JPH10119393A - Method and apparatus for verifying and supporting print result - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely output an output image desired by a user by making the user recognize an output image wherein a difference of printing type of a printer including an exposure system or difference of quality of printing sheet is taken into consideration before outputting from the printer. SOLUTION: An image processor 5 reads a file 4a corresponding to a designated document, develops it to binary bit map image data, and temporarily stores it in an image buffer 8. Further, when a page of the document and a desired area or the page are designated from an input unit 1, the binary bit map image data of this area is converted into data having high resolution and multiple gradations. Then, bit map image data of pseudo-output multi-computerized based on printer characteristic information 6a of an exposure pattern is generated for the data, temporarily stored in an image buffer 7, and output to and displayed on a display unit 2. When a user selects a desired pseudo-output image, a printer corresponding to the image is selected, and the image is output to the printer. Sheet quality information such as glossy sheet or OHP sheet is taken into account in addition to the information 6a, and may be further corrected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention displays the appearance of a printout result of a binary bitmap image in consideration of the characteristics of a printing apparatus, and allows a user to recognize the appearance before printing so that the user can recognize the appearance before printing. The present invention relates to a printing result confirmation support method capable of selecting a suitable printing device and an apparatus therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image display apparatus in which a print image of a document created by a document processing apparatus is displayed on a display screen of a display device such as a CRT, and the displayed print image can be confirmed before print processing.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-67106, character metric information of a printer is stored in an apparatus main body, a typesetting is performed based on the stored character metric information, and displayed on a CRT. Therefore, when the document processing apparatus main body has only the minimum necessary font data and the printer side has various font data, even when printing with a font not present in the document processing apparatus main body, the same formatting is used. Document can be obtained as a print result.

Further, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-40608, a printing apparatus develops a bitmap image based on print data from a host computer,
Thereafter, the development is temporarily suspended, the developed bitmap image is transmitted to the host computer, and the bitmap image is displayed on the host computer, and the output result from the printing apparatus is accepted as what the user expected. The user is asked to determine whether it can be performed or not, and only acceptable prints are printed. This prevents a print result that does not satisfy the user's expectations from occurring and suppresses unnecessary printing.

On the other hand, as a function of drawing application software, there is a function having a function of blurring the periphery of a drawing point.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 3-206568 discloses a method in which a density pattern is created in advance in an airbrush drawing process so that drawing can be performed at high speed only by performing an integer operation and a table reference. ing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-31348 discloses that the sum of density data of a pixel adjacent to a target pixel is calculated for each direction, the total value is logically operated, and the maximum value of the total value is searched. There is described an image forming apparatus that outputs direction data such that the dot of a target pixel is the most dot-concentrated type, and can obtain a stable high-quality halftone image and a correct gradation based on the direction data. .

[0008]

However, in the prior art in which a print image can be confirmed before the print image is actually output by a printer, even if the print image can be confirmed before output. There has been a problem that output may not always be possible as in the print image.

For example, in a laser beam printer, there are two exposure methods of back writing (back writing) and image writing (image writing), and an output image is a thin line in the case of back lighting. In addition, in the case of image writing, small characters are squashed, and patterns such as hatching are output in a darkened state. Therefore, even if the same image is output, an actually output image will output a different image depending on the exposure method of the printer. In an extreme case, an unexpected output result may be obtained.

Of course, if only one of backlighting and image writing is to be used, a predetermined threshold value should be given to the font type, line thickness, or image in the document creation process. Thus, it is possible to prevent the above-described problem from occurring.For example, a document that has been output by a printer that employs an exposure method of image writing is converted to a document that is output by a printer that employs an exposure method of backlight. In the case of outputting, there is a problem that thin lines and small characters are blurred and output as described above.

[0011] Even if the printing method such as the exposure method is the same printer, plain paper, glossy paper, recycled paper, OH
There is also a problem that, for example, bleeding or the like occurs due to a difference in the paper quality of print paper such as P paper, and the same image is output as a different output image.

Accordingly, the present invention eliminates such a problem and allows a user to recognize an output image in consideration of a difference in printing method of a printer including an exposure method or a difference in quality of print paper before outputting from a printer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print result confirmation support method and apparatus capable of reliably outputting an output image desired by a user.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a printing result confirmation support method for a printing system for printing a bitmap image in binary, characteristic information of a printing apparatus used is stored, and the characteristic information is stored in the characteristic information. The binary bitmap image data is converted into multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data based on the converted multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data, and the converted multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is displayed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a printing result confirmation support method for a printing system connected to a network and provided with a plurality of printing devices for printing a bitmap image in binary, characteristic information of each printing device used. Remember
The binary bitmap image data is converted into multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data based on the characteristic information, and the converted multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data of each printing device is displayed. It is characterized in that control for receiving information designating one printing device from among a plurality of printing devices is performed.

In a third aspect based on the first or second aspect, the characteristic information includes a printing method of a printing apparatus.

In a fourth aspect based on the first to third aspects, the characteristic information includes a paper quality of a sheet used in the printing apparatus.

In a fifth aspect based on the first to fourth aspects, the multi-information pseudo-output bitmap image data is a high-resolution or multi-tone pseudo output bit or a high-resolution and multi-tone pseudo output bit. It is characterized by being map image data.

In a sixth aspect based on the first to fifth aspects, the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data corresponds to a desired partial bitmap image data of the binary bitmap image data. Data.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a bitmap image is
In a print result confirmation support apparatus of a print system for printing with a value, input means for inputting a predetermined instruction, storage means for storing characteristic information of a printing apparatus to be used, and a binary bitmap based on the characteristic information It is characterized by comprising image processing means for converting image data into multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data, and display means for displaying the converted multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data.

An eighth invention is connected to a network,
In a print result confirmation support device of a print system having a plurality of printing devices for printing a bitmap image in binary, an input device for inputting a predetermined instruction, and a storage device for storing characteristic information of each printing device to be used. Image processing means for converting binary bitmap image data into multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data based on the characteristic information; and multi-information pseudo output bitmap of each of the converted printing apparatuses. A display unit for displaying image data; and a control unit for performing control for receiving information for designating one of the plurality of printing devices.

In a ninth aspect based on the seventh to eighth aspects, the characteristic information includes a printing method of each printing device.

In a tenth aspect based on the seventh to ninth aspects, the characteristic information includes a quality of a sheet used in each printing apparatus.

In an eleventh aspect based on the seventh to tenth aspects, the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is a high-resolution or multi-tone pseudo output bit or a high-resolution and multi-tone pseudo output bit. It is characterized by being map image data.

In a twelfth aspect based on the seventh to eleventh aspects, the input means designates desired partial bitmap image data of the binary bitmap image data, and the image processing means Converting the partial bitmap image data designated by the input means into the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data, the display means comprising: the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data converted by the image processing means. Is displayed.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the print system includes input devices 1 and C realized by a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse.
A display device 2 realized by an RT display or the like, an information processing device 3 for performing various processes, at least a PDL (Page Des
cription Language) A storage device 4 for storing a file 4a such as a file or a bitmap image file outside the information processing device 3, and printers A and B connected to the information processing device 3 for outputting bitmap images. Have.

The information processing device 3 takes out the file 4a from the storage device 4 by control from the control unit C based on an instruction from the input device 1 and develops it into a predetermined bitmap image. Image processing unit 5, resolutions specific to printers A and B, printing method such as information indicating image writing or backlighting, and printer characteristic information 6a holding at least an exposure pattern
, An image buffer 8 for temporarily storing binary bitmap image data image-processed by the image processing unit 5, and an image processing unit under control of the control unit C based on an instruction from the input device 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes an image buffer 7 for temporarily storing multi-information bitmap image data obtained by image-processing a part of binary bitmap image data, and a control unit C based on an instruction from the input device 1.
And a selection control unit 9 for selectively controlling the printer A or the printer B under the control of the printer.

Here, the multi-information bitmap image data temporarily stored in the image buffer 7 is obtained by improving the resolution of the binary bitmap image data temporarily stored in the image buffer 8 or by multi-gradation. Or high resolution and multi-gradation bitmap image data.

Next, an outline of the processing of the printing system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 2, first, the input device 1 designates a target printer to be output based on a user's instruction, that is, a printer A or a printer B, and outputs an instruction of a target document to be output to the information processing device 3. (Step 101).

The control unit C of the information processing device 3 receives this instruction and instructs the image processing unit 5 to perform processing. The image processing unit 5 extracts a document file corresponding to the designated target document from the file 4a (step 102), expands the document of the extracted document file into binary bitmap image data, and generates the expanded bitmap image. The data is temporarily stored in the image buffer 8 (step 103). Of course, the expanded binary bitmap image data may be temporarily stored in the external storage device 4 instead of the image buffer 8. afterwards,
The information processing device 3 notifies the user of the completion of the development by a sound output such as a beep sound from the display device 2 or the information processing device main body, and displays thumbnails of all pages of the developed document on the display screen of the display device 2. (Step 104). Here, the thumbnail means that the outline image of each page is reduced and arranged and displayed on one display screen.

On the other hand, the user who has been notified of the completion of the development is
With reference to the thumbnail, a desired page, that is, a page for which the user wants to check the output result from the printer is selected, and the input device 1 that has received the selection outputs the selection result to the information processing device 3 (step 105).

The image processing unit 5 of the information processing apparatus 3 which has received this instruction receives the control instruction from the control unit C, and controls the size of the entire area of the binary bitmap image of the page specified by the input device 1. To the display device 2
(Step 106).

The user refers to the bitmap image of the page displayed and output on the display screen to specify a portion, that is, an area in the page to be viewed in more detail with a mouse or the like. An instruction for the specified area is output to the information processing device 3 (step 107).

The information processing device 3 receives the instruction of the specified area via the control unit C, and the image processing unit 5 fetches the binary bitmap image data corresponding to this area from the image buffer 8, High-resolution and multi-gradation bitmap image data is generated (step 108), and the generated bitmap image data is converted into multi-information pseudo output bits based on the printer characteristic information 6a, particularly the exposure pattern. It generates map image data, temporarily stores the generated pseudo output bitmap image data in the image buffer 7, and displays the temporarily stored pseudo output bitmap image data on the display device 2.
(Step 109).

The user confirms the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data displayed and output on the display screen, and accepts this confirmation instruction (step 110). Is determined (step 111), and if the received page is a different page, step 1 is executed.
The process proceeds to step S05, and if the received area is different, the process proceeds to step S107, and the above-described processing is repeated. On the other hand, if not, the input device 1 further determines whether or not an instruction to change the font type, character size, line thickness, etc. has been received (step 112). Changes such as the type, character size, and line thickness are made to the target document, stored as a corrected document in the storage device 4 (step 113), and the process returns to step 101. On the other hand, when the change instruction is not received in step 112, the input device 1 outputs a print instruction including a printer instruction and a font instruction received from the user to the information processing apparatus 3 (step 114).

On the other hand, the control unit C of the information processing apparatus 3 that has received the print instruction instructs the selection control unit 9 to output an instruction to the designated printer, and the selection control unit 9 sends the designated printer A or The binary bitmap image data temporarily stored in the image buffer 8 is output to the printer B (step 115), and the process ends.

Next, referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, the image processing unit 5 performs multi-information conversion by increasing the resolution and multi-gradation of the binary bitmap image data based on the printer characteristic information. The processing will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline until binary bitmap image data becomes final pseudo output bitmap image data. FIG. 3A shows the target of pseudo output bitmap image data. Indicates a partial area E01 of the character “C”, and the area E01 is designated by the user from the input device 1.

FIG. 3B shows binary bitmap image data corresponding to the area E01 in FIG. 3A. The image processing unit 5 outputs bitmap image data having a resolution that matches the resolution of the designated printer (FIG. 3).
(B)) is generated. However, depending on the printing method of the printer, the printing result as shown in FIG. 3B is not always obtained. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3C, the image processing unit 5 generates multi-information pseudo-output bitmap image data with high resolution and multiple gradations based on the printer characteristic information 6a. A bitmap image close to the printout result is displayed and output on the display screen of the display device 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one process of generating the pseudo output bitmap image data shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows the binary bitmap image data shown in FIG. The image processing unit 5 converts the binary bitmap image data shown in FIG. 4A into multi-information. As an example, first, processing for black pixels in the area E02 will be described. The multi-information processing for the black pixels in the area E02 is processed as being affected by eight pixels adjacent to the black pixels in the area E02. In particular, when the exposure method is backlighting, of the eight adjacent pixels, The influence from white pixels is taken into account.

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing high resolution and multiple gradations for four pixels in the area E04. In FIG. 4B, the resolution of each pixel is quadrupled and the gradation is 2
Processing is performed from gradation to 16 gradations. That is, each pixel is
16 pixels, and the gradation is from 0 to 1 from 2 gradations of 0 and 1.
It is set to 16 gradations having a value of 5, and in the initial state,
All white pixels have a value of “0”, and all black pixels have a value of “1”.
5 ".

Thereafter, based on the exposure pattern shown in FIG.
The effect of one white pixel is taken into account. That is, the area E
A process of subtracting each value corresponding to the exposure pattern shown in FIG. 5 from the pixel 02 with high resolution and multi-gradation is performed. As a result, a pixel having high resolution and multiple gradations has a value as shown in FIG. 4C, and the influence of the white pixel is added. For example, the value of the upper left pixel of the high-resolution and multi-tone pixels in the area E02 is “1”.
Although the value of the pixel is "5", the value of this pixel is "8" because the value of the corresponding exposure pattern is "7". If the result of the subtraction becomes a negative value, it is set to “0”.

The exposure pattern shown in FIG. 5 shows, as a pattern, the effect of a white pixel on an adjacent black pixel when the exposure method is backlighting, and depends on the relative position of the black pixel to the white pixel. The degree of influence is different. In particular, the exposure pattern shown in FIG. 5 is an elliptical pattern extending vertically. In the ellipses L1 and L2 shown in FIG. 5, the values to be subtracted are “4” and “12”, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a process in which a process similar to the process shown in FIG. 4C is sequentially performed on all adjacent white pixels. That is, in FIG. 4C, the pixels in the high-resolution and multi-tone area E02 to which the influence of the area E1 is added are further subtracted by the exposure pattern of the area E2, that is, the pixels are subtracted. The pixel pattern shown in c) is obtained. Similarly, the exposure patterns of the regions E3, E4, E5, and E6 are taken into account, and finally corrected to the pixel pattern shown in FIG. Corresponding to this pixel pattern, for example, an area E001 shown in FIG. 3C is displayed and output on the display screen.

Similarly, for the other black pixels shown in FIG. 6 (a), a high-resolution, multi-gradation, multi-information pixel pattern is generated. The pseudo output bitmap image data shown in (c) is displayed and output on the display screen.

In the above description, when pseudo output bitmap image data is generated, each pixel is subjected to high resolution and multiple gradations, and then to multiple information processing based on the exposure pattern. But only high resolution of each pixel,
Alternatively, multi-information processing may be performed only by multi-gradation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an outline of generating pseudo output bitmap image data only by increasing the resolution of each pixel. FIG. 7A corresponds to FIG.
FIG. 7B corresponds to FIG. 6G, and FIG.
It is a figure corresponding to (c). FIG. 7A shows the state shown in FIG.
In this case, the resolution is quadrupled as in the above, but no multi-gradation is performed. That is, only high resolution is performed. Accordingly, the value of the lower right black pixel in FIG. 7A remains binary, and the value is “1”. The high-resolution black pixel portion in FIG. 7A is subtracted by taking the exposure pattern shown in FIG. 5 into consideration. If the subtraction result is a predetermined value, for example, “5” or more, the high-resolution The value of the converted pixel is set to “1”, and if less than “5”, the value of the high-resolution pixel is set to “0”. As a result, the pixel pattern shown in FIG. 7B is obtained. Then, based on this pixel pattern, a binary high resolution as shown in FIG.
In addition, multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is generated, and the generated bitmap image data is displayed and output on a display screen.

However, since the pixel pattern of high resolution shown in FIG. 7A is a binary value, it cannot be subjected to a subtraction process in the same manner as a pixel of which the number of gradations is 16 and is multiplied. Therefore, when performing the subtraction processing, an exposure pattern corresponding to the exposure pattern of FIG. 5 and having a value varying from 0 to 1 is used, and a value from 0 to 1 which is a value subtracted by using this exposure pattern is a predetermined value. A threshold value, for example, “0.5” is provided.
When the value is less than “0.5”, the value of the pixel with high resolution is set to “0”. Thus, a pixel pattern corresponding to FIG. 7B can be obtained.

Similarly, FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the outline of generating pseudo output bitmap image data by only multi-gradation of each pixel. FIG. 8A shows FIG.
8B corresponds to FIG. 6B, FIG. 8C corresponds to FIG. 6G, and FIG. 8C corresponds to FIG. 3C. FIG. 8 (a)
Is obtained by converting a binary pixel into 16 gradations in the same manner as in FIG. 4B, but without increasing the resolution. That is, only multi-gradation is performed. Therefore, the value of the black pixel at the lower right of FIG. 8A is not made high-resolution, and only the value of the original pixel is multi-graded. With this multi-gradation, the value of the original black pixel is set to “15”. Then, the average value in eight directions corresponding to the exposure pattern shown in FIG. 5 is subtracted from the value of the black pixel. For example, although the total value of the lower right value in the exposure pattern of FIG. 5 is “12”, since the lower right value is divided into 16, the average value is a value of 12/16, that is, “0”. .75 ". Therefore, the value of “0.75” is subtracted from the multi-grayscale pixel. Similar subtraction processing is performed in consideration of the influence from other adjacent white pixels, and the final value is “2.
6875 ", and the first decimal place is rounded off.
It becomes “3”. As a result, the pixel pattern shown in FIG. 8B is obtained. Then, when the multi-information bitmap image data subjected to only the multi-gradation is displayed and output on the display screen, the result is as shown in FIG. 8C.

Therefore, the exposure pattern in the case of performing only the multiple gradations may be only the value obtained by averaging the values of the pixel patterns in eight directions instead of the exposure pattern shown in FIG.

The bitmap image data of each pseudo output shown in FIGS. 3C and 8C is displayed in 16 gradations. It is indicated by the drawing.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

In the first embodiment, information such as the printing method of each printer is stored in the storage unit 6 as printer characteristic information 6a, and based on the printer characteristic information 6a, a bit map actually output from the printer is stored. The multi-information processing is performed by increasing the resolution and increasing the number of gradations of the image, or by increasing only the resolution or by increasing the number of gradations. In the second embodiment, a multi-information processing is further performed in consideration of the paper quality of the paper to be printed and output by the printer, and the pixel pattern subjected to the multi-information processing is displayed and output on a display screen. .

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printer system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 9, FIG.
The paper quality information 6b is further stored in the storage unit 6 of the printer system shown in FIG. 2, and the image processing unit 5 temporarily stores the paper quality information 6b in the image buffer 8 in consideration of the paper quality information 6b.
The multi-information bitmap image data is generated from the bitmap image data of the value, the generated multi-information bitmap image data is temporarily stored in the image buffer 7, and is output and displayed on the display screen of the display device 2. I have to. In FIG. 9, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Here, the processing outline of the printer system shown in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 10, the printer system performs the same processing as the processing from step 101 to step 108 and the processing from step 110 to step 115 shown in FIG. That is, the input device 1 instructs the printer A or the printer B as a target printer to be output based on a user's instruction, and outputs an instruction of a target document to be output to the information processing device 3 (step 201).

The control unit c of the information processing device 3 receives this instruction and instructs the image processing unit 5 to perform processing. The image processing unit 5 extracts a document file corresponding to the specified target document from the file 4a (Step 202). The extracted document of the document file is developed into binary bitmap image data, and the developed bitmap image data is temporarily stored in the image buffer 8 (step 203). Of course, the expanded binary bitmap image data may be temporarily stored in the external storage device 4 instead of the image buffer 8. afterwards,
The information processing device 3 notifies the user of the completion of the development by a sound output such as a beep sound from the display device 2 or the information processing device main body, and displays thumbnails of all pages of the developed document on the display screen of the display device 2. (Step 204).

On the other hand, the user who has been notified of the completion of the development is
With reference to the thumbnail, a desired page, that is, a page for which the user wants to check the output result from the printer is selected, and the input device 1 that has received the selection outputs the selection result to the information processing device 3 (step 205).

The image processing unit 5 of the information processing apparatus 3 which has received this instruction receives, via a control instruction from the control unit C, the size at which the entire area of the binary bitmap image of the page specified by the input device 1 can be seen. To the display device 2
(Step 206).

The user refers to the bitmap image of the page displayed and output on the display screen, and specifies a portion, that is, an area in the page to be viewed in more detail with a mouse or the like. An instruction for the specified area is output to the information processing device 3 (step 207).

The information processing device 3 receives the instruction of the specified area via the control unit C, and the image processing unit 5 fetches the binary bitmap image data corresponding to this area from the image buffer 8, High-resolution and multi-gradation bitmap image data is generated (step 208), and the generated bitmap image data is converted to a multi-information pseudo output bitmap based on the printer characteristic information 6a, especially the exposure pattern. Image data is generated (step 209). Further, the generated bitmap image data is corrected based on the paper quality information 6b, and the corrected multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is stored in the image buffer 7. And temporarily stores the pseudo-stored bitmap image data of the pseudo output on the display screen of the display device 2 (step 21).
0). The paper quality information 6b includes, for example, plain paper, characteristic paper,
Indicates the paper quality of paper used for print output such as an OHP sheet,
By performing predetermined addition and subtraction based on the paper quality information of the paper, the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data generated using the exposure pattern is further corrected.

The user confirms the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data displayed and output on the display screen, and receives this confirmation instruction (step 211). Is determined (step 212), and if the received page is a different page, step 2 is performed.
The process proceeds to step 05, and if the received area is different, the process proceeds to step 207 to repeat the above-described processing. On the other hand, if not, the input device 1 further determines whether or not an instruction to change the font type, character size, line thickness, etc. has been received (step 213). Changes such as the type, character size, and line thickness are made to the target document, and stored in the storage device 4 as a corrected document (step 214), and the process returns to step 201. On the other hand, when the change instruction is not received in step 213, the input device 1 outputs a print instruction including a printer instruction and a font instruction received from the user to the information processing apparatus 3 (step 215).

On the other hand, the control unit C of the information processing apparatus 3 which has received the print instruction instructs the selection control unit 9 to output an instruction to the designated printer, and the selection control unit 9 sends the designated printer A or The binary bitmap image data temporarily stored in the image buffer 8 is output to the printer B (step 216), and the process ends.

In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, not only high resolution and multiple gradations, but also multiple information by only high resolution or multiple gradations is used. A conversion process may be performed.

Further, in the second embodiment, the image processing section 5 uses both the printer characteristic information 6a and the paper quality information 6b. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
Multi-information may be performed using only the information.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 11 to 16, a description will be given of the multi-information processing based on specific paper quality information.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a blur pattern as one of the paper quality information. The fading pattern is subjected to a correction process of performing a subtraction process on the pseudo output bitmap image data that has been multi-informed using the exposure pattern. This blur pattern indicates the degree of blur corresponding to the paper quality of the paper as a pattern, the resolution corresponds to the resolution of the pseudo output bitmap image data, and the value of the blur is a value corresponding to the number of gradations. It has become.

For example, FIG. 12 (a) shows pseudo output bitmap image data multi-informed using an exposure pattern. The pseudo output bitmap image data shown in FIG. Correction processing is performed by performing subtraction processing on the corresponding part of the value,
As a result, multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data shown in FIG. 12B is generated. Specifically, when the value of the pixel P01 before correction is “2”, the value of the blurring degree PA corresponding to the pixel P01 is “2”, and thus the value of the blurring degree PA is subtracted.
The value of the pixel P02 after the correction is “0”.

As a result, it is possible to recognize a bitmap image that is closer to the output result that is actually printed out, taking into account the paper quality of the paper.

Next, a description will be given of pseudo output bitmap image data which is corrected by taking into account not only blur but also paper blur when outputting bitmap image data to paper. In the case of blurring, it is sufficient to subtract only the corresponding pixel, but in the case of blurring, it is necessary to add the corresponding pixel to an adjacent pixel.

Therefore, a correction process is performed using the blur pattern shown in FIG. 13A and the blur pattern shown in FIG. 13B. The faint pattern shown in FIG. 13B is the same pattern as the faint pattern shown in FIG. In the blur pattern shown in FIG. 13A, “A” in a pixel has a blur rate of 75%, and “B” has a blur rate of 50.
% And “C” indicate that the bleed rate is 25%, and pixels without symbols indicate that the bleed rate is 0%.
The bleed rate can take into account the influence of the bleed rate by multiplying the value of the pixel corresponding to the bleed rate by the bleed rate and adding the multiplication result to eight pixels adjacent to the pixel.

For example, FIG. 14 (a) shows pseudo output bitmap image data multi-informed using an exposure pattern, and FIG. 13 (a) shows the pseudo output bitmap image data. Based on the blur pattern shown, the value of each pixel is multiplied by the corresponding blur rate, and the result of this multiplication is added to adjacent peripheral pixels. Further, based on the blur pattern shown in FIG. 13B, the value of the blur level corresponding to each pixel is subtracted from the pseudo output bitmap image data subjected to the addition processing,
Based on the result of the subtraction, the bitmap image data is corrected into pseudo output bitmap image data in which blur and blur are added.
This correction result is, as shown in FIG.
The bitmap image data of (b) is obtained by further adding a blur. Of course, the blur correction and the blur correction may be repeatedly performed.

As a result, it is possible to display a print output result on a sheet having not only blurring but also blurring characteristics with a more realistic appearance.

Of course, when only the paper characteristic of the paper is remarkable, only the blur correction using the blur pattern may be performed.

Next, the correction in the case where the bitmap image data is condensed, such as OHP paper, will be described. In the case of this condensation correction, since the condensation rate for the entire sheet is considered to be uniform, the correction processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15 is performed for each pixel.

That is, in FIG. 15, first, each pixel of the pseudo output bitmap image data, which is multi-informatized using the exposure pattern, is sequentially scanned (step 30).
1) It is determined whether or not there are five or more pixels in which the value of eight neighboring pixels adjacent to each pixel is greater than the value of the pixel by 7 or more (step 302). After adding a value of 最大 of the maximum difference between the pixel value and the value of the adjacent pixel to the pixel (step 303), if there is no pixel, the process directly proceeds to step 304.

In step 304, it is further determined whether or not the difference between the value of the pixel and the value of the adjacent pixel is 10 or more. If the difference is 10 or more, a process of setting the value of the pixel having the smaller value among the adjacent pixels to 0 and adding the value of the pixel set to 0 to the value of the pixel is performed (Step 3).
05) Later, if the difference is not 10 or more, the process directly proceeds to step 306.

In step 306, it is determined whether or not scanning has been completed for all pixels. If scanning has not been completed for all pixels, the process proceeds to step 301, and the above-described processing is performed for the next pixel. Is repeated, and when the scanning for all the pixels is completed, the correction processing ends.

FIG. 16A shows pseudo output bitmap image data that has been converted into multiple information using an exposure pattern. The bitmap image data is subjected to the condensation correction processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15 described above. As a result, pseudo output bitmap image data after condensation correction shown in FIG. 16B is generated.

As a result, it is possible to correct and display and output the case where the print output result of the expanded bitmap image data is condensed, such as OHP paper.

In the above-described correction processing, a predetermined correction pattern or a predetermined correction processing is applied to the paper quality of the paper, but printing of an intermediate image by the above-described laser irradiation method or the like is performed. Instead of the method, correction may be performed in consideration of a printing method in relation to the final sheet, for example, a thermal transfer method, an ink jet method, a dot impact method, and the like. This correction can be realized by performing the same correction processing as the correction for the paper quality of the paper.

For example, in the ink jet system, a result that is actually printed out can be obtained by applying an appropriate blur pattern.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

In the first and second embodiments, both are directed to a single printer system, that is, a stand-alone printer system. However, in the third embodiment, the configuration of a network printer system is described. Has taken.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printer system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the printer system shown in FIG.
1 to CL3, a master server MS, and a plurality of slave servers SS1 to SS3 are connected to the network N, respectively. The network N may be a closed network like a LAN, but here constitutes an open system as the Internet. Therefore, each of the client devices CL1 to CL3 is a WWW (World Wide Wed
b: World Wide Web) It has a browser function, and the master server MS has a WWW server function.

Each of the client devices CL1 to CL3 has at least the functions of the input device 1 and the display device 2 of the printer system shown in FIGS.

Master server MS and slave server SS
Each of the servers 1 to SS3 has a server SB and a server SB1 to SB3 having a function as a print server, and a printer PP and printers P1 to P3 are connected to the server SB and the servers SB1 to SB3, respectively. Further, the server SB and the servers SB1 to SB3
Has the functions of the information processing device 3 and the storage device 4 of the printer system shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. As described above, the server SB has the function of a WWW server.

Here, the processing outline of the printer system shown in FIG. 17 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in the client device CL1, which is one of the client devices CL1 to CL3, the instruction of the target document to be output specified based on the user's instruction is transmitted via the network N using a WWW browser (not shown). It is sent to the server MS (step 401). Server SB in master server MS receiving the instruction of the target document
Retrieves the designated document file, expands it into bitmap image data, and stores 2 in the server SB (not shown).
The value is temporarily stored in the image buffer, and a notification of the completion of expansion and thumbnails of all pages are sent to the client device CL1 (step 402). The client device CL1 receives the notification of the completion of the development, and sends an instruction to select a page selected by the user to the master server MS with reference to the received thumbnail (step 403). The server SB sends the binary bitmap image data of the selected page portion to the client device CL1 (step 404). The client device CL1
The whole area of the page sent from the master server MS is displayed in a viewable size, and an area instruction of a part (area) to be viewed in the page specified by the user is transmitted to the master server MS (step 405).

The server SB in the master server MS transfers the binary bitmap image data of the designated area to each of the slave servers SS1 to SS3 via the network N, and outputs a multi-information pseudo output bitmap image. A request is made to return data (step 406). Each of the slave servers SS1 to SS3 having received this request generates multi-information bitmap image data of pseudo output based on the printer characteristic information and paper quality information of the own server SB1 to SB3 (step 407). The generated pseudo output bitmap image data is returned to the master server MS via the network N (step 408). On the other hand, based on the printer characteristic information and the paper quality information of the printer PP included in the server SB, the server SB converts the bitmap image data with the designated area into multiple information to generate pseudo output bitmap image data (step 409). ). Then, the server SB transfers the pseudo output bitmap image data returned from each of the slave servers SS1 to SS3 and the pseudo output bitmap image data generated by the master server MS to the client device CL1 (step 410).

Thereafter, the client device CL1 displays the pseudo output bitmap image data transferred from the master server MS (step 411), and the user confirms the pseudo output result. Further, the client device CL1 determines whether or not an instruction for a different page or a different area based on the pseudo output result has been received (step 412). If the received page is a different page, the process proceeds to step 403. If the received area is different, the process proceeds to step 405,
The above-described processing is repeated. On the other hand, if not, the client device CL1 further determines whether or not an instruction to change the font type, character size, line thickness, etc. has been received (step 413). Changes such as the type, character size, and line thickness are made to the target document, stored as a corrected document in the storage device 4 (step 414), and the process returns to step 401. On the other hand, when the change instruction is not received in Step 413, the client device CL1 sends a print instruction including a printer instruction and a font instruction received from the user to the master server MS (Step 415).

Master server M that has received a print instruction
S determines whether it is a print instruction to the printer PP in its own server MS (step 416), and if not, temporarily stores it in the server SB. The bitmap image data of the value is transferred to the slave servers SS1 to SS3 having the designated printer, and a print instruction is issued (step 417). Then, the slave servers SS1 to SS3 that have received the print instruction convert the transferred binary bitmap image data into the slave servers SS1 to SS3 according to the instructed print instruction.
The printout is output to the printers P1 to P3 connected to S3 (step 418), and this processing ends.

On the other hand, if the instruction is a print instruction to the printer PP in the server MS at step 416, the server SB prints out the temporarily stored binary bitmap image data to the printer PP (step 4).
19), end this processing.

In this way, the pseudo output result of each printer can be confirmed for a plurality of printers connected to the network as in the first and second embodiments.

Next, a modification of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, each server holds the printer characteristic information and the paper quality information for the printer connected to the own server. However, in a modification of the third embodiment, the server SB manages the printer. The server SB holds and manages printer characteristic information and paper quality information of printers connected to all the servers.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of a printer system according to a modification of the third embodiment. In FIG. 19, steps 501 to 5
The processing up to 05 is the same as the processing from step 401 to step 405 in FIG. In FIG. 19, when an area instruction is transmitted from the client device CL1 in step 405, the server SB in the master server MS converts the binary bitmap image data of the specified area into multi-information and holds the information in the server SB. Based on the printer characteristic information and paper quality information of the printers PP, P1 to P3 to be executed, pseudo output bitmap image data is generated (step 506). Further, all of the generated pseudo output bitmap image data is transferred to the client device CL1 (step 50).
7).

Thereafter, the same processes as those of steps 411 to 419 are performed (steps 511 to 519), and this process is terminated.

According to the modification of the third embodiment,
The processing of bitmap image data mutually transferred between the master server MS and the slave servers SS1 to SS3 via the network N becomes unnecessary, and the use efficiency of the network N is improved.

In the above-described third embodiment and its modification, the description has been made assuming that the number of printers PP and P1 to P3 connected to the servers SB and SB1 to SB3 is one. A plurality of printers may be connected to each of the servers SB, SB1 to SB3 as in the embodiment and the second embodiment. In this case, the first and second
A configuration corresponding to the selection control unit 9 shown in the embodiment is required, and it is natural that the printer characteristic information and the paper quality information of each connected printer are held.

Here, specific graphical user interface (GUI) screens used in the above-described first to third embodiments will be shown, and selection of various kinds of pseudo output results will be described. Here, a GUI screen in the printer system according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 17 will be described as an example. However, the same applies to the first embodiment and the second embodiment. it is obvious.

FIG. 20 shows the WW of the client device CL1.
7 is a display screen showing a pseudo output result using a W browser, showing a pseudo output result for each of the printers PP and P1 to P3, and the paper quality is all set to plain paper.

That is, in FIG. 20, the pseudo output result is displayed and output for each printer as a default, and the paper quality is set to plain paper which is a default value. Therefore, here, a pseudo output result in which the process based on the printer characteristic information such as the exposure pattern and the correction process for the plain paper are performed is displayed.

Of course, by clicking the paper selection buttons B1 to B4 with a mouse or the like, a list of paper qualities is displayed. For example, when glossy paper is clicked, a pseudo output result obtained by performing correction processing on glossy paper is displayed. Will be. By clicking the printer selection button BB, each of the printers PP and P1 displayed on the screen is displayed.
To P3 are displayed, and the printer can be selected. By clicking the print instruction button BP, a print instruction is executed for the printer displayed on the screen and for the displayed paper.

On the other hand, FIG.
7 is a display screen showing a pseudo output result using the WWW browser of FIG.

That is, in FIG. 21, the printer P2 is set as a default, and the pseudo output result for the paper that can be output by the printer P2, that is, glossy paper, recycled paper, plain paper, and OHP paper is displayed.

Of course, the printer selection buttons B11-B
A list of printers is displayed by clicking 14 with a mouse or the like. For example, when the printer P3 is clicked, a pseudo output result processed for the printer P3 is switched and displayed in a frame. Also, a paper selection button BB1
By clicking 0, a list of paper types displayed on the screen is displayed, and the user can select a paper. Accordingly, by clicking the print instruction button BP10 in the display state shown in FIG. 21, a print instruction using the glossy paper is executed by the printer P2.

The display of the GUI screens shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 is mutually switched by clicking the button B20 or the button B21.

In the case of a printer that cannot use paper corresponding to the paper quality, the display is not displayed or the selection is disabled so that an unexecutable print instruction is not issued.

As described above, according to the above-described first to third embodiments, before print output,
Since the expanded bitmap image data can be further generated and displayed as pseudo output bitmap image data in which the printing method of the printer and the paper quality of the paper are taken into account, efficient print processing can be performed.

In each of the embodiments described above, the image buffers 7 and 8 are described as being physically separated from each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the buffer area corresponding to the image buffer 7 and the image A configuration may be adopted in which a buffer area corresponding to the buffer 8 is provided.

[0112]

As described above in detail, according to the first and seventh aspects, characteristic information of a printing apparatus to be used is stored, and binary bitmap image data is stored based on the characteristic information. Since the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is converted and the converted multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is displayed, the user of the printing system can use the print output result before printing. And the print output result is a multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data in which the characteristics of the printing apparatus itself are taken into account, so that it can be displayed as a more actual print output result. Having.

In the second and eighth inventions, characteristic information of each printing apparatus used is stored, and based on these characteristic information, binary bitmap image data is converted into a multi-information pseudo output bitmap image. Data, and displays the converted multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data of each printing device.
Since the control for accepting information for specifying one printing device is performed, there is an advantage that a printing device that performs an appropriate print output result can be selected from a plurality of printing devices connected to the network.

In the third and ninth aspects, the characteristic information is information corresponding to a printing method of the printing apparatus, for example, an exposure method such as backlighting or image writing. There is an advantage that a different print output result can be recognized before print output, and a printing apparatus can be selected appropriately and efficiently.

In the fourth and tenth aspects of the present invention, since the characteristic information is information corresponding to the paper quality of the paper used in the printing apparatus, it differs depending on the paper quality of the paper even in the same printing apparatus. There is an advantage that it is possible to recognize that a print output result will be obtained before print output, and it is possible to select appropriate and efficient paper for a printing apparatus.

According to the fifth and eleventh aspects, the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is high-resolution or multi-tone pseudo output bitmap image data of high resolution and multi-tone. Therefore, not only high-resolution and multi-tone pseudo output bitmap image data but also high-resolution or multi-tone pseudo output bitmap image data is generated, and flexible pseudo output bitmap image data is displayed. It has the advantage of being able to.

In the sixth and twelfth inventions, since the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is data corresponding to a desired partial bitmap image data among binary bitmap image data, There is an advantage that the load of conversion processing from binary bitmap image data to multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is reduced, and efficient conversion and quick display can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of a print system according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which binary bitmap image data is processed into pseudo output bitmap image data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one process of generating pseudo output bitmap image data.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an exposure pattern.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a process of generating pseudo output bitmap image data.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining generation of pseudo output bitmap image data by only high resolution.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining generation of pseudo output bitmap image data only by multi-gradation.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of processing of a print system according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a blur pattern.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of pseudo output bitmap image data corrected by applying a blur pattern.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a blur pattern and a blur pattern.

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of pseudo output bitmap image data corrected by applying a blur pattern and a blur pattern;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of condensation correction.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of pseudo output bitmap image data corrected by applying the condensation correction process.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing when each server connected to the network N holds printer characteristic information and paper quality information of a printer connected to each server.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing when a master server connected to the network N holds all printer characteristic information and paper quality information of a printer connected to each server.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of a GUI screen when a printer is set as a default.

FIG. 21 is a view showing an example of a GUI screen when paper is set as a default.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 input device 2 display device 3 information processing device 4
Storage device 4a File 5 Image processing unit 6 Storage unit 6a
Printer characteristic information 6b Paper quality information 7, 8 Image buffer 9 Selection control unit A, B Printer C Control unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] In a printing result confirmation support method for a printing system for printing a bitmap image in binary, characteristic information of a printing device to be used is stored, and binary bitmap image data is stored based on the characteristic information. A print result confirmation support method, comprising: converting multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data; and displaying the converted multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data. 2. A printing result confirmation support method for a printing system connected to a network and provided with a plurality of printing devices for printing a bitmap image in binary, storing characteristic information of each printing device used, The binary bitmap image data is converted into multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data based on the characteristic information, and the converted multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data of each printing device is displayed. A printing result confirmation support method, characterized by performing control for receiving information designating one printing device from a plurality of printing devices. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic information includes a printing method of a printing apparatus. 4. The print result confirmation support method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic information includes a paper quality of a sheet used in the printing apparatus. 5. The multi-information pseudo-output bitmap image data is high-resolution or multi-tone pseudo-output bitmap image data of high resolution and multi-tone. 5. The print result confirmation support method according to claim 4. 6. The multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is data corresponding to a desired partial bitmap image data of the binary bitmap image data. The print result confirmation support method according to claim 5. 7. A printing result confirmation support device of a printing system for printing a bitmap image in binary, an input means for inputting a predetermined instruction, a storage means for storing characteristic information of a printing apparatus to be used, Image processing means for converting binary bitmap image data into multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data based on characteristic information; and display means for displaying the converted multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data. A print result confirmation support device, comprising: 8. A printing result confirmation support device of a printing system connected to a network and provided with a plurality of printing devices for printing a bitmap image in binary, an input means for inputting a predetermined instruction, and Storage means for storing characteristic information of the printing apparatus; image processing means for converting binary bitmap image data into multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data based on the characteristic information; Display means for displaying multiple information pseudo output bitmap image data of the printing apparatus; and control means for performing control for receiving information specifying one printing apparatus from among the plurality of printing apparatuses. Print result confirmation support device. 9. The print result confirmation support device according to claim 7, wherein the characteristic information includes a print method of each printing device. 10. The print result confirmation support apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the characteristic information includes a paper quality of a sheet used in each printing apparatus. 11. The multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data is high-resolution or multi-tone pseudo output bitmap image data of high resolution and multi-tone. The print result confirmation support device according to claim 10. 12. The input means designates desired partial bitmap image data among the binary bitmap image data, and the image processing means designates partial bitmap image data designated by the input means. Is converted to the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data, and the display unit displays the multi-information pseudo output bitmap image data converted by the image processing unit. Item 11. A print result confirmation support device according to Item 11.