Method and apparatus for image processing capable of generating multiple images of varying dimensions

An image processing apparatus designates image area on the original. A shifting device shifts the image area by predetermined amount. An outputting device outputs the image data corresponding to the image area and the image data corresponding to the shifted image area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a 
trimming function, specially a digital copier that converts an original 
image into digital image data and forms a copy image based on said image 
data. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
The trimming function is widely known as an editing/duplicating function of 
digital copiers. It involves extracting the image of a portion of the 
original (the trimming area) and making its duplicate. A board-like input 
device called an editor is often employed as the means to designate the 
trimming area. 
Furthermore, some digital copiers have an image repeat function in which 
multiple copy images are printed in a single column or in multiple columns 
on a single sheet of paper. Where the image repeat function is used, the 
copy magnification is set in accordance with the relative sizes of the 
original and the paper and the number of repeats desired. For example, 
where four copy images are to be printed in two columns and two lines, on 
paper that is the same size as the original, the copy magnification is set 
at approximately 0.5. 
One of the additional functions of such copiers is the monitor copy 
function. This involves changing the image quality (mainly the color tone) 
for a portion of the original image and copying of said portion onto a 
single sheet of paper side by side (Japanese Laid Open Patent Hei 
6-334854). By simply designating one monitor image among the multiple 
monitor images printed with different image qualities, the user can 
complete adjustment of the image quality. 
When performing copying using the trimming function described above, where 
the original is character-based, such as a document, newspaper, or book, 
the matter to be copied (the information to be extracted) is relatively 
clear. In other words, the user can determine the size and position of the 
trimming area without difficulty. 
On the other hand, where for example a portion of a photograph is to be 
copied in enlargement, the impression of the copy image may vary depending 
on its composition. As a result, in trying to find the best composition, 
the user often has to repeatedly change the trimming area and perform 
copying. This repeated copying is wasteful in terms of consumption of both 
paper and time. 
The purpose of the present invention is to create a copying mode in which 
the reference information for an area designated as the trimming area is 
output, through which the practicality of the trimming function is 
improved. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A first object of the present invention is to provide a copier in which, 
when the user extracts a needed partial area of the original, there is no 
wasteful repetition of the image creation process. 
A second object of the present invention is to provide a copier in which, 
when the user extracts a needed partial area of the original, user 
operation may be reduced through automatic setting of multiple different 
areas based on the designated area. 
A third object of the present invention is to provide a copier in which, 
when the user extracts a needed partial area of the original, the user may 
easily select a needed area of the original by automatically setting 
multiple different areas based on the designated area and outputing images 
that correspond to said multiple different areas onto a single sheet of 
paper. 
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a copier in which, 
when the user extracts a needed partial area of the original, user 
operation may be reduced by automatically setting multiple areas of 
different sizes surrounding the designated area. 
A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a copier in which, 
when the user extracts a needed partial area of the original, the user may 
easily select a needed partial area of the original by automatically 
setting multiple areas of different sizes surrounding the designated area 
and outputing onto a single sheet of paper images corresponding to said 
multiple areas of different sizes. 
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will 
become apparent from the following description thereof taken in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate specific 
embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 is a front elevation showing the construction of copier 1 relating 
to the present invention. 
Copier 1 is a digital color copier that can perform both monocolor and 
full-color copying, and comprises image reader unit IR and printer unit 
PR. 
Image reader unit IR is a mechanism to read an original based on the line 
scanning method. It performs scanning of original D placed on platen glass 
31 by means of scanner 32 and reads the image of the original, after the 
carrying out of color separation of said image into three colors (R, G, 
B), by means of one-dimensional image sensor 38 comprising a CCD. 
Photoelectric conversion signals from image sensor 38 are sent to print 
head controller 130 of printer unit PR as electrophotographic process 
exposure control signals after being converted into digital data by image 
processor 120. Scanner 32 is driven by pulse motor 35. 
Printer unit PR comprises an image formation system that forms a copy image 
by means of an electrophotographic process, as well as a mechanism for 
housing and feeding copying paper. 
The image formation system has print head 21 that uses a semi-conductor 
laser as the exposure light source, photosensitive drum 4 that serves as a 
latent image carrier, developing unit 6, and transfer drum 10 to transfer 
a developed toner image onto paper. Photosensitive drum 4 and transfer 
drum 10 are made to rotate synchronously by drum drive motor 22. 
Developing unit 6 of copier 1 is equipped with magenta developing member 6M 
that performs developing using magenta toner, cyan developing member 6C 
that performs developing using cyan toner, yellow developing member 6Y 
that performs developing using yellow toner, and black developing member 
6K that performs developing using black toner, and a toner hopper (not 
shown in the drawings) is placed above each developing member to provide 
toner in the appropriate color (M, C, Y, K). 
Developing unit 6 is located such that it can move vertically to allow each 
developing member to be alternately placed at the developing position. 
Developing unit 6 is moved by developing unit motor 61. 
The housing/feeding mechanism comprises three paper cassettes 42, 43 and 44 
that can house paper of different sizes and paper feed system 40 driven by 
main motor 41. 
Paper cassettes 42 through 44 are each capable of holding several hundred 
sheets of paper. Paper feed system 40 feeds paper alternately from 
whichever of said cassettes 42 through 44 has been selected, and re-feeds 
paper that has passed fusing device 48 to the transfer position if 
necessary. 
During full-color copying, paper pulled from one of paper cassettes 42 
through 44 is conveyed by a roller unit including pair of timing rollers 
45 and wound around transfer drum 10. The paper onto which toner images of 
four different colors are sequentially transferred is separated from 
transfer drum 10 by separating claw 18, and then sent to fusing device 48 
by feeding belt 47. After fusing, the paper is discharged to paper 
discharge tray 49. 
During two-sided copying, after fusing for the first side, the paper is 
stored temporarily in interim tray 50 by means of claws 53 and 54, and is 
then re-fed from interim tray 50 to transfer drum 10 so that the side 
opposite to the side on which a copy image has been fused becomes the 
transfer surface. Where multiple originals are to be copied onto a single 
sheet of paper, etc., the paper is stored temporarily in interim tray 50 
after fusing through switch-back feeding via claws 53 and 54 and paper 
reversal device 51, and then is re-fed so that the side of the paper 
having the copy image becomes the transfer side. 
Paper holding charger 11, pressing roller 12, transfer charger 14, 
separation chargers 16 and 17 and reference position sensor 13 that 
outputs reference position signals for transfer drum 10 are located around 
transfer drum 10. Actuator plate 13a used to activate reference position 
sensor 13 is affixed to the surface of transfer drum 10. Reference 
position signals are used to perform timing adjustment for the linked 
operation of image reader unit IR and printer unit PR. 
The operation of copier 1 is performed by means of operation panel 70 
located on the top of image reader unit IR and tablet-type editor 90. 
FIG. 2 is a plan view of operation panel 70, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of 
editor 90. 
In FIG. 2, operation panel 70 has, in addition to liquid crystal display 
(LCD) 87 to perform screen display for interactive operation, start key 
71, 10-key keypad 72, panel reset key 75, edit key 76, image quality 
adjustment key 77, enter key 78, reverse key 79, cursor keys 80a through 
80d corresponding to the four directions of up, down, left and right, six 
function keys 81 through 86 and user choice key 88. The functions of these 
keys are made clear where necessary in the explanation below. 
In FIG. 3, editor 90 comprises plate-shaped main unit 90A and pen 98 to 
perform position designation. Main unit 90A also works to cover originals, 
and its operation surface comprises coordinate input area E3 that allows 
position designation for maximum paper size A3 and function selection area 
E4 on which are located buttons 91 through 97 to perform function 
selection. In editor 90, the upper right corner of coordinate input area 
E3 is deemed the coordinate input reference point (the point of origin for 
X-Y coordinates). 
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the construction of control system 100 of 
copier 1. 
Control system 100 mainly comprises four CPUs (central processing units) 
101 through 104 and control bus 110 to which each CPU is linked. Each CPU 
comprises a microprocessor unit (MPU). 
First, CPU 102 is responsible for controlling image reader unit IR. In 
other words, while communicating with image processor 120, CPU 102 
controls drive system 121 that comprises a motor, exposure lamp, etc., 
used to perform scanning of the original. 
CPU 103 is responsible for controlling printer unit PR, and outputs 
prescribed control signals to drive system 131 that includes main motor 
41, developing unit motor 61, etc., and to print head controller (PH 
controller) 130, based on detection signals from sensor unit 132. 
CPU 104 is responsible for controlling operation panel 70 and editor 90, 
and in addition to processing inputs from keys 142 on operation panel 70 
and editor 90, it controls the display on LCD 87. CPU 101 is an MSC (Macro 
System Controller) that performs control for copier 1 as a whole. It 
issues prescribed commands in accordance with the various operation modes 
to CPUs 102 through 104, and receives data from each of said CPUs where 
necessary. 
In control system 100, the operations of CPUs 102 through 104 are 
sequentially controlled by CPU 101 in principle in this way. However, 
where signals sent and received between image reader unit IR and printer 
unit PR are required to be high-speed signals, the sending and receiving 
of said signals is not handled by CPU 101 but is done directly. 
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a summary construction of image processor 
120. 
Image processor 120 comprises input processor 122, A/D converter 123, 
shading correction unit 124, density converter 125, color correction unit 
126, editor 127, MTF correction unit 128 and magnifying/shifting unit 129. 
Each of these members 122 through 129 operates according to clock signals 
from control signal generator 220 and control signals from CPU 102. 
Input processor 122 performs sampling at fixed cycles of photoelectric 
conversion signals input from image sensor 38 after they are amplified to 
a prescribed level. A/D converter 123 carries out quantization of the 
sampling value from input processor 122 and generates 8-bit (256 
gradations) image data for each color R, G and B. 
Shading correction unit 124 performs correction regarding the image data 
for each color based on the variation in light distribution of exposure 
lamp 33 and in the sensitivity among the pixels of image sensor 38. 
Density converter 125 converts image data input from shading correction 
unit 124, which is data that reflects the proportion of the amount of 
reflected light, into data that reflects the proportion of each color 
density (density data), and simultaneously performs enhancement of 
highlighted and shadowed areas. 
Color correction unit 126 generates and outputs image data that corresponds 
to one of the four toner colors (Y, M, C, K) based on image data in three 
colors (R, G, B), using three types of publicly known image processing 
methods for full-color reproduction, i.e., (i) BP processing or generation 
of a black version, in which dark components to be reproduced in K or 
black toner are extracted from the color components of the original, (ii) 
UCR processing or removal of background color, in which dark components 
are removed from the color components of the original, and (iii) color 
correction masking processing, in which the proportions among M, C and Y 
are determined taking into consideration the spectral absorption 
characteristics of the toners. When this is done, control signals 
indicating the color for which image data is to be generated are provided 
to color correction unit 126 by CPU 102 synchronously with the operation 
of printer unit PR. 
Edit unit 127 performs prescribed processing when various types of editing 
and copying are carried out. MTF correction unit 128 performs image 
improvement such as edge enhancement and smoothing. Magnifying/shifting 
unit 129 then performs size conversion to enlarge or reduce the image in 
accordance with the copy magnification (pixel density conversion in the 
main scanning direction), as well as processing to move the image in the 
direction of main scanning (image shift) or processing for multiple 
copying (image repeat) where necessary, and then sends the processed image 
data VIDEO to print head controller 130. 
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing one example of the construction of 
magnifying/shifting unit 129 in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 shows one example of 
image repeat copying. 
Magnifying/shifting unit 129 comprises two line memories 301A and 301B, 
thinning clock generator 302, write address generator 303, read address 
generator 304 and clock selector 305. 
Image data input from MTF correction unit 128 is stored in one line memory 
(e.g., line memory 301A). When this takes place, line memory 301A is 
subject to address control by means of write address generator 303. 
At the same time, the previously stored image data is read out from the 
other line memory 301B. When this takes place, line memory 301B is subject 
to address control by means of read address generator 304. 
Address generator 303 and address generator 304 generate write addresses 
and read addresses, respectively, by counting clock signals selected by 
clock selector 305. 
Clock selector 305 selects and inputs pixel transfer clock signals SYNCK or 
thinning clock signals R-SYNCK. Thinning clock signals R-SYNCK are 
generated by thinning clock generator 302 through thinning pixel transfer 
clock signals SYNCK in accordance with magnification data MAG-DATA 
provided by CPU 102. In the case of no-magnification copying (copy 
magnification of 1), clock signals R-SYNCK are signals having the same 
cycle as clock signals SYNCK. The selection operation for clock selector 
305 obeys the enlargement/reduction signals RE provided by CPU 102. 
The connections between line memories 301A and 301B and address generators 
303 and 304 alternate each time that horizontal synchronous signal Hsync 
is input. In other words, writing to and reading from line memories 301A 
and 301B are alternately performed each time signal Hsync is input. 
The initial clock signal count value of write address generator 303 is `0`. 
On the other hand, the initial clock signal count value of read address 
generator 304 is changed in accordance with read start position data 
FST-POS, and increases or decreases in accordance with signal UD. Read 
address generator 304 repeats the counting of a prescribed number of clock 
signals in accordance with repeat position data REP-POS. 
In the case of enlargement copying, pixel transfer clock signals SYNCK are 
selected as the write clock signals, and thinning clock signals R-SYNCK 
are selected as the read clock signals. In this way, the same data is read 
out repeatedly from the line memory synchronously with pixel transmission 
clocks SYNCK. As a result, the original image is enlarged. In the case of 
reduction copying, thinning clock signals R-SYNCK are selected as the 
write clock signals, and the input image data is thinned and stored in the 
line memory. The thinned image data is then read out synchronously with 
pixel transfer clock signals SYNCK. As a result, the original image is 
reduced. 
In the case of image repeat copying, when the count value of read address 
generator 304 (the read address) reaches the value of repeat position data 
REP-POS, counting begins once again from the initial value, as a result of 
which a part of the original image is repeatedly copied, as shown in FIG. 
7. When this takes place, repeat position data REP-POS is set at a value 
within address range Ap of the line memory which can be read in one line 
cycle. By setting read start position data FST-POS and repeat position 
data REP-POS appropriately, repeated copying of a desired portion in the 
main scanning direction may be performed. If the total number of 
repetitions is set as 1, trimming copying results. In normal copying, 
repeat position data REP-POS is set at a value within address range Apo 
which is outside address range Ap. 
Next, trimming monitor copying, which is unique to this invention, will be 
explained. 
Trimming monitor copying resembles image repeat copying in terms of the 
operation and control of copier 1. The difference between the two types of 
copying is that in image repeat copying one part of the original is 
repeatedly printed out on one sheet of paper, while in trimming monitor 
copying different parts of the original (including partially overlapping 
areas) are printed out on one sheet of paper. 
FIG. 8 is a simplified drawing of the memory control for trimming monitor 
copying. 
As shown in FIG. 8, in trimming monitor copying, first, as in image repeat 
copying, data in the address range from read start position data FST-POS 
to repeat position data REP-POS is read out from either line memory 301A 
or 301B. Next, read start position data FST-POS and repeat position data 
REP-POS are both shifted by the same amount, and data is read out from the 
line memory again. By changing the read addresses and repeating reading 
access to line memory 301A or 301B, the trimming area can be shifted in 
the direction of main scanning. 
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the sequence of the memory control for 
trimming monitor copying, and FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the sequence 
of the image read process of FIG. 9. 
The size of the trimming area (length in the main scanning direction), the 
amount of shift of the trimming area, and the number of repeats are set 
through operation by the user (operator) as conditions of operation. 
CPU 102 writes image data output from MTF correction unit 128 to line 
memory 301A of magnifying/shifting unit 129 (#11). When this takes place, 
it is necessary to store the image relating to the copying range from top 
position FST-POS1 of the first trimming area in the main scanning 
direction to the bottom position REP-POSn of the final, or nth, trimming 
area. Where the copying range is larger than the original, dummy masking 
data (white) is written regarding the part that does not correspond to the 
original (See FIG. 10.) 
When writing of one line of the original that was scanned is completed, 
reading from line memory 301A is performed together with writing to other 
line memory 301B. 
When this reading is performed, first, FST-POS1 is set as the value of read 
start position data FST-POS, REP-POS1 is set as the value of repeat 
position data REP-POS, and the number of repeats is reset to initial value 
`0` (#12). 
Read access in which read start position data FST-POS is deemed the top 
address is begun (#13), and read start position data FST-POS is then 
changed to second trimming area top position FST-POS2 (#14). 
When reading from FST-POS1 to REP-POS1 is completed (#15), the number of 
repeats is increased by 1 (#16), and when the number of repeats becomes n, 
this routine is ended (#17). Where the number of repeats has not become n, 
repeat position data REP-POS is changed to second trimming area bottom 
position REP-POS2 (#18), at which point step #13 is returned to and the 
reading of data corresponding to the second trimming area is performed. 
Subsequently, the processes of steps #13 through #18 are repeated up to 
the number of repeats in the same way. 
By repeatedly shifting the address designation range by a certain amount 
and performing multiple reads during the scanning of one line of original 
D in this way, multiple copy images corresponding to multiple areas of 
original D that are different from one another but have uniform dimensions 
can be printed alongside one another on one sheet of paper. By performing 
multiple scanning sessions of the same original D and delaying the reading 
from line memory 301A or 301B each time by a certain amount of time from 
the standard timing, multiple copy images may be printed on a sheet of 
paper along the secondary scanning direction. 
In other words, by combining address change control regarding line memories 
301A and 301B with timing change control, m.times.n copy images may be 
printed on one sheet of paper. 
Next, the setting of conditions for trimming monitor copying will be 
explained. 
As methods to designate the amount of shift of the trimming frame and the 
number of repeats, two methods are given. 
The first is a method in which values are input via the 10-key keypad for 
both the amount of shift and the number of repeats with respect to both 
the main scanning direction and secondary scanning direction. This method 
regards trimming monitor copying as one type of image repeat copying, and 
is useful in conveying the feeling of activity and movement. 
The second is a method in which the user designates only one reference 
trimming frame, and the shift amount and number of repeats are then 
automatically designated by the control system. Using this method, the 
user can easily obtain the desired reference information for determining 
the best composition. 
Copying using the second method is discussed below. 
FIG. 11 is a simplified drawing showing one example of trimming monitor 
copying. 
As shown in FIG. 11(a), the user designates trimming frame FT having a 
desired size and center frame FC by employing editor 90, for example. 
Center frame FC indicates the main part of the composition which contains 
the main information to be extracted from the original. 
When trimming frame FT and center frame FC are designated, nine trimming 
areas ET1 through ET9 are automatically set, as shown in FIG. 11(b). Each 
trimming area ET1 through ET9 is an area in which a part of the original 
is extracted so that center frame FC is positioned at either the upper 
left, upper center, upper right, left center, center, right center, lower 
left, lower center or lower rights. 
Nine copy images G21 through G29 corresponding to trimming areas ET1 
through ET9 are printed on paper P alongside one another, for example, in 
three rows and three columns. The user may designate the extraction range 
for subsequent trimming copying by selecting one image from copy images 
G21 through G29 in accordance with the display on LCD 87. 
FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing one example of the operation sequence, and 
FIG. 13 is a drawing showing the display screen corresponding to FIG. 12. 
When the user presses edit key 76 on operation panel OP, edit menu screen 
Q11 shown in FIG. 13(a) is displayed by means of LCD 87. The user selects 
image repeat copying by appropriately operating cursor keys 80a through 
80d. The blackened square in the drawing indicates that image repeat 
copying has been selected. When enter key 78 is pressed, image repeat 
copying mode is entered. 
Copier 1 has the following image repeat copy modes: a mode in which copying 
of the entire image of the original is repeatedly performed, a mode in 
which a part of the image of the original is trimmed and repeatedly 
copied, and a mode in which different parts of the image of the original 
are trimmed and copied (trimming monitor copy mode). 
As shown in FIG. 12, in image repeat copy mode, copy magnification is 
designated irrespective of which of the three modes is present. When the 
copy magnification is designated and enter key 78 pressed, selection 
screen Q12 shown in FIG. 13(b) is displayed. The user then selects whether 
or not trimming is necessary in response to message Z12 on selection 
screen Q12 (#22). 
If button ZB22 is pressed and `trimming not necessary` is selected (#22), 
the mode in which the entire original is repeatedly copied is entered. In 
this case, the number of repeats is input, which completes the setting 
operation (#27). 
If button ZB12 is pressed and `trimming necessary` is selected (#22), 
selection screen Q13 shown in FIG. 13(c) is displayed. The user then 
selects whether or not shifting of the trimming area is necessary in 
response to message Z13 on selection screen Q13 (#23). 
Where shifting of the trimming area is not necessary, button ZB32 is 
pressed. By doing so, the mode in which a part of the image of the 
original is trimmed is entered. In this case, the trimming area is 
designated using editor 90 (#26), and the number of repeats is input, 
which completes the setting operation (#27). 
Where shifting of the trimming area is necessary, button ZB31 is pressed. 
By doing so, trimming monitor copy mode is entered. In this case, trimming 
frames FT and center frames FC are sequentially designated using editor 90 
(#24, #25). 
After this series of operations, controller 100 calculates the paper 
conditions (the size and number of sheets of paper to be used) under which 
the maximum number of copy images may be printed on one sheet of paper P 
using a publicly known calculation method, based on the size of the 
original, the copy magnification, and the number of repeats. 
In the explanation provided above, the sizes of trimming frames FT were 
deemed fixed, but as another form of image repeat copying, Magnify Frame 
and Repeat in which the sizes of trimming frames FT are enlarged or 
reduced each time repeat copying is carried out is also possible. In this 
case, the repeat conditions (magnifications and number of repeats) may be 
set in a manual mode in which the user may freely designate the conditions 
or in an automatic mode in which previously set conditions are designated, 
and these two modes may be switched from one to the other as well. 
By appropriately providing control data (magnification/reduction signals RE 
and magnification data MAG-DATA) to magnifying/shifting unit 129, Magnify 
Image and Repeat, in which the magnification of the image of the original 
is changed for printing each time repeat copying is carried out, may be 
achieved. 
In other words, image repeat copying may be classified into eight forms 
depending on the existence or non-existence of trimming, shifting of 
trimming frame FT (frame shifting), magnification of trimming frames FT 
(frame magnification) and magnification of the copy images (image 
magnification), as shown in Table 1. In the table, symbol O indicates 
`exists`, while symbol X indicates `does not exist`. In table 1, copy 
forms are classified assuming that where frame shifting is performed, the 
frame magnification is not changed. Naturally, where trimming is not 
performed, frame shifting and frame magnification do not apply. 
FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing one example of the operation sequence where 
Magnify and Repeat is performed. FIG. 15 is a simplified drawing showing 
an example of Magnify and Repeat. Magnify and Repeat means image repeat 
copying in which, at minimum, either the frame magnification or the image 
magnification is changed. 
As described above, the user presses edit key 76, calling up edit menu 
screen Q11 (see FIG. 13(a)), and selects image repeat copying. 
In image repeat copying mode, first, it is selected whether or not trimming 
is necessary (#31). Where trimming is not necessary, it is selected 
whether or not image magnification is necessary (#35). Where image 
magnification is desired, the magnifications and the number of repeats are 
set, completing the repeat conditions designation operation. (#36, #37). 
Where image magnification is not necessary, only the number of repeats is 
set, completing the repeat conditions designation operation. 
On the other hand, where trimming is necessary, trimming frames FT are set 
using editor 90, etc. If frame shifting is desired, the shifting 
conditions are set by designating center frame FC or by inputting shifting 
amount, as described above. Frame shifting is not performed in this 
example. 
Following the setting of trimming frames FT, it is selected whether or not 
frame magnification is necessary (#33). If frame magnification is not 
necessary, the image magnifications are set as necessary and the number of 
repeats is then set. If frame magnification is necessary, the frame 
magnifications are set (#34), and the image magnifications are then set as 
necessary. The number of repeats is then set, completing the image repeat 
copying conditions designation operation. 
The examples in FIG. 15 show cases in which trimming of the original is 
performed and a total of three copy images are printed. 
The user designates trimming frame FT1, for example, as shown in FIG. 
15(a). Appropriate enlargement magnifications (greater than 1) are then 
set as the frame magnifications, and the number of repeats is set to 3. 
Where these settings are made, images of ranges corresponding to the three 
trimming frames FT1, FT2 and FT3 are then extracted from the original. 
Where trimming frame FT3 is designated first and appropriate reduction 
magnifications (less than 1) are set as the frame magnifications, images 
of ranges corresponding to the three trimming frames FT1, FT2 and FT3 are 
then extracted from the original in the same way. 
Where the image magnifications are set such that the sizes of trimming 
frames FT1, FT2 and FT3 are the same, three equal-sized copy images G31, 
G32a and G33a that correspond to trimming frames FT1, FT2 and FT3 are 
printed alongside one another on paper P, as shown in FIG. 15(b). The form 
of copying shown in FIG. 15(b) is useful for determining the best 
composition. It is not necessary to have copy image G31 corresponding to 
reference trimming frame FT1 be of the same magnification: it may be 
either enlarged or reduced. Where copy image G31 is a magnified image, 
naturally the accompanying copy images G32a and G33a are also magnified. 
When `not necessary` is selected for image magnification during designation 
operation (`NO` in step #35), three different-sized copy images G31, G32 
and G33 corresponding to trimming frames FT1, FT2 and FT3 are printed 
alongside one another on paper P. The form of copying shown in FIG. 15(c) 
can also be used for determining the best composition and making trimming 
samples. 
Where `not necessary` is selected for frame magnification and `necessary` 
is selected for image magnification, (`NO` in step #33 and `YES` in step 
#35), three different-sized copy images G31, G31a and G31b corresponding 
to trimming frame FT1 are printed alongside one another on paper P, as 
shown in FIG. 15(d). The form of copying shown in FIG. 15(d) may be used 
for the development of print size samples and confirmation of the effect 
of enlargement or reduction, for example. 
The embodiment discussed above involved an example of copier 1 in which a 
latent image for one line is formed parallel to the reading of one line of 
original D, but where the copier has an image memory (page memory) that 
can store the image of one page of the original, reading of data may be 
repeated with the address designation range changed not based on a unit of 
one line but on a unit of one page, and the trimming area may be moved 
more freely. 
Using the present invention, because multiple copy images having different 
trimming ranges are printed on one sheet of paper, it is no longer 
necessary to repeatedly perform trimming copying in order to compare 
various compositions. In addition, increased variety in image repeat 
copying may be obtained. 
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples 
with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that 
various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the 
art. 
Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the 
scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included 
therein.