Information Processing Apparatus, Control Method, Program, and Storage Medium

Abstract

To improve the quality of a binding unit of a book, such as an album.SOLUTION: An image processing device includes acquisition means for acquiring the data, cutout means for cutting out a page on the basis of the data, attaching means for attaching an image based on the data to a binding section of the cutout page, and outputting means for outputting data including a page containing an image attached by the attaching means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method , P and a program and a storage medium and particularly relates to a technology for processing this data.

Background Art

[0002] In the binding methods of photo albums and books, there is a method of outputting and binding them in units of double-sided single pages. An example of the above is saddle stitching. Saddle stitching is a binding method in which the spine of a book is fixed with glue (adhesive), and it is a widely used binding method because it can be finished inexpensively and quickly.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, in a reading device (scanner), an image is expanded or contracted and corrected according to the reading result of an image near the binding part. As a result, the image is firmly printed up to the blank area of the binding part, and the joint of the binding part is eliminated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, when the function of Patent Document 1 is used, the size of an object included in an image is changed by expanding or contracting the image. That is, the design result in layout software and the output result after binding are different.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the quality of the binding part of a book such as an album.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires main data, and First the binding part of the page of additional area for bookbinding based on the main data, First a provided image As, an image that is line-symmetrical about a straight line set at a predetermined position on the first page is provided by a providing unit, and output unit that outputs data including the The first provided image included by the providing unit and First the page of e is characterized by including.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the quality of the binding part can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing system. [Figure 2] It is a schematic diagram showing an example of an album. [Figure 3] It is a flowchart showing the processing of album editing software. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example of an editing screen by album editing software. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart showing the processing of print data output software. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of print data output by print data creation software. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart showing the processing of print data creation software. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of print data output by print data creation software. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing an example of print data output by print data creation software. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of print data output by print data creation software. [Figure 11] It is a flowchart showing the processing of print data creation software. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing an example of print data output by print data creation software. [Figure 13] It is a flowchart showing the processing of print data creation software. [Figure 14] It is a diagram showing an example of print data output by print data creation software. [Figure 15] It is a flowchart showing the processing of print data creation software. [Figure 16] It is a diagram showing an example of print data output by print data creation software. [Figure 17] It is a flowchart showing the processing of print data creation software. [Figure 18] It is a diagram showing an example of print data output by print data creation software.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] <Embodiment 1> (Information Processing Apparatus) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration diagram of a printing system 1000 according to the present embodiment. First, the configuration of an information processing apparatus 1001 according to the present embodiment will be described. The information processing apparatus 1001 can output album data as print data to a printer 1010 or upload the album data to an external server 1060. The information processing apparatus 1001 includes a ROM 1002, a RAM 1003, a CPU 1004, and a storage device 1005. Further, a printer 1010, a monitor 1020, and an input device 1030 are connected to the information processing apparatus 1001. The information processing apparatus 1001 also has an input / output interface (not shown) for connecting to a network 1050. Note that the album data includes a plurality of spread data. The spread data may be data in which images are arranged, or data including image data to be used and arrangement information of each image data. Note that the "spread" corresponds to, for example, one display window in display, and in a printed matter, corresponds to a pair of adjacent pages (that is, two pages) that a user can view at once when the book is opened. Note that there are two cases for the two pages within a spread: a case where the two pages printed on different sheets are bound so as to be adjacent to form a spread, and a case where the one sheet printed on is folded in the middle to form a spread.

[0011] The CPU 1004 is a central processing unit, and controls the entire information processing apparatus 1001 by executing an operating system program (hereinafter abbreviated as OS) stored in the storage device 1005, the ROM 1002, or the RAM 1003. Further, the CPU 1004 executes each function of the information processing apparatus 1001 by executing a program stored in the ROM 1002 or the RAM 1003. The ROM 1002 stores each program. The RAM 1003 is a random access memory and is used as a work memory for the CPU 1004. If the RAM 1003 is a non-volatile RAM, each program is stored in the RAM 1003.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an album 10 created by using album data output from the album editing application 90. The album 10 is a photo album, a photo book, or the like. Note that, although this embodiment will be described by taking a printed matter as the album 10 as an example, the present invention is not limited to the album 10 and can be applied to all layout software that outputs printed matters.

[0013] The album editing application 90 is held in the ROM 1002 of the information processing apparatus 1001. The information processing apparatus 1001 can communicate with an external server 1060 via a network 1050 (specifically, the Internet). The album data created in the information processing apparatus 1001 is uploaded to the external server 1060 via the network 1050. The user uploads the album data created by the information processing apparatus 1001 to the external server 1060 and performs necessary album purchase procedures. When these user operations are appropriately performed, the external server 1060 transmits print data based on the album data to the information processing apparatus 2001. In addition, the external server 1060 accepts an order for creating an album, manages an order for creating an album, creates print data based on the album data, and instructs printing.

[0014] Similar to the information processing apparatus 1001, the information processing apparatus 2001 includes a ROM 2002, a RAM 2003, a CPU 2004, and a storage device 2005. Since the roles of each are the same as those of the information processing apparatus 1001, the description thereof will be omitted. The print data creation application 91 is held in the ROM 2002 of the information processing apparatus 2001. The print data creation application 91 can create print data based on the input album data. In addition, the information processing apparatus 2001 has an input / output interface (not shown) for connecting to a printer 2010, and can communicate with the printer 2010 via the input / output interface. The information processing apparatus 2001 downloads the album data of the external server 1060, generates print data based on the album data, and transmits the print data to the printer 2010.

[0015] After that, the printed matter printed by the printer 2010 is bound by the post-processing device 3010. In the binding process, the printed matter is divided into a cover page and pages other than the cover page. The cover page is created by folding the ends of thick paper by the cover manufacturing device 3020. Also, the pages other than the cover page are cut by the cutting device 3030 for the purpose of aligning the ends. After that, the cover page and the pages other than the cover page are bound by the binding device 3040 and delivered to the user as an album 10 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0016] The printer 1010 prints print data based on the album data created by the information processing device 1001. For example, the printed matter printed by the printer 1010 is bound by the user. The monitor 1020 is a display device that displays the image information output by the information processing device 1001. The input device 1030 is an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device for inputting to the information processing device 1001. Depending on the form of the input device, it may be integrated with the monitor, and there is also a touch panel that directly touches the monitor for input. The storage device 1005 is a storage device such as an HDD or an SSD that stores image data or templates. Note that the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and another form is also acceptable. For example, the information processing device 1001 may include the monitor 1020 or the input device 1030.

[0017] (Album Editing Application) Next, the processing of the album editing application will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing layout editing and ordering processing. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is performed by the CPU 1004 of the information processing device 1001 expanding and executing the program code stored in the ROM 1002 in the RAM 1003. In the following flowcharts, the symbol "S" in the description of each process means that it is a step in the flowchart.

[0019] When the user launches the album editing application 90, the process shown in FIG. 3 starts. First, at S301, the information processing apparatus 1001 accepts the selection of commercial materials by the user. That is, according to the user's operation, the size of the album, the type of cover, the binding format, the total number of pages of the album, or the type of paper is set. Here, the binding format is, for example, the aforementioned sewn binding or saddle-stitch binding. When creating an album that can be opened 180 degrees flat, sewn binding is selected, and when creating a low-cost album, saddle-stitch binding is selected.

[0020] After the setting operation for the selection of commercial materials, at S302, the information processing apparatus 1001 accepts the selection of image data by the user. When the user selects a desired folder, a list screen of the image data stored in the selected folder is displayed. By using this screen, the user can select an image, and thus the information processing apparatus 1001 can accept the image data.

[0021] After the image selection is completed, at S303, the information processing apparatus 1001 determines whether the automatic layout mode is selected as the layout mode according to the user's operation. The automatic layout mode is a mode in which images are automatically arranged on the layout screen without arranging the images by user operation. Also, the process of determining the size of the image data is automatically performed. As another layout mode, there is a manual layout mode in which the user arranges the images by operation. If it is determined at S303 that the automatic layout mode is selected, the process proceeds to S304. On the other hand, if the manual layout mode is selected at S303, the process proceeds to S305.

[0022] In S304, the information processing apparatus 1001 performs automatic layout processing. The information processing apparatus 1001 evaluates the image data selected in S302 by using the album editing application 90, and assigns scores to each image data. Then, the image data to be arranged in the album data is selected based on the scores assigned to each image data. An explanation of the criteria based on which scores are assigned to the image data is omitted. The information processing apparatus 1001 layouts the image data selected in S302 in a two-page spread. In this way, by the automatic layout processing, the process of determining on which two-page spread the image data is to be arranged and the process of determining the size of the image data are automatically performed.

[0023] When the manual layout mode is selected in S303 or the automatic layout in S304 ends, the process proceeds to S305. In S305, the information processing apparatus 1001 executes editing processing.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an editing screen provided by the album editing application 90. The editing screen 30 in FIG. 4 includes a layout mode switching checkbox 31, an order button 70, and an image selection area 40. The checkbox 31 accepts a selection of whether to perform automatic layout or manual layout. In the image selection area 40, the image groups 41 to 46 selected in S302 are displayed. Further, the editing screen 30 includes a two-page spread area 50 of the album. Note that FIG. 4 shows the result of the user arranging the image 51 in the two-page spread area 50 of the initial state editing screen 30.

[0025] When editing is executed via automatic layout, the information processing apparatus 1001 displays on the monitor 1020 the editing screen 30 in a state where all the image data selected in S302 is laid out in the two-page spread area 50 of any page. From this state, it is possible to further perform image replacement, background color change, or stamp pasting, etc. by the operation of the user.

[0026] On the one hand, when editing is performed without going through the automatic layout (i.e., when the manual layout is selected), the information processing apparatus 1001 displays on the monitor 1020 an editing screen 30 in a state where no image is arranged in the spread area 50 of any page. In this case, the user performs an operation of adding an image to the spread area 50 by himself / herself so as to obtain a desired layout. Also, during that process, it is possible to perform operations such as image replacement, background color change, or stamp pasting. When the editing is completed, the process proceeds to S306.

[0027] When the user selects the order button 70 in S306, the information processing apparatus 1001 accepts the order and performs the order processing for the album edited as described above. Then, this flow ends. The above is the outline of album creation.

[0028] (Print Data Creation Application) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of data output processing in the print data creation application 91. Also, FIGS. 6(a) to 6(g) are diagrams showing the print data in each flow of FIG. 5 in the print data creation application 91. The flow of processing of the print data creation application 91 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is performed by the CPU 2004 of the information processing apparatus 2001 expanding and executing the program code stored in the ROM 2002 in the RAM 2003, and the same applies to the flowcharts after FIG. 5.

[0029] When the information processing apparatus 2001 receives album data, it starts the print data creation application 91 and starts this processing. First, in S501, the information processing apparatus 2001 accepts the input of the album data. In S502, the information processing apparatus 2001 acquires the layout of the spread area 50 as shown in FIG. 6(a) from the input album data. FIG. 6(a) is an example of a layout in which an image 51 is arranged on the left page and an image 52 is arranged on the right page in the spread area 50. Note that W represents the width of a single-sided page and H represents the height of the page.

[0030] Next, in S503, the information processing apparatus 2001 determines the output mode based on the merchandise information in the album data. Note that the merchandise information refers to the above-mentioned bound-by-gluing merchandise or wireless-bound merchandise, etc. Here, for the bound-by-gluing merchandise, since the back sides of adjacent pages are to be glued together, it is necessary to output the pages constituting the spread as one print data. Also, for the wireless-bound merchandise, since the spine of the book is to be fixed with glue (adhesive), it is necessary to output the pages constituting the spread as separate print data for the left and right pages respectively. In S503, if it is determined that the merchandise is bound-by-gluing, that is, the output mode is output in units of spreads, the process proceeds to S504 and the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the print data in units of spreads.

[0031] On the other hand, in S503, if it is determined that the merchandise is wireless-bound, that is, the output mode is output in units of single-sided pages, the process proceeds to S505 and the information processing apparatus 2001 performs a cutting process on the left page in the cutting area C1 as shown in FIG. 6(b). FIG. 6(c) shows the data after the cutting process on the left page in S505. Next, in S506, the information processing apparatus 2001 adds a margin area A1 to the binding part B side of the left page as shown in FIG. 6(d). Note that X in FIG. 6(d) indicates the width of the margin area A1, and it can be set, for example, as X = 3 mm according to the performance or process of the post-processing apparatus 3010, etc. After adding the margin area A1 in S506, the process proceeds to S507 and the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the left page.

[0032] When the print data for the left page is output in S507, subsequently, the process proceeds to the processing of the right page. In S508, the information processing apparatus 2001 performs a cutting process on the right page in the cutting area C2 as shown in FIG. 6(e). FIG. 6(f) shows the data after the cutting process of the right page in S508. In S509, the information processing apparatus 2001 adds a margin area A2 to the binding part B side of the right page as shown in FIG. 6(g). Note that X in FIG. 6(g) indicates the width of the margin area A2, and it can be set as described above. After adding the margin area A2 by S509, in S510, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data for the right page.

[0033] The above is an overview of the print data output. Based on these print data, output processing is performed by the printer 2010 in the subsequent process. Thereafter, binding processing is performed by the binding apparatus 3040. For example, in the case of a wireless binding material, the album is completed by using the added margin areas A1 and A2 to fix the spine of the book with glue (adhesive). Note that hereinafter, the margin areas added for attaching images such as A1 and A2 are collectively referred to as additional areas.

[0034] (Adding Print Data to the Binding Part) Next, the addition of print data to the binding part, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described. In the present embodiment, using the print data creation application 91, print data is created so that the seam of the additional area for binding cannot be seen in the print data output in units of single-sided pages like a wireless binding material. Specifically, a method of adding an image obtained by extending a predetermined area in the arrangement image arranged on the page to the additional area will be described. Note that the predetermined area may be, for example, an area such as "vertical: the length of the page in the vertical direction × horizontal: variable" near the additional area, or an additional image may be created from an arbitrary part in the arrangement image and added to the additional area.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the present embodiment. FIGS. 8(a) to 8(d) are diagrams showing the print data in each flow of FIG. 7 in the print data creation application 91. Note that since S701 to S704 in FIG. 7 are the same processing as S501 to S504 in FIG. 5, the description thereof is omitted.

[0036] FIG. 8(a) is a layout diagram of the two-page spread area 50 acquired by the information processing apparatus 2001 in S702. In S705, the information processing apparatus 2001 performs a cutout process on the left page in the cutout area C1 as shown in FIG. 8(b). FIG. 8(c) is the data after the cutout process of the left page in S705. In S706, the information processing apparatus 2001 adds an area A by replicating the pixels near the center L of the two-page spread in the width direction by X on the binding side B of the left page as shown in FIG. 8(d). Note that X in FIG. 8(d) indicates the width of the additional area A, and it can be set as described above according to the performance and process of the post-processing apparatus 3010. After adding the print data area A by S706, in S707, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the left page.

[0037] When the print data of the left page is output in S707, subsequently, the process proceeds to the processing of the right page. Since the flow of the processing of the right page is the same as that of the left page described above, a detailed illustration will not be given, and the flowchart of FIG. 7 will be used for the description. In S708, the information processing apparatus 2001 performs a cutout process on the right page from the layout of the two-page spread. In S709, the information processing apparatus 2001 adds an area A by replicating the pixels near the center L of the two-page spread in the width direction by X on the binding side B of the right page. After adding the print data area A by S709, in S710, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the right page.

[0038] The above is an overview of the printed data output. Based on these printed data, output processing is performed by the printer 2010 in the subsequent process. Thereafter, binding processing is performed by the binding apparatus 3040. For example, in the case of a wireless binding material, an album is completed by using the additional area A to secure the spine of the book with glue (adhesive).

[0039] Here, FIGS. 9(a) to (d) are the printed image data in each flow when the flow of FIG. 7 is performed on a page with a background color. Alternatively, FIGS. 10(a) to (d) are the printed image data in each flow when the flow of FIG. 7 is performed on a page with a background pattern. The background pattern refers to a pattern, picture, or diagram, etc. that is arranged regularly or irregularly. When the layout of the spread obtained in S702 includes a background color or a background pattern, the printed data of the left page created by the series of processes of FIG. 7 is as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10. That is, the cutting process is performed including the background color and the background pattern, and the copying process to the additional area A is performed.

[0040] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the quality of the binding part is improved. Specifically, in the additional area for binding in the binding part, adjacent pixels are copied to create printed data. As a result, in a material that is output and bound in units of single-sided pages such as a wireless binding material, the printed area of the binding part has no seam and the quality is improved. Further, in the present embodiment, an image application process is performed on the additional area within the spread, and the layout image arranged within the spread itself is not processed. Therefore, concerns such as the slot size of the album image being changed can be eliminated.

[0041] <Embodiment 2> Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. In this embodiment, the additional area is created with a background color instead of an adjacent image as in Embodiment 1.

[0042] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing of this embodiment. FIGS. 12(a) to (d) are diagrams showing the print data for each flow in FIG. 11. Note that since FIGS. 12(a) to (c) are diagrams performing the same processing as FIGS. 8(a) to (c), the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the processing of this embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 11 and the print data of FIG. 12. Among the series of processes S1101 to S1110 of the print data creation application 91 in this embodiment, the steps that perform processing different from the processing in FIG. 7 are S1106 and S1109. That is, S1101 to S1105, S1107, S1108, and S1110 are the same as S701 to S705, S707, S708, and S710 in FIG. 7. Therefore, hereinafter, mainly S1106 and S1109 will be described. Regarding the other steps that perform the same processing as in FIG. 7, appropriate explanations will be given as necessary.

[0043] In S1106, as shown in FIG. 12(d), the information processing apparatus 2001 adds an area A by replicating pixels of the same color as the background color G by X in the width direction on the binding part B side of the left page. Note that X in FIG. 12(d) indicates the width of the added area A, and it can be set as described above according to the performance and process of the post-processing apparatus 3010. After adding the print data area A by S1106, in S1107, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the left page. When the print data of the left page is output in 1107, subsequently, the process proceeds to the processing of the right page.

[0044] In S1109, the information processing apparatus 2001, similar to the left page, adds an area A by replicating pixels of the same color as the background color G by X in the width direction on the binding part B side of the right page. After adding the print data area A by S1109, in S1110, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the right page.

[0045] The above is the description of the creation of print data in this embodiment. As described above, in this embodiment, print data can be created by copying pixels of the same color as the background color to the additional area for bookbinding of the binding part. As a result, in a commercial material that is output and bound in units of single-sided pages such as a wireless binding commercial material, the printing area of the binding part has no seams and the quality is improved.

[0046] <Embodiment 3> Next, Embodiment 3 will be described. In this embodiment, the additional area is created not with the nearby image but with the background pattern, as compared with Embodiment 1.

[0047] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing of this embodiment. FIGS. 14(a) to (d) are diagrams showing the print data in each flow of FIG. 13. Since FIGS. 14(a) to (c) are diagrams performing the same processing as FIGS. 8(a) to (c), the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the processing of this embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 13 and the print data of FIG. 14. Among a series of processes S1301 to S1310 of the print data creation application 91 in this embodiment, the steps performing processes different from the processes of FIG. 7 are S1306 and S1309. That is, S1301 to S1305, S1307, S1308, and S1310 are the same as S701 to S705, S707, S708, and S710 of FIG. 7. Therefore, S1306 and S1309 will be described, and for the steps performing the same processes as those in FIG. 7, only the necessary parts will be appropriately described.

[0048] In S1306, as shown in FIG. 14(d), the information processing apparatus 2001 adds an area A by replicating pixels of the same pattern as the background pattern P by X in the width direction on the binding part B side of the left page. Note that X in FIG. 14(d) indicates the width of the additional area A, and it can be set as described above according to the performance and process of the post-processing apparatus 3010. After adding the print data area A by S1306, in S1307, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the left page. When the print data of the left page is output in S1307, subsequently, the process proceeds to the processing of the right page.

[0049] In S1309, the information processing apparatus 2001, in the same manner as the left page, adds an area A by replicating pixels of the same pattern as the background pattern P by X in the width direction on the binding part B side of the right page. After adding the print data area A by S1309, in S1310, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the right page.

[0050] As described above, according to the present embodiment, print data can be created by replicating pixels of the same pattern as the background pattern in the additional area for binding of the binding part. Thereby, in a commercial material that is output in units of single-sided pages and bound, such as a wireless binding commercial material, the print area of the binding part has no seam and the quality is improved.

[0051] <Embodiment 4> Next, Embodiment 4 will be described. In this embodiment, compared with Embodiment 1, the pixels of the additional area are created to be line-symmetric with respect to a straight line (hereinafter referred to as the symmetry axis) set at a predetermined position of the spread, rather than an extension of an image in the vicinity of the additional area.

[0052] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing of the present embodiment. FIGS. 16(a) to (d) are diagrams showing the print data for each flow in FIG. 15. Since FIGS. 16(a) to (c) are diagrams performing the same processing as FIGS. 8(a) to (c), the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the processing of the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 15 and the print data of FIG. 16. Among the series of processes S1501 to S1510 of the print data creation application 91 in the present embodiment, the steps that perform processes different from those in FIG. 7 are S1506 and S1509. That is, S1501 to S1505, S1507, S1508, and S1510 are the same as S701 to S705, S707, S708, and S710 in FIG. 7. Therefore, S1506 and S1509 will be described, and for the steps performing the same processing as in FIG. 7, only the necessary parts will be appropriately described as needed.

[0053] In S1506, as shown in FIG. 16(d), the information processing apparatus 2001 duplicates symmetric pixels with respect to the symmetry axis L set at a predetermined position in the center fold in the width direction by X on the binding portion B side of the left page to add the region A. Note that X in FIG. 16(d) indicates the width of the additional region A, and it can be set as described above according to the performance and process of the post-processing apparatus 3010. After adding the print data region A by S1506, in S1507, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the left page. When the print data of the left page is output in S1507, subsequently, the process proceeds to the processing of the right page.

[0054] In S1509, similarly to the left page, the information processing apparatus 2001 duplicates symmetric pixels with respect to the symmetry axis L set at a predetermined position in the center fold in the width direction by X on the binding portion B side of the right page to add the region A. After adding the print data region A by S1509, in S1509, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the right page.

[0055] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to create print data by duplicating symmetric pixels based on the axis of symmetry of the spread in the additional area for bookbinding of the binding part. As a result, in a commercial material that is output and bound in units of single-sided pages such as a wireless binding commercial material, the printing area of the binding part has no seam, and an arc shape can be output smoothly, improving the quality.

[0056] <Embodiment 5> Next, Embodiment 5 will be described. In this embodiment, compared with Embodiment 1, the additional area is created not as an extension of the image in the vicinity but as a part of the adjacent page within the spread at the time of bookbinding.

[0057] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing of this embodiment. FIGS. 18(a) to (c) are diagrams showing the print data in each flow of FIG. 17. Hereinafter, the processing of this embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 17 and the print data of FIG. 18. Note that since S1701 to S1704 in this flow are the same processing as S701 to S704 in FIG. 7, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0058] In S1705, the information processing apparatus 2001 performs a cutout process on the left page including a part (width X) of the adjacent page in the cutout area C1 as shown in FIG. 18(b). FIG. 18(c) shows the data after the cutout process of the left page in S1705. Note that X in FIG. 18(c) indicates the width of the additional area A, and it can be set as described above according to the performance and process of the post-processing apparatus 3010. After performing the cutout process in S1705, in S1706, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as the print data of the left page. When the print data of the left page is output in S1706, the process then proceeds to the processing of the right page. Since the flow of the processing of the right page is the same as that of the left page described above, a detailed illustration will not be provided, and the description will be made using the flowchart of FIG. 17.

[0059] In S1707, the information processing apparatus 2001 performs a cutout process on the right page including a part (width X) of the adjacent page from the two-page layout. After performing the cutout process by S1707, in S1708, the information processing apparatus 2001 outputs the processed page as print data for the right page.

[0060] As described above, according to the present embodiment, print data is created in the additional area for binding of the binding part, including a part of the adjacent page. Thereby, in a commercial material that is output and bound in units of single-sided pages such as a wireless binding commercial material, the printing area of the binding part has no seam, and the appearance of an image arranged across the two-page spread looks better, improving the quality. In the above description, the embodiment is applied to both the left and right pages of the two-page spread. In practice, however, if the embodiment is applied to both pages, depending on the image arranged on the two-page spread, the additional areas may be separated from each page and the image may be difficult to view. In such a case, it is desirable to create the additional area of either the left or right page with a part of the adjacent page. In that case, it is desirable to apply any one of the above-described Embodiments 1 to 4 to the additional area of the other page according to the image.

[0061] <Other Embodiments> The print data creation application 91 may have a plurality of functions of the five above-described embodiments. It may be determined whether to switch or not to implement the five above-described embodiments according to the layout state, for example, the arrangement pattern of a photograph or the background pattern. In the above-described embodiments, the processing is described by focusing on one two-page spread in the album. In practice, however, the processing of the embodiment is repeated for all two-page spreads. In the process, for example, different embodiments may be used for each two-page spread. Also, the form to be used may be configured to be appropriately set by the user.

[0062] In addition, in the above-described five embodiments, when determining whether to perform a two-page spread output in the output mode determination, the determination was made based on whether it was a wireless binding, but this is not the only case. The determination may be made according to whether the attribute of the two-page spread included in the album data is the attribute of the two-page spread output. For example, even in the case of wireless binding, the display page may be determined to be output as a two-page spread.

[0063] In addition, in the above-described five embodiments, the album editing application 90 and the print data creation application 91 are held in separate information processing apparatuses, but they may be held in the same information processing apparatus.

[0064] Also, although the album editing application 90 and the print data creation application 91 have been described as separate applications, these functions may be held as the same application.

[0065] In addition, the above-described embodiments have been described as being executed using the print data creation application 91, but this is not the only case. For example, the processing of the above-described embodiments may be executed using a layout editing application that newly arranges object data.

[0066] In the above-described embodiments, an album has been described as an example of a book, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a picture book, a comic, or the like. The album data is an example, and the present invention is applicable to book data having a plurality of pages.

[0067] 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 apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, an ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0068] 10: Album 91: Printing Data Creation Application 1001: Information Processing Apparatus A: Additional Area

Claims

1. An acquisition means for acquiring the present data; An imparting means for imparting, as a first imparted image based on the present data, an image that is line-symmetric about a straight line set at a predetermined position of the first page, to an additional area for bookbinding at the binding part of the first page included in the present data; An output means for outputting data including the first page including the first imparted image imparted by the imparting means; An information processing apparatus characterized by comprising the above.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imparting means imparts the first imparted image when one spread included in the present data is cut out as a plurality of pages and printed.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the imparting means imparts the first imparted image so that there is no seam between the first imparted image and an arranged image arranged on the first page.

4. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the imparting means imparts the first imparted image to the binding part without changing the slot size of the image of the first page.

5. The imparting means further imparts, as a second imparted image based on the present data, an image that is line-symmetric about a straight line set at a predetermined position of the second page, to an additional area for bookbinding at the binding part of the second page among the first page and the second page constituting the spread included in the present data; The data output by the output means further includes the second page including the second imparted image imparted by the imparting means; The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the above.

6. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first imparted image is an image corresponding to a part, not the whole, of the first page, and is an image obtained by replicating the first page by the width of the additional area and making it line-symmetric for imparting.

7. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the present data is album data including a plurality of pages on which images are arranged, and the acquisition means acquires the album data via the Internet.

8. A program for causing at least one computer to function as each means of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing at least one computer to function as each means of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. An acquisition step of acquiring this data; An imparting step of imparting, as a first imparted image based on the this data, an image that is line-symmetric about a straight line set at a predetermined position of the first page to an additional area for bookbinding at the binding portion of the first page included in the this data; An output step of outputting data including the first page including the first imparted image imparted by the imparting step; A control method for an information processing apparatus, characterized by comprising:

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