CONVERSION OF IMAGE DATA STREAM INTO OUTPUT DATA FOR PRINTING OR DISPLAYING THE IMAGE

摘要

The present invention relates to apparatus for converting an image data stream into output data for use in printing or displaying the image in a page comprising dividing means for dividing the image data into blocks of data, and processing means for processing the blocks of data so as to generate the output data. According to the invention the apparatus is characterised in that the dividing means comprises means (14) for selecting independent items of image data to form the blocks of data (16), and in that the processing means comprises first converting means (22) for converting each item of image data in the blocks into an intermediate form object (20), selecting means (24) for selecting the intermediate form objects so as to form groups of objects (26) each group relating to a geographical area of a page in which a portion of the image is to be printed or displayed, and second converting means (30) for converting the groups of objects into output data (13) for use in printing or displaying each portion of the image in the corresponding geographical area of the page. The invention also relates to a method for converting an image data stream into output data for use in printing or displaying the image using apparatus as above.