JP2001274992A - Device for supporting production of binarization pattern and binarization pattern production method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly and properly produce a binarization pattern that is used for performing the pseudo halftone processing to a gray image, i.e., the multilevel information. SOLUTION: The dot distribution state is displayed in the matrix of a binarization pattern and also the cells displayed in the matrix are clicked to change the distribution of dots (S11). At the same time, the dot increase/decrease processing that is performed to a certain level of density is reflected on a matrix of another level of density (S13). Thus, the binarization pattern can be easily corrected and confirmed on a monitor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a binarized pattern creation support device and a binarized pattern creation method, for example, a halftone type 2 conforming to PostScript (Adobe Systems).
The present invention relates to an apparatus for editing and creating a value pattern. The present invention also relates to an electronic apparatus such as a printing apparatus and an image data supply apparatus that use a binarized pattern edited and created by the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printing or plate making technique, a method is employed in which a halftone image, which is multi-valued information, is subjected to pseudo halftone processing using a binarization pattern to express the shading in a pseudo manner. Sometimes. In this method, one pixel of a grayscale image is made to correspond to an M × N matrix, and the density of each pixel is reproduced by the number of dots occupying the matrix, that is, the dot area ratio in the matrix. In this case, by preparing a plurality of matrix-like patterns in which the number of dots in the matrix increases by a predetermined number from “0” to “M × N” from the lowest density to the highest density, a plurality of gradations can be reproduced. it can.

[0003] Such a binarized pattern is applied to each of the plurality of colors when a printing apparatus capable of expressing various colors by applying a plurality of printing agents substantially identically on a print medium is used. Each color is prepared for the purpose of making the color of the image input from the host device, which is the image data supply source, and the color of the image output by the printing device as equal as possible within a desired reproducibility range. A suitable binarization pattern is designed and created. In addition, appropriate binary values may be used according to the conditions of the host device and the printing device (image data supply conditions, printing method of the printing device, hardware configurations of the respective devices, etc.) and the type and characteristics of the printing agent such as ink and other conditions. Pattern is designed and created.

[0004]

Conventionally, when designing and creating such a binarized pattern, first, the number of dots in the matrix is changed from "0" to "M" from the lowest density to the highest density.
A binarized pattern is created by an algorithm for increasing the number by a predetermined number up to “× N” according to an appropriate arrangement pattern, and the binarized pattern is evaluated by printing a test image or the like. If it is desired to correct the result of the evaluation, the algorithm is rearranged, and the creation and evaluation of the binarized pattern are repeated again to cope with the problem. here,
When confirming changes in the dot distribution state in the matrix from the lowest density to the highest density in the course of these operations,
This was only done based on the digitized information.

However, since a binary pattern is required to have various sizes and dot arrangement patterns according to colors and other conditions as described above, it takes a great deal of time and effort to create it. Also, once created 2
As a result of the evaluation of the quantification pattern, when correction is desired, the algorithm must be rearranged each time.

In the course of such work, it is difficult for a user who performs a work of creating a binarized pattern to proceed with the design while confirming a change in the state of the dot distribution using only the digitized information. Not only does it impose a heavy burden, but also requires a great deal of time for design and creation. On the other hand, it is conceivable to print out the binarized pattern for confirmation, but a huge number of prints are required depending on the size and the number of gradations of the binarized pattern. Not a good thing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to create a binarized pattern quickly and appropriately and to reduce the burden on a user who performs the creation operation. .

[0008]

For this purpose, the present invention provides:
A binarization pattern creation support device for supporting creation of a binarization pattern used for performing pseudo halftone processing on a grayscale image that is multi-valued information, wherein the binarization pattern creation support device supports the binarization pattern corresponding to each density. A means for displaying a matrix by clearly indicating its dot distribution state, and a means for designating cells constituting the displayed matrix and performing input for instructing the designated cell whether or not to arrange dots. And means for changing the dot distribution state in the matrix in accordance with the instruction.

The present invention also relates to a binarized pattern creating method for creating a binarized pattern used for performing pseudo halftone processing on a grayscale image as multi-valued information, the method corresponding to each density. A step of displaying the matrix of the binarized pattern by clearly indicating a dot distribution state, designating cells constituting the displayed matrix, and instructing the designated cell whether or not dots are arranged; And a step of changing a dot distribution state in the matrix in accordance with the instruction.

[0010] In the above, the changing means or step may reflect a change made to a matrix corresponding to one density to a matrix corresponding to another density.

Further, the present invention resides in a storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the above-mentioned binarized pattern creating method.

Further, according to the present invention, pseudo halftone processing is performed on a grayscale image which is multi-valued information, using the binarized pattern created by the above-described binarized pattern creation support apparatus or binarized pattern creation method. Electronic devices such as printing devices, computers, digital cameras, etc., which are equipped with means.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of a binarized pattern creation support apparatus according to the present invention.
The digitized pattern creation support device is realized in the form of a personal computer or a workstation.

In the binarized pattern creation supporting apparatus 10 which enables such a mode, reference numeral 101 denotes a CP which forms a main control unit.
U and 103 are ROMs storing required programs and fixed data, and 105 is an RA used for operation of application programs, temporary storage of various data, and other work.
M. Reference numeral 107 denotes a hard disk device used for storing various application programs and data such as a binary pattern creation / editing program described later with reference to FIG. 2, 109 denotes a floppy disk device, and 111 denotes a C
This is a device for reading the stored information from the D-ROM.

Reference numeral 113 denotes a display device such as a CRT or LCD, 115 denotes an input unit having a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse, and 117 denotes a switch for turning on or resetting the power of the device. 121 is a network (N / W) interface.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a binary pattern creation / editing procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention. This procedure can be executed by the system shown in FIG. 1 as one of the application programs, and supports the editing or creation of the binarization pattern while receiving an operation input by the user and performing an appropriate display during the execution process. Be launched for

When this procedure is started, first, an instruction to create a new binarization pattern or edit an existing binarization pattern is received (step S1).

If the user selects a mode for creating a new binarized pattern, the matrix size of the binarized pattern (for example, M × N = 128 × 128) and the number of gradations (for example, 256 levels) The key setting is accepted (step S3). In accordance with the setting, the application sets the predetermined number of dots from the lowest density to the highest density, that is, the number of dots in the M × N matrix corresponding to one pixel of the grayscale image from “0” to “M × N”. A binary pattern to be increased is created for each color by an appropriate algorithm, for example, an algorithm using a random number.
05 (step S5).

On the other hand, when an instruction to read an existing binarization pattern is given, the file name of the binarization pattern already registered in the hard disk or the like is presented, and the file selected by the user is read out and stored in the RAM 105. (Step S7).

Next, in response to a new creation instruction, step S
Whether to edit the binarization pattern created in step 5 or the existing binarization pattern read in step S7, display a confirmation screen for the binarization pattern,
It is determined whether or not to end the process, for example, by a mode instruction (step S9). Here, when the binarization pattern is edited, the editing operation is accepted by performing the following display (step S11).

FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen display in the edit mode.

In FIG. 3, DISP is a display device 113.
And has a menu bar area MB for generally displaying functions such as file operations, and an editing area EA for performing an editing operation on the matrix.

In the editing area EA, of the binarized patterns developed on the RAM 105, M × N corresponding to a certain density
A matrix DM (for example, 128 × 128 cells) is displayed together with the size information MS of the matrix in a state where the dot distribution is specified.

In the editing area EA, a display for displaying information on a color to be edited (cyan in the figure) and a switch for receiving a color switching operation (for example, switching to black, magenta or yellow). Section CC, a display area DA for displaying information on the dot area ratio (27% in the figure) of the matrix DM to be edited, the number of dots, and the total number of cells in the matrix. Number of gradations, density ratio (%)
And a display unit DC for displaying a volume for receiving a switching operation to another gradation (density). When displaying a matrix for other densities, the display unit D
When the C volume and the matrix of another color are displayed, a desired switching can be performed by operating a switch of the display unit CC using a pointing device such as a mouse. Further, according to the switching, the display related to the color, the density, and the number of dots is also switched.

Further, the editing area EA is provided with a switch CS for instructing switching to a confirmation mode described later and a switch TS for ending the processing.

When the editing process is performed on the matrix DM, the editing operation is performed by operating a pointing device to set a pointer to a desired cell in the matrix, and changing the display state of the cell by a click operation or the like. it can.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of this mode, and shows the matrix DM in a partially enlarged manner.

In FIG. 4, C is a cell which is a constituent unit of the matrix, and cells in which dots are arranged are displayed in a state of being filled with a predetermined color, and dots which are not arranged are displayed in a state in which they are not filled (hereinafter referred to as a state in which they are not filled). , Respectively.

When the user wants to make a change to the displayed matrix, for example, when the user wants to arrange the dots in the cell C1 where no dots are arranged,
The user points the pointer PNT to the target cell C1 in the light-off state.
May be positioned and turned on by a click operation of a pointing device or the like. Conversely, when it is desired to remove the dot from the cell C2 in which the dot is arranged, the pointer PNT may be positioned at the cell of interest C2 in the lit state, and the light may be turned off by a click operation of the pointing device or the like. . It should be noted that, in addition to performing processing for each cell as shown in the figure, a configuration may be adopted in which a range is specified and batch processing can be performed on a group of cells within the specified range.

In step S11 of FIG. 2, in addition to performing the process of turning on and off the cell or increasing or decreasing the number of corresponding dots in the matrix to be edited in response to the operation, the density of the process is performed as needed. In response to the above, a process of appropriately turning off other cells (or a process of removing dots from the corresponding cells in the matrix) or a process of turning on (or a process of arranging dots in the corresponding cells in the matrix) is performed. At this time, a display (for example, reverse display, etc.) may be performed to clearly indicate to the user the cell changed by the application. Through these processes, the contents of the matrix for the density in the RAM 105 are also updated.

Further, the change of the dot distribution (increase / decrease of dots) applied to the matrix of the density to be processed is reflected also in each of the matrices on the high density side or the low density side, and corresponding to the change. For example, by using an existing transfer function (a function representing a correction curve for determining an output density by performing an appropriate correction on the input density), dots are formed in each matrix on the high density side or the low density side. A process of rearrangement is performed (step S13). Then, the process returns to step S9, and if the user continues editing work, the processes of steps S11 and S13 are repeated.

In step S9, the binarization pattern created in step S5 in response to a new creation instruction, the existing binarization pattern read out in step S7, or the binarization pattern edited in steps S11 and S13 If it is instructed to check the pattern as a whole, the process of step S21 is executed.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen display in the confirmation mode.

In FIG. 5, as in FIG.
A menu bar area MB is displayed on the thirteen display screen DISP. In this mode, an area CA for specifying the matrix DM together with the gradation information DC1 is continuously displayed for several gradations. When viewing the matrix DM for gradations other than those displayed on the screen, the scroll bar VS or HS may be operated, and when checking other colors, a switch on the display unit CC may be used. Can be operated.

By referring to such a confirmation screen, the user can confirm the dot distribution according to the gradation as a whole. As a result of the check, if the binarization pattern is satisfied, the switch TS for ending the processing is operated, and if further editing is desired, the switch ES to the edit mode is operated, and the determination in step S9 is made. Switching to the corresponding mode is performed accordingly.

If it is determined in step S9 of FIG. 2 that the processing is to be ended, that is, if it is determined that the end switch has been operated on the edit screen (FIG. 3) or the confirmation screen (FIG. 5), the end processing ( Step S31) is executed. This processing may include registering the created and edited binary pattern in the hard disk.

According to the above embodiment, while displaying the dot distribution state in the matrix of the binarized pattern,
The distribution of dots can be changed by performing a click operation or the like on a cell in the displayed matrix. Further, the dot increase / decrease processing performed for a certain density is also reflected on a matrix of another density. That is, according to the present embodiment, 2
Since the binarized pattern can be easily corrected and confirmed on the monitor, the burden on the user who creates the binarized pattern can be reduced, and the binarized pattern can be created quickly and appropriately. .

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of an image processing unit in a printing system as an example of a system to which the binarized pattern created as described above can be applied.

The illustrated image processing unit serves as an image data supply source and has a host device 10 which can take the form of a computer, a digital camera, an image reader, or the like, or a printing device which can take the form of a printer, an image setter, or the like. 20 side. Further, a part and the rest of the configuration are transferred to the host device 10 and the printing device 20.
May be provided on the side to realize the configuration shown in the figure as a whole system. That is, the portion that performs the binarization process using the binarization pattern created as described above may be provided on either the host device 10 side, which is an electronic device, or the printing device 20. For example, when all or a part of the illustrated configuration is provided in the host device 10 in the form of a computer, the function can be executed as a function of a printer driver installed in the host device 10. When all or a part of the illustrated configuration is provided on the printing apparatus 20 side, the function can be executed as a function of an image processing program executed by the printing apparatus 20. Alternatively, in addition to executing the functions of the illustrated configuration by using such software, a part or all of the functions may be realized by hardware.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 301 denotes a luminance / density conversion unit which converts image data expressed by luminance data of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) into cyan (C), A function of converting the density data into magenta (M) and yellow (Y) density data is executed.
Note that a unit (such as an input γ conversion unit) for correcting the light emission characteristics of a CRT used as the display unit 113 in the host device 10 may be provided in a stage preceding the luminance density conversion unit 301.

Reference numeral 303 denotes a masking correction unit, which executes an arithmetic processing function for correcting color turbidity during superposition (subtraction color mixing) of inks as printing agents. The masking correction unit 303 includes a black generation / UCR unit 305
May be provided in the next stage. Black generation / UCR unit 30
5 basically executes a (UCR) function of extracting a black (K) component from C, M, and Y data and removing an amount of C, M, and Y components related to the replacement with K. I do.

Reference numeral 307 denotes a binarization processing unit which stores a binarization pattern of each color created as described above in a table SH.
, And binarizes the grayscale data of the multivalued information of C, M, Y and K supplied from the black generation / UCR unit 305, and outputs it to the printer engine of the printing apparatus. Note that a plurality of types of binarization pattern tables may be provided in order to meet various conditions.
In addition, in connection with the binarization processing unit 307, a function of performing output γ correction may be added.

An object of the present invention is to supply a medium having recorded therein software program codes for realizing required functions as illustrated in FIG. 2 to a computer as shown in FIG. This is also achieved by the CPU 101) executing the processing based on the program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS and the like running on the computer are actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. And a part of the entire process is performed, and the process realizes the function of the present embodiment.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the present embodiment is realized by the processing.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention,
This makes it possible to quickly and appropriately create a binarization pattern used for performing pseudo halftone processing on a grayscale image that is multi-valued information, and to reduce the burden on the user who creates the binarization pattern. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of a binarized pattern creation support device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a binarization pattern creation / edit processing procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen display in an edit mode of a binarization pattern in the procedure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of changing a dot distribution in a matrix performed in a binary pattern editing mode in the procedure of FIG. 2;

5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen display in a binary pattern confirmation mode in the procedure of FIG. 2;

6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing unit in a system to which the binarization pattern created by the procedure of FIG. 2 can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Binary pattern creation support device 103 ROM 105 RAM 107 Hard disk drive 113 Display unit 115 Input unit 303 Brightness / density conversion unit 305 Black generation / UCR unit 307 Binary processing unit DISP display screen EA Binary pattern editing area DM display Matrix on screen C Cell in matrix PNT Pointer SH Binary pattern table

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B050 AA09 CA07 DA02 EA02 5B057 AA11 CA08 CA16 CB07 CB16 CE13 5C077 MP01 MP08 NN04 NN07 RR02 SS07 5C082 AA32 BA35 BA39 CB01 CB06 DA87 MM02 MM09

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A binarization pattern creation supporting apparatus for supporting creation of a binarization pattern used for performing pseudo halftone processing on a grayscale image as multi-valued information, wherein The matrix of the binarization pattern is
A means for explicitly displaying the dot distribution state, a means for designating cells constituting the displayed matrix, and performing an input for instructing the designated cell whether or not to arrange a dot; Means for changing a dot distribution state in the matrix according to an instruction. 2. The binarization pattern creation support according to claim 1, wherein the change unit reflects a change made to a matrix corresponding to one density to a matrix corresponding to another density. apparatus. 3. A binarization pattern creation method for creating a binarization pattern used for performing pseudo halftone processing on a grayscale image as multi-value information, wherein the binarization pattern corresponding to each density is provided. The matrix of the pattern
A step of explicitly displaying the dot distribution state, a step of designating cells constituting the displayed matrix, and performing an input for instructing whether or not a dot arrangement is to be performed on the designated cell; Changing a dot distribution state in the matrix according to an instruction. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein in the changing step, a change made to a matrix corresponding to one density is reflected in a matrix corresponding to another density. . 5. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the binarized pattern creating method according to claim 3 or 4. 6. A multi-level information using a binarization pattern created by the binarization pattern creation support device according to claim 1 or the binarization pattern creation method according to claim 3 or 4. An electronic apparatus comprising means for performing pseudo halftone processing on a grayscale image.