CHARACTER GENERATION PROCESSING METHOD

Abstract

In order to generate a character main body including a character outline from data in which character shape information is stored as a character outline and generate a character with a design, this method comprises steps of generating the outline of the character main body, setting decoration process contents to be applied to the character main body, operating in such a way that the lower-order bits of the character gradation of the generated outline can be outline end information, setting a decoration position in a character outer fringe on the basis of the outline end information for determining on which side of the main body is located the pixel, on the left or right side, generating character decoration by controlling the gradation value of a pixel in which the flag is set and painting out the character main body excluding the generated character decoration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 explains the first prior art;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the first prior art;

FIG. 3 explains the second prior art;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the second prior art;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the character generation processing device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an operational flowchart explaining the basic process of the character generation processing method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining the whole process in which the character generation processing method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is simplified;

FIG. 8 shows the result of operating in such a way as to indicating the outline end information of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows the state of memory where outline font data is developed after the decoration flag of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is set;

FIG. 10 explains the basic setting mechanism of the decoration flag of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 explains the first position setting method of the decoration flag of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 explains the second position setting method of the decoration flag of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13A is a main flowchart explaining the operation of the decoration flag position setting process and decoration flag setting process of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13B is the first sub-flowchart explaining the operation of the decoration flag position setting process and the decoration flag setting process of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13C is the second sub-flowchart explaining the operation of the decoration flag position setting process and the decoration flag setting process of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13D is the third sub-flowchart explaining the operation of the decoration flag position setting process and the decoration flag setting process of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13E is the fourth sub-flowchart explaining the operation of the decoration flag position setting process and the decoration flag setting process of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 explains a range that affects the decoration flag position setting of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 shows the first format example indicating where of the gradation value the decoration flag of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is assigned;

FIG. 16 shows the pixel value-flag correspondence table in the first format example shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows the second format example indicating where of the gradation value the decoration flag of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is assigned;

FIG. 18 shows the pixel value-flag correspondence table in the second format example shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart determining the gradation value of a decoration outline using decoration process flags (ID Nos.) shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;

FIG. 20 is a timing chart explaining the gradation value process of the decoration outline according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is the first flowchart explaining the whole process of the character generation processing method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is the second flowchart explaining the whole process of the character generation processing method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 23 shows an example of a decoration character obtained by the painting process of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A character generation processing method for generating a character main body including a character outline from data in which character shape information is stored as a character outline and a character with a design, comprising: generating an outline of a character main body;setting decoration process contents to be applied to the character main body decoration;operating in such a way that lower-order bits of a character gradation value of the generated outline can be outline end information;setting a decoration position in an outer character fringe on the basis of the outline end information for determining whether the outline is located on the left or right side of the main body and the character gradation value of the outline and setting a flag in the position;generating character decoration by controlling a gradation value of a pixel in which the flag is set; andpainting out the character main body excluding the generated character outline.

2. The character generation processing method according to claim 1, wherein the flag setting step sets an arbitrary flag setting threshold, switching the flag setting position by comparing the character gradation value of the outline consisting of higher-order bits excluding the operated lower-order bits with the set threshold and setting a flag in the switched position.

3. The character generation processing method according to claim 1, wherein the flag has a plurality of setting values andthe flag setting step presets the flag setting threshold, switches the plurality of flag values by comparing the character gradation value of the outline with the threshold and sets the switched flag value.

4. The character generation processing method according to claim 3, further comprising determining a decoration gradation value corresponding to the set flag value.

5. The character generation processing method according to claim 1, wherein the decoration process content setting step selects and sets one or more of a character size, a character image painting pattern, a bold character pattern, a fringing pattern and a middle-hollowed pattern.

6. The character generation processing method according to claim 1, wherein if a bold character process is applied when decoration process contents to be applied to the character main body, a bold character is generated by modifying a gradation value of a pixel in which the flag is set to the same gradation value as in the outline of the character main body.

7. The character generation processing method according to claim 1, wherein if a fringing process is applied when decoration process contents to be applied to the character main body, a fringed character is generated by generating a pixel in which the flag is set in a pattern different from the character main body.

8. The character generation processing method according to claim 1, wherein if a white-hollowed process is set when decoration process contents to be applied to the character main body, a white-hollowed character is generated by applying specified and white color to a pixel in which the flag is set and the character main body, respectively.

9. A character generation processing apparatus for generating a character main body including a character outline from data in which character shape information is stored as a character outline and a character with a design, comprising: a unit for generating an outline of a character main body;a unit for setting decoration process contents to be applied to the character main body decoration;a unit for operating in such a way that lower-order bits of a character gradation value of the generated outline can be outline end information;a unit for setting a decoration position in an outer character fringe on the basis of the outline end information for determining whether the outline is located on the left or right side of the main body and the character gradation value of the outline and setting a flag in the position;a unit for generating character decoration by controlling a gradation value of a pixel in which the flag is set; anda unit for painting out the character main body excluding the generated character outline.

10. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for generating a character main body including a character outline from data in which character shape information is stored as a character outline and a character with a design, said program performing: generating an outline of a character main body;setting decoration process contents to be applied to the character main body decoration;operating in such a way that lower-order bits of a character gradation value of the generated outline can be outline end information;setting a decoration position in an outer character fringe on the basis of the outline end information for determining whether the outline is located on the left or right side of the main body and the character gradation value of the outline and setting a flag in the position;generating character decoration by controlling a gradation value of a pixel in which the flag is set; andpainting out the character main body excluding the generated character outline.