Abstract:
In order to control printing of at least one of a plurality of digital images, zero or no value is set as a default value for a number of print copy of every one of the digital images. If any, an instruction for setting the number of print copy of at least one of the digital images is received. An instruction for printing the at least one of the digital images is received, under a condition that an identifier associated with one of the digital images is designated in a display. It is judged whether the at least one of the digital images includes at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy, upon receipt of the instruction for printing. The at least one of the digital images is printed in accordance with the set number of print copy when it is judged the at least one of the digital images includes at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy. One copy of the one of the digital images associated with the designated identifier is printed when it is judged the at least one of the digital images does not include at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a print controlling method and a print controlling device. 
     A so-called standalone printer capable of reading digital images from a removable memory which can perform individual printing without being controlled by a personal computer or the like is known. In the standalone printer, batch printing is known. According to batch printing, setting of the number of print copy is individually received for every digital image by sequentially displaying digital images stored in the removable memory on a display possessed by the standalone printer, and when printing is instructed, the digital images, whose number of print copy is set, are printed in a batch according to the number of print copy which is set for each print image. 
     Meanwhile, in the above-mentioned batch printing, it is inconvenient when a default value which is equal to or greater than ‘1’ is set to the number of print copy of digital images. This is because a default value may be set for a digital image not desired to be printed, so that a user should perform the operation of resetting the number of print copy not desired to be printed to ‘0’. 
     Further, there is a case when a user displays digital images sequentially, but only wants to print the image being displayed. In this case, if a default value is not set to the number of print copy, if a user wants to print only the digital image which is being displayed, the operation of setting the number of print copy should be performed even. Accordingly, to print the displayed image, the digital image must be displayed individually, resulting in additional operations, which is inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a print controlling device and a print controlling method, capable of performing individual printing by a simple operation when a default value is not set for the number of print copy or ‘0’ is set as the default value so that the number of print copy of digital images not desired during batch printing. 
     In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention, there is provided a method of controlling printing of at least one of a plurality of digital images, comprising: 
     setting zero or no value as a default value for a number of print copy of every one of the digital images; 
     receiving an instruction for setting the number of print copy of at least one of the digital images, if any; 
     receiving an instruction for printing the at least one of the digital images, under a condition that an identifier associated with one of the digital images is designated in a display; 
     judging whether the at least one of the digital images includes at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy, upon receipt of the instruction for printing; 
     printing the at least one of the digital images in accordance with the set number of print copy when it is judged the at least one of the digital images includes at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy; and 
     printing one copy of the one of the digital images associated with the designated identifier when it is judged the at least one of the digital images does not include at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy. 
     With this configuration, a user can omit the operation of setting the number of print copy when a digital image is individually printed. Thus, the individual printing can be performed by a simple operation while preventing the number of print copy from being set to the digital images not desired to be printed. 
     The method may further comprise: 
     displaying the set number of print copy together with the identifier in a case where the instruction for setting is received; and 
     displaying zero together with the identifier in a case where the instruction for setting is not received. 
     In this case, a user is able to easily confirm the set number of print copy when the set number of print copy is displayed. Further, a user can easily recognize that the number of print copy is not set for a digital image which is being displayed. 
     The method may further comprise acquiring the identifier from a storage in which data of the digital images are stored. The storage may be a removable disk. 
     The method may further comprise: 
     establishing a batch printing mode in which the same number of print copy of all of the digital images are printed in a batch; 
     setting manually the number of print copy of one of the digital images; and 
     setting automatically the number of print copy of every one of the others of the digital images as same as the number of print copy manually set. 
     In this case, the number of operations by a user can be reduced when all the digital images are printed with the same number for print copies. 
     The identifier may be a downsized image of associated one of the digital images. 
     In this case, a user can easily recognize the content of the digital image of interest. 
     According to the invention, there is also provided a device for controlling printing of at least one of a plurality of digital images, which is incorporated in an apparatus provided with a display adapted to display at least one of the digital images simultaneously, comprising: 
     a first instruction receiver, adapted to receive an instruction for setting a number of print copy of at least one of the digital images; 
     a second instruction receiver, adapted to receive an instruction for printing the at least one of the digital images, under a condition that an identifier associated with one of the digital images is designated in the display; 
     a judge, operable to judge whether the at least one of the digital images includes at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy, when the second instruction receiver receives the instruction for printing; 
     a controller, operable to print the at least one of the digital images in accordance with the set number of print copy when the judge judges that the at least one of the digital images includes at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy, and to print one copy of the one of the digital image associated with the designated identifier when it is judged the at least one of the digital images does not include at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy, wherein: 
     zero or no value is set as a default value for the number of print copy of every one of the digital images. 
     Here, each function of the above claimed elements may be realized by a hardware resource whose configuration itself is specified, a software resource whose configuration is specified by a program, and a combination thereof. Further, each function of the above claimed elements may not be limited to one which is realized by the hardware resources being physically independent from each other. 
     According to the invention, there is also provided a printer, comprising: 
     a printing unit, operable to print information on a printing medium; 
     a display, adapted to display at least one of digital images simultaneously; and 
     the above print controlling device, wherein: 
     the controller is operable to cause the printing unit to print the at least one of the digital images on the printing medium. 
     According to the invention, there is also provided a digital camera, adapted to be communicatively connected to a printer provided with a printing unit operable to print information on a printing medium, the digital camera comprising: 
     an image capturer, adapted to capture an image of an object and operable to generate a digital image; 
     a display, adapted to display at least one digital images simultaneously; and 
     the above print controlling device, wherein: 
     the controller is operable to cause the printing unit to print the at least one of the digital images on the printing medium. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A to 1C  are diagrams for explaining a print controlling method according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a printer in which the print controlling method is executed; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printer; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing a logical configuration of a print controlling program executed in the printer; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing operations of a controller in the printer when the print controlling program is executed; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing an example of data stored in a removable memory; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a table created by acquiring paths of digital image data stored in the removable memory; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an LCD, a control panel, and a start button of the printer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a hybrid machine  10  according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a print controlling device including a display section  57 , a control panel  50 , a start button  56 , a controller  65 , a scanner unit  20  which reads an original to create a digital image and outputs the created digital image to a removable memory  11  or a personal computer (PC) (not shown), and a printer unit  30  which prints a digital image input from the removable memory  11  or PC. 
     The scanner unit  20  is mainly accommodated within an upper casing  21 , and includes an illuminator  22 , an image sensor  23 , an AFE (Analog Front End)  24 , a sensor driver  25 , a sensor carriage driver  26 , and so on. The illuminator  22  is composed of a fluorescent tube lamp extending in a first direction. The image sensor  23  to be driven by the sensor driver  25  is a linear image sensor, such as a color CCD linear image sensor, including a fluorescent element group of three channels of RGB. The image sensor  23  includes the sensor carriage which moves parallel to a transparent scanning table  27 . The image sensor  23  outputs electrical signals in correspondence with the density of an optical image of an original which is focused on a light-receiving face by lenses and mirrors (not shown). The sensor carriage driver  26  includes a motor, a driving belt, a driving circuit, and so on, which are not shown. The sensor carriage driver  26  reciprocally moves a sensor carriage along a guide rod (not shown) extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The image sensor  23  is able to read a two-dimensional image while it moves in the second direction. The AFE  24  includes an analog signal processing circuit for amplification, noise removal, or the like, an A/D converter, and so on. 
     The printer unit  30  is mainly accommodated within a lower casing  31 , and includes a printing head  32  for forming an image on a sheet by using an ink jet printing technique, a head carriage driver  33 , a sheet feeder  34 , and a printer unit controller  35  which controls these parts. In addition, the printer unit  30  may have any configuration as long as it is compatible with other printing methods, such as a laser printing technique. The printing head  32  is mounted on a head carriage (not shown) which carries an ink cartridge, and includes nozzles, piezoelectric elements, a piezoelectric driving circuit which applies driving signals to the piezoelectric elements, and so on. The piezoelectric driving circuit applies a predetermined driving signal to the piezoelectric elements in response to control signals output from the printer unit controller  35 . The head carriage driver  33  includes a motor, a driving belt, a motor-driving circuit, and so on, which are not shown. The head carriage driver  33  reciprocally moves the printing head  32  vertically to a conveying direction of a sheet. The sheet feeder  34  includes a sheet feeding roller, a motor, a motor-driving circuit, and so on, which are not shown. The sheet feeder  34  rotates a sheet feeding roller to convey a sheet in a direction perpendicular to an axis along a direction in which the printing head  32  moves. The printing head controller  35  is an ASIC including a buffer memory to which print data is sequentially transmitted from a RAM  66 . The printing head controller  35  has a function to control the timing at which the print data stored in the buffer memory is output to the printing head  32  according to the position of the head carriage, a function which controls the head carriage driver  33 , and a function which controls the sheet feeder  34 . 
     An external memory controller  41  is connected to the removable memory  11  that is inserted through a card slot  42 . The data stored in the removable memory  11  is read out by the external memory controller  41  and transmitted to the RAM  66 . The removable memory  11  is a nonvolatile memory, such as a flash memory, in which stored contents are held even if power is not supplied. 
     The display section  57  includes an LCD  51  which can display a digital image, and a graphic controller (not shown), which controls the LCD  51 . The display section  57  is controlled by the controller  65  to display a digital image and a variety of menu items on the LCD  51 . The control panel  50 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , includes various buttons, such as a left button  52 , a right button  53 , an upper button  54 , a lower button  55 , an ‘OK’ button  71 , a ‘Print Setting’ button  72 , and a ‘Back’ button  73 . The left button  52  and the right button  53  are buttons which allows a user to select a digital image. The upper button  54  and the lower button  55  are buttons which allow a user to set the number of print copy of a displayed image. In addition, the control panel  50  may be embodied by a touch panel, a pointing device, and so on. Further, the control panel  50  also includes a mode selection button (not shown) for selecting an individual printing mode or a batch printing mode. The individual printing mode is a mode in which setting of the number of print copy is individually received for each digital image, and digital images whose number of print copy is set are printed in a batch by the number of print copy which is set individually. The batch printing mode is a mode in which the same number of print copy is set as a batch for all digital images, and all the digital images are printed in a batch corresponding to the number of print copy which is set in a batch. 
     The start button  56  (see  FIG. 8 ) allows a user to instruct printing. A communicator  60  shown in  FIG. 3  is a communicating interface which allows the controller  65  to communicate with an external system such as a PC. The communicator  60  communicates with an external system through a LAN, Internet, a USB, or the like. 
     The controller  65  includes the RAM  66 , a flash memory  67  and a CPU  68 . The CPU  68  executes a control program stored in the flash memory  67  to control each part of the hybrid machine  10 . Further, the controller  65  executes a print controlling program stored in the flash memory  67 . The flash memory  67  is a nonvolatile memory which stores a print controlling program or the like. The RAM  66  is a volatile memory in which a print controlling program, the number of print copy set for each image, and various kinds of data, such as a digital image created by the scanner unit  20  are temporarily stored. The print controlling program may be stored in the flash memory  67  via a network from a remote server or may be stored in the flash memory  67  by using a computer-readable recording medium, such as a removable memory  11 . 
     A digital image processor  69  is a dedicated circuit, such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), which executes various kinds of image processing, such as decoding of a JPEG-type digital image, unsharping, resolution converting, binarization, and plate-dividing processing, in cooperation with the CPU  68 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the print controlling program comprises a number-of-copies setting module  81 , and a print controlling module  82 . 
     Next, the operation of the controller  65  which executes the print controlling program will be described.  FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing the flow processing of the controller  65  when an individual printing mode is selected. The processing is started when a user operates the control panel  50  to select the individual printing mode. In Step S 105 , the controller  65  retrieves the data within the removable memory  11  to acquire paths of all the digital images stored in a predetermined format of file. In addition, although a removable memory such as a ‘predetermined recording medium’ set forth in the claims is illustrated in the present embodiment, the ‘predetermined recording medium’ may be, for example, a built-in hard disk or a hard disk of a server connected to a network. The ‘predetermined recording medium’ may be selected in advance, or may be selected by a user. Further, the controller  65  may acquire only paths of all the digital images stored in a specific directory of a recording medium. In this case, the specific directory of a recording medium corresponds to the ‘predetermined recording medium’ set forth in the claims. The controller  65  acquires paths of files whose extension is ‘.jpg’ or ‘.exif’. Next, the controller  65  creates a table (refer to  FIG. 7 ), in which the acquired paths are in correspondence with the numbers of copies, in the RAM  66 . In addition, although a case in which the number of print copy of each digital image is managed the table is illustrated herein, how the controller  66  internally manages the number of print copy of each digital image is selected in respect to the machine.  FIG. 6  schematically shows an example of the data stored in the removable memory  11 . 
       FIG. 7  schematically shows a table created by acquiring the paths from the removable memory  11 . In this condition, the controller  65  sets all default values of the numbers of copies to ‘0’ (zero). If the default values are set to 1, even the default value of a digital image not desired to be printed may be set to ‘1’. In this case, since a user should change the number of print copy of the digital image, not desired to be printed, to ‘0’, but the operation becomes laborious if the number of digital images is large. When a digital image is printed individually, since the numbers of copies of the other digital images should be reset to ‘0’, the operation becomes particularly laborious. In the present embodiment, based on the assumption that the digital images are to be individually printed, the default values of the digital images to ‘0’. 
     In addition, although a case in which ‘0’ is set as the default values in a table, at a stage at which paths are acquired from a removable memory, is illustrated in the present embodiment, the timing that ‘0’ is set is not limited thereto. For example, ‘0’ may be set at a stage immediately before the display of digital images. Further, ‘0’ may not be set in the table even immediately before the display of digital images, but ‘0’ may be displayed on the LCD  51  only (refer to  FIG. 8 ), and if the number of print copy of digital images is set to ‘1’ or higher, this number of print copy may be stored in the table. In this case, no matter what stages, ‘0’ will not be stored in the table. In addition, a state in which the number of print copy is applied as long as a user does not perform the operation of intentionally changing the number of print copy of digital images is called a state in which the number of print copy is set, and ‘setting’ indicates the state in which the number of print copy is set. For example, as described above, the state in which the number of print copy is displayed on the LCD  51  is the state in which the number of print copy is applied as long as a user does not intentionally change it. Thus, for example, even if the number of print copy is not stored in a table, it can be said that this is a state in which the number of print copy is set. Further, although the case in which ‘0’ is set as a default value is illustrated herein, it can be regarded that ‘0’ is set as the default value if any value is not set. Thus, no value may be set as the default value. 
     In Step S 110 , the controller  65  executes the number-of-copies setting module  81  and receives setting of the number of print copy of digital images. Specifically, the controller  65  receives a selection by sequentially displaying downsized images of digital images one by one on the LCD  51  according to operation of the control panel  50  controlled by a user and receives the setting of the number of print copy of the selected digital image. In a case where the LCD  51  is adapted to display a plurality of downsized images (e.g., 9 images) simultaneously, a plurality of sets of the downsized image may be sequentially displayed. Hereinafter, the operation in which a user sets the number of print copy will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     The controller  65  selects one path sequentially from a table, and displays a downsized image of a digital image specified by the selected path on the LCD  51 . The thumbnail image may be a display image created from a digital image in accordance with the display resolution of the LCD  51 . Otherwise, when a digital image is stored in the format file, in which a thumbnail image can be stored like an EXIF file, the thumbnail image may be a thumbnail image stored in the file. When a thumbnail image of a digital image is displayed, a user can select the digital image while confirming the contents of the digital image to be printed. Thus, the selection of a digital image becomes easy. Further, if one image is displayed at a time on the LCD  51 , the image will be largely displayed as compared to a case in which a plurality of digital images is displayed at one time. Thus, even if a display region of the LCD  51  is narrow, the digital image can be confirmed easily. 
     In addition, the identification information may be arbitrary information, for example, the filename, path, and frame number of a digital image as long as the digital image is uniquely identifiable. 
     Further, as shown in the figure, the controller  65  displays the number of print copy in correspondence with a selected path at the upper right of the LCD  51 . In a case of a digital image for which ‘0’ is set as the number of print copy or no value is set as the number of print copy, ‘0’ will be displayed. If ‘0’ is displayed, a user can easily comprehend that the number of print copy of a displayed digital image is not set. In addition, if the number of print copy is ‘0’, ‘-’ may be displayed or nothing may be displayed. This is because, if nothing is displayed, it can be determined that the number of print copy is ‘0’. Further, as shown in the figure, the controller  65  displays a figure indicating the number of digital images stored in the removable memory  11 , and a frame number indicating what number a digital image is the digital image which is currently displayed is displayed at the lower right of the LCD  51 . For example, ‘1/10’ in the illustrated example indicates that the number of all the digital images stored in the removable memory  11  is ten and the first-frame digital image of the digital images is displayed. 
     Selection of a digital image is performed by pushing the left button  52  and the right button  53 . If the left button  52  is pushed one time, the controller  65  displays on the LCD  51  a downsized image of a digital image previous to an image which is currently displayed. Similarly, when the right button  53  is pushed one time, the controller  65  displays a downsized image of a next digital image on the LCD  51 . 
     Setting of the number of print copy is performed by pushing the upper button  54  and the lower button  55  in a state where a downsized image of a target digital image is displayed on the LCD  51 . When the upper button  54  is pushed one time, the controller  65  adds ‘1’ to the displayed number of print copy, and displays the number of print copy, after ‘1’ is added, on the LCD  51 . The controller also updates the number of print copy stored in a table in association with a path of a digital image corresponding to the downsized image, to the number of print copy after ‘1’ is added. In addition, the timing that the table is updated may be the timing that the left button  52  or the right button  53  is pushed. Similarly, when the lower button  55  is pushed one time, the controller  65  subtracts ‘1’ from the displayed number of print copy, and displays the number of print copy after ‘1’ is subtracted on the LCD  51 . The controller also updates the number of print copy stored in a table, to the number of print copy after ‘1’ is subtracted. 
     In addition, when the number of print copy is ‘1’, ‘1’ is not displayed as the number of print copy on the LCD  1 , but a checkmark having an arbitrary shape, such as ‘V’, may be displayed. This is because, when the checkmark is displayed, a user can comprehend that the set number of print copy is ‘1’. 
     A user pushes the above-mentioned right, left, upper or lower button to set a desired number of print copy for a desired digital image, and pushes the start button to instruct the printer unit to perform batch printing. At Step S 115 , when the start button  56  is pushed, the controller  65  executes the print controlling module  82 , and determines whether or not there is a digital image whose number of print copy is set to ‘1’ or higher, including a digital image corresponding to a downsized image which is currently displayed. If there is a digital image whose number of print copy is set to ‘1’ or higher, the controller  65  proceeds to Step S 120 , or if not, the controller proceeds to Step S 125 . 
     At Step S 120 , the controller  65  controls the printer unit  30  to sequentially print all the digital images whose number of print copy is set to ‘1’ or higher by the number of print copy which is set for each digital image, At Step S 125 , the controller  65  controls the printer unit  30  to print one copy of a digital image corresponding to a downsized image which is currently displayed on the LCD  51 . 
     Hereinafter, the above-described steps from Step S 115  to Step S 125  will be described on the basis of a specific example shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C .  FIG. 1A  shows that paths of ten digital images of ‘001.jpg’ to ‘010.jpg’ are acquired from the removable memory  11 , and a user sets ‘2’ as the number of print copy for ‘001.jpg’, and sets ‘4’ as the number of print copy for ‘003.jpg’.  FIG. 1A  also shows that a downsized image of ‘003.jpg’ is currently displayed on the LCD  51 . As an example shown in  FIG. 1A , when the start button  56  is pushed, two copies of ‘001.jpg’ and four copies of ‘003.jpg’ will be printed. 
     Similarly,  FIG. 1B  shows that paths of ten digital images of ‘001.jpg’ to ‘010.jpg’ are acquired from the removable memory  11 , and a user sets ‘3’ as the number of print copy for ‘002.jpg’, and sets ‘1’ as the number of print copy for ‘010.jpg’.  FIG. 1B  also shows that a downsized image of ‘003.jpg’ is currently displayed on the LCD  51 , and the number of print copy of ‘003.jpg’ remains ‘0’. In this case, if the start button  56  is pushed, three copies of ‘002.jpg’ and one copy of ‘010.jpg’ will be printed. A downsized image of ‘003.jpg’ is displayed on the LCD  51 , but ‘003.jpg’ itself will not be printed. 
     Similarly,  FIG. 1C  shows that paths of ten digital images of ‘001.jpg’ to ‘010.jpg’ are acquired from the removable memory  11 , and the number of print copy is not set for any one of the digital images.  FIG. 1C  also shows that a downsized image of ‘003.jpg’ is currently displayed on the LCD  51 . As an example shown in  FIG. 1C , when the start button  56  is pushed, one copy of ‘003.jpg’ will be printed regardless of that the displayed number of print copy is ‘0’. In a case where a plurality of downsized images are simultaneously displayed on the displayed LCD  51 , and the number of print copy is not set for any one of the digital images, images corresponding to the plural downsized images which are being displayed will be printed one by one. 
     In these figure, the arrows directed rightward represent that a displayed image is changed in accordance with the depression of the right button  53 . Similarly, the arrows directed leftward represent that a displayed image is changed in accordance with the depression of the left button  52 . 
     Next, the processing of the controller  65  when the batch printing mode is selected will be described. The processing when the batch printing mode is selected is substantially the same as the individual printing mode except that the same number for print copies is set as a batch for all digital images. When the upper button  54  is pushed one time in the batch printing mode, the controller  65  adds ‘1’ to the number of print copy of all the digital images. Similarly, when the lower button  55  is pushed one time, the controller  65  subtracts ‘1’ from the number of print copy of all the digital images. 
     In the present embodiment, no default value is set to the number of print copy of digital images or setting of the number of print copy is received by setting ‘0’ as the default values. Thus, when a user wants to print a predetermined copy, for example, one copy of all the digital images, ‘1’ should be set as the number of print copy for all the digital images. In this case, when the number of print copy is set individually for each digital image, this takes time or effort. When the batch printing mode is selected, a user is able to set the same number of print copy in a batch for all the digital images. Thus, a user can efficiently reduce the time when all the digital images are printed one by one. 
     In the hybrid machine  10  described above, when the number of print copy that is equal to or greater than ‘1’ is set for one or more digital images, when the start button  56  is pushed, as shown in  FIG. 1A  or  1 B, one or more digital images can be sequentially printed by the number of print copy set for each digital image. On the other hand, when the number of print copy that is equal to or greater than ‘1’ is not set for any digital images including a digital image which is currently displayed, the start button  56  is pushed whereby, as shown in  FIG. 1C , one copy of the digital image which is currently displayed can be displayed.  FIG. 1C  shows individual printing in which a digital image, which is currently displayed, is displayed individually. Accordingly, a user can omit the operation of setting the number of print copy in the case when one copy of the digital image is printed individually. Thus, according to the hybrid machine  10 , in the case when no default value is set to the number of print copy or ‘0’ is set to the default value for the number of print copy of a digital image not desired during the batch printing, individual printing can be performed with a simple operation. 
     In this embodiment, the printer unit  30  and the scanner unit  20  are integrated as the hybrid machine  10 . However, the printer may be a so-called standalone printer in which the scanner unit is not provided and capable of printing digital images individually, without being controlled by a personal computer or the like. 
     In this embodiment, the print controlling device and the printer unit  30  are integrated. However, the print controlling device and the printer unit  30  may be separate components. For example, the print controlling device may be configured by a personal computer, and a printer as the printer unit  30  may be connected to the personal computer so that the personal computer may control the printer to perform printing. 
     Further, the print controlling device may be integrated with a digital camera capable of capturing an image an object to create a digital image. For example, generally, a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) file can generally be created in a digital camera. DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) is standard format for recording the number of print copy and various print settings in units of digital images. In this connection, if a DPOF file along with digital images is stored in the removable memory, and the removable memory is removed and set in a DPOF-compliant printer, the digital images will be printed according to the number of print copy and various print settings recorded in the DPOF file without performing print operation at the printer. If the print controlling device is provided integrally with a digital camera, individual printing can be set with simple operation when the number of print copy is set in the digital camera in order to create a DPOF file. 
     Further, so-called direct printing which prints digital images by a digital camera and a standalone printer which are directly connected with each other is known. In this case, the number of print copy of the digital images can be set in the digital camera. When the print controlling device is provided integrally with a digital camera, individual printing can be performed with a simple operation during direct printing.