JP2005130114A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus capable of adjusting images, by taking printer mode into account. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus stores settings of conditions, with respect to production of a copy restraining image including a latent image and a background image either of which appears by copying, correlated with each of a plurality of image processing contents, uses the condition settings associated with designated image processing contents when any of the image processing contents is designated to generate the copy restraining image, and composes the copy restraining image with a processing object document. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that generates image data including an image portion that appears by copying.

  A certificate issued by a government office or the like is considered to have different proof power (such as the credibility of the contents of the certificate) depending on whether the certificate is an original. As described above, there is a need for a technique that checks the copy itself or confirms whether it is a document obtained by copying or the like for which it is important to check whether the document is an original document. ing.

  Conventionally, special paper in which character strings appearing by copying are formed in advance with special ink has been used as paper for certificate of government offices. However, in recent years, with the development and popularization of so-called information technology (IT), there is a movement to improve the convenience of society as a whole by making such certificates available in places other than government offices. Specifically, it is required that a certificate or the like can be output by a home printer.

  In response to such a demand, in order to embed an image for confirming whether it is a copy even in a home printer without using special paper or special ink in recent years. The technology has been proposed.

For example, in Patent Document 1, when a document is printed by a general printer, two different regions that are visually recognized as gray backgrounds having substantially the same density, that is, a latent image portion and a portion corresponding to the background are described. A technique is disclosed in which, for example, a character shape set as a latent image portion emerges during copying and copying. Further, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, such an image (referred to as a copy check image) can be formed using a general color material.
JP 2001-197297 A

  As described above, by using the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, characters and the like can be made to appear at the time of copying while appearing to be a simple gray image. However, in order to make it appear as a simple gray image before copying, it is necessary to appropriately adjust the conditions for generating the latent image portion and the portion corresponding to the background. For example, when a latent image portion having a character shape is constituted by a dither pattern composed of relatively small dots and a background portion is constituted by a relatively large dither pattern in the copy check image, it is represented by each of these dither patterns. If the gray density is made substantially equal, the entire image can be seen as a simple gray image. Therefore, the gradation may be controlled so that the gray densities represented by the dither patterns are substantially equal.

  However, in many printers, mode settings such as “speed priority” and “image quality priority” can be set according to the user's needs, and the contents of image processing such as the number of screen lines and gradations for each mode setting. The parameters regarding fluctuate. In such a case, even if the gray density is adjusted appropriately in a specific mode, there is a difference in the gray density between the latent image portion and the background portion in other modes, and the latent image portion appears faint. Arise.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus that enables image adjustment in consideration of a printer mode.

  The present invention, which solves the problems of the above-described conventional example, sets conditions for generating a copy check image including a latent image and a background image, one of which appears by copying. And means for generating the copy check image using the condition setting related to the designated image processing content when any of the plurality of image processing content is designated. Means for synthesizing the generated copy check image with a document to be processed, and means for performing image processing based on the designated image processing content for the document with the copy check image combined It is characterized by including.

  Here, any one of the plurality of image processing contents may be specified based on the contents of the document to be processed.

  An apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is a setting support apparatus for performing the condition setting for such an image processing apparatus, and generates a plurality of copy check image candidates while changing the condition setting. And selecting a part of the image processing contents group based on a predetermined rule from the plurality of image processing contents, and processing the plurality of copy check image candidates with the selected image processing contents For each selected image processing content, accepting a designation of any of the plurality of copy check image candidates from a user for each selected image processing content, and a condition for each selected image processing content The setting is generated based on the condition setting at the time of generation of the copy restraint image candidate designated for the image processing content, and among the plurality of image processing content, each of the image processing content not selected is selected. Condition settings, the operation generated based on the specified criteria set is characterized by.

  In addition, the image processing method according to an aspect of the present invention includes setting a condition setting relating to generation of a copy check image including a latent image and a background image, one of which appears by copying, to each of a plurality of image processing contents. When an image processing apparatus having a means for holding the image in association is used and any one of the plurality of image processing contents is designated, the condition setting relating to the designated image processing contents is used, and the copy restrained image is used. Based on the designated image processing content for the document with which the copy check image is combined, and the step of combining the generated copy check image with the document to be processed. And a step of performing image processing.

  Furthermore, a method according to another aspect of the present invention is a setting support method for performing the condition setting for the above-described image processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of copy check image candidates are changed while the condition setting is changed. And a part of the plurality of image processing contents is selected based on a predetermined rule, and the plurality of copy check image candidates are processed with each of the selected image processing contents. A step of forming on the medium, a step of accepting designation of any one of the plurality of copy check image candidates from the user for each of the selected image processing contents, and a condition for each of the selected image processing contents A step of generating a setting based on a condition setting at the time of generation of a copy restraint image candidate specified for the image processing content, and the image processing content that has not been selected among the plurality of image processing content The condition setting for each, and a step of calculating generated based on the specified condition set.

  Furthermore, a program according to another aspect of the present invention relates a condition setting relating to generation of a copy check image including a latent image and a background image, one of which appears by copying, to each of a plurality of image processing contents. When any one of the plurality of image processing contents is designated using the condition setting related to the designated image processing contents, the copy check image is A procedure for generating, a procedure for combining the generated copy check image with a document to be processed, and an image based on the specified image processing content for the document with the copy check image combined The image processing apparatus is caused to execute a procedure for performing processing.

  Furthermore, a program according to another aspect of the present invention is a setting support program for performing the condition setting for the above-described image processing apparatus, and a plurality of copies are made while changing the condition setting in a computer. A procedure for generating check image candidates and a part of the plurality of image processing contents are selected based on a predetermined rule, and the plurality of copy check images are selected based on the selected image processing contents. A procedure for processing candidates and controlling the image forming apparatus to form on a medium; a procedure for accepting designation of any of the plurality of copy check image candidates from a user for each selected image processing content; A procedure for generating a condition setting for each of the selected image processing contents based on a condition setting at the time of generating a copy check image candidate designated for the image processing contents; and the plurality of images Of management contents, the condition setting for each of the image processing contents the not been selected, is characterized in that to execute a procedure for calculating generated based on the specified condition set.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can be realized as being included in the printer 1 shown in FIG. The printer 1 is connected to a personal computer (PC) 2 via a network and includes an image processing apparatus 10 and an image forming apparatus 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a network interface 11, a control unit 12, a storage unit 13, an operation unit 14, and a display unit 15.

  The network interface 11 outputs information received from the PC 2 or the like via the network to the control unit 12. The network interface 11 sends various information over the network according to instructions input from the control unit 12.

  The control unit 12 reads and processes the program stored in the storage unit 13. The control unit 12 basically executes a process for generating a copy check image and a process for generating an embedded image in which an invisible image is embedded. Specific contents of these processes will be described in detail later.

  The storage unit 13 includes a computer-readable recording medium that holds a program executed by the control unit 12 and a processing device that reads the program and the like from the recording medium under the instruction of the control unit 12. The storage unit 13 also operates as a work memory in which the control unit 12 can store data during the process. The storage unit 13 further includes a storage element including a page buffer area that holds image data for each page printed on a sheet or the like.

  The operation unit 14 outputs the content of the instruction operation input from the user to the control unit 12. The display unit 15 displays an image or the like according to an instruction input from the control unit 12. The operation unit 14 and the display unit 15 may be, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel in which an operation unit 14 including a transparent touch sensor is placed on a liquid crystal panel serving as the display unit 15.

[Processing content of control unit]
Here, the contents of the process executed by the control unit 12 will be described. Functionally, the program executed by the control unit 12 includes a document image generation unit 21, an embedded image generation unit 22, a copy check image generation unit 23, a page buffer holding unit 24, as shown in FIG. A screen processing unit 25, a test pattern creation instruction unit 26, and a generation condition setting unit 27.

  The document image generation unit 21 generates an image of each page of the document based on information (information described in a page description language) describing the content of the document among information received via the network, The data is output to the buffer holding unit 24. Further, the document image generation unit 21 reads out the density adjustment document stored in advance in the storage unit 13 when a predetermined instruction operation for printing the document for density adjustment is input from the operation unit 14. Then, based on the read density adjustment document, an image of each page is generated and output to the page buffer holding unit 24.

[Embedded image generator]
Functionally, the embedded image generation unit 22 includes a gray image generation unit 31 and an image control unit 32 provided corresponding to each color material used during image formation, as shown in FIG. Here, the image control unit 32 includes a gradation correction unit 35, a dither processing unit 36, and a mask control unit 37, respectively.

  The gray image generation unit 31 of the embedded image generation unit 22 receives the input of the gradation value setting of the gray image to be the embedded image and receives a gray having a predetermined size composed of pixels of the set gradation value. An image is generated and output to each image control unit 32.

  In the present embodiment, the color material used by the image forming apparatus 20 has first and second spectral characteristics that are different from each other under a predetermined observation environment. Specifically, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) color materials (hereinafter referred to as “color color materials” for distinction) and black (K) color materials (hereinafter referred to as distinctions). Therefore, those having different spectral characteristics under the observation environment with infrared light are used. The carbon colorant has a high infrared light absorption rate, and the color colorant has a low infrared light absorption rate. Therefore, when an image formed using both the carbon colorant and the colorant is observed under an infrared light observation environment, a portion formed with the carbon colorant appears to float.

  The tone correction unit 35 of the image control unit 32 performs, for each pixel of the input image data, the corresponding pixel according to the set tone curve (hereinafter, this tone curve is referred to as “embedded image tone curve”). Information (density information) representing the output amount of the color material for the gradation is calculated and the density information is output to the dither processing unit 36. The dither processing unit 36 performs dither processing based on the input density information, and generates a dither pattern corresponding to each pixel.

  The mask control unit 37 performs a slightly different operation depending on whether the corresponding color material is the color color material or the carbon color material, and will be described separately below.

  First, the mask control unit 37 of the image control unit 32 corresponding to the color material receives the input of binary image data that is the source of the invisible image, inverts the pixel value, and as a result of the inversion, converts the pixel value. A dither pattern is formed for the pixel portion that is set to “light on (color material is put on)” and output as an image of the corresponding color color material component.

  On the other hand, the mask control unit 37 of the image control unit 32 corresponding to the carbon color material receives input of binary image data that is the source of the invisible image, and among the pixel values, “lights (mounts color material)”. Then, a dither pattern is formed for the set pixel portion, and an image of the corresponding carbon color material component is output. That is, the portion formed by the color color material and the portion formed by the carbon color material are switched by the binary image data pattern that is the basis of the invisible image.

[Copy check image generator]
As shown functionally in FIG. 4, the copy check image generation unit 23 includes a gray image generation unit 41, a gradation correction unit 42, an error diffusion processing unit 43, a dither processing unit 44, a selection unit 45, A latent image generation unit 46, a camouflage pattern generation unit 47, and a synthesis unit 48 are included.

  The gray image generation unit 41 of the copy check image generation unit 23 receives the input of the gradation value setting of the gray image to be the embedded image, and receives a gray of a predetermined size composed of pixels of the set gradation value. Generate an image.

  The gradation correction unit 42 performs gradation correction of an input gray image in accordance with a set tone curve (hereinafter, this tone curve is referred to as “duration check image tone curve”), and an image after gradation correction. Data is output to the error diffusion processing unit 43. The error diffusion processing unit 43 performs error diffusion processing on the image data after the gradation correction, and generates an error diffusion image. The dither processing unit 44 performs a dither process based on the gray image generated by the gray image generation unit 41 to generate a halftone image.

  The selection unit 45 receives the input of the binary latent image generated by the latent image generation unit 46, and selects a portion corresponding to the pixel of the error diffusion image according to the pixel value of the latent image. Then, one of the halftone dot images corresponding to the pixel is selected and output as a binary image.

  The latent image generation unit 46 generates and outputs a binary latent image in accordance with an instruction input from the user. The binary latent image is an image in which character strings such as “COPY” are arranged on the entire surface of the paper.

  The camouflage pattern generation unit 47 generates a camouflage pattern drawn with thin lines on the entire surface of the copy check image. In this camouflage pattern, the pattern portion may be drawn with white pixels, and the portion to be the background may be represented with black pixels.

  The synthesizing unit 48 synthesizes the image output from the selecting unit 45 and the camouflage pattern generated by the camouflage pattern generating unit 47. Specifically, the synthesizing unit 48 calculates a logical product of images to be synthesized. Here, when the camouflage pattern is drawn with white pixels and the portion to be the background is represented with black pixels, the camouflage pattern portion is extracted from the image output from the selection unit 45 by such logical product. A white-out image is obtained. The combining unit 48 outputs the combined image to the page buffer holding unit 24 as a copy check image.

[Page buffer holding section]
The page buffer holding unit 24 secures an area for storing bitmap data for each page on the storage unit 13, and includes a document image generation unit 21, an embedded image generation unit 22, a copy check image generation unit 23, Are sequentially combined in this area. In the present embodiment, the page buffer holding unit 24 holds bitmap data for each page for each color material component. For example, when image formation is performed with four color materials of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), bitmap data for each of these color materials is stored in the storage unit 13. The Rukoto.

  Here, there are two synthesis methods, opaque synthesis and transmission synthesis. As shown conceptually in FIG. 5 (a), the opaque composition is a composition method that obtains the same effect as an image to be composited by overwriting the image to be composited. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), a synthesis method that maintains the pixel value of an image to be synthesized as it is for a portion whose pixel value is a predetermined value (for example, a white pixel) in an image to be synthesized, Is a synthesis method such as calculating a logical sum of pixels.

  The page buffer holding unit 24 according to the present embodiment synthesizes the document data, the embedded image, and the copy check image in the designated order and the synthesis method.

[Screen processor]
The screen processing unit 25 performs screen processing for image formation on the image of each page held in the storage unit 13 by the page buffer holding unit 24 and outputs the image to the image forming apparatus 20. This screen processing unit 25 corresponds to an example in which a means for performing image processing based on designated image processing content is realized in the present invention.

[Settings related to generation conditions]
In the present embodiment, a test pattern that supports setting of an embedded image generation condition in the embedded image generation unit 22 and a copy check image generation condition in the copy check image generation unit 23 is set according to a user instruction. Generated. That is, upon receiving this instruction, the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment operates as an apparatus that supports the setting (setting support apparatus).

  The generation conditions for each image in the present embodiment are set in the order shown in FIG. 6 by the operation of the test pattern creation instruction unit 26. In other words, in the present embodiment, when an instruction to start setting of the copy restraint image or embedded image generation condition is received from the user, the test pattern creation instruction unit 26 uses the image quality mode (data resolution, A designation (image processing content designation) such as screen line number and gradation number setting or monochrome / color designation is accepted (S1). In the present embodiment, settings relating to a method for synthesizing the copy check image and the embedded image (transparent synthesis, opaque synthesis, etc.) are accepted. In addition, when the embedded image generation conditions are not set, the user can specify monochrome / color. However, when the embedded image is set together, the color setting for the embedded image is used. deep.

  Then, the test pattern creation instruction unit 26 reads the first test pattern formation instruction stored in advance in the storage unit 13 and outputs it to the copy check image generation unit 23 (S2). The first test pattern formation instruction includes an instruction to generate a plurality of copy check images, and an instruction to form and form a plurality of copy check images in a predetermined manner with a predetermined code added thereto. Including. The copy check image generation unit 23 generates a plurality of copy check images based on this formation instruction, and outputs them to the page buffer holding unit 24. The page buffer holding unit 24 arranges the characters of the code part generated as document data and the copy check images in accordance with the instructions, performs transparent synthesis, and outputs the result to the screen processing unit 25. The screen processing unit 25 performs screen processing on the image input from the page buffer holding unit 24 and outputs it to the image forming apparatus 20. That is, a process for forming the first test pattern is performed (S3). In the forming process here, image processing based on the image processing content designation received in step S1 is performed in each of the copy check image generation unit 23, the page buffer holding unit 24, and the screen processing unit 25.

  The formation result generated by these processes is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, eight copy check images are formed, and code characters (numbers “1” to “8” in this case) are attached to each. In addition, each copy check image is specified so that the density of the halftone dot portion obtained by the dither processing is constant, and the density of the error diffusion image is changed step by step so as to be different from each other. is there. The density of these halftone dots and the density of the error diffusion image correspond to the setting of (first and second) gradation conditions.

  Specifically, the first test pattern formation instruction includes gradation value information BC input to the gray image generation unit 41, and a copy restraint image tone curve setting TC to be set in the gradation correction unit 42. Is included. The setting of the tone curve for copy check images is set to be different for each of the plurality of copy check images. For example, in the case where the tone curve for copy check images is set so as to change by a certain value for each of a plurality of copy check images, an initial value TC0 and a change amount ΔTC may be specified. The tone curves TC0, TC1,... TCn for copy check images set in this way are as shown in FIG.

  The test pattern creation instructing unit 26 displays on the display unit 15 prompting the user to input a code related to the copy check image having a desired result, and waits for input (conditions for generating copy check images). Acceptance of S4). The user selects a copy check image having a desired result from the formation result, and inputs a code character related to the selected copy check image from the operation unit 14.

  The test pattern creation instructing unit 26 stores the gradation value information corresponding to the code character input in the process S4 and the setting of the copy suppression image tone curve in the storage unit 13 as copy suppression image generation condition information. Store (S5).

  Here, the information on the generation condition of the copy check image may be stored in association with the information related to the contents of the image processing specified in the processing S1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the storage unit 13 stores data corresponding to the identification information (“speed priority”, “standard”, “image quality priority”) representing the print mode and monochrome / color, respectively. Image processing contents such as resolution, number of screen lines, number of gradations, and the like, and generation condition information of a copy check image specified by the user according to the formation result of the first test pattern formed in each printing mode Stored in association.

  The test pattern creation instructing unit 26 further checks whether or not an instruction to set the generation condition of the embedded image has been received (S6), and if so, the processing shown in FIG. 10 may be started. Good (A). Processing in this case will be described later. Further, when the generation condition of the embedded image is not set, the process may be terminated.

[Generation condition setting section]
Next, how the control unit 12 uses the generation condition of the copy check image generated in this way will be described. When the control unit 12 accepts the setting of the image quality mode (data resolution, the number of screen lines, the number of gradations, etc.) as the specification of the image processing content together with information describing the content of the document from the PC 2, the generation condition setting unit 27 This process is started, and information on the conditions for generating the copy check image stored in the storage unit 13 is obtained in association with the designated image processing content.

  Then, based on the acquired information on the condition for generating the copy check image, the gradation value information used in the processing of the gray image generation unit 41 and the tone curve used in the processing of the gradation correction unit 42 are set. When the generation condition of the embedded image is set, the level used in the processing of the gray image generation unit 31 based on the information on the generation condition of the embedded image acquired by the same method as the generation condition of the copy restraint image. Information on tone values and tone curves used in processing of the tone correction unit 35 corresponding to each color material are set.

  Based on the information describing the contents of the document, the control unit 12 performs image processing of the document image generation unit 21, the embedded image generation unit 22, the copy check image generation unit 23, the page buffer holding unit 24, and the screen processing unit 25. I do. Image processing based on the specification of the image processing content accepted at this time (data resolution, number of screen lines, resolution) is performed.

  Then, the image generated by the screen processing unit 25 is output to the image forming apparatus 20.

  Note that the designation of the image processing content may be performed based on the content of the document to be processed, as well as when explicitly performed by the user. For example, when information describing the contents of a document is described in a predetermined PDL, if there is a color instruction (for example, an instruction to include a picture) in the PDL, a color mode is specified, and a color instruction If there is not, monochrome mode may be designated. If an instruction for generating an embedded image or the like is included, a mode for increasing data resolution and the number of screen lines is designated.

[Operation]
Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. When the user gives an instruction to set the generation conditions for the copy check image and the embedded image from the operation unit 14, the control unit 12 reads the program for setting the generation conditions from the storage unit 13 and starts processing. Then, the display unit 15 displays a screen for inputting image processing contents and waits.

  The user inputs image quality mode (setting of data resolution, number of screen lines, number of gradations, etc.) and monochrome / color designation (image processing content designation) as image processing contents. Then, the control unit 12 reads out a first test pattern formation instruction stored in advance in the storage unit 13 as a process of the test pattern creation instruction unit 26, and outputs this to the copy check image generation unit 23.

  The control unit 12 generates a plurality of copy check images in which the density difference between the latent image and the background image is changed stepwise as the process of the copy check image generation unit 23, and performs the process of the page buffer holding unit 24. Then, the copy check images arranged in a predetermined manner are transparently combined with the image including the code characters generated as the document data.

  Then, as the processing of the screen processing unit 25, screen processing based on image processing content designation is performed and output to the image forming apparatus 20. As a result, a document as shown in FIG. 7 is formed.

  The user selects a copy check image that has a desired result, that is, the latent image and the background image have substantially the same density and is not noticeable from the document in FIG. The code character attached to is input from the operation unit 14. Then, as the processing of the test pattern creation instruction unit 26, the control unit 12 sets the gradation value information corresponding to the input code character and the setting of the copy check image tone curve, and the copy check image generation condition information. Are stored in the storage unit 13 in association with the image processing content designation that was initially input.

  Further, the user repeats the processing using the plurality of test patterns while changing the content of the image processing, and stores information on each generation condition regarding the content of the image processing to be used in the storage unit 13.

  The information of each generation condition stored in the storage unit 13 in this way is selectively read in association with the contents of the image processing input together with the document print instruction, and the copy check image is generated. It is used for processing time.

  In the present embodiment, the test pattern creation instruction unit 26 is implemented as a process of the control unit 12 in the image processing apparatus 1, but a separate setting support apparatus that performs the process of the test pattern creation instruction unit 26 is You may connect to the image processing apparatus 1 of this Embodiment via a network. In this case, the control unit 12 of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment does not necessarily need to perform the process of the test pattern creation instruction unit 26. That is, it is not always necessary to store a program module for processing of the test pattern creation instruction unit 26 in the storage unit 13.

[When setting the generation conditions for embedded images]
When setting the generation conditions of the embedded image, the test pattern creation instructing unit 26 starts the process shown in FIG. 10, generates a second test pattern formation instruction based on the information input in process S4, The output is output to the copy check image generation unit 23 and the embedded image generation unit 22 (S11). Prior to the processing S11, it may be determined whether or not to perform processing for matching the density of the copy check image and the embedded image, which will be described later (B in FIG. 10).

  Here, the second test pattern formation instruction is formed by arranging an instruction for generating a plurality of embedded images and a predetermined code for each of the generated embedded images. Based on the instruction, the gradation value information corresponding to the input code character, and the setting of the tone curve for the embedded image, a copy check image is generated over the entire region including the plurality of embedded images. And instructions to form.

  In addition, for each embedded image, the setting of the tone curve for the embedded image sequentially changes so that the density difference of the halftone dot portion differs for each color material group having different spectral characteristics under a predetermined observation environment. I'm allowed. For example, the difference between the density of process black (an example of the third gradation condition) generated using a color material and the density of carbon black (an example of the fourth gradation condition) are different from each other. It has been changed to.

  The copy check image generation unit 23 generates a copy check image to be included in the second test pattern based on the formation instruction, and the embedded image generation unit 22 generates a plurality of embedded images to be included in the second test pattern based on the formation instruction. An embedded image is generated, and the page buffer holding unit 24 arranges and synthesizes a plurality of embedded images on the copy check image according to the instruction. The composition method here may be the method set by the user in step S1 of FIG. Further, the page buffer holding unit 24 transparently synthesizes code characters related to a plurality of embedded images as document data, and the synthesized image is processed by the screen processing unit 25 and output to the image forming apparatus 20. A second test pattern is formed (S12). Even in the forming process here, the image processing based on the image processing content specification accepted in step S1 is performed in each of the embedded image generation unit 22, the copy restraint image generation unit 23, the page buffer holding unit 24, and the screen processing unit 25. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the second test pattern formed here has a plurality of embedded images with different gradations formed on a copy check image. FIG. 11 shows an example in the case of transmission composition. Here, for each embedded image, the gradation value information BE input to the gray image generation unit 31 of the embedded image generation unit 22 and the gradation correction unit 35 of the image control unit 32 corresponding to each color material are set. At least one of the setting of the tone curve TE for the embedded image is made different from each other. Here, the tone curve TE for the embedded image includes a tone curve set for each of the plurality of color materials. Of these, the spectral characteristics under the predetermined observation environment are such that the tone curve for each of the color materials (group) constituting the process black is fixed and only the tone curve for the color material constituting the carbon black is sequentially changed. Only the tone curves relating to the color materials belonging to any one of the different color material groups may be sequentially changed.

  The test pattern creation instructing unit 26 displays on the display unit 15 prompting the user to input a code related to the embedded image having a desired result, and waits for input (embedded image generation condition). S13). The user selects an embedded image having a desired appearance from the second test pattern, and inputs a code related to the selected embedded image.

  The test pattern creation instructing unit 26 stores the gradation value information corresponding to the code character input in step S13 and the setting of the embedded image tone curve in the storage unit 13 as the embedded image generation condition information. (S14), and the process ends. Here, the copy restriction image generation condition information and the embedded image generation condition information may be stored in association with information related to the contents of the image processing specified in step S1 of FIG.

[Settings to match density]
In addition to the above-described processing, support processing for matching the density of the copy check image and the embedded image may be combined. That is, in the process shown in FIG. 6, in the process S1, designation of whether or not the density of the copy check image and the embedded image is matched is accepted, and whether or not the designation of matching the density has been performed is shown. If it is determined prior to the process S11 of 10 and the instruction for matching the density is not given, the process proceeds to the process S11 and the process is continued. If the instruction for matching the density is given, the density is matched. Start processing.

  In this process, first, a third test pattern formation instruction is generated based on the information input in process S 4, and is output to the copy check image generation unit 23 and the embedded image generation unit 22.

  Here, the third test pattern formation instruction is formed by arranging an instruction for generating a plurality of embedded images and a predetermined code for each of the generated embedded images and arranging them in a predetermined manner. Based on the instruction, the gradation value information corresponding to the input code character, and the setting of the tone curve for the embedded image, a copy check image is generated over the entire region including the plurality of embedded images. And instructions to form.

  In addition, the embedded image tone curve is set so that each halftone dot has a different density by using only one of the color material groups having different spectral characteristics under a predetermined observation environment. It is changed sequentially. For example, the density of process black (an example of the third gradation condition) generated using a color material is changed so as to be different from each other. According to this, a plurality of embedded images that do not include an invisible image (that is, the same invisible image is “white” on the entire surface) are generated. Hereinafter, a case where the color materials having different spectral characteristics are the color color material and the carbon color material already described will be described as an example.

  The copy check image generation unit 23 generates a copy check image to be included in the third test pattern based on the formation instruction, and the embedded image generation unit 22 generates a plurality of embedded images to be included in the third test pattern based on the formation instruction. An embedded image is generated, and the page buffer holding unit 24 arranges and synthesizes a plurality of embedded images on the copy check image according to the instruction. The composition method here uses the method set by the user in step S1. Further, the page buffer holding unit 24 transparently synthesizes code characters related to a plurality of embedded images as document data, and the synthesized image is processed by the screen processing unit 25 and output to the image forming apparatus 20. A third test pattern is formed. Even in the forming process here, the image processing based on the image processing content specification accepted in step S1 is performed in each of the embedded image generation unit 22, the copy restraint image generation unit 23, the page buffer holding unit 24, and the screen processing unit 25. Is done.

  The third test pattern formed here is the same as the second test pattern shown in FIG. 11, but does not include the invisible image (the star-shaped image in FIG. 11). The density difference from the embedded image is easily visible.

  The third test pattern formation instruction includes, for each embedded image, gradation value information B input to the gray image generating unit 31 of the embedded image generating unit 22 and image control corresponding to each color material. Setting of the tone curve T for the embedded image set in each gradation correction unit 35 of the unit 32 is included. The tone curve for the color material constituting the process black is sequentially changed.

  When the user refers to the formation result of the third test pattern and inputs a code character corresponding to the desired result, the process proceeds to step S11 in FIG. 10, and the code character input in association with the third test pattern. The second test pattern formation instruction is generated based on the setting of the embedded image generation condition (tone value information B and embedded image tone curve T) corresponding to the above and the information input in step S4. Will come to be.

  That is, in the second test pattern formation instruction in this case, for each embedded image, information on the gradation value input to the gray image generating unit 31 of the embedded image generating unit 22 and image control corresponding to the color material are performed. The tone curve for the embedded image set in each gradation correction section 35 of the section 32 is applied to each color material in relation to the gradation value B input in relation to the third test pattern and the third test pattern. The tone curve T is set correspondingly and only the tone curve for the color material constituting the carbon black is sequentially changed.

  According to this, the density of a plurality of embedded images including only one of the invisible image part or the part other than the invisible image and the density of which is changed in stages is compared with the copy check image. When the third test pattern is formed and an embedded image having a density such that they match is selected, it then includes both the invisible image portion and the non-invisible image portion, between A second test pattern including a plurality of embedded images with different density differences and a copy check image is formed. That is, it becomes possible to set the density of the embedded image in consideration of the gradation setting of the copy check image sharing the color material.

[Modification]
In the description so far, for example, after setting the copy restraint image generation condition (first and second gradation conditions) using the first test pattern, the embedded image generation condition using the second test pattern is set. (Third and fourth gradation conditions) are set, but the generation condition of the embedded image is calculated from the generation condition of the copy check image (for example, a predetermined value is added to the tone curve). If it can be generated, it may be obtained by calculation.

  Also, a suitable embedded image generation condition may be experimentally determined in advance corresponding to the copy restraint image generation condition and set based on the experimental result.

  Further, here, for each image processing content, the generation conditions such as a copy restraint image are individually set using the first test pattern or the like. Based on the result of the experiment that has been performed, the generation conditions for each image processing content may be determined based on the above-described generation conditions for the part of the image processing content.

  At this time, a part of the image processing contents to be set may be selected by the user from the settable image processing contents, or in accordance with a predetermined rule determined in relation to the above calculation or experiment result. It may be selected based on this.

  In the examples so far, the example in which the test patterns for setting the copy check image and the embedded image are separately generated has been shown. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4 to 4 and the generation condition settings for different embedded images are P1, P2, P3, and P4, the generation conditions for the embedded images corresponding to the code characters 5 to 8 in the right column are also P1, P2, P3. , P4, a copy check image is formed on the left half side of the medium surface with the first generation condition so as to include a plurality of embedded images on the left column side, and a plurality of embedded images on the right column side are Even if an image related to the setting of the copy check image and the embedded image is formed on a single medium, such as generating a copy check image on the right half of the medium surface with the second generation condition so as to be included Good.

[Example of mounting on PC side]
The image processing apparatus exemplified here is described as being included in the printer side, but the image processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention may be mounted as a printer driver on the PC 2. Here, the PC 2 has a configuration of a normal computer including a CPU as the control unit 12.

  In this case, the program executed by the control unit 12 includes a document image generation unit 21, an embedded image generation unit 22, a copy check image generation unit 23, a test pattern generation, as functionally shown in FIG. An instruction unit 26, a generation condition setting unit 27, and an instruction data generation unit 29 are included. Here, the document image generation unit 21, the embedded image generation unit 22, the copy restraint image generation unit 23, the test pattern generation instruction unit 26, and the generation condition setting unit 27 perform the same processing as already described. Since it is a thing, repeated description is abbreviate | omitted. Here, it is assumed that the document data, the embedded image, and the copy check image are described in a predetermined PDL (for example, PostScript (registered trademark)).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the instruction data generation unit 29 describes document data (D) following predetermined header information (H), and then forms a copy restraint image designated by the test pattern creation instruction unit 26. Instruction (C) is described. When the test pattern creation instruction unit 26 outputs an embedded image formation instruction, the formation instruction (X) for synthesizing the embedded image is further described, and a page break command (for example, “Postscript (registered trademark)“ ("showpage" etc.) is described (Y). After the instruction for image formation for all pages is described in this way, a job end command is described (Z).

  Then, the instruction data generation unit 29 transmits the generated image formation instruction to the printer 1 and the printer 1 forms a test pattern. The user operates the PC 2 to specify a suitable formation result. As a result of the test pattern generation instruction unit 26, the PC 2 holds information related to the copy restraint image and the generation condition of the embedded image in the storage unit 13 based on the input information. Again, the information on each generation condition may be stored in the storage unit 13 in association with the image processing content.

  Further, when mounting as a driver of the PC 2 in this way, the same modification as the above-described modification can be performed. For example, if the generation condition of the embedded image can be generated from the generation condition of the copy check image by calculation (for example, a predetermined value is added to the tone curve), the calculation may be performed by calculation.

[Example without using embedded image]
In the above-described examples of mounting on the printer 1 and the PC 2, an example in which processing related to an embedded image is performed has been described. However, the content of an image to be combined is not limited to an embedded image. Similar processing can be performed when adding typical image data. In this case, a module such as the embedded image generation unit 22 is not always necessary.

  Even when the images are not combined, the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can be used when a copy check image is generated.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example and a connection example of an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram showing an example of the program performed by a control part. It is a functional block diagram showing the example of an embedding image generation part. It is a functional block diagram showing an example of a copy check image generation unit. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a synthetic | combination system. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for setting a copy restraint image generation condition. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the 1st test pattern used for the production | generation condition setting of a copy check image. It is explanatory drawing showing the example which changes a tone curve. It is explanatory drawing showing the example which stored the production | generation conditions of the copy check image. It is a flowchart figure showing the example of the process for the setting of the production | generation conditions of an embedding image. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the 2nd test pattern used for the production | generation condition setting of an embedding image. It is a functional block diagram showing the example of a process of the image processing apparatus which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the instruction data of the image formation produced | generated by the image processing apparatus which concerns on another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer, 2 Personal computer, 10 Image processing apparatus, 11 Network interface, 12 Control part, 13 Storage part, 14 Operation part, 15 Display part, 20 Image formation apparatus, 21 Document image generation part, 22 Embedded image generation part, 23 copy control image generation unit, 24 page buffer holding unit, 25 screen processing unit, 26 test pattern creation instruction unit, 27 generation condition setting unit, 29 instruction data generation unit, 31, 41 gray image generation unit, 32 image control unit, 35, 42 Gradation correction unit, 36, 44 Dither processing unit, 37 Mask control unit, 43 Error diffusion processing unit, 45 selection unit, 46 latent image image generation unit, 47 camouflage pattern generation unit, 48 synthesis unit.

Claims (7)

Means for holding a condition setting relating to generation of a copy check image including a latent image and a background image, one of which appears by copying, in association with each of a plurality of image processing contents;
Means for generating the copy check image using the condition setting related to the designated image processing content when any of the plurality of image processing details is designated;
Means for combining the generated copy check image with a document to be processed;
Means for performing image processing based on the designated image processing content for a document in which the copy check image is synthesized;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
One of the plurality of image processing contents is specified based on the contents of the document to be processed. A setting support apparatus for performing the condition setting for the image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
Means for generating a plurality of copy check image candidates while changing the condition setting;
Among the plurality of image processing contents, a part of the image processing contents group is selected based on a predetermined rule, and the plurality of copy check image candidates are processed by the selected image processing contents on the medium. Means to form;
Including
For each of the selected image processing contents, the user accepts designation of any of the plurality of copy check image candidates, and the condition setting for each of the selected image processing contents is a copy specified for the image processing contents. A condition setting for each of the image processing contents not selected among the plurality of image processing contents is calculated based on the specified condition setting. Generate,
A setting support apparatus characterized by that. Using an image processing apparatus comprising means for holding a condition setting relating to generation of a copy check image including a latent image and a background image, one of which appears by copying, in association with each of a plurality of image processing contents,
When any one of the plurality of image processing contents is designated, using the condition setting related to the designated image processing contents, generating the copy check image;
Combining the generated copy check image with a document to be processed;
A step of performing image processing based on the designated image processing content on a document in which the copy check image is combined;
The image processing method characterized by performing. A setting support method for performing the condition setting for the image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
Generating a plurality of copy check image candidates while changing the condition setting;
Among the plurality of image processing contents, a part of the image processing contents group is selected based on a predetermined rule, and the plurality of copy check image candidates are processed by the selected image processing contents on the medium. Forming, and
Accepting designation of any of the plurality of copy check image candidates from a user for each selected image processing content;
Generating a condition setting for each of the selected image processing contents based on a condition setting at the time of generation of a copy check image candidate designated for the image processing contents;
Calculating and generating a condition setting for each of the image processing contents not selected among the plurality of image processing contents based on the designated condition setting;
A setting support method comprising: Using an image processing apparatus comprising means for holding a condition setting relating to generation of a copy check image including a latent image and a background image, one of which appears by copying, in association with each of a plurality of image processing contents,
When any one of the plurality of image processing contents is designated, a procedure for generating the copy check image using the condition setting related to the designated image processing contents;
A procedure for synthesizing the generated copy check image with a document to be processed;
A procedure for performing image processing based on the specified image processing content for a document in which the copy check image is combined;
Is executed by the image processing apparatus. A setting support program for performing the condition setting for the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:
A procedure for generating a plurality of copy check image candidates while changing the condition setting;
Among the plurality of image processing contents, a part of the image processing contents group is selected based on a predetermined rule, and the plurality of copy check image candidates are processed with each of the selected image processing contents, and the image forming apparatus A procedure to control and form on the medium;
A procedure for accepting designation of any of the plurality of copy check image candidates from a user for each selected image processing content;
A procedure for generating a condition setting for each selected image processing content based on the condition setting at the time of generation of a copy check image candidate designated for the image processing content;
A procedure for calculating and generating a condition setting for each of the image processing contents not selected among the plurality of image processing contents based on the specified condition setting;
A setting support program characterized by causing

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