Print Control Apparatus for Poster Printing with Automatic Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In poster printing, users face complications when determining the size of output sheets, leading to unnecessary increases in the number of sheets and complexity in pasting, especially when handling continuous paper, as they must manually set and manage the orientation and scaling of images.
Innovation Solution
A print control apparatus and method that generates an enlarged image based on a finish size resulting from bonding multiple print sheets, dividing it into segments aligned with the short side of the print sheet, ensuring the short side of each image portion matches the short side of the sheet, thereby reducing the number of segments and simplifying the printing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user manually sets the size of output sheets for printing, then the printing can be performed with basic configuration, but the number of output sheets increases more than necessary and the work of pasting becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the optimal output sheet size and segmentation based on the finish size and original image dimensions, eliminating the need for manual user configuration. The control apparatus self-calculates the number of segments and sheet dimensions to minimize the total number of sheets required while ensuring proper image coverage.
2Ease of operation
If the user manually determines the orientation and scaling for continuous paper printing, then the printing can be performed with basic configuration, but the user has to bear a load of determination and the process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus automatically determines the optimal orientation (portrait or landscape) and scaling factor based on the aspect ratio of the original image and the desired finish size. The system performs self-calculation to determine whether to print the enlarged original in portrait or landscape orientation, eliminating the need for manual user determination and simplifying the printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts printing parameters including orientation, scaling factor, and segmentation based on the relationship between the original image aspect ratio and the finish size. These parameter changes are automatically optimized to reduce the number of segments and simplify the printing process.
3Area of stationary object
If the image is divided into multiple segments for printing on continuous paper, then the large image can be printed, but the number of segments increases making assembly more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the segmentation parameters by calculating the minimum number of segments required based on the finish size, short side length of print sheets, and image dimensions. The segmentation strategy is dynamically adjusted to minimize the number of segments while ensuring complete coverage of the enlarged image.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a print control apparatus in which, when poster printing is performed using a printer for printing on continuous paper, a user only needs to specify a finish size (or a scaling factor) so as to perform printing processing with appropriate orientation and a minimum number of segments. To achieve this, based on a length of a short side of a finish size specified by the user and a length in a width direction of continuous paper, the number of segments is calculated to divide an enlarged image obtained by enlarging an original. Then, based on the number of segments, the enlarged image is divided in a short-side direction, and a plurality of image portions generated by the division are laid out in a size of an output sheet, whereby print data is generated.