Information processing device, information processing method, program

Abstract

To solve the following problem: a user is required to take a lot of time and effort for confirmation, regarding a grouped plurality of print layers to be printed in a stacked manner.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: an acquisition unit configured to obtain group data formed by grouping a plurality of print layers to be printed in a stacked manner; and a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to output a plurality of icons which corresponds respectively to the plurality of print layers included in the group data, the icons being arranged in the order of stacking the corresponding print layers, as layer configuration information indicating a layer configuration of the group data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In printing, there are cases where multiple printing layers are laminated and printed. For example, there are cases where an image layer and a base layer that serves as a base for the image layer are printed in an overlapped manner. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for specifying layers of a plurality of color materials to be printed in an overlapped manner via a GUI screen.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is a desire to check the layer configuration for a plurality of printed layers that are laminated and printed and grouped as printing targets. In Patent Document 1, as conditions used for generating a preview image of a printing result via a GUI screen, specification of the order of overlapping of layers of color materials is accepted. In Patent Document 1, for each layer, a plurality of check boxes corresponding to a plurality of color materials are provided, and by inputting a check in any of the check boxes, it is specified which layer using which color material the corresponding layer is. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, in order to check the layer configuration of a plurality of layers to be overlapped, after checking the check boxes, it is necessary to check which of the plurality of check boxes has a check for each layer. The user needs to check which of the plurality of check boxes has a check for each layer. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, it takes time to check the layer configuration of the overlapped printed layers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In view of the above issues, the information processing device includes an acquisition unit that acquires group data in which a plurality of printed layers that are printed in stacked form are grouped together, and a display control unit that causes a display unit to output a plurality of icons, which are corresponding to each of the plurality of printed layers included in the group data and are arranged in the order in which the corresponding printed layers are superimposed, as layer configuration information indicating the layer configuration of the group data. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of a display screen. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of how layer configuration information is displayed. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a settings screen. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of layer structure information for group data, including overlapping layers. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of layer structure information for group data, including overlapping layers. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a grouping process. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows an example of display control processing. [Figure 9] This flowchart shows an example of the setup process. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of the configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 11] This is a diagram explaining nesting. [Figure 12] This diagram shows an example of a layered icon. [Figure 13] This diagram shows an example of a layered icon. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] Here, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in the following order. (1) First embodiment: (1-1) Configuration of the information processing device: (1-2) Processing by the information processing device: (2) Second embodiment: (3) Other embodiments:

[0008] (1) First embodiment: (1-1) Configuration of the information processing device: Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of the information processing device 100 according to this embodiment. The information processing device 100 in this embodiment is an information processing device that controls a printing device 200, and is, for example, a personal computer, a tablet device, a smartphone, etc. In this embodiment, the information processing device 100 instructs the printing device 200 to print a plurality of stacked printing layers. Here, a printing layer is a layer that is to be printed on a printing medium, and is classified according to the type of paint used to form it. Here, paint is a material applied to the surface of a printing medium for beautification, protection, etc., and includes colorants and paints for obtaining surface effects (varnish, clear ink, etc.). Hereinafter, paints for obtaining surface effects will be referred to as surface effect paints. Printing layers include a color layer formed using at least one of the colorants cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), a white layer formed using a white colorant, and a surface effect layer formed using a predetermined surface effect paint (e.g., varnish, clear ink, etc.). Color layers include an image layer that forms an image, a black layer formed using a K colorant, etc. In this embodiment, the black layer is formed by applying a K (black) colorant to a designated area on the printing medium at a certain density. The black layer is used, for example, as a light-shielding layer that blocks at least a portion of the light that passes through multiple printing layers. The black layer may be formed with C, M, and Y colorants in combination with the K colorant, or in place of the K colorant. In this embodiment, the white layer is formed by applying a white colorant to a designated area on the printing medium at a certain density. The white layer is used, for example, as a base for an image layer. In this embodiment, the surface effect layer is formed by applying a surface effect coating to a designated area on the printing medium at a certain density.

[0009] The printing device 200 is a printing device that prints images onto a printing medium (for example, an acrylic plate, a glass plate, a resin medium (for example, a resin smartphone case, etc.), printing paper, etc.) in response to instructions from the information processing device 100. In this embodiment, the printing device 200 prints onto the printing medium using cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), white colorants, and a predetermined surface effect paint. The paint used by the printing device 200 in this embodiment is a paint that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light. In this embodiment, the printing device 200 performs printing by dispensing the paint onto the printing medium and irradiating the dispensed paint with ultraviolet light. The information processing device 100 and the printing device 200 are connected to each other via wired or wireless means so that they can communicate with each other.

[0010] The hardware included in the information processing device 100 will be described below. The information processing device 100 comprises a processor 110, a communication unit 120, a storage medium 130, and a UI unit 140. The information processing device 100 also includes Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM), which are not shown. The processor 110 controls the information processing device 100 by executing various programs stored in the ROM, storage medium 130, etc. The processor 110 may consist of a single chip or multiple chips. In this embodiment, the processor 110 is assumed to be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), but it may be composed of an ASIC, or a CPU and an ASIC. The communication unit 120 includes circuits used for communication with external devices such as a printing device 200, according to various wired or wireless communication protocols. The storage medium 130 stores various programs such as a display control program 111 for executing processing to control printing via the printing device 200, image data 130a, group data 130b, and other information.

[0011] The image data 130a is data of a plurality of images (printing layers) that are candidates for printing. In the present embodiment, the image data 130a is RGB data representing each pixel of an image divided into a predetermined number of pixels (for example, 640×480, 1200×1600, etc.) by gradation values of three RGB channels. The group data 130b is data in which a plurality of printing layers to be laminated and printed, which are printing targets, are grouped. In the present embodiment, the group data 130b is generated by the function of a grouping unit 111a described later.

[0012] The UI unit 140 includes an input unit that receives input from a user, such as an operation unit of a mouse, keyboard, touch pad, touch panel, etc., and a display unit, such as a monitor or a display of a touch panel.

[0013] Subsequently, the functions of the information processing apparatus 100 will be described. The processor 110 of the information processing apparatus 100 functions as a grouping unit 111a, an acquisition unit 111b, a display control unit 111c, a reception unit 111d, and a determination unit 111e by executing a display control program 111 stored in the storage medium 130.

[0014] The grouping unit 111a is a function of grouping a plurality of printing layers specified as a plurality of printing layers to be laminated and printed as group data 130b. The processor 110, by the function of the grouping unit 111a, receives a specification of a plurality of printing layers to be included in the group data and the order of lamination of each printing layer based on an operation of the UI unit 140 by the user, groups the specified plurality of printing layers as a plurality of printing layers to be printed in the specified order, and stores them as group data 130b. Here, the processing related to the function of the grouping unit 111a of the present embodiment will be described.

[0015] When the processor 110 receives an instruction to start the grouping process of the print layers, it displays a display screen 300 on the display unit of the UI unit 140, which is used for grouping the print layers and displaying various information of the grouped group data 130b. The display screen 300 of this embodiment is shown in Figure 2. The display screen 300 displays a display field 301 for displaying the name of the group data 130b, a display field 302 used for displaying layer configuration information showing the layer configuration of the grouped print layers, and an input field 303 for receiving the specification of the print layers to be grouped.

[0016] The user enters the name of the group data 130b to be generated into the display field 301 via the UI unit 140. The user also drags and drops data representing multiple print layers corresponding to the print layers to be grouped (for example, file icons, etc.) onto the input field 303 in the order in which they want to stack them. In this embodiment, the user drags and drops the icons corresponding to the images to be grouped from among the file icons of each print layer indicated by the image data 130a onto the input field 303. That is, with the printing surface of the printing medium facing downwards, the user first drags and drops the data representing the print layer to be placed at the bottom onto the input field 303. Next, the user drags and drops the data representing the print layer to be placed above the bottom print layer, i.e., the second print layer from the bottom, onto the input field 303. In this way, the user drags and drops the data representing the print layers to be stacked onto the input field 303 in the order of stacking.

[0017] When the processor 110 detects the drag-and-drop of multiple data indicating print layers onto the input field 303, it groups the print layers corresponding to this data as print layers to be stacked in the order they were dragged and dropped. The processor 110 stores the grouped print layers in the storage medium 130 as group data 130b with the name entered in the display field 301.

[0018] The acquisition unit 111b has the function of acquiring group data 130b in which multiple printed layers to be printed in stacks are pre-grouped. In this embodiment, the processor 110 acquires the group data 130b stored in the storage medium 130 by the function of the acquisition unit 111b. In this embodiment, the processor 110 acquires the group data 130b by the function of the grouping unit 111a when the group data 130b is stored in the storage medium 130.

[0019] The display control unit 111c has the function of outputting layer configuration information, which shows the layer configuration of the group data 130b acquired by the function of the acquisition unit 111b, to the display unit. Here, the layer configuration indicates the order in which the various printed layers included in the group data 130b are stacked. The layer configuration information is information that shows what types of printed layers are stacked and in what order, and in this embodiment, it is an icon corresponding to each of the multiple printed layers arranged in stacking order. In this embodiment, the processor 110 displays the layer configuration information of the group data 130b on the UI unit 140 using the function of the display control unit 111c. The details of the processing related to the function of the display control unit 111c will be described below.

[0020] The processor 110 identifies the order of superposition of multiple printed layers included in the group data 130b acquired by the function of the acquisition unit 111b. The processor 110 acquires an icon representing each of the identified multiple printed layers. In this embodiment, the processor 110 acquires a rectangular icon with a background corresponding to the type of printed layer as the icon representing the printed layer. In this embodiment, the processor 110 acquires a rectangular icon with a diagonal background as the icon representing the printed layer of the image layer (color layer). The processor 110 also acquires a rectangular icon with a white background as the icon representing the printed layer of the white layer. The processor 110 also acquires a rectangular icon with a black background as the icon representing the printed layer of the black layer (color layer). The processor 110 also acquires a rectangular icon with a gray background as the icon representing the printed layer of the surface effect layer. However, as another example, the icons representing various printed layers may be other icons. For example, the icon representing the printed layer of the image layer (color layer) may be an icon indicating that it is multicolored, such as an icon with a gradient pattern background.

[0021] The processor 110 arranges the acquired icons from left to right in the order of the overlapping print layers and displays them in the display area 302 of the display screen 300 shown on the UI unit 140. For example, if the group data 130b indicates that the layers stacked from bottom to top are an image layer (color layer), a white layer, a color layer (black layer), a white layer, a color layer (image layer), and a surface effect layer, the processor 110 displays the icons, arranged left to right, as layer configuration information in the display area 302, as shown in Figure 3. By visually inspecting the layer configuration information, the user can easily confirm the overlapping order of the multiple print layers indicated by the group data 130b.

[0022] Furthermore, the processor 110 displays the default information for each print layer included in the group data 130b acquired by the acquisition unit 111b (for example, information such as the file name and the time when it was added to the group data 130b) in the input field 303 of the display screen in superimposed order. This allows the processor 110 to present the user with detailed information about each print layer included in the group data 130b.

[0023] Now, let's explain the reception area 111d. The reception unit 111d is a function that accepts changes to the settings of each print layer in the group data 130b. The settings of a print layer include the layout of the print layer on the printing medium (size, position, etc.) and the density of the print layer. In this embodiment, the settings of a print layer include the number of prints, which indicates how many times the print layer will be printed. For example, when printing multiple print layers indicated by the group data 130b, let's assume that each print layer is printed once in sequence. In this case, let's assume that the thickness of the white layer formed on the printing medium is thinner than expected. In such a case, the thickness of the formed white layer can be increased by setting the number of prints for the white layer to 2 or more. In the following, a print layer that is printed multiple times will be referred to as a layered layer. Thus, in this embodiment, the reception unit 111d is also a function that accepts the specification of the number of prints when a print layer is a layered layer, that is, the number of times printing is repeated. The processor 110, through the function of the reception unit 111d, receives an instruction to change the settings of a print layer included in the group data 130b based on the user's operation of the UI unit 140, and displays the screen used to change the print layer settings on the UI unit 140. In this embodiment, the processor 110 accepts a default operation for any of the icons displayed in the display field 302 (for example, double-clicking, selecting the default menu displayed after right-clicking, etc.) as an instruction to change the settings of the print layer corresponding to that icon. However, the processor 110 may accept instructions to change the settings of a print layer in other ways. For example, the processor 110 may accept an instruction to launch an application used to change the settings of each print layer included in the group data 130b as an instruction to change the settings of a print layer included in the group data 130b.

[0024] Depending on the type of printing layer, it may be requested that the layering be prohibited. For example, for white layers and surface effect layers, it may be requested that the thickness be adjusted as appropriate for purposes such as adjusting the whiteness of the base layer and adjusting the gloss of the surface, while for color layers, it may be requested that the thickness be prohibited to prevent the printing result from being unexpected.

[0025] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the processor 110 receives an instruction to change the settings of a print layer included in the group data 130b, if the print layer to be changed is a white layer or a surface effect layer, it displays a setting screen 400, which is also used to specify the number of prints, on the UI unit 140. The setting screen 400 that is displayed is shown in Figure 4. The setting screen 400 includes an input field 401 used to specify the number of prints, a confirmation button 402, and input fields used to specify the size and position of the print layer on the printing medium.

[0026] The user enters the desired number of print repetitions for the print layer to be modified into the input field 401 via the UI unit 140. When the processor 110 detects the selection of the OK button 402 with a value entered in the input field 401, it sets the number of print repetitions for the print layer to be modified, as included in the group data 130b, to the value entered in the input field 401. More specifically, the processor 110 includes information in the group data 130b indicating that printing for the print layer to be modified will be repeated the number of times entered in the input field 401. Furthermore, if values ​​are entered in other input fields on the settings screen 400, the processor 110 changes the settings for the print layer to be modified according to the entered values.

[0027] Furthermore, when the processor 110 receives an instruction to change the settings of a print layer included in the group data 130b, if the print layer to be changed is a color layer, it displays a settings screen 400 without the input field 401 on the UI unit 140. In this case, when the processor 110 detects the selection of the OK button 402, if values ​​have been entered in each input field, the processor 110 changes the settings of the print layer to be changed according to the entered values.

[0028] Let's return to the explanation of the display control unit 111c. The following describes the display control process for layer configuration information when group data 130b includes a print layer (overlay layer) whose print count is specified by the function of the reception unit 111d.

[0029] When the processor 110 displays the layer configuration information of the group data 130b, if the group data 130b includes a stacked printing layer, it displays layer configuration information indicating that the group data 130b includes a stacked layer on the UI unit 140. In this embodiment, the processor 110 displays information indicating the number of prints for the stacked printing layer as layer configuration information on the UI unit 140. More specifically, the processor 110 obtains icons representing each printing layer included in the group data 130b, similar to the case where the group data 130b does not include a stacked printing layer. The processor 110 superimposes the number of print repetitions (print count) for this printing layer onto the icon representing the stacked printing layer. Then, the processor 110 displays information in which multiple icons representing multiple printing layers included in the group data 130b are arranged in the order of the stacking of the corresponding printing layers as layer configuration information on the UI unit 140. That is, the processor 110 displays information including icons indicating the number of prints for the stacked printing layer as layer configuration information on the UI unit 140. Figure 5 shows the layer configuration information displayed when the surface effect layer is a layered layer with 3 print cycles, in group data 130b which has the same layer configuration as Figure 3.

[0030] As another example, the processor 110 may display icons representing non-overlapping print layers, arranged in a sequence corresponding to the number of prints, as shown in Figure 6. However, icons with superimposed print counts, as shown in Figure 5, are smaller in size than icons displayed in a sequence corresponding to the number of prints.

[0031] As described above, with the configuration of this embodiment, the information processing device 100 displays information on the UI unit 140 as layer configuration information, which consists of icons corresponding to each printed layer, for group data 130b, which is a group of multiple printed layers that are printed in stack form. This allows the user to easily confirm the stacking order of the printed layers in the group data 130b. In other words, the information processing device 100 can assist the user in confirming the stacking order of the printed layers in the group data 130b. For example, when using a paint that hardens upon UV irradiation, as in the printing apparatus 200, it becomes possible to print multiple layers of prints compared to printing with other paints. In such cases, the layer structure of the multiple print layers that are printed in layers may become complex. The information processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment makes it easy to visually confirm the layer structure even when the layer structure of the multiple print layers becomes complex.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the group data 130b includes a printed layer which is a superimposed layer, the information processing device 100 displays layer configuration information indicating that it includes a printed layer which is a superimposed layer on the UI unit 140. This allows the information processing device 100 to inform the user that the group data 130b includes a superimposed layer. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the information processing device 100 displays information including an icon indicating the number of times the stacked printing layers have been printed on the UI unit 140 as layer configuration information. This allows the information processing device 100 to present the number of times the stacked printing layers have been printed to the user.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the information processing device 100 uses a smaller icon to represent the printed layer, which is a superimposed layer included in the layer configuration information, than when displaying icons for non-superimposed printed layers arranged according to the number of print cycles. This allows the information processing device 100 to save display area in the UI unit 140. In addition, the information processing device 100 can simplify the layer configuration information, making it easier for the user to understand the layer configuration of the group data 130b.

[0034] (1-2) Processing by the information processing device: Figures 7 to 9 will be used to explain each process performed by the information processing device 100. Figure 7 illustrates the grouping process for printing layers that are stacked and printed. When the processor 110 receives an instruction to start the printing layer grouping process, it starts the process shown in Figure 7.

[0035] In step S100, the processor 110 displays the display screen 300 on the UI unit 140 using the function of the grouping unit 111a. After completing the processing in step S100, the processor 110 proceeds to step S105.

[0036] In step S105, the processor 110, using the function of the grouping unit 111a, accepts the user's operation of the UI unit 140 and specifies the name of the group data 130b to be generated for the display field 301. The processor 110 also detects the drag-and-drop of multiple data indicating print layers onto the input field 303 and groups the print layers corresponding to this data as print layers to be stacked in the order they were dragged and dropped. The processor 110 stores the grouped print layers in the storage medium 130 as group data 130b with the name entered in the display field 301. Once the processing in step S105 is complete, the processor 110 completes the processing shown in Figure 7.

[0037] Next, using Figure 8, we will explain the display control process for displaying the layer configuration information of group data 130b. When the group data 130b is stored in the storage medium 130 through the process in Figure 7, the processor 110 starts the process in Figure 9.

[0038] In step S200, the processor 110 acquires group data 130b from the storage medium 130 using the function of the acquisition unit 111b. The processing in step S200 is an example of an acquisition step. After completing the processing in step S200, the processor 110 proceeds to step S205. In step S205, the processor 110, using the functions of the display control unit 111c, identifies the types and superposition order of the multiple print layers included in the group data 130b acquired in step S200. The processor 110 then acquires an icon corresponding to each of the identified multiple print layers.

[0039] In step S210, the processor 110, using the functions of the display control unit 111c, displays the multiple icons acquired in step S205, arranged from left to right in the order of the overlapping print layers, as layer configuration information on the UI unit 140. The processing in step S210 is an example of a display control step. After completing the processing in step S210, the processor 110 completes the processing shown in Figure 8.

[0040] Next, using Figure 9, we will explain the setting change process for modifying the print layer settings included in group data 130b. When the processor 110 receives an instruction to change the settings of the printing layer included in the group data 130b, it starts the process shown in Figure 9.

[0041] In step S300, the processor 110 determines, using the function of the reception unit 111d, whether the type of print layer to be changed is a white layer or a surface effect layer. If the processor 110 determines that the type of print layer to be changed is a white layer or a surface effect layer, it proceeds to step S305. If the processor 110 determines that the type of print layer to be changed is neither a white layer nor a surface effect layer, it proceeds to step S320.

[0042] In step S305, the processor 110 displays the setting screen 400, including the input field 401, on the UI unit 140 using the function of the reception unit 111d. After completing the processing in step S305, the processor 110 proceeds to step S310. In step S310, the processor 110 accepts input to the input fields of the setting screen 400 through the function of the reception unit 111d. Here, the processor 110 accepts input to at least the input field 401. After completing the processing in step S310, the processor 110 proceeds to step S315.

[0043] In step S315, when the processor 110 detects the selection of the OK button 402 through the function of the reception unit 111d, it sets the number of prints for the print layer to be changed as the value entered in the input field 401. If values ​​are entered in other input fields on the setting screen 400, the processor 110 changes the settings for the print layer to be changed according to the entered values. After the processing in step S315 is completed, the processor 110 completes the process shown in Figure 8.

[0044] In step S320, the processor 110, using the function of the reception unit 111d, displays a settings screen 400 that does not include the input field 401 on the UI unit 140. After completing the processing in step S320, the processor 110 proceeds to step S325. In step S325, the processor 110 accepts input to the input fields of the setting screen 400 through the function of the reception unit 111d. Here, the processor 110 accepts input to at least the input field 401.

[0045] In step S330, when the processor 110 detects the selection of the OK button 402 through the function of the reception unit 111d, it changes the settings of the print layer to be changed according to the value entered in the input field of the setting screen 400. After the processing in step S315 is completed, the processor 110 completes the process shown in Figure 9.

[0046] In this embodiment, after completing the process in Figure 9, the processor 110 performs the process in Figure 8 again. At this time, in step S205, the processor 110 displays an icon that superimposes the number of prints for the corresponding print layer as an icon indicating the printed layer of the stacked layer included in the layer configuration information of the group data 130b.

[0047] (2) Second embodiment: A second embodiment will now be described. Figure 10 shows the configuration of the information processing device 100 of this embodiment. The information processing device 100 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, by executing the display control program 111, it also functions as a determination unit 111e in addition to the grouping unit 111a, acquisition unit 111b, display control unit 111c, and reception unit 111d. In this embodiment, the information processing device 100 is described as having generated a plurality of group data 130b in advance by the function of the grouping unit 111a.

[0048] The determination unit 111e has the function of determining which group data 130b with the same layer structure will be nested, and which group data 130b with different layer structures will not be nested. Here, nesting refers to printing multiple print data side by side.

[0049] Nesting will be explained using Figure 11. Figure 11 shows a printing medium placed in the printing medium storage area of ​​the printing device 200, and multiple print images (print images A to E) that are printed on the printing medium at once. The printing device 200 is equipped with a print head used to eject ink onto the printing medium, and performs printing by repeatedly printing line by line on the printing medium via the print head. Hereinafter, this line direction will be referred to as the main scanning direction. Also below, the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction and parallel to the printing medium placed during printing will be referred to as the sub-scanning direction. The printing device 200 performs printing with a specified number of print passes. Here, a print pass is the printing of one line performed by the print head of the printing device 200 as it moves from one end to the other on the printing medium in the main scanning direction. Hereinafter, the range that the print head can scan once as it moves from one end to the other on the printing medium in the main scanning direction will be referred to as a print line. In nesting, for example, when the printing device 200 prints the print line shown in Figure 11, print image A and print image C are printed simultaneously. Thus, in nesting, multiple print images are arranged in the main scanning direction. In other words, the printing device 200 prints multiple images with a single scan of the print head. The printing device 200 prints under certain printing conditions (e.g., number of print passes, image resolution, etc.). Therefore, the multiple images to be printed must have matching default printing conditions, such as the number of print passes and image resolution. In this way, the multiple print data to be nested must have matching default printing conditions. When a print image containing multiple print layers is nested, the default printing conditions for each print layer in each print image must match.

[0050] The same printing conditions are set for printing layers of the same type. Therefore, group data 130b with the same layer configuration will have the same printing conditions. Therefore, the processor 110 uses the function of the determination unit 111e to identify the layer configuration of the multiple group data 130b stored in the storage medium 130. More specifically, for each of the multiple group data 130b, the processor 110 identifies the layer configuration, which types of printing layers are stacked and in what order. Then, the processor 110 extracts multiple identical layer configurations from the identified configurations. The processor 110 decides that the multiple group data 130b corresponding to the extracted multiple layer configurations will be nested. The processor 110 also decides that group data 130b corresponding to different layer configurations will not be nested.

[0051] As described above, with the configuration of this embodiment, the information processing device 100 can reduce the occurrence of situations in which group data 130b that cannot be printed at one time are mistakenly treated as nesting targets.

[0052] (3) Other embodiments: The embodiments described above are merely examples for carrying out the present invention, and various other embodiments can be adopted. For example, in each of the embodiments described above, the information processing device 100 and the printing device 200 are composed of different devices, but they may be composed of the same device. For example, the functions of the information processing device 100 may be implemented in the printing device 200. Also, the information processing device 100 may be composed of multiple devices.

[0053] In each of the embodiments described above, the processor 110 groups the multiple printed layers that are stacked and printed using the display screen 300. However, the processor 110 may group the multiple printed layers that are stacked and printed using other methods. For example, the processor 110 may accept a specification of the stacking order of the printed layers in the form of text data, and group the multiple printed layers that are stacked and printed in the order indicated by the accepted specification as group data 130b.

[0054] Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the processor 110 uses icons for the printed layers, which are stacked layers displayed as layer configuration information, as icons in which the number of prints is superimposed on the icon according to the type of printed layer. However, the processor 110 may use other icons that are smaller in size than when icons for the number of prints (icons for the number of print repetitions) are arranged side by side as icons for the printed layers, which are stacked layers displayed as layer configuration information. For example, the processor 110 may use icons in which the number of prints is written adjacent to each other, as shown in Figure 12. Alternatively, the processor 110 may use icons that are stacked the same number of times as the number of prints, as shown in Figure 13.

[0055] Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the processor 110 displays information as layer configuration information, consisting of icons corresponding to each printing layer included in the group data 130b, arranged from left to right in the order of the overlapping printing layers. However, the processor 110 may display other information as layer configuration information, as long as the icons are arranged in the order of the overlapping printing layers. For example, the processor 110 may display information as layer configuration information, consisting of icons corresponding to each printing layer included in the group data 130b, arranged from bottom to top in the order of the overlapping printing layers.

[0056] Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the processor 110 displays layer configuration information when grouping multiple print layers via the display screen 300. However, the processor 110 may display layer configuration information in other ways. For example, the processor 110 may, using the functions of the acquisition unit 111b and the display control unit 111c, acquire pre-grouped group data 130b before the processing time and display the layer configuration information of the acquired group data 130b on the UI unit 140. For example, the processor 110 may display the layer configuration information on the UI unit 140 before printing the group data 130b, either together with or included on the screen used to instruct the printing of the group data 130b. This allows the processor 110 to present the layer configuration of the group data 130b to the user at times other than the generation timing of the group data 130b (for example, before printing, or when confirmation of the layer configuration is requested). As a result, the user can confirm whether the layer configuration of the print layers is correctly set, even for pre-prepared group data 130b.

[0057] Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the processor 110, using the function of the reception unit 111d, accepts the specification of the number of prints when the print layer to be changed is a white layer or a surface effect layer, and controls not to accept it for other types. However, the processor 110 may control whether or not to accept the specification of the number of prints when the print layer to be changed is changed by other means, depending on the type of print layer to be changed. For example, the processor 110 may accept the specification of the number of prints when the print layer to be changed is a white layer, and control not to accept it for other types. Alternatively, the processor 110 may control to accept the specification of the number of prints when the print layer to be changed is a black layer (color layer), a white layer, or a surface effect layer, and control not to accept it for other types.

[0058] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the printing apparatus 200 is described as a printing apparatus that performs printing using a paint that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light, but it may also be a printing apparatus that performs printing using other types of paints.

[0059] Furthermore, the present invention is also applicable as a program or method executed by a computer. Moreover, such systems, programs, and methods may be implemented as a single device or by utilizing components from multiple devices, encompassing various embodiments. For example, they can be partially software-based and partially hardware-based, and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the invention also functions as a recording medium for a program that controls an information processing device. Of course, the recording medium for such a program may be a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or any recording medium developed in the future can be considered in exactly the same way. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 100... Information processing device, 110... Processor, 111... Display control program, 111a... Grouping unit, 111b... Acquisition unit, 111c... Display control unit, 111d... Reception unit, 111e... Determination unit, 120... Communication unit, 130... Storage medium, 130a... Image data, 130b... Group data, 140... UI unit, 200... Printing device

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires group data in which multiple printed layers that are printed in layers are grouped, A display control unit that outputs to a display unit a plurality of icons corresponding to each of the plurality of print layers included in the group data, arranged in the order of the superposition of the corresponding print layers, as layer configuration information indicating the layer configuration of the group data, Equipped with, The display control unit is an information processing device that, when the group data includes the printing layer which is a layer that is printed multiple times, causes the display unit to display the layer configuration information indicating that the group data includes the layer.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display the layer configuration information indicating the number of times printing is repeated for the printed layer representing the stacked layer.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 1, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display a plurality of icons corresponding to each of the plurality of print layers included in the group data as layer configuration information, and for the print layers that are stacked layers, the display unit displays an icon smaller than the size when the icons of the print layers that are not stacked layers are arranged for the number of printing repetitions.

4. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a receiving unit for receiving a specification of the number of printing repetitions when the printing layer is the overlapping layer.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the receiving unit controls whether or not to accept the designation according to the type of printing layer.

6. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a determination unit that determines a plurality of the group data having the same layer configuration as targets for nesting, and determines that a plurality of the group data having different layer configurations are not targets for nesting.

7. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the group data in which a plurality of the printed layers are pre-grouped.

8. An information processing method performed by an information processing device, Acquisition step to acquire group data in which multiple printed layers that are printed in layers are grouped, A display control step that causes a display unit to output a plurality of icons corresponding to each of the plurality of print layers included in the group data, arranged in the order of the superposition of the corresponding print layers, as layer configuration information indicating the layer configuration of the group data. Includes, In the display control step, if the group data includes the printing layer which is a layer that is printed multiple times, the information processing method causes the display unit to output the layer configuration information indicating that the group data includes the layer.

9. On the computer, Acquisition step to obtain group data in which multiple printed layers that are printed in layers are grouped, A display control step in which a plurality of icons corresponding to each of the plurality of print layers included in the group data are output to the display unit as layer configuration information indicating the layer configuration of the group data, wherein the plurality of icons are arranged in the order of the superposition of the corresponding print layers. Make it run, In the display control step, if the group data includes the printing layer which is a layer that is printed multiple times, a program to output the layer configuration information to the display unit indicating that the group data includes the layer.

10. An acquisition unit that acquires group data in which multiple printed layers that are printed in stack form are grouped, A display control unit that outputs to a display unit a plurality of icons corresponding to each of the plurality of print layers included in the group data, arranged in the order of the superposition of the corresponding print layers, as layer configuration information indicating the layer configuration of the group data, A determination unit that determines multiple group data with the same layer configuration as targets for nesting, and determines that multiple group data with different layer configurations are not targets for nesting, An information processing device equipped with the following features.

11. An information processing method performed by an information processing device, Acquisition step to acquire group data in which multiple printed layers that are printed in layers are grouped, A display control step that causes a display unit to output a plurality of icons corresponding to each of the plurality of print layers included in the group data, arranged in the order of the superposition of the corresponding print layers, as layer configuration information indicating the layer configuration of the group data. A decision step of determining that multiple group data with the same layer configuration will be nested, and that multiple group data with different layer configurations will not be nested, Information processing methods including

12. A computer, Acquisition step to obtain group data in which multiple printed layers that are printed in layers are grouped, A display control step in which a plurality of icons corresponding to each of the plurality of print layers included in the group data are output to the display unit as layer configuration information indicating the layer configuration of the group data, wherein the plurality of icons are arranged in the order of the superposition of the corresponding print layers. A decision step of determining that multiple group data with the same layer configuration will be nested, and that multiple group data with different layer configurations will not be nested. A program to execute.

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