Patent ID: 8422074
Filing Date: 2013-04-16
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A print data generating device for generating a print data that is used for printing a plurality of desired images onto a print medium, said print data generating device comprising: a display; a print-image-region selector configured to select a print image region which is a region of an original-data-based image that is based on an original image data, such that the selected print image region, which is surrounded by a boundary, corresponds to each of the plurality of desired images that are to be printed onto the print medium; a media size recognizer configured to recognize a size of the print medium; a print layout determiner configured to determine, based on a size of the print image region and the recognized size of the print medium, a print layout of the plurality of desired images that are to be printed onto the print medium, such that a number of the desired images printable onto the print medium is maximized in the determined print layout; and a display controller configured to cause said display to display a print layout preview showing a desired number of the desired images that are arranged according to the determined print layout, such that the desired number of the desired images is not larger than the maximized number of the desired images, wherein said print data generating device is configured to generate a preview-based print data as the print data which is used for printing, in conformity with the print layout preview displayed on said display, the desired number of the desired images arranged according to the determined print layout, onto the print medium, wherein the print medium is a generally rectangular-shaped medium having a long side and a short side that is shorter that the long side of the print medium, wherein each of the plurality of desired images corresponding to the selected print image region is a generally rectangular-shaped image having a long side and a short side that is shorter than the long side of each of the desired images, and wherein said print layout determiner comprises: (i) a first maximum-image-number determiner that is configured to determine, as a first maximum number, a maximum number of the desired images that are printable onto the print medium in case of a first arrangement in which the desired images are arranged such that a direction parallel to the long side of the print medium is coincident with a direction parallel to the long side of each of the desired images; (ii) a second maximum-image-number determiner that is configured to determine, as a second maximum number, a maximum number of the desired images that are printable onto the print medium in case of a second arrangement in which the desired images are arranged such that the direction parallel to the long side of the print medium is coincident with a direction parallel to the short side of each of the desired images; and (iii) a maximum number comparator that is configured to compare the first maximum number and the second maximum number with each other, such that said print layout determiner determines, as the print layout, a first print layout in which the desired images are arranged according to the first arrangement, where the first maximum number is greater than the second maximum number, and such that said print layout determiner determines, as the print layout, a second print layout in which the desired images are arranged according to the second arrangement, where the second maximum number is greater than the first maximum number.