JP2006139534A - Image output controller, image output control method, image output control program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technology allowing a variable printing process according to relation between size of a variable drawing filed and size of a member. <P>SOLUTION: This image outputting controller has: a storage means storing a variable record including the member and master image data set with the variable drawing field; a comparison means comparing the size of the member and the size of the variable drawing field; a control means determining processing contents of the variable printing process according to a comparison result by the comparison means; and a printing image data production means reading the variable record and the master image data from the storage means, and performing the variable printing process according to the processing contents determined by the control means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing variable printing processing that combines and outputs text data and image data separately defined in a variable drawing field set in underlying image data.

  In recent years, with the spread of DTP (Desk Top Publishing) and the like, a print orderer can edit an image input from a scanner on his / her terminal on a computer software and output a printed product in full digital form. Became. With this full digitization, various printing methods have been realized. One of them is variable printing.

  In variable printing, data called separately defined members such as text data and image data is combined with one master image data to create printing image data, and the printing image data is recorded on a recording paper medium. Is output. The members can be sequentially changed with respect to one master image data, and a plurality of printed materials in which only one member is changed using one master image data as a template can be created. (For example, see Patent Document 1.)

  In other words, variable printing is a process in which master image data, which is generally large-capacity image data, is once subjected to RIP processing and the like, and thereafter, only member imaging and RIP processing are sequentially performed. Accordingly, the burden of image processing is reduced, and high-speed output is realized. For example, it is often used in creating printed materials with the same template, such as direct mail and New Year's cards, but with different addresses.

  The system that performs variable printing includes a layout terminal that performs layout of master image data, a database in which variable records including members are stored in a database, an image output control device that performs variable printing processing including RIP processing and composition processing, And an image output device for creating printed matter.

JP 2003-323289 A

  In this variable printing, a variable drawing field of a predetermined size is set at a predetermined position of an image corresponding to master image data, and members are combined within the range of the variable drawing field. This variable drawing field is not set for each variable record, but is set for all variable records. On the other hand, the size of the member included in each of the plurality of variable records, that is, the length of the character string in the case of text data is different for each variable record.

  Therefore, depending on the size of the member included in the variable record, the size of the variable drawing field may be exceeded. In this case, the processing is uniformly determined, and only the range within the variable drawing field of the member to be combined is drawn. This uniform processing is not always convenient for an operator of the apparatus that performs printing with individual specifications.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of performing processing according to the relationship between the size of a variable drawing field and the size of a member in variable printing processing. And

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 creates a plurality of printing image data by performing variable printing processing based on master image data and a plurality of variable records, and the plurality of printings. An image output control apparatus for outputting image data for use, wherein the variable record including a member that is a component of an image and the master image data in which a variable drawing field that is an area in which the member is drawn are set; Storage means for storing, comparison means for comparing the size of the member and the size of the variable drawing field, control means for determining the processing content of the variable printing process according to the comparison result by the comparison means, The variable record and the master image data are read from the storage means and the control means determines. According to the content, comprise a printing image data creating means for performing variable printing process, and characterized.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 3 creates a plurality of printing image data by performing variable printing processing based on master image data and a plurality of variable records, and the plurality of printings. An image output control apparatus for outputting image data for use, wherein the variable record including a member that is a component of an image and the master image data in which a variable drawing field that is an area in which the member is drawn are set; Storage means for storing, comparison means for comparing the size of the member with the size of the variable drawing field, and the result of comparison by the comparison means determined when the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field Selection accepting means for accepting the processing content for size nonconformity to be selectable from a plurality of types; As a result of comparison by the comparison means, when the size of the member falls within the size of the variable drawing field, variable printing processing is performed according to the processing content for size adaptation, and the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field. In this case, the image processing apparatus includes a printing image data creating unit that performs variable printing processing according to the processing content for size nonconformity received by the selection receiving unit.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 5 is a variable drawing field that holds a plurality of variable records including members that are components of an image and is an area in which the members are drawn. An image output control apparatus that holds master image data set with a comparison unit that compares the size of the member with the size of the variable drawing field, and the variable printing process according to a comparison result by the comparison unit Control means for determining the processing content of the image data; and printing image data creation means for reading the variable record and the master image data from the storage means and performing variable printing processing according to the processing content determined by the control means; To function.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 7 is a variable drawing field that holds a plurality of variable records including members that are constituent elements of an image and is an area in which the members are drawn. An image output control apparatus that holds master image data set with a comparison means for comparing the size of the member with the size of the variable drawing field, and the size of the member is variable as a result of comparison by the comparison means Selection accepting means for selectively accepting the processing contents for size nonconformity determined when the size of the drawing field is exceeded, and the result of comparison by the comparing means is that the size of the member is the variable drawing field If it fits within the size, perform variable print processing according to the processing content for size adaptation and If the size of the image exceeds the size of the variable drawing field, printing image data creation means for performing variable printing processing according to variable printing processing according to the processing content for size nonconformity received by the selection receiving means, It is made to function.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 10 creates a plurality of printing image data by performing variable printing processing based on master image data and a plurality of variable records, and An image output control method for outputting image data for printing, wherein the variable record including a member which is a component of an image and a variable drawing field which is an area where the member is drawn are set Data is stored, the size of the member is compared with the size of the variable drawing field, the processing content of the variable printing process is determined according to the comparison result, and the stored variable record and the master image data are stored. And variable print processing is performed according to the determined processing content.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 12 is characterized in that a plurality of image data for printing is performed by performing variable printing processing according to predetermined processing contents based on master image data and a plurality of variable records. And outputting the plurality of print image data, the variable record including a member that is a component of the image and a variable drawing field that is an area in which the member is drawn. The set master image data is stored, the size of the member is compared with the size of the variable drawing field, and the result of the comparison is that the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field in advance. The processing content for size nonconformity to be determined is received so that it can be selected from a plurality of types, and as a result of the comparison, If the size of the member falls within the size of the variable drawing field, variable printing processing is performed according to the processing content for size adaptation, and if the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field, the selection is accepted. The variable printing process is performed in accordance with the processing content for the size mismatch.

  In the determination of the variable print processing content, if the member size fits within the size of the variable drawing field as a result of the comparison, the variable print processing is determined as the size matching processing content, and the comparison results in the member size. May exceed the size of the variable drawing field, the variable printing process may be determined as the processing content for size mismatch (corresponding to the inventions of claims 2, 6 and 11).

  In addition, the processing content for size nonconformity includes processing content for skipping creation of printing image data based on the variable record whose member size exceeds the size of the variable drawing field, and printing image data based on all variable records. The processing contents for stopping the creation of the image and the size of the member to be compared are reduced to the size of the variable drawing field and subjected to RIP processing, and the processed variable record and the master image data are combined. The processing content and the portion of the member that exceeds the size of the variable drawing field are deleted, RIP processing is performed, and the selected processing content is combined with the processed variable record and the master image data. The content of the processing may be a single processing content (in the inventions of claims 4, 8 and 13). This)

  Further, the image output control program may be stored in a storage medium that is readable by the image output control device (corresponding to the invention described in claim 9).

  According to the present invention, in variable printing, the size of a variable drawing field is compared with the size of a corresponding member, and the processing content of variable printing processing is determined according to the comparison result, and according to the determined processing content Variable printing processing was performed. Therefore, processing according to the relationship between the size of the variable drawing field and the size of the member is possible.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image output system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image output control apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of control means in the image output control apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a variable record DB that is an aggregate of variable records. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing master image data. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing field information. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a screen for selecting an image data creation procedure. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the control of the creation procedure. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the variable record analysis routine of S103 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image output control device 4 according to the present embodiment exists on a network as one configuration of the image output system 1, and includes a layout terminal 2, a variable record DB (database) 3, an image output device 5, and the like. Connected via network. The image output system 1 is used, for example, as a variable printing application. That is, a plurality of variable records 6 composed of members 6a and 6a such as text and images shown in FIG. 4 are separately provided for one master image data 7 in which variable drawing fields 8a and 8a shown in FIG. 5 are set. The master image data 7 and the members 6a and 6a of the variable record 6 are combined and printed on the variable drawing fields 8a and 8a at the time of printing.

  In this image output system 1, first, a database that is a collection of master image data 7 and variable records 6 is created by the layout terminal 2, and the database is stored in the variable record DB 3, while the master image data 7 is stored as an image. It is sent to the output control device 4. In the image output control device 5, as the variable printing process, the master image data 7 is processed, the variable record 6 of interest is read from the variable record DB 3, the included members 6a and 6a are processed, and processed master image data 7 and the processed members 6a and 6a are combined to create image data for printing. Further, the image output device 5 outputs an image corresponding to the printing image data on a recording sheet.

  Further, in creating the printing image data, the image output control device 4 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of processing contents of the variable printing process, and is set to the size of the member 6 a of the variable record 6 and the master image data 7. Depending on the comparison result of the size of the variable drawing field 8a, the processing contents of the variable printing process are changed, and the apparatus operator is made to select the changing processing contents.

  Hereinafter, each device 2, 3, 4, 5 on the image output system 1 will be described. First, the image output device 5 is, for example, an electrophotographic printer such as a color laser printer, and includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes that store recording sheets of different sizes in different output directions (portrait and landscape). . The image output device 5 feeds recording paper of a predetermined size and output direction from a paper feed cassette, and outputs an image corresponding to the sent printing image data on the recording paper.

  The image data for printing sent to the image output device 5 is obtained by processing and combining the master image data 7 created in the layout terminal 2 and the members 6a and 6a of the variable record 6. The layout terminal 2 is configured by a computer, and is mounted with a variable printing application that creates master image data 7 and a variable record 6 configured in a page description language. The variable record 6 created by the layout terminal 2 is sent as a database to the variable record DB 3 via the network.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the variable record 6 is created in the form of a database that is a set of variable records 6 in the layout terminal 2. The variable record 6 is labeled with a record number and includes members 6a and 6a corresponding to the field names 8b and 8b. Each of the members 6 a and 6 a is data such as text and images, and is a component of an image to be combined with the master image data 7. In FIG. 4, “Address” and “Name” are set as field names 8b and 8b in the database, and text data of addresses and names are stored as members 6a and 6a corresponding to the field names 8b and 8b. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the master image data 7 is image data serving as a base in variable printing. Variable drawing fields 8 a and 8 a are set at predetermined positions on the image corresponding to the master image data 7. The variable drawing fields 8a and 8a are areas where the members 6a and 6a included in the variable record 6 are combined, and are associated with the field names 8b and 8b. The variable drawing fields 8a and 8a are set in the master image data 7 when the field information 8 describing the variable drawing fields 8a and 8a shown in FIG. 6 is created on the variable printing application.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the field information 8 is a table in which the position and size on the image corresponding to the master image data 7 of the variable drawing fields 8a and 8a and the field names 8b and 8b are described as a set. That is, the field information 8 defines the overlay layout of the master image data 7 and the members 6 a and 6 a included in the variable record 6.

  The image output control device 4 includes, for example, a CPU 4a, a RAM 4b, an HDD 4c, a monitor 4d, an input device 4e such as a keyboard and a mouse, and an I / F 4f. As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission data storage unit 40, the processing unit 41, the processed master image data storage unit 42, the variable image data storage unit 43, the synthesis unit 44, and the processing content determination unit 45 are realized by these computer resources. Is done.

  The image output control device 4 is a device that performs variable printing processing. First, the processing means 41 reads the master image data 7 stored in the transmission data storage unit 40, performs RIP processing, and stores it in the processed master image data storage unit 42. Further, the processing content determination means 45 reads the field information 8 and the variable record 6 from the transmission data storage unit 40 and determines the processing content of the variable printing process. Next, the processing unit 41 performs processing according to the processing content determined by the processing content determination unit 41. When the variable image data 9 is stored in the variable image data storage unit 43 by this processing, the synthesizing unit 44 reads the processed master image data 7 and variable image data 9 and performs overlay processing. Hereinafter, each unit in the image output control device 4 will be described in detail.

  The transmission data storage unit 40 stores variable records 6, master image data 7, and field information 8. The master image data 7 and the field information 8 are sent from the layout terminal 2, and the variable record 6 is selected by the apparatus operator referring to the variable record DB 3 and selecting the variable record 6 desired to be printed. This is sent from the DB3.

  The processing content determination unit 45 is a unit that determines the processing content of the variable printing process based on the variable record 6 stored in the transmission data storage unit 40. First, the field information 8 stored in the transmission data storage unit 40 is read, and the variable record 6 to which attention is paid is sequentially read, and the variable drawing field in which the members 6 a and 6 a of the variable record 6 are set in the master image data 7. It is determined whether or not the sizes 8a and 8a are matched, and the processing content of the variable printing process is determined according to the determination result.

  The processing content determination unit 45 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the processing content determination unit 45 includes a selection receiving unit 45a, a selection information storage unit 45b, a control unit 45c, and a comparison unit 45d.

  The selection receiving unit 45a controls the monitor 4d and the input device 4e and receives an input from the device operator. When the apparatus operator operates the input device 4e to input the start of variable printing, this input is accepted and the processing content setting screen shown in FIG. 7 held as a format is displayed on the monitor 4d. The processing content setting screen is a screen for selecting the processing content when the size of the members 6a and 6a included in the variable record 6 to be compared particularly exceeds the size of the variable drawing fields 8a and 8a in the variable printing processing. .

  When the device operator operates the input device 4e to select the processing content with reference to the processing content setting screen shown in FIG. 7, the selection accepting unit 45a accepts this selection and specifies the selected processing content. Is stored in the selection information storage unit 45b. Here, in the present embodiment, the variable print processing contents that can be selected when the members 6a and 6a included in the variable record 6 exceed the variable drawing fields 8a and 8a are skip, stop, continue reduction, and range. There are four types of continuation of internal drawing.

  The selection information storage unit 45b stores information for specifying the selected processing content as selection information. That is, as the selection information indicating the content of the variable printing process selected by the apparatus operator, information for specifying one of skip, stop, continue reduction, and continue drawing within the range is written by the selection receiving unit 45a. Yes. The selection information stored in the selection information storage unit 45b is referred to when the image data creation unit including the processing unit 41 and the synthesis unit 44 is controlled by the control unit 45c.

  The comparison unit 45 d compares the size of the member 6 a included in the variable record 6 with the size of the variable drawing field 8 a set in the master image data 7. The comparison result by the comparison unit 45d is whether the size of the member 6a falls within or exceeds the range of the variable drawing field 8a.

  In the comparison by the comparison means 45d, first, the field information 8 in which the contents of the variable drawing field 8a are described is read from the transmission data storage unit 40, and the size value of the variable drawing field 8a described in the field information 8 is made the same variable. Acquired together with the field name 8b of the drawing field 8a.

  Next, the variable record 6 of interest is read from the transmission data storage unit 40, and the member 6a corresponding to the acquired field name 8b is searched. When the corresponding member 6a is searched, the size of the member 6a is calculated. The size of the member 6a is calculated as a value from the character size, the character spacing, and the number of characters in the case of text data, and is calculated as a value from the number of pixels in the case of image data.

  When the size of the member 6a is calculated as a value, it is compared with the size value of the variable drawing field 8a, and it is determined whether or not the size value of the variable drawing field 8a is equal to or larger than the size value of the member 6a. If the size value of the variable drawing field 8a is equal to or larger than the size value of the member 6a, it indicates that the size is within the range, and if the size value of the variable drawing field 8a is less than the size value of the member 6a. , Indicates out of range.

  This comparison is performed on the member 6a corresponding to the read field name 8b by sequentially reading each variable drawing field 8a described in the field information 8 and the corresponding field name 8b. The comparison by the comparison unit 45d is controlled by the control unit 45c, and the comparison unit 45d reads and compares the variable records 6 that are successively focused on in response to the comparison command from the control unit 45c.

  The control unit 45 c determines the processing contents of the variable printing process performed by the printing image data creation unit including the processing unit 41 and the synthesis unit 44. Actually, the processing means 41 and the synthesizing means 44 are a series of image data creation means, and control the whole by determining the variable printing process performed by the processing means 41 that is the preceding stage of the variable printing process.

  The control unit 45c determines the processing content of the variable printing process with reference to the comparison result by the comparison unit 45d and the selection information stored in the selection information storage unit 45b. If the comparison result is within the range, the control unit 45c determines the variable print processing for the variable record 6 to be compared as the processing content for size adaptation. The processing content for size adaptation is to read the variable record 6 to be compared and perform RIP processing and overlay processing. The printing image data creation means in this embodiment is a series of components that continuously move to the composition means 44 after the operation of the processing means 41 ends. The variable image data 9 generated by the RIP process and the master image Data 7 is continuously subjected to overlay processing after RIP processing.

  On the other hand, if the comparison result exceeds the result, the control unit 45c determines the variable printing process for the variable record 6 to be compared as the processing content for size mismatch. The processing content for size mismatch is specified by the selection information, and the control unit 45c reads the selection information and determines the processing content. As described above, the selection information describes any one of information for specifying skip, stop, continue reduction, and continue drawing within the range.

  The skip is a processing content in which variable printing processing is not performed on the variable record 6 when the variable record 6 to be compared includes a member 6a exceeding the size of the variable drawing field 8a.

  The stop is a processing content for stopping the variable printing process for all the variable records 6 after that when the variable record 6 to be compared includes the member 6a exceeding the size of the variable drawing field 8a.

  When the variable record 6 to be compared includes a member 6a that exceeds the size of the variable drawing field 8a, the reduction continues so that the size of the member 6a exceeding the size fits in the size of the variable drawing field 8a. This is the processing content for performing RIP processing and composition processing after the reduction. The control unit 45c calculates a reduction amount corresponding to the ratio between the size of the variable drawing field 8a and the size of the member 6a, and determines the reduction amount together with the processing content.

  When drawing within the range includes the member 6a exceeding the size of the variable drawing field 8a in the variable record 6 to be compared, the excess portion of the member 6a exceeding the size is deleted, and then the RIP process is performed. And processing contents for performing the synthesis processing. The control unit 45c determines the deleted portion together with the processing content from the size of the variable drawing field 8a and the size of the member 6a.

  As described above, the processing content determination unit 45 determines the processing content of the variable printing process, and the processing unit 41 and the combining unit 44 shown in FIG. 2 perform the variable printing process according to the processing content. The processing means 41 performs a previous step as a variable printing process. First, prior to analysis by the processing content determination means 45, the master image data 7 is read from the transmission data storage unit 40, subjected to RIP processing, and stored in the processed master image data storage unit 42. The RIP process interprets the master image data 7 described in the page description language, and converts the master image data into raster data that matches the output resolution of the image output device 4, that is, bitmap data that is a collection of points. This is what is called rasterization.

  Further, the processing unit 41 performs variable printing processing according to the processing content of the variable printing processing determined by the processing content determination unit 45. Specifically, the variable record 6 and the field information 8 designated by the processing content determination means 45 are sequentially read from the transmission data storage unit 40, and subjected to RIP processing to generate variable image data. Or, after performing reduction processing and deletion processing according to the processing content, variable image data 9 is generated by performing RIP processing. If the variable record 6 to be read from the processing content determination unit 45 is not designated, the processing unit 41 does not start the variable printing process, but stops the variable printing process. The variable image data 9 generated by the processing unit 41 is stored in the variable image data storage unit 43.

  The combining unit 44 separately generates image data for printing by combining the master image data 7 stored in the processed master image data storage unit 42 and the variable image data 9 stored in the variable image data storage unit 43. This print image data is sent to the image output device 5, and the variable printing process for one variable record 6 is completed.

  Each of the means 40 to 45 described above is repeated by the number of variable records 6 to be noticed. When the selection information is “stop”, the repetition ends when there is a variable record 6 corresponding to the stop.

  The image output control device 4 realizes the above configuration by executing the image output control program 10 and determines the processing contents of the variable printing process. Hereinafter, the operation of the image output control device 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the master image data 7 and the field information 8 are created in the layout terminal 2 and sent to the image output control unit 4. Here, when the apparatus operator starts the image output control program 10 (S100), the total number P of variable records 6 of interest to the apparatus operator is read from the variable record DB 3 and sent to the image output control apparatus 4. . The master image data 7, the field information 8, and the variable record 6 of interest are stored in the transmission data storage unit 40 of the image output control device 4.

  In this state, the processing means 41 first reads out the master image data 7, performs RIP processing, and stores the RIP processed master image data 7 in the processed master image data storage unit 42 (S101). Next, the processing content determination means 45 sets the internal counter to p = 1 (S102), and analyzes the pth variable record 6 (S103). The analysis of the variable record 6 is performed according to the variable record analysis routine shown in FIG. The variable record analysis routine is mainly processing in the processing content determination means 45.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the variable record analysis routine starts (S200), first, in the processing content determination means 45, the comparison means 45d operates to read the field information 8 describing the total number N of variable drawing fields 8a, The internal counter of the processing content determination means 45 is set to n = 1 (S201), and the size and field name of the nth variable drawing field 8a are acquired (S202). Further, the p-th variable record 6 is read, and the member 6a corresponding to the acquired field name is acquired (S203).

  If the size of the acquired member 6a is text data, the comparison unit 45d calculates the value from the character size, the character spacing, and the number of characters, and if it is image data, the comparison unit 45d calculates the size based on the number of pixels (S204).

  Next, these sizes are compared by the comparison means 45d, and it is derived whether the calculated size of the member 6a falls within or exceeds the size range of the variable drawing field 8a (S205). If the calculated size of the member 6a falls within the size of the variable drawing field 8a (S205, Yes), the internal counter is set to n = n + 1 (S206). If the value of n does not exceed the total number N (S207, No), the process returns to S202, and the comparison of the size between the next variable drawing field 8a and the corresponding member 6a is repeated (S202 to S205).

  If the value of n exceeds the total number N (S207, Yes), it is determined that the size of each corresponding member 6a, 6a fits into the size of all the variable drawing fields 8a, 8a. The processing content of the variable record 6 is determined. That is, the analyzed variable record 6 is determined as a target to be subjected to the variable printing process and is passed to the processing means 41, and the process is returned to S104 shown in FIG. 8 (S208).

  Here, when the calculated size of the member 6a exceeds the size of the variable drawing field 8a (S205, No), the control means 45c determines the processing content for size mismatch. First, selection information is acquired from the selection information storage unit 45b (S209). In the selection information storage unit 45b, information for specifying the processing content for size mismatch selected by the apparatus operator is received by the selection receiving unit 45a and stored in advance as selection information.

  The control unit 45c interprets the selection information and determines the processing content. When the selection information is skip setting (S210, Yes), p = p + 1 is set (S211), and the process returns to S201. That is, this routine finally determines the processing content of the p-th variable record 6 and returns to S104 to S106 in FIG. 8, but by setting p = p + 1, the processing content is changed to the variable drawing field 8a. Thus, the variable printing process for the variable record 6 including the member 6a exceeding the size is skipped. In S104 to S106 shown in FIG. 8, the processing unit 41 reads the variable record 6 instructed by the control unit 45c. Therefore, the processing unit 41 includes a variable record including the member 6a that is incompatible with the size according to the processing content. 6 reading is skipped.

  If the selection information is a stop setting (S212, Yes), the process is returned to the End process (S111) shown in FIG. That is, the processing content of the variable printing process is determined as the stop process.

  When the selection information is set to continue reduction (S213, Yes), the control unit 45c calculates a ratio between the size of the variable drawing field 8a and the size of the member 6a, and determines the reduction amount of the member 6a based on this ratio (S214). ).

  Further, n = n + 1 is performed (S217), and if n> N (S219, Yes), in addition to the determined reduction amount, the variable record 6 including the member 6a to be reduced is determined as a target for the variable printing process. The determined information is transferred to the processing means 41, and the process is returned to S105 shown in FIG. 8 (S219). That is, the control unit 45c determines the processing content to be performed in S105. If n> N is not satisfied (S219, No), the comparison between the nth variable drawing field 8a and the corresponding member 6a is continued, and the reduction amounts of all members 6a exceeding the size of the variable drawing field 8a are set. decide.

  When the selection information is within-range drawing continuation setting (S215, Yes), the control unit 45c determines to delete a portion that exceeds the size of the variable drawing field 8a of the member 6a (S216).

  Further, n = n + 1 is performed (S220), and if n> N (S221, Yes), the variable record 6 including the member 6a having the deleted part is subjected to the variable printing process in addition to the information of the determined deleted part. This is determined as an object to be performed, and the determined information is transferred to the processing means 41, and the process is returned to S106 shown in FIG. 8 (S222). That is, the control unit 45c determines the processing content to be performed in S106. If n> N is not satisfied (S221, No), the comparison is continued between the nth variable drawing field 8a and the corresponding member 6a, and the deleted portions of all members 6a exceeding the size of the variable drawing field 8a are deleted. decide.

  Through the routine described above, the processing content of the variable printing process is determined, and the variable printing processing according to the processing content is performed below. First, when the size is suitable, the processing unit 41 reads the variable record 6 and the field information 8 analyzed by the processing content determination unit 45 as a preceding stage of the variable printing process, and describes the member 6a with the field information 8. After image data is laid out at a position, variable image data 9 is created by performing RIP processing and stored in the variable image data storage unit 43 (S104).

  Similarly, when the non-conforming process content is set to skip, the variable record 6 including the member 6a exceeding the size of the variable drawing field 8a is skipped as an instruction from the control unit 45c as the preceding stage of the variable printing process. The recorded variable record 6 is read out, the member 6a is laid out at the position described by the field information 8 and converted into image data, and then RIP processing is performed to create variable image data 9, which is stored in the variable image data storage unit 43. (S104).

  If the size nonconforming process content is set to stop, stop processing is performed as variable printing processing (S111), and the subsequent variable printing processing based on the variable record 6 is terminated.

  When the processing content that does not conform to the size is set to continue reduction, the size of the corresponding member 6a is reduced with reference to the reduction amount instructed by the control unit 45c as the preceding stage of the variable printing process, RIP processing is performed, and variable image data 9 is stored in the variable image data storage unit 43 (S105).

  If the processing content that does not conform to the size is the within-range drawing continuation setting, the excess part of the corresponding member 6a is deleted by referring to the information on the deleted part notified from the control means 45c as the previous stage of the variable printing process. After that, imaging and RIP processing is performed, and the variable image data 9 is stored in the variable image data storage unit 43 (S106).

  Further, as a subsequent stage of the variable printing process, the synthesizing unit 44 reads the master image data 7 from the master image data storage unit 42, reads the variable image data 6 from the variable image data storage unit 43, performs an overlay process, and separately performs printing. Image data is created (S107).

  The printing image data separately created by the synthesizing unit 44 is sent to the image output device 5 via the I / F 4f (S108). The image output device 5 to which the printing image data has been sent outputs the printing image data using the stored recording paper as a medium.

  On the other hand, after sending the printing image data, the processing content determination means 45 counts up to p = p + 1 (S109), and if p> P, that is, the variable printing process based on all the variable records 6 of interest has been completed. (S110, Yes), the variable printing process is terminated (S111). If p> P is not satisfied (S110, No), the process returns to S103, and the analysis of the p-th variable record 6 and the variable printing process are sequentially repeated.

  As described above, the image output control device 4 performs the analysis for the variable printing process, and varies the variable printing process according to the variable record 6.

  As described above, the image output apparatus 4 according to the present invention compares the size of the variable drawing field 8a and the size of the corresponding member 6a in variable printing, and determines the processing contents of the variable printing process according to the comparison result. The variable printing process is performed in accordance with the determined processing content. Therefore, processing according to the relationship between the size of the variable drawing field 8a and the size of the member 6a becomes possible.

  This processing content is divided into processing content for size adaptation and processing content for size non-conformity, so that even if the size of the variable drawing field exceeds the size of the member 6a, the processing content is made non-conforming. By doing so, processing corresponding to the excess can be performed.

  A plurality of non-conforming processing contents are prepared and can be selected by the operator of the apparatus, so that processing can be performed with desired processing contents when the size of the variable drawing field exceeds the size of the member 6a. It is possible to realize a printing process that matches the style of the operator of the apparatus.

  As processing contents for multiple size nonconformities, skip, stop, continue reduction, and continue drawing within range are provided. By skip setting, it is possible to save the trouble of printing again. By using the stop setting, waste of recording paper can be eliminated. With the reduction continuing setting, it is possible to save the trouble of re-editing the member 6a that does not conform to the size. The size nonconformity can be laid out and notified by the in-range drawing continuation setting.

  In the present embodiment, the image output control program is stored in the HDD 3c. In addition to this, the image output control device 3 can store the data in a readable storage medium. For example, it may be stored in an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk (CD-ROM / DVD-RAM / DVD-ROM / MO, etc.), or a magnetic storage medium (hard disk / floppy (registered trademark) disk / ZIP, etc.). . Further, in the present embodiment, the image output control device 4 is provided with the above-described function by executing an image output control program, but may be provided with the above-described function by including a dedicated circuit.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image output system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the image output control apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the control means in an image output control apparatus. It is a figure which shows variable record DB which is an aggregate | assembly of a variable record. It is a figure which shows master image data. It is a figure which shows field information. It is a figure explaining the screen which selects the production procedure of image data. It is a flowchart figure explaining control of a creation procedure. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a variable record analysis routine of S103 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8;

Explanation of symbols

1 Image output system 2 Layout terminal 3 Variable record DB
4 Image Output Control Device 40 Send Data Storage Unit 41 Processing Unit 42 Processed Master Image Data Storage Unit 43 Processed Variable Record Storage Unit 44 Synthesis Unit 45 Processing Content Determination Unit 45a Selection Accepting Unit 45b Selection Information Storage Unit 45c Control Unit 45d Comparison Means 5 Image output device 6 Variable record 6a Member 7 Master image data 8 Field information 8a Variable drawing field 8b Field name 9 Variable image data 10 Image output control program

Claims (13)

An image output control apparatus that creates a plurality of printing image data by performing variable printing processing based on master image data and a plurality of variable records, and outputs the plurality of printing image data.
Storage means for storing the variable record including a member that is a component of an image and the master image data in which a variable drawing field that is an area in which the member is drawn is set;
A comparing means for comparing the size of the member with the size of the variable drawing field;
Control means for determining the processing content of the variable printing process according to the comparison result by the comparison means;
Printing image data creating means for reading the variable record and the master image data from the storage means and performing variable printing processing according to the processing content determined by the control means;
Providing
An image output control device characterized by the above. The control means includes
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, when the size of the member falls within the size of the variable drawing field, the variable print processing is determined as the processing content for size adaptation,
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, when the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field, the variable printing process is determined as the processing content for size nonconformity;
The image output control apparatus according to claim 1. An image output control apparatus that creates a plurality of printing image data by performing variable printing processing based on master image data and a plurality of variable records, and outputs the plurality of printing image data.
Storage means for storing the variable record including a member that is a component of an image and the master image data in which a variable drawing field that is an area in which the member is drawn is set;
A comparing means for comparing the size of the member with the size of the variable drawing field;
Selection accepting means for accepting the processing content for size nonconformity determined when the result of the comparison by the comparing means exceeds the size of the variable drawing field so as to be selectable from a plurality of types;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, if the size of the member falls within the size of the variable drawing field, variable printing processing is performed according to the processing content for size adaptation, and the size of the member is set to the size of the variable drawing field. If it exceeds, printing image data creation means for performing variable printing processing according to the processing content for size nonconformity received by the selection receiving means,
Providing
An image output control device characterized by the above. The processing content for size nonconformity is one processing content determined from a plurality of types,
The processing contents for the plurality of types of size nonconformity are:
Processing contents for skipping creation of image data for printing based on the variable record in which the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field;
Processing content to stop creating print image data based on all variable records,
Processing for reducing the size of the member to be compared to the size of the variable drawing field and performing RIP processing, and combining the processed variable record and the master image data;
Processing that deletes a portion of the member that exceeds the size of the variable drawing field and performs RIP processing, and combines the processed variable record and the master image data,
Including,
The image output control apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, An image output control apparatus having storage means for holding a plurality of variable records including members that are constituent elements of an image and holding master image data in which a variable drawing field that is an area in which the members are drawn is set The
A comparing means for comparing the size of the member with the size of the variable drawing field;
Control means for determining the processing content of the variable printing process according to the comparison result by the comparison means;
Printing image data creating means for reading the variable record and the master image data from the storage means and performing variable printing processing according to the processing content determined by the control means;
Make it work,
An image output control program characterized by the above. The control means includes
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, when the size of the member falls within the size of the variable drawing field, the variable print processing is determined as the processing content for size adaptation,
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, when the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field, the variable printing process is determined as the processing content for size nonconformity;
The image output control program according to claim 5. An image output control apparatus that holds a plurality of variable records including members that are constituent elements of an image and holds master image data in which a variable drawing field that is an area in which the members are drawn is set.
A comparing means for comparing the size of the member with the size of the variable drawing field;
Selection accepting means for accepting the processing content for size nonconformity determined when the result of the comparison by the comparing means exceeds the size of the variable drawing field so as to be selectable from a plurality of types;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, if the size of the member falls within the size of the variable drawing field, variable printing processing is performed according to the processing content for size adaptation, and the size of the member is set to the size of the variable drawing field. If it exceeds, printing image data creation means for performing variable printing processing according to the variable printing processing according to the processing content for size non-conformity received by the selection receiving means;
To function as
An image output control program characterized by the above. The processing content for size nonconformity is one processing content determined from a plurality of types,
The processing contents for the plurality of types of size nonconformity are:
Processing contents for skipping creation of image data for printing based on the variable record in which the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field;
Processing content to stop creating print image data based on all variable records,
Processing for reducing the size of the member to be compared to the size of the variable drawing field and performing RIP processing, and combining the processed variable record and the master image data;
Processing that deletes a portion of the member that exceeds the size of the variable drawing field and performs RIP processing, and combines the processed variable record and the master image data,
Including,
The image output control program according to claim 6 or 7,   A storage medium for storing the image output control program according to claim 5 so that the image output control apparatus can read the image output control program. An image output control method for creating a plurality of printing image data by performing variable printing processing based on master image data and a plurality of variable records, and outputting the plurality of printing image data,
Storing the variable record including a member which is a component of an image and the master image data in which a variable drawing field which is an area in which the member is drawn is set;
Comparing the size of the member with the size of the variable drawing field;
According to the comparison result, determine the processing content of the variable printing process,
Reading the stored variable record and the master image data, and performing variable printing processing according to the determined processing content;
An image output control method characterized by the above. In determining the processing content,
As a result of the comparison, when the size of the member falls within the size of the variable drawing field, the variable printing process is determined as the processing content for size adaptation,
As a result of the comparison, when the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field, the variable printing process is determined as the processing content for size incompatibility;
The image output control method according to claim 10. An image output control method for generating a plurality of printing image data by performing variable printing processing according to predetermined processing contents based on master image data and a plurality of variable records, and outputting the plurality of printing image data Because
Storing the variable record including a member which is a component of an image and the master image data in which a variable drawing field which is an area in which the member is drawn is set;
Comparing the size of the member with the size of the variable drawing field;
In advance, the result of the comparison accepts the processing content for size nonconformity determined when the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field so that it can be selected from a plurality of types,
As a result of the comparison, when the size of the member falls within the size of the variable drawing field, variable printing processing is performed according to the processing content for size adaptation, and the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field , Performing variable print processing according to the processing content for size nonconformity accepted in the selectable manner,
An image output control method characterized by the above. The processing content for the size nonconformity is:
Processing contents for skipping creation of image data for printing based on the variable record in which the size of the member exceeds the size of the variable drawing field;
Processing content to stop creating print image data based on all variable records,
Processing for reducing the size of the member to be compared to the size of the variable drawing field and performing RIP processing, and combining the processed variable record and the master image data;
Processing that deletes a portion of the member that exceeds the size of the variable drawing field and performs RIP processing, and combines the processed variable record and the master image data,
It is one processing content selected from
13. The image output control method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein:

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