Abstract:
There is provided a method to print a composite image, by using a data processing apparatus, capable of generating first data, and an image forming apparatus, capable of generating second data and forming the composite image. The method includes providing one of a print instruction and a composition instruction to the data processing apparatus, setting a configuration of the second data, providing the one of the printing instruction and the composition instruction along with the first data to the image forming apparatus, reading and storing the second image, composing third data by combining the first data with the second data, judging whether the composition instruction is provided, pausing the printing operation when the composition instruction is provided, controlling reading the second image when the printing operation is paused, controlling the composition of the third data when the composition instruction is provided, and controlling forming the composite image.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application NO. 2006-338077, filed on Dec. 15, 2006, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    Aspects of the present invention relate to a method, a system, and an apparatus capable of forming a composite image, in which one image is combined with another image. Another aspects of the present invention relate to a computer usable medium in the method, the system, and the apparatus for forming such a composite image. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Conventionally, a method to form a composite image on a recording medium by using a printing apparatus with a scanning unit has been known. Image data representing an image (first image data), passed from an external device to the printing apparatus, is combined with another image data (second image data) obtained through the scanning unit and output as a combined image on a recording medium, such as a sheet of paper. In this method, the second image data obtained through the scanner unit is temporarily stored in a data storage so that the second image data being stored is combined with the first image data upon an instruction from the external device. 
         [0006]    In another configuration, an operation to scan an objective image is conducted in synchronization with an outputting operation (i.e., a printing operation) so that the second image data obtained through the scanner unit is combined with the first image data to be output as a composite image. The latter configuration is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication HEI7-326523, for example. 
         [0007]    In the latter configuration disclosed in the above-referenced publication, it is suggested that, in order for the second image data representing the scanned image is combined into the first image data in a desired position, the user is required to configure the first image data to have an indication for the position of the scanned image prior to the printing operation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In view of the above, the present invention is advantageous in that a method, a system, and an apparatus for printing, and a computer usable medium therefor, in which composite printing can be conducted easily and efficiently, are provided. Further, the method, the system, and the apparatus are advantageous in that the scanned image is modifiable in the combined image upon composition. 
         [0009]    According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method to print a composite image in which a first image represented by first data and a second image formed on a recording medium are combined, by using a data processing apparatus, capable of generating the first data, and an image forming apparatus, capable of generating the second data which represents the second image and forming the composite image on a recording medium. The method includes providing one of a print instruction concerning a printing operation for the first image and a composition instruction concerning composition of the composite image to the data processing apparatus, setting a configuration of the second data to be combined with the first data to compose the composite image, providing the one of the printing instruction and the composition instruction along with the first data to the image forming apparatus, reading the second image formed on the recording medium to generate the second data, storing the generated second image, composing third data representing the composite image by combining the first data with the second data, judging as to whether the composition instruction is provided along with the first data, pausing the printing operation for the first data when it is judged that the composition instruction is provided along with the first data, controlling reading the second image to generate the second data when the printing operation for the first image is paused controlling the composition of the third data when it is judged that the composition instruction is provided along with the first data, and controlling forming the composite image according to the third data when the third data is composed. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing system capable of printing a composite image in which a first image represented by first data and a second image formed on a recording medium are combined, comprising a data processing apparatus, capable of generating the first data, and an image forming apparatus, capable of generating the second data which represents the second image and forming the composite image on a recording medium. The data processing apparatus includes a print instruction system to provide one of a print instruction concerning a printing operation for the first image and a composition instruction concerning composition of the composite image to the data processing apparatus, a composite image setting system to set a configuration of the second data to be combined with the first data to compose the composite image, and a data providing system to provide the one of the printing instruction and the composition instruction along with the first data to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a printing unit to form an image on a recording medium, a reader unit to read the second image formed on the recording medium to generate the second data, a storage unit to store the second image generated in the reader unit, a receiving system to receive the one of the print instruction and the composition instruction along with the first data provided from the data processing apparatus, a composing system to compose third data representing the composite image by combining the first data with the second data, a judging system to judge as to whether the composition instruction is received along with the first data by the receiving system, a pausing system to pause the printing operation for the first data when the judging system judges that the composition instruction is received along with the first data by the receiving system, a reader unit controlling system to control the reader unit to read the second image to generate the second data when the printing operation for the first image is paused by the pausing system, a composition controlling system to control the composition of the third data when the judging system judges that the composition instruction is received along with the first data by the receiving system, a print controlling system to control the printing unit to form the composite image according to the third data when the composing system composes the third data. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of printing a composite image in which a first image represented by first data, generated in an external data processing apparatus, and a second image formed on a recording medium are combined. The image forming apparatus includes a printing unit to form an image on a recording medium, a reader unit to read the second image formed on the recording medium to generate the second data, a storage unit to store the second image generated in the reader unit, a receiving system to receive one of the print instruction and the composition instruction along with the first data provided from the external data processing apparatus, a composing system to compose third data representing the composite image by combining the first data with the second data, a judging system to judge as to whether the composition instruction is received along with the first data by the receiving system, a pausing system to pause a printing operation for the first data when the judging system judges that the composition instruction is received along with the first data by the receiving system, a reader unit controlling system to control the reader unit to read the second image to generate the second data when the printing operation for the first image is paused by the pausing system, a composition controlling system to control the composition of the third data when the judging system judges that the composition instruction is received along with the first data by the receiving system, and a print controlling system to control the printing unit to form the composite image according to the third data when the composing system composes the third data. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer usable medium including computer readable instructions to control an information processing apparatus, which is capable of providing a print instruction to a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus is capable of printing a first image represented by first data and generating a composite data to print a composite image based on the first data and second data being generated by reading a second image through a reading unit. The computer readable instructions control the information processing apparatus to execute steps of issuing the print instruction to print the first data, selectively appending a composite print information to the print instruction when the print instruction is issued, the composite print information including information concerning the second data to be combined with the first data to form the composite image, and controlling transmission of the print instruction to the printing apparatus so that the print instruction including the appended composite print information is transmitted through a transmission unit of the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus when the composite print information is appended to the print instruction, whilst the print instruction is transmitted through the transmission unit of the information apparatus to the printing apparatus without the composite printing information when appending the composite print information is omitted. 
         [0013]    According to the above configurations, the composition instruction can be provided to the printing system when a printing operation for the first data is designated through the data processing apparatus. Therefore, the composite image can be achieved easily in a simple manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram to illustrate a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram to illustrate a configuration of the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of an image generated in the PC according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a user I/F window to be displayed to a user to enter print settings for composite printing according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of a composite image according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart to illustrate a composite printing process according conducted by a PC according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates a method to specify a position of an image  250  with respect to an image  200  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart to illustrate the composite printing process to be conducted by an MFD according to the embodiment of the present invention 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Hereinafter, an embodiment according to aspects of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram to illustrate a printing system  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system  1  includes a PC (personal computer)  10  and an MFD (multi-function device  20 .)  FIG. 2  is a block diagram to illustrate a configuration of the printing system  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. The PC  10  includes a CPU  11 , a ROM  12 , a RAM  13 , an HDD  14 , an operation unit  15 , a display unit  16 , and a communication I/F (interface)  17 . The above components are connected with one another through a bus  18 . 
         [0024]    The CPU  11  controls operations of the PC  10  according to various programs, which are stored in storages (i.e., the ROM  12 , the RAM  13 , and the HDD  14 .) The operation unit  15  includes, for example, a keyboard  101  and a mouse  102 , through which a user inputs various instruction regarding operations in the PC  10  and the printing system  1 . The display unit  16  includes, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display)  103  to display various information to present to the user. The communication I/F  17  is an interface through which connection with the MFD  20  is provided. 
         [0025]    The MFD  20  includes a CPU  21 , a ROM  22 , a RAM  23 , an HDD  24 , operation keys  26 , a display unit  27 , a communication I/F  29 , a scanner unit  40 , and a printing unit  28 . The above components are connected with one another through a bus  31 . 
         [0026]    The CPU  21  controls operations of the MFD  20  according to various programs, which are stored in storages (i.e., the ROM  22 , the RAM  23 , and the HDD  24 .) The operation keys  15  include, for example, various buttons, through which the user inputs instruction regarding operations in the MFD  20 . The display unit  27  includes, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display) panel to display various information to present to the user. The communication I/F  29  is an interface through which connection with the PC  10  is provided. The scanner unit  40  reads an image formed on a recording medium and generates image data representing the read image. The printing unit  28  functions to form an image according to image data obtained through various sources such as the scanner unit  40  and the PC  10 . 
         [0027]    The PC  10  and the MFD  20  can be connected with each other in wires and/or wirelessly either directly on one-to-one basis or indirectly through a network such as a LAN. Through the connection, the PC  10  can control the MFD  20  so that data generated in the PC  10  is transmitted to the MFD  20  to be printed by the printing unit  28 . The PC  10  is provided with an application program to generate image data and stores the application program in the storage such as the HDD  14 . Further, a driver program (hereinafter referred to as a “printer driver”) to convert the generated image data into printable data is stored in the HDD  14  of the PC  10 . Thus, operations of the printing system  1  to compose a combined image are performed in cooperation with the PC  10  and the MFD  20 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of an image  200  generated in the PC  10  according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, image data representing the image  200  shown in  FIG. 3  being stored in the PC  10  is combined with a scanned image  250  (see  FIG. 1 ) obtained through the scanner unit  40  of the MFD  20 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a user I/F window  300  to be displayed to the user to enter print settings for composite printing process, which will be described later in detail, according to the embodiment of the present invention. The user I/F window  300  is displayed on the LCD  103  in S 500  (see  FIG. 6 ) of the composite printing process. 
         [0030]    The user I/F window  300  includes a checkbox  302  for composition instruction, a transparency field  310 , a position indication box  332 , a checkbox  322  for color conversion, a passcode field  340 , and a print instruction button  350 . 
         [0031]    The checkbox  302  is provided for composition instruction, and a checkmark can be placed by the user as an instruction to the PC  10  to execute the composite printing process. The user may use the mouse  102  to place a checkmark on the checkbox  302 . 
         [0032]    In the transparency field  310 , the user can enter a desired value for transparency of the image  250  to be combined with the image  200 . More specifically, transparency of the image  250  to be superimposed over the image  200  (i.e., visibility of the image  200  under the image  250 ) can be specified in percentage. For example, when the transparency is 0%, the image  250  is completely opaque, and the image  200  at a portion on which the image  250  is superimposed is invisible. Meanwhile, when the transparency is 100%, the image  250  is completely transparent (invisible), and the image  200  is visible as originally generated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the transparency can be specified in a range from 1% to 99%. It is noted that in this range, the image  200  to be superimposed by the image  250  and the image  250  to be superimposed on the image  200  can maintain their minimal visibilities. 
         [0033]    In the checkbox  322  for color conversion, the user can place a checkmark by using the mouse  102  when intensities of color components R, C, B (i.e., red, green, and blue) are modified. In the present embodiment, color conversion fields  324 ,  326 ,  328  are provided for the user to specify the color intensities for R, G, B respectively within a range from 0% to 100%. 
         [0034]    For example, when the intensity of R is specified to be 20%, an original color intensity of R in the image  250  obtained through the scanner unit  20  is reduced to 20%. When the intensities of R, A B are specified to be 50% respectively, original color intensities of R, G, B in the image  250  obtained through the scanner unit  20  are reduced to 50%. When the intensity of the color component is specified to be 100%, an original color intensity of the color component is maintained. In  FIG. 4 , no checkmark is placed in the checkbox  322 , therefore, the color conversion is not applied to any of the color components. It is noted that entry in the color conversion fields  324 ,  326 ,  328  is acceptable exclusively when a checkmark is placed in the checkbox  322  for color conversion in the user I/F window  300 . In this configuration, unnecessary input to the color conversion fields  324 ,  326 ,  328 , which may otherwise unnecessarily processed during the composite printing process, can be prevented. 
         [0035]    The position indication box  332  is provided to input a position of the image  250  to be arranged with respect to the image  200  when the composite printing is conducted. In the present embodiment, a frame (i.e., outline) of the image  200  is indicated by the position indication box  332 , and a position in which the image  250  is to be arranged with respect to the image  200  is indicated by a rectangular area  334 . The rectangular area  334  can be arbitrarily moved by an operation to the mouse  102 . In  FIG. 4 , the rectangular area  334  is arranged in a lower left position in the position indication box  332 . Therefore, the image  250  will be formed in a corresponding lower left position of the image  200  when the composite printing is completed. 
         [0036]    More specifically, the position of the image  250  indicated by the rectangular area  334  can be specified by coordinates of the position indication box  332 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a method to specify the position of the image  250  with respect to the image  200  according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an upper left corner of the position indicating box  332 , which represents the frame of the image  200 , is set to be the original point of the coordinate system, and coordinates of diagonal corners a, b of the rectangular area  334  are represented as (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) respectively. The user operates the mouse  102  to a relative size of the image  250  and to move the rectangular area  334  in a desired position. Thus, the coordinates (x1, y1), (x2, y2) of the corners a, b indicating the relative size and position of the image  250  are obtained. 
         [0037]    The passcode field  340  is provided for the user to enter a passcode, which enables printable data to be securely printed in the composite printing process. For example, when a plurality of pieces of printable data are passed to the MFD  20  for the composite printing process, the pieces of printable data stored in the MFD  20  can be identified by the passcode. 
         [0038]    More specifically, when a passcode is entered in the MFD  20  through the operation keys  26  during the composite printing process (in S 712  in  FIG. 8 , which will be described later), the printable data stored in association with a passcode, which is identical to the passcode entered in S 712 , is used for composite printing to be combined with the scanned image. In the present embodiment, a passcode is four-digit numbers, however, the passcode may include arbitrary alphabets, signs, and characters. 
         [0039]    With the above configuration to use the passcode to identify the printable data, for example, when the PC  10  is located away from the MFD  20  and the user cannot move to the MFD  20  to start composite printing immediately, it can prevent a third image from being accidentally or maliciously combined with the image  200  by another user. 
         [0040]    The print instruction button  350  is provided for the user to instruct a printing operation to the MFD  20  when printable data is passed to the MFD  20  to be printed. Specifically, when the print instruction  350  is pressed, the image data generated in an application program in the PC  10  is passed to the printer driver and rasterized. The rasterized data, i.e., the printable data, is transmitted to the MFD  20  along with the print settings, which are specified in the user I/F window  300 , as a print job. 
         [0041]    The MFD  20  receiving the print job executes a printing operation to combine the image  250  with the image  200  in accordance with the print settings as set in the user I/F window  300 . The printing operation for the composite printing will be described later in detail. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart to illustrate the composite printing process to be conducted by the PC  10  (i.e., the CPU  11 , the ROM  12 , the RAM  13 ) according to the embodiment of the present invention. The process starts when image data of the image  200  is generated in an application program in the PC  10 , and an instruction from the user to start printing is given to the PC  10 . 
         [0043]    When the composite printing process starts, in S 500 , the PC  10  starts creating a print job in accordance with the instruction. Specifically, the user I/F window  300  is displayed on the LCD  103  to prompt the user to enter the print settings. 
         [0044]    In S 502 , the PC  10  judges as to whether a checkmark is placed in the checkbox  302  for composite printing in the user I/F window  300 . If it is judged a checkmark is placed (S 502 : YES), in S 504 , the PC  10  appends an instruction for composition to the image data. In S 502 , if it is judged that no checkmark is placed in the checkbox  302  (S 502 : NO), the process proceeds to S 519 . 
         [0045]    In S 506 , the PC  10  judges as to whether a passcode is entered by the user in the user I/F window  300 . If a passcode is entered (S 506 : YES), in S 508 , the PC  10  appends the entered passcode to the image data. In S 506 , if no passcode is entered (S 506 : NO), the process proceeds to S 510 . 
         [0046]    In S 510 , the PC  10  judges as to whether a checkmark is placed in the checkbox  322  for color conversion in the user I/F window  300 . If it is judged that a checkmark is placed (S 501 : YES), in S 512 , the PC  10  appends an instruction for color conversion to the image data. Further, the values entered in the color conversion fields  324 ,  326 ,  328  are set as conversion parameters. In S 510 , if it is judged that no checkmark is placed in the checkbox  322  (S 510 : NO), the process proceeds to S 514 . 
         [0047]    In S 514 , the PC  10  judges as to whether the transparency entered by the user in the transparency field  310  in the user I/F window  300  is in the range from 1% to 99%. If it is judged that the transparency is in the range from 1% to 99% (S 514 : YES), in S 516 , the PC  10  appends the value as a transparency parameter to the image data. In S 514 , if the transparency entered in the transparency field  310  is 0% (S 514 : NO), the process proceeds to S 518 . If no value is entered in the transparency field  310 , it is judged that the transparency is substantially 0% (S 514 : NO), and the image  250 , which is entirely opaque, is superimposed over the image  200 . Therefore, the image  200  at the portion in which the image  250  is formed is not formed at all. 
         [0048]    In S 518 , the PC  10  obtains the coordinates of the corners a (x1, y1), b (x2, y2), which are entered in the user I/F window  300 . The obtained values are appended as position parameters to the image data. The process proceeds to S 519 . 
         [0049]    In S 519 , it is judged as to whether the print instruction button  350  is pressed by the user. If the print instruction button  350  is not pressed within a predetermined period (S 519 : NO), the process returns to S 502 . 
         [0050]    In S 502 , if it is judged that no checkmark is placed in the checkbox  302  (S 502 : NO), the remaining print settings, which are otherwise set in S 508 , S 512 , S 516 , S 518 , are not appended to the image data. 
         [0051]    In S 520 , the image data and the print settings set in any of S 504 , S 508 , S 512 , S 516 , and S 518  are transmitted to the MFD  20  as a print job. In S 520 , however, the image data is rasterized to be printable data in the application program before the transmission to the MFD  20 . 
         [0052]    Next, the composite printing process to be conducted by the MFD  20  (i.e., the CPU  21 , the ROM  22 , the RAM  23 ) will be described.  FIG. 8  is a flowchart to illustrate the composite printing process to be conducted by the MFD  20  according to the embodiment of the present invention. The process starts when the print job is transmitted from the PC  10  in S 520  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0053]    When the process starts, in S 700 , the MFD  20  receives the print job transmitted from the PC  10 . The received print job is temporarily stored in the RAM  23  or one of the other storage units in the MFD  20 . 
         [0054]    In S 702 , the MFD  20  judges as to whether an instruction for composite printing is appended in the print job. If it is judged that the instruction (see S 504  in  FIG. 6 ) is appended (S 702 : YES), the process proceeds to S 704 . If no instruction for composite printing is appended (S 702 : NO), it is judged that the print job received in S 700  merely includes printable data for regular printing, in which no composition is performed. Therefore, in S 734 , the printable data included in the print job is simply printed without composition. 
         [0055]    In S 704 , the MFD  20  judges as to whether a passcode is appended in the print job. If it is judged that the passcode (see S 508  in  FIG. 6 ) is appended (S 704 : YES), in S 706 , the MFD  20  displays a message to request the user to enter the passcode on the display panel  27 . The MFD  20  waits for the user&#39;s input through the operation keys  26 . In S 704 , if it is judged that no passcode is appended in the print job (S 704 : NO), the process proceeds to S 716 . 
         [0056]    In S 708 , when an operation is given by the user, the MFD  20  judges as to whether the operation is to cancel the print job. If it is judged that the operation is to cancel the print job (S 708 : YES), in S 710 , the MFD  20  cancels the print job and terminates the process. In S 708 , if it is judged that the operation is not canceling the print job (S 708 : NO), in S 712 , the MFD  20  judges as to whether the user&#39;s input is a code in a predetermined format (i.e., four-digit numbers in the present embodiment.) If the user&#39;s input is not a code in the predetermined format (S 712 : NO), the process returns to S 708 . In S 712 , if it is judged that the user&#39;s input is a code in the predetermined format (S 712 : YES), in S 714 , the MFD  20  judges as to whether the code entered in S 712  is identical to the passcode appended in the print job. In S 714 , if it is judged that the code entered in S 712  is identical to the passcode appended to the print job (S 714 : YES), the process proceeds to S 716 . 
         [0057]    In S 716 , the MFD  20  displays a message to request the user to prepare for a scanning operation so that the image  250  can be scanned by the scanner unit  40  to be combined with the image  200 , which is included in the print job as the printable data. In response to the message, the user may place the image  250  on a flatbed  41  (see  FIG. 1 ) to be read by the scanner unit  40 . Meanwhile, the MFD  20  waits for the user&#39;s instruction to start scanning. 
         [0058]    In S 718 , the MFD  20  judges as to whether the instruction to start a scanning operation is given by the user through the operation keys  26 . If the instruction is not given (S 718 : NO), S 718  is repeated. If the instruction to start the scanning operation is given (S 718 : YES), in S 720 , the MFD  20  drives the scanner unit  40  to scan the image  250  and generates scanned data based on the scanned image. The scanned data is temporarily stored in the RAM  23 . 
         [0059]    In S 722 , the MFD  20  adjusts scaling of the scanned image generated in the  720  according to the position parameters indicating the coordinates of the rectangular area  334 , which were obtained in S 518  (see  FIG. 6 ). In this step, the scanned image is enlarged or reduced to fit in a rectangular area defined by the coordinates a (x1, y1), b (x2, y2). The process proceeds to S 724 . 
         [0060]    In S 724 , the MFD  20  judges as to whether an instruction for color conversion is appended in the print job. In S 724 , if it is judged that no instruction for color conversion is appended (S 724 : NO), the process proceeds to S 728 . If it is judged that an instruction, which was appended in S 512  (see  FIG. 6 ), is included (S 724 : YES), in S 726 , the MFD  20  converts color information of the scanned data according to the conversion parameters obtained in S 512 . The process proceeds to S 728 . 
         [0061]    In S 728 , the MFD  20  judges as to whether a transparency parameter is appended in the print job. If it is judged that no transparency parameter is appended (S 728 : NO), in S 730 , the scanned image  250  represented by the data generated in S 720  and applied the parameters which were obtained in S 722  and S 726  is superimposed over the image  200  represented by the printable data being stored in the RAM  23  (see S 700 ). In this step, the image  250  is arranged in the position defined by the position parameters obtained in S 518  ( FIG. 6 ). The process proceeds to S 734 . 
         [0062]    In S 728 , if a transparency parameter is appended to the print job (S 728 : YES), in S 732 , the MFD  20  adjust transparency of the data generated in S 720  and applied the parameters which were obtained in S 722  and S 726  according to the transparency parameter obtained in S 516  ( FIG. 6 ). Further, the image  250  represented by the transparentized data is superimposed over the image  200  represented by the printable data being stored in the RAM  23  (see S 700 ). In this step, the image  250  is arranged in the position defined by the position parameters obtained in S 518  ( FIG. 6 ). The process proceeds to S 734 . 
         [0063]    In S 734 , the MFD  20  drives the printing unit  28  to form a combined image having the image  200  and the image  250 . The process terminates thereafter. 
         [0064]    Although an example of carrying out the invention have been described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the method, system, and apparatus for composite printing that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. It is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or act described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.