JPS62115431A - Method and device for indicating principal object - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To finish a principal object on a print picture to a proper density and a good color balance by reading the coordinate position of a moving means when the principal object and an indicating part coincide with each other and using this coordinate position as position information of the principal object for photographic printing. CONSTITUTION:In case that a negative is moved, XY moving mechanisms 25 and 26 are attached to a carrier 82a which holds the negative, and XY driving means like pulse motors are driven by the signal from a movement instructing means to move the carrier 82a together with the negative, and the principal object on the negative is allowed to coincide with an optical indicating means like a spot light 62. When this indicating means and the principal object on the negative coincide with each other, the coordinate position of XY driving means is used as position information of the principal object. In case that the indicating part is moved, a light source and a lens system which form the indicating part like the spot light 62 on the negative are attached to XY moving mechanisms, and the spot light 62 is so moved that it coincides with the principal object on the negative, and the coordinate position of XY moving mechanisms at this time is used as position information of the principal object.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a device for indicating the position of the main subject of an original image, which is used in a photographic printing device, a preliminary negative verification device for printing, etc. It is.

[Conventional technology]

-C-wise, in original images such as color negative films and color positive films, there are frames with negative images that are underexposed, as well as frames with an appropriate amount of exposure for negative images.

Overexposed negative image frame, negative image contrast 1
Contains pieces with large -. Even with such improperly exposed negative images, printing is sometimes done so that the resulting printed photograph has the correct color balance and density.
Blue exposure amount, green exposure amount.

The amount of red exposure is corrected. This exposure amount correction is performed based on the Evans principle described in US Pat. No. 2,571,697. That is,
In a negative image taken of a typical subject, the proportions of the blue, green, and red components of the transmitted light are approximately equal, and therefore, the integral of the entire transmitted light becomes gray or a constant hue close to gray. This gray or a hue close to it is blue.

This can be obtained by making the exposure amounts of green and red almost equal,
Exposure correction is performed using this exposure amount as a target value.
This is called the LATD method.

By the way, even if the main subject of a negative image has a proper density, if the background is dark or light, the printing time will be controlled depending on the density of the background, so the above-mentioned LATD
In the second mode, the main subject cannot be reproduced correctly. Such negative images are called subziec 1-feria negatives, which include density feria negatives in which the density of the main subject is inappropriate, and color feria negatives in which the main subject's colors are inappropriate. The former density ferrier negative includes negative images photographed under backlight, negative images photographed at night with a strobe light, negative images photographed of people at a ski resort, and the like. The latter color ferrier negative is a negative image in which a specific color is distributed over a wide area, and includes negative images taken with a red background, negative images taken with grass as a background, and negative images taken with the sea as a bank. There are negative images etc.

For the above-mentioned sub-digital negatives, we perform a negative inspection before printing, find out the characteristics of the pattern of the negative image, judge the amount of correction based on the operator's experience, and operate the color key and density correction key. The amount of correction is specified. This negative verification is carried out immediately before printing the original image using a photographic printing device, and is also carried out separately from printing using a negative verification device in large-scale photofinishing laboratories.

This type of negative verification is laborious and requires a skilled operator. Therefore, the main subject is automatically determined and the three-color density of this main subject is used as characteristic information to control the exposure amount. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an exposure control method that allows the main subject on a printed photograph to be finished with proper density and good color balance. This exposure control method is
This is based on the empirical rule that most of the main subjects are people, and if the face of the person is printed well, the print will be satisfactory.

To this end, each pixel of the negative image is subjected to three-color separation photometry, a portion with a skin-tone hue is extracted, and this portion is determined to be the main subject.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the main subject determination method described above, skin-colored areas are determined to be the main subject, but since the negative image may contain objects with a hue close to skin color, such as walls, this is not possible. may be mistakenly recognized as the main subject, leading to incorrect exposure control.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an original image illuminated with a white light source, and an instruction unit that optically indicates the position of the main subject in the image of the original image. one of them is moved in a two-dimensional direction by a moving means, and the coordinate position of the moving means is read when the main subject and the indicator match, and this is used as the position information of the main subject when printing the photo. This is what I did.

When moving the original image, an XY moving mechanism is attached to the carrier holding the original image, and a signal from the movement instruction means drives an XY drive means such as a pulse motor to move the carrier together with the original image. The main subject of the original image is made to coincide with the indicating means, for example, a spotlight. When this instruction means matches the main subject of the original image, the coordinate position of the XY drive means is used as position information of the main subject.

When moving the instruction section, the instruction section, for example, a light source and lens system for forming a spot light on the original image, is attached to the XY moving mechanism, and the spotlight is moved to match the main subject of the original image, and then The coordinate position of the XY movement mechanism is used as the position information of the main subject.

The position information of the main subject is used during exposure calculation, for example, to weight the density value of the main subject,
Alternatively, this density value is used to control the exposure amount during printing. As a result, the main subject of the printed photograph can be finished with appropriate density and good color balance.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an example of a photo printing apparatus embodying the present invention. The white light emitted from the white light tAto is
After being diffused in the diffusion tube 11, the printing reaches the original image set in position, such as a color negative film 12, and illuminates it from behind. The diffusion tube 11 is composed of a rectangular tube 13 whose inner surface is formed into a mirror surface, and two expansion tubes 14 fixed to both open ends of the rectangular tube 13. A yellow filter 16 for terminating blue exposure, a magenta filter 17 for terminating green exposure, and a cyan filter 18 for terminating red exposure are disposed between the diffusion tube 11 and the white light source 10. and is inserted into the optical path 20 by the filter drive section 19. Note that the yellow filter 17 is inserted into the optical path 20 to show the operation of the filter.

The color negative film 12 is transferred frame by frame,
The next frame to be printed is set on the negative carrier section 22. When specifying the main subject, this negative carrier section 22 uses an X-direction moving mechanism 23 and a Y-direction moving mechanism 24.
is moved in two-dimensional direction. These X-direction moving mechanism 23 and Y-direction moving mechanism 24 are driven by a pulse motor 25.
．． 26, the amount of movement is controlled. These pulse motors 25 and 26 are rotated by instructions from the microcomputer 29 via drivers 27 and 28, respectively.

A mask 32 is attached above the negative carrier section 22 and has an opening of (±) size corresponding to the screen. After the color negative film 12 is transferred, the mask 32 is rotated by a solenoid (not shown) to open the negative carrier section. The frame positioned above 22 is pressed down from above to ensure the flatness of the color negative film 12.

A lens 33 is disposed above the printing position, and a negative image is formed on color photographic paper 35 while the shutter 34 is open. The opening and closing of this shank 34 is controlled by a shutter drive section 36. Also, color photographic paper 3
5, when the printing of one frame is completed, the take-up reel 37
The unexposed portion is drawn out from the supply reel 38.

A mirror 41 that rotates about a shaft 40 is arranged between the lens 33 and the shutter 34. This mirror 41 is previously inserted into the optical path 20 at an angle as shown by the solid line, and is sometimes moved to a position evacuated from the optical path 20 as shown by the two-dot chain line. . When the mirror 41 is inserted into the optical path 20, the light from the lens 33 is reflected toward the transmission screen 42. This screen 42 includes a white light source 10
Since a negative image illuminated by the camera is projected, the operator's eyes 43 confirm the main subject.

In addition, for printing, place a TV camera diagonally above the position,
If a negative image taken by this television camera is displayed on a monitor CRT, the mirror 41 and screen 42 can be omitted.

Further, a sensor unit 45 for photometering each pixel of the negative image is arranged diagonally above the printing position.

The sensor unit 45 is composed of an imaging lens 46 and an image area sensor 48 such as a CCD type or MOS type with a BGR mosaic filter or BGR stripe filter 47 attached to the front surface. It reads each pixel and outputs a time-series signal that is a mixture of blue, green, and red signals. This time series signal is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 49, and then
It is sent to a logarithmic converter 50 where it is logarithmically transformed. The obtained signals of blue color, temperature, green) temperature, and red density are I1
The data is taken into the microcomputer 29 via the 0 port 52, separated for each color, and written into the RAM 53. This microcomputer 29 is, as is well known, I1
0 boats 52, CPU 54. RA, M2S, ROM55
It consists of the exposure amount (time for printing), which will be explained later.
Performs calculations and controls each part. The calculated printing time for each color is determined by the timer 5 from the time the shutter 34 opens.
6, and determines the timing for starting operation of one filter drive section.

A light source, for example 1, is provided diagonally above the negative carrier section 22.
．． , ED 60 and the light emitted from the light source as spot light 6
A lens 61 for making the image 2 is arranged. This Subono I
- The light 62 illuminates a part of the frame set on the negative carrier section 22, and is used as an index when moving the negative carrier section 22 to align the main subject. Note that when indicating the main subject, the frame is illuminated with white light t It is better to shine. Furthermore, the size of the spot light 62 is changed by the lens 61, and a signal indicating the state of the lens 61 is used as size information, which is input to the microcomputer 29.
It is desirable to specify the range to be extracted as pixels of the main subject.

The keyboard 65 includes a movement key 66 for moving the negative carrier section 22 in the X and Y directions, a switch key 67 for turning ON/OFF the LED 60 that emits the spotlight 62, a numeric key 68, and a key for specifying a channel. A channel key 69, a weighting key 70 for setting a weighting coefficient for the main subject, a photometry start key 71 for starting density measurement, a printing start key 72 for starting printing, The input channels or weightings are composed of a display 73 for monitoring and displaying the coefficients.

The movement keys 66 are provided with four keys corresponding to four directions, and can move the negative carrier section 22 in the directions of arrows formed on the top surface of each key. Note that the movement key 66 may be a joystick consisting of one operating lever and four microsinches that detect the direction in which the operating lever is tilted. Said switch key 67
is turned on when there is a risk that the main subject will not be printed well with LATD automatic exposure, and the LE
Light the D60 to indicate the position of the main subject on the frame.

In the exposure calculation formula described later, the coefficients and constants in the calculation formula change depending on the combination of the type of color negative film (sensitivity, size), the type of color photographic paper (sensitivity), enlargement magnification, etc. Channels that are a combination of these are prepared in advance, and coefficients and constants are written in each channel. These channels are specified using channel keys 69 and numeric keys 68.

When the photometry start key 71 is pressed by the operator, the coordinate position of the negative carrier section 22 is loaded into the RAM 53, and then the pulse motors 25 and 26 are driven to move the negative carrier section 22 holding the color negative film 12 and place it on top of it. The center of the centered frame is returned to the reference position where it coincides with the center of the optical path 20. When the negative carrier section 22 returns (U&), the sensor unit 45 starts measuring each pixel of the negative image.When the printing start key 72 is pressed by the operator, the mirror 4I is retracted from the optical path, and the white light source 10 is fully emitted, and then the shutter 34 is opened to start photo printing.In this printing, the start key 72 is omitted, and all these steps are performed in sequence when the photometry start key 71 is operated. You can do it like this.

FIG. 2 shows the XY moving mechanism of the negative carrier section. The base plate 75 has an open lower portion 5a formed at its center extending in the Y direction in order to pass the illumination light from the white light source 10. move in the direction. This feed screw shaft 76 is rotated by the pulse motor 25, thereby moving the base plate 75 in the X direction. Further, in photographic printing, it is sometimes necessary to set the negative carrier section 22 at a reference position in the X direction. Therefore, a reflective photosensor 78 is disposed at this reference position, and by detecting a reflective plate 79 fixed to the base plate 75, it is detected that the negative carrier section 22 has returned to the reference position in the X direction. Note that the reference position in the X direction may be detected using a transmission type photosensor, a microswitch, or the like.

A feed screw shaft 80 and a guide rod 81 are attached to the base plate 75, and a carrier plate 82 is movably held by these.
When the feed screw shaft 80 rotates, it moves in the Y direction. An opening 82a is formed in the carrier plate 82, and the color negative film 12 is illuminated with light that passes through the lower opening 5a and the opening 82a. Photographic printing sometimes requires setting the negative carrier section 22 in a basic position in the Y direction. Therefore, a reflective photosensor 83 is placed at this reference position, and the carrier plate 83 is placed at this reference position.
By detecting the reflective plate 84 fixed to the negative carrier part 22, it is detected that the negative carrier part 22 has returned to the reference position in the X direction.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 3, which shows the functions of the microcomputer.

When starting photo printing, first turn on the power, press the channel key 69, and then operate the numeric keys 68 to designate a channel according to the printing conditions. By specifying this channel, coefficients and constants necessary for an exposure calculation formula to be described later are read out from the memory 86, and the printing data is sent to the time calculation section 87.

For the weighting, if the key 70 is operated and then the numeric key 68 is operated, a weighting coefficient to be multiplied by the density of the main subject is set, and this is stored in the memory 88. This weighting coefficient may be set for each frame.

Before printing starts, each of the color filters 16 to 18 is evacuated from the optical path 20, and the white light source 10 is in an afterglow state. The white light emitted from this white light source JO is sufficiently diffused when passing through the interior of the diffusion tube 11, and then passes through the opening lower 5a of the base plate 75 and the opening 8 of the carrier plate 820.
2a, and the color negative film 12 set on the carrier plate 82 is illuminated from below. The light transmitted through the color negative film 12 passes through a lens 33 and a mirror 41 before reaching a screen 42, on which a negative image of the frame 12a is projected.

At the time of negative inspection, frame 12 projected on the screen 42
Observe the negative image of a. Based on the characteristics of this negative image, if it is predicted that the main subject will not be properly finished with the LATD automatic exposure, the switchgear 67 is turned on to cause the LED 60 to emit light. The light emitted from this LED 60 is turned into a spot light 62 by a lens 61.

As shown by hatching in FIG.
2a is illuminated in a spot-like manner. In this case, white light source 1
0 is dimmed, so the spot light 62 can be easily identified.

In the initial state, the negative carrier section 22 is arranged so that the center of the frame 12a and the center of the optical path 20 match each other. Since the spot light 62 is positioned at the frame 12
The center of the second screen is illuminated in a spot-like manner. The illumination state of the spotlight 62 can be observed on the screen 42, so the user operates the movement key 66 while looking at the screen 42 to align the image of the spot light 62 with the main subject 90. When this movement key 66 is operated, the controller 91 sends a pulse to the driver 27 or 28 corresponding to the direction of the movement key 66 while the movement key 66 is being pressed. Along with this, Con]・
The roller 91 generates a signal indicating the direction of rotation of the pulse motor 25.26 and sends it to the driver 27,28. Each driver 27□ 28 rotates the pulse motor 25, 26 to move the base plate 75 in the X direction,
The carrier plate 82 is moved f in the Y direction. As a result, the negative carrier section 22 holding the frame 12a moves in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively.

The negative carrier section 22 is moved in a two-dimensional direction to match the main subject 90 of the frame 12a with the spot light 62. In general, in frames with people in them, the person is usually the main subject, and in the case of portraits, the finish of the face is the most important, so the spot light 62
match the face. When the negative carrier section 22 is moved, the drive pulses supplied to the drivers 27 and 28 are added and subtracted by counters 92 and 93, respectively.

That is, when the pulse motors 25 and 26 rotate in the positive direction, the drive pulses are added, and when the pulse motors 25 and 26 rotate in the negative direction, they are subtracted. The position of the negative carrier section 22 can be known from the contents of these counters 92 and 93.

Note that if it is determined that sufficient print photographs can be obtained using the conventional LATD method, or if it is insufficient but the main subject cannot be determined, the switch key 67 is turned OFF.

When this switch key 67 is turned off, the controller 91 returns the negative carrier section 22 to the reference position if it is not set at the reference position.

When the photometry start key 71 is pressed while the switch key 67 is ON, the LED 60 stops emitting light and the contents of the counters 92 and 93 are written into the memory 94 as position information of the main subject. Note that when the switch key 67 is OFF, no data is written to the memory 94.

After writing to the memory 94, the controller 91 rotates the pulse motors 25 and 26 to write the negative carrier section 22.
Return to the reference position. When the base plate 75 moves due to the rotation of the pulse motor 25, the reflection plate 79 fixed thereto is detected by the photo sensor 78, and the rotation of the pulse smoke 25 is stopped at the time of this detection. In this state, the negative carrier section 22 has returned to its original position in the X direction, and the contents of the counter 92 have returned to "0".

Similarly, the carrier plate 82 is also moved and returned to its reference position in the Y direction, and the content of the counter 28 is set to "0".
Return to

When the negative carrier section 22 returns to the reference position, the sensor unit 45 starts measuring the density of the negative image. That is, since a negative image is formed on the image area sensor 48 by the imaging lens 46, when density measurement is started, the image area sensor 48 outputs a time series signal obtained by photoelectrically converting each pixel of the negative image. . Since this time-series signal uses the BGR stripe filter 47, it has a mixed form of a blue signal, a green signal, and a red signal.

The time-series signal outputted from the image area sensor 48 is sequentially subjected to digital conversion and logarithmic conversion, and is then taken into the microcomputer 29 as a density signal. This microcomputer 29 separates the density signals for each color and writes them into memo 1 notes 96 to 98, respectively.

The density of each pixel separated for each color and written in the memories 96-97 is sent to units 99-101, respectively, with weights provided for each color. These weights are as follows:
Since the weighting coefficient from the memory 88 and the main subject position information from the memory 94 are input, the weighting coefficient is multiplied by the density of the pixel corresponding to the position of the main subject. Generally, the area of the main subject 90 is larger than the size of the pixels of the image area sensor 48.

Therefore, in practice, a size area of the main subject is determined, and the position information represents the center position of this area. Then, the pixels included in this area of the main subject are multiplied by a weighting coefficient. This weighting coefficient is
Generally, a value larger than "1" is used, but if this value is made extremely large, spot photometry will be used. It should be noted that weighting is not performed on parts other than the main subject, and naturally, when the switch key 67 is OFF, weighting is not performed.

After weighting the density of the main subject in sections 99 to 101, the weighting is sent to LATD (Large Area Average Transmission 29 degrees) calculating sections 102 to 104 provided for each color, where the arithmetic calculation of the density of each pixel is performed. An average is calculated. The obtained arithmetic mean is sent as LATD to the burn-in time calculation section 87, and the burn-in time Ti is calculated for each color using the following formula (i represents one of blue, green, and red). calculations are performed.

6ogTi=αi (Di-DNi)+Ki where,
Each symbol is as follows.

αi: Coefficient Di: LATD (Large Area Average Transmission Density) DNi: Standard negative color with equal proportions of three color components TD Ki: Printing time required to print a standard negative These αi, DNi, and Ki are the channels It is read out from the memory 86 according to the specification. The resulting baking time Ti is
It is sent to timer 56.

Next, when the printing start key 72 is pressed, the white light source 10 emits full light, the mirror 41 is retracted from the optical path 20, and then the shutter 34 is opened and printing is started. The filter driving unit 19 maintains the filters 16 to 18 in a state where they are retracted from the optical path 20, and when a signal indicating that the blue printing time Tb has elapsed is input from the timer 56, the yellow filter 16 is activated. It is inserted into the optical path 20 to complete the blue exposure. Similarly, for green printing, when the time Tg has elapsed, the magenta filter 17 is inserted into the optical path 20 to complete the green exposure, and for red printing, the cyan filter 18 is inserted when the time Tr has elapsed.

When sufficient time has elapsed to expose one frame, the shutter 34 is closed, and then the filter drive section 19 retreats each of the filters 16 to 18 from the optical path 20. Thereafter, the take-up reel 37 winds up one frame of the exposed color photographic paper 35, and the unexposed color photographic paper is reeled onto the supply reel 38.
Pull it out and set it in the exposure position. Also, mask 3
After raising 0 a little, color negative film 12
is transferred by one frame, a new frame is set on the negative carrier section 22, and the mask 30 is again pressed from above.

Further, the mirror 41 is inserted into the optical path 20 as shown by the solid line, and at the same time the LED 60 starts emitting light again to prepare for the operation to specify the main subject for this new frame.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, a target zh 108 is formed in the center of the screen 42 instead of the spot light generator, and the negative carrier section 22 is moved in two dimensions so that the main subject 90 of the frame 12a matches the target 108. .

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the spot light generating device, in which the same members as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, an LED IIO is arranged at a position close to the negative carrier section 22 and coincident with the center of the optical axis 20,
The frame 12a is illuminated from below in a spot shape. 0LED
110 is attached to a transparent or thin arm 111. This arm 111 is rotatably attached to a shaft 112, and its rear end is connected to a solenoid 114 via a pin 113.

When indicating the main subject, the LED IIO is inserted in the center of the optical path 20, and the photo printing is sometimes performed using the solenoid 11.
4 operates to rotate the arm 111, and L E D 1
10 is evacuated from the optical path 20.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which an ND filter is provided in place of the LED. ND filter 11 on transparent plate 117
8 is fixed, an ND filter 118 is inserted into the optical path 20 when the main subject is specified, and the transparent plate 117 is rotated around the shaft 120 by the solenoid 119 at times during photo printing, so that there is no problem with printing. Evacuate to position.

In this embodiment, since the light from the white light source 10 is left behind by the ND filter 118, this light attenuation causes a shadow to be formed on the frame 12a. Therefore, the negative carrier section 22 is moved in a two-dimensional direction so that the main subject matches the shadow of the camera.

Alternatively, a large ND filter may be used in which only the central portion is transparent by forming an opening or the like, and the ND filter may be moved so that the central transparent portion coincides with the main subject.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the negative carrier is fixed and a pointing section for optically pointing out the main subject is moved instead. The elevating plates 1 and 24 include a plurality of, for example, two guide rods 125° 126 and a negative feed shaft 127.
This allows it to be held movably in the X direction. A gear 128 is fixed to the feed screw shaft 127 and meshes with a gear 130 driven by a pulse motor 129.

The elevating plate 124 includes two wooden guide rods 132 and 13.
3 is installed, and a lateral movement plate 134 is held on this so as to be movable in the Y direction. This lateral movement plate 134 is connected to a belt 136 via a connecting fitting 135. This belt 136 is hung around a pair of pulleys 137 and 138, and when the pulley 137 is rotated by a pulse motor 139, the lateral movement plate 134 is moved in the Y direction by the belt 136.

The lateral movement plate 134 includes a light source, for example, an LED 42,
A collimator lens system 143 is attached, and a spot light 145 made into parallel light by this collimator lens system 143 is incident on a half mirror 146. This half mirror 146 is arranged between the diffusion tube 11 and the negative carrier 147, and reflects the incident spot light 144 toward the negative carrier 147. In order to effectively utilize the amount of light from the white light source 10, it is preferable that the half mirror 146 be moved out of the optical path during photographic printing.

In this embodiment as well, the control circuit shown in FIG. 2 can be used as is. That is, when the movement key 66 is operated, the pulse motors 129 and 139 rotate, and the lateral movement plate 1 is rotated.
34 in the vertical and horizontal directions. When this lateral movement plate 134 moves, the spot light 144 moves from frame 1 to
Since it moves in two-dimensional direction on 2a, this spot light 1
44 can be matched to the main subject. and,
If we examine the amount of rotation of the pulse motors 129 and 139 when the spotlight 144 matches the main subject, we can see that frame 12
The coordinate position of the spotlight 144 on point a can be known. Note that even if the switch key is turned on, the LED 42 stops emitting light while the photo is being printed.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an embodiment in which a light emitting diode is placed directly under a negative film to move dirt in two dimensions. An X-direction pulse motor 151 is attached to the fixed plate 150, and a pulley 152 is fixed to the rotating shaft of this X-direction pulse motor 151. Further, an L-shaped bracket 153 is fixed to the fixed plate 150, and a pulley 154 is attached to this bracket 153. A belt 155 is hung around these pulleys 152 and 154, and a part of an X-direction moving table 156 is connected to this heald 155. Further, a guide shaft 157 extending in the X direction is installed on the fixed plate 150, and an X direction movable table 156 is slidably fitted onto this guide shaft 157.

The X-direction moving table 156 has a plate 160 extending in the Y-direction.
is attached, and a Y-direction pulse motor 1 is mounted on top of this.
61 is fixed. This Y direction pulse motor 161
The pulley 162 attached to the rotating shaft of the bracket 16
A belt 165 is hung around a boo 1164 attached to the belt 3. A Y-direction moving table 167 fitted onto a guide shaft 166 is connected to this heald 165 .

A transparent arm 168 is fixed to the Y-direction moving table 167, and a light emitting diode 169 is attached to the tip of the arm 168. This light emitting diode 169 is inserted between the base plate 22 and the diffusion tube 11.

In this embodiment, when the movement key is operated to rotate the X-direction pulse motor 151, the X-direction moving table 156 moves, so the light emitting diode 169 moves just below the base plate 22. Furthermore, when the Y-direction pulse motor 161 is rotated, the Y-direction moving table 167 moves, and therefore the light emitting diode 169 moves in the Y-direction. This results in
The light emitting diode 169 moves in two dimensions just below the negative film 12, and the light emitted from the light emitting diode 169 can illuminate the main subject in a spot shape.

Although each of the above-mentioned embodiments is a photo printing device, the present invention may also be applied to a negative inspection device or the like. In this case, the mirror 41 and screen 42 may be omitted because the user can look into the test position.

Then, information indicating the position of the main subject specified at the time of negative verification is output onto a paper tape, floppy disk, etc., and this is loaded into a photo printing apparatus. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied in a similar manner to the recording of an image recorded on an original onto a storage medium such as a magnetic tape, an optical disk, or a magnetic disk film.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, the position of the main subject on the screen can be easily indicated, and compared to the conventional method of determining the main subject from the hue of skin color, the position of the main subject can be easily indicated. It is possible to reliably prevent mistakes from occurring. Furthermore, since the verification printing may only require specifying the main subject, it is not necessary for a skilled operator to carry out the work, and the work can be carried out with high efficiency. Furthermore, in the present invention, since the main subject is directly indicated on the original image, the position of the main subject on the image sensor is smaller than the method of indirectly indicating the main subject with respect to the image of the original image displayed on the display. No misalignment occurs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a photo printing apparatus for carrying out the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the XY moving mechanism of the negative carrier section. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the microcomputer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a color negative film showing a state in which the spotlight is aligned with the main subject. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a screen showing an embodiment in which a target is provided on the screen. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part showing an embodiment in which an LED for indicating the main subject is arranged close to the bottom of the negative carrier section. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of essential parts showing an embodiment using an ND filter. Figure 8 shows how the LED for indicating the main subject has been moved in a two-dimensional direction.
) is a perspective view of main parts showing an example in which J is possible. FIGS. 9 and 10 are a plan view and a front view showing another embodiment in which a light emitting diode is moved in two dimensions just below a negative film. 11... Diffusion tube 12... Color negative film 12a... Frame 16... Yellow filter 17... Magenta filter 18... Cyan filter 22... Negative carrier section 34... Shutter 35... Color photographic paper 41... Mirror 42...・Screen 48 ・・Image area sensor 60 ・・LED for main subject indication 62 ・・Spot light 66 ・・Movement key 67 ・・Switch key 70 ・・Key 71 for weighting ・・Photometering start key 72 ・・・For printing Start key 75...Base plate 82...Carrier plate 78.83...Photo sensor for detecting reference position 79.8
4...Reflector plate 110...LED for indicating main subject 118...ND filter 124 for indicating main subject...Elevating moving plate 134...Laterally moving plate 142...LED for indicating main subject 143...Collimator lens system 144... -Spot light 156...X direction moving table 167...Y direction moving table 169...Light emitting diode.

Claims (14)

[Claims] (1) Either the original image illuminated with a white light source or the indicator that optically indicates the position of the main subject in the image recorded on the original image are moved in a two-dimensional direction by a moving means, and the main subject is 1. A method for specifying a main subject, characterized in that the coordinate position of the moving means is read out when the position of the main subject coincides with the indicating part, and this is used as positional information of the main subject when printing a photograph. (2) a carrier that holds an original image illuminated with a white light source and is movable in the X direction and the Y direction; an indicating means for optically indicating a point within the moving plane of the carrier; a Y-direction drive means for moving the carrier in the Y direction; a movement instruction means for instructing the moving direction of the carrier; and a signal from the movement instruction means, Controlling the X-direction driving means and the Y-direction driving means, respectively, and controlling a position signal when the control means for moving the carrier in two-dimensional directions and the indicating means coincide with the main subject of the original image. What is claimed is: 1. A main subject indicating device comprising means for taking out a main subject from the means and storing it as position information of the main subject at the time of printing a photograph. (3) The main subject pointing device according to claim 2, wherein the pointing means is a spot light emitted from a light source and illuminating the original image. (4) The indicating means is a spot-shaped shadow whose light is attenuated by an ND filter placed between the carrier and the white light source and removed from between the white light source and the original image during photo printing. A main subject pointing device according to claim 2, characterized by: (5) The indicating means is a spot light transmitted through a transparent part formed in the center of a large ND filter, and this ND filter is designed to be evacuated from between the white light source and the original image during photo printing. A main subject pointing device according to claim 2, characterized by: (6) The main subject pointing device according to claim 3, wherein the pointing light source is an LED. (7) The main subject pointing device according to claim 3, wherein the pointing light source emits colored light. (8) The LED is disposed on the white light source side and close to the carrier, and is retracted from between the white light source and the original image during photo printing.
Main subject pointing device as described in Section 1. (9) The main subject pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the LED is arranged diagonally on the carrier. (10) The main subject pointing device according to claim 2, wherein the pointing means is a target attached to a screen on which an image of the original image is projected. (11) a carrier holding an original image illuminated with a white light source; an indicating means for optically indicating a part of the original image; an X-direction drive means for moving the indicating means in the X direction; and the indicating means. a Y-direction drive means for moving in the Y direction; a movement instruction means for instructing the movement direction of the instruction means; and a signal from the movement instruction means to control the X-direction drive means and the Y-direction drive means. A control means for controlling the drive and moving the indicating means in a two-dimensional direction, and a position signal obtained when the main subject of the original image and the indicating means match is extracted from the control means, and this is used for printing the photograph. 1. A main subject indicating device comprising: means for storing positional information of a main subject. (12) The main subject pointing device according to claim 11, wherein the pointing means is a spotlight that illuminates the original image. (13) The spot light is formed by a light source and a lens system, and the light source and lens system are two-dimensionally moved by the X-direction driving means and the Y-direction driving means. A main subject pointing device according to claim 12. (14) The main subject pointing device according to claim 13, wherein the spot light is irradiated onto the original image via a half mirror disposed between a carrier and a white light source.