JPH09146721A - Method and device for outputting picture data - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture processor capable of specifying plural printing sizes and the plural numbers of prints and efficiently executing printing processing. SOLUTION: Printing size, hue, a white frame, and the number of prints at the time of printing out picture data can be set on a dialog box 100 displayed by starting an output module. A trimming area and enlargement magnification can be set by a control button 110 and an arrow button 111 and a picture corresponding to set results is displayed in an output frame 101. Automatic trimming for invalidating a specified value, setting the center of the picture to the center of the output frame 101 and fitting the picture to the output frame 101 can be executed by clicking a reset button 112.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention, when designating image data stored in advance and transferring the image data to a print output device, sets a format required for printing by the print output device, and sets the format together with the image data. The present invention relates to an output method of image data to be transferred and an image data output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when performing color printing by a print output device, image data stored in a memory such as a computer main body is read out, image processing is performed on a monitor, and then a format such as a print size and the number of prints is set. , Transfer to print output device.

The output device operates based on this data (image data and format data) and has a relatively large size (A
An image is recorded on a sheet (for example, a photosensitive material) of size 4, B4, etc.).

As described above, since image data can be freely subjected to image processing (for example, size change, character addition, etc.), it is more versatile than a conventional surface exposure system which transmits a negative film and prints it on a photosensitive material. It is expensive and is being widely used instead of the surface exposure system.

[0005]

However, when the created image data or the image data stored in advance is printed and output, if the print size is specified,
Since the print area is set regardless of the image size, there have been problems such as a blank portion on the paper on the output device side and a part of the image not being printed.

Further, a relatively large size paper can be loaded in advance in the output device, and the image is recorded on the specified paper regardless of the image size to be transferred, except for the manual feed function. For example, when a plurality of prints are designated, even if the image size is extremely small, there is a problem that only one image is printed on one sheet.

Further, when it is desired to print in a plurality of sizes, it is necessary to change the print size again and instruct the printing after printing one size.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention can successively specify a plurality of designated print sizes and number of sheets, and based on the size of the photosensitive material on the output device side, the print layout on the photosensitive material is determined. An object of the present invention is to obtain an image data output method and an image data output device capable of automatically performing a photosensitive material effectively.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
When the image data to be output that is stored in advance is designated and is transferred to the print output device, the format required for printing by the print output device is set, and the image data output method is used to transfer the image data together with the image data. It is characterized in that a plurality of types of image data to be output can be selected, and a plurality of types of print sizes can be input or selected for the same image data.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when printing out, a plurality of image data can be selected and a plurality of print sizes can be designated (input or selection) for each image data. A desired image and the size of the image are transferred collectively without waiting for each image print. Therefore, the processing efficiency can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image data is converted into color information when the image is printed on a predetermined photosensitive material and stored, and the color information is obtained by exposing a document image in a surface exposure system. The image data is based on parameters determined by respective combinations of at least image input device characteristics, original document type, photosensitive material type, and print finish characteristics including exposure amount characteristics, which affect a print image when printed on a material. Is obtained by correcting

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the designated image data is color information corrected based on the parameters determined by each combination of print finish characteristics, the surface exposure system It is possible to obtain a finished state almost equal to that of the print.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data output device for transferring image data to a print output device, setting a format required for printing by the print output device, and transferring the image data together with the image data. An image data storage unit for storing a plurality of image data to be output, a designation unit for designating desired image data from the image data storage unit, and a print size for each image data designated by the designation unit in advance. A print size setting means for selecting from a determined standard size or inputting an actual size print size in the print output device; and a print number setting means for inputting or selecting the number of prints for each image data designated by the designating means, Image data designated by the designating means and print sizes and prints corresponding to the respective image data It has a transfer means for transferring the number to the print output device.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to specify a plurality of kinds of desired image data by the specifying means, and the print size setting means further sets a plurality of kinds for each specified image data. You can set the print size of. The plurality of types of print sizes for each of the plurality of types of image data set in this way are transferred to the print output device by the transfer unit together with the number of prints set by the number-of-prints setting unit. Based on the data, the set number of sheets and the image size are continuously output. As a result, the efficiency of processing can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the third aspect, the image data is converted into color information when printed on a photosensitive material and stored.
The color information affects at least the image input device characteristics, the original document type, the photosensitive material type, and the print finish characteristics including the exposure amount characteristics, which affect the print image when the original image is printed on the photosensitive material in the surface exposure system. It is characterized in that the image data is obtained by correcting the image data based on the parameters determined by the combination.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the designated image data is corrected based on the parameters determined by each combination of the print finish characteristics, it is almost the same as the printing in the surface exposure system. An equivalent finished state can be obtained.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, when printing is performed with the plurality of print sizes, the layout is automatically performed based on the size of the photosensitive material loaded in the print output device, and the layout information is displayed. And add
It is characterized in that it is transferred to the print output device.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the size of the photosensitive material loaded in the print output device is usually a relatively large size, this is printed regardless of the set image size. And, the margin part becomes almost,
Some images may not be printed. Therefore, the layout is automatically performed based on the size of the paper loaded in the print output device, the layout information is added, and the data is transferred to the print output device so that the paper can be used effectively without waste. You can

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the print size is not input or selected, or when the previous print size does not match, the standard size closest to the size when the image data is read from the original image. Is characterized by automatically selecting.

According to the invention of claim 6, for example,
When the print size is not input or selected, the standard size closest to the size when the image data is read from the original image is automatically selected, so that the trouble of setting again can be saved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the input or selected print size does not match the size of the image data, the image data is enlarged, reduced or trimmed to be automatically input or selected. It is characterized by changing the print size.

According to the invention of claim 7, for example,
If you input portrait-oriented photo originals and landscape-oriented photo originals as landscape image data and specify print in landscape orientation, there will be blank spaces on the left and right after printing images captured from portrait portrait photos, Will be missing (not printed). Therefore, when the print size set in this way does not match the size of the image data, it is automatically enlarged, reduced, or trimmed to eliminate at least the blank portion. As a result, the appearance of the finished image can be improved.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, when the image data is a color image, it has a function of converting into monochrome image data by designation, and the color image data has a plurality of gray balances and gradations set. One of the above is selected, and it is converted into monochrome image data based on the selected gray balance and gradation.

According to the invention described in claim 8, it is possible to print color image data as a monochrome image. In this case, the color image data is selected from a plurality of gray balances and gradations set. One is selected and converted into monochrome image data based on the selected gray balance and gradation. As a result, it is possible to prevent the gradation from being unnatural when the color image is made to be monochrome as it is, the bias of the gray balance, and the like, and it is possible to print with the gradation substantially the same as that of the color image.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select the presence or absence of a white border around the image when the print output is performed by the print output device. When the white border is selected, the white border area is selected. The index shown is printed together with the image, and at the time of printing the index, a character or symbol for specifying the image data is also printed in the white edge area.

According to the invention described in claim 9, since the printed image is printed on various photosensitive materials,
If there is a white border, it is unknown how far the white border is.
Therefore, an index indicating a white border area is added at the time of printing an image, and the image data can be specified by a character or a symbol in the white border area. As a result, when the image is cut out, it is possible to obtain an image (with a white border) of a desired size by cutting with the index as a target. Further, in the case of an image with a white border, characters or the like for specifying image data are printed, which is convenient for sorting.

As a means for sorting images without white borders, a white border is provided only on the lower side of the image (ground side in the vertical direction) to form a perforation line or the like that can easily cut the boundary with the image. However, this white edge can be easily removed when sorting is completed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first, second and fifth aspects, the white edge region and the periphery of the photosensitive material in the print output device are provided. It is characterized in that the layout is automatically set so as to overlap the non-printed area that occurs.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the photosensitive material used in the print output device has a non-image recording area around the entire area of the photosensitive material, which is so-called waste. That is the part. However, for an image that requires the white edge area, it has the same role as the white edge, so the layout is automatically set so that this white edge area and the non-printed area that occurs around the photosensitive material overlap. By doing so, the useless portion can be effectively used.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a photographic image processing system 10 applied to this embodiment. The photographic image processing system 10 includes a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "personal computer") 12 that controls the apparatus, performs various processes and operations, and controls various input / output devices. The personal computer 12 is a CPU that performs calculations and various controls
14, a ROM (not shown) that stores calculation and control programs of the CPU 14, a RAM 16 having a work area, a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores programs for controlling input / output devices, various data (data files), and the like.
18 and the input / output interface 20 are connected by a data bus and a control bus (not shown).

External input means such as a keyboard 22 and a mouse 24 are connected to the input / output interface 20,
Further, the personal computer 12 is provided with a VRAM 26, and various processing operations are possible while displaying an image based on the data temporarily stored in the VRAM 26 on the monitor 30.

The input / output interface 20 also includes a plurality of scanners 32A, 32A as image input devices.
B (two units are shown in the present embodiment as an example, which are collectively referred to as a scanner 32 hereinafter) is connected, and a photographic printer 34 is connected as an image output device. The personal computer 12 selects one of the scanners 32 to read the image data and outputs the image data to the photo printer 34.

As the input / output interface 20, SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) or SCSI-2 is used to connect the scanner 32 and the photo printer 34 serially or in parallel, and a plurality of scanners 32 and a plurality of scanners 32 are connected. A photographic printer 34 may be connected. Also, this input / output interface 20
An external storage device such as an external hard disk device may be connected to.

The scanner 32 uses a photographic print or the like as a reflection type document, receives the reflected light of the light applied to the image of the document, and outputs it as image data. In addition, the scanner 32
Uses a negative film, a positive film, or the like as a transmissive original, receives the transmitted light (or the light that is transmitted and reflected) of the light applied to the original image, and outputs it as image data.

Further, as the photographic printer 34, a photosensitive material such as color photographic paper of various sizes (hereinafter referred to as "paper") is used.
Is digitally exposed according to the image data output from the personal computer 12 to create a print. The photo printer 34 is provided with a memory for temporarily storing the image data output from the personal computer 12, and a print is created based on the data temporarily stored in this memory.
As such a photographic printer 34, a Pictrography 3000 (trade name) manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. can be used.

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the photographic image processing system 10, mainly in the personal computer 12. The image data read by the scanner 32 is input to the image data conversion unit 40. The image data conversion unit 40 has a look-up table (hereinafter referred to as “LUT”) preset for each model of the scanner 32.
0 is stored, the conversion data is read from the LUT0 selected according to the model of the scanner 32, and the image data is converted based on this conversion data. As a result, if the scanner 32 is a model that outputs R, G, and B color components for each scanning line, when one image of image data is read, the surface of the R image frame, the G image frame, and the B image frame is read. It is converted into sequential image data, and any type of scanner 32 outputs the image data in a frame sequential manner.

The image data converted and output by the image data conversion unit 40 is stored in the converted data memory 42 as an image read by the scanner 32. An image corresponding to the image data stored in the converted data memory 42 can be displayed on the monitor 30.

The scanner / original characteristic correction unit 44 is provided as a first correction unit, and reads the image data output from the image data conversion unit 40 or the image data stored in the converted data memory 42. In the scanner / document characteristic correction unit 44, LUT1, matrix coefficient (matrixl1) and LUT2 are set in advance as parameters for image data correction.

The LUT 1 is a table for reading the image data by the scanner 32 and converting the image data into a luminance linear signal, and a plurality of filters (ND filters) having different densities.
Is compared with the value obtained by converting the filter transmission density into the luminance, and each scanner 32 (each model) and document type (transmission document) are matched so that the value read by the scanner matches the filter transmission density value. Is a reflection original and a transparent original, it is set in advance depending on whether it is a negative type or a positive type.

Matrix coefficient Matrixl1 corrects the spectral sensitivity distribution of the scanner and displays Status M (transparent document) or St
It is used in the calculation for converting the reading value of atusA (reflection original). When the spectral sensitivity distribution of the scanner and the spectral distribution of the transparent original film (negative or positive type) are known, the matrix coefficient matrixl1 is the brightness value obtained by reading the image of the original film with the scanner and StatusM or StatusA. Calculate the brightness value when reading with. Further, when the spectral sensitivity distribution of the scanner or the spectral distribution of the film is not known, a film original photographed under appropriate conditions or a chart original created by proper exposure is read by a measuring device such as a scanner or a densitometer and converted into a luminance value, R, G, B brightness values or Y, M, C brightness values when read by the scanner 32 are Stat
It is obtained by the least square method or the like so as to be converted into R, G, B luminance values or Y, M, C luminance values when read by usM or StatusA.

As the chart original produced by proper exposure, for example, a chart original image recorded on a negative film is formed by a surface exposure system used for producing a conventional photographic print, and a chart original image is transmitted by light. A photographic print made by analog exposure of color photographic paper is used.

LUT2 is a table for converting a luminance signal into a density value. In the scanner / document characteristic correction unit 44,
The data stored in advance in the LUTs 1 and 2 and the matrix coefficient matrixl1 is read as a parameter for correcting the image data, the image data is corrected based on the read parameter, and the image data of the transparent original and the reflective original are at the same level. Is converted into the density data e of the density signal.

The image data (density data e) output from the scanner / document characteristic correction section 44 is stored in the density data memory 46 as image data for displaying an intermediate image on the monitor 30.

The original / paper characteristic correcting section 48 is provided as a second correcting means, and the scanner / original characteristic correcting section 4 is provided.
The image data output from No. 4 or the image data stored in the density memory 46 (each of which is the density data e) is read.

The original / paper characteristic correction unit 48 uses the LUT
3. The matrix coefficient matrix12LUT4 is preset. The LUT 3 includes a scanner / document characteristic correction unit 44.
R, G, B or C which is image data input from
It is a table for shifting the document density values of M and Y by the filters of CMY and D (density), and is set and stored in advance according to the document type.

The matrix coefficient matrix12 is R, G,
The matrix coefficient matrixl2 is a coefficient used when a 3 × 3 matrix operation is performed to convert the original density of B or C, M, Y into the exposure amount on the paper.
It is calculated from the spectral distribution of a document, for example, a film, and the spectral distribution of a paper image-exposed by the photographic printer 34, and is stored in advance according to the combination of the document type and the sensitive material type.

The LUT 4 is a table for converting the exposure amount on the paper to the print density on the paper, and sets the sensitometric data of the paper in a table. Matrix coefficient matrix12 and LU
When there is no data for calculating T4, R, G, B or C, M read by a measuring device such as a densitometer on a film original photographed by appropriate exposure and recorded with a chart image
R, G, B or C, M, Y is used by using the density value of Y and the print density value of each color of C, M, Y measured from a photographic print printed by surface exposure of the film original under standard conditions.
It is possible to calculate and set the density value of C to the print density values of C, M, and Y on the color paper.

In this way, the original / paper characteristic correction unit 4
In FIG. 8, the image data output from the scanner / original characteristic correction unit 44 is set to the characteristics of the original and the paper using the data selected from the LUTs 3 and 4 and the matrix coefficient matrixl2 according to the original type and the sensitive material type as parameters. Image data (print density data f) that allows the print density to be constant regardless of the type of the photosensitive material by performing the correction together.
Output as

The image data (print density data f) output from the original / paper characteristic correction unit 48 is input to the paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 50.

The paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 50 is provided as a monitor display data generation unit, and stores the LUT 5, matrix coefficients matrixl 3 and LUT 6 in advance, and the image data input as the print density data f is displayed on the monitor 30. It is converted into an RGB monitor signal (RGB monitor data g) for proper display. Here, the converted RGB monitor data g is when the gradation and color tone of the print obtained when the paper is exposed by the photographic printer 34 based on the print density data f to create the print are displayed on the monitor 30. Is converted to match the tone and tone appearance of the.

What is needed here is to compare the print density of each color C, M, Y of the image printed on the paper with the measured value (X, Y, Z, LAB, etc.) of the paper color. Spectral distribution of materials and bases, color functions (x, y,
z) or the image of the chart original is displayed on the monitor 30.
By actually measuring the brightness when displayed on the screen and the density of the photographic print obtained by printing the chart original under standard conditions, the image printed on the color paper and the monitor 3 according to the image data are displayed.
The image when displayed at 0 can be made to correspond.

Further, the monitor 3 displays an image corresponding to the image data.
When displaying on 0, it is necessary to make the colorimetric value on the color paper correspond to the colorimetric value on the monitor 30. When displaying an image according to the image data on the monitor 30,
There is a case where a desired color cannot be reproduced on the monitor 30 due to the color reproduction range, that is, the compression and expansion of the color. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to make the colorimetric value on the color paper correspond to the colorimetric value on the monitor 30.

For this reason, in order to obtain the correlation between the color reproduced on the color paper and the color reproduced on the monitor 30, the color adaptation value is used to monitor the colorimetric value on the color paper. Corresponding to the colorimetric value on 30
Colors that cannot be reproduced on the monitor 30 are made to correspond to colors within the color reproduction range of the monitor 30 that minimizes the color difference. Further, when it is determined by actual measurement, a photographic print obtained by printing a chart document by surface exposure (analog exposure) under standard conditions is used, and the chart document print and the monitor 30 are used.
While comparing the images displayed above, the colors on the monitor 30 are determined so that they look the same.

Further, the colorimetric value of the image on the monitor 30 is set to RG.
It is necessary to correspond to the B monitor signal. This is the γ value,
It can be calculated from the characteristics of the monitor 30 such as the color temperature and the phosphor chromaticity.

Considering the above three points, LUT5 and LUT6
If the matrix coefficient matrixl3 is set in advance,
The image based on the print density data f can be converted into RGB monitor data g corresponding to C, M, and Y print densities on paper. LUT5 and LUT6
Is a table created so as to perform conversion from density to brightness and conversion from brightness to RGB monitor signal. The matrix coefficient matrixl3 is used to display the print brightness values of C, M, and Y on paper on the monitor 30. R, G,
It is decided to convert into the brightness value of B.

The print density data f is converted into RGB monitor data g by the paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 50 and stored in the monitor data memory 52 as a display image. The display image on the monitor 30 based on the image data (RGB monitor data) stored in the monitor data memory 52 is the same as the image printed on paper according to the print density data f and having the same color tone, gradation and the like. Become.
As a result, a print image created by the photo printer 34 from an image read by the scanner 32 can be accurately predicted on the monitor 30.

Output from the paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 50 or RGB monitor data g on the monitor data memory 52
Is sent to the data transfer unit 54 as image data of the document read from the scanner 32. The personal computer 12 can perform various processes (for example, various image processing software such as photo retouching software) by using the RGB monitor data g as image data of a document read from the scanner 32. At this time, the photo printer 34
Thus, it is possible to perform processing while accurately predicting the finished state when printed out on the monitor 30.

The process of outputting the image data of the original read by the scanner 32 as RGB monitor data g is executed by an image input program (hereinafter referred to as "input module").

In the input module provided in the personal computer 12, a fast scan for reading only image data of any one of R, G, and B at low resolution, a prescan for reading a color image at low resolution, and a scanner 32. Three modes of fine scan for reading a high-resolution color image within the capability range are set.

In this input module, the scanner type and the original type (reflection original or transparent original) are set, and then the first scan is executed. By this first scan, image data of only a single color, for example, R color is stored in the conversion data memory 42.

Next, the read image corresponding to the image data stored in the converted data memory 42 is displayed on the monitor 30, and the detailed setting of the document type and the reading area of the image read from the document are set. As a result, in the input module, LUT1, 2 and matrix coefficient matrixl1
Parameters for data conversion are selected.

Here, by executing the prescan, a low-resolution color image is read, the image data is corrected based on the parameters selected by the scanner / document characteristic correction unit 44, and the density data is stored in the density data memory e. Save on 46.

Next, an image based on the density data e stored in the density data memory 46 is displayed on the monitor,
The photosensitive material type to be exposed by the photographic printer 34 is set. By this, LUT3 ~ 6 and matrix coefficient matri
Parameters corresponding to the document type, the sensitive material type, and the monitor 30 are selected from xl2 and xl3.

Next, based on the selected parameters, the density data stored in the density data memory 46 is read by the original / paper characteristic correction unit 48 to be converted into print density data f, and further, the paper / monitor characteristics. The correction unit 50 converts the RGB monitor data g. Since the image data read from a reflective original such as a photographic print is the print density data f, only color adjustment is performed. Further, the image data read by the scanner 32 by the prescan is converted data memory 42, density data memory 46 as temporary image data such as read image data, intermediate image data and display image data.
And the monitor data memory 52, respectively.

That is, the image data output from the image data conversion unit 40 is input to the scanner / document characteristic correction unit 44. In this scanner / document characteristic correction unit 44,
The density data e converted into the StatusM or StatusA density value is output. This enables subsequent image processing to be performed using image data that does not depend on the scanner type. The density data e is stored in the density data memory 46 and displayed on the monitor 30 as an intermediate image.

The density data e is read by the original / paper characteristic correction unit 48 and the preset LUT3, matrix coefficients matrixl2 and LUT4 are used to show the original characteristics and the characteristics of the paper when the paper is exposed according to this image data. In consideration of the above, the paper / paper is corrected so as to have an appropriate gradation and color tone on the paper, and the image data (print density data f) corresponding to the print density
Output to the monitor characteristic correction unit 50.

As a result, the original / paper characteristic correction unit 4
In No. 8, print density data is obtained so that the image of the original document can be printed with the same image quality as when printed by the surface exposure system. Therefore, conventionally, when the image recorded on the negative film is printed by digital exposure, it was not possible to obtain the grade (soft tone, intermediate tone, hard tone, strongest tone, super hard tone), photosensitivity, contrast,
Fog, color sensitivity, image quality characteristics (graininess, resolution, sharpness,
Differences such as MTF) can be reproduced by digital exposure.

In the paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 50, the LUT 5 and matrix coefficient matrixl set in advance are set.
3 and the LUT 6, in consideration of the spectral characteristic of the paper and the color reproduction characteristic of the monitor 30, the image corresponding to the print density data f is converted into image data (RGB monitor data g) for displaying on the monitor 30. RGB monitor data g output from the paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 50
Is stored in the display image memory 52 and displayed as a display image on the monitor 30.

As described above, the input module creates the density data e corresponding to the original image read from the scanner 32, and further automatically performs the automatic setup for converting the density data e into the RGB monitor data g.

After that, by instructing the fine scan, the image data is read from the scanner 32 at a high resolution (the resolution of the scanner 32 having the highest capability), and the image data is corrected based on the set parameters. (RGB monitor data g) and outputs it to the data transfer unit 54. The image data read by the pre-scan can be output to the data transfer unit 54 as the RGB monitor data g.

As described above, in the input module, the scan time, the data size, the image processing time, etc. are different. By performing various processing on the image data read by the prescan with a relatively short time, data size, and image processing time, and setting various parameters when performing the final fine scan, The operation time for reading is shortened.

On the other hand, the photographic image processing system 10 is provided with a data fetching section 56 to which the image data output to the photographic printer 34 is inputted. From this data fetching section 56, a print data converting section 58 is passed through to photograph. It is output to the printer 34. The print data conversion unit 58
May be provided in the photo printer 34.

The data acquisition section 56 operates according to an output processing program (hereinafter referred to as "output module") set in the personal computer 12, and an image corresponding to the image data (RGB monitor data g) is displayed on the monitor 30. While displaying, the keyboard 22 and the mouse 24 are operated to set a print condition such as a print size and the number of prints when printing out from the photo printer 34, and a print condition such as a magnification is set, and an automatic layout of images when printing is performed. It is like this.

The print data conversion unit 58 performs the reverse correction to that of the paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 50 described above. That is, the paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 5
At 0, the print density data f is converted into RGB monitor data g and is output, and at the data acquisition unit 56,
The RGB monitor data g is processed as image data. In the printer data conversion unit 58, LUT5, LUT
6 and the matrix coefficient matrixl3 and the inverse conversion are performed, and the print density data f is output from the RGB monitor data g.

An example of a specific image processing operation of the photographic image processing system 10 applied to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description and the display and the like used in the description are merely examples, and do not limit the configuration of the present invention.

The photographic image processing system 10 is a personal computer 1.
When the connected device such as the scanner 32 is started up together with 2, and the input module is activated, the input setting menu is displayed on the monitor 30.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the input setting menu (dialog box) 61 displayed on the monitor 30. In this input setting menu, the scanner type and the document type are set. For example, when selecting the scanner type,
By moving the cursor 60 to the scanner type setting item by the operation of the mouse 24 or the like and clicking the mouse 24 to specify (hereinafter referred to as “click operation”), a pop-up menu (not shown) is opened, and the personal computer 12 is preset. The model name registered as the scanner 32 is displayed on the screen, and the scanner 32 used for image input can be selected from this display. Further, for the document on which the image is recorded, the document type is displayed in a pop-up menu format by clicking the target document setting item 62. This document type setting selects whether the document is a reflective document such as a photographic print or a transparent document such as a negative film or a positive film.

By selecting the scanner type and the target document type and clicking the execute button 62, the selected scanner type and document type are set. It should be noted that the scanner control program / parameters, information on permission / prohibition of the combination of the document type and the paper type, and the image processing parameters are stored, and the scanner type, document type, and paper type that can be selected for each image processing parameter are set. By storing the data in advance, for example, when a scanner type or a document type is selected, a combination of applicable paper types or inapplicable paper types can be clarified. Further, by storing each data in a file designated in advance, maintenance such as data change, update, and deletion becomes easy.

When the scanner type and the document type have been set, the display on the monitor 30 switches to the main menu shown in FIG. A fast scan button 65, a prescan button 66, and a fine scan button 67 are displayed on the main menu 63. By clicking the fast scan button 65, an image can be read from the selected scanner 32 at a low resolution. Done.

As a result, the image data for a single color corresponding to the original image is read from the scanner 32, this image data is read by the image data conversion unit 40 according to the data set in LUT0, and the data is stored in the converted data memory 42. save. The image data stored in the converted data memory 42 is displayed as a monotone image in the image display area 68 on the main menu 63. At this time, the image display area 68 entirely displays the image reading area of the scanner 32, and the image of the document is displayed at a position corresponding to the document arrangement position on the scanner 32. At the same time, an output frame 69 is displayed on the image display area 68. The main menu 63 is provided with a position monitor display area 70 and a position monitor button 71.
By clicking the button, the position of the document and the position of the output frame 69 with respect to the image reading area of the scanner 32 are displayed in the position monitor display area 70.

For the image displayed in the image display area 68, the display position of the image is moved with respect to the output frame 69 by operating the frame moving button 72, and by operating the magnification setting button 73 or key input from the keyboard 22. By setting the magnification with, the output frame 69 displayed in the image display area 68 is enlarged or reduced. By this operation, the image area to be read as image data is set.

In the main menu 63, the setting of the photosensitive material type when the image of the original is image-exposed by the photo printer 34, which will be described later, and the setting of the surface exposure emulation or the digital mode emulation, the print speed or the image quality is emphasized. Set output settings such as print settings and output size settings from. As a result, the magnification of the image in the output frame 69 and L used for processing the read image data are obtained.
The UTs 1 to 6 and the matrix coefficients matrixl 1 to 3 are selected, that is, the parameters for correcting the image data are set.

When surface exposure (analog exposure) is performed according to an image recorded on a photographic film such as a negative film, the print gradation becomes a fixed gradation determined by the characteristic value of the photographic film and the characteristic value of the paper, and In the exposure emulation mode, the gradation is converted to a fixed gradation determined by the original characteristics and the paper characteristics. In the digital image mode, the scene of the image recorded on the document by the auto setup calculation, that is, whether the document image is an underexposed image, an overexposed image, or a document photographed at daytime. Is it an image taken at night,
The print gradation is calculated so that the finish is optimal according to the above.

Further, on the main menu 63, detailed setting of the document type is performed. For the original type, for example, if it is a transparent original, it is set whether it is a negative type (negative film) or a positive type (positive film), and further, the product number is set in order to clarify the characteristics of the original. . The setting of this product number allows the product number registered in advance to be opened and selected from a pop-up menu.

After these various settings are completed, the prescan button 66 is clicked to execute the prescan. In the pre-scan, when the image of the original is read, the image data is converted into R, G, B frame-sequential data and input to the scanner / document characteristic correction unit 44. Since the scanner type and the original type are set, the scanner / original characteristic correction unit 44 selects parameters from LUT1, LUT2, and matrix coefficient matrixl1 to perform scanner correction of the image data, and outputs density data e as density data memory. Save on 46.

In the image display area 68 of the main menu, an image based on the density data stored in the density data memory 46 is displayed as an intermediate image.

On the other hand, the main menu 63 displays a color key button 74 for performing color control, a designated color finishing button 75, a reading range button 76, a tone curve button 77, etc. The parameters for converting the data e into the print density data f and the RGB monitor data g are set and changed.

Each set value can be saved in the data file on the HDD 18 by clicking the save button 78, and the saved set value can be read out by the read button 79. Further, by operating the default setting button 80, standard values set in advance, that is, LUTs 3 to 6 and matrix coefficient matrixl according to the scanner type, document type, and photosensitive material type are set.
Parameters can be selected from a few, and the original / paper characteristic correction unit 48 and the paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 50 perform automatic setup.

When the color key button 74 is operated, the color key menu 81 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the monitor 30. This color key menu 81 is used for color adjustment (CC) by the C, M, and Y color filters in the surface exposure system.
It is equivalent to a filter) and the exposure amount (density) correction is emulated, and the ratio (%) of C, M, Y and D can be set by key input or the like.

When the reading range setting button 76 is operated, the reading range setting menu 82 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the monitor 30. In this reading range setting menu 82, the density range on the original is assigned to highlight / shadow at the time of printing, and the original density is represented by histograms 85R, 85G, 85 of R, G, B colors.
Displayed in B, these histograms 85R, 85G, 8
5B, a highlight / shadow point can be designated, a density value can be keyed in, or a point on the display image can be designated and set when the image is displayed by prescanning.

The setting of the color key and reading range is
It is used so that the exposure amount and the exposure time are reflected in the print density signal at the next image reading, or the exposure amount and the exposure time at the time of image reading by the scanner 32 are changed.

When the tone curve button 77 is operated,
A tone curve setting menu 83 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the monitor 30. This tone curve setting menu 8
3, the surface exposure emulation mode and the digital image mode can be set, and the gradation change for each color of Y, M, C and D (density) can be selected and set.
This tone curve setting can be set in cascade for each color of C, M, and Y with respect to the default value set in the setup mode.

When the designated color finishing button 75 is operated, the designated color finishing menu 84 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the monitor 30. This designated color finishing menu 84
Monitors the image input by the prescan 30
This is effective only when the image is displayed on the upper side, and in this designated color finishing menu 84, an arbitrary point (for example, 5 × 5 25 dots) of the image displayed in the image display area 68 of the main menu 63 is enlarged. The reference image (gray image: reference gray) is displayed in the reference area 87 while being enlarged and displayed in the display area 86. here,
Cursor 6 to any pixel displayed in the enlarged display area 86
By matching with 0 and performing a click operation, the color of the corresponding pixel is matched with the reference gray, and the colors of the other pixels are shifted in accordance with this. The gray level of the reference gray can be changed by operating the reference change button 88. This makes it possible to adjust the gray balance quickly and easily.

When various settings are made for the intermediate image in this way, the parameters of the original / paper characteristic correction unit 48 and the paper / monitor characteristic correction unit 50 are set. Based on these settings, the density data e stored in the density data memory 46 is changed to the print density data f.
And RGB monitor data g. R
The GB monitor data g is stored in the monitor data memory 52 and is displayed in the image display area 68 of the main menu on the monitor 30.

In this way, the image displayed in the image display area 86 has a print and color tone obtained by exposing the paper with the photographic printer 34 in consideration of the characteristics of the original and the paper and the characteristics of the paper and the monitor 30. And the gradation etc. are the same. That is, the image printed on the paper by the print density data f can be accurately imaged from the image displayed on the monitor 30 by the RGB monitor data.

In this way, after finishing the confirmation of the finish of the image data read as the RGB monitor data g read as the image data based on the image read by the prescan, the fine scan button 67 is operated. The high resolution image data corresponding to the original image is read from the scanner 32, the received image data is corrected according to various set parameters, and the image data is output to the data conversion unit 54 as RGB monitor data g.

As described above, after various setting processes are performed on the image data read in the low resolution and the image is confirmed, the image data is read in the high resolution and is corrected under the preset correction condition. , Monitor data memory 5
By storing the data on the storage device 2, the processing conditions can be set and confirmed in a short time.

On the other hand, the image data read as the RGB monitor data g by the input module is output from the data converter 54 to the photo printer 34, or processed by various application software and output to the photo printer 34. . When a photographic print is created from this image data (RGB monitor data), the output / output module is activated. This output module can be activated independently and is activated when print processing is selected from another application.

When the output module is activated, the monitor 3
On the 0, a main menu 90 for output is displayed.
FIG. 9A shows an example of an output main menu 90. In the main menu 90, the output size, the output direction (the direction of the image with respect to the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material in the photo printer 34), and the color are shown. Various setting conditions such as information and the number of prints are displayed.

In the output module, when setting the output size, the actual size for printing is calculated from the size and resolution of the image data, and the size of the photosensitive material (standard size) registered in advance matches the actual size. Search for the size you want and display this size as the output size. At this time, if there is no matching size in the standard sizes, it is treated as a custom size (free size designation).
Also, the color information is a color image or a monochrome image (B /
W) and the number of prints is set to "1" as a default value. This information can be found in the main menu 9
No. 0 is displayed in the print registration display area 91. In addition,
In the print registration display area 91, at the same time, border information indicating whether or not a white border is added around the image at the time of printing, and
The trimming information is also displayed whether the trimming is automatically performed or the manual trimming is performed when the image size does not match the set print size.

In this main menu 90, an add button 92 for adding a print instruction, a print instruction change button 93 (displayed in the print registration display area 91) that has already been registered, a delete button 94 and a print setting. A button 95, a page break button 96, etc., a read button 97 for reading the saved setting values, a save button 98 for saving the setting values in a predetermined file, etc. are provided.

By clicking the add button 92, the trimming setting dialog box 100 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the monitor 30.
In this dialog box 100, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed as a monochrome image in the output frame 101. It should be noted that the display is performed as a monochrome image to speed up the process, and a color image may be displayed.

In this dialog box 100, print size, color tone, white border, number of prints, etc. can be set. These display set values stored in advance. The output frame 101 is displayed with the aspect ratio according to the set print size so that the longitudinal direction is constant, and the image is displayed according to the set enlargement ratio.

The size, color tone, and white edge can be selected from the items displayed by pull-down menus. 11 (A) to 11 (C) show an example of the pull-down menu. As shown in the standard size menu 102 of FIG. 11A, various standard sizes are displayed as the print size. If you select one of the standard sizes here,
The actual size of the "width" and "height" of the size is displayed in the dialog box 100 shown in 0.

Further, the dialog box 1 shown in FIG.
00 check button 103 or check button 104
Allows you to set whether to print the image vertically or horizontally. Further, by selecting "custom (free)" except for the registered standard sizes, the actual dimensions of "width" and "height" can be arbitrarily set.

As shown in the color tone menu 105 of FIG. 11B, when "black and white" (monochrome: B / W) is selected as the color tone, a pull-down menu 106 is further displayed to enable detailed tone selection. Has become. By selecting from these tones, it is possible to print a monochrome image with a gray balance and gradation according to the selected tone. As a result, it is possible to prevent a finish defect such as a gradation gradation appearing when a color image is converted into a monochrome image and a gray balance imbalance.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11C, the pull-down menu 107 for white borders is such that the border width is displayed, and a desired dimension can be selected from the displayed border width. There is.

In the dialog box 100 shown in FIG. 10, the set print size, color tone, and white border are displayed, and the number of prints is displayed as the number of copies. The number of sheets to be printed is to set the number of sheets to be printed with the same set value, and is set by increasing or decreasing a numerical value by a click operation of the arrow button 108 or by key input of a numerical value.

In the trimming frame 109, a control button 110 for designating the trimming range and an arrow button 111 for setting the enlargement ratio are displayed.
By clicking the arrow on the control button 110, the image displayed in the output frame 101 can be moved vertically and horizontally. Further, the enlargement ratio may be directly inputted by a numerical value, or the enlargement ratio may be increased or decreased by the arrow button 111. In this way, it is only necessary to perform the manual trimming, display the image with the magnification changed in the output frame 101, and match the range to be printed with the output frame 101.

By the way, the output module is capable of automatic trimming. With this automatic trimming,
If the image data size and print size match, the entire image range is set to be printed. If the image data size and print size do not match, the output frame 1
The image data is automatically enlarged or reduced within a range in which the image fits within 01, and the central portion of the image within the output frame 101 is set to be printed. By clicking the reset button 112 displayed in the trimming frame 109, the manual trimming is canceled and the automatic trimming is performed. Therefore, the trimming work can be made more efficient.

By thus performing various settings automatically or manually, the dialog box 100 shown in FIG.
In the print registration display area 91, the display is changed according to the setting change. By selecting the print item displayed in the print registration display area 91 of the main menu 90 and operating the change button 93,
The setting change of only the corresponding item can be performed in the same manner as the above-mentioned additional processing.

Further, since it is possible to specify and print a plurality of images having different conditions such as size, color tone, gradation, and presence / absence of white borders based on one image data, the efficiency of the printing operation can be improved. Can be realized.

By clicking the print setting button 95 in the main menu 90 shown in FIG. 9A, common print setting processing is performed for all items displayed in the print registration display area 91. When the print setting operation is selected, the dialog box 113 shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the monitor 30.

In this dialog box 113, printer settings, paper orientation, paper size, resolution, etc. are set. Along with this, it is possible to set the register mark whether to print the register mark, the image name print setting whether to print the image name on the paper, and the like.

The image name can be input by operating the keys of the keyboard 22, and by adding the image name to the print, it is possible to add value to the finished print.

The setting of the register mark is effective only when the white border is selected, and as shown in FIG. 13A, the width of the white border is included in the image where the white border is selected. The dark area is recognized as one image, and the register marks 114 are printed at the four corners of this image. By cutting the paper with this register mark 114 as a mark (a line shown by a broken line in FIG. 13A), a print provided with a white border with a desired width can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 13B, when the image is arranged on the peripheral portion of the paper, the actual image is arranged within the printable range, and the margins generated on the peripheral side of the paper from the printable range. The image is laid out so that the part is used as a part of the white edge, and the printable area on the paper is used to the maximum extent. At this time, the registration mark 114A and the registration mark 114A obtained by deforming the registration mark 114 are described only in the printable area.

When the display setting and the contents of the dialog box 113 are confirmed and the setting button 115 is clicked, the output module performs automatic layout setting.

In this automatic layout setting, images are laid out based on the registered print settings so that the image data fits on the paper of the size loaded in the printer 34. In this automatic layout setting, the size of the paper loaded in the photo printer 34 is switched and used as needed so that the paper on which the image is printed is not wasted, such as a large margin.

For example, one registered print item (print registration display area 91 of the main menu 90)
1 line item from print size to number of prints)
Divide into the first print and print. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, when three images cannot be printed on the first sheet of paper, it is inevitably printed on two sheets of paper. At this time, the other sheets of paper are printed on the first and second sheets of paper. Layout images of different sizes to minimize the white space on the paper.

As shown in FIG. 9B, the print registration display area 91 is operated by operating the page break button 96.
A page break mark 117 is input between the display items.
In the automatic layout setting, layout is performed for each registered item grouped by the page break mark 117 input by clicking the page break button 96.

When the automatic layout setting is completed, FIG.
The main menu 90 shown in (A) is displayed. When the print button 116 in the main menu 90 is clicked, the automatically laid out image data for printing is output to the photo printer 34. The automatic layout result may be displayed on the monitor 30 prior to the output of the image data to the photographic printer 34 to check the suitability.

In the photographic printer 34, when image data for printing (print density data f) is input from the personal computer 12, the paper is exposed according to the set printing conditions and layout to create a print. As a result, it is possible to obtain a print in which an image that matches the image displayed on the monitor 30 is recorded.

As described above, in the photographic image processing system 10 applied to the present embodiment, the image recorded on the original can be printed by digital exposure with the same image quality as the photographic print obtained by the surface exposure system. . Further, since the image displayed on the monitor 30 can be made to substantially coincide with the image printed by the photographic printer 34, an image of the print obtained by the photographic printer 34 from the image displayed on the monitor 30 can be appropriately and accurately imaged. Therefore, various image processing can be appropriately performed while predicting the finish of the print.

As described above, this embodiment shows an example of the present invention, and does not limit the configuration and processing flow of the present invention.

[0126]

As described above, the image processing method and apparatus according to the present invention can successively specify a plurality of specified print sizes and number of sheets in the image output system. It has an excellent effect that the print layout on the photosensitive material can be automatically performed based on the size of, and the photosensitive material can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photographic image processing system applied to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a photographic image processing system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a setting screen displayed on a monitor when performing an input process.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a main menu displayed on a monitor when performing an input process.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display when performing color key setting.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display when a reading range is set.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display when a tone curve is set.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an example of a display when performing designated color finishing.

9A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a main menu displayed when performing output processing, and FIG. 9B shows a part of the main menu with a page break mark added to the main menu shown in FIG. 9A. It is a schematic diagram.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display when performing trimming setting of an image to be printed.

11A is a schematic view showing an example of a display for setting a size, FIG. 11B is a schematic view showing an example of a display for setting a color tone, and FIG. 11C is an example of a display when setting a white border. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display when print settings are made.

FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are schematic diagrams showing an example of display of a register mark on a print.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement of images printed by a photographic printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Photo Image Processing System (Image Processing Device) 12 Personal Computer 18 HDD 22 Keyboard 24 Mouse 34 Photo Printer (Print Output Device) 90 Main Menu 100, 113 Dialog Box 102 Popup Menu 105 Color Tone Menu 106 Pulldown Menu

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number in the agency FI Technical indication location H04N 1/60 H04N 1/40 D (72) Inventor Mamoru Shinohara 798 Miyadai, Kaisei-cho, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image to be transferred together with the image data when a prestored image data to be output is designated and transferred to the print output device, a format required for printing by the print output device is set. A method of outputting data, wherein a plurality of types of image data to be output can be selected, and the print size for the same image data can be input or selected in a plurality of types. output method. 2. The image data is stored after being converted into color information when printed on a predetermined photosensitive material,
The color information affects at least the image input device characteristics, the original document type, the photosensitive material type, and the print finish characteristics including the exposure amount characteristics, which affect the print image when the original image is printed on the photosensitive material in the surface exposure system. The image data output method according to claim 1, wherein the image data is obtained by correcting the image data based on a parameter determined by a combination. 3. An image data output device for transferring image data to a print output device, setting a format required for printing by the print output device, and transferring the image data together with the image data. Image data storage means for storing data, designating means for designating desired image data from the image data storage means, and print size for each image data designated by the designating means is selected from a predetermined standard size. Or a print size setting means for inputting an actual print size in the print output device, a print number setting means for inputting or selecting the number of prints for each image data designated by the designating means, The image data and the print size and number of prints corresponding to each image data are printed out as above. Image data output device having a transfer means for transferring to the device. 4. The image data is stored after being converted into color information when printed on a photosensitive material, and the color information is included in a print image when an original image is printed on the photosensitive material by a surface exposure system. The image data is obtained by correcting the image data based on the parameters that are influenced by at least the characteristics of the image input device, the document type, the photosensitive material type, and the print finish characteristics including the exposure amount characteristics. The image data output device according to claim 3. 5. When printing with a plurality of print sizes, the layout is automatically performed based on the size of a photosensitive material loaded in the print output device, the layout information is added, and the print is performed. The image data output method according to claim 1, wherein the image data is transferred to an output device. 6. When the print size is not input or selected, or when the previous print size does not match, a standard size that is closest to the size when the image data is read from the original image is automatically selected. The image data output method according to claim 1 or 2. 7. When the input or selected print size does not match the size of the image data, the image data is enlarged, reduced or trimmed, and the size is automatically changed to the input or selected print size. The method for outputting image data according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. 8. When the image data is a color image,
The color image data has a function of converting into monochrome image data by designation, and for the color image data, one is selected from a plurality of set gray balances and gradations, and a monochrome image based on the selected gray balances and gradations The image data output method according to claim 1, wherein the image data is converted into data. 9. It is possible to select whether or not there is a white edge around the image at the time of print output by the print output device, and when the white edge is selected, the index indicating the white edge area is printed together with the image. At the same time, when printing the index, the image data output method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a character or a symbol for specifying the image data is also printed in a white border area. 10. A white edge area and a non-printed area formed around a photosensitive material in the print output device,
6. The layout is automatically set so as to overlap with each other, any one of claim 1, claim 2 and claim 5
Output method of image data described in item.