JPH0240777A - Preparing method for image outline data and display method for its preparing process - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prepare image outline data by dividing ring-like pattern data containing a pattern of outline data into two by clearing it partially by differential outline data, clearing the data of an unnecessary image area, and thereafter, synthesizing it with the differential outline data, and executing the processing. CONSTITUTION:A border line l of a specific image I in an original image which is displayed is differentiated and binarized extending over the whole periphery and differential outline data OD is generated. Subsequently, ring-like pattern data RP1, RP2 containing a pattern of the differential outline data OD in its inside are generated. Next, the data RP2 is cleared partially by the data OD and divided into outside area data RP2out and inside area data RP2IN, and data of an unnecessary image area side is cleared. Thereafter, composite data GD of the data RP2IN and the data OD is prepared. In such a state, based on the composite data GD, a thinning processing of the necessary number of picture elements is executed from the unnecessary image area side and a last outline data ODEND is obtained. In such a way, desired outline data can be prepared in a correct position.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention is applicable to creating a cutout mask (also referred to as a trimming mask) for a desired image area (specific image area) in an original image to be processed such as a photographic image. This invention relates to a method for creating image contour data used for.

<Conventional technology> Generally, when printing product catalogues, etc., the background is usually taken around the necessary product image area in the product photo used as the original print image, but in printed matter, the background area is erased to display the product. Often only parts are displayed. The extraction mask is used in such cases, and in electronic image processing, it is created in the following manner, for example.

First, vector data of the outline of the required image area or 2
Create value data, and then convert either the internal area of the outline (data in this area is hereinafter referred to as image data) or the external area (data in this area is hereinafter referred to as non-image data) to ``H''. A punching mask pattern data is created in which one level is set to "H" and the other is set to "L", and only a desired image area of the original image to be processed is extracted based on the punching mask pattern data to obtain a duplicate image.

One method of creating contour data that is the basis for creating this punching mask pattern data is to compare the density level of the image side (hereinafter simply referred to as the inside) of the contour line of a specific image and the unnecessary image side (hereinafter simply referred to as the background side). There is a method that utilizes the difference in density level from the outside (also referred to as the outside) (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-5745 (title of the invention "Method for creating a punched mask plate"))
.

This method involves dividing a small area including the outline of a specific image to be extracted from the original image displayed on a CRT monitor using a circular or rectangular partial image partitioning frame (hereinafter referred to as a nozzle) along the outline. For each specified position, the density level of each pixel in the nozzle is compared with the appropriately set reference density level.For example, for pixel parts where the pixel density level is higher than the reference density level, "H", and for pixel parts where the pixel density level is less than the reference density level, by binarizing it as "L", the "H"
Coordinate data and pixel row data of lines connecting the changing points of "H" are obtained as outline data of a specific image.

In this case, as the nozzle moves, the density level of the specific image and/or the density level of the foreground image changes, so the operator must change the setting of the reference density level each time, which is a difficult operation. Not only is this troublesome, but it is difficult to judge to what level it should be changed.Furthermore, in areas where the difference between the specific image density level and the background image density level is particularly small, accurate detection may not be possible.

Therefore, as a method for creating image contour data to eliminate this inconvenience, a differential process is performed for each pixel in the nozzle to obtain a differential value (so-called density gradient value), and the differential value is combined with an appropriate reference value. A method has been proposed in which the differential value of each pixel is binarized based on a comparison of , and contour data is created from the binary data.

According to this differential-binarization method, even if the difference between the specific image density level and the background image density level is small, the differential value becomes a large value in the contour area, so the ability to detect contour data is improved. .

In this specification, the term "density" is used not only to refer to optical density values in a narrow sense, but also to optical density values, such as the Munsell value, the output signal level of an original image reading device, and the halftone area ratio in halftone image recording. Amount according to concentration value - term used to refer to a ship.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in this differentiation-binarization method, all the density change parts between pixels become target data, so the contour line obtained by binarization (hereinafter referred to as the differential contour line) The pattern of data OD (denoted as There are many things to do.

A commonly used core lineization technique (a data processing method for determining the center line of a pattern from such data; details can be found in "Research on multifaceted image processing and its software system", Research Report No. 835 of the Institute of Electronics and Technology); (see Chapter 3, pages 25 to 64; Hideyuki Tamura; published February 1980), the center line is found as a contour line, and the pinhole PH part looks like CL in Figure 8. This results in a contour line that branches into .

For this reason, it is necessary to find these pinholes PH and manually fill in the pinholes one by one and connect the broken parts before forming the core wires. It requires a lot of effort.

Additionally, differential contour lines tend to be detected thicker on the inner side of the desired contour line than on the background side; It is said that it is preferable to use the part that is closer to the inside as the final outline, and it is not easy to create such outline data using conventional core processing.

One of the objects of the present invention is to create data having the outline of a specific image without pinholes, and to easily create desired specific outline data at an appropriate position from that data through normal data processing. be.

Another object of the present invention is to make it easier to see the contour data creation process as a pattern, and to easily find breaks on the differential contour line, which are difficult to find visually.

Means for Solving the Problems> The main method for creating image contour data of the present invention is to create contour data (differential contour data) by dividing the contour region of a specific image in the original image over the entire circumference by -2 (Ii). Then, create ring-shaped pattern data that includes the contour data pattern therein, and partially clear the ring-shaped pattern data with differential contour data (meaning to make it non-image data).
The area of the ring-shaped pattern is divided into two parts (equivalent to erasing processing on the screen), the data in the unnecessary image area side of the two areas is cleared, and the remaining data is combined with the differential contour data. An image contour data creation method that creates required contour data based on the synthesized data, and an image contour data creation method that includes at least an original image, an image of differential contour data, and an image of the obtained ring shape. This is a method of displaying the outline data creation process in which the outline data is displayed in a desired order while aligning the outline data with the pattern data.

Effect> In the main invention, the differential contour data obtained in this way is usually pixel row data of a contour line with a certain width, and may even be pixel row data with a pinhole on the contour line. However, on the other hand, data of a ring-shaped pattern can be obtained as image data without pinholes inside the pattern.

When this ring-shaped pattern data is cleared using the differential contour data described above, the ring-shaped pattern is divided into two ring-shaped patterns, but if only the unnecessary image side is further cleared, the remaining data is divided into two rings on the image area side. The data is obtained by adding pinholes inside the pattern of the differential contour data as image data to the shape pattern.

Therefore, the composite data of this data and the differential contour data becomes image data with no pinholes whose interior is dense over the entire area as a pattern, and moreover, the outer contour of the pattern is almost the same as the contour of the specific image. Therefore, desired contour data can be easily obtained by processing using various commonly used methods.

Another invention is the above invention, in which the original image and
Since the image of the differential contour data and the image of the ring pattern are displayed in a consistent manner, it is easier to visually confirm the process of creating the contour data as an image, and it is also easier to detect cuts.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a system implementing the image contour data creation method of the present invention.

In the figure, l is a CPU in a microcomputer for controlling the entire system, 2 is a ROM (or RAM) that stores an execution program, and 3 is a differential value table 3a, which will be described later, and a differential value frequency distribution (histogram) table. 3b, RA with other data tables
It is M.

4 stores color image data obtained by photoelectrically scanning the original image to be processed, separated into four colors: Y (yellow), 1M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). The disk memory 5 is connected to the pass line 6 under the control of the CPUI.
This image memory stores image data of each color separation of YMCK read from the disk memory 4 via the Y memory 5v, the M memory 511 . C memory 5c
, and memory 5.

7 is a mask memory for storing data of various patterns of data processing of the present invention, as described later, and includes a first mask memory 7I, a second mask memory 1t, and a third mask memory 7I.
It is composed of a mask memory 7 and a fourth mask memory 74.

8 is a D/A conversion function, which converts the image data of each color separation version of YMCK read from the image memory 5 into R (red) and G (
Function to convert to green) and B (blue) signals, digitizer IO
A function to display a target (cursor) or the shape of the nozzle N centered on the target along with the target according to the indicated position of the stylus pen 11, a variable magnification function, an image rotation function, a contrast adjustment function, a function in the mask memory 7 A function to color and display data as a pattern, a function to display the same data semi-transparently, a function to change the display priority order, and a superimposed display of the data in the image memory 5 and the data in the mask memory 7. This is an image display adjustment device having various functions.

Note that in this specification, "displaying data" means "displaying the data as an image" unless otherwise noted.
shall mean that.

9 is a color image display device (hereinafter abbreviated as CRT) such as a CRT display.

10, by specifying the coordinate point with the stylus pen 11,
This is an X-Y digitizer that inputs coordinate point data corresponding to the address of the image memory 5, and indicates the coordinates of the target TG (the center of the nozzle N) on the screen of the CRT 9. The stylus pen 11 issues instructions for differential binarization, a starting point for erasing, and corrections by pressing a switch attached to the stylus pen 11.

12 is a keyboard for inputting data and giving other instructions; 13 is a keyboard for setting or changing the size of the nozzle N, such as the radius if it is a circular nozzle or the length of its side if it is a rectangular nozzle. a first encoder for setting or changing the erase speed during erase processing;
Reference numeral 4 denotes a second encoder for setting or changing the p-tile ratio, which will be described later, and its setting section (variable resistor, etc.) is included in each encoder and is not shown.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 2 and the schematic diagrams in FIGS. 3 to 5.

Figure 2 (A) schematically shows the overall flow.
Figures 2 (B), (C) and (D) are respectively shown in Figure 2 (A).
) step 35. The details of the operation of the subroutines S6 and S9 are shown below.

First, image data of each YMCK color separation version of the image including the specific image to be extracted is read from the disk memory 4,
Corresponding Y memory 5Y and M memory 5 of image memory 5
7. C memory 50. 0 respectively stored in memory 5K
If the image is a monochrome image, one of the four memories is selected and image data is stored in the selected memory (step S1).

Then, each of the first to fourth mask memories 7 to 74 is completely cleared (step S2).

In addition, after this, the priority (described later) will be maintained until the work is completed.
In descending order of 1st mask memory 71%, 3rd mask memory 73, 2nd mask memory 1ts, and image memory 5, differential contour data (described later), second ring-shaped pattern data, data in the work plane, and original image are stored inside each in order. Repeatedly, for example, 1/1 while aligning the data sequentially.
(every 30 seconds or so), are superimposed and displayed on the CRT 9 (step S3).

Note that the mask memories 7, . The data of 73.7□ is displayed semi-transparently. This display allows you to operate while checking the data processing process as an image. The priority is
It does not necessarily have to be in this order.

Next, the operator inputs an initial value for the number of YMCK color separations to be adopted, T, in order of the clear outline (details will be described later). C
The PUI stores the input initial value of the adopted version number T in the RAM 3 (step S4).

- Figure 3 of Pan-Pan-- is a pattern that schematically represents the process of creating differential contour data and ring-shaped pattern data. In order to clarify the processing process, N is a circular first nozzle set with the center of the TG (not shown); It is a circular second nozzle that is larger than one to several pixels.

l represents a contour line.

Next, the differential contour data OD and the first . Second ring pattern data RP, RP,
Executes the operation of the subroutine that creates it. This operation is as shown in FIG. 2 CB).

In step 5501, the coordinate point data and the size of the nozzle N1 are read from the digitizer 10 and the first encoder 13, and stored in the RAM 3, and the shapes of the nozzles N and N2 are displayed at corresponding positions on the CRT 9.

Note that steps 8502 to 5504 are a flow related to displaying the end of data processing and instructing correction, and will be explained in the following description.

The operator operates the stylus pen 11 while viewing the screen of the CRT 9 so that the target TG approaches the displayed outline l.

When the switch of the stylus pen 11 is pressed in step 5505, the image data of each YMCK color separation corresponding to the area of the first nozzle N1 is read from the image memory 5, and differential processing is applied to each of the image data, and the result is obtained. The differential values are stored in the differential value table 3a, a histogram table 3b of the differential values is created, and the variation (
(step 550)
6).

Note that the above-mentioned differential processing is referred to as "image information processing" (second
For example, in the 3×3 differential operator, 3×
A differential value of the central pixel is calculated based on the difference in density data between the central pixel of the three pixels and adjacent surrounding pixels.

This differential value becomes large for a pixel with a large density gradient, so it is thick for the contour line l (and smaller for the areas on both sides of the contour line l).This differential value table 3a is data corresponding to the contour data can be obtained.

FIG. 6 is an example of the above-mentioned Y, M, C, and K histograms. Statistical quantities representing variations include variance, the sum of absolute values of residuals, and the like, and each is calculated based on, for example, the following equation.

Sum of absolute values of residuals - Σ IE direct - R1 This statistic becomes a large value for color separation plates with clear outlines, and in Figures 6 (A) to (D), each statistic is expressed as Sv
, SN , Sc , Sw, in this example, Sc
>sV>s, >St.

The clarity of the outline for each color separation is determined based on the magnitude relationship of the statistics 1tsv, SN, SC+SK, and color separations are adopted in the order of their size. In this case, the 0th version starts from the one with the largest statistic.

The Y version of 1M Mausoleum will be adopted.

Next, if there is an instruction to change the adopted version number T from the keyboard 12, the adopted version number T stored in the RAM 3 is updated. If there is no change, the adopted version number T already stored in RAMa is retained (step 5507).

Then, the p-tile ratio is read from the second encoder 14 and stored in the RAM 3 (step 3508).

Then, the 0 version with the largest statistic is selected (step 3509). The p-tile ratio means the ratio of the area above the reference value to the remaining area in the histogram (or the proportion of each area to the whole). In actual data processing, the number of pixels is used instead of area. Then, the ratio is set to an appropriate value by the second encoder 14 at the discretion of the operator.

In this way, the reference value (Eth) for binarization is obtained as a value that divides the histogram into two by this p-tile ratio (step 5510).

Figure 7 shows the p-tile ratio - from the histogram of the differential values.
A diagram showing how 8th is determined when it is 80% is shown.

The differential value of each pixel in the differential value table 3a is binarized using this reference value Eth, the logical sum (OR) of the obtained binarized data and the data in the first mask memory 7I is taken, and the result is is written into the first mask memory 7 again (step 5511).

In this way, the color separation with the next largest statistic is selected until the total number of color separations reaches the adopted version number T.
5513), performs the same processing as described above.

This is to further improve the continuity of the differential contour data OD by setting the adopted version number T to 1 or more. Naturally, in the case of an image with clear outlines and good conditions, T-1 may be used.

Next, the pattern in which all pixel data in the area of the first nozzle N is set to "H" is logically ORed with the contents of the fourth mask memo 1J74, and the result is stored in the fourth mask memory 74 (step 5514).

Next, the pattern in which all the pixel data in the area of the second nozzle N2 are set to H'' is logically ORed with the contents of the second mask memory 7N, and the result is stored in the second mask memory 7□. Step 5515).

Next, the process returns to step 5501, and by operating the stylus pen 11 on the digitizer 10, the nozzle N+
, N proverb to the previous nozzle N, , N, along the contour line like a streetcar, and when the stylus pen 11 is pressed in step 5505, the same operation as described above is executed. As a result, the previous first nozzle N1 is stored in the first mask memory 71.
The differential contour data OD at the first nozzle N and the differential contour data OD at the next first nozzle N are synthesized by calculating the logical sum of these data, and are stored as a series of data and displayed on the CRT 9. Ru.

Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 3(B), nozzles N, , N,
The contour line! The same process is executed while sequentially moving the nozzles along the same line, with parts of the nozzles overlapping each other, and finally, the nozzles are connected to the first nozzle N, , N, in an overlapping manner.

With the above, one round of processing along the contour line l is completed,
The first mask memory 7 stores differential contour data OD having a width of several pixels as shown in FIG. 3(C), and the fourth mask memory 74 stores closed-loop contour data OD as shown in FIG. 3(D). 1st
Ring-shaped pattern data RPt is stored in the second mask memory 72, as shown in FIG. 3(E).
Ring-shaped pattern data RP is stored. Note that the third mask memory 7, which is a work plane, maintains a completely cleared state.

Then, in response to an operator's instruction to end the process from the keyboard 12, the process returns to the main routine from step S504. The instruction to end this process may be configured to be issued from the digitizer 10.

Note that if the desired differential contour data cannot be obtained due to an operational error or the state of the original image, step S50
2, the correction can be instructed and the correction can be performed manually (step 5503).

In addition, the method of moving the nozzles N,,N, does not necessarily have to be continuous along the contour line l, but may be moved arbitrarily or may be repeatedly applied to the same location, and the final It is sufficient that the entire circumference of the contour line i is processed.

Standing bottom Eni L supporting bottom Figure 4 (A) has the same differential contour data O as Figure 3 (C).
This is pattern D and is shown for the purpose of subsequent explanation. The second ring pattern data RPt stored in the second mask memory 7□ is transferred to the third mask memory 7, which is a work plane, as shown in FIG. 4(B) (step 561). Using the differential contour data OD stored in the first mask memory 71, the second ring pattern data RP in the third mask memory 73 is partially cleared as shown in FIG.
1 out and inner region data RP z+)l, and the result is stored in the third mask memory 73 replacing the previous data (step 562). OD is an empty data portion from which the differential contour data OD is missing.

Here, Fig. 4 (A)' to (E)' are
) is an enlarged view of a part of each differential contour data OD.

The differential contour data OD in FIG. 4(A)' shows the pinhole PH (non-image data) explained in the problem section.
Reference numeral 51 in FIG. 5(C)' contains rπ (image data) as inverted data of the pinhole PH.

Next, the operator uses the CRT! While looking at the surface, refer to Figure 4 (C
), when the target TG is moved to an arbitrary position in the outer area of the second ring pattern data and the switch of the stylus pen 11 is pressed (steps 363 to 564
), with that point as the starting point, the outer area data RP
The inside of goout is erased to provide non-image data (-"L") (FIG. 4(D)).

The area filling method that is the basis of this erasing process is "
Methods such as "Nyoibo method", "Fuchidori method", or "Basic fill method" can be used.

The erasing process routine includes a wait routine that reads erasing speed data from the first encoder 13 every time a certain area is erased, and waits for a certain period of time in proportion to this data. can be adjusted.

In this way, the unpainted data ND left as a result of the erasing process is stored in the third mask memory 7, and its pattern becomes as shown in FIG. 4(D)', and RPz+n
and the aforementioned residual pinhole n are included (step 565).

In step S67 when the erasing process is completed, the data RPg+,l in the third mask memory 7, and the differential contour data OD in the first mask memory 7I are logically summed as composite data CD, and this is used as the composite data CD. 3. The data is stored in the mask memory 7, and the process returns to the main routine.

In this composite data CD, all pinholes PH (non-image data) existing on the differential contour data OD become image data and disappear as shown in FIG. 4(E)'.

Although the outer contour line is slightly thickened due to the differential processing, it almost corresponds to the contour line l.

In addition, since the second nozzle Nt is set outward by one or two pixels or more relative to the first nozzle N, even if the differential contour data OD is detected at the boundary of the first nozzle N1, it will not be painted out. The starting point only needs to be specified once.

In this erasing process, if the differential contour data O
If there is a break (non-image data) on D, data n
Above, it becomes image data and outer area data RP touy
Since the image data of the inner area data RPt+H are connected, the erasing process also extends from the cut portion to the inner area data RPz+H, and the operator can be informed of this through the display state of the screen.

Furthermore, the position of the cut portion can be notified to the operator through the display state of the screen by setting the erase processing speed using the first encoder 13 to a level that allows the operator to visually detect the cut portion. When the operator confirms the existence and position of the cut, he or she operates the keyboard 12 or stylus pen 11 to stop erasing and return to the main routine (step 566).

If a cut exists, the process advances to step S8 to completely clear the third mask memory 7, and then returns to step S5 to redetect the differential contour data OD of that part, or manually correct it in step 5503. I do.

The top of the ring 11 is the bottom of λ1.Next, the composite data GD in the third mask memory 7 is subjected to a thinning process to thin the pattern by several pixels to obtain thinning data SD. 3 mask memory 7 (step 591). Although the known 8-connection thinning process or 4-connection thinning process is repeated several cycles,
The composite data GD is not thinned from the inside, but only from the outside (background side).

In the thinning process, the determination of inside and outside is made by determining only the contour pixels of the composite data CD for which the corresponding pixel of the first ring pattern in the fourth mask memory 74 is "H". In other words, the inner boundary pixels of the composite data CD are made narrower by making the second nozzle Nt larger than the first nozzle N by at least 1 or 2 pixels. shaped pattern “
It takes advantage of the fact that it corresponds to the L'' part.

The thinning process for the composite data GD by several pixels is done in order to correct the fact that the differential contour data OD is detected with a width of several pixels, and as mentioned in the problem section, the thinning process is performed to narrow the composite data GD by a few pixels. This is to obtain contour data at a desired position closer to the image side.

Next, in step S92, the thinning data SD in the third mask memory 73 is subjected to 8-connection or 4-connection boundary line detection processing for a known binary figure, and the outside of the thinning data SD is The boundary line data SD1 and the inner boundary line data SD are taken out, replaced with the previous thinning data SD, and stored in the third mask memory 7 (see FIG. 5(A)).
)).

Then, in step S93, the second ring pattern data RP of the second mask memory 7□ is
Similar to 92, the binary figure boundary line detection process is performed to obtain the outer boundary line data XD of the second ring-shaped pattern data RP,
And inner boundary line data XD! and replace them with the previous second ring-shaped pattern data RP to create the second ring-shaped pattern data RP.
It is stored in the mask memory 7□ (FIG. 5(B)).

In the next step S94, the boundary line data SD and SD in the third mask memory 7 are transferred to the second mask memory 7! Partial clearing is performed using boundary line data XD within and X D t.

At this time, the inner boundary line data S of the third mask memory 7
D, and inner boundary line data XD of the second mask memory 78,
and are exactly the same as the inner boundary line itself of the second ring-shaped pattern, so the inner boundary line data SD2 of the third mask memory 7 is completely cleared, and only the outer boundary line data SD is stored in the third mask memory 7. It will remain in memory 7.

This outer boundary line data SD becomes the final contour data 0DtN11 (FIG. 5(C)).

The obtained contour data 0DHIゎ and the synthesized data C mentioned above
It is also possible to fill in the inside of D as image data and create a photomask on a film or the like using a scanning recording device such as a scanner based on the data obtained as a result.

Also, instead of steps 392 to S94, step S
The erase start point specified in step S 65 is stored, and this erase start point is known as the mask scanning start point for the thinning data SD in the third mask memory 7 that has been thinned in step S91. It is also possible to obtain contour line coordinate string data by applying the "8- to 4-connected rask scanning + tracking type contour coordinate extraction method".

The "raster scanning + tracking contour coordinate extraction method" scans a binary figure, etc., as a mask from a certain point, uses the first pixel that becomes image data as the starting point of the contour coordinate string, and from this point, the contour is contoured according to the specified connectivity. This is a method of tracing pixels around the area and converting them into a coordinate string or chain code, and the result is suitable for, for example, creating a cutout mask by marking peel-off film, which is commonly used in photolithography, with a cutting plotter. .

The reason why the erase start point is used as the mask scanning start point for the thinning data SD is that in the "Rask Scanner Tracking Contour Coordinate Extraction Method", the outer boundary line data SD of the thinning data SD, This is to obtain only the coordinates of .

Further, in the present invention, the required contour data is obtained by tracing the contour area of a specific image all around with a nozzle.
Depending on the state of a specific image, it is also easy to use or combine the density difference method described as a conventional technique on a part of its entire circumference and combine both types of contour data to obtain desired contour data.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the main image contour data creation method of the present invention, the obtained composite data can be obtained as contour data without pinholes, so that after that, conventional data can be obtained. By performing the processing, it is possible to easily create desired contour data at an appropriate position.

In addition, according to another method, the data processing process can be confirmed as a pattern (by doing so, the differential −2
This has the effect that it is possible to easily find breaks on the contour data that are difficult to find on the differential contour data obtained by digitization.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system implementing the image contour data creation method, Fig. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation for creating differential contour data, Figs. 3 to 5 are operation explanatory diagrams, and Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a histogram of differential values in the nozzle of each color separation version, FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining the p-tile ratio in the histogram and the reference value found therefrom, and FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining the state of differential contour data. It is. ■...Specific image l...Contour line QD...Differential contour data RP,...First ring pattern data RP,...
Second ring pattern data N,...First nozzle Nt...Second nozzle TG...Target CL...Below core line σ...Empty data portion ND...Unpainted data GD... -Synthetic data SD...Slimming data RPz+H...Inner region data RP. UT...outer area data XD,...outer boundary line data S Dt of the second ring-shaped pattern data,
17 Inner boundary line data SD of ring-shaped pattern data, outer boundary line data OD of thinning data! N
ll...Final contour data PH...Pinhole rπ...Reversed data of PH Figure 2 (A-1) (A) Applicant Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Tsutomu Sugitani ( A) (B) (C) (D) 歭か５- Graph component fL □

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Differentiate and binarize the contour area of a specific image in the original image over the entire circumference to create contour data (differential contour data), and create ring-shaped pattern data that includes the pattern of the contour data inside. The data of the ring-shaped pattern is partially cleared using the differential contour data, the area of the ring-shaped pattern is divided into two, and the data on the unnecessary image area side of the two areas is cleared, and the data that remains as a result is 1. A method for creating image contour data, comprising the steps of: creating composite data of and differential contour data, and creating required contour data based on the composite data. (2) In the method according to claim (1), (i) performing thinning processing to reduce the required number of pixels from the unnecessary image area side of the pattern of the composite data to create thinning data; (ii) Create data for the first pixel row on the contour line on the image side and unnecessary image side of the thinning data, (iii)
Create data for a second pixel row on the contour line on the image side and unnecessary image side of the ring-shaped pattern data, (iv) clear the first data with the second data, and (v)
) An image contour data creation method in which data remaining from the first data is used as contour data. (3) In the method according to claim (1), (i) performing thinning processing to reduce the required number of pixels from the unnecessary image area side of the pattern of the composite data to create thinning data; (ii) A method for creating image contour data in which pixel rows of the contour line on the unnecessary image area side of the obtained thinning data are traced to obtain coordinate string data of the contour line. (4) In the method according to claim (1), a method for displaying a contour data creation process in which at least the original image, the differential contour image, and the ring-shaped pattern data are displayed in a desired order in a superimposed manner while positionally matching the data. .