JPH02116266A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always obtain a proper picture by pre-scanning the picture before the picture is inputted, calculating the contrast level of an original, displaying it on a display device, and setting a threshold at the central value of the contrast level. CONSTITUTION:When an automatic or conversational mode is selected, a picture input part 4a is activated, prescanning is executed, the contrast level is calculated from the reflection density of the original, and the information is displayed through a processor part 3a on a display device 5. Next, when the selected mode is the conversational mode, an input condition control part 4b resets the contrast level to the value designated by a user, and sets the threshold at the central value of the designated contrast level. Thus, the user can arbitrarily set the picture contrast desired by himself by conversational exchange.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a method for processing image information input from a scanner.
The present invention relates to an image processing device that can set various input conditions such as contrast level.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, image processing apparatuses have been known that display image information of a document read by a scanner on a display, perform various image processing, and then output to a printer. In such an image processing apparatus, data is binarized at the time of input in order to display image information on a display. That is, when inputting image information, a threshold level (threshold value for classifying image data into white or black, hereinafter referred to as threshold value) is set, and the data is classified as O or O based on this threshold level. It is converted to binary data of 1.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, this threshold value is set as an absolute value regardless of the brightness of the original, so for example, 0
If there are 8 gradations from ~7, the middle 3
When binarization is performed using the brightness value as a threshold value, when the original has a brightness of only about 0 to 2, all values less than 3 become 0, and all originals with horns become white. Also, the manuscript is 4
When the color is dark, such as .about.7, all values of 3 and above become 1, so the input document becomes entirely black. In this way, conventional image processing apparatuses have problems in that, depending on the brightness of the input document, an appropriate image cannot be obtained, and it is not possible to arbitrarily set the desired contrast.

This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to set the threshold value at the time of input so that it is always the median value of the reflection degree of the original, and to arbitrarily set the contrast 1- and the threshold value. An object of the present invention is to provide an image input method for an image processing device that can perform the following steps.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An image processing apparatus according to the present invention calculates a contrast level from image information of a document, and also uses the calculated contrast level or a specified threshold value of the contrast level in its controller. - Input condition control means for setting the median value of the last level or a specified value, and the extracted contrast level or specified contrast 1 to last level -
A display means for displaying a level, a control information input means for specifying a control level to a last level or a threshold value, and an image input means for inputting image information based on the set contrast level and threshold value. It is something that

[Effect]

When pre-scanning is performed before image input, the input condition control means calculates the contrast level of the document, and simultaneously displays the contrast level on the display means.

Here, when the mode for automatically setting the threshold value is selected, the input condition control means sets the contrast level to the calculated value and sets the threshold value to the median value of the contrast levels.

Further, when the contrast levels of the original are calculated, and a mode is selected in which the contrast levels are set through conversational exchange, the input condition setting means sets the contrast level to the specified level. and set the threshold to the median of the specified contrast levels.

Further, when a mode for manually setting the contrast level and threshold value is selected, the input condition setting means sets the contrast level and threshold value to specified values.

Image information is input based on the contrast level and threshold set in each mode described above.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration when an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a workstation. In the figure, 1 is a keyboard which is a control information input means for inputting various control information, 2 is a mouse which is also a control information input means, 3 is a workstation processor,
4 is a scanner which is an image input means for inputting image information;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a display which is a display means for displaying input image information, CON 1 to RAS 1 to LEVEL, etc. in a designated area.

The workstation processor 3 includes a processor section 3a that controls the entire workstation and performs various image processing on input image information, and an image memory section 3b that stores image information for display.

The scanner 4 includes an image input section 4a that reads image information based on a set contrast level and threshold value and converts it into binary or multivalued image data, and calculates a contrast level from the image information of the document. It also includes an input condition control section 4b that sets the threshold value of the calculated contrast level or the specified contrast level to the median value of the contrast level or a specified value. The processor section 3a and input condition control section 4b are composed of peripheral circuits whose main components include a central processing unit (CPU) and a main memory, and the image memory section 3 is composed of a storage device such as a RAM. ing.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of display modes on the display 5 mentioned above. In the figure, an image display area 11 is an area for displaying a scanning image,
The scanning option sheet 12 specifies the file name, reading area, reading data format (binary, multi-value, pseudo-halftone), threshold value at that time, dithering 1-
This is a sheet for inputting parameters necessary for executing the functions of the workstation, such as specifying the graphics, reading magnification, and contrast. Each mode on the scanning option sheet 12 is directly selected using a mouse cursor (not shown). In the figure, the shaded area is a contrast specification sheet used when specifying contrast, and is a sheet unique to the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

The contrast specification sheet is composed of three types of modes: O1 to Machitsukumoto, conversational mode, and manual mode.

In the automatic mode, a blend scan is performed before image input, and the contrast is detected from the reflection density of the document, and a contrast level indicating the distribution state is calculated and displayed on the screen as a slide control. Then, a threshold value is set to be the median value of this contrast level, and this threshold value is also displayed on the slide control bar. Therefore, the user can check the contrast level and threshold on the slide control bar after the Briscan is finished. However, in automatic mode, these values cannot be changed.

In interactive mode, the calculated contrast level and threshold are displayed on the screen, just like in automatic mode, but in addition, in this mode you can change the contrast level on the slide control bar. The contrast level can be changed by enlarging or reducing the slide control using the mouse, or by inputting upper and lower limit values using the keyboard. Further, the threshold value in this case is set to be the median value of the contrast I/last levels changed by the user.

Manual mode is a mode in which the user can independently set the contrast level and threshold value, and the user can set the contrast level and threshold value of the original in the auto or interactive mode described above. This is used when you already know the contrast level of the original, or when you set an appropriate value from the beginning and input it. Changing the contrast level is done in the same way as in conversational mode.

FIGS. 3(a) to 3(C) are explanatory diagrams showing the display state of the contrast 1-last designation sheet. Scale 1 in Figure 3(a)
3 indicates that the gradation level of the scanner is 256 levels from 0 (bright) to 255 (dark), and 128 indicates the median value.

Furthermore, a slide control bar 14 indicating levels from control 1 to last level is displayed on the scale 13, and the user can check the scale 13 and the slide control bar 14.
This makes it possible to visually determine the contrast level and the threshold value at that time. Note that switching to each mode can be specified by clicking the black square (■) part with the mouse.

An example of the display when a manuscript is input in automatic mode or conversational mode is shown in FIG. 4(b). In this example, the contrast level of the document is between 10 and 250, and the threshold value is calculated between 10 and 250 (13 on the scale).
0) is set as the threshold. In the automatic mode, the displayed contrast level cannot be changed as described above, but in the interactive mode, the contrast level can be arbitrarily set by inputting from the mouse or keyboard. When the contrast level is changed, the threshold value is set to be the median value of the changed contrast level.

An example of the display when a document is input in manual mode is shown in FIG. This example sets the contrast level to 220.
It is set in an extremely dark range of ~240,
To set the threshold in this state, set the threshold using the scale marks. For example, if it is desired to set an intermediate value as a threshold value for a distribution of contrast levels from 220 to 240 as described above, specify 230, which is the intermediate value between 220 and 240, on the scale. As a result, all points whose brightness is at a level less than 230 become 0 (white). In this way, in manual mode, the contrast level and threshold value can be changed freely, allowing the user to perform subtle contrast operations themselves. Note that if you know the contrast level in advance, you can enter the value directly in manual mode without prescanning.
Image input is performed using the specified contrast level and threshold.

Next, in each of the above-mentioned modes, the processing procedure of the input condition control unit 4a when setting the last level and the threshold value will be explained based on the flowchart in FIG. 4 while referring to the block diagram in FIG. 1. explain.

First, the input condition control section 4a of the scanner 4 operates as described above.
It is determined which mode has been selected among the two modes (step 101). Here, when the automatic or conversational mode is selected, the image input section 4a is activated and a prescan is executed (step 102). Then, a contrast level is calculated from the reflection density of the document, and this information is displayed on the display 5 via the processor section 3a (step 103). Next, the input condition control unit 4b determines whether the mode selected in step 101 is the conversational mode (step 104). When the selected mode is conversational mode, the contrast level is reset to the value specified by the user, and
Step 105): Set the threshold value to the median of the specified contrast levels. Then, the contrast level and threshold value set at this time are sent to the image input section 4a, and image input is started using the designated contrast level and automatically set threshold value (step 106).

On the other hand, in step 104, if the selected mode is not the conversational mode, it is determined that the mode is automatic, the contrast level is set to the value calculated in step 103, and the threshold value is set to the contrast level calculated in step 103. is set to the median value (step 107). Then, the contrast level and threshold value set at this time are sent to the image input section 4a, and the image human horns are started using the calculated contrast level and automatically set threshold value (step 108).

Further, in step 101, when the selected mode is not automatic or conversational mode, the input condition control unit 4b
determines that the manual mode has been selected, and sets the contrast level and threshold specified by the user without calculating the contrast level or automatically setting the threshold (step 109). Then, the set contrast level and threshold value are sent to the image input unit 4a, and image input is started using the specified contrast level and threshold value (step 110).

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention performs prescanning before inputting an image, and converts the original. The Helast level is calculated and displayed on the display, and the threshold value is set to the median of the contrast levels, allowing the user to visually understand the contrast level of the original and also Regardless of the brightness, you can always get a proper image.

In addition, since the contrast level can be specified arbitrarily and the threshold value is set to the median value of the specified contrast levels, the user can freely specify the contrast 1- of the image he/she desires through conversational interaction. Can be set. Furthermore, since both the contrast level and threshold value can be specified arbitrarily, and the contrast level and threshold value are set to the specified values, users can set a more subtle contrast that reflects their own intentions. Can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration when the image processing device according to the present invention is applied to a workstation, and FIG.
The figure is a layout diagram of the display mode on the display, Figures 3 (a) to (C) are explanatory diagrams showing the display state of the contrast specification sheet, and Figure 4 is a flowchart 1 without showing the processing procedure of the input condition control section. It is ~. 3a...processor section, 4...scanner, 4a...
- Image input section, 4b... Input condition control section, 5... Display.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image processing device that inputs an image according to a preset threshold value for the contrast level of image information, the contrast level is calculated from the image information of the document, and the calculated contrast level or Input condition control means for setting a threshold value of a specified contrast level to the median value of the contrast level or a specified value; and display means for displaying the calculated contrast level or the specified contrast level. , a control information input means for specifying a contrast level or a threshold; and an image input means for inputting image information based on the set contrast level and threshold. .