Print control device, control method thereof, program, and storage medium

Abstract

To solve a problem that when print settings from both an application and a printer driver are reflected, a print document may become distorted or the document may need to be regenerated.SOLUTION: A printer driver 210 identifies an amount of margin set by an application from a print image generated by the application 201 (S703), determines, on the basis of the specified amount of margin and setting information related to double-sided printing of the printer driver 210, the amount of margin for binding to be provided during the double-sided printing (S704), extracts a print area excluding the specified amount of margin from the print image (S706), and regenerates, on the basis of the determined amount of margin for the binding margin and the print image of the extracted print area, the print image to be printed in the double-sided printing (S707).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a print control device that generates print data that can be printed by a printing device, a control method for a print control device, a program, and a storage medium. [Background technology]

[0002] When using print settings in word processing applications or printer driver functions, if printed documents are bound with a stapler or other tool, the document may overlap with the stapled portion, making it difficult to read. To prevent this, a "margin setting function" is known that allows for a wider margin on the binding side. When setting the margin, users create layouts using functions such as the preview function to avoid printing errors caused by not setting the expected position or margin amount.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses a technology that, if the position of the binding margin has not been set, analyzes the printed image and automatically determines the optimal position of the binding margin depending on whether it is written vertically or horizontally and whether it is in portrait or landscape orientation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-164650 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Some applications provide a binding margin setting function similar to that of the printer driver, but other applications provide a function to set margins instead of binding margins. In the latter case, users may set margins instead of binding margins. However, if you set margins using the application's functions as described above, there is no problem with single-sided printing, but when you perform double-sided printing, the positions of the binding margins on the front and back sides will not match (the left and right will be reversed).

[0006] On the other hand, if a margin is set in the printer driver, the printer driver may reduce the size of the printed image or shift the printing position by the amount of the margin, which may result in an undesired layout for the user. This can sometimes be resolved by correcting the margins set in the application. However, changing the margins set in the application may change the layout of the document, forcing the user to recreate the document. In any case, conventional techniques have had problems such as print settings from both the application and the printer driver being reflected, resulting in distorted print documents and the need to recreate the documents.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a mechanism that can prevent the print document from being distorted or the document from having to be re-created due to the print settings of both the application and the printer driver being reflected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is a print control device that prints a print image generated by an application with a margin for a binding margin when printing it on both sides, and is characterized by having: a specifying means for analyzing the print image generated by the application and specifying the amount of margin set by the application; a determining means for determining the amount of margin for the binding margin to be set when printing on both sides based on the amount of margin specified by the specifying means and information about settings related to double-sided printing in the print control device that allow the amount of margin for the binding margin to be set; an extraction means for extracting a print area from the print image excluding the amount of margin specified by the specifying means; and a regeneration means for regenerating the print image to be printed in the double-sided printing based on the amount of margin for the binding margin determined by the determining means and the print image of the print area extracted by the extraction means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the print document from being distorted or the document from having to be remade due to the print settings of both the application and the printer driver being reflected. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printer driver of a PC. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a print result obtained by double-sided printing and margin setting for binding according to the prior art. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an application print setting screen on which a user makes print settings in an application 201. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a driver print setting screen on which a user makes print settings for a printer driver 210. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a printed image in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of print control in the printing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8]10 is a flowchart showing details of a process for specifying a margin amount in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 5A to 5C are diagrams specifically illustrating the process of specifying the amount of blank space in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing details of a process for checking whether or not there is a margin for binding in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 6 is a flowchart showing details of a print area extraction process for each print image in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 5A to 5C are conceptual diagrams illustrating the results of the print area extraction process for each print image in the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 6 is a flowchart showing details of a print image regeneration process in the first embodiment. [Figure 14] 5A and 5B are conceptual diagrams illustrating the results of a print image regeneration process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing details of a process for checking whether or not there is a margin for binding in the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a message for selecting a margin amount for a binding margin according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a printed image according to a third embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a table showing the relationship between the values ​​of processing flags defined in the printer driver 210 and the conditions for determining the processing flags in the third embodiment. [Figure 19] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of print control in a printing system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 20] 11 is a flowchart showing details of a processing content determination process in the third embodiment. [Figure 21] 11 is a flowchart showing details of a print area extraction process for each print image in the third embodiment. [Figure 22] 13A to 13C are conceptual diagrams illustrating the results of the print area extraction process for each print image according to the third embodiment. [Figure 23] 10 is a flowchart showing details of a print image regeneration process according to a third embodiment. [Figure 24]13A and 13B are conceptual diagrams illustrating the results of a print image regeneration process according to the third embodiment. [Figure 25] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a problem that occurs when printing an image with a large margin on the side opposite to the binding direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention.

[0012] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system of this embodiment includes a printer 102 and a personal computer (PC) 101 connected to the printer 102 .

[0013] The PC 101 is an information processing device with a general configuration. The PC 101 has a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as "CPU") 103, a storage device 104 such as RAM, an input device 105 such as a mouse or keyboard, a display device 106 such as a CRT or LCD, and an auxiliary storage device 107, all of which are connected by an internal bus line IB. The auxiliary storage device 107 may be, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an embedded multimedia card (eMMC), or a magneto-optical disk.

[0014] The input device 105 is used to receive various inputs from the user via an application screen displayed on the display device 106, a print setting screen of the printer driver 210, and the like.

[0015] Application programs, an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS), printer drivers, and various other data are stored in the auxiliary storage device 107. The CPU 103 implements various functions by loading the programs stored in the auxiliary storage device 107 into the storage device 104 and executing them. Furthermore, an internal bus line IB of the PC 101 is connected to the printer 102 via an external bus line BL, and jobs can be registered from the PC 101 to the printer 102 .

[0016] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printer driver for PC 101. The software configuration shown in Fig. 2 is realized and functions when CPU 103 of PC 101 loads a program recorded in auxiliary storage device 107 into storage device 104 and executes it.

[0017] The application 201 is various types of application software such as word processing software, spreadsheet software, and image editing software. Print data created by an application 201 is temporarily stored in a print queue of a spooler as spool data 203 via a print support function 202 of the OS. The spool data 203 is managed by a spooler as a print job with a name, etc. The spool data 203 is converted by a printer driver 210 into print commands that can be interpreted by the printer 102, and then supplied to the printer 102 for printing.

[0018] When issuing a print instruction, the application 201 adds print setting information returned from the user interface module 211 to the print job via the OS print support function 202. The print setting information is information that is set in advance before issuing a print start instruction from the application. When the user interface module 211 receives a notification of the start of printing from the print support function 202 of the OS, it starts the status information display module 215 .

[0019] On the other hand, a print job passed to the printer driver 210 is first processed by the page composition module 212 . The page configuration module 212 performs page configuration processing on the print job, such as rearranging the pages of the print job according to the print setting information, combining multiple pages into one page, etc. The print job is then passed to the command generation module 213.

[0020] The command generation module 213 converts the print data of the print job into a print command that can be interpreted by the printer 102 in accordance with the print setting information. The print commands are sequentially sent to the printer 102 by the command sending / receiving module 214. Furthermore, the command sending / receiving module 214 reads the status of the printer 102, such as information that an error has occurred in the printer 102 and information about the page currently being printed, and passes this information to the status information display module 215.

[0021] The status information display module 215 analyzes the status of the printer 102 and displays information about the printer 102 based on the analysis results on a status information display screen displayed on the display device 106 of the PC 101. This display allows the user to check the status of the print job and the status of the printer 102.

[0022] In this embodiment, the user interface module 211 and the status information display module 215 are described as being included in the printer driver 210, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the user interface module 211 and the status information display module 215 may be configured to use the printing support function of the OS.

[0023] The print results obtained using conventional techniques will be described below. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a print result obtained by double-sided printing and margin setting for binding margins according to the prior art.

[0024] The application 201 provides a margin setting function, which allows the user to set margins. When margins are set in the application 201 using this margin setting function, a margin 302 is set on the first page 301 of the document, and a margin 304 is set on the second page 303, as shown in FIG. 3(a). In this case, there is no problem with single-sided printing. However, if double-sided printing is performed using conventional technology, the positions of the binding margins on the front and back sides will not match (the left and right will be reversed), as shown in Figure 3(b).

[0025] Furthermore, when a binding margin is set in the printer driver, with conventional technology the printer driver reduces the print image as shown in Figure 3(c) or shifts the print position by the amount of the binding margin as shown in Figure 3(d). As a result, the layout is not what the user expects. This can sometimes be resolved by correcting the margins set in the application. However, changing the margins set in the application changes the layout of the document, which requires the user to recreate the document, which is a cumbersome process. This embodiment relates to a technique for preventing the print document from being corrupted or the document from having to be remade due to the print settings of both the application and the printer driver being reflected as described above.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an application print setting screen on which the user makes print settings in the application 201, and is displayed on the display device 106 by the application 201.

[0027] A print setting screen (hereinafter referred to as "application print setting screen") 401 for setting print settings in the application 201 includes a paper size combo box 402 for selecting a paper size, and a margin setting text box 403 for setting the left, right, top, and bottom margins. In the example of FIG. 4(a), the left margin is set to 20 mm, the right margin to 20 mm, the top margin to 25 mm, and the bottom margin to 25 mm. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 4(b), the left margin is set to 40 millimeters.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a driver print setting screen on which the user makes print settings for the printer driver 210, and is displayed on the display device 106 by the user interface module 211.

[0029] A print setting screen (hereinafter referred to as "driver print setting screen") 501 for making print settings for the printer driver 210 includes combo boxes for making print settings such as 502 to 506. The driver print setting screen 501 also includes a preview display 507 that displays a layout image of the print image according to the contents of each print setting. A paper size is selected in the paper size combo box 502. A print orientation selection radio button 503 switches the print orientation between portrait and landscape. A double-sided printing check box 504 switches between single-sided printing and double-sided printing. A binding direction combo box 505 selects the binding direction when double-sided printing. A binding margin width setting text box 506 sets the amount of space for the binding margin.

[0030] The binding direction combo box 405 and the binding margin width setting text box 506 can be set when the double-sided printing check box 404 is enabled, as shown in Fig. 5(b). On the other hand, when the double-sided printing check box 504 is disabled, the binding direction combo box 505 and the binding margin width setting text box 506 are grayed out, as shown in Fig. 5(a), and are controlled so that they cannot be set.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a print image in this embodiment. Print images 601 to 603 are print images created by the application 201.

[0032] The print control flow in the printing system of this embodiment will be described below using the print image shown in FIG. 6 as an example. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of print control in the printing system in the first embodiment. The processing of the flowcharts shown in Fig. 7, and Figs. 8, 10, 11, and 13 described later, is realized by the CPU 103 of the PC 101 loading a program recorded in the auxiliary storage device 107 into the storage device 104 and executing it.

[0033] First, when a user executes printing of a document from the application 201, in S701, the printer driver 210 receives a print job including a print image (for example, print images such as 601 to 603 in FIG. 6) from the application 201 via the print support function 202 of the OS.

[0034] Next, in step S702, the printer driver 210 acquires information about the double-sided printing check box 504, information about the binding direction combo box 505, and the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 set by the user on the driver print setting screen 501 of the printer driver 210.

[0035] Next, in S703, the printer driver 210 executes processing to specify the amount of margin. Next, in S704, the printer driver 210 executes a process for checking whether or not there is a margin for binding.

[0036] Furthermore, in S705, the printer driver 210 determines whether or not there is a margin for binding based on the result of S704. If there is no margin for binding (No in S705), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S708. In this case, in S708, the printer driver 210 transmits the print images 601 to 603 received in S701 to the printer 102, and ends print control in the printing system.

[0037] On the other hand, if there is a margin for binding in S705 (Yes in S705), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S706. In S706, the printer driver 210 executes a print area extraction process for each print image. Furthermore, in S707, the printer driver 210 executes a process for regenerating the print image, and the process proceeds to S708. In this case, in S708, the printer driver 210 transmits the print image generated in S707 to the printer 102, and ends print control in the printing system.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the process of specifying the amount of blank space (S703 in FIG. 7) in the first embodiment. First, in S801, the printer driver 210 starts a loop process that repeats the process for the number of print images received in S701 of Fig. 7. Hereinafter, the print image to be processed in the loop will be referred to as the "print image to be processed."

[0039] When the above loop processing starts, first in S802, the printer driver 210 uses the binding direction information previously acquired by the driver's double-sided printing related information acquisition processing (702 in FIG. 7) to acquire the margin amount on the binding direction side of the print image to be processed and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction. In this processing, the printer driver 210 inspects one line at a time from each end of the print image, as shown in 901 to 903 in FIG. 9, and determines the margin amount up to the line immediately before the point at which a non-white bit is found. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the process of specifying the amount of blank space that the printer driver 210 in the first embodiment performs on the print images 601 to 603 in FIG.

[0040] Next, in S803, the printer driver 210 checks whether the print image to be processed is the first print image among the multiple print images (whether it is the first round of the loop). If it is the first print image (Yes in S803), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S804. In S804, the printer driver 210 stores the margin amount on the binding direction side and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction acquired in S802 above as the minimum margin amounts up to that point in time in the storage device 104. After S804, the printer driver 210 returns the process to the top of the loop process (S801), and if there are still unprocessed print images remaining, controls to proceed to processing of the next print image.

[0041] On the other hand, in S803 above, if the print image to be processed is not the first print image (No in S803), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S805. In S805, the printer driver 210 compares the amount of blank space on the binding side acquired in S802 with the value of the minimum blank space on the binding side stored in S804.

[0042] If the binding side margin amount acquired in S802 is smaller than the minimum binding side margin amount stored in S804 (Yes in S805), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S806. In S806, the printer driver 210 updates the binding side margin amount acquired in S802 as the previous minimum binding side margin amount, and proceeds to S807.

[0043] On the other hand, in S805 above, if the binding side margin amount acquired in S802 above is equal to or greater than the minimum binding side margin amount acquired in S804 above (No in S805), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S807.

[0044] In S807, the printer driver 210 compares the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction acquired in S802 with the value of the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction stored in S804.

[0045] Here, if the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction acquired in S802 above is smaller than the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction stored in S804 above (Yes in S807), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S808. In S808, the printer driver 210 updates the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction acquired in S802 as the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction up to now. After S808, the printer driver 210 returns the process to the beginning of the loop process (S801), and if there are still unprocessed print images remaining, controls the process to proceed to processing of the next print image.

[0046] On the other hand, in S805 above, if the margin amount on the binding side acquired in S802 above is equal to or greater than the minimum margin amount on the binding side acquired in S804 above (No in S805), the printer driver 210 returns the process to the beginning of the loop process (S801), and if there are still unprocessed print images remaining, controls the printer driver 210 to proceed to processing of the next print image.

[0047] Then, when the printer driver 210 has completed processing (analysis) of all print images in the above loop processing, it ends the processing of this flowchart (that is, the "blank space amount specification processing" in S703 of FIG. 7).

[0048] As described above, the minimum value of the margin amount on the binding direction side in the print images of all pages generated by the application can be identified as the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side, and the minimum value of the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction can be identified as the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction.

[0049] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the process of checking the presence or absence of a margin for binding (S704) in the first embodiment. First, in S1001, the printer driver 210 checks the information of the double-sided printing check box 504 acquired in the process of S702 in FIG. 7 (driver's process of acquiring double-sided printing related information). Here, if the double-sided printing checkbox 504 is invalid (No in S1001), the printer driver 210 determines that there is no binding margin and ends the processing of this flowchart (i.e., the "process to check whether there is a binding margin" in S704 of Figure 7).

[0050] On the other hand, if the double-sided printing check box 504 is enabled (Yes in S1001), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1002.

[0051] In S1002, the printer driver 210 checks the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 acquired in the driver's double-sided printing related information acquisition process in S702 of FIG. If a value other than 0 (zero) is set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (Yes in S1002), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1003. In S1003, the printer driver 210 stores the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 in the storage device 104 as the value of the binding margin amount, and ends the processing of this flowchart (S704 "processing to check whether there is a binding margin").

[0052] On the other hand, in S1002 above, if the value in the binding margin width setting text box 506 is not set or is set to 0 (zero) (No in S1002), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1004.

[0053] In S1004, the printer driver 210 compares the value of the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side acquired in the "Margin Amount Identification Process" in S703 of Fig. 7 with the value of the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction. That is, the printer driver 210 compares the value of the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side (the value held in S804 or S806 of Fig. 8) with the value of the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction (the value held in S804 or S808 of Fig. 8).

[0054] If there is a difference between the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side and the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction (Yes in S1004), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1005. In S1005, the printer driver 210 sets the larger margin amount between the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side and the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction as the margin amount for binding and stores the value in the storage device 104. After S1005, the printer driver 210 ends the processing of this flowchart ("Process for checking presence or absence of margin for binding margin" in S704 of FIG. 7).

[0055] On the other hand, in S1004 above, if there is no difference between the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side and the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction (No in S1004), the printer driver 210 ends the processing of this flowchart ("Process to check whether there is margin for binding" in S704 of Figure 7).

[0056] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the details of the print area extraction process (S706) for each print image in the first embodiment. First, in S1101, the printer driver 210 acquires the margin amounts on both ends identified in the "margin amount identification process" in S703 of Fig. 7. That is, it acquires the value of the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side (the value held in S804 or S806 of Fig. 8) and the value of the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction (the value held in S804 or S808 of Fig. 8).

[0057] Next, in S1102, the printer driver 210 starts a loop process that repeats the process for the number of print images received in S701 of Fig. 7. Hereinafter, the print image to be processed in the loop will be referred to as the "print image to be processed."

[0058] When the above loop process starts, in S1103 the printer driver 210 cuts out the margin amount on the binding side from the print image to be processed. Next, in S1103, the printer driver 210 cuts out an image by the amount of the margin in the binding direction from the print image to be processed. Next, in S1104, the printer driver 210 cuts out the image by the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction from the print image to be processed in S1103.

[0059] Next, in S1105, the printer driver 210 stores the image of the area remaining after the processes of S1103 and S1104 as shown in FIG. 12 in the storage device 104 as the print area of ​​the print image to be processed. FIG. 12 is an image diagram illustrating the results of the print area extraction process performed by the printer driver 210 in the first embodiment on the print images 601 to 603 in FIG. After S1105, the printer driver 210 returns the process to the beginning of the loop process (S1102), and if there are still unprocessed print images remaining, controls the process to proceed to processing of the next print image.

[0060] Then, when the printer driver 210 has completed processing of all print images in the above loop processing, it ends the processing of this flowchart (that is, the "print area extraction processing" in S706 of FIG. 7).

[0061] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the print image regeneration process (S707) in the first embodiment. First, in step S1301, the printer driver 210 checks the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 acquired in step S702 of FIG. If a value is set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (Yes in S1301), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1302. In S1302, the printer driver 210 uses the value in the binding margin width setting text box 506 to regenerate the print image, and the process proceeds to S1304.

[0062] On the other hand, in S1302 above, if no value is set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (No in S1302), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1303. In S1303, the printer driver 210 acquires the amount of margin for binding that was previously stored in the "process for checking whether or not there is a margin for binding" in S704 of FIG. 7, and the process proceeds to S1304.

[0063] In S1304, the printer driver 210 generates a new print image frame for double-sided printing and margin printing for the binding margin, as shown in FIG. 14(a), based on the information related to double-sided printing acquired in S702 of FIG.

[0064] Next, in S1305, the printer driver 210 inserts the print area (S1201 to 1203 in FIG. 12) of the print image to be processed, acquired in the "print area extraction process" of S706 in FIG. 7, into the frame of the print image created in S1304 above ((a) in FIG. 14), squeezing it toward the binding margin as shown in (b) in FIG. 14.

[0065] By the process of S1305 above, a new print image is regenerated as shown in FIG. 14(c), and the printer driver 210 ends the process of this flowchart ("print image regeneration process" of S707 in FIG. 7).

[0066] As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the print document from being corrupted due to the print settings of both the application 201 and the printer driver 210 being reflected, and to prevent the document from having to be recreated and reprinted.

[0067] In this embodiment, an example of the configuration of the print setting screen of the printer driver is shown in Figure 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the double-sided printing setting may be represented by other controllers, such as radio buttons or combo boxes that allow selection of single-sided printing or double-sided printing, rather than by a check box. Also, an example of a screen configuration in which information related to double-sided printing is consolidated within a specific tab is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, functions frequently used by users, such as double-sided printing settings, may be provided on the quick setting sheet, or the same setting items may be provided on both sheets. In addition, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the print area extracted in advance is moved closer to the binding margin in the print image re-creation process, but this is not limited to this. For example, the print area extracted in advance may be positioned in the center of the print image frame. Furthermore, if the print area extracted in advance does not fit within the frame, the extracted print area may be reduced to fit within the print image frame.

[0068] Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, the following use case is assumed. 4 and 5, if a margin amount for a binding margin is set on the print setting screen of both the application 201 and the printer driver 210, in the first embodiment, the margin amount set in the printer driver 210 is given priority (S1003 in FIG. 10), and the print image is regenerated. However, if the width values ​​set in the application 201 and the printer driver 210 differ as in FIGS. 4 and 5, some users may have intended the layout to be based on the margin amount set in the application 201 rather than the width set in the printer driver 210. For this reason, if the margin amount value for a binding margin set in the printer driver 210 is given priority as in the first embodiment, the layout may not be as intended by some users, and they may have to re-create or reprint the document.

[0069] In the second embodiment, a configuration that can prevent the need to remake or reprint a document even in the above-mentioned use case will be described. Note that a description of the configuration that overlaps with the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0070] Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the process of checking the presence or absence of a margin for binding (S704) in the second embodiment. The process of the flowchart shown in Fig. 15 is realized by the CPU 103 of the PC 101 expanding a program recorded in the auxiliary storage device 107 into the storage device 104 and executing it.

[0071] First, in S1501, the printer driver 210 checks whether there is a difference between the minimum margin amount on the binding side and the minimum margin amount on the opposite side to the binding side, which were specified in the margin amount specifying process in S703 of FIG. If there is no difference between the minimum margin amount on the binding side and the minimum margin amount on the opposite side to the binding direction (No in S1501), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S1502.

[0072] In S1502, the printer driver 210 checks the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 acquired in S702 of FIG. Here, if no value is set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (No in S1502), the printer driver 210 determines that there is no binding margin and terminates the processing of this flowchart ("Process to check whether there is a binding margin" in S704 of Figure 7).

[0073] On the other hand, if a value has been set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (Yes in S1501), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1503. In S1503, the printer driver 210 stores the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 in the memory device 104 as the value of the binding margin amount, and ends the processing of this flowchart (S704 in Figure 7, "Process to confirm whether there is a binding margin").

[0074] Furthermore, in S1501 above, if there is a difference between the minimum margin amount on the binding side and the minimum margin amount on the opposite side to the binding direction (Yes in S1501), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1504.

[0075] In S1504, the printer driver 210 checks the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 acquired in S702 of FIG. If no value is set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (No in S1504), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1505. In S1505, the printer driver 210 stores the larger margin amount between the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side and the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction in the memory device 104 as the value of the margin amount for the binding margin, and ends the processing of this flowchart ("Process for checking whether there is margin for the binding margin" at S704 in Figure 7).

[0076] On the other hand, if a value has been set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (Yes in S1504), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1506. In S1506, the printer driver 210 determines (identifies) the larger margin amount between the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side and the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction as the margin amount for the binding margin set by the user on the print setting screen 301 of the application 201.

[0077] Next, in step S1507, the printer driver 210 compares the amount of margin for the binding margin set by the application 201 identified in step S1506 with the value in the binding margin width setting text box 506. If there is no difference between the amount of margin for the binding margin set by the application 201 and the value in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (No in S1507), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1508. In S1508, the printer driver 210 stores the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 in the memory device 104 as the value of the binding margin amount, and ends the processing of this flowchart (S704 in Figure 7, "Process to confirm whether there is a binding margin or not").

[0078] On the other hand, if there is a difference between the amount of margin for the binding margin set by the application 201 and the value in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (Yes in S1507), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1509. In S1509, the printer driver 210 displays a message box 1601 as shown in FIG. 16 on the display device 106 to ask the user whether to use the margin amount for the binding margin set in the application 201 or the margin amount for the binding margin set in the binding margin width setting text box 506.

[0079] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a message box 1601 displayed by the printer driver 210 in the process of checking the presence or absence of a margin for binding (S704) in the second embodiment. This message box 1601 allows the user to select which binding margin to use when the binding margin amounts set in the application 201 and the printer driver 210 differ, and enables double-sided printing using the binding margin amount selected by the user.

[0080] When the user sets the desired binding margin amount in the message box 1601 as shown in FIG. 16 and closes the message box 1601, the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1510. In S1510, the printer driver 210 stores the value of the binding margin amount set by the user in the message box of FIG. 16 in the storage device 104 as the value of the binding margin amount. In other words, the value of the binding margin amount set by the driver or application is stored. After S1510, the printer driver 210 ends the processing of this flowchart ("Process for checking presence or absence of binding margin" in S704 of FIG. 7).

[0081] In the second embodiment, in the regeneration process of the print image in S707 of FIG. 7, S1301 and S1302 are not executed, and the processes of S1303 to S1305 are executed. As described above, according to the second embodiment, even if different binding margin amounts are set in the application 201 and the printer driver 210, by confirming with the user which binding margin amount they want to set, it is possible to prevent the document from having to be remade or reprinted.

[0082] 15, if there is a difference in the binding margin amount between the application 201 and the printer driver 210, a message box is displayed to prompt the user as to which one to use, but this is not limited to this. For example, instead of prompting the user with a message box or the like, the printer driver 210 itself may determine that the larger margin amount value between the values ​​set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 by the application 201 and the printer driver 210 is to be given priority. Alternatively, the user may set in advance which of the settings of the application 201 and the printer driver 210 is to be given priority, and the system may determine which to use based on this setting.

[0083] In addition, in this embodiment, an example of the message box configuration shown in Fig. 16 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a preview screen may be used in conjunction with the message box to clearly show the layout image to the user so that the differences due to each margin amount can be seen. Also, a button for canceling printing may be provided in the message box so that the user can cancel printing.

[0084] Third Embodiment In this embodiment, the following use case is assumed. For example, a print image as shown in FIG. 17 will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a print image in the third embodiment. If the margin on the side opposite the binding direction is large, as in Figure 17, the print area extraction process may cut the print area too narrow, and the print image regeneration process may cause the print area to be too tightly packed toward the binding margin, as shown in (a) of Figure 25, which will be described later. In other words, in the configurations of the first and second embodiments, in the case of a print image like that in Figure 17, it may be necessary to remake or reprint the manuscript.

[0085] In the third embodiment, even in the above-described use case, it is possible to prevent the need to remake or reprint the document. Note that a description of the configuration that overlaps with the first or second embodiment will be omitted.

[0086] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a table showing the relationship between the values ​​of the processing flags defined in the printer driver 210 and the conditions for determining the processing flags in the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the printer driver 210 determines the value of the flag based on the combination of the margin amounts on both sides of the print image, as will be described in detail later.

[0087] Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of print control in the printing system in the third embodiment. The processing of the flowcharts shown in Fig. 19 and Figs. 20, 21, and 23 described later is realized by the CPU 103 of the PC 101 loading a program recorded in the auxiliary storage device 107 into the storage device 104 and executing it.

[0088] First, when a user executes printing of a document from the application 201, in S1901, the printer driver 210 receives a print job including a print image (for example, print images such as 1701 to 1703 in FIG. 17) from the application 201 via the print support function 202 of the OS.

[0089] Next, in step S1902, the printer driver 210 acquires information about the double-sided printing check box 504, information about the binding direction combo box 505, and the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 set by the user on the driver print setting screen 501 of the printer driver 210.

[0090] Next, in S1903, the printer driver 210 executes processing to specify the amount of margin. Note that the details are the same as those in the first and second embodiments (i.e., FIG. 8), and therefore will not be described here. Next, in S1904, the printer driver 210 executes a process content flag determination process, the details of which are shown in FIG.

[0091] Next, in S1905, if the value of the processing content flag is "1" as a result of the processing in S1904 above (Yes in S1905), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S1910. In this case, in S1910, the printer driver 210 transmits the print image (e.g., 1701 to 1703) received in S1901 above to the printer 102, and ends print control in the printing system.

[0092] On the other hand, in S1905 above, if the value of the processing content flag is other than "1" (No in S1905), the printer driver 210 advances the processing to S1906. In S1906, the printer driver 210 executes a process for checking whether or not there is a margin for binding. Note that the details are the same as those in the first or second embodiment (i.e., FIG. 10 or FIG. 15), and therefore will not be described here.

[0093] Next, in S1907, the printer driver 210 determines whether or not there is a margin for binding based on the result of S1906. If there is no margin for binding (No in S1907), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S1910. In this case, in S1910, the printer driver 210 transmits the print image (e.g., 1701 to 1703) received in S1901 to the printer 102, and ends print control in the printing system.

[0094] On the other hand, if there is a margin for binding (Yes in S1907), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1908. In S1908, the printer driver 210 executes a print area extraction process for each print image, the details of which are shown in FIG.

[0095] Next, in step S1909, the printer driver 210 executes a process for regenerating a print image, the details of which are shown in FIG. After S1909 above, the printer driver 210 advances the process to S1910. In this case, in S1910, the printer driver 210 transmits the print image generated in S1909 above to the printer 102, and ends print control in the printing system.

[0096] FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the processing content determination process (S1904) in the third embodiment. First, in S2001, the printer driver 210 acquires the minimum margin value on the binding direction side and the minimum margin value on the opposite side of the binding direction of the print image (e.g., 1701 to 1703) acquired in the "Margin Amount Identification Process" in S1903 of Fig. 19. That is, the minimum margin value on the binding direction side (the value held in S804 or S806 of Fig. 8) and the minimum margin value on the opposite side of the binding direction (the value held in S804 or S808 of Fig. 8) are acquired.

[0097] Next, in S2002, the printer driver 210 checks whether the minimum margin on the opposite side of the binding direction is within a margin threshold defined within the printer driver 210 (for example, "3 mm"). Here, if the value of the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction is within the threshold value (Yes in S2002), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2003. In S2003, the printer driver 210 sets the processing content flag to "2" and ends the processing of this flowchart (S1904 "processing content flag determination processing").

[0098] On the other hand, if the value of the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction exceeds the threshold value (No in S2002), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2004.

[0099] In S2004, the printer driver 210 checks whether the minimum margin on the binding side is within a margin threshold (for example, 3 mm) defined within the printer driver 210. Here, if the value of the minimum margin amount on the binding side falls within the threshold value (Yes in S2004), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2005. In S2005, the printer driver 210 sets the processing content flag to "3" and ends the processing of this flowchart (S1904 "processing content flag determination processing").

[0100] On the other hand, if the value of the minimum margin amount on the binding side exceeds the threshold value (No in S2004), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2006. In S2006, the printer driver 210 sets the processing content flag to "1" and ends the processing of this flowchart (S1904, "processing content flag determination processing"). Note that if the processing content flag is "1", that is, if both the margin amount on the binding side and the margin amount on the binding side exceed the threshold, a Yes determination is made in S1905 of Fig. 19, and the print area extraction processing (S1908) and print image regeneration processing (S1909) of each print image are not executed, and the image is printed as is.

[0101] FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the details of the print area extraction process (S1908) for each print image in the third embodiment. First, in S2101, the printer driver 210 acquires the value of the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side acquired in the "Margin Amount Identification Process" in S1903 of Fig. 19, and the value of the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction. That is, the value of the minimum margin amount on the binding direction side (the value held in S804 or S806 of Fig. 8) and the value of the minimum margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction (the value held in S804 or S808 of Fig. 8) are acquired.

[0102] Next, in S2102, the printer driver 210 starts a loop process that repeats the process for the number of print images received in S701 of Fig. 7. Hereinafter, the print image to be processed in the loop will be referred to as the "print image to be processed."

[0103] When the above loop processing starts, first in S2103, the printer driver 210 checks the value of the processing content flag determined in the "processing content determination processing" in S1904 of FIG. Here, if the value of the processing content flag is other than "3" (No in S2103), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S2105. Note that if the value of the processing content flag is "1", a Yes determination is made in S1905 of Fig. 19, and the processing of this flowchart is not executed. Therefore, here, the case where the value of the processing content flag is other than "3" essentially corresponds to the case where the value of the processing content flag is "2".

[0104] In this case (when the value of the processing content flag is "2"), S2105, S2106 and S2107 are executed in sequence. In S2105, the printer driver 210 cuts out the margin amount on the binding side from the print image to be processed. In S2106, the printer driver 210 cuts out the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction from the print image to be processed. In S2107, the printer driver 210 stores the area remaining after the processes in S2105 and S2106 in the storage device 104 as the print area of ​​the print image to be processed. That is, when the value of the processing content flag is "2", the same processing as in the first and second embodiments is performed.

[0105] On the other hand, in S2103, if the value of the processing content flag is "3" (Yes in S2103), the printer driver 210 advances the processing to S2104. In this case (when the value of the processing content flag is "3"), first in S2104, the printer driver 210 checks whether the print image to be processed is an even-numbered page print image.

[0106] If the print image to be processed is an even-numbered page (Yes in S2104), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S2106, skipping the process of S2105 (the process of cutting out the margin amount on the binding side from the print image to be processed). On the other hand, if the print image to be processed is not an even-numbered page (No in S2104), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2105. In S2105, the printer driver 210 cuts out the margin amount on the binding side from the print image to be processed, and the process proceeds to S2106.

[0107] That is, in the case of a print image such as that shown in Fig. 22(a), for odd-numbered pages, the margins on both the binding direction side and the opposite side of the binding direction are cut out from the print image, as shown in Fig. 22(b) for pages 1 and 3. On the other hand, for even-numbered pages, only the margins on the opposite side of the binding direction are cut out from the print image, as shown in Fig. 22(b) for page 2.

[0108] Next, in S2107, the printer driver 210 stores the area remaining after the processes of S2103 to S2106 as the printing area of ​​the print image to be processed in the storage device 104. For example, as shown in (c) of Fig. 22, the remaining area is stored as the printing area of ​​the print image.

[0109] After S2107, the printer driver 210 returns the process to the beginning of the loop process (S2101), and if there are still unprocessed print images remaining, controls the process to proceed to processing of the next print image. Then, when the printer driver 210 has completed processing all print images in the above loop processing, it ends the processing of this flowchart (that is, "print area extraction processing for each print image" in S1908).

[0110] As shown in FIG. 21, in the "print area extraction process for each print image" of the third embodiment, when the processing content flag is "2," that is, when both the margin amount on the binding side and the margin amount on the binding side are within the threshold, the print area is extracted with the margin on the binding direction side and the margin on the opposite side of the binding direction cut off, as in the first and second embodiments. On the other hand, if the processing content flag is "3", that is, if the margin amount on the binding side is within the threshold and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding side both exceed the threshold, the printing area including the margin on the binding side will be extracted on even-numbered pages, as shown in Figure 22. FIG. 22 is an image diagram illustrating the results of the print area extraction process (S1908) for each print image in the third embodiment.

[0111] FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the print image regeneration process (S1909) in the third embodiment. First, in step S2301, the printer driver 210 checks the value of the binding margin width setting text box 506 previously acquired by the driver in the double-sided printing related information acquisition process (1902 in FIG. 19).

[0112] If a value is set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (Yes in S2301), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2302. In S2302, the printer driver 210 determines that the value in the binding margin width setting text box 506 is to be used to regenerate the print image, and the process proceeds to S2304.

[0113] On the other hand, if no value is set in the binding margin width setting text box 506 (No in S2301), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2303. In S2303, the printer driver 210 acquires the value of the binding margin amount that was previously stored in the "process for checking whether or not there is a binding margin" in S1906, and the process proceeds to S2304.

[0114] In S2304, the printer driver 210 generates a new print image frame for double-sided printing and margin printing, as shown in FIG. 24A, for example, based on the information related to double-sided printing acquired in S1902.

[0115] Next, in S2305, the printer driver 210 checks the value of the processing content flag determined in the "processing content determination process" in S1904. Here, if the value of the processing content flag is other than "3" (No in S2305), the printer driver 210 proceeds to S2306. Note that if the value of the processing content flag is "1", a Yes determination is made in S1905 of Fig. 19, and the processing of this flowchart is not executed. Therefore, here, the case where the value of the processing content flag is other than "3" essentially corresponds to the case where the value of the processing content flag is "2".

[0116] In S2306, the printer driver 210 inserts each print area acquired in the "print area extraction process for each print image" in S1908 into the frame of each print image created in S2304, squeezing it toward the binding margin. In other words, if the value of the processing content flag is "2", a print area is inserted into the frame of the print image, as in the first and second embodiments.

[0117] On the other hand, in S2305 above, if the value of the processing content flag is "3" (Yes in S2305), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2307.

[0118] In S2307, the printer driver 210 starts a loop process that repeats the process for the number of print image frames generated in S2304. Hereinafter, the print image frame that is the target of processing in the loop will be referred to as the "target print image frame."

[0119] When the above loop processing starts, first in S2308, the printer driver 210 determines whether the frame of the print image into which the previously extracted print area is to be inserted (the frame of the print image to be processed) is an even page, and switches the method for inserting the print area depending on the determination result.

[0120] Here, if the frame of the print image at the insertion destination is not an even-numbered page (No in S2308), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2309. In S2309, the printer driver 210 inserts the print area of ​​the page number corresponding to the frame of the destination print image (for example, the print area shown in FIG. 22C) from the print areas acquired in the "print area extraction process for each print image" in S1908, by squeezing it close to the binding margin side, as in the case of page 1 or 3 in FIG. 24A.

[0121] On the other hand, in S2308, if the frame of the print image to be inserted is on an even-numbered page (Yes in S2308), the printer driver 210 advances the process to S2310. In S2310, the printer driver 210 inserts the print area of ​​the page number corresponding to the frame of the destination print image (for example, the print area shown in FIG. 22(c)) from the print areas acquired in the "process for extracting print areas for each print image" in S1908, on the opposite side of the binding margin, into the frame of the destination print image. For example, as in the case of page 2 in FIG. 24(a), it inserts the print area on the opposite side of the binding margin.

[0122] After S2309 or S2310, the printer driver 210 returns the process to the beginning of the loop (S2308), and if there are still unprocessed print image frames remaining, controls the process to proceed to processing the frame of the next print image. Then, when the printer driver 210 has completed processing of all print image frames in the above loop processing, it ends the processing of this flowchart (that is, "print image regeneration processing" in S1909 of FIG. 19). By performing the processes in steps S2307 to S2310, a new print image such as that shown in FIG. 24(b) is regenerated.

[0123] As described above, in the third embodiment, if the processing content flag is "1", that is, if both the margin amount on the binding side and the margin amount on the binding side exceed the threshold, the printing area extraction process (S1908) and the print image regeneration process (S1909) for each print image are not executed, and the image is printed as is. Furthermore, when the processing content flag is "2", that is, when both the margin amount on the binding side and the margin amount on the binding side are within the threshold, the printing area with the margin on the binding side and the margin on the opposite side of the binding direction cut out is extracted, and inserted into the binding margin side of the frame of the print image and printed, as in the first and second embodiments. Also, if the processing content flag is "3," that is, if the margin amount on the binding side is within the threshold and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding side both exceed the threshold, the print area including the margin on the binding side is extracted for even-numbered pages and inserted and printed on the opposite side of the binding margin of the print image frame. On the other hand, for odd-numbered pages, the print area with the margin on the binding side and the margin on the opposite side of the binding direction cut out is extracted and inserted and printed on the binding margin side of the print image frame. Therefore, the print area of ​​even-numbered pages can be moved to the opposite side of the binding margin, as shown in Figure 24(b), and the print image can be regenerated and printed.

[0124] These processes can prevent the even-numbered pages from being pushed too far toward the binding margin, as shown in Figure 25(a), resulting in wider print image margins for the regenerated even-numbered pages. Furthermore, in the print area extraction process for each print image, the printer driver extracts the print area from the print images of even-numbered pages without cutting off the margin on the binding side, as shown in Fig. 22(c) (if Yes is selected in S2104 of Fig. 21). This prevents the margins of the regenerated print images from becoming too wide due to even-numbered pages being pushed too far to the opposite side of the binding margin, as shown in Fig. 25(b).

[0125] According to the above-described embodiments, when printing from a text application that does not allow for binding margin settings and double-sided printing settings, the printer driver automatically re-edits the print image so that the binding margin is inserted in the expected position. This prevents the print document from being distorted or the document from having to be re-created due to the print settings of both the application and the printer driver being reflected.

[0126] It goes without saying that the various controls described above as being performed by printer driver 210 also include cases where the actual processing is performed in part or in whole by an OS running on the computer or an application available from a store application provided for the OS (for example, a Print Support Application (PSA)), and the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are realized by that processing.

[0127] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the various controls described above as being performed by the PC 101 having the printer driver 210 as a print control device may be performed by the printer 102. That is, the control unit of the printer 102 may perform similar processing on the print data received from the PC 101 and then print it. Furthermore, the various controls described above may be performed by one piece of hardware, or the entire device may be controlled by a plurality of pieces of hardware (for example, a plurality of processors or circuits) sharing the processing.

[0128] Furthermore, although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. Furthermore, each of the above-described embodiments merely represents one embodiment of the present invention, and each embodiment can be combined as appropriate.

[0129] It goes without saying that the configurations and contents of the various data described above are not limited to those described above, and that the data may be configured in various configurations and contents depending on the application and purpose. Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can be embodied as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, a storage medium, etc. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system made up of multiple devices, or may be applied to an apparatus made up of a single device. Furthermore, the present invention also includes any combination of the above embodiments.

[0130] Other Embodiments The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a system made up of multiple devices, or to an apparatus made up of a single device. The present invention also includes a computer-readable storage medium that stores the above-mentioned program. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. In other words, all configurations that combine the above-described embodiments and their modifications are included in the present invention.

[0131] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration, method, program, and storage medium. (Configuration 1) A print control device that prints a print image generated by an application with a binding margin when printing the image on both sides, a specifying unit that analyzes a print image generated by the application and specifies a margin amount set by the application; a determining means for determining the amount of margin for a binding margin to be provided during double-sided printing based on the amount of margin specified by the specifying means and information on settings related to double-sided printing in the print control device that allow the amount of margin for a binding margin to be set; an extracting means for extracting a print area from the print image excluding the margin amount specified by the specifying means; a regeneration unit that regenerates a print image to be printed in the double-sided printing process based on the amount of blank space for the binding margin determined by the determination unit and the print image of the print area extracted by the extraction unit; A print control device comprising: (Configuration 2) The print control device according to configuration 1, characterized in that, when the margin amount for the binding margin is set in the settings related to double-sided printing in the print control device, the determination means determines the margin amount for the binding margin to be set during double-sided printing. (Configuration 3) the specifying unit specifies, as the margin amount set by the application, the margin amounts on both ends of the binding direction side of the print image generated by the application and the side opposite to the binding direction side; The print control device according to configuration 2, characterized in that, when the margin amount for the binding margin is not set in the settings related to double-sided printing in the print control device, the determination means determines the margin amount for the binding margin to be set during double-sided printing based on the specified margin amounts on both ends. (Configuration 4) the specifying unit specifies, as the margin amount set by the application, the margin amounts on both ends of the binding direction side of the print image generated by the application and the side opposite to the binding direction side; The determining means If there is no difference between the specified margin amounts at both ends, the binding margin amount set in the settings related to the double-sided printing is given priority, and the binding margin amount to be set during the double-sided printing is determined; If there is a difference between the margin amounts at both ends specified by the specifying means, a user selection is accepted as to whether to use the margin amount based on the margin amounts at both ends or the margin amount for the binding margin set in the settings related to the double-sided printing, and the margin amount selected by the user is determined as the margin amount for the binding margin to be set during the double-sided printing. 2. The print control device according to configuration 1, (Configuration 5) The print control device according to configuration 3 or 4, characterized in that the margin amount based on the margin amount at both ends indicates the larger of the margin amount on the binding direction side of the printed image and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction. (Configuration 6) the specifying unit specifies the minimum value of the margin amount on the binding direction side in the print images of all pages generated by the application as the margin amount on the binding direction side, and specifies the minimum value of the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction as the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction. (Configuration 7) the extraction means extracts the print area by excluding the margins on the specified binding direction side and on the opposite side of the binding direction from the print image; The printing control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that the regeneration means creates a frame for the print image with a margin for the binding margin that corresponds to the amount of margin for the binding margin determined by the determination means, and inserts the print image of the print area extracted by the extraction means on the binding margin side of the frame of the print image to regenerate the print image to be printed in the double-sided printing. (Configuration 8) When the margin amount on the binding direction side of the print image specified by the specifying means is within a threshold value and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction of the print image exceeds a threshold value. the extraction means extracts a print area by excluding the margin amount on the specified binding direction side and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction for odd-numbered pages of the print image, and extracts a print area by excluding the margin amount on the specified binding direction side and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction for even-numbered pages of the print image, without excluding the margin amount on the specified binding direction side; The print control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that the regeneration means creates a print image frame with a margin for a binding margin that corresponds to the amount of margin for the binding margin determined by the determination means, and for odd-numbered pages of the print image, inserts a print image of the print area extracted by the extraction means on the binding margin side of the created print image frame, and for even-numbered pages of the print image, inserts a print image of the print area extracted by the extraction means on the opposite side of the binding margin side of the created print image frame, thereby regenerating the print image to be printed by double-sided printing. (Configuration 9) A print control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that it has a control means that controls so that, when the margin amount on the binding direction side of the print image identified by the identification means exceeds a threshold value and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction of the print image exceeds a threshold value, the extraction means does not extract the print area and the regeneration means does not regenerate the print image. (Method 1) A control method for a print control device that prints a print image generated by an application with a binding margin when printing the image on both sides, comprising: a specifying step of analyzing a print image generated by the application and specifying a margin amount set by the application; a determining step of determining a margin amount for a binding margin to be provided during double-sided printing based on the margin amount specified in the specifying step and information on a setting related to double-sided printing in the print control device that allows setting of a margin amount for a binding margin; an extraction step of extracting a print area from the print image excluding the margin amount specified in the specification step; a regeneration step of regenerating a print image to be printed in the double-sided printing based on the margin amount for the binding margin determined in the determination step and the print image of the print area extracted in the extraction step; A control method for a print control device, comprising: (Program 1) A program for causing a computer to function as each means of the print control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9. (Storage medium 1) A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the print control device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9. [Explanation of symbols]

[0132] 101 PC 102 Printer 201 Applications 210 Printer Driver

Claims

1. A print control device that prints a print image generated by an application with a binding margin when printing the image on both sides, a specifying unit that analyzes a print image generated by the application and specifies a margin amount set by the application; a determining means for determining the amount of margin for a binding margin to be provided during double-sided printing based on the amount of margin specified by the specifying means and information on settings related to double-sided printing in the print control device that allow the amount of margin for a binding margin to be set; an extracting means for extracting a print area from the print image excluding the margin amount specified by the specifying means; a regeneration unit that regenerates a print image to be printed in the double-sided printing process based on the amount of blank space for the binding margin determined by the determination unit and the print image of the print area extracted by the extraction unit; A print control device comprising:

2. The printing control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the margin amount for the binding margin is set in the settings related to double-sided printing in the printing control device, the determination means determines the margin amount for the binding margin to be the margin amount for the binding margin to be set during double-sided printing.

3. the specifying unit specifies, as the margin amount set by the application, the margin amounts on both ends of the binding direction side of the print image generated by the application and the side opposite to the binding direction side; The printing control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the margin amount for the binding margin is not set in the settings related to double-sided printing in the printing control device, the determination means determines the margin amount for the binding margin to be set during double-sided printing based on the specified margin amounts on both ends.

4. the specifying unit specifies, as the margin amount set by the application, the margin amounts on both ends of the binding direction side of the print image generated by the application and the side opposite to the binding direction side; The determining means If there is no difference between the specified margin amounts at both ends, the binding margin amount set in the settings related to the double-sided printing is given priority, and the binding margin amount to be set during the double-sided printing is determined; If there is a difference between the margin amounts at both ends specified by the specifying means, a user selection is accepted as to whether to use the margin amount based on the margin amounts at both ends or the margin amount for the binding margin set in the settings related to the double-sided printing, and the margin amount selected by the user is determined as the margin amount for the binding margin to be set during the double-sided printing.

2. The print control device according to claim 1.

5. 5. A printing control device according to claim 3, wherein the margin amount based on the margin amounts at both ends indicates the larger of the margin amount on the binding direction side of the printed image and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction.

6. 5. The print control device according to claim 3, wherein the specifying unit specifies the minimum value of the margin amount on the binding direction side in the print images of all pages generated by the application as the margin amount on the binding direction side, and specifies the minimum value of the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction as the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction.

7. the extraction means extracts the print area by excluding the margins on the specified binding direction side and on the opposite side of the binding direction from the print image; A printing control device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the regeneration means creates a frame for the print image with a margin for the binding margin corresponding to the amount of margin for the binding margin determined by the determination means, and inserts a print image of the printing area extracted by the extraction means on the binding margin side of the frame of the print image to regenerate the print image to be printed using double-sided printing.

8. When the margin amount on the binding direction side of the print image specified by the specifying means is within a threshold value and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction of the print image exceeds a threshold value. the extraction means extracts a print area by excluding the margin amount on the specified binding direction side and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction for odd-numbered pages of the print image, and extracts a print area by excluding the margin amount on the specified binding direction side and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction for even-numbered pages of the print image, without excluding the margin amount on the specified binding direction side; The printing control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the regeneration means creates a frame for the print image with a margin for the binding margin corresponding to the amount of margin for the binding margin determined by the determination means, and for odd-numbered pages of the print image, inserts a print image of the print area extracted by the extraction means on the binding margin side of the frame of the created print image, and for even-numbered pages of the print image, inserts a print image of the print area extracted by the extraction means on the opposite side of the binding margin side of the frame of the created print image, thereby regenerating the print image to be printed using double-sided printing.

9. A printing control device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has a control means that controls the extraction means not to extract the printing area and the regeneration means not to regenerate the printing image when the margin amount on the binding direction side of the printing image identified by the identification means exceeds a threshold value and the margin amount on the opposite side of the binding direction of the printing image exceeds a threshold value.

10. A control method for a print control device that prints a print image generated by an application with a binding margin when printing the image on both sides, comprising: a specifying step of analyzing a print image generated by the application and specifying a margin amount set by the application; a determining step of determining a margin amount for a binding margin to be provided during double-sided printing based on the margin amount specified in the specifying step and information on a setting related to double-sided printing in the print control device that allows setting of a margin amount for a binding margin; an extraction step of extracting a print area from the print image excluding the margin amount specified in the specification step; a regeneration step of regenerating a print image to be printed in the double-sided printing based on the margin amount for the binding margin determined in the determination step and the print image of the print area extracted in the extraction step; A control method for a print control device, comprising:

11. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

12. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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