JP4502013B2 - Background pattern image generation program and background pattern image generation apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation device, and more particularly to a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation program and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation device that have the effect of suppressing forgery by copying an original.

  The counterfeit copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is combined with the original image of the original as a background, making it possible to distinguish whether the printed document is the original or a copy. Forgery-inhibited background patterns are difficult to identify in the original, but when copied, characters and images of the background pattern appear. By using this, it becomes possible to easily distinguish the original from the copy. In addition, since characters and images of copy-forgery-inhibited patterns appear by copying, if the original is generated by synthesizing the forgery-suppressed copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, the effect of psychologically preventing the copy of the original can be obtained.

  Forgery-inhibited tint blocks are described in Patent Document 1, and according to this description, they are as follows.

  The general structure of a forgery-inhibited tint block consists of two areas: a “latent image portion” in which original dots remain or decrease little by copying, and a “background portion” in which original dots disappear or greatly decrease by copying. That is, the latent image portion has a small density change due to copying and the original image is reproduced as it is, and the background portion has a large density change due to copying and the original image disappears. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern character or image is formed by these two areas, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern character or image is referred to as a “latent image”.

  The two areas of the latent image part and the background part have almost the same density. In the original state, it is difficult to distinguish the characters and images of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern such as “copy” at a glance. Each have different characteristics. When copied, a difference in density between the latent image portion and the background portion is generated due to the difference in density change, so that it is easy to distinguish the characters and images of the tint block formed in these two areas.

  The latent image part is composed of a cluster of concentrated dots to make it easier to read dots during copying (scanning by copying), and the background part is made up of dispersed dots to make it difficult to read dots during copying. . By doing so, the latent image portion has a characteristic that dots are likely to remain after copying, and the background portion has a characteristic that the dots are more easily erased than the latent image portion. Concentrated dots and dispersed dots can be realized by halftone dot processing using halftone dots with different numbers of lines. That is, a halftone dot with a low line number is used to obtain a concentrated dot arrangement, and a halftone dot with a high line number is used to obtain a dispersed dot arrangement.

  In general, a copying machine has an image reproduction capability that depends on the input resolution in the process of reading minute dots of the original to be copied with a scanner and the output resolution in the process of reproducing minute dots read by the scanner with a print engine. There are limits. Therefore, if there are small dots in the document that exceed the limit of the image reproduction capability of the copier, the small dots cannot be reproduced completely in the copy, and the isolated small dots will disappear. . In other words, if the background area of the counterfeit deterrence pattern is created to exceed the limit of dots that can be reproduced by a copier, large dots (concentrated dots) of the counterfeit deterrence pattern can be reproduced by copying, but small dots (dispersed) (Dot) cannot be reproduced by copying, and the latent image hidden in the copied manuscript appears. In addition, even if the dispersed dots in the background area do not disappear completely due to copying, if the degree of dot disappearance is large compared to the dots in the latent image area, a density difference will occur between the background area and the latent image area after copying. Then, a latent image hidden in the copied manuscript emerges.

  In addition, forgery-suppressing tint blocks, a technique called “camouflage” is used to make it difficult to distinguish characters and images hidden as latent images. This camouflage technology is a method in which a pattern with a density different from that of the latent image portion and the background portion is arranged on the entire forgery-inhibited tint block image. At first glance, a camouflage pattern having a concentration different from that of the latent image portion and the background portion is observed. This has the effect of making the latent image more inconspicuous. That is, since the contrast of the camouflage pattern is large and the contrast between the latent image portion and the background portion is small, the latent image is more effectively hidden by the optical illusion. In addition, the camouflage pattern has an advantage that it can give a decorative impression to the printed matter and can create a forgery-suppressing tint block with excellent design. In general, the camouflage pattern is created with two values indicating whether dots are generated or not, and the camouflage pattern is formed by not generating dots of the tint block in an area corresponding to the camouflage pattern. The binary camouflage pattern is described in Patent Document 2. The above is the outline of the counterfeit copy-forgery pattern.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a latent image and a camouflage pattern of a forgery-suppressing tint block. As shown in the enlarged view 10X, for example, the black portion corresponds to the latent image portion LI of the tint block and the white portion corresponds to the background portion BI of the tint block as shown in the enlarged view 10X. On the other hand, in the camouflage pattern 12, as shown in the enlarged view 12X, for example, a black portion CAM is a region where a background pattern dot is not formed, and a white portion is a region where a background pattern dot is formed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an original forgery-inhibited tint block pattern. In the tint block 14, a latent image portion LI and a background portion BI are formed based on the latent image mask pattern 10 of FIG. The latent image portion LI is formed with dots with a low halftone line number (53 lpi) by the dot concentration type dither method, and the background portion BI is formed with dots with a high halftone line number (212 lpi) by the dot dispersion type dither method. . As is clear from the enlarged background pattern 14X, the entire background pattern has a constant output density, but the dots in the latent image portion LI are large dots because they are formed by a screen with a low number of dotted lines, and the background portion BI. These dots are minute dots because they are formed by a screen having a high number of dotted lines.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 16 is formed based on the latent image mask pattern 10 and the camouflage pattern 12 of FIG. 1 except that the latent image portion LI and the background portion BI are excluded from the black portion CAM region of the camouflage pattern. As shown in the enlarged tint block 16X, the entire tint block has a constant output density, and no dots are formed in the camouflage pattern area CAM. In other areas, a latent image composed of large dots is formed as in FIG. A portion LI and a background portion BI composed of minute dots are formed. Since the contrast of the camouflage pattern is large, the latent image (character “duplicate”) formed by the latent image portion LI and the background portion BI having a low contrast is inconspicuous.

  The original forgery-inhibited tint block in FIG. 2 has the same output density of the latent image portion LI and the background portion BI, so that the latent image “double” formed thereby is concealed. This is called high concealment of the latent image in the original.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy of a forgery-suppressing tint block. The copy 18 is formed through a scanning process and a dot formation process by copying, and as shown in the enlarged view 18X, the large dots in the latent image portion LI have hardly disappeared, but the small dots in the background portion BI. Has disappeared considerably. As a result, in the copy 18, the output density of the latent image portion LI hardly decreases, but the output density of the background portion BI decreases considerably, and the latent image “duplicate” appears to float. That is, the recognizability of the latent image in the copy is high.

  The copy 20 is the same as the copy 18 except for the camouflage pattern area CAM. The contrast of the camouflage pattern decreases due to the decrease in the output density of the background portion BI, and the latent image “double” appears to float.

4 is an enlarged view of the enlarged view of the original in FIG. 2 and the enlarged view of the copy in FIG. (A) In the original, the latent image portion LI is composed of dots (halftone dots) with a small number of halftone lines and a large area, and the background portion BI is composed of minute dots with a large number of halftone lines. No dot is formed in the black portion CAM of the camouflage pattern. On the other hand, in (b) the copied material, the size of the large dots (halftone dots) in the latent image portion LI has not changed so much, whereas a considerable number of small dots in the background portion BI have disappeared. . As a result, in the copied material, there is almost no decrease in the output density of the latent image portion LI, the output density of the background portion BI is greatly decreased, and the latent image “duplicate” of the tint block is manifested.
JP 2005-151456 A JP-A-4-170569

  As described above, the anti-counterfeiting tint block is required to be compatible with both high latent image concealment in the original and high latent image discrimination in the copy. On the other hand, when a camouflage pattern is added, it is possible to improve the concealment property of the original, provide a decorative image on the printed matter, and provide a forgery-suppressing tint block having an excellent design.

  However, first, a camouflage pattern composed of binary information indicating whether or not dots are generated in the background pattern has poor pattern expression. Secondly, the camouflage-patterned tint block 16 in FIG. 2 is advantageous in improving the concealment of the original because the contrast of the camouflage pattern is high and the latent image is difficult to distinguish, but conversely the contrast is too strong and the original image There is a problem that the camouflage pattern is too conspicuous when (printed document image) is synthesized. Third, when the copy 18 without the camouflage pattern shown in FIG. 3 and the copy 20 with the camouflage pattern are compared, no dots are formed in the area CAM corresponding to the camouflage pattern in the latent image “duplicate”. The identification of the latent image of the object 20 is lower than that of the copy 18. That is, the presence of the camouflage pattern reduces the recognizability of the latent image on the copy.

  As described above, when a camouflage pattern composed of binary information is used, it is desired to prevent deterioration of discrimination of the original document and deterioration of identification of the latent image of the copy. In addition, it is desired to improve the expression of camouflage patterns. Furthermore, it is desired that a color image or the like created or acquired by a user can be used for a camouflage pattern.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a program and an apparatus for generating a forgery-inhibited tint block having a high degree of freedom for a camouflage pattern.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a program and an apparatus for generating a forgery-suppressed tint block with a camouflage pattern that can prevent the original printed document image from being degraded while maintaining the concealment of the original latent image.

  Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a program and an apparatus for generating a counterfeit tint pattern with a camouflage pattern that can prevent degradation of the identification of a latent image of a copy.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a tint block image generation step of generating tint block image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion which are reproduced at the time of copying and having different output densities. In a tint block image generation program that causes a computer to execute
The tint block image generation step includes:
A camouflage pattern registration step of inputting multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data and storing the inputted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data in a memory;
For the gradation value of the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on the latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and the background portion screen is displayed in the region corresponding to the background portion. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step for generating background image data based on the image data.

  In the first aspect described above, according to a preferred embodiment, the corrected camouflage pattern data is further corrected by correcting the gradation value of the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data based on the input gradation values of the latent image portion and the background portion. In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step, the corrected camouflage pattern data is used as the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data.

  In the first aspect described above, according to a preferred embodiment, the multi-level camouflage pattern data adjusted by adjusting the tone value of the stored multi-level camouflage pattern data to a lower brightness is generated. An adjustment step, and in the tint block image data generation step, the adjusted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data is used as the multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data.

  In the first aspect described above, according to a preferred embodiment, in the adjustment step, a contrast enhancement process for enhancing the contrast of the gradation value of the gradation value of the stored multi-gradation camouflage pattern data is further performed. Do.

  In the first aspect described above, according to a preferred embodiment, in the adjustment step, for the gradation value of the stored multi-gradation camouflage pattern data, the contrast of the gradation value of the edge portion of the camouflage pattern is calculated. Perform sharpening to emphasize.

  In the first aspect described above, according to a preferred embodiment, when the input multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data is color camouflage pattern data, the gradation values of a plurality of colors included in the color camouflage pattern data are set. A gray gradation value generating step for converting to a gray gradation value is further included. In the tint block image data generating step, the converted gray gradation value is used as the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a tint block image generation step of generating tint block image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion that are reproduced at the time of copying and having different output densities. In a tint block image generation program that causes a computer to execute
The tint block image generation step includes:
A camouflage pattern registration step of inputting multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data and storing the inputted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data in a memory;
An adjusting step for generating multi-tone camouflage pattern data adjusted by adjusting a gradation value of the stored multi-tone camouflage pattern data to a lower brightness;
A synthesis step of generating corrected camouflage pattern data by correcting the gradation values of the adjusted multi-gradation camouflage pattern data based on the input gradation values of the latent image portion and the background portion;
Regarding the gradation value of the corrected camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on the latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and based on the background portion screen in the region corresponding to the background portion. A tint block image data generating step for generating background image data.

  In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect of the present invention is the tint block image generation device according to the first or second aspect.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but extends to the matters described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printing system including the tint block image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The tint block image forming apparatus includes a printer driver program 32 installed in a host computer 30, a latent image portion dither matrix 33, a background portion dither matrix 34, camouflage pattern data 35, and a printer 40. The host computer 30 further includes a CPU, a RAM, and an application program 31, and executes the application program 31 to generate image data (print document image data) including characters, images, graphics, and the like.

  Further, in response to a request from the user, the host computer 30 executes the printer driver 32 to generate the camouflage-patterned tint block data 37. When a print request is received from the user for the image data generated by the application 31, the printer driver 32 generates print job data of the image data 36 based on a printer control language that can be interpreted by the printer device 40. If the print request includes adding copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data to the image data, the print job data includes the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 37 and transmits it to the interface IF of the printer 40.

  The image data 36 can take various forms, for example, data described in a page description language, data expanded in an intermediate code of a printer, or RGB bitmap data expanded in pixels. The camouflage pattern-attached copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 37 is image data obtained by screening gradation data obtained by correcting (or modulating) the gradation data of a multi-gradation camouflage pattern with the input gradation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern using the dither matrices 33 and 34. . Further, the camouflage pattern-attached copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 37 is image data of any color selected from among a plurality of color materials of the printer 40. When the color material of the printer 40 is CMYK four colors, for example, any of the CMK Such color image data is preferable. In the present embodiment, the camouflage pattern has multiple gradations (3 gradations or more), and the gradation data of the camouflage pattern is binary data of 2 bits or more.

  On the other hand, the printer 40 includes a print engine 46 that generates an image, and a controller 41 that performs predetermined image processing on the received image data 36 and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 37 and further controls the print engine 42. The CPU of the controller 41 executes the image forming program 42 and generates bitmap data expanded into pixels from the received image data 36. If the received image data 36 is in the form of bitmap data, the bitmap data can be used as it is.

  When the image data 36 is composed of RGB gradation value data, the color conversion unit 43 performs color conversion to CMYK gradation value data. Then, the combining unit 44 selects the bitmap data of the color (any of CMK) selected as the background pattern color from the CMYK bitmap data of the color-converted image data 36, the dot data of the background pattern data 37, and Is synthesized. (Synthesized by converting the presence or absence of dots of the background pattern into the maximum density value and the minimum density value of the gradation values of the bitmap, respectively.) For this composition, for example, the image of the image data 36 is added to the image of the background pattern data 37. This is done by overlapping processes. Further, the binarization unit 45 converts the CMYK gradation value data of the image data after the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data is synthesized into dot data in the pixel and outputs it to the print engine 46. As a result, the print engine 46 generates an image in which the image to be printed generated by the application program and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generated by the printer driver 32 are combined. This is the original copy of the background pattern.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the printer driver 32 of the host computer 30 generates the tint block data 37. However, as a modified example, the printer driver 32 generates print job data for designating generation of a tint block and a camouflage pattern in order for the controller 41 to generate a tint block and a camouflage pattern, and the controller 41 of the printer 40 uses the print job data. The ground pattern data with the camouflage pattern may be generated using the latent image portion dither matrix and the background portion dither matrix. The print job data for generating a tint block is data that contains information necessary to generate tint block data with a camouflage pattern, such as designation of characters or patterns that are lost or reproduced during copying, density of tint block, designation of camouflage patterns, etc. It is.

[Overview of tint block generation procedure]
Hereinafter, an outline of the tint block generation method by the tint block image generation device according to the present embodiment will be described. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generating device refers to the host computer when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated by the printer driver 32, and the printer 40 when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated by the image forming program 42. In the present embodiment, similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tint block image generation device corresponds to the latent image mask pattern selected from the default pattern by the user or the latent image mask pattern generated by the user. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data composed of a part and a background part is generated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure for generating the tint block data in the present embodiment. First, the tint block image generation device generates latent image mask pattern data (S1). The latent image mask pattern data is data of the latent image mask pattern 10 of the character “double” shown in FIG. 1, and is composed of data 0 and 1 indicating whether each pixel is the latent image portion LI or the background portion BI. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation apparatus inputs and acquires camouflage pattern data of color or multi-gradation (S2). Color image data such as color photograph data and color image data acquired by the user, or data selected from a plurality of color camouflage pattern data 35 stored in advance in a memory in the host computer 30 is color or multi-level. It becomes tonal camouflage pattern data.

  The tint block image generation device sets the color of the camouflage pattern in response to the selection input of the tint block color from the user (S3). The color of the tint block is selected from any one of CMKs (cyan C, magenta M, black K) excluding Y having high brightness among the color materials CMYK of the printer. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation device further calculates gray gradation value data from gradation value data of a plurality of colors (for example, RGB) included in the color camouflage pattern data, and generates monochrome multi-gradation camouflage pattern data. (S4). Then, the tint block image generation device stores color camouflage pattern data or multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data composed of gray tone values in a memory in response to a registration command input from the user, and registers the camouflage pattern (S5). ).

  When the brightness of the multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data composed of the gray data is higher than the reference value, the tint block image generating apparatus performs an adjustment process for reducing the brightness so as to obtain an appropriate brightness (S6). As a result of making it possible to use color camouflage patterns and multi-tone camouflage patterns that the user has independently acquired, it is necessary to adopt patterns with high brightness. However, if the lightness of the pattern is high, the identification of the copied material is degraded when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with a camouflage pattern is copied. Therefore, the tint block image generation apparatus performs an adjustment process for reducing the brightness of the camouflage pattern. In the adjustment process S6, a contrast enhancement process for enhancing the brightness of the multi-tone camouflage pattern, a sharpening process or an unsharp process for enhancing the brightness of the edge portion of the camouflage pattern, and the like are performed as necessary.

  The multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data is composed of, for example, 8-bit grayscale data for each pixel, and the camouflage pattern can express 256 gray levels exceeding two gray levels. By making the camouflage pattern multi-gradation, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the identification of the original printed document image to be printed in the original, and it is also possible to suppress a decrease in the identification of the latent image in the copy. Furthermore, since a multi-tone camouflage pattern can be used, a printed matter with excellent design can be created.

The camouflage pattern data in the present embodiment is 8-bit (0: black to 255: white) gradation value data for each pixel, and is gray image data expressed in 256 gradations. The camouflage pattern is configured such that the output density is lower as the gradation value is closer to 0 (black), and the output density is higher as the gradation value is closer to 255 (white). Then, the output density DA of the background pattern output for the gradation value A (A = 0 to 255) of the camouflage pattern is as follows with respect to the output density Dmax of the background pattern when no camouflage pattern is added.
DA = (A / 255) × Dmax (0 ≦ A ≦ 255) (1)
become.

  Therefore, when the gradation values of the camouflage pattern are all white (A = 255), the output density DA of the background pattern with the camouflage pattern is DA = Dmax, which is the same output density as the background pattern without the addition of the camouflage pattern. In other words, the output is in an area other than the 16 pattern CAM in FIG. Further, the closer the gradation value of the camouflage pattern is to 255 (white), the smaller the amount of decrease in the background pattern output density Dmax. On the other hand, the closer the gradation value of the camouflage pattern is to 0 (black), the larger the reduction amount of the output density Dmax of the tint block. When the gradation values of the camouflage pattern are all black (A = 0), the output density DA of the background pattern with the camouflage pattern is DA = 0, and the background pattern dots are not formed. That is, the output is in the 16 pattern CAM in FIG.

  As described above, by using a multi-grayscale camouflage pattern, a multi-grayscale camouflage pattern is synthesized with the latent image portion and background portion of the tint block, and binary camouflage pattern data consisting of 1 bit. Compared with, the contrast of the camouflage pattern can be reduced.

  In order to reflect the above-described camouflage pattern on the background pattern, the background pattern image generating device generates corrected camouflage pattern gradation data based on the input gradation of the latent image portion and the background portion (S7). The input gradation of the latent image portion and the background portion corresponds to the output density of the tint block image, and the gradation value determined by default or the scale corresponding to the output density of the tint block image arbitrarily selected by the user. It is a key value. As shown in the above equation (1), the background pattern image with a camouflage pattern is an image obtained by modulating the background pattern image composed of the latent image portion and the background portion with the gradation value of the multi-level camouflage pattern. In other words, it is an image in which the gradation value of the multi-tone camouflage pattern is modulated by the input gradation of the tint block image. The above-described procedure S7 is a procedure for generating camouflage pattern gradation data by performing this modulation processing, and is gradation data obtained by modulating the correction camouflage pattern gradation data.

  Finally, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation apparatus performs screening processing on the corrected camouflage pattern gradation data with reference to the latent image portion dither matrix 33 or the background portion dither matrix 34 according to the latent image mask pattern data, and attaches the camouflage pattern. Forgery-suppressed tint block data 37 is generated (S8). That is, in the area corresponding to the latent image portion, the background pattern image data is generated by referring to the latent image portion dither matrix 33, and in the area corresponding to the background portion, the background pattern image data is referred to by the background portion dither matrix 34. Is generated.

  The latent image portion and background portion dither matrices 33 and 34 are, for example, a threshold matrix, a gradation conversion matrix, and the like, both of which are dither matrices that can be converted into multi-gradation image data. The dither matrices 33 and 34 may be AM screens that express multiple gradations by dot area, or FM screens that express multiple gradations by dot density. However, as the original function of the tint block image, the output density reproduced at the time of copying needs to be different between the latent image portion and the background portion. Therefore, a screen that can realize this is required. For example, the latent image portion and background portion dither matrices 33 and 34 have different numbers of screen lines. Or a dot concentration type matrix and a dot dispersion type matrix.

  Hereinafter, a procedure for generating the background pattern data with a camouflage pattern in the present embodiment will be described in detail.

[Latent image part dither matrix and background part dither matrix]
The latent image portion is formed into an image having a predetermined output density by a plurality of first dots using the latent image portion dither matrix 33, while the background portion is formed using a plurality of second dots using the background portion dither matrix 34. An image having a predetermined output density is formed by dots. In order to enhance the concealment property of the latent image in the original, it is desirable that the latent image portion and the background portion have an image with the same output density.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dither matrix for generating images of the background portion BI of the background pattern and the latent image portion LI. The background portion basic dither matrix DM-BI in FIG. 7A is a dot dispersion type dither matrix having threshold values 1 to 8 for each element of the 4 × 4 matrix. The threshold “1” is assigned to the element at the position of the displacement vector (−2, 2), (2, 2), the threshold “2” is arranged at a position separated from the element of the threshold 1, and the threshold “3-8” Is placed between them. In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image forming process, the input gradation value of the background portion is compared with the threshold value of each element of the background portion basic dither matrix DM-BI. If the input gradation value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, a dot is formed in that pixel. The For the background basic dither matrix DM-BI in FIG. 7A, the input gradation value is set to “1”, and the second dot D2 is formed at the position of the black pixel with the threshold value “1”. Is done. The enlarged view is shown in the background portion BI of FIG. 4A, and the background portion BI has minute dots D2 formed by the number of halftone dots 212 lpi.

  On the other hand, the latent image portion basic dither matrix DM-LI in FIG. 7B is a dot concentration type dither matrix having threshold values 1 to 128 of each element of the 32 × 32 matrix. The threshold “1” is assigned to the pixel at the position of the displacement vector (−8, 8) (8, 8), and corresponds to the center position of the first dot (halftone dot) D1. The threshold values “2 to 128” are distributed in order from the pixel of the threshold value “1” corresponding to the center position of the first dot (halftone dot) D1. In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image forming process, the input tone value of the latent image portion and the threshold value of each pixel of the latent image portion basic dither matrix DM-LI are compared. If the input tone value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, a dot is formed at that pixel. Is done. For the latent image portion basic dither matrix DM-LI in FIG. 7B, an input gradation value “31” is set, dots are formed at the positions of the elements of the thresholds “1 to 31”, and large dots ( A halftone dot D1 is formed. An enlarged view thereof is shown in the latent image portion LI of FIG. 4A, and a large dot D1 is formed with a dot number of 53 lpi.

  As described above, the forgery-inhibited tint block is required to maintain high concealment capability of the latent image by making the output density of the background portion and the latent image portion equal in the original. Further, in a copied material, it is required to increase the difference in output density between the background portion and the latent image portion and to increase the output density of the latent image portion so that the latent image can be distinguished. The large first dots D1 are less likely to disappear in the copy, while the smaller second dots D2 tend to disappear in the copy. As a result, the output density during copying differs between the latent image portion and the background portion.

  However, the image formed by the dither matrixes DM-BI and DM-LI shown in FIG. 7 has an output density gradation number (resolution) in a low output density region used for the background pattern, for example, an output density region of 10 to 15%. ) Is limited. In the basic dither matrix DM-BI for the background portion, the minute dot D2 is formed at the position of the threshold value “1”, so that the background portion is formed with the output density corresponding to it. On the other hand, in the latent image portion forming step, an input gradation value that can generate the same output density as that of the background portion is selected, and the input gradation value is compared with the latent image portion basic dither matrix DM-LI. As a result, an image of the latent image portion is formed. However, since the number of gradations (resolution) of the output density of the latent image portion LI is limited as described above, an output density that matches the output density of the background portion cannot always be formed in the latent image portion LI. .

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the characteristics of input gradation and output density of the background portion basic dither matrix DM-BI and the latent image portion basic dither matrix DM-LI. For the characteristics shown in FIG. 8, for the sake of simplicity, the number of dots formed in pixels having a threshold value equal to or lower than the input gradation in the basic dither matrix and the output density of the tint block image generated by the printer engine are ideal. It is assumed that there is a linear relationship.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generating apparatus uses the latent image portion basic dither matrix DM-LI shown in FIG. 7B as the latent image portion dither matrix 33 and the background portion basic dither shown in FIG. When the matrix DM-BI is used, the characteristics of the output density according to the input gradation value and the corresponding latent image portion image data and background portion image data are as shown in FIG. That is, in the case of the background portion, when the output density OUT includes “0” with respect to the input gradation value IN = 0 to 7, eight output density values can be taken. That is, the number of gradations (or resolution) of the output density from paper white where all pixels are dot off to the maximum output density where all pixels are dot on is 8. Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, in the background portion, for the input gradation value IN = 1, the minute second dots D2 dispersed at the pixel positions of the threshold value “1” of the dither matrix DM-BI. Become an image. On the other hand, in the case of the latent image portion, if the output density OUT includes “0” with respect to the input gradation value IN = 0 to 127, it can take 128 output density values. That is, the number of gradations (or resolution) of the output density from paper white to the maximum output density is 128.

  However, the output density corresponding to the input gradation IN = 1 in the background portion is located between the two output densities corresponding to the input gradation In = 12, 13 in the latent image portion. For this reason, the output density cannot be equal between the background portion and the latent image portion.

  The output density range employed as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is 10% to 15% of the maximum output density. In the range of 10 to 15% output density, the number of output density gradations that can be reproduced by the latent image portion basic dither matrix is about 20 gradations at most. For this reason, by changing the input gradation value of the latent image portion by one step, the amount of change in the output density that can be adjusted becomes larger than a certain level. Therefore, the number of halftone lines in the latent image portion dither matrix can be reduced to reduce the latent image portion. Even if the number of gradations of the output density is increased, it is difficult or impossible to match the output density of the latent image portion with the output density of the background portion with high accuracy.

  In addition, the background dither matrix size can be doubled or quadrupled to increase the number of gradations in the background output density, and the output density of the tint block image can be changed within a range of 10 to 15%. Even in this case, for the same reason as described above, it is difficult or impossible to match the output density of the background portion and the output density of the latent image portion with high accuracy.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the concealment property of the latent image in the original is deteriorated. For the latent image mask pattern “copy” in FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B shows a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image when the input gradation value of the latent image portion is “12”, and FIG. 9B shows the latent image portion. A tint block image when the input gradation value is “13” is shown. In FIG. 9B, the output density of the latent image mask pattern is lower than that of the background portion, and the concealability of the latent image “copy” is lowered. Similarly, in FIG. 9C, the output density of the latent image mask pattern is higher than that of the background portion, and similarly, the concealability of the latent image “copy” is lowered.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the background portion dither matrix and the latent image portion dither matrix are generated based on the basic dither matrix in FIG. A dither matrix having a characteristic of increasing in a low concentration region of about% is adopted.

  FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams showing a low density area expanded dither matrix 33 of the latent image portion and a low density area expanded dither matrix 34 of the background portion employed in the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing output density characteristics with respect to input gradation values of the latent image portion dither matrix 33 and the background portion dither matrix 34.

  The basic dither matrices DM-BI and DM-LI in FIG. 7 are enlarged in size until the number of gradations is sufficient. For example, it is expanded to a matrix size of 128 × 128. However, in FIGS. 10 and 11, a 32 × 32 matrix size is shown for convenience. Then, all the threshold values of the enlarged dither matrix are distributed and diffused so that all the threshold values are different in the order in which dots are generated corresponding to the increase of the input gradation value. This is called a diffusion dither matrix.

  Next, a background portion and a latent image portion for a plurality of input gradation values are printed by a printer using a diffusion dither matrix, and an output density is measured by a colorimeter. Based on the measurement result of the output density, the threshold value is corrected so that an ideal output density characteristic, for example, a linear characteristic, is obtained with respect to the input gradations 0 to 255. This correction is the same as the correction performed in the normal calibration process of the screen gamma table. As a result, a corrected diffusion dither matrix is generated.

  Finally, the low-density area expanded dither matrices 33 and 34 are generated by multiplying the threshold value of the corrected diffusion dither matrix by 15/100 so that about 15% of the maximum output density becomes the maximum value. That is, when the screening process is performed using the low-density area expanded dither matrix, the output density characteristic is such that the output density increases only up to about 15% with respect to the input gradations 0 to 255.

  In the low density area expanded dither matrix 33 of the latent image portion of FIG. 10, threshold values 1 to 7 are given to the elements at the positions of the displacement vectors (−8, 8) and (8, 8), and the gray elements around them are given. Are given thresholds 8 to 254. That is, the black and gray pixels correspond to the maximum size of the first dot D1. A threshold value 255 is given to the other elements. In this case, dots are generated in pixels with a threshold value lower than that for input gradations 0 to 254, but for the input gradation 255, pixels with threshold values are controlled to be dot off. Alternatively, the input gradation 255 is prohibited in the background portion.

  Therefore, by using the low density area expansion dither matrix 33 of the latent image portion, the first dot D1 is displaced from the input tone 0 to 255 in the latent image portion by the displacement vector (−8, 8). , (8,8), the minimum size due to the element at the position, and the maximum size due to the black and gray elements. Since the output density at the maximum size of the first dot D1 is 15% of the solid black, the output density changes from 0 to 15% with respect to the input gradation 0 to 255. Therefore, it has a large number of gradations (254 gradations) in the output density range of 0 to 15%.

  In the latent image portion basic dither matrix DM-LI in FIG. 7B, thresholds 1 to 31 are given to elements that generate the first dot D1 of the maximum size. On the other hand, in the low density area expanded dither matrix 33 of the latent image portion in FIG. 10, thresholds 1 to 254 are given to elements that generate the first dot D1 of the maximum size. That is, the number of gradations (resolution) of the output density is remarkably increased. Therefore, the resolution in density adjustment is increased, and the output density of the latent image portion can be adjusted to the same output density as the background portion with high accuracy.

  In the low density region expanded dither matrix 34 in the background portion of FIG. 11, thresholds 1 to 254 are distributed to the elements at the positions of the displacement vectors (−2, 2) and (2, 2), and other elements are given. Is given a threshold of 255. Also in this case, for input gradations 0 to 254, a dot is generated in a pixel corresponding to an element having a threshold value lower than that. However, for convenience, for input gradation 255, the threshold pixel is set to dot off. Be controlled. Alternatively, the input gradation 255 is prohibited in the background portion.

  If this background low density area expanded dither matrix 34 is used, a minute dot D2 is applied only to the pixels at the positions of the displacement vectors (-2, 2) and (2, 2) with respect to the input gradation values 0 to 255. Are sequentially generated, and dots are not generated for other pixels. Therefore, the background image has only the minute dots D2 dispersed at the position of the number of halftone lines 212 lpi, and no more dots are formed. When the minute dot D2 is generated in all the pixels at the positions of the displacement vectors (−2, 2) and (2, 2), the output density is about 12% of the black solid. That is, in the low density area expanded dither matrix 34 in the background portion, the output density increases or decreases within the range of 0 to about 12% with respect to the input gradations 0 to 255. As a result, a stable arrangement of minute dots that can maximize the characteristics of the background is assured.

  FIG. 12 shows output density characteristics with respect to input gradation values of the low density area expanded dither matrices 33 and 34 shown in FIGS. As described above, the output density characteristic with respect to the input gradation value of the dither matrix 34 in the background portion is in the range of 0 to about 12% with respect to the input gradation 0 to 255. On the other hand, the output density characteristic with respect to the input gradation value of the dither matrix 33 of the latent image portion is in the range of 0 to 15% with respect to the input gradation 0 to 255. In both cases, the output density has a linear relationship with a simple increase with respect to the input gradation value by calibration.

  This completes the description of the background portion and latent image portion dither matrices 33 and 34 in the present embodiment.

[Generation method of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data]
Hereinafter, a method for generating copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data with a multi-tone camouflage pattern according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a method of generating copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data in the present embodiment. The printer user selects a tint block generation menu in the printer driver 32 of the host computer 30 and executes generation of tint block image data according to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the user generates a latent image mask pattern independently, first, the user inputs a word of a background pattern (S10). For example, words such as “copy”, “copy”, and “confidential” are used, and this word becomes a latent image of a background pattern. Further, the size of the tint block word such as 48 points is input (S11), the angle of the tint block word such as 40 degrees is input (S12), and the tint block effect and arrangement are selected (S13). The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern effect is one in which the wording is white (the wording is white and the surrounding is black) or the wording is black (the wording is black and the surrounding is white). In the case of white, the wording becomes the latent image portion around the background portion, and in the case of the relief, the wording becomes the latent image portion and the surrounding portion becomes the background portion. In addition, the arrangement of the tint block includes a square arrangement, a diagonal arrangement, a reverse arrangement, and the like.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the tint block effect. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern patterns 50 and 51 are examples of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern effect in which the wording is “copy” and “copy” and the wording appears. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern patterns 52 and 53 are examples of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern effect in which the wording is outlined with the same wording. In both cases, the wording angle is set to 40 degrees.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of a background pattern. In all cases, the wording is “copy”, the angle is 40 degrees, and the tint block effect is revealed. (A) In the square arrangement, the latent image mask pattern is attached in a tile shape. (B) In the oblique arrangement, the latent image mask pattern is arranged so as to be shifted by a predetermined phase for each line feed. (C) In the reverse arrangement, the latent image mask pattern is arranged upside down at each line feed.

  When the input or selection by the user is completed in steps S10 to S13, the printer driver 32 generates a latent image mask pattern (S14). As shown in FIG. 14, the example of the latent image mask pattern is composed of 1-bit data capable of distinguishing the latent image area from the background area.

  When the user uses the default latent image mask pattern, S10 to S14 are omitted, and the latent image mask pattern is selected by the user.

  Next, the printer driver 32 sets the input gradation value of the tint block image (S16). When the latent image portion dither matrix 33 and the background portion dither matrix 34 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are used, the background portion has an input gradation value of “255” as the maximum value, and the latent image portion has an output of the background portion. An input gradation value In = 170 that matches the density (12% of the solid black) is selected. That is, in the background portion, the input gradation value is set to “255”, so that the black values at the positions of the displacement vectors (−2, 2) and (2, 2) of the background portion dither matrix 34 (FIG. 11) are small. Dot D2 is generated. The output density at this time is 12% of the solid black, and the dispersed second minute dots are generated to the maximum, so that it is optimal as a tint block image. On the other hand, in the latent image portion, by setting the input gradation value In = 170, within the halftone dot region composed of pixels corresponding to black elements and gray elements of the latent image portion dither matrix 33 (FIG. 10), The number of dots corresponding to In = 170 is generated. As a result, a large dot D1 having a size corresponding to the input gradation value In = 170 is formed.

  As shown in the output density characteristics of FIG. 12, the latent image portion dither matrix 33 and the background portion dither matrix 34 of FIGS. That is, the gradient of the output density with respect to the input gradation is larger in the latent image portion dither matrix. Therefore, when the input gradation “255” capable of reproducing the optimum output image in the background portion is selected, the input gradation In = 170 whose output density matches that is selected in the latent image portion.

  The printer driver 32 acquires color or multi-gradation camouflage pattern data in response to a user selection request (S17). Color or multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data is stored in a memory in the host computer or an external memory, and color or multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data is acquired in response to a user's selection request. Then, the selected color or multi-tone camouflage pattern data is stored in the memory and registered.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a camouflage pattern and an example of a tint block image employing the camouflage pattern. The camouflage pattern 54 is composed of a combination of a plurality of rectangular areas, and the gradation value A of each rectangular area is as shown in FIG. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 55 when such a multi-tone camouflage pattern is selected is shown. In this tint block image 55, the output density Dmax (for example, Dmax = 40%) of the tint block image is multiplied by A / 255 by the above-described equation (1). As described above, the output density of the tint block image is further reduced in the area where the camouflage pattern is darker, and the output density of the tint block image is less decreased in the area where the camouflage pattern is whiter.

  FIG. 17 is an example of a camouflage pattern stored in the memory. FIG. 17 shows ten types of camouflage patterns 54. However, since (1) is solid black (tone value = 0), when this camouflage pattern is adopted, the tint block image becomes solid white.

  The gradation value A of the camouflage pattern is gray data as described above. When the camouflage pattern is RGB color image data, the gray gradation value A is obtained by the following equation (2).

A = 0.3 × R + 0.59 × G + 0.11B (2)
As a result of defining the gray gradation value of the camouflage pattern data as “0” for black and “255” for white, the camouflage pattern image based on the camouflage pattern data and the camouflage pattern image reflected in the background pattern are reversed in black and white Become an image. Therefore, in order for the user to be able to select a camouflage pattern in a state where it is reflected in the background pattern, it is desirable that the printer driver 32 displays an image of the camouflage pattern inverted in black and white on the selection screen. The gradation value K of the image data of the black-and-white inverted image is obtained by the following equation (3).

K = 255-A (3)
Further, the printer driver 32 selects a tint block color (black, cyan, magenta, etc.) in response to a user's selection request (S18). The tint block color should be a single color. Accordingly, the gradation value of the camouflage pattern data of any one of the CMKs is set to the gradation value K of Expression (3) obtained by inverting the gradation value A of the gray data as described above. The reason for this is due to the difference between RGB of additive color display and CMYK of subtractive color display. Comparison with the threshold value of the threshold value dither matrix of the latent image portion and background portion described later is performed for the gradation value K or the gradation value of the correction camouflage pattern gradation.

  Next, the printer driver 32 adjusts the camouflage pattern (S19). In the present embodiment, it is possible to use an arbitrary color or multi-tone camouflage pattern acquired by a user by taking a photograph or the like. For this reason, there is a pattern with an image quality that is not suitable for combining with the tint block image, such as the brightness of the camouflage pattern being too high. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the brightness and contrast of the camouflage pattern and the sharpness of the edge. Either the camouflage pattern data after adjustment or the parameters necessary for adjustment is stored in the memory. The adjustment process will be described in detail later.

  When S10 to S19 such as the above input by the user are completed, the printer driver 32 executes a tint block image generation process (S20). The tint block image generation processing is performed according to the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the tint block image generation processing in the present embodiment. That is, the tint block image generation processing S20 of FIG. 13 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, corrected camouflage pattern data is generated by correcting the gradation value of the adjusted camouflage pattern data based on the input gradation values of the latent image portion and the background portion (S21). This procedure corresponds to procedure S7 in FIG.

  The gradation value A (0 ≦ A ≦ 255) of the adjusted camouflage pattern and the input gradation value In (1 ≦ In ≦ 254) of the latent image portion and the background portion constituting the tint block are assumed. First, the gradation value A of the adjusted camouflage pattern is converted to a gradation value K (= 255-A) of subtractive color mixture. The gradation value Ki of the corrected camouflage pattern is calculated by the following equation (4).

Ki = (K / 255) × In (4)
This arithmetic expression corresponds to the above-described expression (1).

  In step S16 of setting the input gradation value of the tint block image in FIG. 13, the input gradation value is set to “255” in the background portion, and the input gradation value is set to In = 170 in the latent image portion. When different input gradation values are set for the background portion and the latent image portion in this way, the latent image portion and the background are determined according to the latent image mask pattern by the calculation of the corrected camouflage pattern gradation data according to the above equation (4). It is necessary to make the input gradation value In to be modulated different from each other. This is because, as shown in FIG. 12, the latent image portion dither matrix 33 and the background portion dither matrix 34 have different output density characteristics.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to simplify the calculation, the input gradation value is shared by In = 170 in both the latent image portion and the background portion. However, the background portion dither matrix 34 is normalized so that the maximum output density (12%) is obtained at the input gradation value In = 170, and screening processing is performed with reference to the normalized background portion dither matrix.

  Alternatively, as described in a modification of the embodiment described later (see FIG. 27), the maximum gradation value (for example, 255) that can take the input gradation value in both the latent image portion and the background portion is set. , The latent image portion dither matrix 33 is normalized so that the input gradation value “255” has an output density (12%) corresponding to the input gradation value In = 170. That is, the input tone values 0 to 170 and the output density characteristics of the latent image portion dither matrix in FIGS. 10 and 12 are normalized to the input tone values 0 to 255. The input / output characteristics of the normalized latent image portion dither matrix are shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, a case where the input gradation value In = 170 is set will be described. In step S21, the gradation value data of the corrected camouflage pattern is calculated based on the equation (4) for the input gradation value In = 170. Then, the printer driver 32 normalizes the background portion dither matrix 34 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 to generate a normalized background portion dither matrix (S22).

  FIG. 19 shows a normalized background portion dither matrix 34N. The threshold values 0 to 254 in the black pixels at the positions of the displacement vectors (−2, 2) and (2, 2) of the background portion dither matrix 34 in FIG. 11 are replaced with new threshold values 0 to 170 ( = In).

Normalization threshold = (threshold / 254) × In (5)
Accordingly, in the normalized background portion dither matrix 34N of FIG. 19, the threshold value in the black pixel is replaced with 0 to 170, and when the input gradation value is “170”, dots are formed in all the black pixels and the maximum output density ( 12% of black solid).

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating input / output density characteristics of the normalized background portion dither matrix, the background portion dither matrix before normalization, and the latent image portion dither matrix. The output density characteristics of the background portion dither matrix 34 and the latent image portion dither matrix 33 are the same as those in FIG. In the above-described example, the input gradation value “255” for generating dots for all pixels corresponding to the elements on the displacement vector is adopted in the background portion, and the input gradation value In that can reproduce the same output density in the latent image portion. = 170 was adopted. Therefore, in order to adopt the input gradation value In = 170 in the background portion, the background portion dither matrix 34 is normalized by the input gradation value In = 170, and the normalized background indicated by the broken line characteristic 34N in FIG. A partial dither matrix 34N is generated. The normalized background dither matrix 34N can be easily calculated by the calculation according to the above equation (5).

  In some cases, the input gradation value In of the latent image portion varies depending on the aging of the engine. Therefore, it is possible to absorb the secular change by generating the normalized background dither matrix 34N using the input gradation value In at the time of change.

  Returning to FIG. 18, with respect to the corrected camouflage pattern gradation data, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data with the camouflage pattern is generated by referring to the latent image portion dither matrix 33 or the normalized background portion dither matrix 34N according to the latent image mask pattern ( S23 to S32). The camouflage pattern-attached copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data is image data indicating the presence or absence of dots for each pixel.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining the tint block image generation processing of FIG. FIG. 21A shows a tint block image in which a plurality of latent image mask patterns 10 are squarely arranged in a print size 60 of A4. In the case of the A4 size, the number of pixels is 4720 dots in the horizontal direction and 6776 dots in the vertical direction. FIG. 21B shows the positional relationship between the latent image mask pattern 10 in the upper left of FIG. 21A and the camouflage pattern 12 arranged in a tile shape. The latent image mask pattern 10 is a square pattern having 2030 dots in the horizontal direction and 2030 dots in the vertical direction. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 21C, the camouflage pattern 12 is a square pattern having 215 dots in the horizontal direction and 215 dots in the vertical direction.

Figure 21 (D) is an enlarged view of the left upper region of FIG. 21 (C). The latent image portion dither matrix 33-4 and the background portion dither matrix 34-5 are both 32 × 32 matrices and correspond to pixels so that they are pasted in a tile shape in order from the upper left. In this way, since the dither matrices 33-4 and 34-5 of the latent image portion and the background portion have the same matrix size, the correspondence relationship with the pixels is exactly the same as shown in FIG.

  Then, the printer driver compares the gradation value Ki of the correction camouflage pattern with the threshold values of the dither matrices 33-4 and 34-5, and if the gradation value Ki is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the pixel dot ON and gradation value Ki. If is less than the threshold, the pixel dot is turned off. However, the gradation value Ki of the correction camouflage pattern is set so that it can take only from 0 to 254. Alternatively, when the input gradation value is 255, uniform pixel dots are turned off. The dither matrix to be compared is selected corresponding to black or white of the latent image mask pattern.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 18, the tint block image generation processing will be described. The pixel indexes i and j are initialized to i = 0 and j = 0, respectively (S23). If the latent image mask pattern is black at pixel (i, j) (YES in S28), the threshold value of the corresponding pixel in the latent image portion dither matrix 33 is compared with the corrected camouflage pattern gradation value Ki (S29). If the image portion mask pattern is not black (NO in S28), the threshold value of the corresponding pixel in the normalized background portion dither matrix 34N is compared with the corrected gradation value Ki (S31). In any comparison, when the corrected gradation value Ki is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the output image (i, j) is dot ON (S30), and when the corrected gradation value Ki is less than the threshold value, the output image (i, j) is The dot is turned off (S32).

  As a result, the first dot (halftone dot) having a size corresponding to the corrected camouflage pattern gradation value Ki is generated in the latent image portion, and the number of second dots corresponding to the corrected gradation value Ki is corresponding in the background portion. It is generated in the pixel at the position.

  When the above processing is completed, the pixel row index j is incremented (j = j + 1) (S24), and the same processing is repeated until the index j reaches the print size width (S25). When the index j reaches the print size width (YES in S25), the index i in the column direction is incremented (i = i + 1) and the index j in the row direction is reset to 0 (S26), and the same processing is repeated. When the index i in the column direction reaches the print size height (YES in S27), the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation processing for one page is completed. In this way, the processing target pixel moves from the upper left in the raster scan direction, and each pixel is turned ON or OFF.

  Through the above processing, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data reflecting a multi-tone camouflage pattern is generated.

[Concrete example]
Generation of a tint block image with a multi-grayscale camouflage pattern in the present embodiment will be described with a specific example.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a latent image mask pattern. A latent image mask pattern 10 is formed in a 32 × 32 matrix. The pattern 10A corresponds to the latent image portion, and the pattern other than the pattern 10A corresponds to the background portion. Therefore, the matrix data of the latent image mask pattern has 1 bit of “0” (latent image portion) or “1” (background portion) in each pixel of the 32 × 32 matrix.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a camouflage pattern. In the camouflage pattern 12, the pixels in the 32 × 32 matrix have nine stripe-shaped regions 12A to 12I. The gradation values K of the regions 12A to 12I are as illustrated. That is, the areas 12A, 12E, and 12I are white areas having a gradation value “255”, and the areas 12B and 12H are areas that are closest to black with the gradation value “64”.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a corrected camouflage pattern gradation value. The corrected camouflage pattern gradation value data 120 is obtained by the above-described equation (4). In this example, the tone value data is obtained by correcting the camouflage pattern of FIG. 23 based on the input tone value In = 170 of the tint block image. In FIG. 24, the latent image mask pattern 10A is shown in gray, and the camouflage pattern regions 12A to 12I are shown divided by broken lines. The gradation value Ki of the correction camouflage pattern is shown in FIG. 24 with respect to the gradation value K of the camouflage pattern shown in FIG.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tint block image with a camouflage pattern. This is because the gradation value Ki of the corrected camouflage pattern shown in FIG. 24 is obtained as a result of screen processing with reference to the latent image portion dither matrix 33 and the normalized background portion dither matrix 34N in FIGS. This is the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 16. In the figure, camouflage pattern areas 12A to 12I are indicated by alternate long and short dash lines, and the latent image mask pattern 10A is indicated by broken lines.

  In the latent image mask pattern 10A, the first dot D1 corresponding to the correction gradation Ki = 170 in the region 12E, and the first dot D1 corresponding to the correction gradation Ki = 128,85 in the regions 12D, 12C, 12F, and 12G. Is formed. Outside the latent image mask pattern 10A, in the region 12A, the second dots D2 for the correction gradation Ki = 170 are formed on all the displacement vectors, and the other regions 12B, 12C, 12D, 12F, 12G, and 12H. However, the second dots D2 for the correction gradations Ki = 43, 85, 128, 128, 85, and 43 are formed.

  As shown in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, by adopting a multi-tone camouflage pattern, dots having a density or size corresponding to the gradation value of the camouflage pattern are formed in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image.

  FIG. 26 shows an example of a tint block image in the case of a conventional two-tone camouflage pattern. In the conventional two-tone camouflage pattern, only the areas 12A, 12E, and 12I with dots and the areas 12X and 12Y without dots exist. That is, there are no intermediate gradation regions 12B, 12C, 12D, 12F, 12G, and 12H. Therefore, no dots are formed in the regions 12X and 12Y.

[Modification example]
FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the input / output density characteristics of the background portion dither matrix and the normalized latent image portion dither matrix in the modified example of the present embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the screen processing is performed with reference to the normalized background portion dither matrix 34N and the latent image portion dither matrix 33 shown in FIG. 27, the background portion dither matrix 34 is the same as that in FIG. 12, but the normalized latent image portion dither matrix 33N has an output density (12%) with respect to the input tone value “170” of the maximum input tone value “255”. It has been normalized to become.

  The normalization formulas are as shown in the following formulas (6) and (7).

Normalization threshold = (threshold / In) × 254 (1 ≦ threshold ≦ In) (6)
Normalization threshold = 255 (if In <threshold) (7)
That is, the threshold values 1 to In (= 170) in the latent image portion dither matrix 33 in FIG. 10 are converted into normalized threshold values 1 to 254, and the threshold values In to 254 are converted into normalized threshold values “255”. As a result, image data having an output density in the range of 0 to 12% with respect to the gradation value Ki is generated.

When the background portion dither matrix 34 and the normalized latent image portion dither matrix 33N of FIG. 27 are used, the input gradation value In of the tint block image is set to In = 255. In other words, the background pattern and the latent image portion of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image have an output density of 12%. As a result, the above-described equation (4) is obtained when Ki = (K / 255) × In = K when In = 255.
Thus, the gradation value Ki of the camouflage pattern after correction is equal to the gradation value K of the camouflage pattern before correction.

  That is, the step of calculating the gradation value of the corrected camouflage pattern (S3 in FIG. 6 and S21 in FIG. 18) is not necessary. The gradation value Ai of the camouflage pattern after correction is one of the maximum gradation ranges 0 to 255. Therefore, the multi-tone expression of the camouflage pattern can be utilized to the maximum.

  However, the latent image portion dither matrix 33N and the background portion dither matrix 34 have the same output density characteristics with respect to the range 0 to 255 that the input gradation value can take, and the latent image portion and background portion of the tint block image are input. It is necessary that the gradation value In be the maximum input gradation value “255” within the range that the input gradation values of the latent image portion dither matrix and the background portion dither matrix can take. In other words, if the dither matrix of the latent image portion and the background portion is designed so that the optimum output density is obtained at the maximum input gradation value In = 255 as described above, the latent value of the camouflage pattern gradation value is set. By performing halftone processing that refers to these dither matrices in accordance with the image mask pattern, a multi-grayscale camouflage-pattern copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be generated.

  As the normalized dither matrix 34N in FIG. 20 and the normalized dither matrix 33N in FIG. 27, those generated based on engine characteristics at the time of factory shipment are adopted. However, when the output density characteristics of the engine change over time, it is desirable to normalize each time when generating a tint block image at an appropriate timing.

[Experimental example]
FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an experimental example of a multi-tone camouflage pattern. This multi-gradation camouflage pattern 12 has an intermediate gradation. However, as described above, when reflected in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the camouflage pattern 13 is reversed black and white. 12X and 13X are enlarged views, respectively.

  FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an experiment example of an original copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and a copy that reflect the multi-tone camouflage pattern of FIG. FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of the enlarged views 16X and 20X. As shown in the original 16 in FIG. 29A, the contrast of the multi-tone camouflage pattern is suppressed, so that the discriminability of the original printed document image is hardly impaired. Further, as shown in the copy 20 in FIG. 29B, the latent image “duplicate” is reproduced more faithfully in the copy by the multi-tone camouflage pattern, and the identification of the latent image in the copy is improved. Can do. By comparing the original 16 of FIG. 2 with the copy 20 of FIG. 3, the above effect can be understood more clearly.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a three-dimensional pattern can be expressed by using a multi-tone camouflage pattern, and the expression power and flexibility of the camouflage pattern can be greatly improved. Can do. In addition, the camouflage pattern can be adjusted so as to reduce the contrast, and when combined with the printed document image, the discriminability is hardly lowered by the camouflage pattern. Furthermore, in a copy of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, it is possible to leave a dot corresponding to the gradation value of the camouflage pattern in both the latent image portion and the background portion. be able to.

[Any color or multi-tone camouflage pattern]
In this embodiment, a color or multi-gradation camouflage pattern arbitrarily acquired by a user through photography or computer graphics can be registered, and can be combined with a background pattern. By installing such a camouflage pattern function in the printer, the degree of freedom of the camouflage pattern increases and the convenience of the user increases.

  However, as the degree of freedom of the camouflage pattern increases, it may be required to register a pattern that is not suitable for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. In order to make it possible to accept camouflage pattern data of any color or multi-gradation. Is required. In the following, we will describe the expected problems when accepting camouflage patterns of any color.

  First, an example of a dither matrix corresponding to the screen of the background portion and the latent image portion used for generating the background pattern image with a camouflage pattern shown below will be described. The characteristics of the input tone value and output density of the dither matrix of the background portion and the latent image portion are the same as those of the dither matrix 34 and 33N shown in FIG. 27, and the input tone value In of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is In = 255. The latent image portion dither matrix 33N is a normalized threshold value matrix.

  FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the background portion dither matrix 34. The background portion dither matrix 34 is a dot dispersion type dither matrix having a high screen line number (71 lpi) in which small dots D2-1 and D2-2 are dispersed, as in FIG. 7A. However, unlike FIG. 7A, the background portion dither matrix 34 is a 24 × 24 matrix, and the generated small dots are composed of relatively large small dots D2-1 consisting of 4 pixels and 1 pixel. There are relatively small small dots D2-2. By making it possible to generate relatively large small dots D2-1 in the small dots, it is possible to stably generate small dots in the background portion. However, since the small dots D2-1 and D2-2 each have a smaller area than the large dot D1 in the latent image portion described later, the extent of disappearance during copying is larger than the large dot D1 in the latent image portion.

  The background portion dither matrix 34 has the same characteristics as the output density characteristics with respect to the input gradation value In shown in FIG. That is, with respect to the input gradation value In = 0 to 255, the output density is in the density range of 0 to 12% of solid black.

  FIG. 32 shows the latent image portion dither matrix 33N. The latent image portion dither matrix 33N is a dot concentration type dither matrix having a low screen line number (53 lpi) for generating the large dot D1. The latent image portion dither matrix 33N is a threshold value matrix obtained by normalizing the low density area expanded dither matrix 33 shown in FIG. 10 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the output density characteristic of the latent image portion dither matrix 33N with respect to the input gradation value In is 0 to 12% of the black solid with respect to the input gradation value In = 0 to 255. This characteristic is the same as the background portion dither matrix 34 of FIG. Furthermore, the size of the large dot D1 generated by the latent image portion dither matrix 33N is normalized as shown in FIG. 27B, so that it is smaller than that of FIG. However, since the large dot D1 in the latent image portion is larger than the small dots D2-1 and D2-2 in the background portion in FIG. 31, compared to the background portion, the disappearance of the dots at the time of copying the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is small. Few.

  FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a tint block image example (1) when an arbitrary color camouflage pattern is used. In this example, in the latent image pattern 101 of the character “copy”, the black portion is set as the latent image portion and the white portion is set as the background portion. The color camouflage pattern 121 employs color landscape photograph data. This color camouflage pattern 121 is an image in which the sky part is relatively bright. FIG. 33 shows a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 161 and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image copy 201.

  In this embodiment, when the color camouflage pattern data is registered, the gray gradation value A is obtained by the above-described equation (2), the background gradation input gradation value In is set to In = 255, and the gray gradation value A is obtained. The corrected gradation value Ki (= K) is obtained from the gradation value K obtained by inverting the above-described expression (4), and the gradation value Ki is compared with the threshold value of the dither matrix shown in FIGS. To generate the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data with a camouflage pattern.

  When monochrome multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data is registered, the tone value K obtained by inverting the gray tone value A is corrected by equation (4) based on the input tone value In = 255 of the background pattern. The gradation value Ki is obtained, and the gradation value Ki is compared with the threshold value of the dither matrix shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 to generate the presence / absence of dots, thereby generating the tint block image data with the camouflage pattern.

  Since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image original 161 in FIG. 33 uses a camouflage pattern, the latent image “copy” is highly concealed, and since it is a multi-level camouflage pattern, the contrast is low, and the discriminability of the original printed document image is It does not decline. However, since the brightness of a part of the camouflage pattern is too high, the dot size generated in both the latent image portion and the background portion is small as shown in the enlarged view 161X of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image original 161. That is, no large dots are generated in the latent image portion. As a result, as shown in the enlarged view 201X of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 201, the degree of disappearance of dots in the latent image portion and the background portion becomes equal, and the density difference between the latent image portion and the background portion is suppressed, The identification of the latent image “copy” in the copy 201 is reduced.

  FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a tint block image example (2) when an arbitrary color camouflage pattern is used. Also in this example, the same latent image pattern 101 as in FIG. 34 is used. However, the color camouflage pattern 122 is a dark landscape image as a whole and has a low contrast as a whole. Since the camouflage pattern 122 has a low brightness, in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image original 162, as shown in the enlarged view 162X, many small dots are generated in the background portion and large dots are generated in the latent image portion. Therefore, in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image copy 202, the density reduction of the background portion is large and the density reduction of the latent image portion is small according to the difference in dot size. That is, the distinguishability of the latent image “copy” of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image copy 202 is high.

  However, in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image original 161 of FIG. 34, the contrast of the camouflage pattern 122 is weak, so that the concealability of the latent image “copy” of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image original is lowered. In addition, the camouflage pattern with low contrast gives an unpleasant impression from the viewpoint of the design of the original copy-forgery-inhibited pattern.

  This embodiment solves the problems in FIGS. 33 and 34. When an arbitrary color or multi-grayscale camouflage pattern is used, the background pattern original is highly concealed, the camouflage pattern has a high design, and the background pattern is copied. Provides optimum tint block image quality with high object discrimination.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 13, in the present embodiment, the printer driver 32 has a function of converting color data into gray data in response to permitting the use of an arbitrary color or multi-tone camouflage pattern. (S4) and a camouflage pattern adjustment function (S6, S19). This camouflage pattern adjustment function includes (1) the function of reducing the brightness when the brightness of the camouflage pattern is higher than the reference value, (2) the function of increasing the overall contrast of the camouflage pattern, and (3) the edge of the camouflage pattern. It has a function (or a sharpening function or an unsharp function) for increasing the contrast of the portion. The functions (2) and (3) are selected according to the camouflage pattern image type. Alternatively, the selection is made by designating an adjustment parameter by the user.

  FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining the function of increasing the brightness and reducing the overall contrast. It is description of the function of said (1) and the function of (2). As described above, the color or multi-gradation camouflage pattern is desired to have a low brightness to obtain the optimum tint block image quality. However, if the lightness is low, the lightness difference of the camouflage pattern in the original copy-forgery-inhibited pattern tends to be small, the contrast tends to be weak, and the camouflage pattern becomes inconspicuous. In other words, a decrease in lightness impairs the design of the original tint block and reduces the concealment of the latent image of the original tint block. Therefore, in order to improve the design and concealment of the original copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, adjustments that increase the contrast of the camouflage pattern are required.

  As adjustment of the camouflage pattern for improving the tint block image quality, contrast correction is performed by the following equation (9), and brightness reduction correction is further performed by equation (8).

  FIG. 35A shows the brightness reduction correction table of Expression (8), and FIG. 35B shows the contrast correction table of Expression (9). In either case, the horizontal axis represents the input gray gradation value Gray (equivalent to the above-described gray gradation value A), and the vertical axis represents the converted output gray gradation value Gray. In the above equation (9), for the gray gradation value Gray, based on the contrast index fa defined by the contrast parameter C (0 ≦ C ≦ 50) and the inflection points x1 and x2, the high gray gradation value is Higher and lower gray tone values are corrected lower. The contrast parameter C = 50 is the strongest contrast correction. The larger the contrast parameter C, the stronger the contrast correction. In contrast parameter C = 0, the input and output have a linear relationship, and no contrast correction is performed. According to the equation (9), when the input gray gradation value Gray is 0 to x1, gradation value conversion is performed by a cubic curve, and when the gray gradation value Gray is x1 to x2, the gradation value is represented by a linear line of the gradient fa. Conversion is performed, and when the gray gradation value Gray is x2 to 255, gradation value conversion is performed using a cubic curve.

  The gradation value Gray_C subjected to contrast correction by Expression (9) is subjected to lightness reduction correction by Expression (8), and the gradation value Gray_V subjected to contrast correction and lightness correction is obtained. When the lightness parameter V = 100, the lightness reduction is not corrected. The lightness parameter V is corrected to be lower as the lightness parameter V is smaller, and the lightness is corrected to 40% when the lightness parameter V = 40.

  FIG. 35C shows a composite gradation conversion table for simultaneously performing contrast correction and brightness reduction correction when the contrast parameter C and the brightness parameter V are set to certain values. In the figure, a conversion table when C = 10 and V = 80 and a conversion table when C = 30 and V = 55 are shown. Setting C = 0 enables no contrast correction, and setting V = 0 allows no brightness reduction correction.

  FIG. 36 is a diagram showing camouflage pattern data subjected to overall contrast correction and brightness correction, and a tint block image using the camouflage pattern data. In this example, the color camouflage pattern data registered in FIG. 33 is adjusted with the composite gradation conversion table of C = 30 and V = 55 in FIG. 35C to generate a camouflage-pattern copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. That is, the color camouflage pattern data is converted into a gray gradation value Gray, and is converted into a gradation value (Gray_V) using a combined gradation conversion table with C = 30 and V = 55, and an adjusted camouflage pattern 123 is generated. . The camouflage pattern 123 is corrected to have a low brightness as a whole, and the overall contrast is enhanced.

  The gray gradation value Gray_V of the camouflage pattern 123 is inverted to the gradation value K (= 255−Gray_V), and the gradation value K is corrected with the input gradation value In = 255 of the tint block image (Ki = (K / 255)). XIn), and the corrected gradation value Ki is compared with the threshold values of the background portion and latent image portion dither matrices 34 and 33N shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 to generate the original tint block image 163.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original 163 has an enhanced contrast of the camouflage pattern 123, so that it is discriminable even when it is dark as a whole, the concealment property of the latent image is enhanced, and the design property is also excellent. Furthermore, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 203 has the lightness of the camouflage pattern 123 corrected as a whole, dots larger than the small dots in the background portion are formed in the latent image portion, and the density change during copying is different from that in the latent image portion. The difference between the background portion and the latent image “copy” on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern copy 203 is higher.

  However, the design property of the camouflage pattern and the concealment property of the latent image in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original 163 are equivalent to those in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original 162 in FIG. 34, and further improvement is desired.

  Therefore, the second camouflage pattern adjustment method uses the lightness reduction function (1) described above and the function (3) that increases the contrast of the edge portion of the camouflage pattern (or sharpening function or unsharp function). To do.

  FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining the function of increasing the contrast of the edge portion of the camouflage pattern. It is a figure explaining the function of said (3). The above-described contrast correction of the entire camouflage pattern is easy to process, but the correction reduces the number of gradations in the bright and dark areas, and conversely generates areas where the contrast is impaired. Therefore, the camouflage pattern can be more appropriately adjusted by enhancing the contrast of the edge portion, which is a characteristic portion of the image, by the function (3).

  That is, the human eye has a characteristic that the sensitivity is high for the edge portion where the brightness of the image changes greatly, and the sensitivity is low for the portion where the change in brightness is flat. Therefore, if the contrast of the edge portion of the multi-tone camouflage pattern is emphasized, the contrast of the camouflage pattern of the original tint block appears high to the human eye, and the concealability of the latent image in the original tint block can be enhanced. Furthermore, emphasizing the edge of the camouflage pattern will reproduce the features of the camouflage pattern more faithfully, leading to improved design.

  Specifically, for a pixel of interest with a gray camouflage pattern, the extent to which the pixel of interest differs from the surrounding region is detected, and the difference is emphasized to enhance the edge region, that is, sharpen it. . The sharpening calculation formula is as follows.

  According to the above equation (10), as shown in FIG. 37 (a), with respect to the gradation value Gray_V subjected to the brightness reduction correction, the gradation value of the target pixel Gray_V (i, j) and the surrounding 7 The difference between the mean value of the gradation values of the × 7 pixels and the mean is obtained, and is enhanced (multiplied) according to the enhancement parameter STRENGTH and added to the original gradation value Gray_V (i, j). Moreover, said Formula (11) is a formula which calculates | requires an average value. As a result of these calculations, as shown in FIG. 37 (b), in the edge portion, low gradation value pixels on both sides of the edge are converted to lower gradation values, and high gradation value pixels are converted to higher gradation values. The contrast of edges is enhanced. In FIG. 37B, the horizontal axis represents the x and y directions of the image, and the vertical axis represents the brightness of the image.

  In the above arithmetic expression, by increasing the parameter AREA indicating the size of the surrounding area, the area around the edge can be blurred, and the sharpening can be realized naturally without increasing the emphasis parameter STRENGTH. Note that the number of screen lines used in forming a tint block image is relatively low, so the resolution is low, and even if the parameter AREA is increased to blur the area around the edge, the quality of the tint block image does not deteriorate.

  Note that the sharpening process is also referred to as an unsharp process. For example, “Ohanashi Color Image Processing”, CQ Publisher, Satoshi Hirohiro, details unsharp masking.

  FIG. 38 is a diagram showing camouflage pattern data subjected to contrast enhancement (sharpening) and brightness correction of an edge portion, and a tint block image using the camouflage pattern data. In this example, the color camouflage pattern data registered in FIG. 33 is adjusted with the composite gradation conversion table of V = 60 and C = 0 in FIG. 35C to generate a tint block image with a camouflage pattern. That is, the color camouflage pattern data is converted into gray gradation values Gray, converted to gradation values using a combined gradation conversion table of C = 0 and V = 60 (Gray_V), and sharpened with AREA = 25 and STRENGTH = 2. An adjusted camouflage pattern 124 is generated by performing processing (contrast enhancement processing of the edge portion). The camouflage pattern 124 is corrected to have low brightness as a whole, and the contrast is enhanced only at the edge portion.

  The gray gradation value Gray_V of the camouflage pattern 124 is inverted to the gradation value K (= 255−Gray_V), and the gradation value K is corrected with the input gradation value In = 255 of the tint block image (Ki = (Gray_V / 255). XIn), and the corrected gradation value Ki is compared with the threshold values of the background portion and latent image portion dither matrices 34 and 33N of FIGS. 31 and 32, and the original tint block image 164 is generated.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original 164 in FIG. 38 is superior in design with no gradation collapse (decrease in the number of gradations) in the low gradation region and the high gradation region as compared with FIG. 36, and the edge portion of the camouflage pattern is emphasized. Therefore, the concealability of the latent image of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original 164 is improved. Further, since the brightness is lowered, the copy of the background pattern 204 has high latent image discrimination. Therefore, overall, it is possible to provide a tint block image quality superior to that of FIG.

  In addition to the above-described (1) lightness reduction correction, it is desirable to select either (2) correction for enhancing the overall contrast or (3) correction for enhancing the contrast of the edge portion. In that case, either (2) or (3) may be selected according to the image type of the camouflage pattern. For example, when the camouflage pattern includes a human face or an image generated by computer graphics with smooth gradation, the contrast enhancement of the edge portion in (3) is not preferable. ) Overall contrast enhancement is preferred. On the other hand, when a landscape image is included in the camouflage pattern as described above, contrast enhancement at the edge portion of (3) is preferable.

[Camouflage pattern adjustment process]
In the present embodiment, it is permitted to register a color or multi-tone camouflage pattern arbitrarily acquired by the user and combine it with a tint block image. Along with this, it is required to ensure the consistency of the tint block image composed of the latent image portion and the background portion with respect to the registered color or multi-tone camouflage pattern. The camouflage pattern adjustment process has an automatic adjustment function and a manual adjustment function to ensure such consistency.

  FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a camouflage pattern adjustment process. Corresponding to the adjustment step of step S6 of FIG. 6 and step S19 of FIG. 13, an automatic adjustment step is shown. Further, FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a tint block setting screen of the printer driver, and FIGS. 41 to 43 are diagrams showing screens in the camouflage pattern adjustment process of the printer driver. The adjustment process of FIG. 39 will be described below with reference to these drawings.

  In the tint block setting screen 150 in FIG. 40, a tint block word is selected (152 or 153 in the figure) corresponding to steps S10 to S13 in FIG. 13, and the tint block word size, angle, effect, arrangement, etc. are selected (not shown). Furthermore, the input gradation value In of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is selected (154 in the figure), and the color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is selected (155 in the figure). As a result, the printer driver generates a latent image mask pattern, generates a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on the selected input gradation value and the color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, and displays it on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image display unit 151. The user visually checks the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image displayed on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image display unit 151, and clicks an “OK” button 157 to end the setting. In addition, the user clicks a camouflage pattern setting button 156 when adding a camouflage pattern. In response to this, the printer driver displays the camouflage pattern setting screen 60 of FIG.

  In the camouflage pattern setting screen 60 of FIG. 41, a color or multi-tone camouflage pattern is selected (63 and 64 in the figure). The pull-down box 63 displays a list of camouflage patterns already registered in the printer driver, and the user can select a camouflage pattern from the list.

  Further, when the user wants to newly register a camouflage pattern, the pattern data file stored in the memory in the host computer 30 shown in FIG. 5 is used. By selecting the folder in which the pattern data file is stored and the file name of the pattern data to be selected from the pull-down box 64, the camouflage pattern to be registered can be selected. After the file to be registered is selected from the pull-down box, in response to the user clicking the registration button 67, the printer driver stores the selected camouflage pattern data in the memory as a registered pattern in the printer driver. At this time, the user may be able to add an arbitrary pattern name (name displayed in the pull-down box 63) to the file name.

  In FIG. 41, “Matsumoto Castle” is selected. In response to the selection of the pattern, the selected color or multi-tone camouflage pattern is displayed on the original pattern image display unit 61. In response to the user clicking the registration button 67, the printer driver stores the selected camouflage pattern data in the memory. The stored camouflage pattern data may be gray gradation value data as in steps S4 and S5 of FIG. In that case, the printer driver calculates the gray gradation value of the selected camouflage pattern data based on the equation (2), and stores the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data based on the gray gradation value.

  Furthermore, by clicking either the automatic adjustment button 65 or the manual adjustment button 66 on the camouflage pattern setting screen 60 of FIG. 41, the brightness and contrast of the selected camouflage pattern are adjusted.

  When the automatic adjustment button 65 is clicked, a camouflage pattern automatic adjustment screen 80 is displayed in FIG. According to the flowchart of FIG. 39, the user answers with the image type selection button 81 as to whether or not a human face image exists in the camouflage pattern, and clicks the OK button 82 (S41). In response to this, the printer driver executes an automatic adjustment process. First, the printer driver calculates the gray gradation value of the selected camouflage pattern (S42). This calculation is not necessary when the registered camouflage pattern data is a gray gradation value.

  Then, the printer driver calculates the average gradation value of the gray gradation value data (S43), and determines whether the pattern is bright enough to require lightness reduction processing (S44). In the calculation and determination of the average gradation value, the average value of the gray gradation values of all the pixels of the camouflage pattern is obtained, and it is determined whether or not the average value is equal to or greater than 25% density (reference value) of the black solid. . Or, whether the gray gradation values of all the pixels are more than 25% of black solids and the number of pixels less than 25%, and is the number of pixels more than 25% larger than the number of pixels less than 25%? It is determined whether or not. If it is determined to be bright (YES in S44), the lightness parameter V is set to V = 60 because lightness reduction processing is necessary. On the other hand, when it is not determined that the image is bright (NO in S44), the lightness reduction process is unnecessary, and the lightness parameter V is set to V = 100.

  Further, when a person is included in the camouflage pattern (YES in S47), it is desirable to adjust the contrast of the entire pattern image, so the printer driver sets the contrast parameter C to C = 30 (S48), The gradation value conversion is performed with reference to the gradation value conversion table of V = 60 and C = 30 (S49). As a result, brightness reduction processing and contrast enhancement processing are performed. It is not preferable to perform sharpening processing for enhancing the contrast of the edge portion on the person image because the image quality of the person image is deteriorated.

  On the other hand, when no person is included in the camouflage pattern (NO in S47), it is desirable to perform sharpening processing to enhance the contrast of the edge portion, so the printer driver sets the contrast parameter C to C = 0. (S50), gradation value conversion is performed with reference to the gradation conversion table of V = 60 and C = 0 (S51). As a result, lightness reduction processing is performed, and overall contrast enhancement processing is not performed. Further, the printer driver sets the sharpening parameters to AREA = 25 and STRENGTH = 2 (S52), and performs the sharpening process (S53). Then, the adjusted camouflage pattern image is displayed on the adjusted pattern image display unit 62.

  When the OK button 82 is clicked on the camouflage pattern automatic adjustment screen 80 shown in FIG. 42, the screen returns to the camouflage pattern setting screen 60 shown in FIG. In the screen 60, the adjusted camouflage pattern image is displayed in the adjusted pattern image display unit 62. When the registration button 67 is clicked in the display state, in response to this, the printer driver stores the adjusted multi-tone camouflage pattern data or the adjustment parameters used in the adjustment process (S54).

  The input of the camouflage pattern image type may be whether or not a computer graphics image having a smooth gradation change is included in addition to whether or not a human image is included. In any case, it is necessary for the user to input whether or not the image is unsuitable for performing contrast enhancement processing for all pixels of the camouflage pattern.

  When the manual adjustment button 66 is clicked on the camouflage pattern setting screen 60 of FIG. 41, in response to this, the printer driver displays the camouflage pattern manual adjustment screen 90 of FIG. The manual adjustment screen 90 includes a brightness / contrast setting unit 91 and a sharpening processing setting unit 92. The user can freely set the lightness parameter C and the contrast parameter V with the lightness and contrast setting unit 91. Further, the user can freely set the sharpening process parameters AREA and STRENGTH by the sharpening process setting unit 92. In response to these settings, the printer driver performs adjustment processing and displays the adjusted camouflage pattern image on the display unit 62. The user confirms the camouflage pattern image on the display unit 62, and clicks an OK button 93 if it is determined to be appropriate. In response to this click, the printer driver returns to the camouflage pattern setting screen 60 in FIG. 60 and displays the adjusted camouflage pattern image on the adjusted pattern image display unit 62. When the registration button 67 is clicked in this state, in response to this, the printer driver stores the adjusted multi-tone camouflage pattern data or the adjustment parameters used in the adjustment process (S54).

  When the above camouflage pattern adjustment process is completed, a background pattern image in which the camouflage pattern is reflected is displayed on the background pattern image display unit 51 on the background pattern setting screen 50 of FIG. When the OK button 57 is clicked on the screen 50, the tint block setting process ends. Since the brightness and contrast of the camouflage pattern added to the set pattern is adjusted, the design of the original pattern of the camouflage pattern can be improved even if it is a color or multi-tone camouflage pattern arbitrarily acquired by the user. It is possible to enhance the concealment of the original copy-forgery-inhibited pattern and to enhance the discrimination of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern copy.

  The present embodiment is summarized as follows.

(Supplementary Note 1) In a tint block image generation program for causing a computer to execute a tint block image generation process for generating tint block image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion reproduced at different output densities at the time of copying,
The tint block image generation step includes:
A camouflage pattern registration step of inputting multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data and storing the inputted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data in a memory;
For the gradation value of the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on the latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and the background portion screen is displayed in the region corresponding to the background portion. A computer-readable copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program comprising: a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step for generating background image data based on the computer program.

(Supplementary note 2) In a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program for causing a computer to execute a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation process for generating copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion which are reproduced at different output densities,
The tint block image generation step includes:
A gray gradation value generation step of generating gray gradation value data by converting gradation values of a plurality of colors included in the color camouflage pattern data into gray gradation values;
With respect to the gray gradation value of the gray gradation value data, latent image portion image data is generated based on the latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and the background portion screen is displayed in the region corresponding to the background portion. A computer-readable copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program comprising: a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step for generating background image data based on the computer program.

(Supplementary note 3) In a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program for causing a computer to execute a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation process for generating copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion that are reproduced at different output densities,
The tint block image generation step includes:
An adjustment step for generating multi-tone camouflage pattern data adjusted by adjusting the gradation value of the multi-tone camouflage pattern data to a lower brightness;
With respect to the gradation value of the adjusted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on a latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and background in the region corresponding to the background portion. A computer-readable copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program comprising: a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step for generating background image data based on a partial screen.

(Supplementary note 4) In a tint block image generation program for causing a computer to execute a tint block image generation process for generating tint block image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion reproduced at different output densities at the time of copying,
The tint block image generation step includes:
When the multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data is input and the image type is the first image type in response to the designation of the image type of the multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data, the grayscale value of the multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data Is adjusted to a lower brightness, and the first adjustment is performed to enhance the contrast of light and darkness in all the pixels of the pattern image. When the image type is the second image type, the tone value of the multi-tone camouflage pattern data Adjusting to lower brightness and performing a second adjustment for enhancing the contrast of the edge of the pattern image to generate the adjusted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data;
With respect to the gradation value of the adjusted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on a latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and background in the region corresponding to the background portion. A computer-readable copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program comprising: a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step for generating background image data based on a partial screen.

(Supplementary Note 5) In a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program for causing a computer to execute a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation process for generating copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion that are reproduced with different output densities.
The tint block image generation step includes:
The multi-tone camouflage pattern data is input, and the multi-tone camouflage pattern data based on the lightness parameter in response to the setting of the brightness parameter, contrast parameter, or sharpening parameter of the multi-tone camouflage pattern data. A brightness reduction process for reducing the brightness of the gradation value of the image, a contrast enhancement process for enhancing the contrast of the entire gradation value of the multi-tone camouflage pattern data based on the contrast parameter, and the sharpening parameter. An adjustment step of performing any one of sharpening processing for enhancing the contrast of the edge portion of the multi-tone camouflage pattern data and generating the adjusted multi-tone camouflage pattern data;
With respect to the gradation value of the adjusted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on a latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and background in the region corresponding to the background portion. A computer-readable copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program comprising: a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step for generating background image data based on a partial screen.

It is a figure which shows the example of the latent image and camouflage pattern of a forgery suppression tint block. It is a figure which shows the example of the original of a forgery suppression tint block. It is a figure which shows the example of the copy of a forgery suppression tint block. FIG. 4 is a further enlarged view of the enlarged view of the original in FIG. 2 and the enlarged view of the copy in FIG. 3. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system including a tint block image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the production | generation procedure of the tint block data in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the dither matrix for producing | generating the image of the background part BI of a tint block, and the latent image part LI. It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the input gradation and output density of background part basic dither matrix DM-BI and latent image part basic dither matrix DM-LI. It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the output density with respect to the input gradation value of a background part dither matrix and a latent image part dither matrix in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the low density area | region expansion dither matrix 33 of the latent image part employ | adopted by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the low concentration area | region expansion dither matrix 34 of the background part employ | adopted by this Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating output density characteristics with respect to input gradation values of a latent image portion dither matrix 33 and a background portion dither matrix 34; It is a flowchart figure which shows the production | generation method of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a tint block effect. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a background pattern. It is a figure which shows an example of a camouflage pattern, and the example of a tint block image which employ | adopted it. It is an example of the camouflage pattern stored in the memory. It is a flowchart figure of a tint block image generation process in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the normalization background part dither matrix 34N. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating input / output density characteristics of a normalized background portion dither matrix, a background portion dither matrix before normalization, and a latent image portion dither matrix. It is a figure explaining the tint block image generation processing of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a latent image mask pattern. It is a figure which shows an example of a camouflage pattern. It is a figure which shows an example of a correction | amendment camouflage pattern gradation value. It is a figure which shows an example of a tint block image with a camouflage pattern. An example of a tint block image in the case of a conventional two-tone camouflage pattern is shown. It is a figure which shows the input / output density characteristic of the background part dither matrix and the normalization latent image part dither matrix in the modification of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the experimental example of a multi-gradation camouflage pattern. It is a figure which shows the experiment example of the original and copy of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image which reflected the multi-gradation camouflage pattern of FIG. It is the figure which expanded the expanded drawings 14X and 16X of FIG. 29 more. 5 is a diagram showing a background portion dither matrix 34. FIG. It is a figure which shows the latent image part dither matrix 33N. It is a figure which shows the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image example (1) at the time of using arbitrary color camouflage patterns. It is a figure which shows the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image example (2) at the time of using arbitrary color camouflage patterns. It is a figure explaining the function which raises the fall of the brightness, and the whole contrast. It is a figure which shows the camouflage pattern data which performed the whole contrast correction | amendment and the brightness correction, and the tint block image using the same. It is a figure explaining the function which raises the contrast of the fall of the brightness, and the edge part of a camouflage pattern. It is a figure which shows the camouflage pattern data which performed contrast emphasis (sharpening) and the brightness correction of the edge part, and a tint block image using the same. It is a flowchart figure which shows the adjustment process of a camouflage pattern. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a tint block setting screen of a printer driver. It is a figure which shows the screen in the camouflage pattern adjustment process of a printer driver. It is a figure which shows the screen in the camouflage pattern adjustment process of a printer driver. It is a figure which shows the screen in the camouflage pattern adjustment process of a printer driver.

Explanation of symbols

16: Original 20: Copy LI: Latent image portion BI: Background portion 16X: Enlarged image of original 20X: Enlarged image of copy 33: Latent image portion dither matrix 34: Background portion dither matrix

Claims (12)

In a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program for causing a computer to execute a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation process for generating copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion, which are reproduced with different output densities,
The tint block image generation step includes:
A camouflage pattern registration process for receiving multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data and storing the inputted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data in a memory;
For the gradation value of the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on the latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and the background portion screen is displayed in the region corresponding to the background portion. A computer-readable copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program comprising: a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step for generating background image data based on the computer program. In claim 1,
Furthermore, it has a synthesis step of generating corrected camouflage pattern data by correcting the gradation value of the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data based on the input gradation values of the latent image portion and the background portion,
In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step, the corrected camouflage pattern data is used as the multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data. In claim 1,
And an adjusting step for generating adjusted multi-gradation camouflage pattern data by adjusting a gradation value of the stored multi-gradation camouflage pattern data to a lower brightness,
In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step, the adjusted multi-tone camouflage pattern data is used as the multi-tone camouflage pattern data. In claim 3,
The tint block image generation program characterized in that, in the adjustment step, a contrast enhancement process for enhancing the contrast of the gradation value is further performed on the gradation value of the stored multi-gradation camouflage pattern data. In claim 3,
In the adjusting step, the tint block image further includes sharpening processing for enhancing the contrast of the gradation value of the edge portion of the camouflage pattern for the gradation value of the stored multi-gradation camouflage pattern data. Generation program. In claim 3,
Furthermore, the tint block image generation program characterized by having an adjustment camouflage pattern registration step of storing the adjusted multi-gradation camouflage pattern data in a memory after the brightness adjustment step. In claim 3,
Further, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program further comprising an adjustment parameter registration step for storing the adjustment parameter used for the adjustment in the adjustment step in a memory after the brightness adjustment step. In claim 1,
When the input multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data is color camouflage pattern data, a gray tone value generation step of converting a plurality of color tone values contained in the color camouflage pattern data into gray tone values In addition,
In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step, the converted gray gradation value is used as the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data. In a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program for causing a computer to execute a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation process for generating copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion, which are reproduced with different output densities,
The tint block image generation step includes:
A camouflage pattern registration process for receiving multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data and storing the inputted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data in a memory;
An adjusting step for generating multi-tone camouflage pattern data adjusted by adjusting a gradation value of the stored multi-tone camouflage pattern data to a lower brightness;
A synthesis step of generating corrected camouflage pattern data by correcting the gradation values of the adjusted multi-gradation camouflage pattern data based on the input gradation values of the latent image portion and the background portion;
Regarding the gradation value of the corrected camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on the latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and based on the background portion screen in the region corresponding to the background portion. A computer-readable copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation program comprising: a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation step for generating background image data. In a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation device that generates copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion that have different output densities reproduced during copying,
Camouflage pattern registration means for receiving input of multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data and storing the input multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data in a memory;
For the gradation value of the multi-gradation camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on the latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and the background portion screen is displayed in the region corresponding to the background portion. A tint block image generating device, comprising: a tint block image data generating unit configured to generate background portion image data based on the background pattern image data. In claim 10,
And adjusting means for generating adjusted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data by adjusting the gradation value of the stored multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data to a lower brightness,
The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation means uses the adjusted multi-tone camouflage pattern data as the multi-tone camouflage pattern data. In a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation device that generates copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data composed of a latent image portion and a background portion that have different output densities reproduced during copying,
Camouflage pattern registration means for receiving input of multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data and storing the inputted multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data in a memory;
Adjusting means for generating multi-tone camouflage pattern data adjusted by adjusting a gradation value of the stored multi-tone camouflage pattern data to a lower brightness;
Combining means for correcting the gradation value of the adjusted multi-gradation camouflage pattern data based on the input gradation values of the latent image portion and the background portion to generate corrected camouflage pattern data;
Regarding the gradation value of the corrected camouflage pattern data, latent image portion image data is generated based on the latent image portion screen in the region corresponding to the latent image portion, and based on the background portion screen in the region corresponding to the background portion. A tint block image generation device comprising a tint block image data generation unit configured to generate background image data.