JP2938773B2 - Color image display method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image display method capable of displaying images at high speed in a color image processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In systems such as UNIX, R, G, B
Has 256 gradation colors for each color of 25
6 × 256 × 256 kinds of colors can be handled. However, a display that actually displays colors usually has a frame buffer of 8 bits, and can handle about 256 types of colors. Therefore, the color map used to create the image is stored in the image data, the color map is used in the color image processing system, the system color map is rewritten to the color map used to create the image, and the image is displayed using the color map. I was trying to do it. Alternatively, the color map used to create the image of the application program is directly copied to the private color map. Or replace the image pixel values to the pixel values of the color map with the system, unpaired color replaces the color of the pixel values that approximate, had to be displayed image using a color map of the system.

As a result, a long time is required to display an image, the image is not displayed in a correct color, or a window color / application color is displayed alternately.

FIG. 10 shows a conventional technique (1). FIG. 10 shows a case where the contents of the color map used for creating an image (image) are written in a private color map which is a display color map of the color image display system, and the image (image) is displayed using the private color map. Is shown.

[0005] In FIG. 10, reference numeral 200 denotes image data having an image 210 and a color map 211. 210 is an image. Reference numeral 211 denotes a color map that associates pixel values with RGB values. For example, a pixel value of 100 is made to correspond to R = 2, G = 2, and B = 5. 215 is image 2
It represents ten pixels, and the pixel value of the color map 211 is 100. Reference numeral 216 denotes a pixel of the image 210, and the pixel value of the color map 211 is 150. 220 is an image processing device. 221
A system color map is a color map for giving system use colors such as a system window color and background color. Reference numeral 222 denotes a private color map, which is a color map for displaying an image of an application program, which copies a color map used for creating an image (the figure shows a state where the contents of the color map 211 are written). 223 is the image processing device 2
20 is an image captured by the
Is the same as Reference numeral 230 denotes a display device, such as a display.

The operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 10 will be described.

The image data 200 is input to the image processing device 220, and the contents of the private color map 222 are
The image 223 is rewritten with the contents of the created color map 211. The display device 230 displays the image 223 on the screen with reference to the private color map 222.

At this time, the colors used by the system, such as the window and the background, are set to the pixel value 1 in the private color map 222.
(R = 1, G = 2, B = 3), pixel value 2 (R = 1,
G = 1, B = 2). Accordingly, the color originally given to the system (pixel value 1 (R = 0, G = 0, B = 0) of the system color map 221, pixel value 1
(R = 0, G = 1, B = 0).

FIG. 11 shows a conventional technique (2). FIG. 11 shows a case where the contents of the color map used for creating the image are written in the free area of the system color map, and the image is displayed using the system color map.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 200 denotes image data. 201 is an image. Reference numeral 211 denotes a color map used for creating an image. 221 is a system color map. Reference numeral 222 denotes a private color map. 230 is a display device.

The operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 11 will be described. The contents of the color map 211 used to create the image are written in the free area of the system color map 221. At this time, for the color that could not be written in the color of the color map 211, the pixel value of the pixel of the image 201 is converted to the closest color among the colors of the system color map 221 or an error occurs.

The display device 230 displays the converted image 20.
1 is displayed on the screen using the system color map 221.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the colors used by the system are displayed correctly, but the image 201 cannot be displayed or a part of the color of the image 201 is displayed as an approximate color.
In addition, it takes time to display.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique. FIG.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a case where a plurality of image data are sequentially taken into the image processing apparatus and displayed.

FIG. 12A shows a color image processing system. FIG. 12 (b) is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the configuration of FIG. 12 (a).

Referring to FIG. 12, reference numeral 251 denotes image data having an image 1 and a color map 1.
Reference numeral 252 denotes image data having image 2 and color map 2. 253 is an image processing device.
254 is a display device.

The operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 12A will be described with reference to FIG. S1 Image data 1 is input, and color map 1 is registered. S2 Image 1 is displayed using color map 1. S3, free up colormap 1.
S4 The image data 2 is input, and the color map 2 is registered. S5 The image 2 is displayed using the color map 2. Hereinafter, the same processing is repeated.

[0018]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional Technology (1) (FIG. 1)
0), the colors used by the system, such as the window and the background, are rewritten, so that colors other than the image, such as the window color and the background color, cannot be guaranteed.

The conventional technique (2) (see FIG. 11)
Although the colors used by the system, such as windows and backgrounds, are displayed correctly, some of the colors of the image are displayed in approximate colors, and the image cannot be reproduced correctly. Also,
Approximate color determination (calculates the distance between the color of the system color map whose space is filled with the colors that could not be copied and the closest color as the approximate color), image index Since a process such as conversion is required, it takes time to display.

Further, the conventional color image processing system is
As shown in FIG. 12, when a plurality of image data are sequentially displayed, it is necessary to rewrite the color map every time the image data is input, and it takes time for the processing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a color image display method capable of displaying an image with accurate colors at high speed.

[0022]

According to the present invention, there is provided a color image processing system comprising: (a) an image input device, an image processing device for creating or displaying an image using a color map, and a display device. The image processing device writes the minimum necessary system colors to the private color map, and writes the color map used to create the image with the remaining free space as a reserved area. Alternatively, an image is displayed by minimizing the number of colors. (B) For the system color map holding the system use colors, a continuous reserved area for copying the color map used for image creation is set, and the system use colors are allocated outside the reserved areas. The system color map was copied to a private color map for image display, and the color map used to create the image was copied to the empty area, and the image was displayed to enable high-speed image display.

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of the present invention. Fig. 1 (a)
Corresponds to the above (a), and FIG. 1 (b) corresponds to the above (b).

In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 1 denotes an image input device. Reference numeral 2 denotes an image processing device. 3 is a display device. 1
0 is image data. 11 is an image (image). Reference numeral 12 denotes a color map for creating the image 11. 20 is a system color map. An area 21 specifies a system use color. 22 is a private color map creating means. 23 is a private color map. Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display unit which performs an image display process based on an index specifying a color of the image and a color map.

In FIG. 1B, reference numeral 20 denotes a system color map. Reference numeral 20 ′ denotes a system color map, which reserves a reserved area in the system color map 20.

[0026]

The operation of the basic configuration of the present invention shown in FIG. The private color map creating means copies only the minimum necessary colors such as the window color and the background color from the system color map 20 to the private color map 23 (for example, two colors of the pixel value A and the pixel value B). Next, the private color map creating unit 22 writes the contents of the color map 12 for which an image has been created into the free area of the private color map 23. At this time, in the color map 12, colors that cannot be written in the private color map 23 are approximated by the colors of the private color map 23. The approximation is obtained by calculating the distance between the unwritten color and the color of the private color map 23 and approximating the color with the minimum distance. The image display unit 24 displays the image 11 on the display device 3 using the private color map 23. At this time, the index for the unwritten color is converted into an index of an approximate color in the private color map 23 and displayed.

The basic configuration of FIG. 1B of the present invention will be described. When the system colors used in the system color map 20 are located at different positions as shown in the figure (when the pixel values are not continuous), in the present invention, the color map used for the image creation is copied to the system color map 20. The area is reserved as a continuous area (reserved area 25). As a result, the system use color is allocated outside the reserved area.
Therefore, the system color map 20 'is copied to the private color map 23 (FIG. 1 (a)), and the color map 12 (FIG. 1 (a)) used for image creation is copied in the reserved area of the private color map 23. The color that cannot be completely copied is approximated by the color of the created private color map 23.

According to the basic configuration of FIG. 1A of the present invention, the colors used by the system occupied by the private color map 23 are the minimum necessary, and the colors of the color map 12 of the original image are not rewritten. There are few remaining colors. for that reason,
The number of colors that can be replaced by the approximate colors is small, and the reproducibility of the image 11 is good and the display speed is high as compared with the related art (2). In addition, the display color that is absolutely required among the colors used by the system in the prior art (1) is reliably guaranteed.

Alternatively, if the colors to be used in the color map of the original image are created in advance with fewer colors than the colors to be copied to the private color map, the image can be reproduced with accurate colors without having to replace them with approximate colors.

Further, according to the basic configuration of FIG. 1B of the present invention, since the area for writing the color map is a continuous area, the operation can be performed at high speed. Furthermore, if the number of colors used for image creation is reduced to the range of the number of colors in the reserved area, accurate colors can be displayed without any color left unwritten.

[0031]

FIG. 2 is a view showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an image input device. Reference numeral 2 denotes an image processing device. 3 is a display device. Reference numeral 4 denotes a data input device such as a keyboard. In the image input device 1,
An image file 45 holds image data. Reference numeral 46 denotes an image input device such as an image scanner or an image pickup device. In the image processing device 2, 20
Is the system color map. 23 is a private color map. Reference numeral 23 "denotes an image creation color map. Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display unit. Reference numeral 30 denotes a color map creation unit. Reference numeral 40 denotes an image creation unit that performs processes such as image creation and pixel value conversion. is there.
In the color map creating section 30, reference numeral 31 denotes a system color map creating section, which creates the system color map 20. 32 is a reserved area setting unit,
This reserves a reserved area in the system color map 20. Reference numeral 22 denotes a private color map creating unit.
Reference numeral 33 denotes a system use color setting unit for writing system use colors from the system color map 20 to the private color map 23. Reference numeral 34 denotes an image use color setting unit which writes the color map used for creating the image in the reserved area of the private color map 23.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, when image data is extracted from the image file 45 and displayed, the read image data is input to the image display unit 24 and the color map creation unit 30. Then, the image use color setting unit 34
Extracts the color map used to create the image from the image data and copies it to the private color map 23. The image display unit 24 displays the image of the image data input from the image file 45 and the private color map 23.
Is used to perform a display process, and display on the display device 3.

Also, in the configuration of FIG. 2, a dotted arrow indicates an image creation process.

When the image input from the image file 45 is changed or when the image input from the image scanner 46 or the like is used as image data, each data is input to the image generating unit 40 and the image forming color map ( Reduced color map (described later)
23 "is used to create image data.

The operation of the configuration of FIG. 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a diagram (1) for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.
And shows a method of creating a system color map.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 20 denotes a system color map. 23 is a private color map. 5
0 'represents a reserved area.

The system colors used in the system color map may exist at different positions as shown in FIG. 3A (the white, black, and white colors are used as the system colors).
Indicates when green, yellow, and red are specified).

Therefore, in the method of the present invention, a reserved area 50 is set in the system color map 20 by the reserved area setting section 32 as shown in FIG. This reserved area is
As shown in the drawing, a continuous area is set so that index numbers are continuous. In this manner, by setting the reserved area, the system color map creation unit 31 sets together system using color as shown in FIG. 3 (b) in a region other than the reserved area (index number are consecutive). Figure 3 (d) is a system color maps created in this way.

The system color map 20 shown in FIG.
3, the system use colors (white, black, green, yellow, and red) are copied to the private color map 23, and the private color map reserved area 50 '(the reserved area 50 of the system color map is 3) by setting the image use color to
The private color map 23 of (c ) is created.

FIG. 4 shows a method for creating a private color map according to the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 20 denotes a system color map. 23 is a private color map. Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display unit. Reference numeral 50 denotes a color map used to create the image 51, which is a color map of a color that is less than the whole in only the system use colors. 51
Is an image created by the color map 50.

The system color map 20 created by the method shown in FIG. 3 is copied to the private color map 23, and the private color map shown in FIG. 4C is created. At this time, an image 51 shown in FIG. 4D is created by using a color map shown in FIG. 4B having colors equal to or less than the number of colors in the reserved area 50 ′ of the private color map 23. I do. Then, the color map (23 ") used for creating the image of FIG. 4B is copied to the reserved area 50 'of the private color map 23, and the private color map 23 of FIG. 4C is created. Part 24
Image 5 using private color map 23
1 is performed.

According to the first embodiment, display processing can be performed at high speed, and colors can be accurately reproduced.
The above display method corresponds to the display method of FIG.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the system color used for copying from the system color map 20 to the private color map 23 is limited to a minimum necessary color without securing a reserved area in the system color map 20. The color map used to create the image may be copied to the 23 reserved areas (FIG. 1 (a)
Corresponding to the display method).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart for creating a system color map. FIG. 5B is a flowchart for creating a private color map.

In FIG. 5A, a continuous reservation area is set in the S1 system color map. S2 The system use color is set outside the reserved area.

In FIG. 5 (b), an image is created using a color map reduced in color by the S1 system use color area. S2 Copy the system color map to the area of the private color map. Copy the color map that created the image in the reserved area and create a private color map. S3 Image display is performed using the private color map.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a fixed color map having a number of colors equal to or less than the number of colors in the reserved area is provided, an image is created using the fixed color map, and the fixed color map is created. A case in which a private color map is created by copying in a reserved area will be described.

In FIG. 6, the same numbers as in FIG. 2 indicate the common parts. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 23 'denotes a fixed color map, such as a fixed color map in which uniform color distribution is performed.

In the configuration of FIG. 6, image creation (indicated by a dotted arrow in the figure) is performed using a fixed color map 23 '. The private color map 23 used in the image display is obtained by copying the system color map 20 in the private color map area and copying the fixed color map 23 'in the reserved area of the private color map. Other operations are the same as those in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a flowchart of image creation and image display. FIG. 7B is a flowchart in a case where a plurality of images are continuously displayed on the screen using the private color map of FIG. 6 as a common color map for the system.

In FIG. 7A, an image is created using the S1 fixed color map. S2 Copy the system color map to the private color map. Copy the fixed color map to the reserved area and create a private color map (common color map). S3 Display the image using the private color map.

According to FIG. 7 (b), image 1, image 2, image 3,.
The operation when a plurality of images such as .. are continuously displayed on a screen will be described. S1 The common color map (the private color map in FIG. 7A) is registered in the private color map (by the method in S2 in the flowchart in FIG. 7A). S2 Image 1 is displayed. S3 Image 2 is displayed. S4 Image 3 is displayed. The same applies hereinafter.

When comparing FIG. 7B with FIG. 12B, according to the present invention, there is no process of registering and releasing a color map for each image display, and it is possible to speed up the process of continuous display of a plurality of images. it can.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows the image data created by the own system and the image data created by another system, and the image data created by the own system is displayed by the method of the first or second embodiment of the present invention. And a system created by another system is configured to display an image by the method shown in FIG. 1 (a) or (b).

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 110 denotes image data A, which is created by its own image processing system. Reference numeral 111 denotes an image A. Reference numeral 112 denotes a color map, which is a color map used to create the image A. Reference numeral 114 denotes image data B, which is created by another image processing system. 115
Is image B. Reference numeral 116 denotes a color map, which is a color map used to create the image B. Reference numeral 118 denotes a selection unit for determining the image A and the image B. Reference numeral 120 denotes a display unit A, which is a unit for displaying an image by the method according to the first or second embodiment of the present invention. 130 is a display means B,
This is a means for displaying an image according to the basic configuration of FIG. 1 (a) or (b) of the present invention. 135 is a display device.

The flowchart of the display means A (120) is as follows. S1 The system color map in which the reserved area is set is copied to the private color map. S2 Writes the color map used to create the image in the reserved area of the private color map, and creates a private color map A. S3 Display processing is performed with reference to the private color map A.

The flowchart of the display means B (130) is as follows. S1 Select the minimum necessary color from the system color map and copy it to the private color map. The minimum necessary colors are rewritten outside the reserved area with the same configuration as the system color map. S2 The color map in which the image is created is written in the empty area, and the private color map B is created. S3: It is determined whether all colors have been copied. If all the data has been copied, the process proceeds to S6. When an unwritten portion occurs, the process proceeds to S4. S4: The color left unwritten is approximated by the color of the private color map. S5 Convert the index into an approximate color. S6 Display processing is performed with reference to the private color map B.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a method of discriminating the images A and B according to the third embodiment in FIG.

In FIGS. 9A and 9B, reference numeral 140 denotes image data. 141 is a tag of the image data, which is a file name. 142 is an identifier. 140 'is an image file.

By adding the file name 141 and the identifier 142, the image file 140 'created by itself can be managed, and the image A and the image B can be identified based on the presence or absence of the identifier 142. Reference numeral 145 denotes a tag file format having a comment area 146. Reference numeral 146 denotes a comment area in which tag information (identifier) indicating that the image data is created by its own system is written.

The comment area of the tag file format having the format information of the image data is provided with color map information, an identifier, etc., which indicate that the image data is created by the own system. A and image data B can be identified.

In FIG. 9C, reference numeral 150 denotes a color map for creating an image. 150 "is an area corresponding to the reserved area. 151, 152, 153, 154, 1
55 and 156 are areas corresponding to the area of the system use color of the system color map.

The color map 1 used for creating an image corresponding to the system color area of the system color map
50 areas 151, 152, 153, 154, 155,
If 156 is filled with FF or NULL,
The selection means can identify the image A and the image B by looking at the value of the area.

FIG. 9D shows a configuration in which a file name is managed by a database, and an identifier indicating that the image is an image created by its own image system is registered in the record of the file name of the database in association with the file name. Is shown.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 160 denotes an image data file having a file name and image data. Reference numeral 161 denotes a database for registering an identification symbol such as a color map type with respect to a file name for an image created by its own system. No such correspondence is provided for those created by other image processing systems. 162 is an image processing device.

According to the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the selecting means extracts the record of the file name together with the image data, and determines whether or not the identifier exists, so that the image A and the image B can be distinguished.

When the file name is changed as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the data format such as file format conversion may be changed. According to no such thing.

[0072]

According to the present invention, an image can be displayed at a high speed without impairing the colors used by the system such as the reproduced color of the image, the window color, and the background color. Therefore, according to the present invention, an image can be displayed at high speed while maintaining a beautiful screen, and the efficiency of image processing can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view (1) of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view (2) of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an image identification method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conventional technique (1).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional technique (2).

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Image input device 2: Image processing device 3: Display device 10: Image data 11: Image (image) 12: Color map 20: System color map 21: System use color 22: Private color map creating means 23: Private color map 24: Image display unit 25: Reserved area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06T 1/00-1/20 G09G 5/00-5/40

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A and the image input device, Keru Contact image processing apparatus for image creation or image display using a color map, a color image processing system comprising a display device color
In the image display method, the minimum necessary system colors to be used as system colors are copied from the system color map having system colors to the private color map, and the remaining free space is reserved.
Write the color map used to create the image as an approximate area to create a private color map for image display,
A color image display method characterized by displaying an image. 2. A color image table of a color image processing system comprising an image input device, an image processing device for creating or displaying an image using a color map, and a display device.
A How to Display, the system color map which holds the system used colors, set the consecutive reserved area for transcribing color map used for image creation, assign system used colors outside of the reserved area, A color image display method, wherein the system color map is copied to a private color map for image display, the color map used for image creation is copied to the reserved area, and the image is displayed. 3. When all colors of the color map used for image creation cannot be written in the private color map, the colors that could not be written are approximated by a close color in the private color map. Item 1
Or the color image display method according to 2. 4. An image is created with a color map having a smaller number of colors than the number of colors that can be designated in the reserved area, and the color map used for image creation is written in the reserved area of the private color map. 3. The color image display method according to 1 or 2. 5. An image is created using a fixed color map having a smaller number of colors than the number of colors that can be set in the reserved area, and the fixed color map is copied to the reserved area in the private color map. Or the color image display method according to 2. 6. A color image table of a color image processing system comprising an image input device, an image processing device for creating or displaying an image using a color map, and a display device.
A How to Display, the image A that created using a color image display method according to claims 1 to 5, an image created by a method of registering a color image has directly to a private colormap or system color map B Image A
The image A is displayed using the color image display method according to claim 4 or 5, and the image B is read at the stage of reading the image into an application.
A color image display method characterized by displaying an image using the color image display method described in (1). 7. The color image display method according to claim 6, wherein an image A created by its own system and an image B created by another system are identified by a file name. 8. The color image display method according to claim 6, wherein a symbol for identifying an image created by the own system is written in a tag of the image data file. 9. A special numerical value is written in an area to which a system use color of the private color map is assigned,
7. The color image display method according to claim 6, wherein the numerical value is used to identify an image created by its own system. 10. A database system, wherein a file name and a symbol for identifying an image A created by the own system or an image B created by another system are registered in the database in association with each other. 7. The color image display method according to claim 6, wherein the image A or the image B is identified by the symbol.