Print data creation method, program, and information processing device

Abstract

To prevent deterioration of the visibility of a label.SOLUTION: An information processing device 1 executes processing for: acquiring the length of each of a plurality of elements to be printed on a medium to be printed (step S102); and generating a print image obtained by arranging the plurality of elements on the basis of the length of each of the plurality of elements so as to make the position of a first margin in the print image to be generated come close to a prescribed position (step S103).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The disclosure of this specification relates to a print data creation method, a program, and an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a printing device that uses a thermal head to print information such as characters and figures on a tape-shaped print medium to create a label (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a printing device is also called a label printer or a label writer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-136473 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When using a label printer to create labels (tags) containing composition information (quality information) and care instructions for clothing and the like, there was a problem that the labels could end up being poorly visible to users because the layout of the printed content was not taken into consideration. For example, when the created label is folded back and sewn onto the clothing and the like, if part of the label (e.g., care instructions) is written across the folded position, the label would be poorly visible to the user.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a technique for preventing a decrease in the visibility of a label. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A print data creation method according to one embodiment of the present invention involves a computer executing a process to obtain the length of each of a plurality of elements to be printed on a printing medium, and to generate a print image in which the plurality of elements are arranged based on the length of each of the plurality of elements so that the position of a first margin in the generated print image approaches a predetermined position. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the above-described aspect, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the label from decreasing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of a printing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of an information processing device and a printing device. [Diagram 3] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which an information processing device creates print data for labels on clothing or the like, displays the data (displays a print image), and transmits the data to a printing device. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart illustrating details of a print image generating process (step S103). [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a generated print image before parts are arranged. [Figure 6] 5 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of parts are arranged in a part arrangement area and a folding margin is determined by the print image generation process illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 7] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an example of adjusting the length of a seam allowance margin. [Figure 8] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating examples of a print image displayed by a preview display and a mark indicating a folding position. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which a clothing label is sewn onto a clothing item. [Figure 10] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image and a mark indicating a folding position, displayed in a preview display of the print image in which each part arranged below the part arrangement area is arranged inverted. FIG. [Figure 11] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image and a mark indicating a folding position, displayed by previewing the print image in which an adjustment margin has been inserted. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a printing system. The printing system illustrated in Fig. 1 includes an information processing device 1 and a printing device 2, which are connected to each other wirelessly or via a wire so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0011] The information processing device 1 is a general-purpose computer capable of communicating with external devices, such as a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, etc. The information processing device 1 executes an application 3 for creating print data, thereby creating print data, displaying the print data (print image), transmitting the print data to the printing device 2, and the like.

[0012] The printing device 2 is a label printer that creates labels by printing information such as characters and figures on a tape-like printing medium 4. The printing device 2 can print information on the printing medium 4 based on print data transmitted from the information processing device 1 to create labels.

[0013] The printer 2 is housed in a device housing formed by a box section 21 and a lid section 22, and includes a transport mechanism for transporting the print medium 4, a printing mechanism for printing on the print medium 4, a cutting mechanism for cutting the print medium 4, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of each mechanism. The printing mechanism prints on the print medium 4 by, for example, a thermal transfer method. The device housing of the printer 2 is also configured to be capable of housing a roll (tape roll) of the tape-shaped print medium 4 wound around a core material such as a paper tube. The printer 2 performs processes such as transporting the print medium 4 unwound from the tape roll, printing on the print medium 4, and cutting the print medium 4 based on the print data. The print medium 4 unwound from the tape roll can be discharged to the outside of the printer 2 from a discharge port 23 formed in the device housing (box section 21 and lid section 22). The print medium 4 printed and cut by the printer 2 is discharged to the outside to create a label.

[0014] The exterior surface of the device housing (box 21) of the printing device 2 is provided with several operation buttons 24 and several indicator lamps 25. The operation buttons 24 include, for example, a button for turning the power on and off, a button for switching wireless communication, and a button for reprinting. The indicator lamps 25 indicate the state of the printing device 2, for example, by turning on, off, or blinking. Note that the printing device 2 is not limited to the external configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, and may be provided with, for example, a keyboard for inputting characters. The printing device 2 provided with a keyboard can print on the printing medium 4 based on the print data transmitted from the information processing device 1, and can also create print data on its own and print on the printing medium 4.

[0015] Such an information processing device 1 and printing device 2 are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other, for example, via wireless communication in accordance with wireless communication standards such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark), or via a transmission cable such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable.

[0016] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of an information processing device and a printing device. The information processing device 1 illustrated in FIG.

[0017] The control unit 101 controls the operation of the entire information processing device 1. The control of the operation by the control unit 101 is performed by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes various application programs such as an OS (Operating System) program and an application 3 for creating print data. The processor reads and executes the programs stored in the storage unit 102. The storage unit 102 stores various information such as the programs executed by the processor, information referenced by the processor during program execution, and generated information. The storage unit 102 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a main storage device, and an auxiliary storage device. The auxiliary storage device is, for example, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0018] The input unit 103 accepts an input operation to the information processing device 1. The input unit 103 includes, for example, a character input device such as a keyboard, and a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch pad. The display unit 104 displays the state of the information processing device 1, input information, and the like. The display unit 104 includes, for example, a dot-matrix display device (for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display, and the like). The display unit 104 may be, for example, a touch panel display in which a pointing device such as a digitizer functioning as the input unit 103 is arranged on the display area of ​​the liquid crystal display. The information processing device 1 equipped with a touch panel display may, for example, omit a hardware keyboard and input characters and the like using a software keyboard that utilizes a touch panel display.

[0019] The communication unit 105 communicates with external devices including the printing device 2. The communication unit 105 includes a hardware interface capable of performing at least one of wireless communication according to wireless communication standards such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy, and wired communication via a transmission cable such as a USB cable.

[0020] The control unit 101 executing the application 3 for creating print data includes, for example, an acquisition unit 1011, a generation unit 1012, and a display control unit 1013, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the control unit 101 executing the application 3 for creating print data creates print data for a label (hereinafter referred to as a "clothing label") that is a label on which composition information, care instructions, and the like for clothing or the like are written and that is expected to be folded back at a position halfway along the length of the label in a direction perpendicular to the width direction and sewn onto the clothing or the like, the acquisition unit 1011, the generation unit 1012, and the display control unit 1013 perform the following processing (operation).

[0021] The acquisition unit 1011 acquires the length (length in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the print medium) of each of a plurality of parts (an example of a plurality of elements) such as composition indication and handling illustration to be printed on the print medium 4. The generation unit 1012 generates a print image in which a plurality of parts are arranged based on the length of each of the plurality of parts acquired by the acquisition unit 1011 so that the position of the foldback margin (an example of a first margin) in the generated print image approaches a position half the length in the direction perpendicular to the width direction of the generated print image (an example of a predetermined position). Furthermore, when the position of the foldback margin in the generated print image is not half the length in the direction perpendicular to the width direction of the print image, the generation unit 1012 adjusts the length (length in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the print image) of the seam allowance margin (an example of a second margin) in the generated print image so that the position of the foldback margin becomes half the length in the direction perpendicular to the width direction of the print image. The control unit 101 can create print data based on the print image generated or adjusted in this way, and transmit the print data to the printing device 2 via the communication unit 105. As a result, when the printing device 2 prints a print image on the print medium 4 based on the print data to create a clothing label, and the clothing label is folded back and sewn to the clothing, etc., a portion of the clothing label (e.g., care instructions) will not be written across the fold-back position, preventing a decrease in visibility of the clothing label. When creating clothing labels, for example, a cloth print medium without an adhesive surface is used as the print medium 4.

[0022] The display control unit 1013 causes the display unit 104 to display a print image and a mark indicating the folding position in a preview display of the print data (print image). The folding position indicated by the mark at this time is also half the length of the print image in the direction perpendicular to the width direction. This allows the user to check the folding position of the clothing label to be created along with the print image, making it possible to provide a display that is easy for the user to use. When the display control unit 1013 causes the display unit 104 to display the print image and the mark indicating the folding position, it may, for example, display the mark indicating the folding position outside the print image.

[0023] 2 are not limited to being realized by individual hardware, and for example, functions corresponding to two or more functional blocks may be realized by one piece of hardware. Also, functions corresponding to one functional block in the information processing device 1 may be realized by two or more pieces of hardware. For example, the control by the control unit 101 of the information processing device 1 may be realized by the above-mentioned CPU and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

[0024] The printing device 2 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, an input unit 203, a display unit 204, a print processing unit 205, and a communication unit 206.

[0025] The control unit 201 controls the overall operation of the printing device 2. The control of the operation by the control unit 201 is performed by a processor such as a CPU that executes, for example, an OS program and an application program that controls the operation of the print processing unit 205 based on print data. The processor reads and executes the program stored in the storage unit 202. The storage unit 202 stores various information such as the program executed by the processor, the print data, and control data generated based on the print data. The storage unit 202 includes, for example, a ROM and a RAM.

[0026] The input unit 203 accepts input operations for the printing device 2. The input unit 203 includes, for example, the operation buttons 24 described above with reference to FIG. 1. The display unit 204 displays the state of the printing device 2, input information, and the like. The display unit 204 includes, for example, the indicator lamps 25 described above with reference to FIG. 1. The printing device 2 may include, as one of the input units 203, a hardware keyboard capable of performing operations for character input, and may include, as one of the display units 204, a display device (for example, a liquid crystal display) capable of displaying characters, etc. input via the hardware keyboard.

[0027] The print processing unit 205 performs various processes (operations) related to printing on the print medium 4 based on control information from the control unit 201. The print processing unit 205 includes, for example, a transport unit 2051 that transports the print medium 4, a printing unit 2052 that prints on the print medium 4, and a cutting unit 2053 that cuts the print medium 4.

[0028] The communication unit 206 communicates with external devices including the information processing device 1. The communication unit 206 includes a hardware interface capable of performing at least one of wireless communication according to wireless communication standards such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy, and wired communication via a transmission cable such as a USB cable.

[0029] In such a printing system having an information processing device 1 and a printing device 2, the information processing device 1 can create, display (display a print image), and transmit to the printing device 2 print data for labels on clothing items, etc., and the printing device 2 can print a print image on a printing medium 4 based on the print data for labels on clothing items, etc. transmitted from the information processing device 1 to create labels on clothing items, etc. The process performed by the information processing device 1 at this time will be described in detail below.

[0030] Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which an information processing device creates, displays (displays a print image), and transmits print data for labels on clothing items, etc. to a printing device. Fig. 3 is also a diagram illustrating a method including a print data creation method and a print data display method. The process illustrated in Fig. 3 is a process performed by the information processing device 1 executing an application 3 for creating print data, and is started when an instruction to create print data for labels on clothing items, etc. is input by a user after the information processing device 1 starts up the application 3. The instruction to create print data for labels on clothing items, etc. may be input by the user selecting an option indicating a label on clothing items, etc. from options indicating multiple types of labels displayed on the display unit 104, for example.

[0031] When the process illustrated in FIG. 3 is started, first, the control unit 101 performs a process (part editing process) of editing a plurality of parts to be printed on the print medium 4 (step S101). In the part editing process, the control unit 101 accepts input from the user of the number of parts (at least 2 or more) to be printed on the print medium 4 and the description of each part, and determines the plurality of parts to be printed on the print medium 4. Note that the plurality of parts are printed aligned and printed in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the print medium 4, and are not printed aligned and printed in the width direction of the print medium 4. For example, when "5" is input by the user as the number of parts, the user inputs the description of each of the parts to be printed first, second, third, fourth, and fifth from the leading end side of the print medium 4. For example, the logo image of a clothing or other business is input as the content to be printed first, the composition indication (fiber composition) is input as the content to be printed second, a handling picture is input as the content to be printed third, a handling caution statement is input as the content to be printed fourth, and the name of the clothing or other business and contact information of the business are input as the content to be printed fifth. Note that since the content to be printed on each part is input by the user, the length of each part (the length in the direction perpendicular to the width direction of the print medium 4) will vary depending on the content to be printed (the number of characters, image size, etc.).

[0032] Once the multiple parts to be printed on the printing medium 4 have been determined by this part editing process (step S101), the control unit 101 (acquisition unit 1011) then acquires the length of each of the multiple parts (the length in the direction perpendicular to the width direction of the printing medium 4) (step S102).

[0033] Next, the control unit 101 (the generation unit 1012) performs a print image generation process (step S103). In the print image generation process, the control unit 101 (the generation unit 1012) generates a print image in which the multiple parts are arranged based on the lengths of the multiple parts acquired in step S102 so that the position of the folding margin in the generated print image approaches a position that is half the length of the generated print image in the direction perpendicular to the width direction. Specifically, such a print image generation process is performed as shown in FIG. 4.

[0034] Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the details of the print image generation process (step S103). In the print image generation process illustrated in Fig. 4, first, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) generates a print image before parts are arranged based on the lengths of each of the multiple parts acquired in step S102 (see Fig. 3) (step S201).

[0035] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a generated print image before parts are arranged. The up-down direction of the print image 5 before parts are arranged illustrated in FIG. 5 corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the width direction of the print medium 4, and the up-down direction of the print image 5 before parts are arranged corresponds to the direction toward the leading end side of the print medium 4. The print image 5 before parts are arranged has label margins 51a, 51b, seam margins 52a, 52b, and a part arrangement area 53. The label margins 51a, 51b have the same vertical length. The seam margins 52a, 52b also have the same vertical length. The vertical length of the part arrangement area 53 is the sum of the length of each of the multiple parts acquired in step S102 (see FIG. 3) and the length of the folding margin (the length in the direction perpendicular to the width direction of the print medium 4). The vertical length of each of the label margins 51a, 51b, the vertical length of each of the seam margins 52a, 52b, and the length of the foldback margin may be predetermined lengths or lengths determined by a user. However, in the print image 5 before parts are arranged, the vertical lengths of each of the label margins 51a, 51b are the same, and the vertical lengths of each of the seam margins 52a, 52b are also the same.

[0036] In the print image generation process illustrated in FIG. 4, when the generation of the print image before part arrangement (step S201) is completed, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) then performs a process of arranging the multiple parts determined in the part editing process of step S101 (see FIG. 3) in the part arrangement area of ​​the print image before part arrangement (steps S202 to S207). In detail, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) first arranges the part to be printed first from the leading edge of the print medium 4 at the top of the part arrangement area, and arranges the part to be printed last from the leading edge of the print medium 4 at the bottom of the part arrangement area (step S202). For example, if there are five parts, the part to be printed first from the leading edge of the print medium 4 is arranged at the top of the part arrangement area, and the part to be printed fifth from the leading edge of the print medium 4 is arranged at the bottom of the part arrangement area.

[0037] Next, the control unit 101 (the generation unit 1012) judges whether or not there is any part that has not been placed among the multiple parts (step S203). If the judgment result in step S203 is YES, the control unit 101 (the generation unit 1012) compares the length of the part placed on the upper side of the part placement area with the length of the part placed on the lower side of the part placement area (step S204), and judges whether or not the length of the part placed on the upper side of the part placement area is longer (step S205).

[0038] If the determination result of step S205 is YES, the control unit 101 (the generation unit 1012) places one subsequent part adjacent to the upper side of the part placed on the lower side of the part placement area (step S206). On the other hand, if the determination result of step S205 is NO, the control unit 101 (the generation unit 1012) places one subsequent part adjacent to the lower side of the part placed on the upper side of the part placement area (step S207). Note that if the determination of step S205 shows that the length of the part placed on the upper side of the part placement area is the same as the length of the part placed on the lower side of the part placement area, the determination result of step S205 is NO. After step S206 or step S207, the process returns to step S203, and thereafter, the processes of steps S204 to S207 are repeated until the determination result of step S203 is NO (until there are no more unplaced parts).

[0039] Then, when the judgment result of step S203 becomes NO (when there are no unplaced parts), the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) determines the area between the part placed on the upper side of the part placement area and the part placed on the lower side of the part placement area (the area in the part placement area where no parts are placed) as the wrapping margin (step S208), and terminates the print image generation process illustrated in Figure 4.

[0040] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which multiple parts are arranged in the part arrangement area and a folding margin is determined by the print image generation process illustrated in Fig. 4. In this example, five parts are arranged in the part arrangement area, and the parts to be printed first, second, third, fourth, and fifth from the leading edge of the print medium 4 are part A, part B, part C, part D, and part E, as shown in Fig. 6(a).

[0041] 6, first, as shown in Fig. 6(b), part A is placed at the top of part placement area 53, and part E is placed at the bottom of part placement area 53. Next, the vertical length of part A placed at the top of part placement area 53 is compared with the vertical length of part E placed at the bottom of part placement area 53, and since the former length is longer, part D following part E is placed adjacent to the top of part E placed at the bottom of part placement area 53, as shown in Fig. 6(c).

[0042] Next, the vertical length of part A, which is placed on the upper side of part placement area 53, is compared with the vertical lengths of parts D and E, which are placed on the lower side of part placement area 53, and since the latter length is longer, part B, which follows part A, is placed adjacent to the lower side of part A, which is placed on the upper side of part placement area 53, as shown in Figure 6 (d).

[0043] Next, the vertical lengths of parts A and B arranged on the upper side of part placement area 53 are compared with the vertical lengths of parts D and E arranged on the lower side of part placement area 53, and since the latter lengths are longer, part C following part B is arranged adjacent to the lower side of parts A and B arranged on the upper side of part placement area 53, as shown in Figure 6 (e).

[0044] When all five parts have been placed in part placement area 53 in this manner, as shown in Figure 6(f), the area between parts A, B, and C placed on the upper side of part placement area 53 and parts D and E placed on the lower side of part placement area 53 (the area in part placement area 53 where no parts are placed) is determined as the folding margin.

[0045] In the process illustrated in FIG. 3, when a print image in which multiple parts are arranged in the part placement area is generated by the print image generation process (step S103) as described above, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) then determines whether the position of the wrap margin (half the vertical length of the wrap margin) in the print image generated in step S103 is at a position half the vertical length of the print image (which is also half the vertical length of the part placement area) (step S104).

[0046] If the result of the determination in step S104 is NO, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) performs processing to adjust the vertical length of the margin for seam allowance in the print image generated in step S103 so that the position of the margin for folding is half the vertical length of the print image (steps S105 to S107). This makes it possible to obtain a print image in which the position of the margin for folding is half the vertical length of the print image.

[0047] In detail, if the judgment result in step S104 is NO, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) judges whether or not the position of the wrapping margin in the print image generated in step S103 is lower than half the vertical length of the print image (step S105).

[0048] If the result of the determination in step S105 is YES, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) lengthens the vertical length of the lower margin for seam allowance in the print image generated in step S103 so that the position of the margin for folding is half the vertical length of the print image (step S106). Incidentally, the vertical length of the print image also becomes longer accordingly.

[0049] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S105 is NO, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) lengthens the vertical length of the upper seam allowance margin in the print image generated in step S103 so that the position of the foldback margin is half the vertical length of the print image (step S107). Incidentally, the vertical length of the print image also becomes longer accordingly.

[0050] 7A and 7B are diagrams showing examples of adjusting the length of the seam allowance margin. For example, as shown in Fig. 7A, if the position of the fold margin in the print image 6a is lower than half the vertical length of the print image 6a, the vertical length of the seam allowance margin 52b below the print image 6a is increased so that the fold margin is half the vertical length of the print image. This results in a print image 6b in which the fold margin is half the vertical length of the print image.

[0051] 7(b), if the position of the fold margin in the print image 7a is above half the vertical length of the print image 7a, the vertical length of the seam allowance margin 52a above the print image 7a is increased so that the fold margin is half the vertical length of the print image. This results in a print image 7b in which the fold margin is half the vertical length of the print image.

[0052] 3, when the process of step S106 or S107 is completed, or if the result of the determination in step S104 is YES, the control unit 101 (display control unit 1013) displays a preview (step S108) of the print image in which the length of the seam allowance margin has been adjusted in step S106 or S107, or the print image generated in step S103 when the result of the determination in step S104 is YES. In this preview display, the control unit 101 (display control unit 1013) causes the display unit 104 to display the print image and a mark indicating the folding position.

[0053] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a print image displayed by a preview display and a mark indicating the folding position. FIG. 8(a) shows an example of a display of the print image 8 and the marks 9a and 9b indicating the folding position when a print image 8 is generated in which the position of the folding margin is half the vertical length of the print image without adjusting the length of the seam allowance margin. FIG. 8(b) shows an example of a display of the print image 6b (also the print image 6b shown in FIG. 7(a)) in which the position of the folding margin is half the vertical length of the print image by adjusting (lengthening) the length of the lower seam allowance margin. FIG. 8(c) shows an example of a display of the print image 7b and the marks 9a and 9b indicating the folding position when a print image 7b (also the print image 7b shown in FIG. 7(b)) in which the position of the folding margin is half the vertical length of the print image is obtained by adjusting (lengthening) the length of the upper seam allowance margin. In either case, the folding position indicated by the displayed marks 9a, 9b is half the length of the print image in the vertical direction. In other words, the folding position indicated by the displayed marks 9a, 9b is the center position of the length of the print image in the vertical direction, so the word "center" may be further displayed together with the displayed marks 9a, 9b. In this way, by displaying the print image and the mark indicating the folding position, the user can check the folding position together with the print image, and a display that is easy for the user to use is possible.

[0054] In the process illustrated in FIG. 3, after a preview of the print image is displayed (step S108), the control unit 101 creates print data based on the previewed print image (the print image in which the length of the seam allowance margin has been adjusted in step S106 or S107, or the print image generated in step S103 when the determination result in step S104 is YES), transmits the print data to the printing device 2 (step S109), and terminates the process illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0055] In this manner, print data is sent from the information processing device 1 to the printing device 2, and the printing device 2 prints a print image on the printing medium 4 based on the print data, thereby creating a label for clothing, etc. The created label for clothing, etc. has a fold-over margin at half its length in the direction perpendicular to its width direction, so that when the label is folded over at half its length in the direction perpendicular to its width direction and sewn onto the clothing, etc., no parts are printed across the fold-over position, preventing a decrease in visibility of the label for clothing, etc.

[0056] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example in which a clothing label is sewn to a clothing item. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the created clothing label 12 is folded back at a position (part of a fold-back margin) that is half the length in a direction perpendicular to the width direction, and the overlapped seam allowance margin is sewn to the neck of the T-shirt 13, thereby sewing the clothing label 12 to the T-shirt 13. Note that on the clothing label 12, parts A, B, and C, and parts D and E are printed on either side of the fold-back margin, and in the example shown in FIG. 9, parts A, B, and C are displayed on the front, and parts D and E are displayed on the back. In this way, each part is not displayed across the fold-back position, so the visibility of the clothing label 12 is not reduced.

[0057] As described above, according to the embodiment, it is possible to prevent a decrease in visibility of labels on clothing, etc. Also, according to the embodiment, in a preview display of print data (print image), a mark indicating a folding position can be displayed together with the print image, which enables a display that is easy for a user to use when creating print data.

[0058] The above-mentioned embodiment is a specific example shown to facilitate understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. The method, program, and device according to the present invention can be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0059] In the above-described embodiment, in the process exemplified in FIG. 3, when the print image generation process (step S103) is completed, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) determines whether the position of the fold margin in the generated print image is at a position half the vertical length of the print image (step S104), and if the determination result is NO, a process is performed (steps S105 to S107) to adjust the vertical length of the seam allowance margin so that the position of the fold margin is at a position half the vertical length of the print image. However, instead of the processes of steps S104 to S107, the following process may be performed.

[0060] When the print image generation process (step S103) is completed, first, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) determines whether the position of the fold margin in the generated print image is included in a predetermined range. The predetermined range is, for example, a range from a position halfway up and down the length of the print image to a predetermined length in the vertical direction. If it is determined that the position of the fold margin is included in the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if it is determined that the position of the fold margin is not included in the predetermined range, the control unit 101 (generation unit 1012) performs a process of adjusting the vertical length of the seam allowance margin so that the position of the fold margin is included in the predetermined range. In this case, the process of adjusting the vertical length of the seam allowance margin is, for example, determined whether the position of the fold margin is below a predetermined range, and if it is determined that it is below, the vertical length of the lower seam allowance margin is increased so that the position of the fold margin is included in the predetermined range, and if it is determined that the position of the fold margin is not below the predetermined range, the vertical length of the upper seam allowance margin is increased so that the position of the fold margin is included in the predetermined range. With this process, the position of the fold margin is not limited to half the vertical length of the print image, but can be set to a position within a range with a certain width including the position of half the vertical length of the print image. This process is effective in cases where the position of the fold margin does not necessarily need to be half the vertical length of the print image, but only needs to be at least near the position of half the vertical length of the print image.

[0061] In the above-described embodiment, in the print image generation process (step S103 in FIG. 3, and the print image generation process exemplified in FIG. 4), each part placed on the lower side of the part placement area may be placed in an inverted manner. Note that placing parts in an inverted manner also means placing parts upside down (upside down) or rotating parts 180 degrees. In this case, due to such a placement, the print image displayed by the print image preview display (step S108) will be displayed with the parts inverted at the folding position.

[0062] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print image and a mark indicating a folding position, which are displayed by a preview display of a print image in which each part arranged at the lower side of the part arrangement area is arranged in an inverted manner. In the print image 10 illustrated in FIG. 10, the parts H and I arranged at the lower side of the part arrangement area are arranged in an inverted manner, so that the parts (parts H and I) are displayed in an inverted manner with the folding position of the print image 10 (the folding position indicated by marks 9a and 9b) as the boundary. This allows the user to confirm the print image 10 in which the parts are inverted with the folding position as the boundary. In addition, when a clothing label is created by the printing device 2 based on the printing data created based on such a print image 10, and the clothing label is folded and sewn onto the clothing, the user can confirm both the contents of the parts F and G of the clothing label and the contents of the parts H and I of the clothing label from the sewing position side (the seam allowance margin side) to the folding position side (the folding margin side).

[0063] Furthermore, in this manner, if each part placed on the lower side of the part placement area is placed inverted in the print image generation process (step S103 in FIG. 3 and the print image generation process exemplified in FIG. 4), the following processing may be further performed in steps S106 and S107 in FIG. 3.

[0064] In step S106, instead of increasing the vertical length of the lower seam margin so that the position of the fold margin is half the vertical length of the print image, an adjustment margin may be inserted between the part arranged on the lower side of the part arrangement area and the fold margin. In step S107, instead of increasing the vertical length of the upper seam margin so that the position of the fold margin is half the vertical length of the print image, an adjustment margin may be inserted between the part arranged on the upper side of the part arrangement area and the fold margin. In this case, with the insertion of such an adjustment margin, the print image displayed by the preview display of the print image (step S108) will have an adjustment margin between the part arranged on the lower or upper side of the part arrangement area and the fold margin.

[0065] Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating a print image and a mark indicating the folding position displayed by a preview display of a print image in which an adjustment margin has been inserted. In the print image 11 illustrated in Fig. 11, an adjustment margin has been inserted between the parts L and M arranged on the lower side of the part arrangement area and the folding margin, so that an adjustment margin is provided between the parts L and M and the folding margin. Also, in the print image 11, the parts L and M arranged on the lower side of the part arrangement area are arranged in an inverted manner, so that the parts (parts L and M) are displayed inverted at the folding position of the print image 11 (the folding position indicated by marks 9a and 9b). When a clothing label is created by the printing device 2 based on print data created based on such a print image 11, and the clothing label is folded over and sewn onto the clothing, etc., the user will be able to check both the contents of parts J and K of the clothing label and the contents of parts L and M of the clothing label from very close to the sewing position (seam allowance margin) from the sewing position side (seam allowance margin side) towards the fold-back position side (fold-back margin side).

[0066] In the above-described embodiment, the information processing device 1 and the printing device 2 are separate devices, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printing device 2 may be provided with a touch panel display, and a computer of the printing device 2 may execute an application program to perform processes such as creating print data and displaying print data (print image) performed by the information processing device 1 executing the application 3. In this case, the touch panel display provided in the printing device 2 may be used to receive inputs received in the part editing process (inputs of the number of parts to be printed on the print medium 4 and the description of each part), and to display a preview of the print image. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1. Information processing device 2 Printing device 3. Applications 4 Printing medium 5 Print image before parts placement 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8 Print image Marks 9a and 9b 10, 11 Print image 12 Clothing labels 13 T-shirts 21 Hakobe 22 Lid 23 Outlet 24 Operation buttons 25 Indicator Lamp 51a, 51b Label margin 52a, 52b Seam allowance margin 53 Parts placement area 101 Control section 102 Storage section 103 Input section 104 Display section 105 Communications Department 201 Control section 202 Storage section 203 Input section 204 Display section 205 Print processing unit 206 Communications Department 1011 Acquisition Department 1012 Generation part 1013 Display control unit 2051 Transport section 2052 Printing Department 2053 Cutting section

Claims

1. Obtaining a length of each of a plurality of elements printed on a receiving medium; generating a print image in which the plurality of elements are arranged based on the lengths of the plurality of elements so that a position of a first margin in the generated print image approaches a predetermined position; A print data creating method, the processing of which is executed by a computer.

2. adjusting the length of the second margin in the generated print image so that the position of the first margin in the generated print image is the predetermined position; 2. The print data creating method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: executing a process on the computer.

3. determining whether the position of the first margin in the generated print image is within a predetermined range; when it is determined that the position of the first margin is not included in the predetermined range, a length of a second margin in the generated print image is adjusted so that the position of the first margin is included in the predetermined range.

2. The print data creating method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: executing a process on the computer.

4. Obtaining a length of each of a plurality of elements printed on a receiving medium; generating a print image in which the plurality of elements are arranged based on the lengths of the plurality of elements so that a position of a first margin in the generated print image approaches a predetermined position; A program that causes a computer to execute a process.

5. An acquisition unit that acquires the length of each of a plurality of elements printed on a printing medium; a generating unit that generates a print image in which the plurality of elements are arranged based on the lengths of the plurality of elements so that a position of a first margin in the generated print image approaches a predetermined position; An information processing device comprising:

Images