JPH05130348A - Color image output method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the delation of a mark difficult, and to improve the reliability of security protection by automatically changing the color of character pattern information in accordance with a position on the pattern concerned or a position on an input image. CONSTITUTION:A first gamma correction circuit 310 corrects gray balance of input image information outputted from an image scanner 100. A delay circuit 320 delays an output of the image information in order to fit a timing of the image information to a delay of detection in a mark area detecting circuit. A masking circuit 330 converts color image information of three colors of R, G and B to color image information of four colors of C, M, Y and BK(black), and a second gamma correction circuit 340 executes a gradation correction corresponding to a recording characteristic of a color printer 200. A mark information generating circuit 370 outputs a prescribed character pattern being additional information to a mark information synthesizing circuit at a prescribed timing. In such a way, it is difficult to erase the additional information, and reliability of security protection can be enhanced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to color image processing,
For example, it can be used in a digital color copying machine or a filing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A company or a public institution strictly manages confidential documents, but sometimes confidential documents are taken out and information is leaked. In particular, there are many cases in which confidential documents distributed at meetings and the like are copied and taken outside. As a countermeasure in such a case, it is first necessary to clarify the leak source, that is, the leaker. Therefore, conventionally, when distributing confidential documents at a meeting or the like, a marking process is performed in advance by using a dedicated image synthesizing device to add different marks (for example, serial numbers) to the respective confidential documents. ing.

[0003]

In the conventional marking process, the color of the mark added to the document is only one color, and a color different from the original image color is used in order to easily distinguish it from the original image. Often used. However, some recent digital color copying machines have a function of allowing the operator to specify a specific color and deleting the image information of the specified color from the copy image. Therefore, when this type of digital color copying machine is used and the mode of the mark added to the original is designated and the mode for erasing it is selected and copied, no mark exists, that is, leakage. A copy whose origin is indistinguishable is made.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to make it difficult to erase the added security mark even when a digital color copying machine is used, and to improve the reliability of security protection.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, in the first aspect of the invention, two-dimensional image information composed of a plurality of pixels is input, and predetermined character pattern information is generated and input. The character pattern is added to the displayed image information.
In a color image output method of synthesizing color information and outputting it as color output image information and recording the color output image information on a predetermined recording medium, the color of the character pattern information is changed to the pattern. Automatically change according to the position on the screen or the position on the input image.

According to the second aspect of the invention, two-dimensional image information composed of a plurality of pixels is input, predetermined character pattern information is generated, and the character pattern information is combined with the input image information. In the color image output method, in which the color output image information is output as color output image information and the color output image information is recorded on a predetermined recording medium, the character pattern information is R, G, B, C, M, A plurality of color information is formed by a combination of information indicating the respective gradation levels of basic colors such as Y, and at least one gradation level of the color information is set to a position on the character pattern or a position on the input image. Correspondingly change automatically.

In the third aspect of the invention, the image input means for inputting the two-dimensional image information composed of a plurality of pixels, the additional pattern generating means for generating the predetermined character pattern information, and the image input means are provided. An image combining means for combining the input image information with the character pattern information generated by the additional pattern generating means and outputting it as color output image information, and a color output image information output by the image combining means. In a color image output device provided with a color image recording means for recording on a predetermined recording medium, the color of the character pattern information is automatically changed in correspondence with the position on the pattern or the position on the input image. A color changing means for changing the color is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, an image input means for inputting two-dimensional image information composed of a plurality of pixels, an additional pattern generating means for generating predetermined character pattern information, and the image input means are provided. An image combining means for combining the input image information with the character pattern information generated by the additional pattern generating means and outputting it as color output image information, and a color output image information output by the image combining means. In a color image output device provided with a color image recording means for recording on a predetermined recording medium, the character pattern information is provided with gradation levels of respective basic colors such as R, G, B, C, M, and Y. A plurality of pieces of color information formed of a combination of information indicating that the at least one gradation level of the color information is automatically changed corresponding to the position on the character pattern or the position on the input image. Providing a gradation changing section.

[0009]

In the present invention, predetermined character pattern information is added to an image input from, for example, an image scanner or an image filing device, and a color printer is used as a hard copy or as a color file device. -It is output as an image file. According to the first invention and the third invention, the color of the character pattern added to the input image corresponds to the difference in the position on the pattern or the difference in the position on the input image. The character pattern information appearing on the color output image information is, for example, R (red), G (green),
It is composed of a plurality of types of colors such as B (bull-), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow), and has different colors depending on the position. Therefore, from the color output image information (for example, a document to be distributed), the character pattern information added by using the digital color copying machine, that is, the character pattern information is added.
Even if an attempt is made to erase a mark, it is difficult to erase the mark because the erase color must be specified and the copy operation must be repeated many times.

According to the second and fourth inventions, the character pattern information is information indicating each gradation level of basic colors such as C, M, Y (or R, G, B). And the gradation level of at least one basic color is
It is automatically changed according to the difference in the position on the character pattern or the position on the input image. By changing the gradation level of each basic color, the color (hue) of the entire character pattern changes. Therefore, since the character pattern information appearing on the color output image information has a different color depending on the position, the character pattern information added from the color output image information using a digital color copying machine.
Even if the user tries to erase the mark information, that is, the mark, it is difficult to erase the mark because the erasing color designation and the copy operation must be repeated many times.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 7 shows the structure of a mechanical section of a copying machine of one type for carrying out the present invention. This copier is a digital color copier. Referring to FIG. 7, the copying machine includes an image scanner 100 arranged above and a printer 200 arranged below the image scanner 100. Image scanner 100
A transparent contact glass 1 that functions as a document table is provided on the image reading surface of, and a pressure plate 50 that can be opened and closed is disposed above the transparent contact glass 1. The inner surface of the pressure plate 50, that is, the portion facing the back surface of the document is white. An optical scanning system is provided below the contact glass 1. This optical scanning system is equipped with a first carriage including the exposure lamp 2 and the mirror-3, a second carriage including the mirrors-4 and 5, and a light receiving unit including the lens 6 and the image sensor 7. The carriage and the second carriage are mechanically driven in the left-right direction in the drawing for sub scanning. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 2 is reflected by the document surface or the surface inside the pressure plate 50, and the reflected light is reflected by the mirrors 3, 4, and 3.
It is incident on the image sensor 7 through the lens 5 and the lens 6.
In this example, the image sensor 7 is equipped with a spectroscope and three one-dimensional CCD image sensors, and makes the incident light R
(Red), G (green), and B (blue) are separated into three primary colors, and the light in each wavelength region is independently CCD imaged.
The pixel is detected by the di-sensor.

The image information read by the image scanner 100 is subjected to predetermined image processing and then input to the printer 200 to form a copy image. In this example, the image scanner 100 performs image reading four times per copy cycle for color image reproduction, and the printer 200 uses C (cyan), M (magenta) and Y (yellow) and Recording of each color of BK (black) is sequentially performed to reproduce a full color image. Printer 20
The image writing unit of 0 is provided with a laser light source 9, a polygon mirror scanner 10, an fθ lens 11, a mirror-12, and a dustproof glass 45. A laser light modulated by a binary signal corresponding to recording / non-recording of each pixel of an image to be recorded is emitted from the laser light source 9, and this laser light is reflected by a polygon mirror scanner 10. And fθ lens 1
An image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 through the first mirror 12, the dustproof glass 45.

Around the photosensitive drum 8, a cleaning unit 42, a charge eliminating lamp 43, and a main charger 4 are provided.
4, a developing unit 14, a transfer belt 15, a transfer charger 16 and the like are provided. The surface of the photosensitive drum 8 is
First, the main charger 44 is uniformly charged to a predetermined high potential. When the surface is irradiated with laser light corresponding to the image, the surface potential changes, and a potential distribution is formed according to the on / off of the image, that is, the laser light. This potential distribution,
That is, when the electrostatic latent image passes through the developing unit 14, the toner of the color held by the selected one of the four developing devices 13C, 13M, 13Y and 13B adheres according to the level of the potential, and is visible. An image is formed. The visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 8, that is, the toner image, is transferred onto the transfer belt 15 by the transfer charger 16. By the image formation of four times, four C, M, Y and BK are formed on the transfer belt 15.
Color toner images are formed in an overlapping manner. Furthermore, the transfer paper fed from the paper feed cassette 17 or 18 is registered in the registration roll.
The toner image on the transfer belt 15 is sent to the transfer belt 15 through the transfer roller 22 and transferred to the transfer paper by the transfer chargers 23 and 24. The transfer sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the transfer belt 15 by the separation charger 25, passes through the fixing roller 26 to fix the toner image, and then advances toward the paper discharge path.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the electrical component of the apparatus shown in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 4, this apparatus includes an image scanner 100.
In addition to the color printer 200, the first gamma correction circuit 31
0, a delay circuit 320, a masking circuit 330, a second γ correction circuit 340, a mark area detecting circuit 350, a mark information synthesizing circuit 360, and a mark information generating circuit 370. First γ correction circuit 310
Corrects the gray balance of the input image information output by the image scanner 100. The delay circuit 320 delays the output of the image information in order to match the timing of the image information with the detection delay in the mark area detection circuit 350. The masking circuit 330 converts the color image information of three colors of R, G and B into the color image information of four colors of C, M, Y and BK (black). Second γ correction circuit 340
Performs gradation correction according to the recording characteristics of the color printer 200.

In this example, the image scanner 100
Output each color image information (R, G, B), each color image information output by the first γ correction circuit 310 (R, G, B), each color image information output by the delay circuit 320 (R, G, B), Each color image information (C, M,
Y, BK), each color image information (C, M, Y, BK) output by the mark information synthesizing circuit 360, and the second γ correction circuit 3
Each color image information (C, M, Y, BK) output by 40 is
Each is 8-bit gradation data.

The mark area detection circuit 350 is a circuit for identifying whether or not it is an area to which additional information (mark) for maintaining confidentiality should be added. In this example, it is determined whether or not it is a background area of an image. It is detecting. Specifically, the mark area detection circuit 350
Has the configuration shown in FIG. That is, even in the case of a color original, the background of the character area in the image is ink in printing,
In a copying machine, the non-recording area is generally set in order to suppress toner consumption, and the base of the paper is generally exposed. The paper itself is generally white. It detects whether the color is white or not.

Referring to FIG. 3, the comparator 351 determines the gradation level (A) of the R color information of the image and the fixed threshold value THR.
(B) is compared, and if A> B, a high level H is output, and if not, a low level L is output. Similarly, the comparator 352
Compares the gradation level (A) of the G color information of the image with the fixed threshold value THG (B), and outputs H if A> B, and outputs L otherwise. The comparator 353 compares the gradation level (A) of the B color information of the image with the fixed threshold value THB (B), and outputs H if A> B and L otherwise. Detection signal GTa output from AND gate 354
Indicates that all the outputs of the comparators 351, 352 and 353 are high.
, That is, when all the gradations of R, G, and B are relatively high (close to white: background), it becomes H, and when not, L
become.

The mark information generating circuit 370 outputs a predetermined character pattern which is additional information to the mark information synthesizing circuit 360 at a predetermined timing. The mark information synthesizing circuit 360 outputs the synthetic image information obtained by adding the additional information output from the mark information generating circuit 370 to the input image information output from the masking circuit 330 to the second γ correction circuit 340.

An example of image composition is shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, in this example, a copy image is obtained by synthesizing an image of a document on which a text is written and character pattern information of "1" generated at predetermined intervals, that is, additional information (mark). Is being generated. In the example of FIG. 6, there is a portion where the image (text) of the document overlaps with the additional information “1” and the contents are difficult to see, but in this embodiment, the mark area detection circuit 35 is used.
No overlap actually occurs because the additional information is combined only when 0 is detecting the background area.

The structure of the mark information generating circuit 370 is shown in FIG. The ROM 378 is a character generator, and in this example, is composed of numbers, letters, symbols, etc. 64
For each type of character, information about the pixel configuration of each pattern is held together with color information. Information of each pixel is Y
It is composed of 4 bits of p, Mp, Cp and BKp, and each bit of Yp, Mp, Cp and BKp indicates recording / non-recording of Y color, M color, C color and BK color, respectively.

The structure of the information in the ROM 378 regarding the pattern "1" is shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, the pattern information is R, G, B, C, M, Y, BK and W (white).
The pattern main body is divided into a plurality of areas in the vertical direction, and is composed of R, Y, G, M, B, C, R and Y in order from the upper area. Each color is assigned, BK color is assigned to the contour portion of the pattern, and W color is assigned to the background. That is, a plurality of pattern areas forming one character pattern are recorded in a plurality of different colors.

Therefore, even if an additional information (mark of "1") is erased from a copy image as shown in FIG. 6 by using a special digital copying machine capable of erasing a designated color, C,
Additional information cannot be completely erased unless all M, Y, R, G, B, and BK colors are repeatedly designated and erased, and the color changes for each minute area of the pattern. Therefore, it is difficult to determine which color should be specified to delete the additional information, and it is extremely difficult to delete the additional information.

In FIG. 6, Cx and Cy respectively represent pixel positions in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, sizeX represents the number of pixels in the main scanning direction, and sizeY represents the number of pixels in the sub scanning direction. Information on arbitrary pixel coordinate positions (Cx, Cy) of the character whose character code is N in the ROM 378 is stored at an address calculated by N × sizeX × sizeY + Cy × sizeX + Cx.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the x coordinate information Cx output from the counter 371 is applied to the address terminal group AA of the ROM 378, and the address terminal group AB is applied.
To the address terminal group AC, the character code output from the counter 379 is applied. Counter 371
Counts the pixel clock pulse that appears at the timing of each pixel in the main scanning direction, outputs the scanning pixel position in the main scanning direction as Cx, and the counter 374 counts the number of line synchronization signals Lsync that appears for each line in the main scanning. Is counted and the scanning pixel position in the sub-scanning direction is output as Cy.

The counter 379 loads (presets) predetermined preset data in synchronization with the copy start signal and counts the pulses of the scanner start signal.
For example, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
In the address areas of the 17th, 18th and 19th character codes, "0", "1", "2", "3",
When character patterns of "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", and "9" are registered, if 10 is set as preset data, the scanner start signal is set. The counter value of the counter 379 is 11, 12,
It changed to 13, 14, 15, ..., “1”, respectively.
Character patterns of "2", "3", "4", "5" ... are selected, and the copy of the first, second, third, fourth, ... -On the image, "1",
Character patterns of "2", "3", "4", ... Appear.

The counter 372 counts the pulses of the carry signal output from the terminal CY by the counter 371, and outputs the carry signal from the terminal CY at every additional information output interval SX (see FIG. 6). RS flip-flop 373
Is set by the carry signal output by the counter 372 and reset by the carry signal output by the counter 371. The counter 375 counts the pulses of the carry signal output from the terminal CY by the counter 374,
A carry signal is output from the terminal CY at each additional information output interval SY (see FIG. 6). RS flip-flop 37
6 is set by the carry signal output by the counter 375 and reset by the carry signal output by the counter 374. Therefore, the output of the flip-flop 373 becomes H for the sizeX period in the cycle of SX, and the output of the flip-flop 376 becomes H for the sizeY period in the cycle of SY. The character area signal GTc output from the AND gate 377 becomes H when the outputs of the flip-flops 373 and 376 are both H, and becomes L otherwise. That is, like the additional information shown in FIG. 6, the character area signal GTc becomes H only at the timing when each character “1” should be output.

The structure of the mark information synthesizing circuit 360 is shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. The detection signal GTa and the character area signal GT are input to the AND gate 369.
c is applied, and the logical product of them is applied to the data selector 36.
2, 364, 366 and 368 select terminals (S). Detection signal GTa and character area signal GTc
When at least one of the two is L, the data selector 3
Reference numerals 62, 364, 366 and 368 select the respective input terminals A and output the image data (Y, M, C and BK) as they are. Detection signal GTa and character area signal GT
When both c are H, the data selectors 362, 36
4, 366 and 368 select each input terminal B, and the data selectors 361, 363, 365 and 367 in the preceding stage are selected.
The signal output from is output.

The data selector 361 has an input terminal A when the additional information signal Yp output from the ROM 378 is H.
The fixed information YMH applied to the group is selected. When Yp is L, the fixed information Y applied to the input terminal B group is selected.
ML is selected and the selected signal is output. Similarly,
The selector 363 selects the fixed information MMH applied to the input terminal A group when the additional information signal Mp output from the ROM 378 is H, and the fixed information MMH applied to the input terminal B group when Mp is L. The information MML is selected and the selected signal is output. The data selector 365 is an RO
When the additional information signal Cp output from M378 is H, the fixed information CMH applied to the input terminal A group is selected, and when Cp is L, the fixed information CML applied to the input terminal B group is selected. Then, the selected signal is output. The data selector 367 selects the fixed information BkMH applied to the input terminal A group when the additional information signal BKp output from the ROM 378 is H, and is applied to the input terminal B group when BKp is L. The fixed information BkML is selected and the selected signal is output.

Fixed information YMH, MMH, CMH and Bk
MH is a gradation level when the additional information signals Yp, Mp, Cp and BKp are at the recording level H, and is set to a value of 128, for example. The fixed information YML, MML, CML and BkML are gradation levels when the additional information signals Yp, Mp, Cp and BKp are at the non-recording level L, and are set to 0, for example.

That is, when the background area of the input image is detected (GTa = H) and it is time to output additional information (GTc = H), each additional information signal Yp, Mp, Cp.
And BKp are the recording level H, the gradation value of the recording level (for example, 128), and the additional information signals Yp, Mp, Cp, and BKp are the non-recording level L, the gradation value of the non-recording level (for example, 0) is the image. Instead of data, they appear on the Y output, M output, C output and BK output, respectively.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the mark information generating circuit. Referring to FIG. 8, in this example the ROM 3
78B holds only the pattern information of each character, and the color information is changed to be generated by another circuit. Further, the ROM 378B is modified so as to simultaneously output 8-bit parallel data. Shift register 40
3 loads the 8-bit data output from the ROM 378B in synchronism with the carry signal CY1 and outputs it as the character pattern information P bit by bit in synchronization with the pixel clock. The newly provided ROM 401 is a color information conversion table and converts the pixel coordinates Cx in the main scanning direction output from the counter 371 into 4-bit color information (similar to the contents of FIG. 5). The 4-bit color information output from the ROM 401 passes through the gate circuit 402 and becomes the additional information signals Yp, Mp, Cp, and BKp of each color. Gate circuit 4
When the character pattern information P is H, the input color information is passed through as it is, and when the character pattern information P is L, Yp, Mp, Cp and BKp are all set to L. The other structure is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment.

In this embodiment, the pixel pattern of the additional information to be output is the same as that of the previous embodiment, but the color of the additional information is R, R in the horizontal direction corresponding to the pixel coordinates Cx in the main scanning direction.
The color changes in the order of Y, G, M, B, C, R, Y, ..., There is no change in color in the vertical direction, and no special color change occurs in the contour. Required ROM (character generator)
Storage capacity is reduced to 1/4 of that of the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows another modification of the mark information generating circuit. In this embodiment, the ROM 40
The signal applied to the 1 input (address terminal) is changed to the coordinate Cy in the sub-scanning direction, but the other configurations are the same as those in FIG. Therefore, in this embodiment, the pixel pattern of the additional information to be output is the same as that in the above embodiment,
The color of the additional information changes in the horizontal direction in the order of R, Y, G, M, B, C, R, Y, ... Corresponding to the pixel coordinate Cy in the sub-scanning direction, and the color change in the horizontal direction. In addition, no special color change occurs in the contour.

FIG. 10 shows another modification of the mark information generating circuit. In this embodiment, the ROM 4
The signal Cx2 applied to the input of 01 is output from the newly provided counter 404. The counter 404 is
The carry signal CY2 output by the counter 372 is counted. The other structure is the same as that of the above embodiment. That is, since the counter 372 outputs a carry signal at every cycle SX for outputting the character pattern in the main scanning direction, the count value Cx2 of the counter 404 is updated each time, and the color information changes. Therefore, in this embodiment, no color change occurs in each character of the additional information,
Each time the character is output, its color is R, Y, G, M,
B, C, R, Y, ...

FIG. 11 shows another modification of the mark information generating circuit. In this embodiment, the ROM 4
The signal CyB applied to the input of 01 is the counter 404B.
Is output from. The counter 404B is the counter 375.
The carry signal CY3 output by is counted. Counter 3
Since 75 outputs a carry signal at each cycle SY of outputting a character pattern in the sub-scanning direction, the count value CyB of the counter 404B is updated each time, and the color information changes. Therefore, in this embodiment, the color does not change in each character of the additional information, and the color is changed to R, Y, G, every time the line for outputting the character is fed.
It changes in order of M, B, C, R, Y, ...

Next, another embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the structure of the mark information generating circuit is changed as shown in FIG. 12, and the gradation changing circuit 420 shown in FIG. 13 is newly added. Referring to FIG. 12, in the mark information generation circuit, the character pattern information P output from the shift register 403 is changed so as to be output as it is as each additional information signal Yp, Mp, Cp, BKp. ing. The gradation changing circuit 420 generates YMH, MMH, and CMH applied to the mark information synthesizing circuit 360. Three sets of data selectors 422, 423 and 424
Input terminal has a fixed value L with different gradation levels.
1, L2 and L3 are applied. L1 is applied to the input terminals A of the data selector 422, input terminals B of the 423 and the input terminal C of 424, and L2 is applied to the input terminals B of the data selector 422, the input terminal C of 423 and the input terminal A of 424. Then, L3 is applied to the input terminals C and 423 of the data selector 422 and the input terminal B of 424.

Data selectors 422, 423 and 424
The output signal of the counter 421 is commonly applied to the selection control terminal S of. Although the counter 421 counts the clock pulse synchronized with each pixel in this embodiment, it may be changed to any one of the line synchronization signal Lsync and the carry signals CY2 and CY3. The counter 421 is a ternary counter, and its count value changes as 0, 1, 2, 0, 1, ... The data selectors 422, 423 and 424 are
When the count value of the counter 421 is 0, the input terminal group A is selected, when the count value is 1, the input terminal group B is selected, and when the count value is 2, the input terminal group C is selected.
Select. That is, each data selector has a counter 4
When the count value of 21 is 0, L1 is YMH and L3 is MM
The counter 42 outputs H and L2 as CMH.
When the count value of 1 is 1, L2 is YMH, L1 is MMH,
When L3 is output as CMH and the count value of the counter 421 is 2, L3 is YMH, L2 is MMH and L1.
Are output as CMH.

Therefore, the gradation levels of YMH, MMH and CMH are L1, L2 and L for each pixel in the main scanning direction.
3, and so on. Moreover, since the gradation levels of YMH, MMH, and CMH are always different values,
The gradation level ratio of the Y, M, and C colors changes for each pixel in the main scanning direction, and the hue of the composite color of YMH, MMH, and CMH, that is, the hue of additional information changes for each pixel. Additional information is output depending on the combination of three types of hues.

In order to completely erase the additional information from the copy image in which the original image and the additional information are combined by this apparatus, it is necessary to repeat the designation of the erasing color and the copying operation at least three times. Since it is difficult for the operator to accurately identify the color of the additional information on the copy, it is extremely difficult to specify the erasing color accurately, and it is practically impossible to completely erase the additional information. ..

FIG. 14 shows the configuration of the gradation changing circuit 430 of the modified embodiment. Referring to FIG. 14, the gradation changing circuit 430 is composed of three sets of counters 432, 433 and 434. Offset data O is applied to each preset input terminal of the counters 432, 433 and 434.
F1, OF2 and OF3 are applied. Offset data
The data OF1, OF2, and OF3 are set to different gradation levels, and are loaded (preset) to each counter in synchronization with the frame synchronization signal, that is, at the start of image processing. The counters 432, 433, and 434 count clock pulses synchronized with each pixel in this embodiment.
The line synchronization signal Lsync may be changed to one of the carry signals CY2 and CY3 described above.

The gradation of the signal YMH output by the counter 432 starts from the preset value OF1 and is 1 in the main scanning direction.
It changes by +1 for each pixel, returns to 0 at the maximum value, and increases again. Similarly, the gradation of the signal MMH output by the counter 433 starts from the preset value OF2, changes by +1 for each pixel in the main scanning direction, and returns to 0 at the maximum value and increases again. The gradation of the signal CMH output from the counter 434 starts from the preset value OF3, changes by +1 for each pixel in the main scanning direction, and returns to 0 at the maximum value and increases again. That is, the signals YMH, MMH, and CMH output from the gradation changing circuit 430 change little by little for each pixel in the main scanning direction. Moreover, since the initial values (OF1, OF2, OF3) of YMH, MMH, and CMH are different from each other, the ratio of the gradation levels of Y, M, and C colors, that is, the hue of the additional information is little by little for each pixel in the main scanning direction. Change.

In order to completely erase the additional information from the copy image in which the original image and the additional information are combined by this device, it is necessary to repeat the designation of the erasing color and the copying operation many times. In practice, it is difficult for the operator to accurately identify the color of the additional information on the copy, so it is extremely difficult to specify the erase color accurately, and it is virtually impossible to completely erase the additional information. is there.

Although the gradation changing circuits shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 change the gradation levels for all the colors Y, M, and C, it is sufficient to change the gradation levels for at least one color. There is.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is implemented in a digital color copying machine has been described. For example, image information read from an image file created by a word processor, a CAD system or the like is input. The additional information may be modified so that it is combined, and the output image is
Instead of outputting it as a copy, it may be recorded as color image information on a magnetic recording medium such as a flexible disk and distributed.

[0045]

As described above, according to the first and third inventions, the character pattern added to the input image is displayed.
The color of the screen is automatically changed according to the difference in the position on the pattern or the position on the input image.
Character pattern information that appears on the output image information is
For example, it is composed of a plurality of types of colors such as R, G, B, C, M, and Y, and has a different color depending on the position. Therefore,
Even if an attempt is made to erase character pattern information, that is, a mark added from a color output image information (for example, a distributed document) by using a digital color copying machine, designation of an erase color and a copy operation are required. It has to be repeated many times and it is difficult to erase the mark.

According to the second and fourth inventions, the character pattern information is information indicating each gradation level of basic colors such as C, M, Y (or R, G, B). And the gradation level of at least one basic color is
It is automatically changed according to the difference in the position on the character pattern or the position on the input image. By changing the gradation level of each basic color, the color (hue) of the entire character pattern changes. Therefore, since the character pattern information appearing on the color output image information has a different color depending on the position, the character pattern information added from the color output image information using a digital color copying machine.
Even if the user tries to erase the mark information, that is, the mark, it is difficult to erase the mark because the erasing color designation and the copy operation must be repeated many times.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a block diagram showing a mark information generation circuit of FIG.

2 is a block diagram showing the mark information synthesizing circuit of FIG. 4;

3 is a block diagram showing the mark area detection circuit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric component section of the apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a map showing a part of the contents of ROM 378 in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of an input image, additional information, and a composite image.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a mechanical portion of a digital color copying machine.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the mark information generation circuit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the mark information generation circuit.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the mark information generation circuit.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the mark information generation circuit.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a mark information generating circuit of another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gradation changing circuit.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a modification of the gradation changing circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Contact glass 2: Exposure lamp 3,
4,5: Miller 6: Lens 7: Image sensor 8: Photosensitive drum 9: Laser light source 10: Polygon mirror scanner 11: fθ lens 12: Miller 13C, 13M, 13Y, 13B: Developing device 14 :
Developing unit 15: Transfer belt 16, 23, 24: Transfer charger 26: Fixing roller 42: Cleaning unit 43: Static elimination lamp 44: Main charger 50: Pressure plate 100: Image scanner 200: Printer 310: First γ correction circuit 320: Delay circuit 33
0: Masking circuit 340: Second γ correction circuit 350: Mark area detection circuit 360: Mark information composition circuit 370: Mark information generation circuit 378, 401: ROM (color changing means) 420, 430: Gradation Change circuit (gradation change means)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI technical display location // G09G 5/30 9061-5G (72) Inventor Masayuki Hayashi 1-chome Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 3-6 In stock company Rico

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A color output image in which two-dimensional image information composed of a plurality of pixels is input, predetermined character pattern information is generated, and the character pattern information is combined with the input image information. In the color image output method for outputting the color output image information as information and recording the color output image information on a predetermined recording medium, the color of the character pattern information is changed to a position on the pattern or a position on the input image. A color image output method, characterized in that the color image is automatically changed according to the above. 2. A color output image by inputting two-dimensional image information composed of a plurality of pixels, generating predetermined character pattern information, and synthesizing the input image information with the character pattern information. In the color image output method of outputting the information as information and recording the color output image information on a predetermined recording medium, the character pattern information is R, G, B, C, M, Y.
A plurality of color information consisting of a combination of information indicating the respective gradation levels of basic colors, and at least one gradation level of the color information corresponds to the position on the character pattern or the position on the input image. A color image output method, characterized in that 3. An image input means for inputting two-dimensional image information composed of a plurality of pixels, an additional pattern generating means for generating predetermined character pattern information, and the image information input by the image input means for the image information. An image synthesizing means for synthesizing the character pattern information generated by the additional pattern generating means and outputting it as color output image information, and a color output image information output by the image synthesizing means on a predetermined recording medium. In a color image output device having a color image recording means for recording, a color change for automatically changing the color of the character pattern information corresponding to the position on the pattern or the position on the input image. A color image output device comprising means. 4. An image input means for inputting two-dimensional image information composed of a plurality of pixels, an additional pattern generating means for generating predetermined character pattern information, and the image information input by the image input means for the image information. An image synthesizing means for synthesizing the character pattern information generated by the additional pattern generating means and outputting it as color output image information, and a color output image information output by the image synthesizing means on a predetermined recording medium. A color image output device having a color image recording means for recording, wherein the character pattern information is R, G, B, C, M, Y.
A plurality of color information consisting of a combination of information indicating the respective gradation levels of basic colors, and at least one gradation level of the color information corresponds to the position on the character pattern or the position on the input image. A color image output device, characterized in that a gradation changing means for automatically changing the color image is provided.