Method of processing picture data for printing process and device implementing the same

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of processing picture data for printing process and a device implementing the same, and more particularly to a method of effecting a display for judging quality of picture data in the process of inputting operation of the picture data and a device implementing the same.

In recent years, it becomes popular to perform trimming or layout in the printing process using a system having an edit function called a "layout scanner". The layout work carried out using this system has a procedure to once store picture data within a range for inputting a manuscript set in the scanner, and thereafter to indicate it on a display as a partial picture image or an entire picture image averaged on the basis of a pixel dropping scheme.

However, the drawbacks with this method are as follows:

(1) An operator cannot identify an input picture image until input work of the manuscript is completed and then picture data is displayed on a monitor, with the result that even if there are problems e.g. degraded tone , occurrence of moire pattern, and miss setting of manuscript input range etc., he cannot notice them.

(2) If an input picture image includes at least one among the above-mentioned problems, it is necessary to again effect the input operation from the start. As a result, when a large quantity of manuscript pictures are input, a great quantity of time will be consumed.

(3) A time for providing access to the memory is required for reading data on a display after it is once stored into the memory. The reduction of the time therefore is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the above in view, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of processing picture data and a device therefor capable of detecting inconvenience of input contents of manuscript picture image at an early stage to reduce waste time in the input operation of manuscript picture image as much as possible.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a trimming layout method to precisely determine a trimming range of input picture image data with high working efficiency.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a control method for forming halftone points of a contour portion of a picture pattern inserted between a halftone point generating circuit and an exposure drum drive circuit.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a layout device for a printing process which does not necessitate layout work for which layout computer controlled display is not required.

To achieve these objects, the present invention provides a method and a device to indicate data within a rectangular region with a specified portion, i.e., a specified point in a picture image being a center simultaneously with input of picture data by a layout scanner to visually confirm inconvenience in the input data, thus effecting a correct data input.

The present invention also provides a trimming layout method comprising the steps of carrying out pixel dropping processing so that only suitable pixel data are left among picture data input from a manuscript to indicate the entire picture image on a display, designating a specified point and a trimming range with respect to the picture data by using a layout data input device, implementing a display so that the designated specified point and the trimming range are superimposed on a picture image pixel-dropped on a display, and visually confirming the relationship between the trimming range and the specified point by utilizing the displayed picture image to make a necessary correction.

The present invention also provides a method to form a mask signal on the basis of an ideal line data indicative of a pattern edge calculated by a computer in a layout scanner and a synchronizing signal every each dot in a scanner output circuit to output picture data output from a halftone point generating circuit on the basis of the mask signal.

The present invention also provides a device configured so as to input position data within a trimming range by using a tablet digitizer and to input layout data indicating picture pattern number, block surface color, stet rule (frame of picture pattern), color, halftone percentage and variable magnification etc. to write them into a recording medium, thereby forwarding recording data in the recording medium and picture data received from a manuscript to a layout computer, thus forming data which undergo trimming layout processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a layout scanner employed in a first embodiment of a method according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows an example of a storage data indicated on a display in the method shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing how data e.g. trimming range etc. are input using a tablet in the apparatus shown in a FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing how picture data are input in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a series of procedures employed in the first embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention,

FIGS. 7a and 7b show examples of signals employed in the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, respectively,

FIG. 8 shows internal circuit arrangement of an auxiliary device used in the apparatus shown in FIG. 6,

FIG. 9 shows signal waveforms in the circuit shown in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view how picture data are transferred from the layout scanner to a memory and a display in the second embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing input operation of layout position data on a data tablet in the second embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation in a third embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view for position data on a layout sheet in the third embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining position data set on a picture input device in the third embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between picture data stored in a memory and picture image data on a display in the third embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view for a picture image indicated on a display in the third embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation in a modification of the third embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between picture data stored in a memory and picture image data on a display in the modification of the third embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation in a further modification of the third embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for implementing the third embodiment of the method according to the present invention,

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating an entire configuration of a layout scanner in which an apparatus in a fourth embodiment according to the present invention is assembled,

FIG. 22 is a circuit diagram illustrating a detailed signal synthesis circuit employed in the device shown in FIG. 21,

FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing a layout picture on a layout sheet in the fourth embodiment according to the present invention,

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between a straight line for composing a layout picture and a scanning line in the fourth embodiment according to the present invention,

FIGS. 25a and 25b are explanatory views showing a picture pattern and an output picture signal and a mask signal in regard to a scanning line, respectively in the fourth embodiment according to the present invention,

FIGS. 26a and 26b are explanatory views showing examples of processings carried out in the fourth embodiment according to the present invention, respectively,

FIGS. 27a and 27b is a block diagram illustrating a fifth embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention,

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a menu area setting operation of a graphical drawing apparatus in the embodiment shown in FIG. 27,

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing an example of the menu area setting operation based on the flowchart chart shown in FIG. 28,

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing layout data input procedure in the embodiment shown in FIG. 27,

FIG. 31 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 27,

FIGS. 32a-32d is an explanatory view showing how information is recorded into a recording medium, and

FIGS. 33a and 33b is a block diagram illustrating a sixth embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment of an apparatus used for implementing a method according to the present invention. The apparatus includes a drum assembly 1 for a layout scanner, which comprises a scanning drum 1A and an exposure drum 1B. The exposure drum 1B is provided for effecting a photographic film exposure. It is used for exposure process subsequent to the picture data processing, and therefore its explanation will be omitted.

A manuscript 2 is attached onto a peripheral surface of the scanning drum 1A. Picture data for the manuscript 2 are output from the scanning drum 1A by designating a scan range and a variable magnification to output the picture data of the manuscript 2, thereby to write the image data into a memory 8 through a control unit 3. This write operation is controlled by the control unit 3.

The control unit 3 is operative to effect picture data processing in accordance with layout data input by a data tablet 4 or a keyboard 7. More particularly, the control unit 3 carries out an output of data to a display 6, computation e.g. trimming or layout etc. and an output of data to the exposure drum 1B in addition to the above-mentioned writing operation of data into the memory 8.

The data tablet 4 and the key board 7 the considered as means having the same function in regard to implementation of data input to the control unit 3. With the data tablet, layout position data and specified point position data are input with an origin as a reference by means of a cursor 4A, and variable magnification data are input in a menu area 4B. On the other hand, with the key board 7, the above each data are measured or determined in advance and then corresponding numeric data are input.

In accordance with the input data by the data tabelt 4 or the key board 7, the control unit 3 carries out an input of image data of the manuscript 2 from the scanning drum 3, storage thereof into the memory 8, an output of the picture data in the memory 8 to the display 6 and to the exposure drum 1B, and computation e.g. trimming or layout etc.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining input operation of position data by the data tablet in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

This input operation is carried out by setting a layout sheet 5 on the data tablet 4 to input an origin O (O, O) two vertecies P.sub.1 (x.sub.1, y.sub.1) and P.sub.2 (x.sub.2, y.sub.2) or a rectangle defining a trimming area K, and a specified point P.sub.a (x.sub.a, y.sub.a) in accordance with designation by the cursor 4A. Thus, the trimming range K and the specified point P.sub.a of the picture are input with the origin O as a reference. Where the trimming range is defined by a circular area instead of the rectangular area, it is required to input a central point and one point on the circumference. Further, where the trimming range is defined by a polygonal area, it is required to input coordinates indicative of respective vertecies.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view for explaining how picture data of a manuscript on the scanning drum 1A are input into the memory 8.

When a trimming range K in respect of the manuscript 2 set on the scanning drum 1A is given as indicated by FIG. 3, scanning operation of the manuscript 2 is conducted with a variable magnification .alpha. in regard of the scanning range S(S.sub.x x S.sub.y) including the trimming range K. The scanning range S and variable magnification .alpha. have been set in advance by a scanner control unit (not shown).

The picture data in regard of the scanning range S obtained with a required magnification by this scanning operation is written into the memory 8 by the control unit 3.

Turning back to FIG. 2, there is shown a picture image indicated on the display 6 obtained when a method according to the present invention is applied, wherein a left upper corner denotes the origin 0, and Cartesian coordinates having X- and Y-axes are set as indicated.

This picture image is indicated without applying dropping operation to pixels defining the data stored in the memory 8 (FIG. 1), i.e., so that the data stored in the memory 8 and the data indicated on the display 6 have one-to-one correspondence. Accordingly, only a portion of the picture image is indicated instead of the entire image. The indicated portion is displayed symmetrically with respect to horizontal and vertical directions by using a designated point Po(X.sub.o, Y.sub.o) calculated so as to correspond to the specified point P.sub.a in FIG. 3 as a central point.

Since the designated point P.sub.o (X.sub.o, Y.sub.o) is calculated from the scanning ranges input visually determined by an operator depending on his intuition, the position of the designated point P.sub.o is different from that of the contemplated specified point P.sub.a (X.sub.a, Y.sub.a) in most cases. In the figure shown, the position coordinates of a specified point P.sub.a ' to be located at the central point P.sub.o are displaced in the both x and y directions, respectively.

The displacement between the designated point and the specified point results in a partial loss of the picture data at the stage of trimming or layout subsequently carried out unless corrective operation is applied to the displacement. Accordingly, it is necessary to make a correction so that the designated point and the specified point correspond to each other. In order to precisely and rapidly effect this coincidence operation, it is desirable that the indicated picture image on the display 6 is large. However, if it is too large, there is a possibility that the specified point cannot fall within the screen when a displacement between the designated point and the specified point is above a certain value. In view of this, in this embodiment, the image data stored in the memory 8 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is indicated so that they have a one-to-one correspondence and the designated point is placed on the central position.

To effect such a display, the control unit 3 performs the following computation.

It is now assumed that the, position coordinates of the designated point P.sub.o (X.sub.o, Y.sub.o) in regard of the picture data stored in the memory 8 are expressed as follows: ##EQU1## where L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 denote the number of pixels per unit length in the rotational and scanning directions, respectively, S.sub.x and S.sub.y denote scanning ranges in the X and Y directions (mm), respectively, and .alpha. denotes a variable magnification.

It is further assumed that displacements E.sub.x and E.sub.y between the designated point P.sub.o and the designated point P.sub.o ' (X.sub.a ', Y.sub.a ') are expressed as follows: ##EQU2## where D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 denote the number of pixels displayed in lateral and vertical directions of the display, respectively.

Thus, an operation is effected to calculate the position coordinates of the point P.sub.1 '(x.sub.1 ', y.sub.1 ') and P.sub.2 '(x.sub.2 ', y.sub.2 ') corresponding to the points P.sub.1 (x.sub.1, y.sub.1) and P.sub.2 (x.sub.2, y.sub.2), respectively in regard of the data in the memory 8 by using E.sub.x and E.sub.y expressed by the equation (2) to effect a trimming layout based on the displacement values E.sub.x and E.sub.y, thus making it possible to precisely determine the coordinate position of the trimming range K.

The computation therefor is as follows.

The position coordinates of the P.sub.1 '(X.sub.1 ', Y.sub.1 ') are calculated as follows: ##EQU3##

Further, the position coordinates of the point P.sub.2 '(x.sub.2 ', y.sub.2 ') are calculated as follows: ##EQU4## A rectangle determined by the position coordinates of these points P.sub.1 ' and P.sub.2 ' define a trimming range.

A series of procedures in the method according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

Initially, an operation is carried out to input the position data of the two points P.sub.1 and P.sub.2 defining the trimming range and the position data of the specified point P.sub.3 using the tablet 4 (FIG. 1) as described with reference to FIG. 3 (S1). The same operation may be effected using the keyboard 7 (FIG. 1).

Next step is to input a variable magnification of a scanner using the tablet in a manner stated above (S2). This operation may be also performed using the key board 7.

It is required that these input operations of the position data and the variable magnification data are effected per each manuscript. Accordingly, these operations are repeated until they are completed with respect to all manuscripts to be input (S3). When input operations with respect to the all manuscripts are completed, an operation is conducted to attach the manuscript onto the scanning drum 1A (FIG. 1) to read picture data to store it into the memory (FIGS. 1 and 4) as described with reference to FIG. 4 (S4). These reading operations are carried out until they are completed with respect to the all pictures (S5).

Next step is to indicate the data stored in the memory on the display 6 as described with reference to FIG. 1 (S6). Then, the position data of the specified point (P.sub.a ') in the picture image indicated on the display are input in accordance with the operation of the cursor (S7). Such a input operation is carried out with respect to the all picture (S8) to apply trimming or layout computation to the picture data stored in the memory in accordance with the layout position data of each picture (S9).

Next step is to indicate computed results on the display to visually confirm them (S10) so as to judge whether the layout is precise or not (S11). As a result, when it is judged that the layout is not precise, change or modification of layout information is made (S12). In contrast, when it is judged that the layout is precise, the procedure is completed.

As stated above, the above-mentioned first embodiment is configured so as to indicate picture data input into the memory on the display symmetrical with respect to horizontal and vertical directions with the designated point corresponding to the specified point of the picture as a center, thus to visually confirm how the designated point is displaced with respect to the specified point to correct the position data in the trimming range which has been input in advance in accordance with the displacement. Thus, this makes it possible to extremely precisely set the trimming range in a simplified manner. Accordingly, it is possible to remarkably improve efficiency of trimming layout work effected using the layout scanner.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a second embodiment of a picture data processing system according to the present invention. The system in this embodiment has an elementary configuration similar to the system shown in FIG. 1, and corresponding reference numerals denote the same or similar functions. The system includes layout scanner 1 comprising scanning drum 1A for inputting picture data in respect of manuscript 2 and exposure drum 1B for inputting the processed data to apply exposure process based on the processed data thus input to a film. The picture data in respect of the manuscript 2 input by the scanning drum is input into memory 8 through the control unit 3. The picture data input into the memory 4 are output to the exposure drum 1B through the control unit 3. This system has the elementary operation stated above. In order to perform such an elementary operation, it is required to input layout position data e.g. a trimming range or a specified point etc. For carrying out such an input operation, data tablet 5 is provided. A layout sheet is attached on a data input range formed on the data tablet 5 to input position data into the data input range by means of cursor 4A, and to input numerical data etc. by making use of menu region 4B. The key board 7 is provided for carrying out the same function as the menu region 4B.

In addition, an output 100 from the scanning drum 1A constituting the layout scanner 1 is fed to an auxiliary device 9. To the auxiliary device 9, a control signal 200 from the control device 3 is fed, thereby to input a predetermined portion of the picture data from the scanning drum 1A to output the predetermined portion of the picture data to the display 6. As stated above, the second embodiment according to the present invention is characterized in that the auxiliary device 9 is provided.

FIGS. 7a and 7b show examples of the output 100 from the scanning drum 1A, the output 200 from the control unit 3 and the output from the auxiliary device 9. The output 100 of the scanning drum 1A includes a pixel data 100A, a rotational direction synchronizing signal 100B, an operation indicating signal 100C, a pixel transfer clock signal 100D and a reset signal 100E although the reset signal does not belong to an output of the scanning drum 1A itself. These signals will be described later with reference to FIG. 9. Further, as indicated by FIG. 7b, the output of the control unit 3 and the output 300 of the auxiliary device 9 include pixel data 200A and 300A, addresses 200B and 300B, write clock signals 200C and 300C and reset signals 200D and 300D.

FIG. 8 shows the details of the auxiliary device 9 in the system shown in FIG. 6.

The auxiliary device 9 is provided as major components with a transfer start position detection circuit 10, a synchronizing signal conversion circuit 13, an address conversion circuit 14 and a switching circuit 3. When outputs 100A to 200D of the scanning drum 1A in the layout scanner 1 are given, the auxiliary device 9 produces outputs 300A to 300D to the display 6.

The transfer start position detection circuit 10 comprises registers 18 and 21 for setting start points, a pixel number counter 17, a scanning number counter 20, and comparator circuits 19 and 22. The data indicative of rotational direction start point pixel number (X.sub.s) is set in the register 18. The data indicative of scanning direction start scanning line number (Y.sub.s) are set in the register 21. Such a setting may be made by using data from a computing device (not shown) or setting values by a digital switch etc.

These two counters 17 and 20 for producing counted values to be compared with the contents set in the registers 18 and 21 are operative to count a signal from the layout scanner 1. More particularly, the scanning line number counter 20 responds to the rotational direction synchronizing signal 100B fed through inverters 11 and 16 to effect counting operation until a scanning line including the transfer start pixel position P.sub.s. On the other hand, the pixel number counter 17 responds to the pixel transfer clock signal 100D at a scanning line including the transfer start pixel position P.sub.s to effect a counting operation until the concerned position P.sub.s.

When the both counters 20 and 17 count up until predetermined values, the comparator circuits 22 and 19 produce outputs B and A to deliver them to the address conversion circuit 14 and the synchronizing signal conversion circuit 13, respectively. The address conversion circuit 14 is operative to create display address for the picture image data on the display 7. More particularly, the address conversion circuit 14 responds to signals from the registers 18 and 21, the counters 17 and 20 and the comparator circuits 19 and 22 to calculate address for the picture image data on the display 7 in accordance with a predetermined program. The synchronizing signal conversion circuit 13 responsive to an output of an AND circuit which responds to coincidence detection outputs from the comparator circuits 19 and 22 and the pixel transfer clock signal 100D to produce a synchronizing signal for the display 7.

Outputs from the address conversion circuit 14 and the synchronizing conversion circuit 13 as well as the picture data 100A and the reset signal 100E are fed to the switching circuit 23 as a first group of input signals I.sub.n-1, respectively.

To the switching circuit 23, a second group of input signals I.sub.n-2 corresponding to the above-mentioned first group of input signals I.sub.n-1 is delivered from the control unit 3. The second group of input signals relates to data stored in the memory 8. When operational indication signal 100C is input to a control terminal SEL of the switching circuit 23, the switching circuit 23 is operative to output the first group of input signals I.sub.n-1 to the display 7 as an output signal 300. The operational indication signal 100C is input to a clear terminal CL of the pixel counter 17 through the AND circuit 15 and is also input to a clear terminal CL of the scanning line number counter 20. When these clear terminals represent L level, the counters 17 and 20 are reset, respectively. Accordingly, the pixel number counter 17 is reset every each scanning line and the scanning line number counter 20 is reset after transfer in respect of the full scanning lines is completed.

FIG. 9 shows signal waveforms of the circuit components provided in the circuit shown in FIG. 8, wherein there are shown the rotational direction synchronizing signal 100B, the operational indication signal 100C, and the pixel transfer clock signal 100D which are fed from the layout scanner 1, the reset signal 100E from the control unit 3, the output A of the comparator circuit 19, the output B of the comparator circuit 22, and the output C of the AND circuit 12.

Reference is now made to the relationship between these outputs A, B and C and the signals 100B, 100C, 100D and 100E. The output B of the comparator circuit 22 represents H level when the scanning line number counter 20 counts the rotational direction synchronizing signal 100B up to a predetermined value. Until the output B of the comparator circuit 22 represents H level, one of inputs of the AND circuit 15 is maintained at L level and the clear terminal CL of the pixel number counter 17 represents L level. Accordingly, the counter 17 is placed in reset state. When the output B shifts to H level, the counter 17 initiates counting operation of the pixel transfer clock signal 100D for the first time. Then, when the counted value reaches a predetermined value, the output A shifts to H level and changes to L level in synchronism with a time period of the rotational direction synchronizing signal 100B.

When the outputs A and B of the both counters 17 and 20 represent H level, the AND circuit 12 is operative to deliver the pixel transfer clock signal 100D to the synchronizing signal conversion circuit 13 as the output C.

FIG. 10 shows the transfer image data from the layout scanner 1 to the memory 8 and the transfer picture data to the display 6 through the auxiliary device 9 in a manner that they correspond to each other. FIG. 11 shows picture position data on the layout sheet set on the data tablet 5.

The display system employed in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. When the picture data is defined by L.sub.1 .multidot.S.sub.x .multidot..alpha. (pixel) x L.sub.2 .multidot.S.sub.y .multidot..alpha. (pixel), picture image data corresponding to the range determined by setting D.sub.1 including the transfer start pixel position P.sub.s (X.sub.s, Y.sub.s) in the X-direction and D.sub.2 in the Y-direction is indicated on the display 6.

With respect to the specified point P.sub.o (X.sub.o, Y.sub.o), the transfer start pixel position P.sub.s (X.sub.s, Y.sub.s) serving as a base point of the indication range is expressed as follows: ##EQU5## Further, with respect to reference points P.sub.1 (X.sub.1, Y.sub.1) and P.sub.2 (X.sub.2, Y.sub.2) on the memory, the transfer start pixel position is expressed as follows: ##EQU6## where L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 denote the number of pixels in the rotational and scanning directions, respectively, S.sub.x and S.sub.y denote scanning ranges (mm) in X- and Y-directions, respectively, and .alpha. denotes a variable magnification.

The position coordinates X.sub.s and Y.sub.s thus obtained are set in the registers 18 and 21 provided in the circuit shown in FIG. 8, respectively. The setting is made in accordance with the method previously mentioned. Thus, when the specified point P.sub.o (X.sub.o, Y.sub.o) is instructed, the auxiliary device 9 is operative to output the picture data within the range defined by D.sub.1 x D.sub.2 with the specified point P.sub.o being as a central point among the data input by the layout scanner 1. Accordingly, an observation of the picture image on the display 6 can find out tone degradation of picture image, occurrence of moire pattern, or miss setting of the manuscript input range. In the event that any degradation is found out, an operation is conducted to immediately stop data inputting work to take a measure e.g. setting change of the layout scanner etc.

As stated above, the second embodiment according to the present invention is configured to indicate data corresponding to a specified portion of the whole picture image e.g. a rectangular range with a specified point being as a center on a display simultaneously with the picture data input carried out by the layout scanner. Thus, this can detect inconvenience in the input data in a real time manner. When compared to the case where an operation is effected to indicate image data, thereby to visually confirm it after the picture data has been input, the present invention makes it possible to remarkably reduce where time required for inputting picture of manuscript.

Referring to FIG. 20, there is shown a third embodiment of a picture data processing system according to the present invention.

The picture data processing system includes a picture input device 1, e.g. a scanning drum for a scanner onto which the manuscript 1 is attached. The data input from the manuscript 2 is stored into the memory 7 by the control unit 3 in which a computer is incorporated.

To the control unit 3, coordinate data based on the layout from the picture input device 1 are input in addition to the image data. Further, input data instructed by an operator are input to the control unit 3 by means of input device, e.g. the key board 7. The data stored in the memory 8 is fed to the display 6 through the control unit 3 for indicating it on the display 6.

In use, an operation is effected to designate a trimming range with respect to the image data stored in the memory 8. By using an arbitrary number of picture data to which designation operation of the trimming range is applied and the coordinate data based on the layout sheet 5, trimming/layout processing is carried out. The data prepared by this processing is stored into the memory 8. The data stored in the memory 8 is read by the picture data output device 1B e.g. an exposure drum for a scanner and is used for exposing a film.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the system according to the present invention. This flowchart begins from the condition where the data input from the manuscript 2 has been already stored in the memory 8. A first step is to calculate what extent of pixels be dropped by the control unit 3 in order to indicate the entire image using the number of pixels required for indication on the display 6. An operation is conducted to drop the data stored in the memory 8 depending upon the calculated value to the image data subject to pixel dropping processing to the display 6 to indicate the entire image thereon (S1). The reason why the entire image is used is to set the specified point and the trimming range at a suitable position with respect to the entire picture of the manuscript.

The position coordinates of the specified point is determined based on computation or designation of a specified point of the man