DE3312050A1 - METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PHOTOGRAPHIC MASK - Google Patents

Description

Method of making a photographic mask

The invention relates to a method of tracing or tracing the outline or contour of an image on photographic film or the like, or a line in a line image such as a comic film image or the like, as well as for recording the image associated with the so obtained contour line or the line image is identical by digitized image processing methods. The invention particularly relates to a method of making a photographic mask. ν ^

^! ■ _ ■ ■ .6-

Masks are used in a number of ways in printing. For example, if a goods catalog is printed, so includes a photographic image that is used as the original image. should be applied, generally background images that the pictures of the goods surround; however, these background images are usually left out when the Original image eventually appears in the catalog.

Thus, a reproduction image is obtained by making one Film in which the necessary part is transparent and the rest '

Partly is opaque, also in that this film is on the ι
Original image is placed and that the combination is reproduced photographically. Depending on the circumstances of the individual case, it may be desirable to create such a mask in which the necessary part is opaque and the rest is transparent.

Such a mask was previously made by hand. For example, in the same way as dragging a Drawing for industrial purposes a transparent film is placed on the original image, and the contour 'or outline of the to masking part traced. The outline or the inner - '■ of the outline is then applied with opaque ink to create a to obtain such a photographic mask.

Such a procedure requires care and expertise as to what ' can only be acquired through experience and which is very time consuming is; this means a severe handicap in the otherwise highly automated manufacturing process for photographic plates ·. This is particularly the case when the desired outline is very irregular or has a curved course.

To overcome these drawbacks, it is often the time (to be covered) to mask part of a photographic film of the desired size, reproduced ^above rlginalbild from, weggepinselt directly or crossed out. Alternatively, you can

'". ■■■ 3

a removable film (peeloff use film); the circumstance of making the outline ' however, this does not remove the line. In any case, clean manual work is necessary, which is expensive and precise work requires.

Also, the photographic conditions when taking an original picture are often such that the. Background area has certain hue for the purpose of obtaining a desired photographic mask, by undressing or Eliminate some color from the background. This process is sometimes called "chromakey.technique". There however, this method does not apply to the recording of the original movie Requiring prior consideration, it does not appear to be widespread. · '·

The invention is based on the object · a method for production creating a photographic mask from image data in the form of electrical data; this procedure is supposed to be simple and work precisely. ,

-Further the object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a photographic mask which when printing layout images or when composing a plurality of images into a single image in a desired manner Arrangement can be conveniently applied '.

According to the invention this object is achieved by applying a ; Process for the production of a photographic mask solved, "in which process the following process steps are

■ ■. be turned:

(a) Data is stored in a memory corresponding to an original image:

(.b). the original image is on a rendering operation '-played;

(c) the outline of the original image reproduced on the reproducing device is approximately in the form " electrical data denotes;

(d) a plurality of sub-image areas is on the approximate . . Outline defined in such a way that the approximate outline is essentially in the center of each partial image area falls; and --.

(e) A desired obstruction line is extracted, namely by comparing the color separation image data of a ■ each picture element (pixel) in each of the

Partial image areas with an average value of the color separation image data value of all pixels in the Partial image area, or alternatively by comparing the three color image data of each pixel in each of the partial image areas with the three color image data of a certain color phase, or by applying them selectively both types of comparison. '"

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In this the following is shown in detail:

Fig. 1 J-st is a block diagram of an apparatus in which the Method according to the invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating one way of defining partial mapping areas along a Outline illustrated.

Figures 3a and 3b are conceptual diagrams showing different Possibilities of connecting two separate outlines illustrated by means of the 'method according to the invention have been identified.

Figs. 4a, 4b and 4c are conceptual diagrams showing a Possibility of designating each pixel in a partial image area with either a high level signal or a Illustrate low level signal.

. ί.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of another device for carrying out the method according to the invention. *

The following can be seen in detail in the figures: A mask production station 4 for carrying out the invention has the task of storing images, consisting of one and "the same or a comparable number of display pixels (for example e 50 or 500) as an image display device, outlines extending, connecting outlines and painting or sweeping over the inside or outside of the outlines.

The memory function of the mask manufacturing station 4 includes a memory block, which the signals ^ r at least two color-separated Plates can then save if the above mentioned

■ it

Chromakey technique for extracting outlines as described below is to be used; the data stored in this "memory block" can be displayed on an image display device 8 'can be reproduced in color as an uncompressed image.

The following is the way of making a photographic mask according to the invention described in detail will. .._. '"" ..

On the image display device 8, the entire image in appropriately compressed ("compressed") manner from the color separation image data reproduced at least one color stored in memory 1.

In the memory 17, there is written the image data which is corrected for color, shading gradation, etc. or not be corrected ", and which are recorded by means of a color scanner or the like. The storage capacity is determined according to the maximum value of the rendering size of a particular

__ ■ -JlO-. r '

Image. For example, if the number of exposure scan lines of the printing plate to be recorded is the size of 20 χ 30 cm, 200 lines / cm (500 lines / inch), so the storage capacity can be 4k χ βΚ = 24m byte.

One can also increase the efficiency of making photographic masks by having a plurality of such memories switched in parallel and these alternately to produce photographic Masks used.

The outline of the image reproduced on the image reproduction device 8 is then roughly traced by means of a slide of a digitizer 5, while the point image corresponding to the slide is viewed, which is reproduced on a monitor over the compressed image on the image reproduction device the position of the slide (cursor) is correctly written into the memory of a central ^{processing unit 3 r} (CPU = Central Processing.Unit) as approximate data of the desired outline.

The central unit 3 also converts the approximate data the outline so that these correspond to the addresses of the memory 1 correspond.

If an existing outline is detected, part of the reproduced image, which is used as a pixel on the image Reproduction device 8 corresponds to reproduced image, read out, for example from a C disk memory; the one with the image signal for a cyan plate is described; then it is stored in the mask manufacturing station 4.

The partial image is selected so that it has a part of the approximate outline data approximately at its center. The density of each pixel contained in a partial image area selected such that

COPY]

- M-

it contains the approximate outline and its surroundings, becomes with the average density of all pixels in it partial mapping area, with pixels identified as either H or L, depending on the result of comparison.

Each partial image area normally becomes smaller than the entire frame of the image display device 8; this however, it does not have to be that way. Such a determination can be conveniently carried out as an arithmetic method in the central unit 3. The partial imaging area is intermittently along the outline 9 of FIG Approximate data are shifted, overlapping the neighboring data, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The above mentioned Determination is carried out on every pixel within the partial mapping area at every location.

If H or L is determined for each of the pixels surrounding the outline of the approximate data in the partial mapping area, the boundary between H and L is traced; the coordinates falling into such a boundary line are obtained as ^x outline] line data of the relevant partial imaging area.

A further partial mapping area is then selected in such a way that the adjacent approximate outline data fall at least approximately in the center thereof, and that the outline data are obtained with respect to this partial mapping area.

Since the approximate outline data are successively recorded or traced by repeating the above-described procedure, all of the outline data temporarily stored in a memory 6 for the purpose of recording ¹ : are obtained.

BAD ORfGfNAL J

Ii

If it is difficult, the outline data automatically by taking the 'outline data' accordingly the density value of each pixel, because namely the difference in brightness of the background and / or the one to be recorded Image is too small, for example on the cyan plate, in this way the signals for magenta, yellow or any other separating plate can be read out from memory 1. In this way it becomes possible to increase the possibility of automatically extracting outline data. ·

The chromakey technique mentioned above can also be used when extracting such outline data. -

In this case, the outline data is obtained by reading it out the density values of cyan, magenta and yellow plates the corresponding addresses of the memory 1 for each of the pixels, taking the density values of cyan, magenta and yellow as color for each of these pixels compares with each other, divides the pixels into those that correspond to a predetermined color phase, and into those who do not, and by tracing or sensing the boundaries between these two types of pixels, so that the coordinate values corresponding to these limits or limit lines or limit values can be extracted.

The outline data extracted in this way for all the partial mapping areas are selected so that that some of the pixels covered by the adjacent partial image areas are detected.

Therefore, the start point and end point of the outline data overlap two adjacent partial imaging areas; these are slightly or completely shifted from one another.

If the start point and end point of the outline data of two partial imaging areas overlap, the outline data one of the two adjacent oartielle

BATH ORIGINAL ^ ₈ *

COPY]

Use mapping areas as final outline data without the need to perform a joining process.

But if the start point and end point of the outline data ^{J of} two adjacent partial mapping areas lie

relatively close to each other, as shown in Fig. 6 (a), a fertilization process must be carried out. Therefore, the final outline data is obtained by measuring the distance between the coordinate point groups (in Fig. 3 (a denoted by 0) is determined, and that one detects the coordinate point pair (shown in Fig. 3 (a)) which has the minimum distance, and finally connects these coordinate points to one another.

Even if the start point and end point of the outline data of adjacent partial mapping areas are far ■ are separated from each other, as shown in Fig. 3 (b) is ,, so the connection process can be carried out.

The final coordinate data can be obtained by connecting coordinate points R and S, in particular by detecting a coordinate point R which lies close to a J ^ coordinate point Q "at which the relevant partial" The mapping area and the outline of the approximate data intersect and which belongs to that coordinate point group of the "outline data" extracted from the previous partial "mapping area and which are directed essentially along the direction of the outline of the approximate data; Furthermore, a coordinate point S is detected which is fairly close to the coordinate point P at which the preceding partial mapping area and the outline of the approximate data intersect, and which belongs to the coordinate point group of the outline data extracted from the partial mapping area concerned 'and essentially along the direction of the outline of the

ro-

approximate data is directed; _s Furthermore, the distance d should be sufficiently small between these coordinate points R and S.

Any omission or error of the outline data leaves correct yourself manually by using the outline · »data on the image reproduction device 8 together with the corresponding partial image for the purpose of visual observation whenever the outline data is extracted from each partial map area; man can then move on to the next partial image area after all necessary manual correction has been made, or immediately afterwards, if no correction has been made.

Is an image that is to be extracted in the background immersed in that the outline cannot be determined even if a cyan, magenta and yellow plate is used, the outline data can usually be neither extract by the aforementioned density determination method nor by the Chromakey method. It is therefore often impossible to connect outline data by performing the connecting process. Especially by reading out the entire, drawn out and written in memory 5 outline data and by feeding them into the central unit 3 for the purpose of analyzing? can be omitted capture; the image of the cyan plate or the multicolor image of the coordinate position that corresponds to the omission, as well as the Outlines of the area which is adjacent to the missing point are shown on the image display device 8 reproduced. The position is entered by scanning the curve that corresponds to the fault location (the Position of omission), by means of a slider (cursor) attached to the digitizer, and that this is reproduced on the image display device. The coordinate data of the defect or omission point will be

Il

COPY i

' / ib.

added and inserted until the omission correction is carried out. The correction process can be carried out for all omissions or flaws in the outline data.

Then the entire image becomes the final outline data corresponds, reproduced on the image display device 8 and can be viewed and checked visually there.

Set when extracting the outline and when extracting If the outline data detects an error, the coordinate point of the outline data which is the desired one can be determined Closest to the point by moving the slider attached to the digitizer 5 and typing the signal from the slide to the central unit 3, when the slider input position displayed on the image display device 8 has a predetermined value im Overall picture has achieved. Both the original image in the vicinity of the recorded coordinate point and the outline image, accordingly the outline data, are displayed on the image display device 8 reproduced. The correction of this particular point can therefore be carried out in the same way as the one described above Perform correction process for resolutions.

When the closed outline of the image corresponding to the desired photographic mask is extracted, the At the photographic mask making station 4, sweep over the mask by having those pixels inside or outside the contour line can be distinguished by means of a signal, for example with a high level signal "H" or a low level signal "L" etc.

An example of such a sweeping process is shown in Fig. 4a to 4c reproduced.

12th

BATH ORIGINAL

Al

After the. closed outline is extracted, a pixel becomes clearly inside or outside the outline located, denoted either by L- or H, as in Fig.-4a shown. Is it just about the distinction? between inside and outside of the outline, and there is no need to know whether the inside is H or L, so the process can be started from an arbitrary starting point start off without the. There is a need for a precise determination. Then the pixels are sequential taken along the horizontal direction until the outline is reached. These pixels are then with the same Labeled H or L like the one initially selected. If an outline is crossed, it is reversed the designation by exchanging H for L or L for H um, as shown in Fig. 4b, until the next outline is crossed or one of the ends of the picture frame has been reached.

If the designation of a horizontal line is completed with H and / or L, the pixels are recorded one after the other along a vertical line, from each pixel on the aforementioned horizontal line, and given the same designation H or L, depending on the designation of the first pixel on the horizontal line until an outline that lies above or below is reached . .

This process is repeated until each vertical line runs to the top and bottom of the picture frame.

The entire picture frame can thus be identified with numerous K and L describe.

. η-

In the method described above, too, it is desirable the result by monitoring the entire image check.

The data for the painted or brushed over photographic Masks are finally written into the storage device .6 for the purpose of recording.

The aforementioned photographic imaging station which; is used exclusively for cutting out a photographic mask, can also be used in a layout system for the purpose of re-■

given reproduced images are used, according to t

a plurality of original images that are on a single!

Sheet of an output film at a certain magnification \

and at a desired arrangement. \ ":

In this case, for example, the following two cases are conceivable. A case is that in which a separating station is applied to a layout system exclusively for cutting out a photographic mask; the other is _N that case in which the station for producing photo- "· - .. 'graphic masks according to the invention is included in a layout station ι.; · ^{: w} (which performs the functions of image composition,. ·' the additive correction, etc.).

"The block diagram shown in Fig. 5 shows an

"• iführungsbeispiel of the latter or a layout system, '- ■ wherein a photographic mask manufacturing station of the invention is applied according to.'.

One recognizes in FIG. 5 a magnetic disk device 10, "In which a digital image signal corresponding to a plurality of original images is written as a color plate signal

'"corresponding to the printing colors for Y, M, C and K after shooting the color correction, the gradation correction, etc. and after

'enlarging by a certain factor. Furthermore one recognizes

14th

a%) ääii »iVt'-i.ÄJ» ^^

an interface 11, a central processing unit (CPU = Central Processing Unit) 12, for example from a microcomputer can exist, which is equipped with a corresponding process program. There is also a magnetic disk storage 13 provided, in which the image signal finally- is inscribed after it is layout processed. A digitizer tablet 14 is also shown, a Control circuit 15 for an image reproduction device 1.6 such as a CRT, and a photographic mask making station 17, whose functions are those of the aforesaid Sation correspond. . ·

In this layout system, a series of finished dimensions are set up and a user area is left free in the magnetic storage device 1J> . The designated dimensions are precisely assigned to all image data which correspond to each of the original images, in accordance with an initially defined layout, using the digitizer tablet 14. The image data which are ultimately to be layout processed are written to the corresponding addresses of the magnetic disk device 19, as soon as the central unit has made the necessary transformations of the coordinates into the specific positions for the finish.

At this point it is also necessary to -Create formation data that of the desired photographic Mask by means of the photographic mask-making device 17 and each time at one Layout process such as trimming. You can also read out the image data that corresponds to the desired photographic data Correspond to masks made in advance by the photographic mask making station 17., was made from a storage device not shown in the illustrations, and this for a given case use.

- "". ■ 15

BAD ORIGINAL g

'copy j

If all the image data required for the finish have been written into the magnetic disk memory IJ> , the image data are written into suitable locations in the areas of the magnetic disk memory IJ, corresponding to the dimensions of the finish at the scan line density at the time of exposure, at selected dimensions and at selected locations .

■ •• Are then images on photographic films or the like is released, the reproduction image will be in a desired layout and with a desired enlargement factor, reproduced quite simply by outputting the image data written in the magnetic disk memory. .

The inventive method can not only with one such a layout system, but also with a simple layout scanner, a so-called composing scanner. It Reference is made to US Pat. No. 4,327,587 which has such Composing scanner.

Sin composing scanner detects the positional deviation of a Scanning head which photoelectrically scans an original image, and a reproducing head for recording a reproduction image such as a drum-type scanner in 3reference to the position of the playback head, which is moved at constant speed in a second scanning direction, to the starting points of the photoelectric scanning of the original image or to the reproduction of the reproduction image. Depending on the positional deviations found in this way and the magnification of each reproduced image the composing scanner reproduces the desired image at a desired magnification in the desired positions RealzeiYoasis. The method according to the invention can also be used apply to such devices.

.-so.

In particular, image data can be prepared in advance, which correspond to a photographic mask, the necessary parts of which are painted out, brushed out according to the invention or are dotted; this data can be entered into a memory and an image signal can be controlled by means of a Scanning head is read out in accordance with the imaging data in accordance with the pho.tographic mask. Here it is possible to reproduce a reproduction image that is in a specific desired configuration at a certain magnification and is trimmed in a desired arrangement.

It will be understood that the method according to the invention can also be applied to the photographic recording of a photographic Mask image can be used as a device for the exclusive production of a photographic mask, as well as with a separate image processing system as described above by writing the image data a photographic mask into a memory in advance.

As described above, the work efficiency is very high because the operator is by no means exactly an existing one Outline has to follow when it is the approximate outline specified along the actual outline. Tracing the approximate outline is easy perform without tiring the operator. Since the operator only the necessary You only need to enter data on a dialog basis, taking into account only that part of the work that is human If judgment requires, then the work of processing can be automated quite substantially; in this way photographic masks can be produced effectively and at short notice.

Since a photographic mask thus produced has the same order of magnitude of resolution as a color scanner, and there

; ■; '■ -. . ■ · ■ - ·. ' 17th

iAD OHlGlNAL A

' COPVj

...... 3312ObU

Yf

also the extraction of an outline with either the Density determination method or with the chromakey method, there are a number of advantages. One of them is to use an efficient method of determination depending on the configuration of the image defining the outline, etc.

28.Oj. .1983
DrW / MJ:. :: ·

BATH ORIGINAL

Claims (1)

PATENT CLAIMS Method of making a photograph! See mask, characterized by the following process steps: (a) data corresponding to an original image is stored in a memory; (b) the original image is' on a playback device (display) reproduced; . (c) an outline of the original image reproduced in the reproducing apparatus is shown in Shape of electrical data approximated or named; (d) at least one partial imaging area is defined along the approximate outline, see above that the approximate outline is at least in . "; essential in the middle part of the partial Mapping area falls; and (e) the desired outline is extracted by that one of the color separation mapping types of each pixel in the partial mapping area with ■ an average value of the Parbseparation image data compares all pixels in the partial mapping area. . " 2. Process for the production of a photographic mask, characterized by the following process steps: (a) data corresponding to an original image is stored in a memory; (b) the original image is reproduced on a display device; ^y (c) an outline of the original image reproduced on the reproduction device is approximately designated in the form of electrical data or designated; - - (d) on the approximate outline becomes at least. j. a partial mapping area is defined in such a way that that the approximate outline line is essentially in. " the middle part of the partial imaging area falls; and (e) A desired outline is extracted by taking the three color map data of each Compares pixels in the partial image area with the three Parb image data of a certain color phase. 3. "Process for making a photographic mask, "characterized by the following process steps: (a) Data corresponding to an original image is stored in a memory; (b) the original image is made on a playback device (display) reproduced; (c) an outline of the original image reproduced on the reproducing device is given in the form " electrical data approximately reproduced (designated); (d) At least one partial imaging area becomes like this along the approximate outline defines that the approximate outline is essentially falls in the central part of one of the partial image areas; and (e) A desired outline is extracted by selectively selecting either the color separation map data of each pixel in the partial mapping area with an average value of the color separation mapping data of all pixels in the partial mapping area, or the three color mapping data of each pixel in the partial Image area with the three color image data of a certain color phase. 4 .. A method for producing a photographic mask • according to claim j5 / characterized in that both the the data corresponding to the original image and the data corresponding to the approximate outline are digital Values are, and that the approximate outline is marked by hand .. · with the help of a digitizer tablet. • 5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that "" "the partial imaging areas are defined in such a way that two partial imaging areas adjacent to one another have some overlap. 6. The method according to claim 5> characterized in that the Comparison method by designating each of the ^v pixels with:. either a high level signal or a low level signal is made. 7.- The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the contour lines identified in each of the partial image areas are connected to the contour line shown in the next partial mapping areas is defined whenever possible, and that in the event of a deviation a supplementary outline between the outlines of two adjacent partial imaging areas is identified by having two pixels together 4th connects, which lie on respective outlines, which have the shortest mutual distance of all combinations of two pixels lying on respective outlines. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the lack of outline identification due to the 'influence of an operator "who operates a digitizer, which is connected to a memory storing the outline data, on a Playback device (display) that shows the overall picture. '- ■''. 9 «Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the Painting over or painting over process by selecting one Point is initiated that then a transition is made in the horizontal direction to the next pixels and .von every pixel on the horizontal line is passed to the next pixels on the vertical lines, and that each of the pixels in the entire picture frame is painted, depending on the designation of the pixels either with high level or low level. 03/28/1983
DrW / MJ COPY