entire image 1 on the photosensitive film, first, a change point signal is created based on the PG signal attached to the edited image part. Returning to FIG. 2, 1 in units of micro pixels μPIX along the main scanning direction MS.
Taking one scanning line L as an example, a change point signal is created accompanying each one of the change points VP1 to VP6 on the scan line L. The change points are the outline of the whole image 1 and the outline of the line drawing,
It means an intersection between a scanning line L and a portion that should appear on the entire image 1 in the outline of each image component such as the outline of a figure, and its position is defined in micropixel μPIX units. A change point signal is generated for each of these change points, and the position of the corresponding change point on the entire image 1 and the image format starting from the change point along the scanning line L as a boundary is a tint or a line drawing. Includes a tint value, a code for identifying a CT signal representing the picture when the picture is started, and the like. That is, the change point signal represents an image format in which recording starts at the change point. The change point signal is created over all scan lines on the entire image 1.

Next, the entire image 1 is recorded on the photosensitive film based on the change point signal. Taking a case where an image is recorded along the scanning line L as an example, in a section from the change point VP1 to the change point VP2, a tint with a tint value of 10% is generated based on the change point signal accompanying the change point VP1. Be recorded. In the section from the change point VP3 to the change point VP4, based on the change point signal accompanying the change point VP3,
The first CT signal is selected, and the picture represented by the CT signal is recorded in halftone dots. In other sections, recording is performed in the same manner.

As described above, the CT signal expresses a picture in units of the pixel PIX. On the other hand, the outlines of figures and line drawings are expressed in units of micro pixels μPIX that are finer than the pixels PIX. As described above, the boundaries between image parts, including the boundaries between patterns and the boundaries between patterns and other image formats, are formed with figures, so the shape of the boundaries is finely defined in micropixel μPIX units. Be recorded.
When the border separates the picture, the picture is also recorded based on the halftone density value of the pixel PIX to which the micro pixel μPIX belongs, which is adjacent to the border and belongs to the picture area.

That is, according to the present invention, a plurality of image parts having an arbitrary image format among a picture, a figure, and a line drawing are converted into micro-pixels μPIX according to the result of editing the image parts.
It can be synthesized and recorded with a high resolution of unit.

<2. Vector raster conversion processing> FIG.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are flowcharts showing the procedure of processing based on the composite recording method in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a synthesizing recording apparatus that realizes the procedures shown in these flowcharts. This embodiment will be described with reference to these drawings.

In FIG. 6, the editing is completed, and a layout signal representing the image parts constituting the whole image 1 is stored in a storage medium such as the hard disk 101, for example. This layout signal includes a CT signal and a P signal as described above.
G signal and LW signal are included.

As shown in FIG. 6, a data discriminating unit 103 of the vector raster conversion processing unit 102 inputs a layout signal stored in the hard disk 101. The data determining unit 103 determines whether the input layout signal is a CT signal, a PG signal, or an LW signal (step S1). This embodiment has a configuration in which two types of CT signals (CT1 and CT2) can be combined. In the example of FIG. 2, for example, the pattern of the image component 2b is represented by the pattern layout signal CT1, and the pattern of the image component 2c is represented by the pattern layout signal CT2.

If the signal input to the data discriminating unit 103 is the picture layout signal CT1, the picture signal P1 included in the picture layout signal CT1 is stored in the CT1 page memory 104 based on the picture layout coordinates (step S1). S2 and S3), on the other hand, the picture layout signal CT2
If so, the picture signal P2 included in the picture layout signal CT2 is stored in the CT2 page memory 105 based on the picture arrangement coordinates (steps S4 and S5).

The PG signal input to the data discriminator 103 is sent to the vector converter 106 (step S).
6). The vector conversion unit 106 creates a vector signal representing the start point and the end point of the vector forming the figure based on the vertex coordinate values of the figure included in the PG signal (step S).
7). The vector signal is sent to the intersection conversion unit 107, and is converted into an intersection signal expressing the vector by the coordinates of a point sequence in units of micropixels μPIX (step S8). The intersection signal is stored in the intersection memory 10 together with the priority recording order, tint value, or identification value of the corresponding CT signal of the PG signal.
8 (step S9).

The LW signal input to the data discriminator 103 is stored in the intersection memory 108. At this time, the run length value included in the LW signal is converted into a coordinate value in units of micropixel μPIX, and stored together with the tint value of the line drawing.

The above steps are repeated, and when the processing for all the layout signals is completed (step S
1) The intersection signals stored in the intersection memory 108 are sorted in the main scanning direction MS based on the coordinate values and rearranged (step S10). Then, the rearranged intersection signals are transferred to the merge processing unit 109 in the arrangement order.

The merge processing unit 109 performs a merge process on the intersection signal to generate a change point signal. The merge processing is to delete the intersection signals that do not appear in the entire image 1 based on the priority recording order, and a change point signal is created based on the remaining intersection signals (step S11). When the priority recording order information is not included in the LW signal, the LW signal may be set to the highest order. After the LW signal is converted into a change point signal, the image format is handled as tint.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a change point signal. The change point signal has an end flag, an attribute signal, and a position signal. The end flag is a 1-bit signal indicating that the scanning has reached the last micro pixel μPIX on the scanning line along one main scanning direction MS. The attribute signal is a 2-bit signal that indicates the image format of an image component to start recording at the transition point along the scanning line.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the attribute signal. The attribute signal indicates whether the image format of the image component to be started to be recorded based on the priority recording order at the transition point is tint, pattern, or, in the case of a pattern, two types of CT signals. Is specified. There are four types of attribute signals corresponding to four types of color plates to be recorded, that is, a yellow plate (Y plate), a magenta plate (M plate), a cyan plate (C plate), and a black plate (K plate). , Represented by a total of 8 bits. The position signal expresses the coordinate value of the position of the change point in units of the micro pixel μPIX. When the attribute signal designates a tint, a tint signal representing the tint value accompanies the change point signal. As shown in FIG. 7, the tint signal specifies a density value (gradation value) with 8 bits for each color plate. Therefore, even if the section from one change point to the next change point along the scanning line is any of a tint, a pattern, and a line drawing, the density of the pixel to be recorded in that section is indirectly a change point signal, particularly Expressed by attribute signals.

<3. Page Memory> Returning to FIG. 6, the change point signal created by the merge processing unit 109 is stored in the change point signal page memory 111 from the merge processing unit 109 (steps S14 and S15). The change point signal is
When tint is designated as an attribute, an accompanying tint signal is further output from the merge processing unit 109 and stored in the tint signal page memory 112 (step S
16, step S17). The above processing is performed by the output device 200
Is executed asynchronously with the operation of. Page memory 10
Reference numerals 4, 105, 111, and 112 denote a kind of buffer provided for time adjustment between the asynchronous processing described above and a synchronous processing subsequent to this processing and synchronized with the operation of the output device 200.

<4. Output Machine> Prior to the description of the synchronization process, an outline of the structure of an output machine 200 which is a device for finally recording a halftone dot on a photosensitive film will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the output device 200. The output device 200 records a halftone dot on a photosensitive film installed on the rotating drum 201 based on a halftone signal sent from a dot generator 122 described later. Exposure head 202
Has, for example, ten exposure beam irradiators (not shown), and these exposure beam irradiators modulate the exposure beam in accordance with the halftone signal values "1" and "0". A photosensitive film 204 is attached to the rotating drum 201, and four types of halftone images corresponding to Y, M, C, and K plates are recorded on the photosensitive film 204. Each time the rotary drum 201 makes one rotation, the exposure beam irradiation device moves in the sub-scanning direction SS, which is a direction along the rotation axis of the rotary drum 201, at intervals corresponding to ten beams.
As a result, the photosensitive film 204 has the main scanning direction M
Halftone dots are recorded along both S and the sub-scanning direction SS. The controller 203 adjusts the rotation speed of the rotating drum 201 and the scanning position of the exposure head 202, and transmits various clock signals to be described later to the line memory controller 210 in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating drum.

<5. Microline Memory and Line Memory> In FIG. 6, the data transfer CPU 212 makes one rotation of the rotating drum 201 in synchronization with a clock signal Y-ORG that is transmitted from the output device 200 and has a pulse that rises every one rotation of the rotating drum 201. Page memory 10 for each
The signals stored in 4, 105, 111, and 112 are loaded into the micro line memories 114 to 115 and the line memories 116 and 117. Micro line memories 114 to 115, and line memories 116 and 117
Stores five signals on a scanning line (micro line) in which micro pixels μPIX are arranged along the main scanning direction MS. The micro line memories 114 to 115 store signals for each micro pixel μPIX, and the line memories 116 and 117 store signals for each pixel PIX. Two of these micro line memories 114 to 115 and two line memories 116 and 117 are prepared, and a signal is read from the other while a signal is being written to one of them. This makes it possible to eliminate a pause period in these memories, thereby enabling a synchronous process in synchronization with the operation of the output device 200.

Between the page memories 111 to 112 and the corresponding micro line memories 114 to 115, signals stored in the page memories 111 to 112 are applied to each micro line in the micro line memories 114 to 115. Multiplexers 119-120 are provided to distribute to each one of the five corresponding storage parts.

The setting of signals for the first ten micro lines in the micro line memories 114 to 115 and the line memories 116 and 117 is completed (step S1).
8, S19) and the photosensitive film 2 in the output device 200.
04 starts recording (step S20). Each time recording of five microlines is completed (step S21), signals for the next five microlines are set (step S22). Steps S18, S19,
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the above-described procedure in steps S22 and S22.
Shown in The recording of the entire image 1 ends (step S2).
3), and the process ends.

In the micro line memories 114 to 115, signals are stored for each address corresponding to each one of the micro pixels μPIX along the micro line. This signal has a meaningful signal only at the address corresponding to the transition point and has no meaning at other addresses, for example, "
In other words, the microline memory 114 stores an attribute signal at an address corresponding to a change point, and has a signal at other addresses.
Has a meaningless signal. Micro line memory 115
Then, at the address corresponding to the change point, the tint value of the tint whose recording is started from this change point is stored,
Insignificant signals are stored in other addresses. On the other hand, the line memories 116 and 117 have the main scanning direction MS.
The density value is stored for each pixel PIX at each address corresponding to the pixel PIX on the scanning line (line) in which the pixels PIX are arranged along.

<6. Microline synthesis section> The following processing corresponds to step S20 in FIG. The micro line synthesizing unit 121 includes a micro line memory 114
To 115 and the signals stored in the line memories 116 and 117 are sequentially input each time the address is incremented. The increment of the address is performed by the line memory controller 210. That is, the line memory controller 210
The address of the micro line memories 114 to 115 is incremented in synchronism with the clock signal μPIX-CLK in which a pulse rises for each recording of one micro pixel μPIX. In synchronization with the clock signal PIX-CLK in which a pulse rises every time the
6, 117 are incremented.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the microline synthesis unit 121. The micro line synthesizing unit 121 has five built-in data selectors DS1 to DS5 corresponding to five micro lines, and based on an attribute signal sent from the micro line memory 114,
Micro line memory 115 and line memory 11
6 and 117, the tint signal and the picture signal P1,
Select any one of P2 and the dot generator 12
Supply to 2.

The picture signals P1 and P2, the tint signal, and the attribute signal are sent to the latches L1 to L4 via the buffers BF1 to BF4, respectively. The latches L1 to L4 hold the input signal at the output in synchronization with the clock signal μPIX-CLK.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the latch L3 corresponding to one bit of the tint signal of one micro line. The latch L3 has an 8 × 5 system in parallel with an 8-bit tint signal and 5 systems of micro lines. D flip-flop DFF1 holds an input signal at its output in synchronization with clock signal μPIX-CLK. AND gate AND1 is
A new tint signal is output only when the lower bit B0 and the upper bit B1 (FIG. 8) of the attribute signal are "1" and "0", respectively. AND gate AND
D2 is a value "0" for both the lower bit B0 and the upper bit B1.
And outputs the held value immediately before being updated in the D flip-flop DFF1. OR gate O
R1 outputs a logical sum of these outputs. Therefore, the output of the D flip-flop DFF1 outputs a new tint signal only when the attribute signal specifies tint, and keeps its value until the attribute signal specifies tint again.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the latch L4 corresponding to one micro line. Latch L4 corresponds to five micro lines,
This structure has five systems in parallel. The D flip-flops DFF2 and DFF3 output the clock signal μPIX-CL
The input signal is held at the output in synchronization with K. The AND gates AND3 and AND4 output the held values immediately before being updated in the D flip-flops DFF2 and DFF3, respectively, only when the lower bit B0 and the upper bit B1 of the attribute signal are both "0". The OR gate OR2 outputs the logical sum of the output of the AND gate AND3 and the lower bit B0. OR gate OR3 is connected to AND gate AND4
And the logical OR of the upper bit B1. Therefore,
The output of the D flip-flops DFF2 and DFF3 is updated to the value of each of the lower and upper bits B0 and B1 of the attribute signal when any of the lower and upper bits B1 is not "0". While
Keep holding the updated value.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the data selector DS1. Data selector DS2 to DS
Each 1 of 5 has the same structure as that of FIG. The data selector DS1 has eight 1-bit data selectors DSU in parallel, corresponding to the fact that the picture signals P1, P2 and the tint signal all have a data length of 8 bits. According to the instruction of the attribute signal, the data selector DSU selects one of the picture signals P1, P2 and the tint signal.
Select one and output.

<7. The dot generator> dot generator 122 is a device portion that creates a halftone signal corresponding to the density value of each micro pixel μPIX input from the micro line synthesizing section 121. Dot generator 1
22 simultaneously processes five microlines.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the dot generator 122. Density values μPix1 to μPix1 corresponding to micropixels μPIX on five microlines
μPix5 is the screen gradation SGD1 to SGD
GD5 respectively. The screen gradations SGD1 to SGD5 perform a certain type of gradation conversion on the input density value based on a predetermined rule and output the result. A screen pattern signal is stored in the screen pattern memory SPM. The screen pattern signal is a basis for generating a halftone dot, and defines a threshold value in which a numerical value in the range of, for example, 0 to 255 corresponds to each 1 of the spot which is the minimum recording unit of the halftone dot. . Comparator C
P1 to CP10 compare, for each channel, the threshold value represented by the screen pattern signal and the density value corrected by the screen gradations SGD1 to SGD5, and output a halftone signal according to the result of the comparison.

<8. Example of Operation> FIG. 15 and FIG.
3 is a timing chart of various signals when the image synthesis recording apparatus of this embodiment records the entire image 1 shown in FIG. 2 as an example along a microline L. FIG. 2 shows an address corresponding to the micro pixel μPIX where each change point is located. 15 and 16, P1, P2, the tint signal, and the attribute signal are the values of those signals input to the microline synthesis unit 121 (FIGS. 6 and 10). ,
The latched tint signal and the latched attribute signal are output values of the latches L1 to L4 (FIG. 10). The dot signals in FIGS. 15 and 16 are data selectors DS1 to DS5.
It is the output value in any of (FIG. 10).

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the values of the picture signals P1 and P2 are updated in synchronization with the rise of the clock signal PIX-CLK. Tint signal,
And the attribute signal has a significant value only at the address corresponding to the transition point, and has no meaning except at the transition point.
For example, the tint signal and the attribute signal are 50% at the address 100 corresponding to the change point VP2.
, And a value “01” indicating the tint. In contrast, the post-latch tint and the post-latch attribute signal continue to hold their values at the transition point until the appearance of the next transition point, respectively.

After the appearance of the change point, 1 is selected from the post-latch P1, the post-latch P2, and the post-latch tint corresponding to the designated value of the attribute signal, and is output as a composite signal.
The position of the change point is determined in units of micro pixels μPIX, and switching between the picture signals P1, P2 and the tint signal is performed in units of micro pixels μPIX. In FIGS. 15 and 16, symbols P100 to P140 indicate a pattern signal P.
1 to represent the 40th signal and the symbols P200 to P
Reference numeral 202 denotes the 00th to 02nd signals of the picture signal P2. That is, in the device of this embodiment, the picture signals P1 and P2 and the micro pixel μPIX are provided for each pixel PIX.
A tint signal is prepared for each
Compositing is performed by appropriately switching from one of them to another one at a change point determined in X units.

Therefore, even when a plurality of boundaries occur in one pixel PIX, an image can be appropriately synthesized.
In this embodiment, the tint signal and the picture signals P1 and P2 can be arbitrarily combined in the pixel PIX. However, if it is desired to combine more picture signals, the page memories 104 and 105 are used. And line memory 11
6 and 117, it is possible to add a page memory and a line memory, add an input port of the micro line synthesizing unit 121, and add an attribute bit of a change point signal.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is no restriction on the image format, and the image parts can be synthesized with high resolution at the boundary without the need for a specific code. Therefore, it is possible to synthesize images with high precision and quality without complicated manual operations.

[0052] Further, change point signal generating means, in order to create a change point signal for each intersection coordinates, if the attribute signal about the intersection indicates the tint image, change point by accompanying the tint value related to the intersection Create a signal. Further, the image combining means sequentially reads the change point signal, indicating the attribute signals the tint image is continuously output by holding the tint value to the intersection coordinates of the next change point signal. Therefore, especially for a tint image, efficient processing becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an entire image 1 for one page after editing is completed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a pixel size.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an overall block diagram of an image synthesizing and recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a change point signal.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of an attribute signal.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an output device 200.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of a microline synthesis unit 121.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of a latch L3 corresponding to one bit of a tint signal of one microline.

FIG. 12 shows a latch L4 corresponding to one micro line.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of a part of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of a data selector DS1.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a dot generator.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart of various signals in the image synthesizing and recording apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a timing chart of various signals in the image synthesizing and recording apparatus of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Whole image 2a-2e Image parts VP1-VP6 Change point 102 Vector raster conversion processing part 121 Microline synthesis part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Sano 4-chome Tenjin, Horikawa-dori-Terauchi, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 1 Daikoku Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Cl ^7, DB name) H04N 1/38 -. 1/393 G03F 1/00 G06T 3/00 300 G09G 5/36 G09G 5/377

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A contour coordinate signal indicating a contour of an image component in units of minute sections, wherein an attribute signal indicating an image format of the image component and a priority signal indicating a priority recording order of each image component are included in the contour coordinate signal. In addition, if the image component is a tint image, a tint signal indicating a tint value in a contour figure is attached to the contour coordinate signal when the image component is a tint image, while an identification signal for identifying the pattern signal is attached to the image component if the image component is a pattern image. based on the layout signal, the image synthesizing recording apparatus for synthesizing a plurality of image objects is edited in order to constitute a full image scanning and recording, the picture signal is pre-Symbol cubicle greater than microcompartments units The density of each picture pixel is indicated, and based on the contour coordinate signal and the priority signal, a scanning line as an array of the minute sections and a ring of image components having the highest priority in the recording order. The position signal indicating the coordinates of the intersection with the attribute signal of the image component related to the intersection, and if the attribute signal indicates a tint image, the change point obtained with the tint value related to the intersection A change point signal generating means for generating a signal for each intersection coordinate, and sequentially reading the change point signal, and outputting an image composite signal based on a clock signal defining image recording for each of the minute sections, When the attribute signal indicates a tint image, the tint value is continuously output while holding the tint value up to the intersection coordinates of the next change point signal, and when the attribute signal indicates a picture image, the tint value is determined based on the clock signal. An image synthesizing unit that generates the image synthesizing signal by outputting the picture signal specified by the identification signal.