JP2006231651A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform processing so as to properly print an image to be printed on paper on a printing apparatus side.
A printing apparatus that has a built-in computer, inputs an image to be printed by processing of the computer, sets the size of a printing paper, and prints the image, by the processing by the computer. Relative position setting means for setting a relative position between the printable area set by the paper size and the image, a command operating unit for giving a command to shift the set relative position, and processing by the computer A position changing unit that changes a relative position between the printable area and the image, and a print execution unit that cuts out and prints the image in the printable area based on the changed relative position. A printing apparatus is provided.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that inputs an image to be printed, sets the size of printing paper, and performs printing, and particularly relates to setting a range of an image to be printed.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing apparatuses that directly capture and print images acquired by an imaging device such as a digital still camera or a digital video camera are known. In such a printing apparatus, when printing paper is set, an image to be printed is converted into print data in consideration of the paper size, and printing is executed using this. In such image printing, a trimming process of cutting out a partial area of the target image may be performed. Such processing is executed when there is a difference in aspect ratio between the digital still camera and the printing paper. For example, an image photographed with a digital still camera usually has an aspect ratio of 4: 3, and an A4 landscape printing paper has an aspect ratio of about 10: 7, and the image is printed on a full A4 sheet. In some cases, it is necessary to cut off part of the upper and lower edges of the image.

  An image cut out by such trimming may include an important object, for example, the head of a person who is a subject, and is recorded at the time of shooting but has a portion that disappears at the time of printing. In order to cope with such a difference in aspect ratio, various techniques have been disclosed. For example, Patent Literature 1 below discloses a technique for displaying a print area together with a photographed image at the time of photographing so that the user can recognize a region that cannot be printed. According to such a technique, it is supposed that an important object is prevented from being trimmed by dealing with the digital still camera side. Patent Document 2 below discloses an image processing apparatus (printing apparatus) that generates print data in accordance with the difference in aspect ratio between a captured image and printing paper, and prints the entire printing frame with reduced margins. Yes.

JP 2002-94901 A JP-A-11-327850

  However, with such a technique, it has been difficult to perform appropriate printing. That is, the size of the printing paper is specified at the printing stage, and it is difficult to assume the size of the printing paper at the time of shooting. In addition, since the region to be trimmed differs depending on the size of the printing paper, if the paper size assumed at the time of shooting is changed, an important object may be lost. Furthermore, in the case of so-called direct printing that directly prints on a printing device, even if the paper size is specified at the printing stage, the size of the image data is corrected on the printing device side according to the size of the printing paper. It was difficult to do.

  In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to perform processing so that an image to be printed is appropriately printed on paper on the printing apparatus side.

  In view of the above problems, the printing apparatus of the present invention employs the following method. That is, a printing apparatus that has a built-in computer, inputs an image to be printed by processing of the computer, sets the size of printing paper, and prints the image. Based on the command by the relative position setting means for setting the relative position between the printable area set by the size and the image, a command operating unit for commanding to shift the set relative position, and processing by the computer A position changing unit that changes a relative position between the printable region and the image, and a print execution unit that cuts out and prints the image in the printable region based on the changed relative position. This is the gist.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the relative position between the image to be printed and the printable area is changed on the printing apparatus side, and the printing range of the target image is adjusted. Therefore, a portion that exists as an entire image but is not printed can be included in the printable area, and a desired print image can be obtained.

  The command operation unit of the printing apparatus having the above configuration includes an option for instructing a relative movement direction between the printable area and the image, and issues a command for one movement direction selected from the options. Also good.

  According to such a printing apparatus, a command to change the relative position between the printable area and the image is performed by selecting one from the options. That is, the user only needs to perform an operation of selecting one from the options of the moving direction. Therefore, the relative position can be changed with a simple operation, and the operability can be improved.

  The options of the printing apparatus having the above configuration may include at least any two of the upper direction, the center, and the lower direction.

  According to such a printing apparatus, the relative position between the printable area and the image can be changed in the vertical direction. In general, in a captured image of a digital still camera or the like, there are many images in which a subject is placed all over the top and bottom of a frame, and when such an image is printed, a part of the subject may be cut off in the vertical direction. Making the relative position changeable in the vertical direction is particularly effective for such an image.

  The printing apparatus having the above configuration further includes information recording means for recording the changed relative position information as additional information of the image, and when the input image has the additional information, The relative position setting means may set the relative position using the additional information.

  According to such a printing apparatus, when the same image as the image printed by changing the relative position is selected again as the print target image, the relative position is set using the additional information. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of setting the relative position when reprinting the same image, and to improve user convenience.

  The printing apparatus having the above configuration further includes a display unit that displays image contents based on a relative position between the printable area and the image, and a process performed by the computer that causes the display unit to change with the change in the relative position. Display control means for changing the displayed image content may be provided.

  According to such a printing apparatus, the image content accompanying the change of the relative position is displayed. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the printed range as a result of changing the relative position between the printable area and the image, and can improve the operability of the user.

  The display unit of the printing apparatus having the above-described configuration displays the entire image and displays the image content obtained by superimposing the printable area on the image, and the display control unit is displayed on the display unit. The image content may be changed to the image content in which the printable area is moved with respect to the image as the relative position is changed.

  According to such a printing apparatus, the printable area is displayed on the display unit so as to overlap the image. Therefore, the position of the printable area in the entire image can be visually recognized, and the relative position changing operation can be facilitated.

  The display unit of the printing apparatus having the above configuration displays a part of the image that falls within the printable area as the image content, and the display control unit displays the image content displayed on the display unit as the relative position. The image content may be changed to the moved image content with respect to the printable area.

  According to such a printing apparatus, an image included in the printable area is displayed on the display unit. Therefore, it is not necessary to display the entire image, and the display unit can be used effectively.

  The command operation unit of the printing apparatus having the above configuration is a touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit, and performs an operation of moving the image content displayed on the display unit in a predetermined direction by touching the touch panel. Thus, the relative movement direction of the printable area and the image may be instructed.

  According to such a printing apparatus, the command operation unit as a touch panel is provided on the surface of the display unit. Therefore, the space of the printing apparatus can be used effectively. Further, for example, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of buttons are arranged in the direction of movement.

  The present invention can also be implemented as a program for a printing apparatus and a medium recording the program. As the recording medium, various media readable by a printing apparatus such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM / RAM, a magneto-optical disk, a memory card, and a hard disk can be used.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. Printer configuration:
B. Trimming processing of the first embodiment:
C. Trimming process of the second embodiment:
D. Variations:

A. Printer configuration:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer which is a printing apparatus of the present invention. The printer 10 of the present embodiment is an ink jet printer capable of printing a color image, and executes printing with four colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black). The printer 10 includes a card slot 23 into which a memory card MC storing an image photographed by a digital still camera or the like is mounted, and an RGB color image read out from the memory card MC is formed depending on whether or not each color dot is formed. Convert to print data. That is, it is a printer incorporating a so-called printer driver. The card slot 23 is a slot corresponding to a plurality of media such as an SD memory card (registered trademark), a compact flash (registered trademark), and a smart media (registered trademark), and can handle various storage media. .

  As shown in the figure, the printer 10 includes a carriage 30 on which a print head unit 25 that discharges ink onto paper P is mounted, a carriage motor 32 that drives the carriage 30 in the main scanning direction, a paper feed motor 33 that transports the paper P, and printing. The control unit 40 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, and the like that control operations of the head unit 25, carriage motor 32, and paper feed motor 33.

  The print head unit 25 includes a total of four ink ejection heads for each color of CMYK. The carriage 30 is mounted with a black ink cartridge 29a and a color ink cartridge 29b for storing the ink, and the ink from each cartridge is ejected onto the paper P by adjusting the voltage of a piezoelectric element (not shown). Is done.

  The carriage motor 32 reciprocates the carriage 30 installed on the sliding shaft 34 parallel to the platen 28 axis by rotating the drive belt 36. The origin position of the carriage 30 that reciprocates is detected by a position detection sensor 39, and the detected value is output to the control circuit 40.

  The paper feed motor 33 conveys the paper P supplied to the printer 10 by rotating the platen 28 and contributes to the formation of dots in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction of the carriage 30. The paper P is fed by a predetermined amount according to the rotation angle of the platen 28.

  The ROM of the control circuit 40 stores various programs related to the operation of the printer 10 such as a program for selecting an image to be printed and a program for setting printing conditions, in addition to the printer driver described above. The CPU of the control circuit 40 calls various programs as necessary, develops them on the RAM, and executes various processes. For example, when an image to be printed and printing conditions are set, the printer driver is activated to generate print data from the image data, and the various actuators are controlled based on the generated print data.

  Specifically, a voltage signal corresponding to the print data is output to the piezo element of the print head unit 25, or a predetermined electric signal is output from the carriage motor 32, the position of the carriage 30 corresponding to the print data, and the amount of paper feed. Output to the paper feed motor 33. In response to such an output signal, the carriage motor 32 moves the carriage 30 in the main scanning direction, and the paper feed motor 33 moves the paper P in the sub scanning direction. The control circuit 40 ejects ink droplets at appropriate timing while repeating such main scanning and sub-scanning. Thus, the printer 10 performs color printing by forming minute dots on the paper P.

  As an interface with the outside, the control circuit 40 is electrically connected to the USB port 24, the operation panel 21, the liquid crystal display 22 and the like in addition to the card slot 23 described above.

  The USB port 24 is a port connected to an external device such as a digital still camera, a digital video camera, a computer, or a hard disk. For example, by connecting a digital still camera and the USB port 24 with a USB cable, image data can be directly acquired from the digital still camera and printed.

  The operation panel 21 includes a plurality of operation buttons and is used when the user selects an image to be printed and sets printing conditions. The liquid crystal display 22 is a display unit capable of color display, and can display various setting screens such as display of images recorded in the memory card MC or selection of printing conditions.

  The operation panel 21 and the liquid crystal display 22 are integrally housed in the housing of the printer 10 and arranged on the front surface of the printer 10. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the operation panel 21 and the liquid crystal display 22. As shown in the figure, the operation panel 21 includes a plurality of buttons such as a mode selection button 211, a stop button 212, an OK / print button 213, and up / down / left / right direction buttons 214 to 217. In the default state, print condition setting items such as paper size, layout, print mode, and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal display 22, and the user can set the print conditions by operating the up, down, left, and right direction buttons 214 to 217. it can.

  The mode selection button 211 is a button for changing the operation function of the up / down / left / right direction buttons 214 to 217. In this embodiment, two modes are set as shown in FIG. When the user selects mode 1 by operating the mode selection button 211, an image selection operation function is assigned to the left and right buttons 216 and 217. That is, when mode 1 is selected, one image recorded in the memory card MC, for example, is displayed on the liquid crystal display 22. Here, when the user presses the left button 216, the previous image (the previous image in the shooting order) displayed on the liquid crystal display 22 is displayed, and when the right button 217 is pressed, the next image is displayed. Is done. The user can execute such an operation and select an image to be printed from a plurality of images in the memory card MC. Note that, after selecting a desired image, the user can determine the image to be printed by pressing the OK / print button 213.

  On the other hand, when mode 2 is selected, a position adjustment function is assigned to the up / down / left / right direction buttons 214 to 217. Here, the position adjustment function is a function for moving and adjusting the position of the trimming frame 50 indicating the printable area with respect to the displayed image.

  The printer 10 of this embodiment stores a processing program for changing and setting the position of the trimming frame 50 as one of image processing programs at the time of printing on the ROM of the control circuit 40. When the paper size is determined by the user operation, a printable area is determined from the range of the display image selected as the print target based on the paper size (this is called a printable area). In the control circuit 40, various conversion processes are performed so that the target image fits in the printable area. However, due to the difference in aspect ratio between the image and the paper, a small image area that does not enter the printable area is displayed. May occur. This small image area is cut off without being handled as a print target, but this area may include a part of an important subject or the like.

  Therefore, the printer 10 of the present embodiment changes the arrangement of the trimming frame 50 that is a frame from which an image is cut out as a printable area, and prints the image in the trimming frame 50. That is, the process of changing the position of the trimming frame 50 in the present embodiment means taking out an image that fits in the printable area, and also a broad concept process that also means changing the position of the printable area. (Hereinafter, this is referred to as trimming processing). Therefore, the image itself is not necessarily cut out, and is used as a concept different from the trimming process in the case of cutting out an image to an arbitrary size as a general image process.

  The printer 10 of this embodiment displays a solid line trimming frame 50 indicating a printable area so as to overlap the display image on the liquid crystal display 22 as such trimming processing. The user operates the up / down / left / right direction buttons 214 to 217 in the mode 2 to move the trimming frame 50 to finally determine an area to be printed. The trimming process will be described in detail below.

B. Trimming processing of the first embodiment:
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the trimming process executed in the control circuit 40 of the printer 10. This process is executed after an image to be printed is selected and a paper size is set as a print condition. When the user selects mode 2, this process is executed by the CPU in the control circuit 40.

  When the process is started, the control circuit 40 displays a rectangular trimming frame 50 in the printable area determined from the paper size together with the image selected as the print target (step S400).

  The position of the printable area with respect to the image is set in advance as a default value, and the control circuit 40 arranges the printable area with respect to the image according to the default value, and displays the trimming frame 50 so as to overlap the image (FIG. 2). reference). Specifically, the default value is set so that the center of the image matches the center of the printable area.

  The user who visually recognizes the display confirms the image content that fits in the trimming frame 50, and performs an operation of moving the trimming frame as necessary. Specifically, the up / down / left / right direction buttons 214 to 217 of the operation panel 21 are operated.

  The control circuit 40 determines whether the moving direction of the trimming frame 50 according to the user's operation command is upward, downward, or otherwise (step S410). Specifically, the signals of the direction buttons 214 to 217 operated by the user are input, and it is determined that the movement in the corresponding direction is instructed.

  If it is determined in step S410 that the moving direction is upward, a state in which the trimming frame 50 is moved upward by a predetermined amount is displayed on the liquid crystal display 22 (step S420). If it is determined in step S410 that the moving direction is downward, a state in which the trimming frame 50 is moved downward by a predetermined amount is displayed on the liquid crystal display 22 (step S430). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S410 that the moving direction is other than up and down, it is further determined whether the moving direction is left, right, or other (step S440).

  If it is determined in step S440 that the moving direction is to the left, a state in which the trimming frame 50 is moved to the left by a predetermined amount is displayed on the liquid crystal display 22 (step S450). If it is determined in step S440 that the moving direction is rightward, a state in which the trimming frame 50 is moved to the right by a predetermined amount is displayed on the liquid crystal display 22 (step S460). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S440 that the moving direction is other than left and right, the trimming frame 50 remains in the default position and the display on the liquid crystal display 22 is not changed (step S470).

  Subsequently, the control circuit 40 determines whether or not to execute printing based on the positional relationship between the displayed image and the trimming frame 50 (step S480). When the user who has confirmed the display of the relative position between the image and the trimming frame 50 desires printing in this state, the user presses the OK / print button 213 and adjusts the relative position again. Press operation of the stop button 212 is performed. The control circuit 40 determines which of the OK / print button 213 and the stop button 212 has been operated.

  If it is determined in step S480 that the OK / print button 213 is operated and printing is to be executed (Yes), the image in the displayed trimming frame 50 is cut out and printed (step S490), and a series of processing is performed. finish.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S480 that the stop button 212 is operated and printing is not executed (No), the process returns to step S400, the trimming frame 50 is displayed at the default position, and a series of processes is repeated.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a display mode of the trimming process for changing the position of the trimming frame 50. When the upper button 214 is operated, the trimming frame 50 arranged so that the area that is not printed in the default state is evenly positioned at the top, bottom, left, and right of the image moves to the top of the image. . Similarly, the lower button 215 moves the image downward, the right button 217 moves the image right, and the left button 216 moves the image left. As described above, the user can confirm the position of the trimming frame 50 after movement and perform a print execution operation.

  According to the above trimming process, the position of the trimming frame 50 can be changed and set on the printer 10 side, and a desired print image can be obtained. That is, normally, an image including a subject that exists in the image data but is cut off by printing can be appropriately printed. In particular, in this embodiment, since the correspondence between the entire image and the position of the trimming frame 50 is displayed, user operability can be improved.

  In this embodiment, the image is fixed and displayed, and the relative positional relationship is shown by the display method of moving the trimming frame 50. However, the image may be moved. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the range of the liquid crystal display 22 is set as the trimming frame 50, the trimming frame 50 itself is fixed, and the up / down / left / right direction buttons 214 to 217 are operated to change the position of the displayed image. It should just move in the direction of. By doing so, the liquid crystal display 22 does not need to display the entire image, and the liquid crystal display 22 can be used effectively.

  In this embodiment, the four buttons 214 to 217 on the upper, lower, left, and right sides are prepared. However, only the upper and lower buttons 214 and 215 may be used. In this case, the trimming frame 50 is initially displayed in the center, which is the default state, and the trimming frame 50 is moved upward by the upper button 214 and the trimming frame 50 is moved downward by the lower button 215. By doing so, the position of the trimming frame 50 can be set to at least one of the three stages of the center, the upper, and the lower with a simple operation.

  Furthermore, there may be one direction button. In this case, the position of the trimming frame 50 may be sequentially changed by the number of times of pressing. For example, the display is first set at the center position, and is set so that the first button operation is performed upward, the second operation is performed downward, and the third operation is performed to return to the original center position. In this way, the number of parts can be reduced and the vertical trimming frame 50 can be changed and set with a simple operation.

  Of these movements of the trimming frame 50 in the vertical direction, a desired image can be obtained sufficiently if at least upward movement is possible. In many undesired print images, an upper region is cut out and a person's head is cut off. By moving the trimming frame 50 upward, such undesired images can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the trimming frame 50 is indicated by a solid line, but may be displayed by a dotted line or a color line. Furthermore, it is good also as what colors the area | region (image area | region outside the trimming frame 50) which is not printed. By doing so, it is possible to clearly display the printed area and improve the visibility of the user.

  In this embodiment, an image selection function is added to the four direction buttons 214 to 217 for performing the trimming process. As shown in FIG. 7, a mode for further zooming and fine adjustment of the position is provided. It may be added. For example, when mode 3 is selected with the mode selection button 211, the zoom function (enlargement and reduction) of the display image is assigned to the up and down buttons 214 and 215, and when mode 4 is selected, the up and down direction buttons 214 to 217 are set to the mode 2 button. A position fine adjustment function having a movement amount smaller than the movement amount of the trimming frame 50 in the position adjustment may be assigned. By adding such a function, the position of the trimming frame 50 can be set in more detail.

C. Trimming process of the second embodiment:
In the trimming process of the first embodiment, printing is performed by changing the position of the trimming frame 50. However, in the trimming process of the second embodiment, the position change information is recorded and the same image is printed again. Use this information. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the trimming process of the second embodiment. This process is executed after an image to be printed is selected and a paper size is set as a print condition. When the user selects mode 2, this process is executed by the CPU in the control circuit 40. The hardware configuration in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  When the processing is started, the control circuit 40 determines whether or not there is additional information for the image selected as the print target (step S800). Specifically, the control circuit 40 searches the EEPROM for a file corresponding to the image selected as the print target, and determines whether there is a file associated with the image to be printed.

  Information relating to the position of the trimming frame 50 (trimming position information) is recorded in this file. That is, before this processing is performed, the same image is selected as a printing target, and the position information when the printing is executed by changing the position of the trimming frame 50 according to the trimming processing of the first embodiment, specifically, up, down, left, right The direction of is recorded. The generation of the file and the writing of the trimming position information to the EEPROM are performed by the process described later.

  If it is determined in step S800 that additional information is present (Yes), trimming position information as additional information is read from the file, and based on this, the trimming frame 50 is superimposed on the print target image on the liquid crystal display 22. It is displayed (step S810). That is, the image and the trimming frame 50 are arranged in the relative positional relationship of the state printed in the previous process.

  Subsequently, the control circuit 40 determines whether or not to execute printing based on the positional relationship between the displayed image and the trimming frame 50 (step S820). When the user who has confirmed the display of the relative position between the image and the trimming frame 50 desires printing in this state, the user presses the OK / print button 213 and adjusts the relative position again. Press operation of the stop button 212 is performed. The control circuit 40 determines which of the OK / print button 213 and the stop button 212 has been operated.

  If it is determined in step S820 that the OK / print button 213 is operated and printing is to be executed (Yes), the image in the displayed trimming frame 50 is cut out and printed (step S830), and a series of processing is performed. finish. By this operation, a print image similar to the previous print image can be obtained.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S800 that there is no additional information (No), and if it is determined in step S820 that the stop button 213 is operated and printing is not executed (No), the trimming process of the first embodiment is performed. Execute (step S850). That is, when the image selected as the print target is an image that has not been subjected to the trimming process, and when the trimming process has been performed before and the position of the trimming frame 50 is to be changed again, the top, bottom, left, and right The trimming process of the first embodiment for moving the trimming frame 50 in the direction is executed. When the position of the trimming frame 50 (trimming position information) is determined according to the processing of the first embodiment, printing is executed in that state.

  Subsequently, the control circuit 40 writes the trimming position information used at the time of printing in the EEPROM (step S860), and ends the series of processes. Specifically, if the image selected as the print target is an image that has not been subjected to trimming processing, a file of additional information corresponding to the image is generated, and trimming position information is written here. . In addition, when the position of the trimming frame 50 is changed again, the recorded trimming position information is updated.

  As described above, according to the trimming process of the second embodiment, when the same image is selected again as an image to be printed, the position of the trimming frame 50 at the previous printing is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of setting the position of the trimming frame 50 when the same image is printed again and to improve the convenience for the user. Note that an operation button for selecting whether to generate trimming position information or whether to update the trimming position information may be provided, and a file may be arbitrarily generated and updated.

  In this embodiment, the recording is performed on the EPPROM. However, the recording may be performed on a hard disk connected to the USB port 24 or a medium on the digital still camera DSC side. For example, when recording on a medium on the digital still camera DSC side, trimming information can be written in the image data itself.

  Usually, the image data generated by the digital still camera DSC is JPEG image data including Exif information. The Exif information includes various conditions such as camera information, shooting date and time, shutter speed, and exposure conditions, and includes an area that can be used by the user. By providing the digital still camera DSC connected to the USB port 24 with a function corresponding to a command from the control circuit 40, it is possible to write trimming position information in such a usable area.

  FIG. 9 shows a data structure in which image data has trimming position information as additional information. As shown in the drawing, the moving direction is recorded as trimming position information in the image additional information. When image data having such additional information is input from the card slot 23, the control circuit 40 can print the image using the trimming position information added to the input image without searching the EEPROM. it can.

D. Variations:
In this embodiment, the user confirms the relative position displayed on the liquid crystal display 22 and determines the moving direction, but it is not always necessary to move and display the trimming frame. For example, the default state of the image to be printed and the trimming frame is displayed so that the user can recognize which area is cut without being printed. When the user decides the direction of moving the trimming frame and operates the mode selection button, the options shown in FIG. 10 are displayed on the liquid crystal display 22. The display mode may be such that options are displayed over an image or trimming frame, or a selection screen may be displayed separately. As options, three stages of “center”, “upper” and “lower” are prepared. When the user operates the up and down buttons 214 and 215 to select one and operates the OK / print button 213, an image in which the image above the default setting is stored is printed. Even in such a mode, it is possible to sufficiently reduce an undesired print image.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, “auto” may be added as an option for trimming frame position adjustment. When “Auto” is selected, the moving direction of the trimming position is automatically determined. For example, a non-printed area is determined from the default position, and objects in the area are evaluated by various object determination methods. As a result of the evaluation, when it is determined that the object is divided by the trimming frame, the trimming frame may be moved in that direction to reduce the division of the object.

  In this embodiment, the trimming frame is moved with the direction button. However, the liquid crystal display 22 includes a touch panel having a touch sensor function, touches the display (on the touch panel) with a finger, and performs a drag operation. The movement coordinates of the trimming frame may be recognized, and the trimming frame may be moved based on this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), the recognition direction by the touch panel may be only two directions, upper and lower, or may be movable in any direction as shown in (b). By providing such a touch panel, space can be used effectively when configured as a printer. Furthermore, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of buttons for instructing the direction of the relative position are provided.

  In the present embodiment, the trimming frame position adjustment function is provided on the printer side, and a desired image is obtained by changing the trimming frame position. However, a function for adjusting the printing position of the printer itself is further added. Also good.

  Generally, there are individual differences between printers, and a deviation of about 0.1 to 0.2 mm may occur between a set print area (printable area in the present embodiment) and an actually printed area. This deviation is due to the accuracy of detecting the position of the printing paper, and is an error specific to the printer. Because of these errors, borderless printing that prints an image to the full paper size enlarges the image slightly larger than the printing paper, and if it protrudes from the printing paper, it discards that part of the ink and deals with it. . In other words, extra ink is discarded in order to prevent deterioration in image quality due to white streaks in borderless printing.

  A printing position adjustment function is provided for such a printer. For example, in addition to the four modes shown in FIG. 7, a print position fine adjustment function is provided as the fifth mode (mode 5), and a function for adjusting the print position is assigned to the up / down / left / right direction buttons 214 to 217. Based on the print result of one image, the print position of the printer is adjusted using this function. By doing this, it is possible to adjust the error inherent to the printer, minimize the amount of ink protruding, and reduce the use of unnecessary ink. As a result, the life of the printer can be extended. The print position adjusted in this way is recorded on the printer side as a default value, so that the print position is hardly shifted thereafter.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to such embodiment at all, Of course, it can implement with various forms within the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. is there. In this embodiment, a printer as an image processing apparatus is taken as an example. However, this printer may be a multi-function machine equipped with a scanner or the like. In addition, the image to be printed is not limited to the memory card MC or the digital still camera, but may be acquired from a digital video camera, a hard disk, or the like. Further, in this embodiment, an ink jet printer using a piezo element is used. However, other ink jet printers (for example, bubble jet (registered trademark)), thermal transfer printers, sublimation printers, laser printers, Various types of printers such as a multifunction machine may be employed. Also, a 7-color printer in which LC (light cyan), LM (light magenta), and DY (dark yellow) are added to the four colors of CMYK may be used.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer that is a printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of an operation panel and a liquid crystal display. It is explanatory drawing of the mode content set. It is a flowchart of the trimming process of 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing of a mode that the position of a trimming frame is changed. It is explanatory drawing of a mode that the position of an image is changed. It is explanatory drawing of the mode content set. It is a flowchart of the trimming process of 2nd Example. This is a data structure having trimming position information. It is one aspect | mode of the screen which performs operation of a trimming process. It is explanatory drawing of the example of operation of a touchscreen.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Printer 21 ... Control panel 22 ... Liquid crystal display 23 ... Card slot 25 ... Print head unit 28 ... Platen 29a ... Black ink cartridge 29b ... Color ink Cartridge 30 ... Carriage 32 ... Carriage motor 33 ... Paper feed motor 34 ... Sliding shaft 36 ... Drive belt 39 ... Position detection sensor 40 ... Control circuit 50 ... Trimming Frame 211 ... Mode selection button 212 ... Stop button 213 ... OK / print button 214 ... Up button 215 ... Down button 216 ... Left button 217 ... Right button DSC ... Digital still camera MC ... Memory card P ... Paper

Claims (10)

A printing apparatus that has a built-in computer, inputs an image to be printed by processing of the computer, sets the size of printing paper, and prints the image,
Relative position setting means for setting a relative position between the printable area set by the paper size and the image by processing by the computer;
A command operating unit that commands to shift the set relative position;
Position changing means for changing a relative position between the printable area and the image based on the command by the processing by the computer;
A printing apparatus comprising: a print execution unit that cuts out and prints the image in the printable area based on the changed relative position. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The command operating unit includes an option for instructing a relative movement direction between the printable area and the image, and issues a command for one movement direction selected from the option. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The printing apparatus includes at least any two of an upper direction, a center, and a lower direction. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
Comprising information recording means for recording the changed relative position information as additional information of the image;
When the input image includes the additional information, the relative position setting unit sets the relative position using the additional information. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
A display unit that displays image content based on a relative position between the printable area and the image;
A printing apparatus comprising: a display control unit configured to change an image content displayed on the display unit in accordance with the change of the relative position by the processing by the computer. The printing apparatus according to claim 5,
The display unit displays the entire image and displays the image content in which the printable area is superimposed on the image,
The display control unit is a printing apparatus that changes the image content displayed on the display unit to an image content in which the printable area is moved with respect to the image as the relative position is changed. The printing apparatus according to claim 5,
The display unit displays a part of the image that fits in the printable area as an image content,
The display control unit is a printing apparatus that changes the image content displayed on the display unit to an image content obtained by moving the image with respect to the printable area in accordance with the change of the relative position. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
The command operation unit is a touch panel provided on a surface of the display unit, and the printable area is obtained by performing an operation of moving an image content displayed on the display unit in a predetermined direction by touching the touch panel. And a printing apparatus for instructing a relative moving direction between the image and the image. A program that has a built-in computer and that causes the printing apparatus to execute processing for inputting an image to be printed by processing of the computer, setting the size of printing paper, and printing the image,
A function for setting a relative position between the printable area set by the paper size and the image;
A function of giving a command to shift the set relative position;
A function of changing a relative position between the printable area and the image based on the command;
A program for causing the printing apparatus to realize a function of cutting out and printing the image in the printable area based on the changed relative position.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 9 is recorded so as to be readable by a printing apparatus.

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