JPH02309355A - Layout system for plate making of printing - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a layout system for printing plate making that improves the work efficiency of page make-up.

BACKGROUND ART Layout systems are conventionally known as systems that perform layout work for printing plates, and are usually configured by combining a scanner and a layout computer. Its schematic structure is shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b). Figure 7(a)
1 shows a structure in which image data is taken in by a scanner and is printed on film, and FIG. 2B shows a structure in which layout work is carried out by a layout computer.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, layout work is performed as follows. First, a document is pasted on the input scanner 101 of the scanner 100, and the image data of the document is transferred to the interface 1.
05 to the input computer 106 and stored in the memory 107.

Image data is captured for an appropriate range of the document based on a layout sheet (not shown), and later trimmed by the layout computer 121.

The memory 107 storing image data is separated from the input computer 108 and sent to the layout computer 12.
Connected to 1. As a result, the image data written in the memory 107 is displayed on the display 123. In addition, a mask according to the allocation data is also displayed on the display 123, and the operator can
Observe the image and mask displayed in step 3, operate the white stick 124 while referring to the layout sheet, move the image or mask to specify the trimming range, the position of shading, etc. Performs positioning on the output film. Further, the keyboard 122 is used to specify the magnification ratio, plate color, etc.

Layout can be performed by performing the above operations for all documents. When the layout is completed, the image data is stored in the memory, but the memory 110 is then disconnected from the layout computer 121 and connected to the output computer 109, and in this state, the image data is sent to the output scanner 102 via the I/FIO 8. Output.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in the conventional layout system,
Since the scanner operator has to input each document one by one, the input operation takes a lot of time.

That is, first, the operator sets data such as the magnification, density range, and input range of the first document on the input scanner, and inputs data by rotating the input scanner. When the rotation of the input scanner is completed, the operator performs the same operation on the third fish, and then the third fish, fourth fish, etc.
・As such, the above-mentioned work had to be performed on all manuscripts necessary for page make-up. For example, if we assume a scanner that moves 50 cm in 5 minutes, for a 35 mm original, it will take 20
The rotation of the scanner ends in a few seconds, and the operator cannot perform other tasks in parallel, such as attaching the next required document to the scanner.

In this way, the input work of conventional scanners has to be done for each document one by one, which is not only time-consuming, but also restricts the operator to these tasks and makes it difficult for the operator to perform other tasks at the same time. This resulted in poor work efficiency. Therefore, the operating rate of the expensive layout scanner is poor, making it difficult to improve productivity.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides a layout system for printing plate making that can reduce the burden of input work, improve the operating rate of a layout scanner, and thereby improve productivity. The purpose is to

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the printing plate making layout system of the present invention uses a batch input image obtained by batch input of manuscripts and a layout system obtained based on layout data. display a mask, scale and/or rotate the mask as appropriate to determine a trimming range, scale and/or rotate the image within the trimming range, and display a predetermined image specified by the layout data. It is characterized by being laid out in the position of.

[Operations and Effects of the Invention] The present invention inputs all originals pasted into an input scanner at once, that is, stores and displays the entire document as one image, and adjusts the trimming range, rotation angle, etc. specified on the display screen. Since the image data for each document is automatically cut out based on the layout data and laid out according to the layout data, the operator does not have to input data for each document one by one as in the past. This can reduce the burden of input work.

Furthermore, since the documents are input in batches, the scanner is rotating for a relatively long time, and the operator can do other tasks during that time, which can improve work efficiency and reduce the cost. It is also possible to improve the operation rate of the layout scanner, and overall productivity can be improved.

[Example code] Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the layout system for printing plate making according to the present invention, in which 1 is an image input means, 2 is an image output means, 3 is a control means, and 4 is a storage means. , 5 is a display means, and 6 is an input means.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the image input means 1 is an input scanner or what is known as an input drum.
The color separation of the pasted originals is performed all at once. Although many manuscripts can be attached to the image input means 1, it is desirable to input them page by page.

The image output means 2 is known as an output scanner or an output drum, and prints Y (yellow) on the film.
1M (magenta), C (cyan).

It outputs images for each color of K (black).

The control means 3 includes a microcomputer, a RAM, etc., and writes a large amount of data such as image data and coordinate data into the storage means 4, reads these data from the storage means 4, and displays image data on the display means 5. The display of the image and the reception of data based on the operator's instructions inputted from the input means 6 are all managed in an integrated manner.In particular, in the present invention, the image input means Trimming processing that cuts out the image of each document from the image data input in batch in step 1, rotation processing that rotates it to a predetermined angle, scaling processing that changes the size to a predetermined size, and processing of each processed document image as described above based on the layout data. This is different from conventional layout systems in this respect.

The storage means 4 can be constituted by a suitable storage medium such as a RAM or a disk memory, but is preferably a large capacity storage medium in view of handling image data. Note that the following embodiments will be described on the assumption that a magnetic disk (hereinafter referred to as DK) is used. Further, although only one storage means 4 is shown in FIG. 1, it is clear that a plurality of storage means 4 can be provided.

Since the display means 5 handles color originals, the color CR
It is preferable to use T.

As the input means 6, a suitable input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a light ben, etc. can be used.

The above is an outline of the configuration of one embodiment. Next, the operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2.

To perform layout using this layout system, first, layout data is input (step Sl). This process obtains information about the shape, coordinates on the layout sheet, input magnification, and whether the figure uses the original or is shaded for all the figures to be laid out, and uses a well-known drawing machine. It can be done using FIG. 3(a) shows an example of layout data. Layout data consists of three pieces of data: a figure number, the shape of the figure and the S on the layout board, figure data indicating the mark, and attached data indicating what kind of material the figure is made of. According to the example in Fig. 3(a), the figure with figure number 1 is a rectangle, and its coordinates on the layout board are (Xll,
yll) to (X 14.Y 14), and that the original with the original number 1 is used for this figure. Note that although the input magnification cannot be determined by the plotter, the input magnification may be determined in advance using a well-known magnification measuring device, and the input magnification data may be input from the plotter.

The figure with figure number 2 is similar, but the figure with figure number 3 is a circle with radius r centered on the point (X31, 731) on the layout board, and it has 20% cyan and 80% yellow. You can see that a flat mesh is applied using the % color.

The allocation data thus obtained is stored in the DK4.

At this time, the input means 6 inputs information on which manuscript pasting sheet is to be used when laying out one page as a management table as shown in FIG. 3(b).
Store in. According to the example shown in FIG. 3(b), a certain page uses the originals pasted on two manuscript pasting sheets with sheet numbers 1 and 2, and the original pasted on the original pasting sheets with sheet number 1 is used. Sheets are input at once at a magnification of 100%, the input range is SXi, SYI, and the concentration range at the time of input is DI.
It turns out that it is. The same applies to the original pasting sheet with sheet number 2. Usually, multiple manuscripts are pasted on each manuscript pasting sheet, and each manuscript has a different input magnification, but it is possible to input data even if the input magnification obtained as a result of measurement is not necessarily the same. In fact, it has been confirmed that if the subsequent magnification change is within the range of about 70% to 130%, no problem will occur in image quality.

In addition, the -invitation input size is a value that indicates the range for input, but normally when the operator sets it, only the range in the X-axis direction and the range in the Y-axis direction are input, so S
Only two values of S Y I are shown. The concentration range may be appropriately set by the operator based on experience.

After the layout data is obtained in step S1, the document is pasted on a document pasting sheet in step S2, set on the image input means 1, and inputted all at once (step 83).

When pasting a manuscript onto a manuscript pasting sheet, the angle of the manuscript may be arbitrary, and does not need to be at the angle specified on the layout sheet. For example, now the layout mount is shown in Figure 4 (a).
In the figure, the car design shown as 11 has four points a (xll, yll), b (xtz
+ytz)+C(X13.13), d(X1
4. It shall be laid out in a rectangular range defined by ylO (units are the same below μm), and this manuscript with a car design has the manuscript number 1 and is numbered 16 in Figure 4(b) on the manuscript pasting sheet 15. It is assumed that it is attached at the position shown at the angle shown in the figure. In addition, in FIG. 4(a),
A Z-shaped mark 12 indicates the range in which characters are to be inserted. In this way, when pasting the manuscript on the manuscript pasting sheet,
The angle does not necessarily have to be exactly as specified on the layout sheet. However, as has been done in the past, the operator may visually measure and attach the plate at a certain angle in order to make the subsequent rotation process unnecessary.

In addition, when performing -slide input, it is necessary to set the batch input magnification, -invited input size, density range, etc. in the image input means 1, but these data can be set by performing predetermined operations with the input means 6. By doing so, the data shown in FIG. 3(b) stored in the DK 4 is displayed on the display means 5, and the operator may manually perform the data based on the data shown in FIG. 3(b). may be read into the image input means 1 and automatically set.

In this way, the originals pasted to the image input means 1 are input all at once, that is, they are color-separated, but the input image data is not image data for each original, but one image as a whole. The data is stored in the DK 4 and displayed on the display means 5 (step S4). The images displayed on the display means 5 in step S4 are preferably all the images input at once in step S4, but it is also possible to display only a part of them and scroll them on the screen of the display means 5. It is something.

Now, as mentioned above, when a manuscript is pasted onto a manuscript pasting sheet, it is not pasted at the angle specified on the layout mount, nor is it placed exactly as instructed on the layout mount. do not have. In addition, since input of the manuscript is done all at once, in order to lay out the figures of each manuscript in the position specified on the layout sheet at the specified angle and size, it is necessary to import them as one image. The image of each document must be cut out from the batch input image and placed in the position specified on the layout board. Therefore, first in step S5, trimming is performed to cut out an image range necessary for the layout of each document from the finger input image. The procedure is as follows.

First, the operator instructs the display of the mask for document number 1 using the input means 6 on the screen on which the -finger input image is displayed. This causes the control means 3 to
) is read, a mask indicating the trimming range is created, and the mask is displayed on the display means 5. At this time, since the graphic data in FIG. 3(a) is the coordinates on the layout board, the unit is μm, whereas the size on the display screen is in the pixel unit, so the control means 3 For example, by matching the origin of the coordinates on the layout sheet with the origin of the Fii mark on the memory where the batch input image is written, the coordinates are exchanged using the following formula, and the point on the layout sheet (x1 + 41
1) is made to correspond to the point (Xll, Yll) on the memory.

X11=Fl (Xll) YII=F2 (Yll) However, Fl and F2 are conversion functions for converting μm into pixels.

Further, the control means 3 performs scaling when displaying the mask. In other words, if the input magnification of a certain document is α1, and the -finger input magnification is β1, then -in the pattern input image, the image of the document is enlarged or reduced by βl/α1 times. On the other hand, if the mask is simply subjected to coordinate transformation, it will be displayed in a size corresponding to the size specified on the layout board, and the relative sizes will not match. Therefore, the control means 3 controls the mask to β
Multiply by 1/α1. This allows the magnification of the mask to match the magnification of the original image.

Now, when the mask is displayed, the operator moves the displayed mask using the input means θ so that the trimming range is as instructed on the layout board. That state is the fifth
Shown in Figure (a). In the figure, 20 is, for example, an image with document number 1 in one type of input image, and 21 is a mask for it. In this way, the mask 21 is displayed in the shape defined in the graphic data of FIG. 3(a).

Next, the operator rotates the mask 21 and
) is in the state shown in 22. This means that you have determined the trimming range as instructed on the layout sheet. When the trimming range is determined, the control means 3 takes in the rotation angle of the mask and stores it in the DK 4. Since the control means 3 recognizes the position of the mask, it can determine the cutting range.

Note that it is preferable that the cropping range of the image be set as a circumscribed rectangle rather than as per the shape of the mask, and that the image be read out as per the mask shape when outputting. This is because if the mask is cut out according to the shape, as shown at 22 in FIG. 5(b),
This is because if the mask is tilted with respect to the memory coordinates, it takes time to cut out the mask. Therefore, Fig. 5(b)
In this case, the range of the circumscribed rectangle with the two points TI and T2 as diagonals is cut out. The above is based on Figure 3 (a
) is a rectangle, but if the graphic data is a circle, the mask is its circumscribed rectangle. because,
This is because if the mask is a circle, the rotation angle of the image, which will be described later, cannot be determined.

By performing the above operations on all documents, the cutting range of each document can be determined.

The above is the trimming in step S5, and when the trimming is finished, the control means 3 performs the makeup process in step S6. The make-up process is a process of arranging the image of each document at the position specified on the layout board, at the specified size, and at the specified angle, so the control means 3 adjusts the trimming range determined in step S5. Cut out the image and perform rotation, magnification, and positioning processing.

Rotation is a process of rotating the cut out image, and at this time, the rotation angle of the mask stored in step S5 is used. In other words, when the mask is changed from the state 21 in FIG. 5(a),
If the image is rotated by θ to the state 22 in FIG. 5(b), it is necessary to rotate the cut out image by 10. Therefore, the control means 3 rotates the cut out image based on the rotation angle of the mask taken in step S5.

For scaling, if the input magnification in Fig. 3(a) is α'' and the finger input magnification is β1, then the size of the cropped image is α[781
This is the process of enlarging or reducing the image by a factor of two.

Furthermore, positioning is the process of rotating and scaling an image and then arranging it according to the coordinates of the figure data in Figure 3 (a). At this time, it is necessary to convert the coordinates from the coordinates in the memory to the coordinates on the layout sheet. That is clear. It should be noted that the processing of rotation, scaling, and positioning of these images is well known, so details thereof will be omitted.

If the above processing is performed for all documents, the makeup in step S6 is completed. One page worth of image data for which makeup has been completed is stored in the DK4.

Page makeup is performed as described above, but -
Due to the pattern input, all documents pasted to the image input means are input with the same setup, and depending on the document, it may be necessary to correct the color tone. In that case, for documents that require color tone correction, instructions for color tone correction should be given in advance along with the number of the look-up table (LUT) to be used, and when placing the cut out document image in a predetermined position, The color tone may be corrected through the LUT specified in .

The image data for which the makeup processing in step S7 has been completed as described above is output to the image output means 2 by performing a predetermined operation using the input means 6 (step 37).

When using two or more manuscript pasting sheets to make up one page, after completing step S5 for the first manuscript pasting sheet, then step S1 to step S1 for the second manuscript pasting sheet. After processing up to $5, make-up for one page (step S6)
, it is obvious that it is sufficient to output (step 87).

The above is one of the layout systems for printing plate making according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, as is clear from the above description, the operator only needs to paste the original on the original pasting sheet and operate the image input means 1, so the operation is very easy and burden-free. Therefore, other tasks can be performed in parallel.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing in another embodiment,
The process up to the trimming process in step S5 is similar to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, but the subsequent process is different. That is, in the above embodiment, the cropping range, that is, the trimming range, of each document was determined, and the layout was performed at the same time as the cropping. I try to do that.

This is the original image decomposition in step S8. The advantages of decomposing each document image in this way are as follows. In other words, image processing technology has shown tremendous progress,
Currently, various types of image processing software are being developed. Although such image processing software functions effectively for individual images, it is not necessarily effective for image data that is input all at once as in the present invention. This is because even if a certain process is effective for a certain document image, it may work disadvantageously for other document images. Therefore, if images input at once are separated into individual original images as in this embodiment, all the image processing software that has been developed up to now can be used. This means that various image processing such as desired special effects can be applied as desired.

The image decomposed for each document in step S8 is subjected to desired image processing in step S9 as necessary, makeup is applied in the same manner as in the above embodiment (step 510), and the image is output (step 511).

As described above, according to this embodiment, various image processing software that has already been developed can be used, so that image processing with a greater variety can be performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing of the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining the data structure, and FIGS. 4 and 5 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional layout system. 1... Image input means, 2... Image output means, 3...
- Control means, 4... Storage means, 5... Display means, 6
...Input means. Applicant Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Hideo Sugai (5 others) Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 (a) Figure 3 (b) Figure 4 (a) Figure 4 (b) ) Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Display the batch input image obtained by batch inputting the originals and the mask obtained based on the layout data, and determine the trimming range by changing the size of the mask as appropriate and moving and/or rotating it. A layout system for printing plate making, characterized in that the image within the trimming range is scaled and/or rotated and laid out at a predetermined position specified by layout data.