The present disclosure relates to an image-forming apparatus and method.
Conventionally, a technique is known that presents a preview image to a user when the user has made a printing request to a printing apparatus. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-38526 discloses a printing server apparatus that can generate a preview image similar to a final image of a printout of a remote printing service in accordance with print settings.
Furthermore, a technique is also known that uses a reader to read a sheet on which an image has been formed by an image-forming apparatus, and automatically adjusts image-forming conditions based on the read image. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-53089 discloses a technique to use a gamma curve, which is generated based on the result of reading of a tone pattern formed on a sheet using an optical sensor, in the adjustment of density output conditions of an image-forming apparatus for each of a plurality of color components that compose a color image. Patent Document 2 presents an example in which a tone pattern is formed in a peripheral region of a sheet that is expected to be separated by way of trimming.
However, with a preview function of the printing server apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-38526, it is not possible to easily determine how a user should change the settings to achieve a desired printing result. For example, taking the example of automatic adjustment of image-forming conditions described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-53089, some users may arrange content also in a peripheral region of a sheet. A user may arrange a code used for job management or content management (e.g., a serial number, a one-dimensional barcode, or a two-dimensional barcode), a unique color patch, or the like in a peripheral region of an input image. When the setting of automatic adjustment of image-forming conditions is enabled and a user's content is arranged at a position where a pattern for adjustment of the image-forming conditions (hereinafter referred to as a pattern for adjustment) is formed, the pattern for adjustment and the user's content image overlap each other. Although the user can make an attempt to check whether the pattern for adjustment overlaps the content image while looking at a preview image, there are cases where it is difficult for the user to appropriately determine whether there is an overlap on a simple printing preview.
In view of the foregoing issues, the present invention aims to provide a preview function that allows a user to more easily determine the influence of printing-related settings on a printing result.
According to one aspect, there is provided an image-forming apparatus, including: an image-forming unit configured to form a user image on a sheet based on printing-related settings; and a control unit configured to cause a display unit to display a preview image related to the user image formed by the image-forming unit. The control unit is configured to control the display unit to display two or more preview images corresponding to different printing-related settings without requiring a user to change settings. The printing-related settings include a setting related to whether to print a pattern different from the user image on the sheet. The two or more preview images include a first preview image on which a display object representing the pattern is superimposed, and a second preview image on which the display object representing the pattern is not superimposed. A corresponding method is also provided.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings).
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features are described in the embodiments, but limitation is not made to an invention that requires all such features, and multiple such features may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, and redundant description thereof is omitted.
The host computer 10 is an apparatus that issues a print job to be executed by the image-forming apparatus 100. As one example, the host computer 10 may be a terminal apparatus, such as a personal computer (PC) and a smartphone, provided with a user interface that includes a display. As another example, the host computer 10 may be a server apparatus that accepts a printing request from another terminal apparatus (not shown) and issues a print job. Typically, a print job includes input image data that represents a user image to be printed, and additionally includes such job parameters as the number of copies to be printed, a designated sheet type, and double-sided/single-sided.
The image-forming apparatus 100 is an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by executing a print job. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the image-forming apparatus 100 is a color laser printer capable of printing a color image using an electrophotographic method. In another embodiment, the image-forming apparatus 100 may be any other type of image-forming apparatus, such as a monochrome laser printer or an inkjet printer.
As shown in
The operation panel 110 is a unit that provides user interfaces (UIs) including an input interface and an output interface. The input interface can include one or more of buttons, numeric keys, a touch panel, switches, and a microphone, for example. The output interface can include one or more of a display, a speaker, and a lamp, for example. The operation panel 110 accepts a user input via the input interface, and outputs the accepted user input to the controller 200. Furthermore, the operation panel 110 outputs information generated by the controller 200 via the output interface (e.g., causes the display to display an image, or causes the speaker to output sounds). A user can instruct the image-forming apparatus 100 to execute a job and change job-related settings by operating the operation panel 110, for example.
The printer unit 120 is an image-forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on at least one image-forming condition. In the example of
Each of the paper feeding trays 131 and 132 stores a stack of sheets. The paper feeding trays 131 and 132 may store the same type of sheets, or may store different types of sheets. Although
The image-forming unit 140Y forms a yellow (Y) toner image on the intermediate transfer member 146. The image-forming unit 140M forms a magenta (M) toner image on the intermediate transfer member 146. The image-forming unit 140C forms a cyan (C) toner image on the intermediate transfer member 146. The image-forming unit 140K forms a black (K) toner image on the intermediate transfer member 146. As the image-forming units 140Y, 140M, 140C, and 140K are configured in the same way as one another, the following description will be provided using the configuration of the image-forming unit 140Y as an example. The image-forming unit 140Y includes a photosensitive drum 141, a charging device 142, an exposure device 143, and a developing device 144. The photosensitive drum 141 is a drum-shaped photosensitive member that includes a photosensitive layer on a surface thereof. The photosensitive drum 141 rotates about a drum axis in the direction of arrow R in the figure. The charging device 142 uniformly charges the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 141. The exposure device 143 irradiates the photosensitive drum 141 with laser light in accordance with image data (that represents a yellow image in the present case) input from the controller 200. The laser light output from the exposure device 143 scans the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 141 in the direction of the drum axis, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 141. In the following description, the direction of scanning with the laser light (the depth direction in
Under control of the controller 200, the sheet that has been picked up from the paper feeding tray 131 or 132 is conveyed to the transfer nip in harmony with the timing of arrival of the toner image on the intermediate transfer member 146 at the transfer nip. The transfer unit 147 transfers the toner image carried by the intermediate transfer member 146 to the sheet at the transfer nip. The fixing device 148 includes a heater and a pressurizing roller. The fixing device 148 heats the toner image transferred to the sheet using the heater, and pressurizes the same using the pressurizing roller. As a result, the toner on the sheet is fused, and the toner image is fixed to the sheet. Although
The conveyance path 133 bifurcates into conveyance paths 134 and 135 in a section that is downstream relative to the fixing device 148. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 148 is conveyed from the conveyance path 133 to the conveyance path 135. When a trailing end of the sheet has entered the conveyance path 135, the conveyance direction is reversed, and the sheet is discharged from a discharge roller 137 to the reader unit 150. Through this conveyance, the sheet is discharged in a state where the surface thereof on which the image has been formed is facing downward (called face-down). Note that in a case where double-sided printing is performed, the sheet that has entered the conveyance path 135 is conveyed to a conveyance path 136, returns to the conveyance path 133 from the conveyance path 136, and passes through the transfer nip again in a state where the front and back thereof have been inverted. The transfer unit 147 forms a toner image on the back surface of the sheet at the transfer nip, and the fixing device 148 fixes the toner image on the sheet. Once the images have been formed on both surfaces of the sheet, the sheet is discharged from the discharge roller 137 to the reader unit 150.
In the present embodiment, the image-forming apparatus 100 accepts various printing-related settings that can influence the result of printing operations in the printer unit 120. The printing-related settings include, for example, a setting related to whether to print a pattern different from a user image on a sheet. An example of a pattern that can be formed by the printer unit 120 on a sheet in accordance with the printing-related settings is a pattern for adjustment used in the adjustment of at least one image-forming condition. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the image-forming apparatus 100 has a function of automatically adjusting image-forming conditions on the printer unit 120. For the automatic adjustment of the image-forming conditions, the printer unit 120 is capable of forming one or more patterns for adjustment, together with a user image (or separately from the user image), on the sheet. As a first example, the image-forming conditions include a condition related to the density of an image formed by the printer unit 120. In this case, the patterns for adjustment include one or more tone patterns (first patterns) used in automatic adjustment of the density. As a second example, the image-forming conditions include a condition related to the position at which the user image is formed by the printer unit 120. In this case, the patterns for adjustment include one or more position determination marks (second patterns) used in measurement of displacement of an image-forming position at which the user image is formed on the sheet. The automatic adjustment of the image-forming conditions that uses such patterns for adjustment will be described below in detail. In addition, several examples of patterns other than these patterns for adjustment will also be further described below.
The reader unit 150 is a reading unit that generates a read image by optically reading a sheet. In the example of
The detection circuit 170 is a detection unit that, in a case where image-forming conditions of the printer unit 120 are automatically adjusted, detects each of one or more patterns for adjustment used in the automatic adjustment by searching a read image for the same. Typically, the search for each pattern for adjustment is made within a known, limited search range that is expected to include this pattern for adjustment; this is intended to shorten a processing time period. The detection circuit 170 outputs the detection result pertaining to each pattern for adjustment to the controller 200. For example, in a case where the density (density output characteristic) is automatically adjusted, the detection result can indicate density-related information pertaining to each pattern for adjustment that has been detected (e.g., average values of luminances or densities in respective patches). In a case where the image-forming position is automatically adjusted, the detection result can indicate measured position information pertaining to each of the detected patterns for adjustment (e.g., absolute position coordinates, or a relative displacement from a reference position). An example of a detailed configuration of the detection circuit 170 will be further described below.
The finisher 180 is a post-processing unit that executes post-processing with respect to a sheet on which an image has been formed. In the present embodiment, the finisher 180 receives a sheet discharged from the reader unit 150, conveys the sheet along an internal conveyance path, and discharges the sheet to one of discharge trays 181 and 182 (e.g., the discharge tray designated by a job parameter). The post-processing executed by the finisher 180 may include one or more of grouping, trimming, stapling, sorting, and bookbinding. For example, in a case where the finisher 180 includes a trimming mechanism (not shown), the trimming mechanism cuts off a peripheral region of the sheet by trimming the sheet in accordance with a designated size. A segment of the sheet that has been cut off can be discarded into a purge tray (not shown) inside the finisher 180.
The controller 200 controls all of the above-described operations of the image-forming apparatus 100. For example, in a case where the user has issued an instruction for executing a print job, the controller 200 controls the image-forming apparatus 100 to form a user image on a sheet based on input image data. Also, in the present embodiment, when executing a job in which automatic adjustment of image-forming conditions is enabled, the controller 200 controls the printer unit 120 to form patterns for adjustment on a sheet. Automatic adjustment of image-forming conditions may be performed, for example, in a case where the user has issued an instruction therefor, or upon arrival of an execution timing in a case where the automatic adjustment has been set to be performed regularly. A more detailed configuration related to the automatic adjustment of the image-forming conditions will be further described in the next section.
Referring to
The communication interface 211 is a communication unit that is intended for the image-forming apparatus 100 to communicate with the host computer 10 and other apparatuses via the network 20. The read-only memory (ROM) 212 is a nonvolatile memory and stores, for example, one or more computer programs for the operations of the image-forming apparatus 100. The random-access memory (RAM) 213 is a volatile memory, and provides the CPU 215 with a temporary storage area for computation. The storage 214 is a large-capacity storage device, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), and the like. The storage 214 stores computer programs and various types of data, such as setting data and image data. The central processing unit (CPU) 215 is a processing circuit that realizes various control functions of the image-forming apparatus 100 by executing the computer programs stored in the ROM 212 or the storage 214. In the present embodiment, the CPU 215 functions as an adjustment unit 221 and a UI control unit 222. The adjustment unit 221 adjusts at least one image-forming condition of the printer unit 120 based on the detection results pertaining to patterns for adjustment in a read image generated by the reader unit 150. The UI control unit 222 causes a display unit to display preview images related to a user image formed by the printer unit 120. The display unit mentioned here may be, for example, the display of the operation panel 110 in the image-forming apparatus 100 or the host computer 10. The functions of the adjustment unit 221 and the UI control unit 222 will be described below in detail. The operation interface 216 is an interface for inputting/outputting signals to/from the controller 200 and the operation panel 110. The printer interface 217 is an interface for inputting/outputting data and signals to/from the controller 200 and the printer unit 120. The reader interface 218 is an interface for inputting/outputting data and signals to/from the controller 200 and the reader unit 150.
Referring to
The first ADC 157a converts the analog image signal (representing the read image of the first surface of the sheet) input from the first line sensor 156a into read image data in a digital format, and outputs the converted read image data to the detection circuit 170. The memory 168a stores correction values used to equalize the light amounts for the respective elements of the first line sensor 156a (e.g., values corresponding to variations in the light amount). The second ADC 157b converts the analog image signal (representing the read image of the second surface of the sheet) input from the second line sensor 156b into read image data in a digital format, and outputs the converted read image data to the detection circuit 170. The memory 168b stores correction values used to equalize the light amounts for the respective elements of the second line sensor 156b. The image memory 159 stores read image data generated or processed by the reader unit 150. The detection circuit 170 is a detection unit that detects one or more patterns for adjustment within a read image in a case where image-forming conditions of the printer unit 120 are automatically adjusted. The detection circuit 170 may be implemented as a dedicated processing circuit, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like, or may be implemented by a combination of a general-purpose processor and software.
The adjustment unit 221 of the controller 200 controls the printer unit 120 to form one or more patterns for adjustment on a sheet for automatic adjustment of image-forming conditions on the printer unit 120. A first example of the patterns for adjustment is tone patterns used in automatic adjustment of density.
Referring to
The detection circuit 170 of the reader unit 150 detects each tone pattern 320 based on read image data, extracts the patch regions 321 inside the detected tone patterns 320, and calculates an average pixel value (RGB value) for each patch image. Then, the detection circuit 170 outputs average pixel values of respective tones of each color component to the controller 200.
The color selection unit 171 selects any one of RGB color component images that compose read image data. In order to detect the tone patterns 320 with favorable accuracy, this selection of a color component may be made in accordance with the background color of the sheet (e.g., a color component that exhibits the largest color difference from the background color can be selected).
The left end determination unit 172 determines the position of the left end of the patch region 321 in each tone pattern 320 to be detected within the read image of the color component selected by the color selection unit 171. Here, “left” corresponds to the upstream side in a pixel array along a line in the main-scanning direction. For example, the left end determination unit 172 may determine the left end of the patch region 321 by sequentially scanning the pixel values of each line in the read image and comparing each pixel value with a pre-defined threshold. In a case where the background color of the sheet is white, the patch region 321 can be detected in a case where a pixel value (or luminance value) falls below the threshold. Note that in order to improve the determination accuracy, the left end determination unit 172 may scan the pixel values of a plurality of lines simultaneously, and determine the position of the left end of the patch region 321 using the plurality of pixel values.
The range deciding unit 173 decides on a range of each patch image to be cut out from the read image (hereinafter referred to as a cutout range) based on the result of determination made by the left end determination unit 172. For example, assume that the result of determination made by the left end determination unit 172 indicates the position coordinates of the upper-left corner of the patch region 321 in the tone pattern 320Y that has been described using
The write unit 174 cuts out a patch image inside each range that has been decided on by the range deciding unit 173 from the read image (RGB image), and writes patch image data representing the patch image that has been cut out to the image memory 159. The readout unit 175 reads out the patch image data that has been written to the image memory 159, and outputs the patch image data to the average computation unit 176.
With respect to the four color components, namely Y, M, C, and K, the average computation unit 176 calculates average pixel values (RGB values) of respective tones of patch images (that have been cut out from the read image) based on each piece of patch image data input from the readout unit 175. Then, the average computation unit 176 outputs the calculated average pixel values to the adjustment unit 221 of the controller 200.
The adjustment unit 221 adjusts the density output characteristics of the image-forming units 140Y, 140M, 140C, and 140K based on the average pixel values input from the detection circuit 170. This adjustment can be made using, for example, some sort of conversion formula or lookup table that accepts a set of average pixel values as an input and outputs a parameter that specifies the density output characteristics after adjustment. As an example, in a case where the result of detection of the tone pattern 320Y indicates that the printing density is too low in the intermediate tone range of the Y component, the adjustment unit 221 may increase the density output of the intermediate tone range of the image-forming unit 140Y. As another example, in a case where the result of detection of the tone pattern 320M indicates that the printing density is too high in the low tone range of the M component, the adjustment unit 221 may reduce the density output of the low tone range of the image-forming unit 140M.
A second example of the patterns for adjustment is position determination marks used for measurement of a displacement (shift) in an image-forming position at which a user image is formed on a sheet.
Referring to
The detection circuit 170 of the reader unit 150 detects each of the position determination marks 371, 372, 373, and 374 by scanning read image data, and measures the position coordinates (e.g., the coordinates of the position of the mass center) of each of the detected marks. Then, the detection circuit 170 outputs the measured position coordinates to the controller 200. Based on the position coordinates input from the detection circuit 170, the adjustment unit 221 of the controller 200 adjusts the position on the sheet at which the image-forming units 140Y, 140M, 140C, and 140K form images. This adjustment may include not only translation in the main-scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, but also enlargement or reduction in size. Also, the adjustment of the image-forming position may be performed for each color component.
Note that the tone patterns shown in
In the present embodiment, the UI control unit 222 provides an improved preview function to enable the user to more easily determine the influence of printing-related settings on a printing result. For example, the printer unit 120 is capable of forming the above-described patterns for adjustment intended for the automatic adjustment function in such a manner that they are superimposed over an image region in which a user image is formed on a sheet. That is to say, although the patterns for adjustment can be typically formed in a peripheral region of a sheet as has been described using
Note that the printing-related settings are not limited to the above-described example. For example, the printing-related settings and two types of preview images corresponding thereto may include one or more of the following examples.
Several embodiment examples related to display of a preview image on a preview screen will be described in detail in the present section.
The basic setting button 410 is a button for calling up basic setting items of a print job. The automatic adjustment button 420 is a button for calling up setting items related to the above-described automatic adjustment function of the image-forming apparatus 100. The post-processing button 430 is a button for calling up setting items related to a post-processing function of the image-forming apparatus 100. The cancel button 431 is a button for cancelling the issuance of a print job and closing the print setting screen 400. The print start button 432 is a button for issuing a print job and causing the printer unit 120 to start image formation. In the example of
The density adjustment checkbox 422 is an object for enabling or disabling automatic adjustment of density. The position adjustment checkbox 423 is an object for enabling or disabling automatic adjustment of an image-forming position. In the example of
In the first embodiment example, the UI control unit 222 controls the display unit to display the first preview image including display objects representing the patterns for adjustment, and the second preview image representing only a user image in parallel on a preview screen.
The input preview area 510 is an area in which the second preview image only with the user image is displayed. The user image includes one or more auxiliary contents 512 in addition to a main content 511 at the center. In the example of
The printing preview area 520 is an area in which the first preview image with display objects representing the patterns for adjustment superimposed on the user image is displayed. In the example of
The return button 531 is a button for closing the preview screen 500 and returning to the print setting screen 400. The page number field 532 is a field that displays the total number of pages and the page number of a page that is currently displayed in a case where contents to be printed extend over a plurality of pages. The page transition buttons 533 are buttons for making a transition from the page displayed in both preview areas 510 and 520 to a preceding page or a succeeding page. The slider 534 is an object that allows the scales of the preview images displayed in both preview areas 510 and 520 on the screen to be changed.
In the example of
As described above, each tone pattern is typically composed of one or more patch regions and a mask region that surrounds these patch regions. The mask regions are blank regions; therefore, if the mask regions are presented as is, there is a possibility that the user who has seen the preview images cannot recognize the existence of the mask regions. In view of this, the UI control unit 222 may additionally display a frame indicating the periphery of each mask region in the printing preview area 520. In the example of
Note that in a case where automatic adjustment of the image-forming position is enabled, display objects representing the position determination marks, which have been described using
First, in step S101, the UI control unit 222 of the controller 200 in the image-forming apparatus 100 displays preview screens related to a print job on the display of the host computer 10 or the operation panel 110 in response to a call from the user. Here, it is assumed that the function of automatic adjustment of image-forming conditions is enabled, and the UI control unit 222 controls the display such that the first preview image and the second preview image are displayed in parallel on a preview screen. The first preview image is an image in which display objects representing the patterns for adjustment are superimposed on a user image, and the second preview image is an image on which the display objects representing the patterns for adjustment are not superimposed.
Next, in step S103, once the user has issued an instruction for starting the execution of the print job, the UI control unit 222 accepts the print job. For example, the print job is received from the host computer 10 via the network 20 or the communication interface 211, or generated in response to a command input from the operation panel 110. The print job includes input image data representing a user image to be printed. At this time, a page counter p, which is a variable for identifying a page to be printed, is initialized to zero.
Next, in step S105, the UI control unit 222 obtains job parameters of the accepted print job. The job parameters include not only parameters for basic settings, such as the number of copies to be printed, a designated sheet type, and double-sided/single-sided, but also a parameter indicating whether the automatic adjustment function is enabled for at least one image-forming condition. Thereafter, processing bifurcates in step S107 depending on whether the automatic adjustment function is enabled. In a case where the automatic adjustment function is enabled (automatic adjustment is ON), processing proceeds to step S121. In a case where the automatic adjustment function is not enabled (automatic adjustment is OFF), processing proceeds to step S111.
In a case where the automatic adjustment function is not enabled, in step S111, the printer unit 120 forms a user image of the pth page on a sheet under control of the controller 200. Next, in step S113, the page counter p is incremented (one is added thereto). Next, in step S115, whether the execution of the print job has been completed is determined. For example, in a case where the page counter p has not reached the total number of sheets to be printed, it is determined that the execution of the print job has not been completed, and processing returns to step S107. On the other hand, in a case where the page counter p has reached the total number of sheets to be printed, it is determined that the execution of the print job has been completed, and the flowchart of
In a case where the automatic adjustment function is enabled, in step S121, the printer unit 120 forms a user image of the pth page on a sheet under control of the controller 200. At this time, the adjustment unit 221 superimposes one or more patterns for adjustment used in the automatic adjustment on the user image.
Next, in step S123, the line sensor 156 of the reader unit 150 generates a read image by optically reading the sheet on which the user image and the patterns for adjustment have been formed. Next, in step S125, the detection circuit 170 of the reader unit 150 searches the read image generated in step S123 for each of the one or more patterns for adjustment used in the automatic adjustment, and detects each pattern for adjustment.
Next, in step S127, the adjustment unit 221 of the controller 200 adjusts the image-forming conditions of the printer unit 120 based on the detection result input from the detection circuit 170. For example, in a case where automatic adjustment of density is enabled, the detection result input from the detection circuit 170 can indicate the average pixel values for the respective color components and the respective tones, which have been calculated based on the patch images in the tone patterns detected inside the read image. For example, the adjustment unit 221 converts the average pixel values into density values using known conversion coefficients for the respective color components, and adjusts the density output characteristic of each of the image-forming units 140Y, 140M, 140C, and 140K so as to compensate for the density difference from desired density. Here, the conversion coefficients can be decided on in advance based on the characteristics of RGB color filters of the line sensor 156 and the CMYK density characteristics of the printer unit 120, and stored into the ROM 212. Note that the adjustment of the density output characteristics based on reading of the tone patterns or patch images may be performed in accordance with any known method. As one example, the adjustment unit 221 may update a lookup table that is referred to when converting pixel values of each color component of input image data into output density values so as to compensate for the density differences based on the result of detection of the tone patterns.
Next, processing proceeds to step S113, and the page counter p is incremented (one is added thereto) as stated earlier. Next, in step S115, whether the execution of the print job has been completed is determined; in a case where it has been determined that the execution has not been completed, processing returns to step S107. On the other hand, in a case where it has been determined that the execution of the print job has been completed, the flowchart of
Note that although
According to the foregoing first embodiment example, prior to the execution of a print job, the user can easily check whether content arranged on a user image overlaps the patterns for adjustment for automatic adjustment of image-forming conditions by comparing two preview images that are displayed in parallel. That is to say, the user can easily determine, on a screen, the influence of a setting that is selected at the present moment on a printing result without having to change printing-related settings.
In the second embodiment example, the UI control unit 222 controls the display unit to display the first preview image including display objects representing the patterns for adjustment and the second preview image representing only a user image on a preview screen in a temporally alternating manner.
Referring to
The radio buttons 630 are buttons for allowing the user to select whether to switch the preview image displayed in the preview area 610 automatically or in response to a user input (i.e., manually). In the example of
Note that in a case where manual switching has been selected via the radio buttons 630, the UI control unit 222 may switch between display of the first preview image and display of the second preview image in response to a pre-defined user input (e.g., a touch or a click on the preview area 610). Also, the radio buttons 630 may be omitted from the configuration of the preview screen 600. In this case, switching between display of the first preview image and display of the second preview image can be either constantly performed automatically, or necessarily performed manually.
In the present embodiment example, the user can easily notice that the auxiliary contents are partially hidden by the patterns for adjustment by comparing the first and second preview images, which are displayed in a temporally alternating manner, within the preview area 610 located at a fixed position. That is to say, the user can easily determine, on the screen, the influence of a setting that is selected at the present moment on a printing result without having to change printing-related settings. The user who has seen the preview screen 600 may disable the automatic adjustment function in the immediate print job, may rearrange the auxiliary contents 512, or may change the settings of positions of the tone patterns if possible. In the present embodiment example, too, the UI control unit 222 may additionally display a frame indicating the periphery of the mask region of each pattern for adjustment in the preview area 610.
In the present embodiment example, the flow of the job execution processing that can be executed by the image-forming apparatus 100 may be similar to the flow that has been described using
The above two embodiment examples have been described using an example in which display objects representing patterns for adjustment are superimposed on a user image on a first preview image displayed on a preview screen. However, this leaves the possibility that the display of the entire first preview image does not necessarily facilitate checking of details of each individual pattern for adjustment, and the user overlooks an overlap between content within the user image and the patterns for adjustment. In view of this, in one modified example, the UI control unit 222 may provide an enlarged display of a display object and a vicinity thereof that correspond to each individual pattern for adjustment on the preview screen in a case where a predetermined user input has been detected.
In the example of
In a case where a plurality of patterns for adjustment exist, the user may be able to select a pattern for adjustment to be displayed in an enlarged manner on the screen. The magnification of the enlarged display may be changeable via an operation on the slider 534. Such an enlarged display may be provided in a case where, for example, some sort of user input has been detected on the preview screen 500 according to the first embodiment example or the preview screen 600 according to the second embodiment example.
Among various displays of preview images according to the above-described embodiment examples and modified example, two or more may be provided as candidates for a display mode that can be selected by the user. For example, the UI control unit 222 may display the preview images in a parallel display mode described in the first embodiment example in a case where a first user input has been detected, and display the preview images in an alternating display mode described in the second embodiment example in a case where a second user input has been detected. In the parallel display mode, the UI control unit 222 controls the display such that the first preview image and the second preview image are displayed in parallel on a preview screen. In the alternating display mode, the UI control unit 222 controls the display such that the first preview image and the second preview image are displayed on the preview screen in a temporally alternating manner.
Furthermore, one or more of the following display modes may be selectable via a user interface as candidates for a display mode.
The printing preview mode is a mode in which only the first preview image is displayed. The input preview mode is a mode in which only the second preview image is displayed. The enlarged display mode is a mode in which a pattern for adjustment is displayed in an enlarged manner as has been described in the previous section.
The mode selection button 811 is a button for selecting the printing preview mode. The mode selection button 812 is a button for selecting the input preview mode. The mode selection button 813 is a button for selecting the parallel display mode. The mode selection button 814 is a button for selecting the alternating display mode. The mode selection button 815 is a button for selecting the enlarged display mode. The preview area 820 is an area for displaying a preview image(s) in the display mode selected via the mode selection buttons 811 to 815. In the example of
In the present embodiment example, the flow of the job execution processing that can be executed by the image-forming apparatus 100 may be similar to the flow that has been described using
In the present embodiment example, prior to the execution of a print job, the user can check whether content arranged on a user image overlaps a pattern for adjustment while freely selecting one of a plurality of display modes that can include the parallel display mode and the alternating display mode. This makes it even easier for the user to notice an overlap between content of a user image and a pattern for adjustment.
Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-214035, filed on Dec. 19, 2023 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2023-214035 | Dec 2023 | JP | national |