System for allocating images onto photosensitive materials utilizing flags

Claim 2

In a method for reproducing an original image using a color separation technique including reproduction of a plurality of recorded images corresponding to the original image, the improvement comprising the steps of: creating a data base file including a plurality of records respectively identifying and corresponding to various images to be recorded, and including a flag in each record to indicate whether or not the image corresponding to the record has been recorded.

Claim 3

An improved method for reproducing an original image as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of creating comprises the further steps of supplying for the data base records data identifying coordinate values defining an area of the original image to be reproduced, data identifying a magnification ratio for the original image, data defining a number of color separation images to be reproduced, data identifying a coordinate value of at least one of a recording start point and a recording stop point for a reproduced image, and data defining an interval between adjacent reproduced images, wherein positions of the recorded images are determined prior to recording of the images.

Claim 4

An improved method for reproducing an original image as recited in claim 2, comprising the further step of computing positions of the original image and of the recorded images from the corresponding records of the data base, thereby controlling scanning of the original, positioning and recording of the recorded images based on data provided prior to scanning of the original.

Claim 5

An improved method for reproducing an original image as recited in claim 1, comprising the further step of reproducing a plurality of color separation images of the original image by: inputting a command for starting recording operations, reading image data for the original image from an external memory storing the data base files, testing the flag of the record of each color separation image for the original image, and if at least one flag indicates that the corresponding color separation image has not been recorded, proceeding with the recording operations.

Claim 6

An improved method for reproducing an original image as recited in claim 4, wherein said proceeding step comprises the steps of inputting to a motor controller and to a magnification ratio setter coordinate values for trimming start and stop points for the original image, testing data in the records of the data base identifying a number of color separations to be recorded, positioning a scanning head and a recording head at a scanning start point and at a recording start point, respectively, and operating the magnification ratio setter and a halftone dot generator to record an appropriately magnified color separation image of the original image.