Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for setting a printing option using a preview image. Setting the printing option includes an image preview unit displaying a preview image corresponding to printing data and enabling the preview image to be manipulated for setting a printing setting, a control unit controlling printing of the preview image according to the printing setting of the manipulated preview image, and a printing option setting unit setting a printing option, wherein the control unit applies the printing setting of the preview image to the printing option of the printing option setting unit.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0086997, filed Sep. 16, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for setting a printing option using a preview image. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for setting a printing option by manipulating a preview image and setting the printing option according to the manipulated preview image. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     To change printer settings, a user has to click a tap button to open a printer setting window and then change the necessary print options.  FIG. 1  shows a conventional printer setting screen and a preview screen. Referring to  FIG. 1 , an option setting screen of a Layout tab button  10  and a corresponding PREVIEW screen  12  are shown. 
       FIG. 2  shows a conventional n-up option selecting screen and a corresponding PREVIEW screen  22  when the n-up option is used. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a Graphics tab button  20  is clicked to select the n-up option. As illustrated by  FIG. 2 , 2-up printing can be performed by selecting Multiple Pages per Side from a Type pop-up menu and selecting “2” from a Page per Side pop-up menu in a Layout Options section. After 2-up printing is set by selecting the corresponding options, the 2-up printing option is also checked in the PREVIEW screen to show a preview of the printout according to the 2-up printing option. 
     Using traditional print setting options, users can have difficulties setting the printing options in the printer setting window. Therefore, most of the useful options provided in the printer setting window may be not be accessed by the user. Furthermore, the user has to click several tab buttons to find the desired printing options. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus and method for setting a printing option using a preview image to facilitate change and use of printing options using a simple interface by manipulating the preview image and setting the printing options according to the printing settings of the manipulated preview image. 
     According to an aspect of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for setting a printing option using a preview image. The apparatus includes an image preview unit displaying a preview image corresponding to printing data and enabling the preview image to be manipulated, a control unit controlling printing of the image according to the printing setting of the manipulated preview image, and a printing option setting unit setting a printing option, wherein the control unit applies the printing setting of the preview image to the printing option of the printing option setting unit. 
     In an exemplary implementation, the image preview unit can allow the preview image to be manipulated using an input device including a mouse, a keyboard, and a pen. 
     Printing setting values of the preview image can include printing option values available using the printing option setting unit. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be embodied using a printer driver or a separate host application. 
     In another exemplary implementation, when the preview image is manipulated, an icon with a corresponding function can appear beside the preview image. 
     In another exemplary implementation, the shape of a mouse pointer can vary for the manipulation of the preview image. 
     According to another aspect of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for setting a printing option using a preview image The method includes displaying a preview image corresponding to printing data, manipulating the preview image to set a printing option, and printing according to the printing setting of the manipulated preview image. 
     In an exemplary implementation, the printing option of the preview image can be set as a printing option of a printing option user interface. 
     Printing setting values of the preview image can include printing option values available using the printing option user interface. 
     The method may be embodied in a printer driver or a separate host application. 
     In another exemplary implementation, when the preview image is manipulated, an icon with a corresponding function may appear beside the preview image. 
     In another exemplary implementation, the shape of a mouse pointer can vary for the manipulation of the preview image. 
     Manipulation of the preview image can be performed using an input device including a mouse, a keyboard, and a pen. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, exemplary features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a conventional printer setting screen and a PREVIEW screen; 
         FIG. 2  shows a conventional n-up option selecting screen and a corresponding PREVIEW screen when the n-up option is used; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an apparatus for setting a printing option using a preview image according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing a method for setting a printing option using a preview image according to an exemplary embodiment the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A to 5C  show examples of manipulating a preview image for changing printing orientation from Portrait to Landscape according to an exemplary embodiment the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A to 6C  show examples of manipulating a preview image for changing a paper size according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7A to 7C  show examples of manipulating a preview image for changing a printing scale according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 8A to 8C  show examples of manipulating a preview image for setting an n-up printing option according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings, like reference numbers should be understood to refer to like elements, features, and structures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The matters exemplified in this description are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclosed with reference to the accompanying figures. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the exemplary embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. Descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an apparatus for setting a printing option using a preview image according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the apparatus includes an image preview unit  300 , a printing option setting unit  310 , and a control unit  320 . 
     The image preview unit  300  displays a preview image. Further, the image preview unit  300  enables the preview image to be manipulated for setting a printing setting. The image preview unit  300  enables the preview image to be manipulated by a user using, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a pen, or the like. The preview image can be rotated 360 degrees in left or right directions about an axis. 
     Furthermore, the image preview unit  300  enables manipulation of the preview image for setting paper size, font size and ratio, and an n-up printing option. 
     The printing option setting unit  310  displays set printing options. Further, the printing options can be changed by altering option values of the printing option setting unit  310 . 
     The image preview unit  300  and the printing option setting unit  310  can be embodied in a single user interface or in separate user interfaces. 
     The control unit  320  sets printing options according to printing settings of the manipulated preview image, and the control unit  320  controls the printing option setting unit  310  to display the set printing options. If a plurality of printing settings is changed using the image preview unit  300 , the control unit  320  sets a plurality of printing options according to the changed printing settings and controls the printing option setting unit  310  to display the plurality of printing options. 
     Further, if the printing option is changed by directly using the printing option setting unit  310 , the control unit  320  controls the image preview unit  300  to display a preview image to which the changed printing option is applied. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing a method for setting a printing option using a preview image according to an exemplary embodiment the present invention. The method of  FIG. 4  will now be described in association with  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , when printing data exist, a preview image corresponding to printing data is displayed on the image preview unit  300  (step  400 ). A user manipulates the preview image using the image preview unit  300  for setting desired printing settings (step  410 ). For example, the printout orientation can be changed from Portrait to Landscape by rotating the preview image by 90 degrees about an axis. Further, paper size can be changed by clicking the corner of the preview image to activate the preview image and dragging the corner of the preview image to a desired size. 
     After the preview image is manipulated, the control unit  320  sets printing options according to the printing settings of the manipulated preview image (step  420 ). 
     After the control unit  320  sets the printing options, the printing option setting unit  310  displays the set printing options (step  430 ). Further, printing options can also be set using the printing option setting unit  310 . 
     The method of setting printing options using the preview image will now be described according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 5A to 5C  show examples of manipulating a preview image for changing printing orientation from Portrait to Landscape according to an exemplary embodiment the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A to 5C , a preview image is displayed on a preview screen of a printer setting window shown in  FIG. 5A , and the preview image can be rotated right or left about an axis  510 . The preview image is activated when one of the four corners of the preview image is selected, and the preview image can be rotated by dragging the corner  520 . When the preview image is rotated by 90 degrees, printing is performed after changing a printing option from Portrait to Landscape  530 . 
     When the printing option is changed by manipulation of the preview image, the changed printing option is displayed on the printing option setting unit  310  of the printer setting window as shown in  FIG. 5B . The manipulated preview screen corresponds to the image preview unit  300  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 6A to 6C  show examples of manipulating a preview image for changing a paper size according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A to 6C , the paper size can be changed using a preview image displayed on a preview screen of a printer setting window shown in  FIG. 6A   610 . The preview image is activated when one of the four corners of the preview image is clicked, and then the paper size can be changed to a desired size by dragging the corner of the preview image  620 . 
     When the mouse pointer is moved out of the preview image, after the preview image is dragged to the desired paper size, printing is performed according to the changed paper size  630 . 
     When the printing option is changed by manipulation of the preview image, the changed printing option is displayed on the printing option setting unit  310  of the printer setting window as shown in  FIG. 6B . Referring to  FIG. 6B , the paper size is changed to A6. 
       FIGS. 7A to 7C  show examples of manipulating a preview image for changing a printing scale according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A to 7C , the printing scale can be changed using a preview image displayed on a preview screen of a printer setting window shown in  FIG. 7A   710 . The preview image is activated when one of the four corners of the preview image is clicked, and then the printing scale can be changed to a desired scale by dragging the corner of the preview image  720 . 
     When the mouse pointer is moved out of the preview image after the preview image is dragged to a desired printing scale, printing is performed according to the changed printing scale  730 . 
     When the printing option is changed by manipulation of the preview image, the changed printing option is displayed on the printing option setting unit  310  of the printer setting window as shown in  FIG. 7B . Referring to  FIG. 7B , the printing scale is changed to 50%. 
       FIGS. 8A to 8C  show examples of manipulating a preview image for setting an n-up printing option according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8A to 8C , a preview screen of a printer setting window shown in  FIG. 8A  is provided using a pen. To draw a line on a preview image displayed on the preview screen for printing with an n-up printing option, the pen provided on the preview screen is activated  810 . The activated pen is moved to a desired position on the preview image  820 . At the desired position on the preview image, a line is drawn using the activated pen according to the desired number of multiple pages to be printed under the n-up printing option  830 . 
     When the printing option is changed by manipulation of the preview image, the changed printing option is displayed on the printing option setting unit  310  of the printer setting window as shown in  FIG. 8B . Referring to  FIG. 8B , a 2-up printing option is set for printing two pages on one sheet of paper  840 . 
     Meanwhile, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be written as computer programs and can be implemented in general-use digital computers that execute the programs using a computer readable recording medium. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include magnetic storage media (such as, ROM, floppy disks, hard disks, among others), and optical recording media (such as, CD-ROMs, or DVDs. It is envisioned that other storage mediums such as carrier waves (e.g., transmission through the interne, etc.) can be utilized as an equivalent to a computer readable medium. 
     According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a preview image is manipulated according to desired printing settings, and printing options are set according to printing settings of the manipulated preview image. Therefore, even computer illiterate users can easily change and use more printing options using a simple interface. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.