JP2001069360A - Picture processing method and storing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely realize color processing corresponding to the attribute of an object by executing color processing for an image with respect to the object when logical arithmetic is judged to be the copy of a bit map when the attribute of the object is judged to be the image. SOLUTION: At a step 8-1, a driver receives a plotting instruction sent from an OS and at a step 8-2, the attribute of which object the plotting is instructed is judged from the form of the plotting instruction. When the object attribute is the plotting instruction to an image, whether an object shown by the plotting instruction is suited to color correction for imaging is judged. Namely, whether logical arithmetic in the plotting instruction is for copying a source bit map or a pattern bit map is judged at a step 8-3. When it is judged to be for copying and the number of colors is judged to be equal to or larger than 256 at a step 8-4, color processing for imaging is executed to a bit map delivered with the plotting instruction at a step 8-10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing method and a recording medium for performing color processing on an input image composed of a plurality of objects according to the attributes of each object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the processing of a driver is performed by developing bits in a multi-valued bitmap area according to a drawing instruction from an OS (operation system), and when the processing of all drawing instructions is completed, the entire multi-valued bitmap area is processed. Then, color processing (color correction, color conversion, n-value conversion) is performed.

Further, there is a driver that can determine an object according to a drawing command from the OS, switch color processing for each object, perform an optimum process for each image, and output beautifully.

[0004]

Conventionally, a driver that performs color processing for each object uses the format of a drawing command from the OS as a material for object determination.

In some cases, graphics data that is not suitable for processing as an image is sent using a command for drawing an image object such as a natural image or a picture. The conventional driver discriminates this as an image and performs color processing, so there is a disadvantage that a beautiful output cannot be obtained for this object.

In general, image color processing is more complicated than graphics color processing, and the processing load is greater. Therefore, images take longer to process than graphics. Therefore, there is a drawback that when processing an image on graphics, the processing speed is significantly reduced.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to realize color processing according to the attributes of an object with high accuracy.

In particular, the invention of claim 2 of the present application determines whether or not the object attribute is an image based on the determination of the type of drawing command, the type of logical operation, and the number of colors.
An object is to detect an object having image characteristics with high accuracy.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing method according to the invention of claim 1 of the present application provides an image processing method for an input image composed of a plurality of objects according to the attribute of each object. An image processing method for performing color processing, wherein an attribute of the object is determined based on a type of a drawing command indicating the object, and when the attribute of the object is determined to be an image, the attribute is included in the drawing command. It is determined whether or not the logical operation is to copy the bitmap included in the drawing instruction. If the logical operation is determined to be a copy of the bitmap, the logical operation Is performed.

In the image processing method according to the present invention, the number of colors of the bitmap to be copied is further determined, and if the number of colors is larger than a predetermined number, the color for the image is applied to the object. Performing color processing for graphics on the object when the number of colors is smaller than a predetermined number.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to a screen.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system to which the image processing and printing method of this embodiment is applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit,
FD, CD-ROM, IC storing a program and related data for implementing the processing described below
A storage medium such as a memory card is read from a medium reading device 6 connected to the system, and information input from the input device 4 is processed using a system program and an application program loaded from the auxiliary storage device 3 to the main storage device 2. Then, the data is output to the output device 5 or the printer 7.

In this embodiment, the output device 5 is a display device such as a display, and is distinguished from the printer 7 originally included in the output device. It is assumed that the input device 4 includes a keyboard, a pointing device, and the like. Further, the auxiliary storage device 3 may be configured by a hard disk or a magneto-optical disk, or may be configured by a combination thereof. Also,
Even if each device is connected via a network, it does not restrict this patent.

FIG. 2 shows that the data relating to the image processing method control program stored in the storage device is read into the central processing unit and a print command is inputted from the input device.
1 shows a conceptual diagram until data is sent to a printer and printed. Both the application and the driver function under the control of the OS.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the processing of the driver portion in the conceptual diagram of FIG. When a drawing command indicating an object is received from the OS, color correction is performed on multi-valued color data in the drawing command. Further, the image data is subjected to color conversion (conversion from luminance to density), converted into n values (n is the number of bits that can be output by the printer device), and converted into a device bit map. When processing is completed for all objects, the device bitmap is transferred to the printer. The same processing can be performed at the timing of performing the color correction before or after the development into the bitmap.

FIG. 4 shows sample data including all object attributes indicating what data is classified by object, and a classification table of object attributes.

The object types include a text object 41, a graphics object 42, and an image object 43.

An image object includes a photographic image and a picture, a text object includes a character, and a graphics object includes a figure, a graph, and a line. In an image object, gradation and color continuity are important in color reproduction, and in graphics, vividness of color is important.

Therefore, the driver performs color processing such as color correction, color conversion, and n-value conversion suitable for each object.

In the color correction, for example, a color matching process that emphasizes color tone is performed on an image object,
For the graphics object, color matching processing that emphasizes vividness is performed.

In the case of n-value conversion, for example, error diffusion processing is performed on an image object, and dither processing is performed on graphics and text. In particular, the error diffusion processing in the n-value conversion takes a longer time because the processing is more complicated than the dither processing.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the image processing method control program and related data are loaded into a computer via a recording medium (FD). When this recording medium is set in the medium reading device, the image processing method control program and the related data are read out from the recording medium under the control of the OS and the basic I / O program read in the main storage device, and are read from the recording medium. Loaded on device.

FIG. 6 shows a memory map of the recording medium in which the image processing method control program is stored.

FIG. 7 shows a memory map when the image processing method control program stored in the recording medium is loaded from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device via the medium reading device.

In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the image processing method control program is directly read from the recording medium to the main storage device via the auxiliary storage device and executed, but the image processing method control program is stored in a storage medium such as an FD. May be saved in an auxiliary storage device such as an HD, and read into the main storage device when executed. Further, the image processing method control program can be stored in the ROM.

The image processing method is programmed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Less than,
The image print processing method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, when a command to execute printing is input from the input device 4, the OS among the OS, drivers and applications (FIG. 2) read from the auxiliary storage device 3 onto the main storage device 2 is executed. Receive that message. O
S sends a print execution message to the currently active application.

The application converts the command into a command recognizable by the OS based on the message and sends data or a command message to be printed to the OS. The OS converts the command into a command recognizable by the driver and sends the message to the driver.

When an initialization message is sent to the driver, an area for developing the bit map is secured to clear the contents, and the color processing module is initialized (step 8-0).

The driver receives the drawing command sent from the OS (step 8-1), and determines which object attribute to draw based on the format of the drawing command (step 8-2). If the object attribute is a drawing command for the image, it is determined whether the object indicated by the drawing command is suitable for color correction for the image (step 8-).
3. The determination is made in step 8-4.

It is determined whether the logical operation in the drawing command is to copy a source bitmap or a pattern bitmap. That is, it is determined whether or not to perform an operation between a plurality of objects (step 8-3).

If so, it is determined whether or not the number of colors of the bitmap to be copied is 256 or more (step 8-4). As described above, the color correction for an image realizes color reproduction with emphasis on color continuity and gradation. Therefore, it is difficult to realize such color reproduction with an object having a small number of colors, the number of colors of which is less than 256. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is determined that it is not appropriate to perform color correction for an image.

If the number of colors is 256 or more, color processing for an image is performed on the bitmap passed with the drawing command (step 8-10).

If it is determined in step 8-2 that the text is text, color processing for text is performed (step 8).
-12).

If it is determined in step 8-2 that the image is a graphic, and if it is determined in step 8-3 that the logical operation does not copy the source bitmap or the pattern bitmap, the process proceeds to step 8-4. With 256 colors
If the color is less than the color, color processing for graphics is performed (step 8-11).

Then, the object subjected to the optimal color processing is drawn on Dst (step 8-6).
When the drawing command for one band is completed (Step 8-
7) The device bitmap for one band is transferred to the printer (step 8-8). When all bands have been processed (steps 8-9), the process ends.

In the above embodiment, a binding printer or a non-binding printer may be used. In addition, although the color processing is executed for each drawing command, the color processing may be collectively performed after all the drawing commands are completed by means that can identify the object.

In the above-described embodiment, 256 is used as the threshold value in step 8-4. However, if the number of colors is not suitable for the image, for example, 300 may be used.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, not only the format of the drawing command but also the type of logical operation (step 8-
3) It is determined whether or not the object attribute is an image based on the number of colors (step 8-4). Therefore, it is necessary to perform image color processing on graphics indicated by an instruction to draw an image object. Can be prevented. Therefore, a high-quality output image can always be obtained, and a reduction in processing speed can be prevented.

[0041]

According to the present invention, color processing according to the attribute of an object can be realized with high accuracy.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 2 of the present application, it is determined whether or not the object attribute is an image based on the determination of the type of the drawing command, the type of the logical operation, and the number of colors. Objects having the following characteristics can be detected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information processing system to which an image processing printing method according to an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing method control program. Data stored in a medium reading device storage device is read into a central processing unit, a print command is input from an input device, and data is sent to a printer. It is a conceptual diagram until it prints.

FIG. 3 illustrates a driver portion of FIG. 2 in detail focusing on processing contents.

FIG. 4 is a classification table of sample data for each object and an object attribute.

FIG. 5 illustrates a state in which the image processing method control program and related data are loaded into a computer via an FD.

FIG. 6 shows a memory map in which the image processing method control program is stored in the FD.

FIG. 7 shows a memory map when the image processing method control program stored in the FD is loaded from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device via the medium reading device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an image processing method of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image processing method for performing color processing on an input image composed of a plurality of objects in accordance with the attribute of each object, wherein the attribute of the object is determined based on a type of a drawing command indicating the object. When it is determined that the attribute of the object is an image, it is determined whether the logical operation included in the drawing instruction is to copy a bitmap included in the drawing instruction. An image processing method for performing color processing for an image on the object when it is determined that the logical operation is a copy of a bitmap. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining a number of colors of the bitmap to be copied; if the number of colors is larger than a predetermined number, performing color processing for the image on the object; 2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein when the size is smaller, the color processing for graphics is performed on the object. 3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the attributes of the object include an image, graphics, and text. 4. A recording medium on which a program for realizing an image processing method for performing color processing according to an attribute of each object on an input image composed of a plurality of objects is recorded in a computer-readable manner. Wherein the attribute of the object is determined based on the type of the drawing command indicating the object, and when it is determined that the attribute of the object is an image, the logical operation included in the drawing command is determined in the drawing command. It is determined whether or not to copy the bitmap included in the. If the logical operation is determined to be a copy of the bitmap, a program that performs color processing for an image on the object is executed. A recording medium characterized by being recorded.