JPH0467832B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a graphic information recording device for printing plate making that performs layout according to the contents of a layout board.

[Background technology]

In recent years, what is called a layout computer has come to be used for layout work in printing plate making, and for example, is used together with a scanner.
FIG. 6a shows a structure in which image data is taken in and printed on a film using this scanner, and FIG. 6b shows a structure in which a layout computer performs layout work.

Layout work using these is performed as follows. First, a document is pasted on the input drum 101 of the scanner 100, and the
The image data of the document is taken into the input computer 106 via the interface 105 along with the direction position data P _x and the Y direction position data P _y from the rotary encoder 104 , and is stored in the memory 107 .
Accumulate in. Image data is on layout mount (not shown)
Incorporate the appropriate range of the manuscript based on
Later, the layout computer 121 performs trimming.

The memory 107 in which image data has been written is separated from the input computer 106 and connected to the layout computer 121. As a result, the image data written in the memory 107 is displayed on the display 123. The operator observes this displayed image and moves the cursor by operating the joy stick 124 while referring to a layout board (not shown) to designate the trimming range, the position of the screen cover, etc. Further, the keyboard 122 is used to specify the magnification, printing surface color, and halftone percentage.

Since these data are written to the memory 110, after the writing is completed, the memory 110 is disconnected from the layout computer 121 and connected to the output computer 109. As a result, the data in the memory 110 is retrieved via the output computer 109 and the interface 108, and the data is transferred to the scanner 100.
The trimmed and laid out image is printed onto the film set on the output drum 102 of the printer.

[Problems with background technology]

Although layout work can be performed using a layout computer in this way, this work cannot necessarily be performed with high efficiency. Since the layout work is performed on the display of the layout computer, the position of the trimming range is likely to be inaccurate, and on the other hand, this means that the work requires skill. Layout work while looking at the display occupies the layout computer for a long time, and an expensive layout computer cannot necessarily be used effectively. Additionally, there was a request to save the information on each layout mount since the same work would have to be done from the beginning for similar layout mounts.

Next, looking at the flow of the plate-making process, when a customer sends in a color manuscript and a mount for printing, the color manuscript is sent to a department that determines the decomposition conditions, such as the magnification, based on the mount for the printing plate. The block mount is given to the division that creates the mask plates used in the collection division.
Since there is only one regular version mount per page, it cannot be used in multiple departments at the same time. Therefore, a duplication mount for copying or the like is used, but since the block mount is made of paper, it has poor storage stability and may expand or contract depending on the storage environment. Furthermore, errors are likely to occur due to duplicate copying, etc., and the layout dimensions often deviate from the original mount.

On the other hand, materials such as color manuscripts and mounts submitted by customers are handed over between different departments as mentioned above, so there are problems such as loss, and the progress of work must be managed on a page-by-page basis. It was difficult and inaccurate and we won.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and
To provide a graphic information recording device for printing plate making that does not require layout work using a display of a layout computer and enables work progress management of layout mounts and storage of layout mount information.

[Summary of the invention]

To achieve this objective, the present invention uses a tablet digitizer to input layout data such as position data of the trimming range, pattern number, dot %, and variable magnification and write it on a recording medium, as well as record the work history of the layout mount, The present invention provides a device that also writes information on the layout mount to the recording medium, thereby making it possible to collectively manage information regarding plate making.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, in which A is a drawing machine and B is a device that performs a trimming layout using the drawing results of the drawing machine A.

The drawing machine A includes a tablet digitizer 10,
Work with this tablet digitizer 10
Consists of CPU1 and other elements. The tablet digitizer 10 has a cursor 11, an input surface 1
2, the input surface 12 has a mount area 13, a first
A menu area 14 and a second menu area 15 are set. A floppy disk device 2, a plotter 3, and a mask cutter 4 are combined with the CPU 1.

The trimming layout device B has an input drum 2.
1. Scanner 20 having an output drum 22, a linear encoder 23, and a rotary encoder 24;
Interface 25, 26, computer 2
9, magnetic disks 28, 28 and a floppy disk device 2.

Next, the general operations of the drawing machine A and the trimming layout apparatus B will be explained.

First, for plotting machine A, a layout sheet is set on the tablet digitizer 10. The layout mount corresponds to the mount area 13 in the figure, and both the mount area and the layout mount are indicated by the reference numeral 13 in the figure. On this layout board 13, ruled lines indicating the range to be trimmed of the document and simple figures indicating the outline of the picture are drawn.

Then, position data is input by aligning the cursor 11 with the ruled line of the trimming range. However, if the trimming range is one of several predetermined shapes, for example a rectangle, a simple position data input method can be used. As will be described in detail later, this involves selecting "Rectangle" in the first menu area 14 with the cursor 11, and inputting only the two vertices of the rectangle, the upper left corner and the upper right corner, regarding the position.

After setting the trimming range in this way, input by placing the cursor 11 at a specific point on the picture, for example, the inner corner of the eye in the case of a person.

This means that the input of the trimming range and the position data of the specific point is completed, and the input is then performed using the second menu area 15. The input through the second menu area 15 is wide-ranging and will be described in detail later.

Input using tablet digitizer 10
It is recorded on the floppy disk 2 via the CPU 1. This floppy disk 2 is transferred to the trimming layout device B, and its recorded contents are used. Further, this recorded content is given to the plotter 3 and the master cutter 4 and used for photographing and printing characters, but since the characters have no particular relation to the trimming layout in the present invention, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

In the trimming layout device B, the computer 27 receives the position data and layout data recorded on the floppy disk 2 transferred from the drawing machine A, and processes the image data from the input drum 21 of the scanner 20.

A document is set on the input drum 21 of the scanner 20, and the aim of a magnifying glass (not shown) is aligned with a specific point on the document image. The outputs of the linear encoder 23 and rotary encoder 24 at this time are the coordinates of a specific point on the original image, and the coordinates of this specific point are used as a reference for extracting the output by scanning with the scanner 20 thereafter. That is, the image data taken out from the input drum 21 of the scanner 20 is sent to the linear encoder 23 and the rotary encoder 24.
It is provided to the computer 27 via the interface 25 along with the position signal from the . The computer 27 processes the image data from the scanner 20 based on the position data etc. from the floppy disk 2, extracts only the image data included in the trimming range, and further makes corrections based on the layout data. The image data that has undergone these processes is stored in memory 2.
8 is written.

As a result, when the manuscript input work is completed, data indicating that the input work has been completed, such as the memory number where the manuscript was input and the input date, is written on the floppy disk 2. Since a plurality of originals are usually laid out on the layout board, similar input operations are repeated one after another.

When all the documents necessary for the layout sheet have been inputted, the computer 27 reads each previously inputted image according to the layout information stored in the floppy disk 2, positions it, and adds halftone dots, living lines, etc. An image is formed and stored in the memory 28 as one final image. This corresponds to the editing work of the layout mount, and when this work is completed, data indicating that the editing work has been completed, such as the memory number and date at which this output image was created, is written on the floppy disk 2.

This memory 28 is then connected to a computer 27 for outputting an output image. In the figure, the memory 28 shown on the right represents the memory connected to the computer 27 for output. This memory 2
The contents of 8 are successively outputted by a computer 27 and applied to the output drum 22 of the scanner 20 via an interface 26. A film is mounted on the output drum 22 in advance, and exposure is performed according to the recorded data in the memory 28. As a result, a film original plate with trimmed layout is completed. This film manuscript has a manuscript image, halftone dots, lines, etc. imprinted on it.

This is the output work, and when this work is completed, data indicating that the output work has been completed, such as the date on which this output image was output, is written on the floppy disk 2.

With the above, a series of layout operations such as input, editing, and output for one layout mount is completed. At this point, the floppy disk 2 stores a set of work records in addition to the layout information of this layout board.

Next, each operation of the tablet digitizer of the drawing machine A will be explained based on FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the menu setting operation performed prior to setting the layout board and taking in data. As shown in FIG. 2, this operation first sets a menu area (S1), then divides the menu area and assigns menu items to each divided area (S2). FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the input surface 12 of the tablet digitizer.

A mount area 13, a first menu area 14, and a second menu area 15 are set on this input surface. The mount area 13 is set by inputting three points A1, A2, and A3 using a cursor in accordance with a layout mount (not shown). The layout board itself is used to input position data. The first menu area 14 lists graphics frequently used in tablet digitizers as items. Here, rectangles, circles, polygons,
The items are straight lines, and are generally set at positions as shown in the figure. The mount area 13 and first menu area 14 described above are provided in a normal tablet digitizer.

In contrast, the second menu area 15 is newly introduced in the present invention. However, since the numerical input has been conventionally used, the part excluding the numerical area has been added according to the present invention. And the menu item is
Layout items such as pattern number, magnification ratio (%), halftone → halftone %, living line color, plate color, specific point, operational items such as terminator and end, and color items C, Y, M, It is B. These show 0 to 9, decimal point, and number separator for numerical input.
In order to provide 28 areas including TAB and color patch numbers AAA, etc., a second menu area 15 is set by points B1, B2, and B3, and this is 28 areas.
Divide the area and assign each of the above items to each divided area.

Through this menu setting operation, the layout device according to the present invention becomes a tablet digitizer having the necessary functions.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a drawing operation performed using a tablet digitizer in which such a menu is set and operations based thereon, and the explanation will be made accordingly.

First, input the plate surface coordinates (S11). The plate surface coordinates refer to the coordinates of the mount area, and in Figure 3, A1~
Points to A3. Input these three points using a cursor. Next, input the plate color (S12). Here, an example of cyan C is shown, and the plate color is cyan 10%.
shall be. In this case, the cursor is used to sequentially designate "plate color", "C", "1", "0", and "TAB" in the second menu area.

After inputting the plate color, input the figure (S14). A figure refers to a figure indicating a trimming range and other figures drawn on the layout board, and is assumed to be a rectangle here. Therefore, following "Rectangle" in the first menu area, the two vertices at the upper right and lower right of the rectangular trimming range on the mount are input using the cursor.

This figure can be either a picture or a mesh. In the case of a pattern, the image data will be imported from the original later, and in the case of halftone dots, it will be filled in with a specified color. Then, it is determined whether or not the net is closed (S15), and an operation is performed accordingly. If it is not halftone, it is a picture, and in this case, the picture number is input (S16), the magnification is input (S17), and the specific point is input (S18). To input the picture number, perform the following operations: "Picture number", "1", and "TAB" (in the case of picture number 1). In addition, the variable magnification input is "variable magnification",
Operate "1", "2", "0", "TAB" (variable magnification
120%). The specific point input indicates the "specific point" followed by the "predetermined point on the mount."

In addition, in the case of netting, the color of the netting is input (S19). This is "Net Fuse", "C", "1", "0"
,
Perform "TAB", "Y", "2", "0", "TAB" (in the case of C10%, Y20%) After this, determine the presence or absence of living lines (frames for pictures, etc.) (S20) , if there is a live rule, input the color of the live rule (S21). This is "living ruled color", "M",
Press "5", "0", and "TAB" (for live ruled color M50).

Subsequently, by instructing the "terminator" (S22), the flow returns to the repetition point. The above-described operations can be performed on a new figure unless an instruction is given to "end". Further, when "end" is instructed, the operation of the drawing machine ends.

And all drawing data is floppy disk 2
(Figure 1). This floppy disk is transferred to the trimming and layout device as described above, and image data is taken in and a film original is created.

The steps in the above flowchart are arranged in a single line, and the order can of course be changed.

FIG. 5 shows the information recording operation on the recording medium 2 according to the present invention together with the devices involved.

First, the tablet digitizer 2 of the drawing machine 200
01, the printing plate information, ruled line information, and work progress record are registered. A mask is created using the mask cutter 202 using this information.

Next, the magnification device 300 performs additional recording of color document related information and additional registration of progress record.

After that, the scanner 100 references the color document separation conditions and additionally registers the progress record.
Finally, the compilation is performed, and parameters related to the final disassembled version and progress records are additionally registered.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the present invention, since the layout data writing function is added to the mount drawing machine, the work in the trimming layout device is significantly simplified. In other words, the work using a layout computer, which has been a bottleneck in the work leading to the creation of an original, becomes unnecessary, and as a result, the efficiency of the original creation work can be improved.

Furthermore, since all the layout information on the block mount is recorded as numerical data, the reproducibility of the data is good, making it possible to create a more accurate layout compared to a paper block mount. Since one recording medium is attached to each block mount, the work process is unified, and the materials are no longer separated.
It becomes easy to manage each block mount, and it is possible to prevent materials from being lost. Furthermore, by converting the layout information of the master mount into numerical data, it becomes possible to exchange information with various plate-making devices using a computer, so the model to be used in each work process can be freely selected. In addition, since data exchange between models can be processed offline, multiple layout tasks can be progressed according to the operating status of the equipment in each department by preparing a large number of recording media.
It can be expected to improve work efficiency.

Furthermore, data exchange with a commercially available layout scanner eliminates the need for plate collection work, and even non-skilled workers can perform complex layouts, which saves labor and shortens work time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 and 3 are a flowchart and an explanatory diagram of the menu area setting work of the drawing machine in the embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the layout data input work in the same embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a recording medium Explanatory diagram of information recording work, Figure 6 a, b
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a layout device for printing plate making including a conventional layout computer. 2... Floppy disk device, 3... Printer, 4... Mask cutter, 10... Tablet digitizer, 11... Cursor, 13... Mount area, 14, 15... Menu area, 20... Scanner, 23, 24... Encoder, 28... Memory, 100... Scanner, 107, 110... Memory, 123... Display, 124... Joystick.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mount area where a layout mount is set and position data of the trimming range is to be input, and a trimming range specified by the layout mount;
layout information input means for inputting layout data including the position data, pattern number, dot %, and scaling factor; a first recording device for recording the layout data created by the layout information input means on a recording medium; Image data is read from an image reading means for inputting a document and stored in a memory, the image data is read from the memory based on the layout data, image data subjected to trimming layout processing is created, and image data subjected to trimming layout processing is created. a trimming layout device that outputs data to a film to create a film original; and a trimming layout device that reads the data recorded on the recording medium and, after completing a predetermined process by the trimming layout device, stores a memory number and processing information in the recording medium. An information recording device for printing plate making, comprising a second recording device for recording accompanying information including data indicating that the process has been completed. 2. The information recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording of the accompanying information is performed in accordance with the progress of the work.