JP2018067083A - Information processing device and foil thickness correction processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a height difference between upper and lower sheets bonded to each other, caused when a foil stamping image is formed on an overlapped portion of a printed matter which is printed using a poster printing function.SOLUTION: A control unit specifies image data for a division foil constituting a foil stamping image Of1, formed at a position striding over an overlapped area Ar1, at which a print area overlaps with an adjacent sheet, and an area Ar2 other than the overlapped area; and corrects a pixel value of a pixel present at the area other than the overlapped area out of pixels constituting the specified image data for a division foil.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a foil thickness correction processing method.

  Conventionally, a function called poster printing is known as a function of an image forming apparatus. Poster printing is a function that divides a large image that does not fit on a paper size that can be handled by the image forming apparatus into a size that is suitable for the paper size that can be handled by the image forming apparatus, and outputs the divided image. It is. When a user bonds a plurality of (divided) printed materials printed using the poster printing function, the plurality of printed materials are finished as a single product having a large size. The width of the bonded portion when bonding a plurality of printed materials can be specified by the user as an overlap width at the time of printing.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-26883 discloses an overlap region in which an adjacent image overlaps an image with a certain length (width) from the divided portion with respect to each of the divided images adjacent to each other across the divided portions of the sheets. A technique for providing the above is disclosed.

JP 2009-251930 A

  Conventionally, foil press printing is known in which characters and patterns made of gold or silver foil are formed on a sheet. The foil stamping is performed by a foil stamping machine applying an adhesive such as varnish on the paper, and bonding a metal thin film (foil) to the location where the adhesive is applied. Therefore, the foil stamped image formed by foil stamp printing has a thickness corresponding to the applied adhesive.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, the same image is printed on each overlap region on the upper and lower sheets to be bonded to each other. Therefore, when the foil stamping process is performed on the overlap region, the same foil stamped image is formed on both the upper sheet and the lower sheet. As a result, when a foil stamped image is formed across the sheets to be bonded to each other, there is a difference in height between the upper and lower (adjacent) sheets depending on the thickness of the foil stamped image. As a result, the foil stamped image is used. The quality of the printed poster will be degraded.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to reduce a height difference between upper and lower sheets to be bonded to each other, which is generated when a foil stamped image is formed on an overlap portion of a printed matter printed using a poster printing function.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a print job acquisition unit, a divided foil image data generation unit, a control unit, and a transmission unit, and the configuration of each unit is as follows. The print job acquisition unit is print setting information related to a poster print function for printing an image to be printed on a plurality of sheets, and includes information on the width of an overlap area where an adjacent sheet overlaps a print area. A print job including setting information and foil image data constituting a foil-pressed image formed on a sheet by performing a foil-pressing process with a foil press is acquired. The divided foil image data generation unit extracts the foil image data from the print job, divides the extracted foil image data based on the information described in the print setting information acquired by the print job acquisition unit, Image data for divided foil is generated. Based on the information described in the print setting information, the control unit configures the divided foil that forms the foil-pressed image formed at a position across the overlap area and the area other than the overlap area from the image data for the divided foil. Identify image data. Then, among the pixels constituting the specified divided foil image data, the pixel values of the pixels existing in the region other than the overlap region are set between the papers generated by adhering the overlap regions of adjacent papers. The height is corrected to a value that reduces the height difference in the paper thickness direction. The transmission unit transmits the image data for divided foil including the pixel value corrected by the control unit to the foil press.

  In the present invention, the image data for the divided foil constituting the foil press image formed at the position across the overlap region and the region other than the overlap region is specified. Among the pixels constituting the specified divided foil image data, the pixel values of the pixels existing in the region other than the overlap region are generated by adhering the overlap regions of adjacent sheets. Is corrected to a value that reduces the height difference in the paper thickness direction. Therefore, according to the present invention, the height difference between the upper and lower sheets to be bonded to each other, which is generated when a foil stamped image is formed on an overlap portion of a printed matter printed using the poster printing function, is reduced. .

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a foil stamp poster printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the foil stamp poster printing system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print job according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the paper thickness table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the foil thickness table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the state which adhere | attached the printed matter containing the foil press image printed using the conventional poster printing function. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the foil thickness correction | amendment processing method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the foil thickness correction | amendment processing method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the foil thickness correction | amendment processing method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the state which adhere | attached the printed matter of foil stamp poster printing after implementation of the foil thickness correction process which concerns on one Embodiment and modification of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of formation of the overlap area | region in the printed matter of the 4-part dividing foil stamp poster printing which concerns on a modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the state which adhere | attached the printed matter of 4 divided foil stamped poster printing which concerns on one Embodiment and modification of this invention.

  Hereinafter, contents of an information processing apparatus and a foil thickness correction processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same function or configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description of the components is omitted.

[Overall configuration of foil stamp poster printing system]
First, an overall configuration of a foil stamp poster printing system including an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a foil stamp poster printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the foil stamp poster printing system 1 includes a client terminal 10, a controller 20 (an example of an information processing apparatus), an image forming apparatus 30, and a foil stamper 40. The client terminal 10, the controller 20, the image forming apparatus 30, and the foil stamping machine 40 are connected to each other via a network (not shown).

  The client terminal 10 is a terminal device that is operated by a user (operator), and is composed of, for example, a personal computer. The client terminal 10 generates a print job J in response to an operation performed on an operation unit (not shown) including a keyboard and a mouse. The print job J includes a job ticket (an example of print setting information) and image data.

  The job ticket includes, for example, poster print function settings (hereinafter referred to as “poster print settings”), such as the number of image divisions in poster printing, and the width of an overlap area that is an area where adjacent paper and print areas overlap. This information is included. The image data includes not only image data for the image forming apparatus printed by the image forming apparatus 30 but also image data for foil. The foil stamping image data is data constituting a foil stamping image generated on a sheet by performing a foil stamping process with a foil stamping machine, and is composed of pixels as in the image data for the image forming apparatus. The pixels constituting the foil stamped image data are information on coordinates indicating the position on the paper on which the foil stamped image is formed, and pixel values that define the amount of varnish (an example of adhesive) applied to the paper by the foil stamping machine 40. Information. The print job J including the job ticket and the image data is transmitted from the client terminal 10 to the controller 20.

  The controller 20 is configured by a server or a terminal device, for example. When receiving the print job J transmitted from the client terminal 10, the controller 20 extracts image data from the print job J. Then, the controller 20 generates divided image data by dividing the extracted image data into a predetermined number based on information described in the job ticket. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the controller 20 divides one image into four to generate four divided image data Dm1 to divided image data Dm4. The controller 20 transmits the generated divided image data Dm1 to divided image data Dm4 to the image forming apparatus 30.

  Further, the controller 20 extracts the image data for foil from the print job J. Then, the controller 20 generates the divided foil image data Df by dividing the extracted foil image data into a predetermined number based on the information described in the job ticket. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the controller 20 divides one foil image into four, and generates four divided foil image data Df1 to divided foil image data Df4. Next, the controller 20 performs a process of correcting the pixel value with respect to the foil image data formed in a position across the overlap area Ar1 and the other areas in the divided foil image data Df. Then, the controller 20 transmits the divided foil image data Df1 to the divided foil image data Df4 including the corrected pixel values to the foil stamping machine 40.

  The image forming apparatus 30 is configured as, for example, a multi function printer (MFP) having a copy function, a scan function, a print function, and the like. The copy function is a function that optically reads a document and prints a duplicate image on paper, and the scan function is a function that stores image data of the read document as a file. The print function is a function for printing a document or an image on a sheet based on a print job J received from the outside through a network or the like and outputting it. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the image forming apparatus 30 prints the divided image data Dm1 to the divided image data Dm4 transmitted from the controller 20 on the paper Sh1 to the paper Sh4, respectively, using the printing function. An overlap area Ar1 is formed on each of the sheets Sh1 to Sh4 based on the overlap area width information described in the poster print settings in the job ticket.

  The sheets Sh1 to Sh4 on which the divided image data Dm1 to the divided image data Dm4 are printed by the image forming apparatus 30 are set by a user in a paper insertion opening or a paper feed tray (both not shown) of the foil stamping machine 40.

  The foil stamping machine 40 forms a foil-pressed image on the paper by applying a varnish to the formation position of the image data for foil on the paper and performing a foil-pressing process of adhering the foil on the varnish. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the foil stamping machine 40 includes the divided foil image data Df1 to the divided foil image Df4 received from the controller 20 on the paper Sh1 to the paper Sh4 on which the divided image data Dm1 to the divided image data Dm4 have been printed. The foil pressing process is performed based on the above. As a result, foil-pressed images based on the divided image data Dm1 to the divided image data Dm4 are formed on the paper Sh1 to the paper Sh4. In the overlap region Ar1, the same foil-pressed image is formed between the paper Sh1 and the paper Sh2, which are adjacent in the left-right direction, and between the paper Sh3 and the paper Sh4. Further, the same foil-pressed image is formed between the paper Sh1 and the paper Sh3, which overlap in the vertical direction, and between the paper Sh2 and the paper Sh4.

  The amount of varnish applied to the paper by the foil stamping machine 40 is associated with the pixel value of each pixel constituting the divided foil image data Df1 to the divided foil image data Df4. The amount increases. And as the amount of varnish increases, the thickness of the foil-pressed image also increases.

  The user generates a single large-sized product (poster) by pasting the sheets Sh1 to Sh4 that have been subjected to the foil stamping process by the foil stamping machine 40 so that the overlap areas Ar1 overlap each other. . In the case where the foil thickness correction process of the present embodiment is not performed, the height difference between the sheets due to the difference in the thickness of the foil-pressed image at the joint portion Bd of the generated product where the overlap region Ar1 is bonded to each other ( Step). On the other hand, by performing the foil thickness correction process of the present embodiment, there is no difference in height due to the thickness of the foil at the paper joining portion Bd. The foil thickness correction process of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[Internal configuration of foil stamp poster printing system]
Next, the internal configuration of the foil stamp poster printing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the foil stamp poster printing system 1 of the present embodiment.

  The client terminal 10 includes an operation unit 11, a control unit 12, a storage unit 13, a document creation function unit 14, a print job generation unit 15, and a network IF (Interface) unit 16.

  The operation unit 11 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, generates an operation signal corresponding to the operation content by the user, and supplies the operation signal to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 is configured by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and controls the operation of each unit configuring the client terminal 10.

  The storage unit 13 includes, for example, a nonvolatile storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The nonvolatile storage medium stores a program (software) for executing calculations performed by the control unit 12, various data, and the like. The RAM is used as a work area when the control unit 12 executes the program.

  The document creation function unit 14 includes, for example, a document or image creation application, and generates a document for printing in an application file format based on an instruction from the user input via the operation unit 11. When the user performs an operation for creating a manuscript including a stamped image, the document creating function unit 14 has a foil image data layer superimposed on a layer of image data, for example, as a manuscript for printing. Generate a file. Here, an example is given in which the document creation function unit 14 generates one file including both image data and foil image data as a document for printing, but the present invention is not limited to this. The document creation function unit 14 may generate the image data and the foil image data as separate files.

  In addition, when the user performs an operation for creating an original for poster printing, the document creation function unit 14 generates image data that is the original of the original and print setting information (poster printing) related to poster printing. Configuration information).

  The print job generation unit 15 is configured as, for example, a direct print application or a printer driver. The print job generation unit 15 uses, as a job ticket, instructions regarding a finishing function for printed matter such as punching and stapling input by the user via the operation unit 11 and poster print setting information generated by the document creation function unit 14. Describe.

  Further, the print job generation unit 15 converts the application file format image data and foil image data generated by the document creation function unit 14 into print data described in a language readable by the controller 20. Examples of languages that can be read by the controller 20 include PCL (Printer Command Language) and PDL (Page Description Language) such as PostScript. The print job generation unit 15 generates a print job J including a job ticket, image data written in PDL, and foil image data (hereinafter referred to as “PDL data”).

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the print job J. The print job J includes a job ticket Jt and PDL data D. In the job ticket Jt, “poster print setting”, “number of divisions”, and “overlap width” are described as setting items related to the poster print function. The setting value of “poster print setting” takes either 0 or 1, and “1” is set when the poster printing function is used, and “0” is set when the poster printing function is not used. The number of divisions of the image is set as the setting value of “number of divisions”. In the “overlap width”, a value of the width (mm) of the bonded portion when adjacent sheets are bonded is set. In the job ticket Jt shown in FIG. 3, the poster print setting is set, the number of image divisions is “2”, and the overlap width is “5 mm”.

  In the job ticket Jt, “Foil Stamp Printing Settings”, “Varnish Type”, and “Paper Type” are described as setting items related to foil stamp printing. The setting value of “foil stamp printing setting” takes either 0 or 1, and “1” is set when foil stamp printing is performed, and “0” is set when foil stamp printing is not performed. As the set value of “varnish type”, the type of varnish set in the foil stamping machine 40 is set. In “paper type”, the type of paper set in the foil stamping machine 40 is set. The job ticket Jt shown in FIG. 3 is set to perform foil stamp printing, indicating that the varnish type is “varnish 1” and the paper type is “paper type 1”.

  Furthermore, “punching setting” and “staple setting” are described in the job ticket Jt as setting items regarding the finishing function of the printed matter. Each setting value of “punch setting” and “staple setting” takes either 0 or 1, and “1” is set when processing is performed, and “0” is set when processing is not performed. The The job ticket Jt shown in FIG. 3 indicates that neither punch setting nor staple setting is performed. Note that the setting items related to the finishing function of the printed material shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples, and when the user makes other settings, the setting items and setting value information related to the settings are also included in the job ticket Jt.

  The PDL data D includes pixel value and coordinate information of each pixel constituting the image data, and pixel value and coordinate information of each pixel constituting the foil image data. Note that the configuration example of the print job J illustrated in FIG. 3 is an example, and the values that can be taken by the setting values described in the job ticket Jt, the names or types of the setting items, and the like are not limited to this example.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description will be continued. The network IF unit 16 of the client terminal 10 is connected to the network N and controls data and / or control signal transmission / reception operations performed with the controller 20 or the image forming apparatus 30 connected via the network N.

  The controller 20 includes a network IF unit 21 (an example of a transmission unit), a print job analysis unit 22 (an example of a print job acquisition unit), and a RIP (Raster Image Processor) unit 23 (an example of a divided foil image data generation unit). . The controller 20 includes a control unit 24, a storage unit 25, an image data processing unit 26, a gradation correction unit 27, and a halftone processing unit 28.

  The network IF unit 21 is connected to the network N, and controls data and / or control signal transmission / reception operations performed with the client terminal 10 or the image forming apparatus 30 connected via the network N. Further, the network IF unit 21 transmits the divided foil image data Df to the foil stamping machine 40.

  The print job analysis unit 22 analyzes the job ticket Jt included in the print job J transmitted from the client terminal 10, and transmits the request contents obtained by the analysis to the image forming apparatus 30 via the network IF unit 21. In addition, the print job analysis unit 22 acquires PDL data from the print job J transmitted from the client terminal 10 and outputs the acquired PDL data to the RIP unit 23.

  The RIP unit 23 sequentially translates the PDL data input from the print job analysis unit 22 in the order of arrival, and generates bitmap format image data. When the job ticket Jt acquired by the print job analysis unit 22 includes poster print setting information, the RIP unit 23 divides the image data by the number of divisions described in the poster print setting information. Divided image data Dm is generated. The RIP unit 23 outputs the generated divided image data Dm to the image data processing unit 26 or the gradation correction unit 27.

  The RIP unit 23 extracts foil image data from the PDL data D input from the print job analysis unit 22, and the extracted foil image data can be read by the foil stamping machine 40, for example, TIFF (Tagged Image). File Format) data. As described above, the foil image data in the TIFF format includes the coordinate information of each pixel constituting the foil image data and the pixel value information of each pixel. The pixel value of each pixel constituting the image data for foil is expressed by, for example, 256 gradations from “0” to “255”.

  When the poster print setting information is included in the job ticket Jt acquired by the print job analysis unit 22, the RIP unit 23 divides the foil image data by the number of divisions described in the poster print setting information. Divided foil image data Df is generated. The RIP unit 23 outputs the generated divided foil image data Df to the image data processing unit 26 or the gradation correction unit 27. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the image data and the divided image data Dm, they are simply referred to as “image data”, and it is not necessary to distinguish between the foil image data and the divided foil image data Df. Is simply referred to as “foil image data”.

  The control unit 24 is composed of, for example, a CPU and controls the operation of each unit constituting the controller 20. In the present embodiment, when the poster ticket setting information is included in the job ticket Jt and the foil stamped image is formed at a position across the paper, the control unit 24 uses the foil image constituting the foil stamped image. A process of correcting the pixel value is performed on the pixel of the data Df. The correction process of the pixel value of the foil image data Df by the control unit 24 is performed with reference to a paper thickness table T1 and a foil thickness table T2 stored in the storage unit 25 described later. The configurations of the paper thickness table T1 and the foil thickness table T2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The outline of the correction process of the pixel value of the divided foil image data Df by the control unit 24 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 described later, and the details of the correction process will be described later with reference to FIGS. Will be described in detail.

  The storage unit 25 includes a nonvolatile storage medium such as a ROM or an HDD and a RAM, for example. The nonvolatile storage medium stores a program (software) for the control unit 24 to execute an operation, various image data, various tables, and the like. The RAM is used as a work area when the control unit 24 executes the program.

  The storage unit 25 stores a paper thickness table T1 and a foil thickness table T2. The paper thickness table T1 is a table showing the correspondence between the type of paper on which the foil pressing process is performed and the thickness of the paper (hereinafter also referred to as “paper thickness”). FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the paper thickness table T1. The paper thickness table T1 includes items of “paper type” and “paper thickness (mm)”. “Paper type” indicates the type of paper such as plain paper or glossy paper, and “paper thickness (mm)” indicates the paper thickness (in millimeters). In the paper thickness table T1 shown in FIG. 4, the paper thickness of “paper type 1” is “ii” (i is a positive integer) mm, and the paper thickness of “paper type 2” is “jj”. (J is a positive integer) mm, and the sheet thickness of the “sheet type 3” is “kk” (k is a positive integer) mm.

  In the paper thickness table T1 shown in FIG. 4, an example is given in which the value of each item constituting the table is preset as a fixed value, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the value of each item in the paper thickness table T1 may be set to an arbitrary value by the user. Alternatively, the paper thickness table T1 itself may not be provided, and the “paper type” and “paper thickness” values may be registered by the user each time via a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like.

  The foil thickness table T2 is a foil stamped image foil formed on the paper corresponding to each combination of the pixel value of the foil image data, the type of varnish used in the foil press 40, and the type of paper on which the foil pressing process is performed. Is a table showing the thickness (hereinafter referred to as “foil thickness”). Even with the same pixel value, the foil thickness of the foil-pressed image formed on the paper varies depending on the type of varnish used in the foil press 40 and the type of paper on which the foil-pressing process is performed.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the foil thickness table T2. The foil thickness table T2 includes items of “pixel value” and “varnish type and paper type”. “Pixel value” indicates the pixel value of the image data for foil. The “varnish type and paper type” indicates a combination of the type of varnish used in the foil stamping machine 40 and the type of paper on which the foil stamping process is performed (set in the foil stamping machine 40).

  In the foil thickness table T2 shown in FIG. 5, when the pixel value is “1”, the varnish type is “varnish 1”, and the paper type is “paper type 1”, the foil thickness is “ii1” (mm). It has been shown. In addition, the foil thickness is “jj1” (mm) when the pixel value is “1”, the varnish type is “varnish 2”, and the paper type is “paper type 1”.

  In the foil thickness table T2 shown in FIG. 5, an example is given in which the value of each item constituting the table is preset as a fixed value, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may comprise so that a user can set each value which comprises foil thickness table T2 to arbitrary values. Alternatively, without providing the foil thickness table T2 itself, each value of “pixel value”, “varnish type”, and “paper type” may be registered by the user via a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like. Good.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description will be continued. The image data processing unit 26 of the controller 20 performs various image processes on the image data or foil image data input from the RIP unit 23. Image processing performed by the image data processing unit 26 includes, for example, color conversion processing using an ICC (International Color Consortium) profile, tone correction processing using a tone curve, and the like. The image data processing unit 26 outputs the image data subjected to the image processing to the gradation correction unit 27, and outputs the foil image data subjected to the image processing to the foil presser 40.

  The tone correction unit 27 performs correction for adjusting the brightness and contrast of the image data or foil image data input from the RIP unit 23 or the image data processing unit 26, and the corrected image data is converted into a network. The data is output to the point processing unit 28.

  The halftone dot processing unit 28 converts the image data input from the gradation correction unit 27 into halftone dots, and transmits the image data converted into halftone dots to the image forming apparatus 30 via the network IF unit 21.

  The image forming apparatus 30 includes a network IF unit 31, a storage unit 32, an image data processing unit 33, an operation unit 34, a scan processing unit 35, a print processing unit 36, and a control unit 37.

  The network IF unit 31 is connected to the network N, and controls data and / or control signal transmission / reception operations performed between the client terminal 10 and the controller 20 connected via the network N.

  The storage unit 32 includes, for example, a nonvolatile storage medium such as a ROM or HDD and a RAM. The nonvolatile storage medium stores a program (software) for the control unit 37 to execute an operation, various image data, various tables, and the like. The RAM is used as a work area when the control unit 37 executes the program.

  The image data processing unit 33 performs various image processing on the image data received by the network IF unit 31. The image processing performed by the image data processing unit 33 includes, for example, a combination process of a plurality of print jobs, a specific page deletion process in the print job, and the like.

  For example, the operation unit 34 is configured as an operation panel provided on the housing of the image forming apparatus 30, generates an operation signal according to the content of the operation input from the user, and the generated operation signal is transmitted to the control unit 37. To supply.

  The scan processing unit 35 reads a character or an image formed on a sheet by scanning a sheet set on a document table (not illustrated) or a sheet feeding device by a user. The print processing unit 36 forms the image data transmitted from the client terminal 10 or the controller 20 as an image on a sheet. The print processing unit 36 reads and prints a print job stored in advance in the storage unit 32 when a print execution request is sent from a client terminal in which a job management application is installed.

  The control unit 37 is configured by a CPU or the like, for example, and controls the operation of each unit constituting the image forming apparatus 30.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the example in which the controller 20 and the image forming apparatus 30 are separately configured has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Each unit constituting the controller 20 may be formed in the image forming apparatus 30.

  The foil stamping machine 40 reads the image data for foil transmitted from the controller 20, applies varnish of an amount corresponding to the pixel value of each pixel constituting the image data for foil, and adheres the foil on the varnish. As a result, a foil stamped image is formed.

[Outline of foil thickness correction processing by controller]
Next, an outline of the foil thickness correction process by the controller 20 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory views showing a state in which printed materials including foil-pressed images printed using the conventional poster printing function are bonded together, FIG. 6A is a top view, and FIG. 6B is a side view. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an outline of the foil thickness correction processing by the controller 20 of the present embodiment, FIG. 7A is a top view, and FIG. 7B is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7A. .

  First, with reference to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the finish of a printed matter when the printed matter containing the foil press image printed using the conventional poster printing function is bonded together is demonstrated. FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show examples of printed materials when one original image is divided into two by the poster printing function. The sheet Shb located on the right side in FIG. 6A is a sheet disposed on the lower side, and the sheet Sha located on the left side in the figure is a sheet disposed on the upper side. The lower sheet Shb and the upper sheet Sha are adhered by the user so that the overlapping areas Ar1 overlap each other. The overlap area Ar1 is formed based on the information about the overlap width W described in the job ticket Jt (see FIG. 3).

  A foil-pressed image Of1 is formed on the upper sheet Sha and the lower sheet Shb at a position across both sheets. As shown in FIG. 6B, this foil-pressed image Of1 is formed on both the lower sheet Shab and the upper sheet Sha in the overlap region Ar1. As a result, a height difference G occurs at the joint portion Bd (the boundary portion between the overlap region Ar1 and the non-overlap region Ar2) between the lower sheet Shb and the upper sheet Sha. In the present embodiment, the controller 20 performs a foil thickness correction process for reducing this height difference.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the outline | summary of the foil thickness correction | amendment process by the controller 20 of this embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 7A is a top view of the lower sheet Shb (an example of the first sheet) on which the foil-pressed image Of1 and the foil-pressed image Of2 are formed, and FIG. 7B is a vertical cross-sectional view along the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7A. It is.

  In the present embodiment, the controller 20 specifies the foil-pressed image Of1 formed across the overlap region Ar1 and the non-overlap region Ar2 that is the other region. And the controller 20 correct | amends the pixel value of the pixel located in non-overlap area | region Ar2 among the pixels which comprise the specified foil-pressing image Of1.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7B, the controller 20 does not correct the pixel value for the foil-pressed image Of1 formed in the overlap area Ar1 defined by the overlap width W. That is, the pixel value transmitted from the client terminal 10, that is, the original pixel value of the pixel is used as it is. Thereby, the foil thickness of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed in the overlap area Ar1 becomes the foil thickness Tf1 determined by the pixel value transmitted from the client terminal 10.

  In the area Ar21, which is the area where the foil-pressed image Of1 is formed and is in the non-overlapping area Ar2, the controller 20 corrects the pixel value. More specifically, the controller 20 forms the foil thickness Tf1 determined based on the pixel value of the pixel, the paper thickness Ts1 of the upper paper Sha (an example of the second paper: not shown), and the upper paper Sha. A value obtained by adding the foil thickness Tf1 of the pressed foil image Of1 is obtained as a corrected thickness Tc2. Then, the controller 20 replaces the original pixel value with a value obtained by converting the obtained corrected thickness Tc2 into a pixel value. As a result, the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed in the region Ar21 is determined based on the original pixel value, the paper thickness Ts1 of the upper paper Sha, and the foil-pressed image formed on the upper paper Sha. The thickness is a total of the foil thickness Tf1 of Of1.

  By performing the correction process by the controller 20, as shown in FIG. 7B, the foil-pressed image Of1 of the joint portion Bd between the upper and lower sheets (the boundary portion between the overlap region Ar1 and the non-overlap region Ar21) is displayed. There is no difference in height in foil thickness.

  Even in the case of a foil-pressed image, for the divided foil image data Df constituting the foil-pressed image Of2 formed at a position other than the position across the overlap area Ar1 and the non-overlap area Ar2, the controller 20 uses the pixel Does not correct the value. Therefore, the foil thickness of the foil-pressed image Of2 is a foil thickness determined based on the pixel values of the pixels of the divided-foil image data Df constituting the foil-pressed image Of2.

[Foil thickness correction processing by controller]
Next, a foil thickness correction processing method by the controller 20 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the foil thickness correction processing method by the controller 20 of the present embodiment.

  First, the RIP unit 23 (see FIG. 2) of the controller 20 extracts foil image data from the print job J. Then, the RIP unit 23 divides the extracted foil image data based on the number of divisions described in the poster print setting information in the job ticket Jt, thereby generating a plurality of divided foil image data Df (Step S1). S1). Next, the controller 24 of the controller 20 reads one of the plurality of divided foil image data Df generated in step S1 (step S2).

  Next, the control unit 24 reads the job ticket Jt, the paper thickness table T1 (see FIG. 4), and the foil thickness table T2 (see FIG. 5) (step S3). Next, the control unit 24 acquires, from the job ticket Jt, information on the paper type described in the poster print setting information and information on the type of varnish set in the foil press 40 to be used.

  Next, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the sheet overlaps the overlap area Ar1 of the divided foil image data Df read in step S2. That is, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the read divided foil image data Df is foil image data formed on the lower sheet Shb (step S4). In the present embodiment, the control unit 24 of the controller 20 performs a foil thickness correction process on the foil image data formed on the lower sheet Shb. Therefore, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the divided foil image data Df read in step S2 is the divided foil image data to be subjected to the foil thickness correction process.

  Whether or not the read divided foil image data Df is image data for foil formed on the lower sheet Shb is, for example, how many times the divided foil image data Df has been read in step S2 (odd number). Or even number) or the like.

  When it is determined in step S4 that the divided foil image data Df read in step S2 is not image data formed on the lower sheet Shb (when step S4 is NO), the control unit 24 The process of step S9 in FIG. 9 is performed. The processing content of step S9 will be described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S4 that the divided foil image data Df is formed on the lower sheet Shb (when step S4 is YES), the control unit 24 determines the divided foil image data Df. Is read as a pixel to be processed (step S5 in FIG. 9). Next, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the pixel to be processed is a pixel in the overlap region Ar1 (step S6).

  Whether or not the pixel to be processed is a pixel in the overlap area Ar1 can be determined based on, for example, pixel coordinate information described in the job ticket Jt and overlap width W information. it can. When the horizontal coordinate value of the pixel to be processed is a coordinate value within the range defined by the overlap width W, it can be determined that the pixel is a pixel in the overlap region Ar1. On the other hand, when the horizontal coordinate value of the pixel to be processed is a coordinate value outside the range defined by the overlap width W, for example, a coordinate value in the non-overlap area Ar21 in FIG. 7A, It can be determined that the pixel is outside the overlap area Ar1.

  When it is determined in step S6 that the pixel to be processed is a pixel in the overlap area Ar1 (when step S6 is YES), the control unit 24 is a foil of the foil-pressed image formed by the pixel to be processed. The thickness Tf1 is acquired. And the control part 24 stores the acquired foil thickness Tf1 in the memory | storage part 25 (step S7).

  The foil thickness Tf1 of the foil stamped image can be acquired based on the information described in the job ticket Jt and the contents described in the foil thickness table T2 (see FIG. 5). For example, it is assumed that the job ticket Jt describes that the pixel value is “254”, the paper type is “paper type 1”, and the varnish type is “varnish 1”. In this case, the control unit 24 can acquire the foil thickness Tf1 “ii254” (mm) based on the foil thickness table T2.

  Next, the control unit 24 sets “1” to a flag (“Overlapped Image”) indicating that a pixel constituting the foil-pressed image Of1 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B) formed on the overlap area Ar1 is being processed. Is set (step S8). Next, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the processing for all the pixels constituting the divided foil image data Df has been completed (step S9). Even when it is determined in step S4 that the divided foil image data Df read in step S2 is not image data formed on the lower sheet Shb (when step S4 is NO), the process of step S9 is also performed. A determination is made.

  When it is determined in step S9 that the processing for all the pixels constituting the divided foil image data Df has not been completed (step S9 is NO), the control unit 24 returns the processing to step S5. . That is, the control unit 24 reads one next pixel to be processed.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 24 determines in step S9 that the processing for all the pixels has been completed (when step S9 is YES), the control unit 24 ends the processing for all of the divided foil image data Df. It is determined whether or not (step S10).

  If it is determined in step S10 that the processing for all the divided foil image data Df has not yet been completed (step S10 is NO), the control unit 24 returns the process to step S2 in FIG. That is, the control unit 24 reads one piece of divided foil image data Df that has not yet been processed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the processing for all the divided foil image data Df has been completed (if step S10 is YES), the foil thickness correction processing ends.

  If it is determined in step S6 that the pixel to be processed is not a pixel in the overlap area Ar1 (step S6 is NO), the control unit 24 acquires the paper thickness Ts of the upper sheet Sha, The acquired paper thickness Ts is stored in the storage unit 25 (step S11). The paper thickness Ts of the upper paper Sha can be acquired by comparing the paper type described in the job ticket Jt with the paper type described in the paper thickness table T1 (see FIG. 4).

  Next, the control unit 24 obtains the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil press image formed by the pixel to be processed (step S12). As described above, the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil stamped image can be obtained based on the pixel value, the varnish type used in the foil stamping machine 40, and the paper type information. The varnish type and the paper type are described in the job ticket Jt, and the foil thickness Tf1 is a foil thickness table T2 (FIG. 5) showing the foil thickness according to the pixel value, the varnish type, and the paper type. Reference) can be obtained.

  Next, the control unit 24 calculates the total value of the paper thickness Ts1 and the foil thickness Tf1 stored in the storage unit 25, and stores the calculated total value in the storage unit 25 as the corrected thickness Tc1 (step S13). As shown in FIG. 7B, the corrected thickness Tc1 is added to the foil thickness of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the lower sheet Shb, thereby reducing the height difference at the joint portion Bd between the sheets. The thickness to be realized (correction value).

  Next, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the value of the “Overlapped Image” flag is “1” (step S14). If it is determined in step S14 that the value of the “Overlapped Image” flag is “1” (step S14 is YES), the control unit 24 corrects the total value of the foil thickness Tf1 and the correction thickness Tc1. Calculated as the thickness Tc2 (step S15). Next, the control unit 24 replaces the pixel value of the pixel to be processed with a value obtained by converting the corrected thickness Tc2 calculated in step S15 into a pixel value (step S16).

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the corrected thickness Tc2 is a total thickness of the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the lower sheet Shb and the corrected thickness Tc1 calculated in step S12. . The correction thickness Tc1 is a correction value for reducing the height difference at the joint portion between the sheets, and the sheet thickness Ts1 of the upper sheet Sha and the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the upper sheet Sha. Is the total thickness. By performing the process of step S16 by the control unit 24, the foil thickness of the foil-pressed image Of1 is made uniform at the joint portion Bd of the upper sheet Sha and the lower sheet Shb. That is, there is no difference in height between the upper and lower sheets that are bonded together.

  After the process of step S16, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the pixel value of the pixel adjacent to the processing target pixel is “0” (step S17). When it is determined in step S17 that the pixel value of the pixel adjacent to the pixel to be processed is “0” (when step S17 is YES), the control unit 24 sets the value of the “Overlapped Image” flag to “ 0 "is set (step S18). After the process of step S18, the control unit 24 performs the determination of step S9.

  When the pixel value of the pixel adjacent to the pixel to be processed is “0”, the adjacent pixel is a pixel that forms a foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the overlap area Ar1 and a pixel that is continuous in pixel value. It is not considered. That is, it can be determined that the adjacent pixel is, for example, a pixel formed at a position of a gap between other different pressed images. Therefore, the processing for the pixels constituting the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the overlap area Ar1 ends at this stage when the pixel value of the adjacent pixel is found to be “0”. Therefore, in step S18, the value of the “Overlapped Image” flag is changed from “1” to “0”. For example, while processing the pixel located in the area A221 in the gap between the foil-pressed image Of1 and the other foil-pressed image Of2 on the line indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7B, the flag “Overlapped Image” is set. The value is set to “0”.

  When the control unit 24 determines that the pixel value of the pixel adjacent to the processing target pixel is not “0” in Step S17 (when Step S17 is NO), the control unit 24 sets the flag value in Step S18. The determination in step S9 is performed without performing the change process.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the value of the “Overlapped Image” flag is not “1” (NO in step S14), the control unit 24 sets the correction thickness Tc1 to “0” (step S19). . As described above, the value of the “Overlapped Image” flag is set to “0” when the pixel value of the pixel adjacent to the processing target pixel is determined to be “0” in step S17. is there. If it is determined in step S9 that the processing for all the pixels constituting the divided foil image data Df has not been completed, the next step S5 reads that the pixel value is “0” in step S17. It is an adjacent pixel determined to be.

  Therefore, the foil thickness Tf1 acquired in the subsequent step S12 is also “0”. In the next step S13, the total value of the sheet thickness Ts1 and the foil thickness Tf1 of the upper sheet Sha is calculated as the corrected thickness Tc1, but when the foil thickness Tf1 acquired in step S12 is “0”. The correction thickness Tc1 is the paper thickness Ts1 of the upper paper Sha. In the next step S19, the correction thickness Tc1 is changed to “0”. Therefore, the correction thickness Tc2 calculated by the control unit 24 in the next step S15 is also “0”, and in the next step S16, the control unit 24 sets the pixel value of the pixel to be processed to the correction thickness Tc2 as the pixel value. The converted value, that is, “0” is replaced.

  In this embodiment, in step S17, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the pixel value of the pixel adjacent to the processing target pixel is “0”, but the present invention is not limited to this. The determination in step S17 may be any method as long as it can determine whether or not the adjacent pixel is a pixel constituting the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the overlap region Ar1. This method may be used. For example, even in the case of a predetermined low pixel value, it is determined that the adjacent pixel is not a pixel constituting the foil-pressed image Of1, and the process of step S18 (the value of the “Overlapped Image” flag is changed to “0”). Processing) may be performed. In this case, the corrected thickness Tc2 calculated in step S15 performed after the processing in step S18 is not “0” but a foil thickness Tf1 determined based on a predetermined low pixel value.

  When the processing target pixel read by the control unit 24 in step S5 is an image other than the foil-pressed image Of1, for example, a pixel constituting the foil-pressed image Of2 in FIG. 7A, in step S12, the foil thickness determined by the pixel to be processed Tf1 is acquired. In the next step S13, the total value of the sheet thickness Ts1 of the upper sheet Sha and the foil thickness Tf1 acquired in step S12 is calculated as the corrected thickness Tc1. However, at the time when this processing is being performed, since the processing of the pixels constituting the foil-pressed image Of1 has been completed, the value of the “Overlapped Image” flag has already been rewritten to “0”. Therefore, “NO” is selected in the next step S14 for determining whether or not the value of the flag is “1”. In the next step S19, the correction thickness Tc1 is changed to “0”.

  In the next step S15, the total value of the foil thickness Tf1 determined by the pixel to be processed, which is obtained in step S12, and the corrected thickness Tc1 rewritten to “0” is calculated as the corrected thickness Tc2. That is, the corrected thickness Tc2 calculated in step S15 is the foil thickness Tf1 determined by the pixel to be processed. In the next step S16, the pixel value of the pixel to be processed is rewritten with a value obtained by converting the corrected thickness Tc2 calculated in step S15 into a pixel value. However, since the corrected thickness Tc2 calculated in step S15 is the foil thickness Tf1 determined by the pixel to be processed, even when the processing in step S16 is performed, the foil-pressed image Of2 configured by the pixel to be processed is performed. The foil thickness does not change from the foil thickness before processing. That is, according to the present embodiment, the foil thickness correction process is substantially performed on the pixels constituting the foil-pressed image Of2 formed at a position other than the position across the overlap area Ar1 and the non-overlap area A2. I will not.

  If it is determined in step S9 that the processing for all the pixels has been completed, and it is determined in step S10 that the processing for all of the divided foil image data Df has been completed, the foil thickness correction processing ends.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image data for divided foil that constitutes the foil-pressed image Of1 that exists at a position straddling the overlap area Ar1 where the print area overlaps the adjacent paper and the other non-overlap area Ar2. Df is specified. And the pixel value of the pixel which exists in non-overlapping area | region Ar2 among the pixels which comprise the specified image data Df for divided foils is correct | amended by the control part 24. FIG. In this correction, the pixel value of the pixel existing in the non-overlap area Ar2 is set to a value in a direction to reduce the height difference in the paper thickness direction between the sheets caused by bonding the overlap areas Ar1 of adjacent sheets. It is corrected. Thereby, when the overlap area Ar1 of the sheets is bonded to each other, a difference in height generated in the connection portion Bd between the upper and lower sheets is reduced. In other words, according to the present embodiment, the quality of the finished portion of the connection portion between the sheets in the product (poster) generated by pasting the sheets together is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the pixel values of the pixels in the image data for divided foil specified above are the paper thickness of the upper paper, the foil thickness of the foil stamped image formed on the upper paper, and the lower The corrected thickness obtained by adding the foil thickness of the foil-pressed image formed on the paper is replaced with a value converted to a pixel value. As a result, there is no difference in height at the connecting portion of the sheets.

<Various modifications>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other application examples and modifications can of course be taken without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims. For example, the following various modifications are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment described above, the control unit 24 of the controller 20 calculates the total value of the sheet thickness Ts1 of the upper sheet Sha and the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the upper sheet Sha as the correction thickness Tc1. . Then, the control unit 24 converts the correction thickness Tc obtained by adding the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the lower sheet Shb and the correction thickness Tc1 into a pixel value, and is to be processed. The example which replaced the pixel value of the pixel of was given. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The control unit 24 may adjust the foil thickness Tf1 to an arbitrary value.

  For example, the control unit 24 always sets the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 (image formed across the overlap region Ar1 and the non-overlap region Ar21) formed on the lower sheet Shb to “0”. Control may be performed. As a result, the gap in the sheet thickness direction generated between the upper sheet Sha and the lower sheet Shb can be reduced by the foil thickness Tf1.

  FIG. 10A is a side view showing an example of the finished printed material when two printed materials subjected to the foil thickness correction processing in the above-described embodiment are bonded to each other. FIG. 10B shows, as a side view, an example of the finished printed matter when control is performed to always set the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the lower sheet Shb to “0”.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10A, the foil-pressed image Of1 is formed on both the upper sheet Sha and the lower sheet Shb in the overlap region Ar1. Therefore, a gap G1 is generated between the upper sheet Sha and the lower sheet Shb based on the sheet thickness Ts1 of the lower sheet Shb and the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil stamped image Of1. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 10B, the foil-pressed image Of1 is not formed on the lower sheet Shb. Therefore, the gap G2 between the upper and lower sheets is narrowed by the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1. In other words, the control unit 24 performs control to always set the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the lower sheet Shb to “0”, so that the gap between the upper and lower sheets to be bonded to each other is set. Can be narrowed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10B, the upper sheet Sha and the lower sheet Shb are bonded directly (without interposing a foil therebetween), so that a foil-pressed image Of1 is formed between the upper and lower sheets. Compared to the above, the adhesive force between the sheets can be increased.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the foil thickness correction processing method by the controller 20 is described, an example in which the two pieces of foil divided image data Df are generated using the poster printing function has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Not. The configuration example of the foil stamp poster printing system 1 may be applied to the case where four pieces of foil divided image data Df are generated as in the example shown in FIG. Further, when the four pieces of foil divided image data Df are generated, the control unit 24 may perform control to always set the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the lower sheet to “0”. Good.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of forming the overlap area Ar1 and the foil stamped image Of1 in each of four printed materials printed using the poster printing function. In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, one foil-pressed image Of1 is formed across four sheets Sh1 to Sh4. Overlap areas Ar1a are formed on the papers Sh1 and Sh2, respectively, and overlap areas Ar1a and overlap areas Ar1b are formed on the papers Sh3 and Sh4, respectively.

  When a single poster is generated using each of these sheets, the user first attaches the overlap area Ar1a of the sheet Sh1 on the overlap area Ar1a of the sheet Sh2. Further, the overlap area Ar1a of the paper Sh3 is pasted on the overlap area Ar1a of the paper Sh4. Next, the overlap region Ar1b formed on the paper Sh1 and the paper Sh2 is pasted on the overlap region Ar1b formed on the paper Sh3 and the paper Sh4.

  FIG. 12A is a side view showing an example of the finished printed product when four printed products are bonded together. FIG. 12B shows the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the lower sheet Shb. FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating an example of a printed product when control is performed to be 0 ″.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 12A, the foil-pressed image Of1 is formed on each of the paper Sh2, the paper Sh3, and the paper Sh4 that are disposed below the paper Sh1. Therefore, in particular, the gap G3 formed between the paper Sh1 and the paper Sh3 and between the paper Sh2 and the paper Sh4 is increased.

  On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 12B, the foil stamped image Of1 is not formed on the lower sheet Sh2, the sheet Sh3, and the sheet Sh4. Therefore, the gap G4 between the sheet Sh1 and the sheet Sh3 and the gap G4 between the sheet Sh2 and the sheet Sh4 are narrowed by the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1.

  Alternatively, the control unit 24 may control the foil thickness Tf1 of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed on the lower sheet to be a predetermined thin thickness instead of “0”. When the control unit 24 performs such control, a thin foil-pressed image Of1 is formed at the bonded portion between the upper and lower sheets. Therefore, for example, even when a positional deviation occurs between the upper and lower sheets when the upper and lower sheets are bonded, the gap generated by the positional deviation becomes inconspicuous due to the foil-pressed image Of1 having a thin foil thickness.

  Further, the control unit 24 may perform control to adjust the correction thickness Tc1 to an arbitrary value. For example, the control unit 24 may perform control to reduce the correction thickness Tc1 corresponding to the pixel in proportion to the distance from the adhesion portion between the sheets to the pixel. When the control unit 24 performs such control, the foil thickness of the foil-pressed image Of1 gradually decreases as the distance from the adhesion portion between the sheets increases. Therefore, a step does not occur between the formation part and the non-formation part of the foil stamped image Of1.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example is given in which the shape of the foil-pressed image Of1 formed at a position straddling the overlap region Ar1 and the non-overlap region Ar2 is a simple shape (circular shape) without a dent. The invention is not limited to this. The foil-pressed image Of1 to be subjected to the foil thickness correction process of the present invention may be a complicated shape or pattern having a dent. For example, information is added to the divided foil image data Df in advance so that the control unit 24 can determine whether the pixel to be processed is a pixel to be subjected to the foil thickness correction processing of the present invention. Thus, the foil thickness correction process of the present invention can be applied to a foil-pressed image Of1 having a complicated shape or pattern.

  Examples of the technique that enables the control unit 24 to determine whether the pixel to be processed is a pixel to be subjected to the foil thickness correction process of the present invention include the following techniques. First, the control unit 24 scans the plurality of divided foil image data Df generated by the RIP unit 23, acquires information about the shape of the foil-pressed image Of1 and the formation position on the paper, and stores these information in a table. Save in the format. And the control part 24 is the method of performing foil thickness correction | amendment processing based on the information as described in the created table. Alternatively, for each pixel constituting the divided foil image data Df, flag information indicating that the pixel is a pixel constituting the foil-pressed image Of1 and located in the non-overlapping area Ar2 is stored in advance. A method of adding to can also be considered.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example is given in which the control unit 24 uniformly performs the same control on each pixel constituting the foil-pressed image Of1 formed at a position across the overlap region Ar1 and the non-overlap region Ar2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various controls as described above as a modification may be applied individually according to the type of pixel or foil-pressed image Of1, or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the foil stamping machine 40 performs the foil stamping process in which the foil is stacked on the varnish coated on the paper has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the foil stamping machine 40 may be applied when performing only so-called thickening processing in which only the varnish is applied without bonding the foil.

  In addition, the above-described embodiment is a detailed and specific description of the configuration of the apparatus and the system in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to the one having all the described configurations. In addition, the control lines and information lines indicated by solid lines in the figure indicate what is considered necessary for explanation, and not all control lines and information lines on the product are necessarily shown. Actually, it may be considered that almost all the components are connected to each other.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Foil stamp poster printing system, 10 ... Client terminal, 11 ... Operation part, 12 ... Control part, 13 ... Memory | storage part, 14 ... Document creation function part, 15 ... Print job generation part, 16 ... Network IF part, 20 ... Controller , 21 ... Network IF unit, 22 ... Print job analysis unit, 23 ... RIP unit, 24 ... Control unit, 25 ... Storage unit, 26 ... Image data processing unit, 27 ... Tone correction unit, 28 ... Halftone processing unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Image forming apparatus, 31 ... Network IF part, 32 ... Memory | storage part, 33 ... Image data processing part, 34 ... Operation part, 35 ... Scan processing part, 36 ... Print processing part, 37 ... Control part, 40 ... Foil stamping machine

Claims (7)

Print setting information relating to a poster printing function for printing an image to be printed on a plurality of sheets, print setting information including information on the width of an overlap area where an adjacent sheet overlaps a print area, and a foil press A print job acquisition unit that acquires a print job including image data for foil that forms a foil stamped image formed on the paper by performing a foil stamping process;
The foil image data is extracted from the print job, and the extracted foil image data is divided based on the information described in the print setting information acquired by the print job acquisition unit. An image data generation unit for divided foil that generates data;
Based on the information described in the print setting information, the divided foil that constitutes the foil-pressed image formed at a position across the overlap area and the area other than the overlap area from the image data for the divided foil The image data is specified, and the pixel values of the pixels existing in the area other than the overlap area among the pixels constituting the specified divided foil image data are determined by the overlap areas of the adjacent sheets. A control unit that corrects a value in a direction that reduces a height difference in the sheet thickness direction between the sheets caused by the bonding;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the image data for divided foil including the pixel value corrected by the control unit to the foil press. The image data for divided foil specified by the control unit is image data for divided foil that constitutes a foil-pressed image formed on the first sheet that is arranged on the lower side when the sheets are bonded to each other. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The control unit includes a first foil thickness that is a sheet thickness of a second sheet disposed on the upper side when the sheets are bonded to each other and a foil thickness of a foil-pressed image formed on the first sheet. And a corrected pixel value obtained by converting the total value of the second foil thickness, which is the foil thickness of the foil-pressed image formed on the second paper, into a pixel value, and the pixel to be corrected The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein correction for replacing a pixel value is performed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit corrects a pixel value of each pixel constituting the identified divided foil image data to zero. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit corrects a pixel value of each pixel constituting the identified divided foil image data to a predetermined low pixel value. The said control part performs correction | amendment which reduces the pixel value of each pixel which comprises the specified said image data for division | segmentation foils in proportion to the distance from the adhesion part of the said sheets to the said pixel. Information processing device. Print setting information relating to a poster printing function for printing an image to be printed on a plurality of sheets, print setting information including information on the width of an overlap area where an adjacent sheet overlaps a print area, and a foil press Obtaining a print job including image data for foil constituting a foil stamped image formed on the paper by performing a foil stamping process in
Extracting the foil image data from the print job, dividing the extracted foil image data based on the information described in the print setting information, and generating divided foil image data;
Based on the information described in the print setting information, the divided foil that constitutes the foil-pressed image formed at a position across the overlap area and the area other than the overlap area from the image data for the divided foil The image data is specified, and the pixel values of the pixels existing in the area other than the overlap area among the pixels constituting the specified divided foil image data are determined by the overlap areas of the adjacent sheets. Correcting to a value in a direction that reduces the height difference in the paper thickness direction between the sheets caused by the bonding;
Transmitting the image data for the divided foil including the corrected pixel value to the foil press; and a foil thickness correction processing method.

Images