Method and system for integrating in a single image, character and graphical information by employing data of different pixel resolution

An integrated image recorder for recording an integrated image including images of a character, a graphic and a picture, comprising:

• (a) first interface means for receiving first pictorial image data of a given amount representing an image of a picture obtained from an input device;
• (b) means for reducing the amount of said first pictorial image data to obtain second pictorial image data representing said image of said picture in a second resolution lower than said first resolution;
• (c) memory means for storing said first and second pictorial image data under a file name;
• (d) second interface means for transmitting said second pictorial image data from said memory means to a front end processor coupled to said integrated image recorder and for receiving from said front end processor a page description program representing an integrated image in a page description language,
• said front end processor being effective to integrate an image of said picture represented by said second pictorial image data with respective images of a character and a graphic on an image plane corresponding to a page to generate said page description program;
• (e) means for converting said integrated image into a bit-mapped image as a function of said image description program and said first pictorial image data to obtain image data of said integrated image;
• (f) buffer memory means for storing said image data of said integrated image;
• and
• (g) recording means for recording said integrated image on a recording medium as a function of said image data of said integrated image,
• wherein the means (b) comprises:
• (b-1) means for skipping pixels of said first pictorial image data at a predetermined rate to obtain said second pictorial image data, wherein
• the means (e) comprises:
• (e-1) means for converting coordinates of said character, said graphic and said picture on said image plane.

A method of generating an integrated image, including images of a character and a picture, and then recording said integrated image with an image recording means provided in an integrated image recorder, comprising the steps of:

• (a) reading an image of a picture to obtain first pictorial image data representing said image of said picture in a first resolution and storing said first pictorial image data in memory means provided in the integrated image recorder;
• (b) reducing the amount of said first pictorial image data to obtain second pictorial image data representing said image of said picture in a second resolution lower than said first resolution and then storing said second pictorial image data in said memory means;
• (c) operating a front end processor coupled to said integrated image recorder to designate a character to be integrated with said image of said picture on an image plane corresponding to a page;
• (d) transferring said second pictorial image data from said memory means to said front end processor;
• (e) operating said front end processor to determine a layout of said picture and said character on said image plane to thereby obtain a page description program for the integrated image;
• (f) transferring said page description program to said integrated image recorder;
• (g) reading out said first pictorial image data from said memory means;
• (h) converting said integrated image into a bit-mapped image data while using said first pictorial image data for a pictorial part of said integrated image data representing the integrated image;
• and
• (i) enabling said image recording means to record said integrated image on a recording medium as a function of said bit-mapped image data,
• wherein the step (b) comprises the step of:
• (b-1) skipping pixels of said first pictorial image data at a predetermined rate to obtain said second pictorial image data, wherein the step (b) comprises the step of:
• (b-1) skipping pixels of said first pictorial image data at a predetermined skipping rate to obtain said second pictorial image data,
• wherein the step (d) comprises the steps of:
• (d-1) directing said integrated image recorder to transfer said second pictorial image data to said front end processor;
• (d-2) reading out said second pictorial image data from said memory means;
• (d-3) transferring said second pictorial image data to said front end processor.