EP0448664A1

EP0448664A1 - Apparatus for inputting colour images such as transparencies, video pictures, objects, wirephotos and texts for integrating a text and a colour image

Info

Publication number: EP0448664A1
Application number: EP19900914498
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claus Erwin Roettger
Original assignee: ITI INTEGRATION TEXTE ET IMAGE SA
Current assignee: ITI INTEGRATION TEXTE ET IMAGE SA
Priority date: 1989-10-13
Filing date: 1990-10-11
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Also published as: WO1991006170A1

Abstract

Elle comprend des dispositifs (1, 2, 3) nécessaires à la saisie des images, une station de travail intelligente (4) et une interface de gestion (ITI) comprenant un logiciel. Le logiciel est conçu pour gérer et diriger interactivement les éléments saisis vers et à travers les interfaces des machines (PTT, MB, STC, ...) prévues pour la réalisation des supports destinés à l'industrie des arts graphiques, notamment pour la reproduction en polychromie.It includes devices (1, 2, 3) necessary for capturing images, an intelligent workstation (4) and a management interface (ITI) comprising software. The software is designed to manage and interactively direct the elements entered to and through the machine interfaces (PTT, MB, STC, ...) intended for the production of media intended for the graphic arts industry, in particular for reproduction in polychromy.

Description

Installation for color capture of images, such as slides, video images, objects, telephoto and text intended for the integration of text and color image.

The present invention relates to an installation for color capture of images, such as slides, video images, objects, telephoto, and of texts intended for the integration of text and color image for the graphic arts industry, located upstream of the machines arranged for the production of supports intended for use by said graphic industry for reproduction in polychromy.

The graphic arts industry has been one of the branches which has undergone a profound technological transformation in recent decades, particularly in the sector dealing with the publication of texts. We will cite as a reminder that in 1967 we went from lead technique to photocomposition using cathode ray tubes and by that we saw the creation of different absolutely new word processing facilities. In 1976, we went from photocomposition to cathode ray tubes (CRT) to the laser technique. In 1980, we went from "flashing" by column to "flashing" of an entire page. In 1982 we see the start of desktop publishing

(PAO), while in 1985 we saw the first text and image integration in black and white and in 1988 we saw text and image integration in color using expensive and bulky installations. In

1989, integration of text and color image using a language called Postscript and desktop publishing. This language is globally accepted for desktop publishing. His the only disadvantage is its speed of execution. Indeed, an A4 page of graphic text may require up to 45 minutes of "flashing". Photocomposers using Postscript are devices that are slow even for text, and large, high-resolution color images take much longer. For example, an A4 page requires around 2 hours of "flashing" for separation in four colors, either in cyan, magenta, yellow, black. It is indeed necessary to print a color image in four colors to release four separate films which are subsequently used for the reproduction in four colors of said image. "Flashing" consists in capturing the image and / or the text to be reproduced and then carrying out the separation into several films according to the number of colors used (for example 4 for the printing in four colors) in order to allow thereafter the printing on suitable machines.

The big manufacturers of machines intended for the graphic industry remain faithful to their own page description language and do not open themselves very much to the Postscript language because of the aforementioned drawbacks. There are a few expensive interfaces on the market, as well as programs that allow the connection of a foreign language to said machine, this being especially valid for simple texts and graphics. The big manufacturers of machines for the graphic industry offer of course installations allowing the capture of images such as drum scanners or scanners for slides, but which are extremely bulky and expensive since they are intended for a reproduction of very high quality, including high resolution and the use of multiple colors. Nevertheless, a large part of the graphic arts industry reproduces images and texts either on "newspaper" quality paper, that is to say a paper with a rough surface, or "periodic" quality using a paper with a surface smooth, either a higher "periodic" quality or a "magazine" quality, the surface of the paper being absolutely smooth and shiny, and in any case in the first two cases, the use of expensive and bulky devices such as the scanner drum or dia scanner for desktop publishing is not justified especially since for a newspaper or periodical, it is necessary to provide at least one backup installation in order to be able to get out the newspaper and periodical on time or on the scheduled day even in the event of a failure of the installation. In these two cases, the four-color printing is sufficient.

The applicant taking advantage of the revolution in the world of microelectronics and microprocessors, as well as the possibilities of memory expansion, allowing to work with 24 or 32 bits instead of traditional 8 bits, offers an installation allowing quickly and in a way economical to capture images and text in color and manage the integration of text and image through the various machines with their interfaces designed to produce the supports intended for reproduction in polychromy.

The installation according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises means for capturing color images and / or slides and / or video images and / or objects and / or telephoto and text, from at least one smart workstation, commonly called a personal computer, and a management interface comprising software designed to manage and direct interactively, on the one hand, the elements entered to and through the interfaces of said machine or machines and, on the other hand, the various interfaces allowing the access to said machines.

The advantages of this installation are essentially the fact that it is made up of standard and relatively inexpensive devices and software making it possible to interactively manage and direct the elements entered through the various machines as well as their interfaces. .

Whatever machine is downstream of the installation according to the invention, the management software is the same. However, modules specific to the downstream machine and its interfaces must also be introduced in the management software.

This installation according to an embodiment of the invention is intended to be arranged upstream of a raster image processor, for example an IP 100 machine (registered trademark) of the German firm Dr HELL or else for the production of a tape magnetic on which the various signals are recorded, allowing subsequently a machine of the aforementioned IP 100 type to perform the same work as if it were connected directly to the installation according to the invention.

According to another embodiment, the installation is intended to be arranged upstream of a color processing system of the ChromaCom type (registered trademark) also from the firm Dr HELL or for recording signals suitable on a magnetic strip which can then control the aforementioned machine in the same way as if the installation is directly connected to the ChromaCom machine.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the installation makes it possible to output a color proof on a color photocopying device such as the CLC (registered trademark) of the company CANON allowing, before removing the supports intended for printing in full color for example on an IP 100 or ChromaCom machine to have a color proof corresponding to the image that will be obtained on the final paper supports (newspaper, periodical ...). This test makes it possible to prejudge the quality of the image and to see if it is necessary to make certain adjustments before the various films (4 if it is a four-color process), are produced by a chromacrom or IP 100 installation or any similar installation.

The software used to manage the information entered and in particular allowing its processing with the machines and the various interfaces of said machines located downstream has been designated by its author. by the letters I T I, this name not being definitive, but it will be repeated later in the description. Said program is described in the pages at the end of this description numbered la to 9a.

It is obvious that to save time, it is possible to install several installations in accordance with the invention upstream of a machine or a group of machines which will be identified by corresponding numbers allowing the management software (IT I) manage and direct information to and through the machine provided.

Several embodiments of the present invention will be described using the accompanying drawing showing several embodiments according to the invention, the list not being exhaustive.

In FIGS. 1 to 6, we have represented a diagram of an installation according to the invention controlling a raster image processor and in particular an IP 100 (registered trademark) through different interfaces and different situations which will be described in detail by the FIGS. 1a to 6a correspond to the same situation except that the control signals are recorded on a magnetic tape in order subsequently to control or defer an image processor of the IP 100 type (registered trademark).

FIG. 7 shows an arrangement allowing the sending of a command to a raster image processor such as the IP 100 (registered trademark).

Figures 8 to 12 show a diagram of an installation according to the invention for controlling a color processing system of the ChromaCom (registered trademark) type through different interfaces and for different works, while Figures 8a to 12a represent similar installations allowing the control signals to be recorded on magnetic tape to subsequently order a delayed installation of the ChromaCom type (registered trademark).

Figures 13 to 16 show a diagram of an installation for controlling a photocopier CLC type color (registered trademark of CANON) for the output of a test through the different interfaces and for different jobs.

FIG. 17 represents a diagram of an installation allowing the conversion of the PICT language into language

TIFF.

Finally, figure 18 is a synthesis of all figures l to 17.

We will now describe the part common to all the installations shown in FIGS. 1 to 18 and we will not return to the description of these elements below.

In FIG. 1, we have schematically represented three image capture devices, the first device designated by 1, is a camera making it possible to capture the image of a three-dimensional object such as for example a video camera and to transmit it to the station working 4, which can be any other personal computer (PC-AT), the applicant has successfully tested with a MACINTOSH IIx device, the second is a slide scanner designated by 2, and the third is a photo scanner or images located on a flexible flat support designated by 3, all of these devices being able to capture color images. These images are sent to the workstation 4 to be viewed and to allow us to see whether the image must be retouched before further processing or whether as it is captured can be used. In the rectangle which is located after workstation 4, we have represented the software which we will call ITI and which precisely makes it possible to manage the information received from different devices 1, or 2, or 3 or any other equivalent device, inside the work station 4 and thereafter, depending on the machines which are downstream of the work station 4, allows the conversion of the data in the different languages used depending on the interfaces available. In Figure 1 downstream is a PIT (IP 100) raster image processor. In this case it is a question of processing a black and white image or a logo or vignette commonly called in the trade of graphic arts, and this through an IPLL interface (IP 100 RUNLENGTH-CODE) which is a software allowing to quickly scan an image or logo to highlight only the numbers representing the successive white and black spaces on each scan line. Of course an equivalent interface for another machine can be provided at this location. Through this IPLL interface the information on the black and white image comes out and it passes through another interface called DISIC (IP 100 PAGE LAYOUT FILE) or equivalent allowing to determine the layout of the information previously received. This information then passes through another interface called JOB (IP 100 JOB FILE) which provides an interface for distinguishing whether the information received is text or an image and for performing the separation. This information is then introduced into the machine located downstream through the standard interface specific to IP 100, ie the GP IB (GENERAL PURPOSE INTEFACE BUS) allowing to obtain at the output of the machine located downstream the or the films corresponding to the information entered upstream.

It is obvious that the various interfaces designated here are specific to the IP 100 machine (registered trademark) of Dr HELL and for an equivalent machine of another manufacturer, use the interfaces provided and authorized by the two manufacturers. The different modules for controlling these interfaces through the management software (DISIC) must be developed for each particular case.

In the figure the same operations are carried out except that after the information has been processed by the DISIC interface it is recorded through a suitable interface M on a magnetic tape recorder MB to be subsequently supplied to a terminal provided for this purpose of a machine of the IP 100 type and obtain the same result offline, obtained directly in FIG. 1.

In Figure 2 we have a similar configuration except that this time it is a text which is entered at workstation 4 and which after passing through the DISIC interface is transformed into written text in DISIC and goes through the same JOB and GPIB interfaces in Figure 1 to exit on a PIT (raster image processor) machine of the IP 100 type.

In FIG. 2a, a path similar to that of FIG. 2 is obtained except that the information is recorded through an interface M on a magnetic tape recorder MB to be used offline and to control a PIT machine and to obtain the same result as 'live on figure 2.

In FIG. 3, a similar installation for processing an image through a TIFF IMAGE FILE FORMAT interface for processing, mainly, a black and white image with before going through the usual interfaces DISIC, JOB and GPIB creation of an interface similar to IPLL which will be called RC (RUNLENGTH-CODE) also intended to be released on a PIT machine.

In FIG. 3a we have, as in FIGS. 1a and 2a, the recording of the signals similar to those of FIG. 3 on a magnetic tape through an adequate interface M.

In FIG. 4, the installation shows processing of the images in gray, an interface called TIFF 4 which has been developed by the applicant starting from the known TIFF interface allows the separation of the colors and subsequently through the interfaces as before. DISIC, JOB, and GPIB obtaining the desired support through a PIT machine.

In FIG. 4a, we have an arrangement similar to that of FIG. 4, but for the production of a magnetic tape.

In FIG. 5, an installation similar to that of FIG. 4 is shown, except that the first interface located downstream from the installation according to the invention is an interface known worldwide as TIFF.

In FIG. 5a, we have, for a configuration similar to FIG. 51, recording on a magnetic tape.

In FIG. 6, a similar installation allows, through the TIFF interface, to process a color image via the usual DISIC, JOB, and GPIB interfaces, to enter a PIT machine, but this time, an additional interface is required. than we're going to call CMYK allowing color separation.

In FIG. 6a, we have a configuration similar to that of FIG. 6 for recording the signals on a magnetic tape.

In FIG. 7, we have represented the case where a simple command (MD) will be sent to the machine located downstream and in this case, it suffices to pass through the interfaces JOB, GPIB for the conversion of the command into language understood by the downstream PIT machine. This possibility allows for an interactive exchange of information between the installation according to the invention and the machine located downstream, always through and thanks to the MISIC.

In FIG. 8, we have treated, in a manner analogous to the preceding figures, the information and images captured by the installation according to the invention in order to exit the supports through a color processing system and more precisely a system of the ChromaCom type (registered trademark ). In this case, the image captured in black and white passes through a TIFF type interface before passing through the CR interface analogous to the IPLL interface which follows and then through a CC interface (from CHROMACOM) followed a GPIB interface for controlling the machine located upstream which will be called STC (Color Processing System) which in the present case is as we said previously a ChromaCom machine from Dr HELL.

In Figure 8a, we have the same configuration as Figure 8 except that the GP interface IB is replaced by an interface M making it possible to store the signals on a magnetic tape to control a machine of the STC type offline.

In figure 9, we have an installation allowing to process a color image through a TIFF interface, a CMYK interface allowing the separation of colors and the CC and G B I B interfaces which are specific to the chosen STC machine, namely ChromaCom.

In Figure 9a, we have the same configuration as Figure 9, except that the information is not sent directly to an STC machine, but through an interface M in an MB recorder for recording on a magnetic tape as in other cases.

In Figure 10, we have the processing of a gray image through the TIFF 4 type interface and always through the CC and G B I B interfaces of an STC machine.

In Figure 10a, we have, as before, the recording of the signals from the previous situation on a magnetic tape.

In FIG. 11, we have the processing through the IPLL interface of black and white information which through the interfaces CC and G P I B is sent in an STC machine.

In FIG. 11a, the information processed through the IPLL interface is recorded on a magnetic tape as before. In FIG. 12, through the TIFF interface, a gray image is processed to be sent through the CC and GPIB interfaces to an STC machine.

In FIG. 12a, the same information instead of being sent directly to the STC machine is stored on a magnetic tape.

In FIG. 13, the machine located downstream from the installation according to the invention is a color photocopier and in particular the CLC from CANON. This installation makes it possible to obtain, before the films are released on an STC or PIT type installation, a test allowing any retouching or layout to be carried out before releasing the films for printing.

In the case of FIG. 13, the information entered in black and white is processed through a TIFF interface through the CLC interface specific to the CLC machine from CANON and a GPIB interface making it possible to obtain the desired image.

In Figure 14, through the TIFF interface, a gray image is processed, while in Figure 15, still through a TIFF interface, a color image is processed and this time a CMYK color separation interface is planned.

In FIG. 16, a gray image is processed through the TIFF 4 interface which is analogous to the well-known TIFF interface, except that the latter is used especially for gray.

In figure 17, we have represented an installation allowing the conversion of information passing through a PICT interface (MACINTOSH PICTURE FILE) to information understandable by a TIFF interface regardless of the type of black and white, gray or color information.

Finally, in FIG. 18 we have represented a synthesis of FIGS. 1 to 17 showing the possibilities of using the installation according to the present invention.

Claims

1. Installation for color capture of images, such as slides, video images, telephoto, objects and texts intended for text and color image integration for the graphic arts industry, located upstream of the machines arranged for the production of supports intended for use by said graphic industry for reproduction in polychromy, characterized in that it comprises means for capturing color images and / or slides and / or video images and / or objects and / or telephoto and text, of at least one intelligent workstation commonly called a personal computer and a management interface comprising software designed to manage and interactively direct the elements entered on the one hand to and through the interfaces of said machine or machines and, on the other hand, the different interfaces allowing access to said machines.

2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said machine is a raster image processor.

3. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said machine is a recorder for the transcription on magnetic tape of the signals making it possible to control and manage or defer a raster image processor.

4. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said machine is a color processing system.

5. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said machine is a recorder on magnetic tapes of signals intended to manage and control or defer a color processing system.

6. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said machine is a color photocopier intended mainly for the production of a color copy as a proof before the output of supports intended for reproduction in polychromy, through a system color processing or a raster image processor.