JP2011013931A - Program for booklet printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program for printing normal booklet printing and spread booklet printing in a coexisting manner.SOLUTION: A printer 10 is configured to perform booklet printing for forming a booklet. A printer driver designates a spread image data to be printed for one page in spread of a booklet from a plurality of image data. A printer driver generates the divided image data for two pages by dividing the designated spread image data. When the total number of pages of the image data after the division processing is M pages, the printer driver allocates the image data of the Pth page (P is the variable of a natural number, 1≤P≤M/2) and the image data of (M+1-P)th page on one surface of a print sheet, and performs allocation processing about all the image data for the M pages. The printer driver makes the printer 10 print the image data based on the allocation result.

Description

  The present invention relates to a program for causing a printing apparatus to execute booklet printing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image forming apparatus that executes booklet printing for producing a booklet (booklet) in which a plurality of sheets printed on two pages on the front and back surfaces are overlapped and folded in two. Yes.

JP-A-7-50738

  However, in the conventional booklet printing, printing is performed by assigning print data for two pages to one printing sheet. Therefore, for example, when booklet printing is performed, one page of print data is loaded using two spread pages as in a pamphlet, and one page is printed on each of two spread pages as in a normal booklet. It was difficult to mix print data loading form. In this specification, the technique which can eliminate such inconvenience is provided.

  The program according to the present invention causes a computer to function as a designation unit, a division unit, an allocation unit, and a print control unit. The computer is communicably connected to the printing apparatus. The number of printing apparatuses connected to the computer is not limited to one, and may be plural. Examples of the connection form include Ethernet (registered trademark) and USB. The printing apparatus is capable of booklet printing. Booklet printing is a printing method in which a booklet can be formed by printing two pages each on both sides of a printing paper and then folding the printed printing paper into a plurality of folded sheets.

  The designating unit designates image data to be printed as one page in a booklet spread from image data arranged in the order of page numbers. There may be a plurality of designated image data. The selection of image data to be printed as one page in a spread may be performed by the user, for example, or may be automatically performed according to the area size of the image data.

  The dividing unit performs a dividing process of dividing the image data specified by the specifying unit into image data for two pages. When the image data has a rectangular shape that matches the shape of the printing paper, it is preferable to divide the image so that it passes through the midpoint of the long side. After the image data divided into two by the dividing means is bound into a booklet, it is continuous at the page boundary of the spread, thereby forming image data for one page. Note that when image data for one page is divided, image data for two pages is generated.

  The assigning means assigns the image data after the division processing to each of the divided print areas. Further, the divided printing area is each area obtained by dividing the printing paper. When the printing paper has a rectangular shape, it is preferable to divide the printing paper so that it passes through the midpoint of the long side. Then, the first image data and the last image data in the page sequence of the image data are allocated to the divided print area, and the second image data from the top and the second image data from the last in the page sequence of the image data Is assigned to the next divided print area, and the procedure of assigning is performed for all image data.

  The print control unit performs control to print image data for two pages on each of both sides of the printing paper based on the allocation result of the allocation unit.

  As a result, even in booklet printing in which image data for two pages is assigned to one sheet of printing paper, a form in which image data for one page is loaded using two spread pages as in a pamphlet and a normal booklet. A mode in which image data for one page is placed on each of two spread pages can be mixed. Further, in booklet printing, designated image data can be printed as one page with a booklet spread. Further, when the size of the designated image data and the size of the printing paper are the same size, it is possible to print without reducing the image data.

  Further, the computer may function as the first page number adjusting means. The first page number adjusting means inserts the image data for adjusting the page number at the end of the page sequence of the image data so that the value of M representing the total number of pages of the image data after the division processing is a multiple of 4. To do. The image data for adjusting the number of pages may be, for example, blank image data. As a result, in booklet printing, printing is performed for two pages on each side of one sheet of printing paper, for a total of four pages, so the total number of pages of image data is preferably a multiple of four. Booklet printing is possible.

  Further, the computer may function as the second page number adjusting means. The second page number adjusting means determines whether or not the smaller page number of the two image data page numbers obtained by dividing the image data specified by the specifying means is an odd number. For example, when the image data of the page number of the P page is designated by the designation means, the image data of the P page and the (P + 1) page are generated after the dividing process. In this case, the smaller page number is the Pth page. Further, the second page number adjusting means inserts one page of image data for page number adjustment into the page immediately before the image data having the smaller page number when the smaller page number is an odd number. . For example, when the smaller page number is the Pth page, image data for adjusting the number of pages is inserted in the immediately preceding page. Thereby, the smaller page number of the two image data obtained by the dividing process can be set to an even number.

  Explain the effect. In the spread pages of the booklet, the smaller page number is an even number, and the larger page number is an odd number. Then, by the second page number adjustment process, the smaller page number of the two image data obtained by the division process can be set to an even number, and the larger page number can be set to an odd number. This makes it possible to reliably assign the two image data obtained by the division process to the spread pages of the booklet.

  Further, the second page number adjusting means may perform processing for selecting the image data specified by the specifying means in order from image data having a smaller page number. For example, when a plurality of image data are designated, the image data is selected in order of increasing page number. Further, the second page number adjusting means may determine whether or not to perform the second page number adjusting process on the selected image data. When the second page number adjustment process is performed, a process of sliding the page numbers after the image data subjected to the second page number adjustment process one page at a time may be performed. For example, when the second page number adjustment process is performed on the image data of the P page, the (P + 1) page is slid to the (P + 2) page, the (P + 2) page is slid to the (P + 3) page, and so on. The page number is slid one page at a time. The second page number adjusting unit may alternately and repeatedly perform the process of selecting the image data and the process of sliding the page number one page at a time.

  Explain the effect. By performing the second page number adjustment process, one page of image data for page number adjustment is inserted. Therefore, every time the second page number adjustment process is performed, the page numbers after the inserted page are moved down one page at a time, and the even and odd page numbers after the inserted page are switched. Therefore, each time the second page number adjustment process is performed, the page numbers after the insertion page are slid to reflect the effect of the even / odd switching by the second page number adjustment process on the page number. By performing the second page number adjustment process, even / odd determination can be accurately executed in the second page number adjustment process.

  The dividing unit may assign a page number next to the page number of the image data specified by the specifying unit to the image data increased by one page by the dividing process. For example, when the division process is performed on the image data of the P page, the page number of the (P + 1) page is assigned to the increased image data. Further, the dividing means may perform a process of sliding the page numbers after the divided image data one page at a time. For example, when the division processing is performed on the image data of the P page, the (P + 1) page is slid to the (P + 2) page, the (P + 2) page is slid to the (P + 3) page, and so on. Slides one page at a time. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent occurrence of a page number shift accompanying an increase in the number of pages of image data due to the division process.

  Further, the computer may function as a rearranging unit that performs rearrangement processing. The rearrangement process is executed when the orientation of the image data is vertical and the booklet binding direction is right binding, or when the image data orientation is horizontal and the booklet binding direction is bottom binding. It is processing. The vertical orientation of the image data is an orientation in which the long side of the rectangular shape of the image data is the front-rear direction when viewed from the user. When the portrait image data is used for booklet printing, the page number advances in the left-right direction when the booklet is spread, and the booklet binding direction is the left-right direction. The right binding of the booklet is a binding direction in which the right side is bound to the front cover of the booklet. Further, the left binding of the booklet is a binding direction in which the left side is bound to the front cover of the booklet. Further, the horizontal direction of the image data is a direction in which the long side of the rectangular shape of the image data is the left-right direction as viewed from the user. When landscape image data is used for booklet printing, the page number advances in the vertical direction when the booklet is spread, so the binding direction of the booklet is the vertical direction. The booklet bottom binding refers to a binding direction in which the lower side is bound to the front cover of the booklet. Further, the booklet top binding is a binding direction in which the upper side is bound with respect to the front cover of the booklet. The rearrangement process is a process of exchanging page numbers for two image data obtained by dividing the image data designated by the designation unit. For example, when the image data designated by the designation means is divided and image data of the Pth page and the (P + 1) th page are generated, the Pth page and the (P + 1) th page are interchanged.

  As an example, a case will be described in which the image data is vertically oriented and the binding direction is right binding. When the selected image data is divided by the dividing means, the left side image data and the right side image data are generated across the boundary. Since the image data forms image data for one page by spread, it is necessary to allocate the left image data to the left side of the spread page and to allocate the right image data to the right side of the spread page. That is, the left-right relationship of image data cannot be interchanged.

  When the booklet is bound to the left, the page number advances in order from the left page to the right page in the spread. Therefore, at the time of the allocation process, the left image data is allocated to the left side of the spread page, and the right image data is allocated to the right side of the spread page. On the other hand, when the booklet is bound to the right, the page number advances in order from the right page to the left page in the spread. Therefore, at the time of the allocation process, the left image data is allocated to the right side of the spread page, and the right image data is allocated to the left side of the spread page.

  Therefore, when the image data is in portrait orientation and the binding direction is right binding, rearrangement processing is performed before the layout processing, and the left and right relations of the image data are switched in advance, so that the image is re-imaged during the subsequent layout processing. The left-right relationship of the data is swapped. Therefore, finally, the left image data can be assigned to the left side of the spread page, and the right image data can be assigned to the right side of the spread page. As a result, the left-right relationship of the image data is prevented from being switched, so that one page of image data can be printed in a spread regardless of the binding direction of the booklet. In addition, by performing the left / right relationship replacement process of the image data in advance by the rearrangement process, it is possible to eliminate the need for a special process in the allocating unit. Therefore, between the form in which image data for one page is placed using two spread pages like a pamphlet and the form in which image data for one page is placed on each of two spread pages like a normal booklet Since the allocation means can be shared, the program configuration can be simplified.

  The case where the image data is in the horizontal direction and the binding direction is the bottom binding is the same as the case in which the image data is in the vertical direction and the binding direction is the right binding. That is, since the rearrangement process prevents the image data from being changed in the vertical relationship, the image data for one page can be printed in a spread regardless of the binding direction of the booklet.

  Further, the dividing unit may perform a rotation process of rotating the designated image data by 90 degrees when the orientation of the image data designated by the designation unit is the same as the orientation of other image data not designated. . The rotation direction in the rotation process may be any of 90 degrees in the right direction and 90 degrees in the left direction (that is, 270 degrees in the right direction). If the orientation of the image data specified by the specifying means is different from the orientation of other image data not specified (for example, one is portrait orientation and the other is landscape orientation), the rotation process is performed. I will not. In addition, when the area size of the other image data not specified is different from the area size of the image data after the division processing, the dividing means and the area size of the other image data not specified and the image after the division processing A size scaling process for scaling the area size so that the data area size is equal may be performed. The size scaling process includes both a reduction process and an enlargement process. The size scaling process may be performed on the image data after the division process, or may be performed on other image data not designated by the designation unit. For example, when the area size of the image data specified by the specifying means is the same as the area size of the other image data that is not specified, the area size is halved with respect to the other image data that is not specified. The size scaling process may be performed, or the size scaling process for doubling the area size may be performed on the divided image data. As a result, even when a plurality of image data of the same size is used, each of the two pages of the spread of the booklet and the form of placing the specified image data for one page using the two pages of the spread of the booklet, respectively. It is possible to mix the form in which other image data not designated for each page is placed on the page.

1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system. It is an operation | movement flowchart of spread booklet printing. It is an operation | movement flowchart of an arrangement | sequence order adjustment process. It is an operation | movement flowchart of a booklet printing process. It is a figure which shows the example (the 1) of spread booklet printing. It is a figure which shows the example (the 2) of spread booklet printing. It is a figure which shows the example (the 3) of spread booklet printing. It is a figure which shows the example (the 4) of spread booklet printing. It is a figure which shows the example of the allocation method of division | segmentation image data.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system 1 according to the present embodiment. The printing system 1 includes a printer 10 and a PC 20a that is a personal computer. The printer 10 and the PC 20a are connected by a LAN 30.

  A detailed configuration of the printer 10 will be described. The printer 10 includes a CPU 11, a liquid crystal display panel 12, an input unit 13, a USB_I / F 15, a storage unit 16, a network I / F 17, a print engine 18, and a RAM 19. These components are connected via a bus.

  The CPU 11 executes various processes such as a printing process based on a program stored in the storage unit 16 or the like. The liquid crystal display panel 12 displays various information. The input unit 13 includes a mechanical switch, a touch panel, and the like, and receives an operation input from a user. The USB_I / F 15 performs communication processing for realizing communication based on the USB standard with a USB compatible device. The storage unit 16 includes a nonvolatile storage medium such as a ROM, a hard disk, and a flash memory, and is used as a data storage area used when the printer 10 realizes various functions. The network I / F 17 communicates with a device on the LAN 30 (PC 20a in this embodiment). The print engine 18 prints an image on a print medium based on a command from the CPU 11. The RAM 19 includes a memory space in which the CPU 11 can write and read data.

  A detailed configuration of the PC 20a will be described. The PC 20 a includes a CPU 21, a display 22, a keyboard 23, a mouse 24, a network I / F 25, a storage unit 26, a USB_I / F 27, and a RAM 29. These components are connected via a bus.

  The CPU 21 executes processing based on various software stored in the storage unit 26. The display 22 displays various information. The keyboard 23 is a well-known keyboard and accepts an operation input from a user. The mouse 24 is a well-known mouse and receives an operation input from the user. The network I / F 25 communicates with other devices on the LAN 30 (the printer 10 in this embodiment). The USB_I / F 27 performs communication processing for realizing communication based on the USB standard with a USB compatible device. The RAM 29 has a memory space in which the CPU 21 can write and read data.

  The storage unit 26 stores various software such as an OS (Operating System), various application programs, and a device driver for controlling the printer 10. These software programs are executed in the memory space of the RAM 19 when executed. Examples of application programs include image display applications such as photo processing software, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, and the like. An example of the device driver is a printer driver for controlling the printing function of the printer 10. The storage unit 26 and the RAM 29 hold image data and divided image data described later.

  The printer driver has a function for setting printer setting values. Examples of the contents of the printer setting value include a paper size, a paper type, a printing direction, the number of copies, whether or not to perform double-sided printing, and the like. Also, as an example of the contents of the printer settings related to booklet printing, which will be described later, the name of the image data set in the spread image data, the booklet binding when the image data is in landscape orientation or portrait orientation, or the image data is portrait orientation The direction may be right binding or left binding. If the image data is in landscape orientation, the booklet binding direction may be top binding or left binding. The printer setting value may be set in advance by a user or the like and stored in the storage unit 26.

  Further, the printer driver generates image data used by the printer 10 based on the print data passed from the application program, and transmits the image data to the printer 10. Image data is data obtained by converting drawing data described in a printer language into page image data.

  The printer driver can cause the printer 10 to execute booklet printing. Booklet printing is a printing method for forming a booklet composed of a plurality of pages. In booklet printing, the pages are arranged so that the order is correct when the printing paper is folded in half. In the booklet printing arrangement, the first page and the last page are arranged on the same sheet, the second page and the second page from the back are arranged on the same sheet, and all the pages are arranged in the same manner. Then, printing is performed on both sides of the printing paper with the two pages arranged in parallel. The double-sided printing paper is folded in half in the order of the page numbers, and is bound along the crease. This makes it possible to create a saddle-stitched booklet with pages arranged correctly.

  The printing process performed in the printing system 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the explanation example of the present embodiment, a case will be described in which image data generated by the printer driver of the PC 20a is transmitted to the printer 10, and normal booklet printing and spread booklet printing are mixed and printed. Normal booklet printing is a printing form in which image data for one page is placed on each of two spread pages. Further, the spread booklet printing is a printing form in which print data for one page is loaded using two spread pages like a pamphlet.

  In the explanation example of the present embodiment, a case where the total number of image data pages N = 7 will be described. In addition, the case where the booklet is folded in half will be described in the case of valley folding with the fold line inside. A case where the printer output stacking method is face-up will be described. Note that the printing process performed in the printing system 1 starts when a printing instruction is input by the user, and ends when printing ends.

  When mixed printing of normal booklet printing and spread booklet printing is started, in S111, the printer driver acquires the total number N of pages of image data. In the example of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, image data ID1 to ID7 are arranged, and the total number of pages N = 7 is acquired.

  In step S112, the printer driver sets spread image data from the image data. The spread image data is image data for performing spread booklet printing. There may be a plurality of image data set as spread image data. Further, the printer driver stores information (image data name or the like) for specifying the image data set as the spread image data in the storage unit 26 or the RAM 29.

  The spread image data may be set manually by the user using a user interface or the like. For example, a dialog for selecting spread image data from a plurality of image data may be displayed on the display 22. The printer driver may set the image data selected by the user using the keyboard 23 or the mouse 24 as the spread image data.

  In the explanation example of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, a case where image data ID3 and ID7 are set as spread image data will be described. In this case, the image data names of the image data ID3 and ID7 are stored in the RAM 29 or the storage unit 26.

  In S113, the printer driver selects the first page of image data. In step S115, the printer driver checks whether the selected image data is spread image data. Specifically, the confirmation is performed by comparing whether or not the selected image data name matches the spread image data name stored in the RAM 29 or the storage unit 26. If the selected image data is not spread image data (S115: NO), S116 and S117 are skipped and the process proceeds to S119. On the other hand, when the selected image data is spread image data (S115: YES), the process proceeds to S116.

  In step S116, the printer driver determines whether to perform rotation processing on the selected spread image data. Specifically, when the orientation of the selected spread image data is the same as the orientation of other image data not set as the spread image data, the selected spread image data is rotated. Judge. If it is determined not to perform the rotation process (S116: NO), the process proceeds to S119, and if it is determined to perform the rotation process (S116: YES), the process proceeds to S117. In S117, the printer driver rotates the spread image data 90 degrees to the left. Then, the process proceeds to S119.

  In step S119, the printer driver determines whether the process of selecting image data one by one in order from the first page has been executed up to the image data of the last page. If the image data of the last page has not been executed (S119: NO), the process proceeds to S120, and the image data of the next page number is selected. Then, the process returns to S115, and it is confirmed whether or not the selected image data is spread image data. On the other hand, when the image data of the last page has been executed (S119: YES), the process proceeds to S121. Thus, the spread image data is all rotated by repeating the loop processing of S115 to S120. In the example of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, the image data ID3 and ID7 set in the spread image data are rotated 90 degrees to the left.

  In step S121, the printer driver performs division processing on the spread image data, and generates divided image data for two pages. When the spread image data has a rectangular shape that matches the shape of the printing paper, it is preferable to divide the dividing process so that it passes through the midpoint of the long side. After the divided image data divided into two by the dividing means is bound into a booklet, the divided image data is continued at the page boundary portion of the spread to form one page of image data. Further, the printer driver performs a process of reducing the image data not set as the spread image data to a half size. As a result, the image data not set in the spread image data and the spread image data are all aligned to the same size.

  In the example of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5C, the image data ID3 set in the spread image data is divided, and divided image data ID3a and ID3b are generated. Further, the image data ID 7 set for the spread image data is divided, and divided image data ID 7 a and ID 7 b are generated. Further, the sizes of the image data ID1, ID2, ID4, ID5, and ID6 that are not set in the spread image data are reduced to ½. Therefore, all the image data and the divided image data are aligned to the same size. Further, the total number of divided pages M after division processing is set to 9 (9).

  In S123, the printer driver performs page number adjustment processing of the image data and the divided image data. Specifically, the printer driver assigns the page number next to the page number of the image data set in the spread image data to the divided image data increased by one page by the dividing process. For example, when the division processing is performed on the image data (Pth page) set as the spread image data, the page number of the (P + 1) th page is assigned to the increased divided image data. Here, P is a natural number variable, and the range of the value of P is 1 ≦ P ≦ M.

  Further, the printer driver performs a process of sliding the page numbers after the divided image data one page at a time. For example, when the division processing is performed on the image data set as the spread image data (P page), the (P + 1) page is slid to the (P + 2) page, and the (P + 2) page is changed to the (P + 3) page. The page number is slid one page at a time. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent occurrence of a page number shift accompanying an increase in the number of pages of image data due to the division process.

  In the example of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, the division processing is performed on the image data ID3 (third page) set in the spread image data. As shown in FIG. 5C, the page number of the fourth page is assigned to the increased divided image data ID 3b. Further, the page numbers after the image data ID 4 after the image data ID 3 subjected to the division processing are slid one page at a time. The same processing is performed for the image data ID 7 set in the spread image data.

  In step S125, the printer driver performs image data arrangement order adjustment processing. The arrangement order adjustment process will be described with reference to the flow of FIG. In the arrangement order adjustment process, the page number adjustment process performed in S141 to S151 and the rearrangement process performed in S153 to S163 are performed.

  The page number adjustment process (S141 to S151) will be described. In S141, the printer driver performs processing for selecting the spread image data one by one in order from the spread image data having the smallest page number. In the initial state, the spread image data having the smallest page number is selected.

  In step S143, the printer driver determines whether spread printing of the selected spread image data is established. A specific determination method will be described. In the spread pages of the booklet, the smaller page number is an even number and the larger page number is an odd number, such as page 2, page 3, page 4, and page 5. Then, when the spread image data of the P page is divided to obtain divided image data of the P page and the (P + 1) th page, the spread printing is performed when the smaller P page is an even number. It is determined that it is established, and it is determined that the spread printing is not established when the Pth page is an odd number. Therefore, when the smaller P page of the divided image data is an odd number (S143: NO), the process proceeds to S145, and the spread page number adjustment process is performed. On the other hand, if the Pth page is an even number (S143: YES), S145 is skipped and the process proceeds to S147.

  In S145, the printer driver inserts one page of image data for adjusting the number of pages into the page immediately before the image data having the smaller page number (Pth page). The page number adjustment image data may be, for example, blank image data. Thereby, the smaller page number of the two image data obtained by the dividing process can be set to an even number. Therefore, since the two image data obtained by the division process can be reliably assigned to the spread pages of the booklet, it is possible to establish spread printing of the spread image data.

  In step S146, the printer driver performs a process of sliding the page numbers of the image data after the image data subjected to the spread page number adjustment process one page at a time. For example, when performing the spread page number adjustment process on the image data of the P page, the (P + 1) page is slid to the (P + 2) page, the (P + 2) page is slid to the (P + 3) page, and so on. The number is slid one page at a time.

  In step S147, the printer driver determines whether or not spread image printing has been confirmed for all the image data set in the spread image data. When the confirmation is completed for all the image data set as the spread image data (S147: YES), the process proceeds to S148. On the other hand, if the confirmation has not been completed for all the image data set in the spread image data (S147: NO), the process returns to S141.

  Returning to S141, the printer driver selects the image data set in the next spread image data. Then, the process proceeds to S143, and the feasibility of spread printing is determined for the newly selected spread image data. In S147, it is determined again whether or not spread image printing has been confirmed for all the image data set in the spread image data.

  As a result, by repeating the loop processing of S141 to S147, the feasibility of spread printing is confirmed for all the image data set in the spread image data.

  The effect of the loop processing from S141 to S147 will be described. By performing the spread page number adjustment process, one page of page number adjustment image data is inserted. Each time page number adjustment image data is inserted, the page numbers after the inserted page are moved down one page at a time, and the even and odd page numbers after the inserted page are switched. Therefore, each time the spread page number adjustment process is performed, the page number after the insertion page is slid, and the reflection process is performed to reflect the effect of the even / odd switching by the spread page number adjustment process on the page number. Then, after the reflection process, the next spread page number adjustment process is performed. As described above, by performing the loop process of the reflection process and the spread page number adjustment process, it is possible to accurately perform even / odd determination in the spread page number adjustment process.

  In the explanation example of the present embodiment, in the first loop process, as shown in FIG. 5B, the image data ID3 set in the spread image data is selected (S141). As shown in FIG. 5C, since the number of pages (3 pages) of the divided image data ID 3a having the smaller page number is an odd number (S143: NO), as shown in FIG. The page number adjusting image data IDP1 is inserted into the immediately preceding page (S145). Then, as shown in a region R1 in FIG. 6D, the page numbers after the third page are slid one page at a time (S146).

  Similarly, in the second loop process, as shown in FIG. 5B, the image data ID 7 set for the spread image data is selected (S141). As shown in FIG. 6D, since the number of pages (9 pages) of the divided image data ID 7a having the smaller page number is an odd number (S143: NO), as shown in FIG. The page number adjusting image data IDP2 is inserted into the immediately preceding page (S145). Then, as shown in a region R2 in FIG. 6E, the page numbers after the ninth page are slid one page at a time (S146).

  In step S148, the printer driver calculates the printing count K from the total divided page number M. The printing count K is the number of times printing is performed on printing paper. When the total number of divided pages M is divisible by 2, the number of times of printing K is the number of times of printing K = the total number of divided pages M / 2. When the total divided page number M is not divisible by 2, the number of times of printing K = (the integer part of the divided total page number M / 2) +1. In the description example of FIG. 6E of the present embodiment, the total number of divided pages M = 11 and the number of printing times K = 6.

  In S149, the printer driver determines whether the value of the total divided page number M matches the actual print page number. The actual number of printed pages is the number of pages of image data that are actually printed in the booklet printing process. In booklet printing, since image data for two pages is allocated to one printing sheet and printing is performed, the value of the actual number of printed pages is twice the number of printing times K. Further, since the image data for two pages is printed by one printing, the value of the actual number of printed pages is a multiple of four. If it is determined that the value of the divided total page number M does not match the actual printed page number (S149: NO), the process proceeds to S151, and the total page number adjustment process is executed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the divided total page number M matches the actual print page number (S149: YES), the total page number adjustment process is not performed, and the process proceeds to S153 to shift to the rearrangement process. In the example of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6E, since the total divided page number M (11) and the actual print page number (12) do not match, the process proceeds to S151.

  In step S151, the printer driver performs total page number adjustment processing. In the total page number adjustment process, the tail end of the page sequence of image data is set so that the value of the divided total page number M matches the actual printed page number (that is, the divided total page number M is a multiple of 4). To the page number adjustment image data. The image data for adjusting the number of pages may be, for example, blank image data. As a result, in booklet printing, printing is performed for two pages on each side of one sheet of printing paper, for a total of four pages. Therefore, it is preferable that the total number of divided pages M is a multiple of four. Booklet printing is possible. In the example of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6F, page number adjustment image data IDP3 for one page is added at the end of the page sequence of image data. Accordingly, the total number of divided pages M = 12, which is a multiple of 4.

  Next, the rearrangement process (S153 to S163) will be described. The orientation of the image data includes a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation. The vertical orientation of the image data is an orientation in which the long side of the rectangular shape of the image data is the front-rear direction when viewed from the user. When vertically oriented image data is used for booklet printing, the page number advances in the left-right direction when the booklet is spread. At this time, when the image data is divided, left-side divided image data and right-side divided image data are generated across the boundary. Since the divided image data forms image data for one page by spread, it is necessary to assign the left divided image data to the left side of the spread page and to assign the right divided image data to the right side of the spread page. That is, the left-right relationship of the divided image data cannot be changed.

  Further, the horizontal direction of the image data is a direction in which the long side of the rectangular shape of the image data is the left-right direction as viewed from the user. When landscape image data is used for booklet printing, the page number advances in the vertical direction when the booklet is spread. At this time, when the image data is divided, the upper divided image data and the lower divided image data are generated across the boundary. Then, it is necessary to allocate the upper divided image data to the upper side of the spread page and to allocate the lower divided image data to the lower side of the spread page. That is, the vertical relationship of the divided image data cannot be changed.

  When the image data is in portrait orientation, there are right binding and left binding in the binding direction of the booklet. The booklet right binding is a binding method in which the right side is bound to the front cover of the booklet and the page is opened to the right when the book is read. Further, the booklet left binding is a binding method in which the left side is bound to the front cover of the booklet and the page is opened to the left when the book is read.

  Further, when the image data is in landscape orientation, there are upper binding and lower binding in the binding direction of the booklet. The booklet bottom binding is a binding method in which the lower side is bound to the front cover of the booklet and the page is opened downward when the book is read. Further, the booklet top binding is a binding method in which the upper side is bound to the front cover of the booklet and the page is opened upward when the book is read.

  From the above, the booklet binding method is as follows: pattern A (image data is portrait-oriented, booklet is left-bound), pattern B (image data is portrait-oriented, booklet is right-bound), pattern C (image data is landscape-oriented, booklet is There are four patterns: top binding) and pattern D (image data is landscape, booklet is bottom binding).

  In the case of pattern B, the page number advances in order from the right page to the left page in the spread. Therefore, at the time of the allocation process, the left divided image data is allocated to the right side of the spread page, and the right divided image data is allocated to the left side of the spread page, so that the left-right relationship of the divided image data is switched. Similarly, in the case of the pattern D, the page number advances in order from the lower page to the upper page in the spread. Therefore, during the allocation process, the upper divided image data is allocated to the lower side of the spread page, and the lower divided image data is allocated to the upper side of the spread page, so that the vertical relationship of the divided image data is switched. Therefore, in the patterns B and D, the progress direction of the page number in the spread of the booklet does not match the progress direction of the page number of the divided image data. Then, in the patterns B and D, it is necessary to perform a rearrangement process before executing the booklet printing process. The contents of the rearrangement process will be described later.

  On the other hand, in the case of pattern A, the page number advances in order from the left page to the right page in the spread. Therefore, at the time of the allocation process, the left divided image data is allocated to the left side of the spread page, and the right divided image data is allocated to the right side of the spread page. Similarly, in the case of pattern C, the page number advances in order from the upper page to the lower page in spread. Therefore, at the time of the allocation process, the upper divided image data is allocated to the upper side of the spread page, and the lower divided image data is allocated to the lower side of the spread page, so that the vertical relationship of the divided image data is not changed. Therefore, in patterns A and C, the page number progression direction in the booklet spread and the page number progression direction of the divided image data match, so that the rearrangement process is not required before the booklet printing process. The

  Hereinafter, the rearrangement process will be described in detail. In step S153, the printer driver determines whether the orientation of the image data is landscape or portrait. If it is determined that the orientation is vertical, the process advances to step S157, and the printer driver determines whether the binding method is right binding or left binding. When it is determined that the binding is right binding, the process proceeds to S163, and when it is determined that the binding is left binding, the rearrangement process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in S153 that the paper is in landscape orientation, the process advances to S155, and the printer driver determines whether the binding method is upper binding or lower binding. If it is determined that the binding is the bottom binding, the process proceeds to S163. If it is determined that the binding is the upper binding, the rearrangement process is terminated.

  As a result, in the case of pattern A and pattern C, the image data arrangement order adjustment processing is terminated, and in the case of pattern B and pattern D, the process proceeds to S163. Note that the determinations in S153 to S157 may be made based on the printer setting values stored in the storage unit 26 regarding the orientation of the image data and the binding direction of the booklet.

  Processing contents performed in the case of pattern B and pattern D will be described. As an example, the case of the pattern B shown in FIG. 7 (image data is vertically oriented and the booklet is bound right) will be described.

  In step S163, the printer driver performs a rearrangement process on the image data set as the spread image data. In the rearrangement process, a process of exchanging adjacent even-numbered pages and odd-numbered pages is performed for a set of divided image data that is spread when allocated.

  In the example of FIG. 7A, the 4th page and the 5th page of the divided image data ID3a and ID3b, which are the spread sets, are switched, and the 10th page and the 11th page of the divided image data ID7a and ID7b are replaced ( FIG. 7 (A), arrow Y22). When the rearrangement process ends, the process proceeds to S127 (FIG. 2).

  In the case of pattern A and pattern C, the rearrangement process is not performed. Therefore, in the example of the pattern A (image data is vertically oriented and the booklet is bound to the left) shown in FIG. 8, the rearrangement process is not executed.

  In S127, the printer driver performs booklet printing processing. The booklet printing process will be described using the flow of FIG.

  In S <b> 81, the printer driver determines whether the size of the print image data is set to fit within the divided print area when allocating the print image data to the divided print area. Here, the print image data is a general term for image data including image data and divided image data. Further, the divided printing area is each area obtained by dividing the printing paper. When the printing paper has a rectangular shape, it is preferable to divide the printing paper so that it passes through the midpoint of the long side. If it is determined that the size of the print image data does not fit in the divided print area (S81: NO), the process proceeds to S83. In S83, the printer driver changes the size of the print image data so that the print image data fits in the divided print area. Then, the process proceeds to S85. As a result, booklet printing can be performed corresponding to the sizes of various printing papers.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S81 that the size of the print image data is a size that fits in the divided print area (S81: YES), the process proceeds to S85 without proceeding to S83.

  In S85, the printer driver determines a combination of print image data allocation. In the allocation combination, the first print image data and the last print image data in the page sequence of the print image data are combined. Also, the second print image data from the top of the page sequence of the print image data and the second print image data from the tail are combined. Then, by repeating this procedure, combinations are determined for all print image data for M divided total pages.

  In step S87, the printer driver determines a method for assigning the print image data to the divided print area based on the print direction, the binding direction, and whether the printer output stacking method is face-up or face-down. Face-up is a method of outputting printing paper so that the printing surfaces are stacked upward. An example of a printer using face-up is an ink jet printer. The face-down is a method for outputting printing sheets so that the printing surfaces are stacked downward. Examples of printers that use face-down include laser printers.

  There are eight types of allocation methods determined in S87 depending on the combination of image data orientation, binding direction, and printer output method. Examples of eight types of allocation methods are shown in FIGS. 9 (A) to 9 (H). FIG. 9 shows one print sheet for the four pages of the first page, the second page, the (M-1) th page one page before the last page, and the Mth page which is the last page of the print image data. It is the figure which showed the method of allocating to both surfaces.

  In the example of FIG. 8 of the present embodiment, the image data is portrait orientation, the binding direction is left binding, and the printer output method is face-up, which corresponds to the allocation method of FIG. In the example of FIG. 7 of the present embodiment, the image data is portrait orientation, the binding direction is right binding, and the printer output method is face-up, which corresponds to the allocation method of FIG. In addition, about the allocation example applicable to the other allocation method of FIG.9 (C) thru | or (H), detailed description is abbreviate | omitted here.

  In step S91, the printer driver performs print image data assignment processing on both sides of a single print sheet in accordance with the determined assignment combination and assignment method. In the first allocation process, the first page and the M page of the print image data are allocated to one side of the printing paper, and the second page and the (M-1) page of the print image data are assigned to the other side of the printing paper. Assigned. Then, the process proceeds to S93. Here, P is a natural number variable, and the range of the value of P is 1 ≦ P ≦ M / 2.

  In S93, the printer driver causes the printer 10 to print a total of four pages of print image data on both sides of the printing paper based on the allocation result in S91.

  In step S95, the printer driver determines whether a print end condition is satisfied. The end condition is determined to satisfy the end condition when the Pth page of the print image data is larger than the value obtained by dividing the total divided page number M by 2. That is, when the print image data is allocated in order from the first page and the print image data is allocated up to half of the total divided page number M, it is determined that the end condition is satisfied. If the end condition is satisfied (S95: YES), the booklet printing is ended. On the other hand, when the termination condition is not satisfied (S95: NO), the process returns to S91.

  Returning to S91, the printer driver assigns the third page and (M-2) page of the print image data to one side of the printing paper, and the fourth page and (M-3) page to the other side of the printing paper. Assign to the face. Then, printing is performed in S93, and the end condition is determined again in S95.

  In this way, by assigning and printing two pages from the beginning of the print image data and two pages from the tail side until the end condition is satisfied, printing and printing is performed for all print image data. Is done.

  In the example of FIG. 8A according to the present embodiment (image data is vertically oriented, the binding direction is left binding, and the printer output method is face-up), layout and printing are performed as shown in FIG. 8B. Further, in the example of FIG. 7A (image data is vertically oriented, the binding direction is right binding, and the printer output method is face-up) according to the present embodiment, layout and printing are performed as shown in FIG. 7B. .

  The effects of the invention according to this embodiment will be described. In the printer driver according to the present embodiment, spread image data is set from image data. Then, the division processing is performed to divide the image data set in the spread image data into divided image data for two pages. Then, the print image data in which the image data and the divided image data are mixed is assigned to the print paper. Thereby, in booklet printing, the image data set as the spread image data can be printed as one page by the spread of the booklet. Therefore, even in booklet printing in which image data for two pages is assigned to one sheet of printing paper, one page of image data is placed using two spread pages as in a pamphlet and spread as in a normal booklet. A mode in which image data for one page is placed on each of the two pages can be mixed.

  In the printer driver according to the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the smaller page number of the two image data obtained by dividing the image data set as the spread image data is an odd number. . When the smaller page number is an odd number, one page of image data for adjusting the number of pages is inserted into the page immediately before the image data having the smaller page number. This makes it possible to reliably assign the two image data obtained by the division process to the spread pages of the booklet.

  In the printer driver according to the present embodiment, the image data set as the spread image data is selected in order from the image data having the smallest page number, and the two image data obtained by dividing the selected image data. The process of determining whether or not the smaller page number is an odd number is repeated. Then, when performing the spread page number adjustment process for inserting one page of image data for page number adjustment into the page immediately before the image data having the smaller page number, the image subjected to the spread page number adjustment process A process of sliding the page numbers after the data one page at a time is performed. Thereby, even / odd determination can be accurately executed in the spread page number adjustment process.

  Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the setting of the spread image data is manually set by the user in S112 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this form. The printer driver may detect an image file having a print page setting that is preferably set as spread image data from a plurality of image files, and automatically set the detected image file as a spread image file. For example, in an application program such as a word processor, print page settings such as print direction and print paper size may be set for each image file and stored in the storage unit 26. Then, the printer driver may read the print page setting from the storage unit 26 and automatically set the image file having the print page setting to be set as the spread image data as the spread image data.

  In this embodiment, the case has been described in which image data that is not set as spread image data is reduced to a half size in S121. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. Whether or not to perform the reduction process may be determined according to the relationship between the size of other image data not set in the spread image data and the size of the spread image data. For example, when the spread image data is twice the size of other image data not set as the spread image data, the size of the divided image data generated by dividing the spread image data, and the spread Since the size of the other image data not set in the image data is the same, the reduction process is not necessary.

  In this embodiment, the case where the spread image data is rotated 90 degrees to the left in S117 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. Whether or not the spread image data is to be rotated and the rotation direction may be determined in accordance with the relationship between the print direction of the spread image data and other image data not set in the spread image data. For example, if the print direction of the spread image data is the vertical direction and the print direction of the other image data not set in the spread image data is the horizontal direction, the print direction of the spread image data is the direction suitable for the spread. Therefore, the rotation process is unnecessary.

  Further, the function of the printer 10 is not limited to the printing function, and may have a scanner function, a copy function, a FAX function, and the like.

  The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

  The printer 10 is an example of a printing apparatus, the PC 20a is an example of a computer, the total page number adjustment process is an example of a first page number adjustment unit, and the spread page number adjustment process is an example of a second page number adjustment unit.

  The control unit that executes S112 is an example of a designation unit. The control unit that executes S117, S121, and S123 is an example of a dividing unit. The control unit that executes S91 is an example of an allocation unit. The control unit that executes S93 is an example of a print control unit. The control unit that executes S149 and S151 is an example of a first page number adjusting unit. The control unit that executes S141, S145, and S146 is an example of a second page number adjusting unit. The control unit that executes S163 is an example of a rearranging unit.

1 Printing System 10 Printer 20a PC
26 storage unit N total number of pages M total number of divided pages K number of times of printing ID1 to ID7 image data ID3a and ID3b divided image data ID7a and ID7b divided image data IDP1 to IDP3 image data for adjusting the number of pages

Claims (7)

Connects to a printing device capable of booklet printing that prints two pages on both sides of the printing paper and forms a booklet by stacking and folding the printed paper into two. Computer
Designating means for designating the image data to be printed as one page in the spread of the booklet from the image data arranged in the order of page numbers;
Dividing means for dividing the image data designated by the designation means into the image data for two pages;
An allocating means for performing an allocating process for allocating the image data after the dividing process to each of divided printing areas obtained by dividing the printing paper;
A program for causing the printing apparatus to function as print control means for printing the image data for two pages on each of both sides of the printing paper based on the result of assignment by the assignment means. The first page in which the image data for page number adjustment is inserted at the end of the page sequence of the image data so that the value of M representing the total number of pages of the image data after the division processing is a multiple of 4 The program according to claim 1, wherein the computer is caused to function as number adjustment means. Of the two page numbers of the image data obtained by dividing the image data specified by the specifying means, when the smaller page number is odd, the image data having the smaller page number The computer is caused to function as second page number adjustment means for performing second page number adjustment processing for inserting one page of the image data for page number adjustment into the immediately preceding page. 2. The program according to 2. The second page number adjustment means includes:
A process of selecting the image data specified by the specifying means in order from the image data having a smaller page number;
It is determined whether or not the second page number adjustment process is performed on the selected image data. When the second page number adjustment process is performed, the image data subjected to the second page number adjustment process is determined. The program according to claim 3, wherein the process of sliding subsequent page numbers one page at a time is alternately repeated. The dividing means includes
A page number next to the page number of the image data designated by the designation means is assigned to the image data increased by one page by the division processing,
The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a process of sliding page numbers after the image data subjected to the division process one page at a time is performed. When the orientation of the image data is a vertical orientation in which the page number advances in the left-right direction in the spread of the booklet, and the binding direction of the booklet is performed by right binding where the right side is bound to the front cover of the booklet, or When the orientation of the image data is a landscape orientation in which the page number advances in the vertical direction in the spread of the booklet, and the binding direction of the booklet is performed by the bottom binding in which the lower side is bound to the front cover of the booklet. ,
The computer is caused to function as a reordering unit that performs a reordering process for replacing page numbers of two pieces of image data obtained by dividing the image data designated by the designating unit. The program in any one of Claim 5 thru | or 5. The dividing means includes
When the orientation of the image data designated by the designation means is the same as the orientation of the other image data not designated, the designated image data is rotated by 90 degrees,
When the area size of the other image data not specified is different from the area size of the image data after the division process, the area size of the other image data not specified and the image after the division process The program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a size scaling process is performed for scaling the area size so that the data area size is equal.

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