Abstract: The present invention provides a highly productive printing system and a simple printing device included therein. Correcting data for correcting a printing state of an image are prepared for at least each of the printing devices and stored in a printer server. In the printer server, printing data input from a terminal device is converted into bit map data via an RIP processor, and the bit map data is transmitted from the printer driver to two of the same kind of printing devices. At this time, the printing device selects data corresponding to the respective printing devices and transmits them with the bit map data. When the printing devices print the transmitted bit map data, they correct the printing state based on the correcting data transmitted together with the bit map data.

Abstract: Any defect of a board fabricated via a drawing process executed by a drawing device attributed to Gerber data is prevented. Gerber data of vector form representing a wiring pattern drawn directly on a board is loaded before it is expanded into drawing raster data by a RIP processing (100). Thresholds for check are set corresponding to the resolution of the drawing and the type of the photosensitive material on the board (102, 104). Check for presence/absence of any arc portion the circumference length of which is below a threshold th1, presence/absence of any arc portion the radius difference of which is equal to or greater than a threshold th2, presence/absence of any pin-hole region the area of which is equal to or greater than a threshold th5, presence/absence of any pattern the width of the portion overlapping with an adjacent pattern of which is below a threshold th6, and presence/absence of any pattern the gap with adjacent patterns of which is below a threshold th7 is performed (106 to 176).

Abstract: An image processing method and image processor obtain image data of piece images and layout information of each piece image, convert the image data into piece drawing data, and then, preferably after performing compression processing on the piece drawing data, arrange the piece drawing data in accordance with the layout information, to thereby create drawing data of an image composed of plural piece images arranged. A drawing system has the image processor described above, and a drawing device, which draws an image on a work based on drawing data that is created by the image processor. A program enables a computer to execute the image processing method described above.

Abstract: The extraction method and apparatus acquire design data that has a hierarchical structure and is converted into raster data corresponding to drawing onto a substrate and extract from the design data a structural element that composes the design data, is repeatedly described in one hierarchical layer, and satisfies at least one of four extraction conditions concerning a size of the structural element, a number of times of repetition of the structural element in a structural element upper than the structural element, a number of lower structural elements composing the structural element, and a depth of the one hierarchical layer in which the structural element exists.

Abstract: An output instruction including output conditions that differ by page is instructed by the output instruction unit, the instruction data is analyzed by a data analysis unit, instruction data including instructed output conditions that differ by page is stored, the image data is image-processed by an image processing unit in accordance with the instruction data stored in the data analysis unit, to thereby create an output image, the output conditions of the printing mechanism are switched by an output control unit in accordance with the instruction data, and the output image generated at the image processing unit is printed by a printing mechanism. It is determined whether or not there are contradictions in the instruction data of the image data, resetting is prompted with respect to contradictions, and an appearance when image recording is actually effected in accordance with the instruction data is displayed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording device, an image recording system and an image recording method which can improve a productivity by receiving image information simultaneously when the image information to be image recorded is sent from a plurality of host computers, even if a host computer having a slow rate of transmission for the image information is disposed. A buffer is provided in the image recording device and the image information sent simultaneously from the image information supplying devices is stored independently in the buffer. Thus, the time required for transferring the image information can be reduced such that the productivity can be improved.

Abstract: When an image is recorded on a recording material while concurrently transferring print data and conveying the recording material, the recording material at the time when exposure is stopped can be placed in a state before unprocessed at a high probability. Conveying of a photopolymer plate started concurrently with transfer of print data, is temporarily stopped on standby immediately before punch-hole forming processing. Therefore, when transfer of print data is stopped, the photopolymer plate can be placed in a reusable state at a high probability, and the number of waste photopolymer plates can be reduced. The standby time and the time at which conveying is restarted are determined based on a transfer rate of print data and a remaining conveying time. As a result, there is no possibility that delay of image recording processing caused by temporary stop may occur.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly productive printing system and a simple printing device included therein. Correcting data for correcting a printing state of an image are prepared for at least each of the printing devices and stored in a printer server. In the printer server, printing data input from a terminal device is converted into bit map data via an RIP processor, and the bit map data is transmitted from the printer driver to two of the same kind of printing devices. At this time, the printing device selects data corresponding to the respective printing devices and transmits them with the bit map data. When the printing devices print the transmitted bit map data, they correct the printing state based on the correcting data transmitted together with the bit map data.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and program storage medium storing a program for processing images, which receives CT image data and LW image data sent from an RIP, corrects and synthesizes the received CT image data and LW image data whereby generating an image data that represents an image having both a continuous gradation image region and a line drawing region, and sends the generated image data to a printer. Based on the received CT image data and LW image data, CT image data and LW image data to be corrected are obtained from the respective correction lookup tables, and a random number is added to each of the obtained CT image data and the LW image data to be corrected. The CT image data and the LW image data having the respective random numbers added are then synthesized and transmitted to the printer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus creates printing data in which sizes of images on the front and the back of a perfecting print are sufficiently coincident with one another. A printing mode obtaining section obtains discrimination between a single-sided print and a perfecting print. A correcting storage section stores an association between sort and size of a printing paper and correcting amount of a size of an image to be printed on at least one side of the printing paper. A blank form information obtaining section obtains sort and size of a printing paper to be used for printing. An image size correcting section corrects a size of an image to be printed on the front of the printing paper on the page description data. A rasterizing section converts the page description data into raster image data for printing.

Abstract: An output instruction including output conditions that differ by page is instructed by the output instruction unit, the instruction data is analyzed by a data analysis unit, instruction data including instructed output conditions that differ by page is stored, the image data is image-processed by an image processing unit in accordance with the instruction data stored in the data analysis unit, to thereby create an output image, the output conditions of the printing mechanism are switched by an output control unit in accordance with the instruction data, and the output image generated at the image processing unit is printed by a printing mechanism. It is determined whether or not there are contradictions in the instruction data of the image data, resetting is prompted with respect to contradictions, and an appearance when image recording is actually effected in accordance with the instruction data is displayed.

Abstract: In order to minimize the amount by which a sheet material must be moved for positioning, using a small number of sensors, and to achieve improvement of the operation and stabilization of the positioning accuracy, the size of the sheet material is recognized in advance, a sensor, which requires the smallest amount of movement of the sheet material for positioning the sheet material at a predetermined position, is selected from a plurality of sensors based on the recognized size, and the sheet material is detected by the selected sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording device, an image recording system and an image recording method which can improve a productivity by receiving image information simultaneously when the image information to be image recorded is sent from a plurality of host computers, even if a host computer having a slow rate of transmission for the image information is disposed. A buffer is provided in the image recording device and the image information sent simultaneously from the image information supplying devices is stored independently in the buffer. Thus, the time required for transferring the image information can be reduced such that the productivity can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging system in which even when an imaging device becomes inoperable, the entire system can still continue to be operated, and high reliability is obtained. When a second printer server receives a printing job from a first client personal computer, after preprocessing for output of print data, the second printer server transfers the printing job to a first printer, and an image data output operation is started in the first printer. When an error such as failure occurs during the image data output operation, a printer from which image data is outputted, is changed to a second printer of the same kind as the first printer. Preprocessing corresponding to the second printer is executed again. Thereafter, the printing job is transferred to the second printer, and the printing job is continuously executed by the second printer.

Abstract: In order to minimize the amount by which a sheet material must be moved for positioning, using a small number of sensors, and to achieve improvement of the operation and stabilization of the positioning accuracy, the size of the sheet material is recognized in advance, a sensor, which requires the smallest amount of movement of the sheet material for positioning the sheet material at a predetermined position, is selected from a plurality of sensors based on the recognized size, and the sheet material is detected by the selected sensor.

Abstract: When an image is recorded on a recording material while concurrently transferring print data and conveying the recording material, the recording material at the time when exposure is stopped can be placed in a state before unprocessed at a high probability. Conveying of a photopolymer plate started concurrently with transfer of print data, is temporarily stopped on standby immediately before punch-hole forming processing. Therefore, when transfer of print data is stopped, the photopolymer plate can be placed in a reusable state at a high probability, and the number of waste photopolymer plates can be reduced. The standby time and the time at which conveying is restarted are determined based on a transfer rate of print data and a remaining conveying time. As a result, there is no possibility that delay of image recording processing caused by temporary stop may occur.

Abstract: An image reading method and apparatus are capable of high-quality reading of a transparent original with an optimum light quantity by maintaining both a transmitting light source unit and a reading scanner at an adequate relative position to keep their optical axes in alignment during scan reading. Such alignment is achieved by providing synchronization in scanning speed by placing either one of the transmitting light source unit and the reading scanner at an arbitrary selected position, scanning the proximity of the selected position with the other, determining a light quantity distribution, determining a synchronous position from the distribution, carrying out such synchronous position detection at two or more distinct positions, and calculating the scanning speed ratio of the transmitting light source unit to the reading scanner from the result.

Abstract: A scan reading method according to this invention includes the steps of: causing a line memory to store original image data for one line; obtaining a density average value of the one-line image data or a variation rate thereof; and detecting the edge of the original by comparing the average density value or the variation rate thereof with a predetermined threshold value after finishing a scan over the original or during the scan. A scan reading method also includes the steps of: preparing a density histogram from the one line image data in the original region; optionally obtaining the average density value of the variation rate thereof; detecting the top end and terminal of the original from that value; and calculating highlight and shadow densities from the density histograms after finishing the scan over the original by use of a scanner.