Print control apparatus

Abstract

In response to a print instruction of a specified print object image, the print control apparatus of the invention corrects print object image data representing the specified print object image with a preset correction parameter set for improving picture quality of the specified print object image and prints the specified print object image according to corrected print object image data. A print object image specification module of the print control apparatus specifies the print object image as a printing object. A preprocessing execution module of the print control apparatus performs predetermined preprocessing of the print object image data representing the specified print object image to set the correction parameter used for correcting the specified print object image. In response to specification of the print object image by the print object image specification module, a preprocessing management module of the print control apparatus instructs the preprocessing execution module to implement advanced preprocessing of the print object image data representing the specified print object image, prior to the print instruction. This arrangement of the invention desirably shortens a time period elapsed before start of required image processing for printing the specified print object image.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a print control apparatus in one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a print object image specification process performed by a UI module of a main processor included in the print control apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the details of the preview process executed at step S20 in the print object image specification process of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a preview photo image displayed on an LCD;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a preprocessing management process executed by a preprocessing management module of the main processor;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the preprocessing management process executed by a preprocessing management module of the main processor;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an advanced preprocessing request process;

FIG. 8 shows a concrete example of advanced implementation of preprocessing;

FIG. 9 shows the concrete example of advanced implementation of preprocessing;

FIG. 10 shows the concrete example of advanced implementation of preprocessing; and

FIG. 11 shows a multi-image layout.

Claims

1. A print control apparatus that, in response to a print instruction of a specified print object image, corrects print object image data of the specified print object image with a preset correction parameter set for improving picture quality of the specified print object image and prints the specified print object image according to corrected print object image data, the print control apparatus comprising:a print object image specification module that specifies the print object image as a printing object;a preprocessing execution module that performs predetermined preprocessing of the print object image data representing the specified print object image to set the correction parameter used for correcting the specified print object image; anda preprocessing management module that, in response to specification of the print object image by the print object image specification module, instructs the preprocessing execution module to implement advanced preprocessing of the print object image data of the specified print object image, prior to the print instruction.

2. The print control apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the preprocessing management module instructs the preprocessing execution module to implement advanced preprocessing in a preset order with regard to plural unprocessed preprocessing requests of plural print object images specified by the print object image specification module.

3. The print control apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the correction parameter includes at least one parameter selected from a first parameter group obtained by a statistical process of the print object image data representing the specified print object image, a second parameter group obtained by a face recognition process of the print object image data, and a third parameter group obtained by a red-eye reduction process of the print object image data.

4. The print control apparatus in accordance with claim 1, the print control apparatus further comprising: a data expansion module that expands compressed image data in a specific format,wherein the print object image specification module displays a preview image based on expanded image data, which is obtained by expansion of compressed image data by the data expansion module, and, in response to selection of the displayed preview image as a printing object, specifies an image represented by the expanded image data corresponding to the selected preview image as a print object image, andthe preprocessing management module instructs the preprocessing execution module to implement advanced preprocessing of the expanded image data as the print object image data.

5. The print control apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein in response to specification of the image represented by the expanded image data as the print object image, the preprocessing management module instructs the preprocessing execution module to perform sampling of predetermined pixels from the expanded image data and to set the correction parameter based on a result of the sampling.

6. The print control apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein in response to specification of the image represented by the expanded image data as the print object image, the preprocessing management module instructs the preprocessing execution module to perform sampling of predetermined pixels from the expanded image data in advance prior to display of the preview image, and to set the correction parameter based on a result of the advanced sampling.

7. The print control method that, in response to a print instruction of a specified print object image, corrects print object image data representing the specified print object image with a preset correction parameter set for improving picture quality of the specified print object image and prints the specified print object image according to corrected print object image data, the print control method comprising the steps of:(a) specifying the print object image as a printing object;(b) performing predetermined preprocessing of the print object image data representing the specified print object image to set the correction parameter used for correcting the specified print object image; and(c) in response to specification of the print object image in the step (a), giving an instruction for implementing advanced preprocessing of the print object image data representing the specified print object image in the step (b), prior to the print instruction.