Information processing system and program

Abstract

To enable a user to recognize a modification processing in the case where modification processing has been automatically applied to pixel data for an overlapping portion in raster data generated from a printing job in which an object to be rendered with a normal toner and an object to be rendered with a special toner are superimposed to form an image.SOLUTION: If modification processing has been automatically executed on pixel data representing pixels of an overlapping portion in accordance with predetermined rules in raster data created from a print job in which a processor forms an image by superimposing an object to be rendered with a normal toner and an object to be rendered with a special toner, which is a toner different from the normal toner, in a preview screen representing the raster data, a value of attribute information on which the modification processing has been executed is displayed in a different manner from the value of attribute information on which the modification processing has not been executed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a document processing system that includes a special color object detection means for detecting special color objects within electronic document data handled by a computer system, a special color drawing attribute discrimination means for determining whether the object attribute is partial coating or full coating, and a preview display means for switching the display method depending on the special color drawing attribute when the object attribute is determined to be coating processing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-130705 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The object of the present disclosure is to make it possible for a user to recognize that modification processing has been performed when automatic modification processing is performed on pixel data in overlapping areas in raster data created from a print job that forms an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An information processing system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a processor, and when a modification process is automatically performed on pixel data representing pixels in an overlapping area in raster data created from a print job that forms an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner that is different from the normal toner, the processor displays, on a preview screen representing the raster data, the values ​​of attribute information for which the modification process has been performed in a manner different from the values ​​of attribute information for which the modification process has not been performed.

[0006] An information processing system according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the information processing system described in the first aspect, the value of the attribute information on which the change process has been performed includes a first value and a second value.

[0007] An information processing system according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the information processing system described in the second aspect, the change process is a process of setting the density of the special toner to zero in the overlapping area, the first value is a value representing the attribute of the object due to the special toner, and the second value is a value representing the attribute of the object due to the normal toner.

[0008] An information processing system according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing system described in the third aspect, wherein the processor accepts a switch on the preview screen to display or hide the object created using the special toner, and when displaying the object created using the special toner, highlights a value representing the attribute of the object created using the special toner as the value of the attribute information on which the change process has been performed, and when hiding the object created using the special toner, highlights a value representing the attribute of the object created using the normal toner as the value of the attribute information on which the change process has been performed.

[0009] An information processing system according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the information processing system described in the first aspect, when the modification process is performed on the pixel data of the overlapping area, the processor displays on the preview screen the range of the overlapping area between the object drawn with the normal toner and the object drawn with the special toner in a manner that makes it distinguishable from other areas.

[0010] An information processing system according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the information processing system described in the fifth aspect, the processor displays the overlapping area in a manner that makes it distinguishable from the other areas by coloring the overlapping area.

[0011] An information processing system according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing system according to the sixth aspect, characterized in that the processor accepts a selection of a color for the coloring.

[0012] A program according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in raster data created from a print job that forms an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner, when a modification process is automatically performed on pixel data representing pixels in the overlapping area according to predetermined rules, the program causes a computer to perform a process of displaying, on a preview screen representing the raster data, the values ​​of attribute information for which the modification process has been performed in a manner different from the values ​​of attribute information for which the modification process has not been performed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the information processing system of the first aspect of the present disclosure, when raster data created from a print job that forms an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner is automatically modified to the pixel data of the overlapping area, the user can be made aware that modification processing has occurred.

[0014] According to the information processing system according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the pixel data of the pixels in the overlapping portion has two different values, a first value and a second value, which can be recognized by the user.

[0015] According to the information processing system relating to the third aspect of the present disclosure, when a process is performed to reduce the density of special toner to zero in overlapping areas, the user can recognize a first value representing the attribute of the object using special toner and a second value representing the attribute of the object using normal toner.

[0016] According to the information processing system relating to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the user can be made aware of the first value, which is a value representing the attribute of an object using special toner, and the second value, which is a value representing the attribute of an object using normal toner.

[0017] According to the information processing system according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, when a change process is performed on pixel data of an overlapping portion, the user can recognize the difference between the overlapping portion and other portions on the preview screen.

[0018] According to the information processing system according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, when modification processing is performed on pixel data of an overlapping portion, the user can intuitively recognize the difference between the overlapping portion and other portions on the preview screen.

[0019] According to the information processing system according to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, when a change process is performed on pixel data of an overlapping portion, it becomes possible to make the overlapping portion have a different color from other portions on the preview screen.

[0020] According to the program relating to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, in raster data created from a print job that forms an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner, when a modification process is automatically applied to the pixel data of the overlapping area, the user can be made aware that a modification process has been performed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the hardware configuration of an operation terminal and a production printer of the information processing system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an operation terminal. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of an object (A) and attribute information (B) in the overlapping area of ​​normal toner data and special toner data. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of an object (A) and attribute information (B) when normal toner data and special toner data are rasterized. [Figure 6] 10A is a conceptual diagram of an object (A) and attribute information (B) after total amount restriction of toner data in the overlapping area between normal toner data and special toner data has been performed. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a preview image displaying density-change-processed image data PD. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a preview image displaying image data that has been subjected to non-display processing. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a CPU of an operation terminal. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a CPU of an operation terminal. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a preview image of a modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a preview image when color adjustment processing is executed. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a preview image displaying image data that has been subjected to non-display processing. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a preview image when color adjustment processing is executed. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a CPU of an operation terminal according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] 1, an information processing system 10 (hereinafter referred to as system 10) of this embodiment includes an operation terminal 20, an input device 30, a production printer 40 (hereinafter referred to as printer 40), and a display device 50. In this embodiment, the operation terminal 20 is a personal computer, and the input device 30 is a keyboard and a mouse electrically connected to the operation terminal 20. The operation terminal 20 and the printer 40 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a wired or wireless communication line 17 such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). The display device 50 is electrically connected to the operation terminal 20.

[0024] Next, the operation terminal 20 will be described in detail.

[0025] 2, the hardware configuration of the operation terminal 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit: processor) 20A, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 20B, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 20C, a storage 20D, a communication I / F (Interface) 20E, and an input / output I / F 20F. The CPU 20A, ROM 20B, RAM 20C, storage 20D, communication I / F 20E, and input / output I / F 20F are connected to each other via a bus 20Z so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0026] The CPU 20A is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each component. That is, the CPU 20A reads programs from the ROM 20B or the storage 20D and executes the programs using the RAM 20C as a work area. The CPU 20A controls each component and performs various arithmetic processing in accordance with the programs recorded in the ROM 20B or the storage 20D.

[0027] The ROM 20B stores various programs and various data. The RAM 20C temporarily stores programs or data as a working area. The storage 20D is composed of a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) and stores various programs and various data. The communication I / F 20E is an interface for communicating with other devices via wired or wireless connections.

[0028] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the operation terminal 20. The operation terminal 20 has, as its functional configuration, a print processing unit 201 and a display control unit 202. The print processing unit 201 and the display control unit 202 are realized by the CPU 20A reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 20B.

[0029] The print processing unit 201 has a function of, when an operator inputs a print instruction to the operation terminal 20 using the input device 30, generating a predetermined print job based on the print instruction and sending the generated print job to the printer 40. For example, when a print instruction to print photo data (image data) recorded in the storage 20D is input from the input device 30 to the operation terminal 20, the print processing unit 201 generates a print job indicating that the photo data will be printed and sends the print job to the printer 40.

[0030] Furthermore, the print processing unit 201 generates image data based on the print job. The image processing function of the print processing unit 201 will be described in detail later.

[0031] The display control unit 202 has a function of controlling the display device 50 to display various images on the display device 50. For example, when the print processing unit 201 generates density-change-processed image data PD (described later), the display control unit 202 causes the display device 50 to preview a preview screen PV (described later).

[0032] Next, the printer 40 will be described.

[0033] 2, printer 40 has a hardware configuration including CPU 40A, ROM 40B, 40C, storage 40D, communication I / F 40E, input / output I / F 40F, and bus 40Z. CPU 40A, ROM 40B, 40C, storage 40D, communication I / F 40E, input / output I / F 40F, and bus 40Z have the same functions as CPU A, ROM 20B, RAM 20C, storage 20D, communication I / F 20E, input / output I / F 20F, and bus 20Z, respectively.

[0034] The printer 40 is an image forming device that is equipped with special toners including clear toner, gold toner, silver toner, etc., in addition to normal toners including cyan (C) toner, magenta (M) toner, yellow (Y) toner, and black (K) toner.

[0035] Next, the image processing function of the print processing unit 201 of the operation terminal 20 will be described in detail. When the print job generated by the operation terminal 20 is a command to print using normal toner and special toner, the print processing unit 201 generates image data using normal toner data and special toner data. When such a print job is received from the operation terminal 20, the printer 40 prints an image based on this image data on printing paper (recording medium) using normal toner and special toner.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4A, if the print job generated by the operation terminal 20 is a command to form an image by overlapping a portion of an object OB-n rendered with normal toner and a portion of an object OB-s rendered with special toner, the print processing unit 201 performs rasterization processing so that the special toner data overlaps on top of (in front of) a portion of the normal toner data. Note that in the following description, such a print job is referred to as a special print job. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4B, the object OB-n includes attribute information AT-n for normal toner, and the object OB-s includes attribute information AT-s for special toner. The attribute information includes, for example, information representing characters, lines, images, fills, and shading.

[0037] Let's consider a case where, when objects OB-n and OB-s shown in FIG. 4A are rasterized, the total amount of each toner in each pixel data included in the overlapping portion OVA between objects OB-n and OB-s exceeds a predetermined threshold. In this case, the print processing unit 201 restricts the total amount of each toner in each pixel data included in the overlapping portion OVA as necessary. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if the total amount (total value) of C toner, M toner, Y toner, K toner, and special toner in a specific pixel data included in the overlapping portion OVA exceeds the threshold value of 150%, the print processing unit 201 performs processing to change the amount (density) of special toner in this pixel data to 0%. In other words, the amounts of C toner, M toner, Y toner, K toner, and special toner are changed from the values ​​shown in the "Before Total Amount Adjustment" column of FIG. 7 to the values ​​shown in the "Before Color Adjustment" column. More specifically, only the amount of special toner is changed.

[0038] As a result, the print processing unit 201 modifies the image data so that object OB-n overlaps a portion of object OB-s in the overlapping portion OVA, as shown in FIG. 5(A). In other words, the density of the special toner data for each pixel data included in the overlapping portion OVA of the image data in FIG. 5(A) is 0%. As shown in FIG. 5(B), in this case too, object OB-n includes attribute information AT-n for normal toner, and object OB-s includes attribute information AT-s for special toner. Therefore, each pixel data in the overlapping portion OVA includes attribute information AT-n and attribute information AT-s for special toner as attribute information. This image data (raster data) in FIG. 5 is referred to as density-modified image data PD.

[0039] FIG. 6A shows print image data PDP, which is image data obtained when the print processing unit 201 performs predetermined image processing on the density-change-processed image data PD of FIG. 5. As described above, in the terminal device 20, pixel data included in the overlapping portion OVA of the image data has two pieces of attribute information: attribute information AT-n and attribute information AT-s. However, when actually sending a print job to the printer 40, if one piece of pixel data contains multiple pieces of attribute information, printing is not possible. Therefore, when sending a special print job to the printer 40, the print processing unit 201 includes in the special print job information indicating that the attribute information AT-s for the special toner in the overlapping portion OVA of the density-change-processed image data PD of FIG. 5 will not be used. Alternatively, the processing unit 201 may delete the attribute information AT-s for the special toner in the overlapping portion OVA of the density-change-processed image data PD of FIG. 5 from the special print job and leave the attribute information AT-n for the normal toner, thereby generating the print image data PDP of FIG. 6. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, the attribute data included in each pixel data included in the overlapping portion OVA of the print image data PDP is only the attribute information AT-n of the normal toner.

[0040] When the operation terminal 20 generates density-modified image data PD, the display control unit 202 of the operation terminal 20 controls the display device 50 to display the preview screen PV shown in FIG. 7. The density-modified image data PD is displayed in the right half of the preview screen PV. Furthermore, an information display unit PV-1 is formed in the left half of the preview screen PV. In the upper half of the information display unit PV-1, a toner information display unit PV-1A is formed, which shows the amounts of C toner, M toner, Y toner, K toner, and special toner contained in the pixel data of a portion indicated by a cursor Cr, which can be moved on the density-modified image data PD using a mouse. The toner information display unit PV-1A displays the actively selected layer. For example, in FIG. 7, the spot color toner and CMYK toner are each marked with an "eye" mark, and the layer represented by the spot color toner and CMYK toner is actively selected. The toner amounts "before total amount adjustment" shown in the toner information display section PV-1A correspond to the amounts of each toner in the state shown in FIG. 4, while the toner amounts "before color adjustment" shown in the toner information display section PV-1A correspond to the amounts of each toner in the state shown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, the lower half of the information display section PV-1 contains an attribute information display section PV-1B that displays attribute information (attribute information values) contained in the pixel data of the portion indicated by the cursor Cr, which can be moved using a mouse on the density-adjusted image data PD. When the cursor Cr selects the overlapping portion OVA, the attribute displayed in the attribute information display section PV-1B is based on the attribute information AT-s of the object OB-s (special toner), which is the foreground layer of the overlapping portion OVA. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the attribute contained in the pixel data of the portion indicated by the cursor Cr is "fill and shading." Furthermore, when the cursor Cr selects the overlapping portion OVA, a red rectangular display frame PV-1BR is displayed in the attribute information display section PV-1B. In other words, at this time, the attribute information display section PV-1B highlights the attribute information. The highlighting of attribute information is not limited to a rectangular display, and any other display method may be used, such as shading characters or blinking frames, as long as it is distinguishable from normal display.Furthermore, the red highlighting color is just an example, and any other color may be used as long as it can be distinguished from the normal display.

[0041] When the cursor Cr is placed over a portion (other portion) of the density-change-processed image data PD other than the overlapping portion OVA, the display frame PV-1BR is not displayed in the attribute information display unit PV-1B. That is, at this time, the attribute information display unit PV-1B displays the attribute information normally. That is, when the cursor Cr is placed over the overlapping portion OVA of the density-change-processed image data PD, the attribute information display unit PV-1B displays the attribute information in a different manner than when the cursor Cr is placed over another portion. The normal display manner may be, for example, without a rectangular frame, or the frame may be the same color as the background of the text.

[0042] Furthermore, when the cursor Cr selects the display switch image PV-SW included in the information display section PV-1 of the preview screen PV and the user performs a predetermined hide operation using the input device 30, the preview screen PV displayed on the display device 50 switches to the state shown in FIG. 8. The right half of this preview screen PV displays the non-display-processed image data PD-X instead of the density-change-processed image data PD. This non-display-processed image data PD-X is image data that represents the density-change-processed image data PD with the object OB-s (special toner) hidden. That is, the attribute information (attribute information AT-n) of the overlapping portion OVA of the non-display-processed image data PD-X is the same as the attribute information (attribute information AT-n) of the overlapping portion OVA of the print image data PDP. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the attribute included in the pixel data of the portion indicated by the cursor Cr is "image." Furthermore, when the cursor Cr selects the overlapping portion OVA, a green rectangular display frame PV-1BG is displayed in the attribute information display section PV-1B. That is, at this time, the attribute information display section PV-1B highlights the attribute information. The attribute information highlighting is not limited to a rectangular display, and any other display method, such as shading characters or a blinking frame, may be used as long as it is distinguishable from the normal display. The green highlight color is an example, and any other display method may be used as long as it is distinguishable from the normal display. The attribute information display unit PV-1B in FIG. 8 may be highlighted less than the attribute information display unit PV-1B in FIG. 7. The attributes of the overlapping portion OVA in the actual printout are those shown in FIG. 8, not those shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, by highlighting the attribute information display unit PV-1B in FIG. 7 more than the attribute information display unit PV-1B in FIG. 8, the level of user attention can be increased. The strength of the highlighting can be, for example, strong for warm colors and weak for cool colors, with the highlighting in FIG. 7 being red and the highlighting in FIG. 8 being green. Alternatively, the highlighting in FIG. 7 may be darker and the highlighting in FIG. 8 lighter depending on the color shading.

[0043] When the cursor Cr is placed over a portion other than the overlapping portion OVA of the non-display processed image data PD-X, the display frame PV-1BG is not displayed in the attribute information display unit PV-1B. That is, at this time, the attribute information display unit PV-1B displays the attribute information normally. That is, when the cursor Cr is placed over the overlapping portion OVA of the non-display processed image data PD-X, the attribute information display unit PV-1B displays the attribute information in a different manner than when the cursor Cr is placed over another portion. The normal display manner may be, for example, without a rectangular frame, or the frame may be the same color as the background of the text.

[0044] When the user places the cursor Cr on the display changeover switch image PV-SW of the preview screen PV in the state of FIG. 8 and then performs a predetermined display operation using the input device 30, the preview screen PV switches to the state of FIG.

[0045] When the operation terminal 20 sends a special print job to the printer 40, the printer 40 uses normal toner and special toner to print an image based on the print image data PDP on printing paper. In other words, the printer 40 does not print an image based on the density-change-processed image data PD on printing paper. Therefore, the user of the system 10 obtains only the printing paper on which the image based on the print image data PDP is printed. Therefore, the overlapping portion OVA of the non-display-processed image data PD-X included in the preview screen PV displayed on the display device 50 accurately represents the overlapping portion OVA of the image displayed on the printing paper the user intends to obtain. In other words, the overlapping portion OVA of the density-change-processed image data PD displayed on the display device 50 corresponds to an image that is slightly different from the overlapping portion OVA of the image displayed on the printing paper the user intends to obtain.

[0046] Next, the operation of the system 10 configured as above will be described.

[0047] The CPU 20A of the operation terminal 20 repeatedly executes the processing of the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10 for each calculation period.

[0048] First, in step S10 (hereinafter, the word "step" will be omitted) in FIG. 9, the CPU 20A determines whether a print instruction has been received from the input device 30.

[0049] If the answer to S10 is Yes, the CPU 20A proceeds to S11 and executes a rasterization process on the data based on the print instruction.

[0050] When the process of S11 is completed, the CPU 20A proceeds to S12 and determines whether the total amount (total value) of the C toner, M toner, Y toner, K toner, and special toner in the predetermined pixel data exceeds a threshold value.

[0051] If the answer to S12 is Yes, the CPU 20A proceeds to S13 and changes the density (value of attribute information) of the special toner data of the pixel data exceeding the threshold to 0%.

[0052] When the process of S13 is completed, the CPU 20A proceeds to S14. That is, the CPU 20A proceeds to S21 of Fig. 10 and determines whether point processing is being executed to place the cursor Cr on a predetermined portion of the density-change-processed image data PD of Fig. 7 or the non-display-processed image data PD-X of Fig. 8.

[0053] If the determination in S21 is Yes, the CPU 20A proceeds to S22 and identifies the position of the pixel that has been subjected to the pointing process. That is, the CPU 20A identifies the pixel data that has been subjected to the pointing process.

[0054] When the process of S22 is completed, the CPU 20A proceeds to S23 and determines whether or not the position that has been subjected to the pointing process is included in the overlapping portion OVA.

[0055] If the answer to the question in S23 is No, the CPU 20A proceeds to S24 and displays the attribute information of the top layer among the layers of pixel data that have been subjected to point processing in the normal manner.

[0056] On the other hand, if the determination in S23 is Yes, the CPU 20A proceeds to S25 and executes the same process as in S12.

[0057] If the determination in S25 is Yes, the CPU 20A proceeds to S26, where it highlights the attribute information of the foreground layer among the layers of pixel data that have been subjected to point processing. For example, if the overlapping portion OVA of the non-display-processed image data PD-X in Fig. 8 has been subjected to point processing, a display frame PV-1BG is displayed in the attribute information display section PV-1B.

[0058] If the result of S21 is No, or if the processes of S24 and S26 are completed, the CPU 20A proceeds to S27 and determines whether or not a preview end instruction has been received from the input device 30.

[0059] If the determination in S27 is Yes, the CPU 20A temporarily ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0060] As described above, in the system 10 of this embodiment, when automatic modification processing (special toner density processing) is performed on the pixel data of the overlapping portion OVA, the attribute information values ​​of the overlapping portion OVA and the attribute information values ​​of other portions are displayed in different formats. Therefore, the system 10 allows a user viewing the display device 50 to recognize that the modification processing has occurred. That is, when the print image data PDP of FIG. 6 is generated by deleting the special toner attribute information AT-s from the overlapping portion OVA of the density-modified image data PD and leaving the normal toner attribute information AT-n, the system 10 allows a user viewing the preview screen PV shown in FIG. 8 to recognize that the modification processing has been performed.

[0061] Furthermore, as described above, when printer 40 receives a special print job from operation terminal 20, printer 40 prints an image based on print image data PDP onto printing paper. Furthermore, the overlapping portion OVA of the non-display processed image data PD-X included in preview screen PV accurately represents the overlapping portion OVA of the image displayed on the printing paper that the user plans to acquire. Therefore, by looking at the non-display processed image data PD-X included in preview screen PV, the user can easily accurately predict the image that will be printed on the printing paper.

[0062] Furthermore, by utilizing the display changeover switch image PV-SW of the preview screen PV, the system 10 can switch between displaying attribute information AT-s (first value) representing the attribute of an object formed by special toner and attribute information AT-n (second value) representing the attribute of an object formed by normal toner as attribute information of the overlapping portion OVA on the attribute information display section PV-1B. Therefore, the system 10 allows the user to recognize the attribute information AT-s (first value) and attribute information AT-n (second value) in the overlapping portion OVA.

[0063] The above describes the system 10 and program according to this embodiment based on the drawings, but the system 10 and program according to this embodiment are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and the design can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0064] For example, the present invention may be implemented in the modified embodiments shown in FIGS.

[0065] In this modified example, when the operation terminal 20 generates density-changed image data PD, a preview screen PV-F is displayed on the display device 50 as shown in Fig. 11. This preview screen PV-F is basically the same as the preview screen PV of the embodiment, but differs in that a check box image PV-CB is formed in the information display section PV-1.

[0066] When the user positions the cursor Cr on the check box image PV-CB and performs a predetermined operation using the input device 30, the preview screen PV-F switches to the state shown in FIG. 12. The preview screen PV-F shown in FIG. 12 displays density-change-processed image data PD-F corresponding to the density-change-processed image data PD. The portion of this density-change-processed image data PD-F corresponding to the overlapping portion OVA is displayed in red. That is, the portion corresponding to the overlapping portion OVA is highlighted. The red highlighting color is just an example, and any other color may be used as long as it is distinguishable from the normal display. If nothing is changed except for the overlapping portion OVA, the overlapping portion OVA is highlighted by coloring it. Conversely, the overlapping portion OVA can be highlighted relatively by graying out the portions other than the overlapping portion OVA and displaying only the overlapping portion OVA without graying it out.

[0067] In this modified example, when a non-display operation is performed on the display changeover switch image PV-SW, the preview screen PV-F in FIG. 11 changes to the state in FIG.

[0068] When the user positions the cursor Cr on the check box image PV-CB and performs a predetermined operation using the input device 30, the preview screen PV-F switches from the state shown in FIG. 13 to the state shown in FIG. 14. The preview screen PV-F shown in FIG. 14 displays the hide-processed image data PD-XF corresponding to the hide-processed image data PD-X. The portion of this hide-processed image data PD-XF corresponding to the overlapping portion OVA is displayed in green. That is, the portion corresponding to the overlapping portion OVA is highlighted. The green highlighting color is an example, and any color that can be distinguished from the normal display may be used. If nothing is changed except for the overlapping portion OVA, the overlapping portion OVA is highlighted by coloring it. Conversely, the overlapping portion OVA can be highlighted relatively by graying out the portions other than the overlapping portion OVA and displaying only the overlapping portion OVA without graying it out. The overlapping portion OVA in FIG. 14 may be highlighted less than the overlapping portion OVA in FIG. 12. The strength of the highlighting can be, for example, strong for warm colors and weak for cool colors, with the highlighting in Fig. 12 being red and the highlighting in Fig. 14 being green. Alternatively, the highlighting in Fig. 12 can be dark and the highlighting in Fig. 14 can be light depending on the shade of the color. Alternatively, the color of the highlighting in Fig. 12 can be the same as the color of the highlighting in Fig. 7, and the color of the highlighting in Fig. 14 can be the same as the color of the highlighting in Fig. 8.

[0069] Next, the operation of the system 10 according to the modified example of the configuration described above will be described.

[0070] When the CPU 20A of the operation terminal 20 finishes the process of S13 in Fig. 9, the process proceeds to S31 in Fig. 15. Note that S31, S32, S33, and S36 in Fig. 15 are the same processes as S21, S22, S23, and S26 in Fig. 10, respectively.

[0071] If the determination in S33 is Yes, the CPU 20A proceeds to S35 and highlights the overlapping portion OVA. For example, the overlapping portion OVA of the non-display processed image data PD-XF in Fig. 14 is highlighted in green.

[0072] If the determination in S36 is Yes, the CPU 20A temporarily ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0073] In this modified example, when the total amount restriction process is executed on the overlapping portion OVA, the user viewing the preview screen PV can intuitively recognize the difference between the overlapping portion OVA and other portions.

[0074] 11 to 15, the color to be applied to the overlapping portion OVA of the density-change-processed image data PD-F and the non-display-processed image data PD-XF may be selected from a number of colors. In this way, it becomes possible to intentionally make the color of the overlapping portion OVA of the density-change-processed image data PD-F and the non-display-processed image data PD-XF different from the color of the surrounding area of ​​the overlapping portion OVA in the density-change-processed image data PD-F and the non-display-processed image data PD-XF.

[0075] The printer 40 may have the function (image processing function) of the print processing unit 201. In this case, for example, when the operation terminal 20 transmits a print job to the printer 40, the printer 40 uses the image processing function to generate density-change-processed image data PD, printing image data PDP, etc.

[0076] The operation terminal 20 in the embodiment and each modification may be a smartphone or a tablet computer instead of a personal computer.

[0077] Instead of coloring the overlapping portion OVA of the density-change-processed image data PD-F in Fig. 12 in red, a special pattern (e.g., polka dots) may be added to this overlapping portion OVA. Also, instead of coloring the overlapping portion OVA of the non-display-processed image data PD-XF in Fig. 14 in green, a special pattern (e.g., diagonal lines) may be added to this overlapping portion OVA.

[0078] (Addendum) (((1))) a processor; The processor: In raster data created from a print job for forming an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner, which is a toner different from the normal toner, when a change process is automatically performed on pixel data representing pixels of the overlapping portion in accordance with a predetermined rule, a value of attribute information for which the change process has been performed is displayed in a different manner from a value of attribute information for which the change process has not been performed on a preview screen representing the raster data. Information processing system. (((2))) the value of the attribute information on which the change process has been executed includes a first value and a second value; The information processing system according to (((1))). (((3))) the change processing is processing for making the density of the special toner zero in the overlapping portion, the first value is a value representing an attribute of the object by the special toner; the second value is a value representing an attribute of the object by the normal toner; The information processing system according to (((2))). (((4))) The processor: accepting a switch to display or hide the object using the special toner on the preview screen; When displaying the object using the special toner, a value representing the attribute of the object using the special toner is highlighted as the value of the attribute information for which the change process has been executed; When the object using the special toner is to be hidden, a value representing the attribute of the object using the normal toner is highlighted as the value of the attribute information on which the change process has been executed. 1. An information processing system according to any one of ((1))) to (((3))). (((5))) The processor: when the change processing has been executed on the pixel data of the overlapping portion, the range of the overlapping portion between the object drawn with the normal toner and the object drawn with the special toner is displayed on the preview screen in a manner that allows the range to be distinguished from other portions; 1. An information processing system according to any one of ((1))) to (((4))). (((6))) The processor: By coloring the range of the overlapping portion, the range of the overlapping portion is displayed so as to be distinguishable from the other portion. The information processing system according to (((5))). (((7))) The processor: Accepting a color selection for said coloring; The information processing system according to (((6))). (((8))) A program that causes a computer to execute a process in which, in raster data created from a print job that forms an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner, when a change process is automatically performed on pixel data representing pixels in the overlapping area according to a predetermined rule, the values ​​of attribute information for which the change process has been performed are displayed in a manner different from the values ​​of attribute information for which the change process has not been performed on a preview screen representing the raster data.

[0079] According to the information processing system of (((1))), when a change process is automatically applied to pixel data in the overlapping area in raster data created from a print job that forms an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner, the user can be made aware that a change process has been applied. According to the information processing system of (((2))), the first value and the second value in the overlapping portion can be recognized by the user. According to the information processing system of (((3))), when a process is executed to reduce the density of special toner to zero in the overlapping area, the user can recognize the first value, which is a value representing the attribute of the object using special toner, and the second value, which is a value representing the attribute of the object using normal toner. According to the information processing system of (((4))), when a process for reducing the density of special toner to zero in the overlapping area is executed, the user can recognize the first value, which is a value representing the attribute of the object using special toner, and the second value, which is a value representing the attribute of the object using normal toner. According to the information processing system of (((5))), when a change process is executed on pixel data of an overlapping portion, the user can recognize the difference between the overlapping portion and other portions on the preview screen. According to the information processing system of (((6))), when a change process is executed on pixel data of an overlapping portion, the user can intuitively recognize the difference between the overlapping portion and other portions on the preview screen. According to the information processing system of (((7))), when a change process is executed on the pixel data of the overlapping portion, it becomes possible to make the overlapping portion have a different color from the other portions on the preview screen. According to the program (((8))), when raster data created from a print job that forms an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner is automatically modified in the pixel data of the overlapping portion, the user can be made aware that modification processing has been performed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 10 Information Processing System (System) 20 Operation terminal 20A 40A CPU (processor) 50 Display device AT-n attribute information AT-s attribute information PV PV-F preview screen

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: In raster data created from a print job for forming an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner, which is a toner different from the normal toner, when a change process is automatically performed on pixel data representing pixels of the overlapping portion in accordance with a predetermined rule, a value of attribute information for which the change process has been performed is displayed in a different manner from a value of attribute information for which the change process has not been performed on a preview screen representing the raster data. Information processing system.

2. the value of the attribute information on which the change process has been executed includes a first value and a second value; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. the change processing is processing for making the density of the special toner zero in the overlapping portion, the first value is a value representing an attribute of the object by the special toner; the second value is a value representing an attribute of the object by the normal toner; The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The processor: accepting a switch to display or hide the object using the special toner on the preview screen; When displaying the object using the special toner, a value representing the attribute of the object using the special toner is highlighted as the value of the attribute information for which the change process has been executed; When the object using the special toner is to be hidden, a value representing the attribute of the object using the normal toner is highlighted as the value of the attribute information on which the change process has been executed. The information processing system according to claim 3 .

5. The processor: when the change processing has been executed on the pixel data of the overlapping portion, the range of the overlapping portion between the object drawn with the normal toner and the object drawn with the special toner is displayed on the preview screen in a manner that allows the range to be distinguished from other portions; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

6. The processor: By coloring the range of the overlapping portion, the range of the overlapping portion is displayed so as to be distinguishable from the other portion. The information processing system according to claim 5 .

7. The processor: Accepting a color selection for said coloring; The information processing system according to claim 6.

8. A program that causes a computer to execute a process in which, in raster data created from a print job that forms an image by overlapping an object drawn with normal toner and an object drawn with special toner, when a modification process is automatically performed on pixel data representing pixels in the overlapping area according to predetermined rules, the values ​​of attribute information for which the modification process has been performed are displayed in a manner different from the values ​​of attribute information for which the modification process has not been performed on a preview screen representing the raster data.

Images