GB2233188A - Generating picture effects in telecine apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A soft focus effect is described. The effect can be selected for whole scenes or for frames or frame portions, to give a range of effects which can be used to improve picture quality or for artistic effect. The soft focus effect is achieved by varying the spot size in a flying spot telecine. <IMAGE>

Description

GENERATING PICTURE EFFECTS IN VIDEO SIGNALS This application is divided out of application 8725621 published under the number 2200508.

The present invention relates to the generation of picture effects in video signals, especially in video signals from telecine apparatus. The invention also relates to apparatus for generating the effects.

There is a constant search in the field of television for new effects which can be used to aesthetically enhance television pictures, either by improving their actual or perceived quality or by modifying the pictures for artistic reasons.

One method of improving picture quality is to apply a technique known as aperture correction to the video signals. Video signals are generated by scanning an image to take samples which have a finite size determined bv the dimensions of the apparatus used.

Aperture correction techniques seek to correct for the finite size of the s=rDies, to create the video signal which would have resulted from a smaller, preferably infinitesimally small sample size.

Aperture correction is used, for instance, in telecine apparatus.

A telecine is a known piece of equipment which is designed to produce TELEvision signals from CINEmatographic film, and is commonly used by television stations and the like to provide television signals from feature films or from news material recorded on film.

There are basically three known types of telecine, namely flying spot, camera tube, ard solid state array (usually linear array) telecines. Th a flying spot telecine, the film runs between a cathode ray tube operating as a light source and a simple lightsensitive detector. The cathode av tuce is arranges to display a single spot of of light which follows a raster such as to scan the film with the desired scan pattern, and the detector output thus forms the basis of a television signal. The less-common camera tube type is in a sense the converse of this, as the whole film frame is illuminated by a source, opposed to which is a camera tube which operates with an appropriate scanning raster but otherwise like any other television camera to provide a scanned output. So far as solid state array types are concerned, only linear array types are on the market and in these the film runs between a light source and a linear semiconductor light sensor arranged across the film path on the other side of the film. Typically the sensor will have 1024 individual elements or cells.Thus one line is sensed at a time, and the array is emptied as though it were a shift register to provide a signal representing one line. Two-dimensional arrays can be foreseen in which more than one line might be available simultaneously.

The size of the image sartles used to generate the video signals are determined by the size of the scanning spot or the size of the sensor cells. Aperture correction is used to correct for these finite sizes. A correction signal is derived by sampling the video signal before and after a portion representing a detail to be enhanced, and the correction signal is then added to the original video slcnal at that portion.Correction is normally applied in both the horizontal and vertIcal directions, that is by sapling the picture to either side of the detail (horizontal correction) and above and below the detail (vertical correction).

It was an object of the invention to enable video signals from a telecine to be processed to create effects other than aperture correction, and to provide these effects in ways which permit of pre-programming by a system such as that described bellow.

in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a flying spot telecine to produce a video signal representing an image on a transparent film portion, the method including supplying a focus waveform to control the size of the spot, characterised in that the focus waveform is such as to cause the spot size to increase during at least part of its scan, to defocus at least a portion of said image.

The invention further provides a flying spot telecine comprising : (a) a cathode ray tube operable to produce a scanning electron beam; (b) focussing means for controlling the size of said spot produced by said beam; (c) defocussing means operable to cause said focussing means to increase said spot size at selectable positions of said spot.

Thus the spot size is controlled and can be enlarged to give soft focus effects which can be pre-programmed.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a telecine incorporating aperture correction circuitry; Ficure 2 is a schematic diagram of a simple known aperture correction circuit; Fizzes 3(a!, 3(b), 4(a) and 4(b) show signals at various points In the circuit of Figure 2, for different inputs and for different lengths of delay provided by the circuit; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an aperture correction circuit for use in the apparatus of the invention; Fire 6 is a schematic diagram--of -part of a telecine having means for generating soft focus effects;; Fioure 7(a) shows a CRT screen image with pincushion distortion; Fioures 7(b) and 7(c) show means for correcting pincushion distortion, and an over-corrected raster; Figure 8 shows a non-rectangular raster on a CRT screen; Ficure 9 shows a T.V. image produced by scanning a film with the raster of Figure 8; Ficure 10 shows the telecine of Figure 1 modified for producing various programmable special effects; Ficure 11 is a block schematic diagram of a telecine incorporating a pre-programming system; Figure 12 is a schematic circuit diagram of one channel in the pre-programmming system of the apparatus of Figure 11; ; Figure 13 is a flow chart illustrating the main operation sea~ence oz the microprocessor in Figure 12; Figure 14 is a flow chart illustrating the microprocessor operation in response to a first interrupt IRQ indicating the presence of a vertical interval in the video signal; and Figure 15 is a flow chart illustrating the microprocessor operation in response to a second interrupt NMI indicating the reception of a vertical interval count pulse.

Figure 1 is a block schematic diagram of a flying spot telecine. A film 10 is illuminated by a spot on the screen of a cathode ray tube 12 (CRT). Drive circuitry 14 causes the spot to scan a raster on the screen, thereby scanning the image on the film.

After passing through the film, the light from the spot is detected by photomultipliers 16. A telecine for colour film will consist of three photo-multipliers for detecting, respectively, the red, blue and green components of the image.

The film image is scanned horizontally by the spot, that is across the width of the film, and a line at a time. Therefore, the elctrical output from the photomultipliers represents a raw line sequential video signal. The raw video signal is processed by several circuits 18, 20, 22 to put it into a standard format. These circuits include a horizontal and vertical aperture correction circuit 20 and a picture store 22 which converts the signal to an interlaced signal.

Figure 2 shows a known aperture correction circuit 30. The circuit 30 has a signal input 32 for receiving a video signal which is provided at a signal output 34 after aperture correction. The input signal is passed through two delay circuits 36, 38 connected in series, before being applied to one input of a two-input adder circuit 40. The other input of the adder circuit 40 is supplied with the input signal without delay.

The output of the adder circuit 40 passes through an attenuator 42 which divides the signal by a factor of two. The output signal (5) from the attenuator 42 is then passed to a subtracçing circuit 43 where it is subtracted from the signal (2) which appears at the output of the delay circuit 36. The output (6) from the subtracting circuit 43 forms the correction signal. The amplitude or amount of the correction applied K is controlled by a variable attenuator 44 which receives the correction signal 5 ~~~m" 5 ftracting c-,-t 43.The output signal from the attenuator 44 is passed to a second adder 46 where it is combined with the output from the first delay circuit 36 to give a corrected signal (7).

The effect of the delay circuits 36, 38 is that the correction signal is formed from samples of the uncorrected input signal taken at points ahead of and behind the reference point to be corrected, which is the output of the delay circuit 36.

Figures 3(a) and 4(a) show the output signal at 34 resulting from two possible input signals, and various signals which appear at intermediate points in the circuit 30. Figures 3(a) and 4(a) are drawn on the assumption that the delays provided by the circuits 36, 38 are equal and relatively short. Figures 3(b) and 4(b) show equivalent waveform when the delay circuits provide relatively long delays. In each of these Figures, all of the waveforms are drawn to a common horizontal timebase.Corresponding waveforms in Figures 3(a) and 3(b) and corresponding waveforms in Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are drawn to the same vertical This of amplitde. A bracketed numeral appears beside each waveform in Figures 3(a), 3(b), 4(a) and 4(b) and a corresponding bracketed numeral on Figure 2 indicates the point of the circuit 30 at which the waveform appears, with the exception of waveform (8) (Figure 4(b)).

The video input signal (1) is delayed by the circuit 36 to give the waveform (2) and delayed again by the circuit 38 to give the waveform (3). The output (4) of the adder circuit d0 Is the sum of the waverorm (1) and (3), which after attenuatiqn and substration from (2) becomes the waveform (6). This is added to the waveform (2) to produce the output waveform (7).

In Figures 3(a) and 3(b), the input (1) has a short rise time.

This corresponds to high frequency information in the signal, such as that resulting from a detail shown on the film at high resolution. This might be a detail on a 35mm film.

A comparison of the waveforms (7) shows that the output in Figure 3(a) has a steeper se than the input (i), corresponding to a subectit:e increase in resolution, without an unacceptable degree of distortion at the beginning and end of the rise. Distortion at the beginning is known as pre-shoot and distortion at the end is known as over-snoot.

The output in Figure 3(b) also has a steeper rise, but has an unacceptable degree of pre-shoot and over-shoot. These would be perceptible as degradation in a television Image. Thus, the circuit 30 will be better at performing aperture correction on a signal from 35itra film when the delay circuits provide short delays. This corresponds to sampling the input- close to the point to which a correction is applied, and is known as high frequency correction.

Figures 4(a) and 4(b) show the result of a low resolution signal, with a slow rise time, being applied to the circuit 30.

This input might originate from 16mm film for instance. In this case, high frequency correction produces the waveform (7) of Figure 4(a) which represents an insignificant increase in resolution over the input, because the signal is unchanged over a large part of its rising portion. Low frequency correction arising from long delays gives the aput of Figure 4(b) which has improved resolution (a steeper rise).

Accordingly, the circuit of Figure 2, using fixed length delays, could not be fully suitable for use in a telecine designed for use with both 16mm and 35mm film.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a circuit 50 which can provide high or low frequency correction as required or a mixture of high and low frequency correction.

The circuit 50 has an input 52 and an output 54. A video signal arriving at the input 52 is applied to a chain of four delay circuits 561 58, 60, 62 connected in series. The output of the second delay circuit 58 provides the signal to be corrected, which is applied to one input of a two input adder circuit 64.

A second two input adder circuit 66 combines the outputs of the delay circuits 56 and 60 to form a first treatment signal which is halved in amplitude by a divider circuit 92 and then subtracted fram the output signal of the delay circuit 58 by a subtracting circuit 94. The out of the subtracting circuit 58 is then passed to a variable attenuator 68 and applied to one input of a third two-input adder circuit 70.

The second Input of the adder circuit is a second treatment signal '0 ~ bv an adder circuit 72 from the original input at 52 ana tune outzz ot the turt.n delay circuit 62, and attenuated by a second divide-by-two circuit 90. The second correction signal is formed by a subtracting circuit 96 and programmable attenuator 74.

The combined treatment signals pass from the adder circuit 70 through a coring circuit 76 and an inventor 78 to the second input of the adder circuit 64, where they are combined with the signal to be corrected.

Coring is a known technique which prevents noise which forms - part of the treatment signals from being combined with the signal to be corrected. The coring circuit ignores a low amplitude band of its input signal. Signals within the band (which are most likely b contain noise) are not passed. Signals outside the band are passed with an amplitude reduced by the width of the band, thereby extracting a"core" from the input signal. The "degree" of coring is a measure of the width of the band.

The use of four delay circuits and the arrangement of the connections to the circuits 66, 72 means~that the circuit 66 provides a treatment signal which is a high frequency correction signal, whereas the circuit 72 provides a signal which is a low frequency correction signal. The variable attenuators 68, 74 allow the high and low frequency signals to be mixed in selectable proportions before being applied to the - signal to be corrected.

Figure 5 also shows, schematically, apparatus which enables the aperture correction applied by the circuit 50 to be programed in advance.

A 2rc~~ammer interface 80 receives instructions from a pre programrfling system 82. The interface 80 converts its inputs into instructions which are sent to control the attenuation provided by the attenuators 68,74, the degree of coring provided by the circuit 76 and the operation of the inverter 78.

The rewired settings of the circuits 68, 74, 76 and 78 are determined in advance by a technician operating controls (not shown) which provide control data to an input 84 of the system 82. The system 82 records the control data in association with data provided at tio further inputs 86, 88, identifying the film frame being scanned and the position in the frame of the portion being scanned.

The input 88 can be derived from scanning control waveforms in lnr spot or camera type telecines or from memory addresses in a solid state array telecine.

Once the technician has selected all of the required settings for a length of film and has stored them in the pre-programning system, the film can be run through the telecine at speed, while the system 82 automatically provides control signals to the interface 80 in response to synchronising signals received on the inputs 86, 88 and identifying the frame and frame portion being scanned. The interface 80 instructs the circuits under its control to provide the pre-programmed settings.

The use of a synchronising signal which identifies the frame portion being scanned enables the circuit 50 to process different portions of a single frame in different ways. This facility can be used for providing special effects, for instance by enhancing detail only in selected portions. Moreover, the ability to control the operation of the inverter 78 enables the circuit 50 to be used to reduce the perceived sharpness of detail, to produce an effect known as "soft focus", over the whole or a portion of an image.

The bottom group of waveforms in Figure 4(b) indicates the principle of providing soft focus. This group are drawn to a reduced amplitude as compared with the remainder of the waveforms of Figure 4(b). The correction signal 90 applied to the uncorrected signal 92 is the waveform (5) after phase reversal. This is the correction signal which the circuit of Figure 2 would apply if the inverter 42 -sas not present. The resultant output 93 has a substantially longer rise time than the input signal. This increase is perceived as a softening of focus.

The ability of the interface 80 to control the inverter 78 to invert or not to invert the signal to the circuit 64, and the ability to control the proportions of high and low frequency correction applied, enables a range of soft focus effects to be produced by the circuit 50 over all or a portion of an image.

The circuit 50 can be used advantageously with a flying spot telecine which is simulating zoom. In that technique, zoom is simulated by scanning a progressively larder or smaller portion of a film image. As the telecine "zooms in" to enlarge the image, the size of the spot increases as a proportion ot the image area scanned. As this happens, the aperture correct on r.ecess r to compensate will also progressively change. The changing correction can be provided by appropriately changing the settings of the attenuators 68,74.In this case, the pre-programing system 82 could be connected to the zoom control and operated to adjust these circuit settings automatically as zooming takes place.

The four delay circuits 56, 58, 60, 62 preferably each provide the same delay. A typical delay suitable for use in horizontal aperture correction is 75ns, and for vertical correction is 1 TV line period (64 s).

The whole of the circuit 50 can be implemented in digital or analogue form.

Figure 6 shows alternative apparatus for providing effects, including soft focus, in a flying spot telecine. Figure 6 shows only the illuminating CRT and associated circuitry. A standard arrangement can be used to detect and encode an Image illuminated by the CRT.

The CRT 100 has a screen i02. Durir.g use of the telecine, an electron beam is generated by the CRT and controlled by deflection coils 104 to scan across the screen 102, to produce a flying spot.

The beam travels further to reach the screen 102 at extreme points on its scan than at intermediate points. This can result in spot size changes curing the scan, and focus coils 106 are provided to overccme trzs problem by providing fields which reduce the width of the beam when it is illuminating extreme points in the scan.

Current to the focus coil 106 is provided by a current generator 108 in accordance with signals from a circuit 110. The circuit 110 receives signals from the circuit 112 which generate currents for the deflection coils 104. The circuit 110 determines the current position of the spot and communicates this to the generator 108, which generates an appropriate current waveform to maintain a constant spot size.

To this e.=tent,Figure 6 shows a standard flying spot telecine.

However, the telecine of Figure 6 has additIonal circuitry 114, 116.

Circuit 114 s an interface circuit between a pre-programling system 116 and the renerator 108. The interface circuit 114 supplies instructions to the generator 108 which modify its operation. The modified operation causes the generator actively to increase the spot size across all or a portion of its scan, so as to produce a defocussed or soft focus effect in the telecine output. The interface instructs a spot size increase at preselected positions stored in the pre-progranning system 116. The pre-progransing system can be the same system, or the same type of system as the system 82 in Figure 5.The system 116 receives inputs 118, 120, 122 corresponding to the inputs 84, 86 and 88 of Figure 5, so that soft focus effects can be selected for a whole scene of film, for a whole frame or for only a portion of a frame.

In normal operation, without interference from the interface 114, the generator 108 derives its output current according to the current waveforms applied to the deflection coils 104. The interface can be used to modify the operations of the generator 108 or to instructs a particular output current or current waveform for selected image areas or positions.

The astlaratism coils normally provided in a CRT could also be used in a similar manner to achieve programmable soft focus effects.

Figures 7 to 9 indicate a further possibility for generating programmable special effects, especially in a flying spot telecine like that of Figure 6.

In a flying spot telecine used for scanning a stationary image, for instance a slide, the spot is normally scanned on the screen through a raster which matches the desired television raster. This can sot te done simply by applying high and low frequency, regular saT..Jtcotn waveforms to the horizontal and vertical deflection coils (104 in Figure 6), because the variation in distance from the electron beam source to the screen would give rise to the raster 124 shown in Figure 7(a). This distortion from a rectangular raster is known as pincusion distortion.Compensation is provided by generating magnetic fields in the region of the electron beam, normally by positioning fixed magnets or magnetic coils around the screen. Figure 7(b) shows how eight sources 126 of magnetic field can compensate -or pincushion distortion. Each source produces a field in the direction indicated by an arrow. It is known that the positions 0 a:e sources and the strengths and directions of the fields thev produce can be chosen to produce a rectangular raster 124 as shown.

This invention provides that, in a telecine in which pincushion correction fields are generated by variable means, such as magnetic coils, means are provided which can operate to cause pincushion distortion to be over-corrected, so that the raster 124 has the barrel shape shown in Figure 7(c). The result of scanning an image with the raster of Figure 7(c), to produce a rectangular television image, is to give the viewer the subjective impression of looking at a distorted image on a spherical surface. This technique can, therefore, be used for artistic effect.

Magnetic coils can also be used to underoopensate for pincushion distortion or to generate fields in the wrong direction to compensate, so that the distorted image appears to be on a concave or on a convex spherical surface.

Figure 7(a) shows the coils 126 connected to an interface circuit 128 for supplying energising currents. The circuit 128 is controlled by a pre-programmer system 130. The system 130 can be the same system or type of system as the systems 82 and 116, so that the special effect of a distorted raster can be programmed for selected frames.

The normal rectangular geometry of the scanned image portion can be changed in other ways. In a telecine having means for correcting pincushion distortion, to produce a rectangular raster, as shown in Figure 7(b), the current waveforms to the deflection coils can be changed or modulated to deform the raster. Figure 8 shows the effect of modulating the line scan deflection current waveform with the vertical (or "frame") scan deflection current waveform. This gives rise to a raster which has a line length which decreases progressively down the raster.The resultant (rectangular) television image has detail which is relatively horizontally compressed at the top as compared with the bottom, so that a square film image would be seen as a trapezium 132 (Figure 9) on a television screen 134.

This distortion produces a subjective change in the perspective of the image, which can be used as a special effect or as a correction similar to techniques known in still photography as "rising front" techniques. These allow images to be adjusted so -,ail Jildings appear to tilt backwards for instance, or so that buildings which appear to be tilting are made to appear vertical.

The perspective effect and the distortion effect of Figures 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c) could be used together for artistic effect.

Apparatus enabling the distortion to be programmed can be provided, for instance by modifying the appratus of Figure 6 so that the interface circuit 114 also controls the generators 112.

Figure 10 shows, schematically, a flying spot telecine incorporating means for generating all of the effects described above. Many of the elements shown are equivalent to elements shown in Figure 1, and where this is so, the same numerals are used.

The telecine of Figure 10 is modified from the telecine of Figure 1 firstly by the inclusion of a pre-programmer system 134.

The system 134 receives synchronising signals over a line 135 from the film transport apparatus 136. These enables the system to record instructions from operator controls 138 for each scene, frame or frame portion of a film 10. After programming, the film can again be run, and the same synchronising signals are provided to the system 134, which then controls the drive circuitry for the CRT and aperture correction circuitry 50. The system 134 sends instructions through interface circuits incorporated in Figure 10 in the block 134.

The circuitry 50 comprises two circuits of the type described with reference to Figure 5, for providing vertical and horizontal correction respectively. Each circuit provides high and low frequency treatment signals which are used in proportions set by the system 134.

The system 134 controls the CRT drive circuitry 14 to cause local enlargement of the flying spot on the CRT screen, to produce soft focus effects when required.

The deflection waveforms controlling the position of the flying spot can be controlled by the system 134 to cause a non-rectangular portion of film frames to be scanned, so as to produce distortion effects as described above.

Finally, the system 134 can control the current supplied to coils 126 so that the degree of pincushion aistor or correction can be set to produce other distortion effects described above.

Figure 11 is a block schematic diagram of a flying spot telecine adapted to provide special effects, by the inclusion of a pre-programaing system suitable for use in the present invention.

The telecine shown in Figure 11 is a slide scanner, in which a film frame is held stationary while it is scanned. Consequently, the raster shape on the CRT screen is the same as the shape of the scanned image portion. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate from the following description how the pre programming system can be applied to other types of telecine.

The following description of the telecine and its operation relates to the simulation of zoom effects, but other effects, including the effects described above, can also be programmed.

The apparatus illustrated broadly comprises a flying-spot telecine unit: 210, a pre-programming unit 212, and a video tape recorder 214, the latter simply being illustrative of a suitable output device.

The flying spot telecine unit coirprlses a CRT 220 with its scanning coils 222, etc., a film position 224, a condenser lens 226, and a light-sensitive detector 228. All these are shown very diagrammaticaAlly for illustrative purposes only. The CRT 220 is controlled by CRT control circuitry 230 which is under the control of remote user controls 232. These controls are also coupied to signal conve=er circuitry 234 connected to receive the raw video output of aetector of detector 228 and to produce an N.T.S.C.

encoded output signal which is passed to the video tape recorder 214. Signal converter circuitry 234 corresponds to the circuits 16, 18, 22, 50 of Figure 10. Video synchronising information is passed from the signal converter 234 to the CRT control circuitry 230 to synchronise the CRT scan. The signal converter circuitry 234 includes in particular circuitry for converting the sequential signal received from the detector 228 to an interlaced signal in which two Interlaced fields make one video picture, and also includes aperture csrr3,c=tion circuitry.The pre-prograinring unit 212 is based on â system sold by Rank Cintel Limited of Ware, Hertfordshire, England under the trade mark AMIGO. This preprogramming system is designed for use in recordLr.c a feature film on videotape for subsequent broadcasting, and is basicaly intended for use with flying-spot telecines.The colours on feature films, particularly older ones, are not particularly accurate, and it is therefore desirable to adjust the colour rendering to give a subjectively satisfactory appearance when viewed on a television monitor. The AMIGO pre-programming system thus allows an operator to correct the colours and to store the necessary corrections so that they are applied at the required points in the running of the film.

To locate the correct point it counts film frames as the film runs through the telecine. The system is also capable of interfacing with the telecine user controls so that, for example, with a cinemascope film, the desired pre-programmed portion of the image is selected for transmission. This information is recorded in the system in relation to specific film frames by counting cine film frames from the beginning of the film.

The unit 212 cDuDrises a pre-programming system 240 with associated user controls 242. The pre-programming system 240 receives over ine 236 certain "servo" control information indicating the Irode of operation of the telecine, e.g. run forward, run reverse, inch forward, inch reverse and stop.

Various control signals pass across the telecine/pre-progrartrner interface 244. These include the following: (a) line 250 which carries video synchronising information frcm the signal converter 234 to the pre-programming system 240 for use as a time clock input; (b) line 252 which carries scan control information from the pre-prooramming system 240 to the CRT control circuitry 230 to alter or indeed define the scanning raster provided by the scanning coils 222 on the CRT 220; and (c) line 254 which carries aperture correction control signals from the pre-programming system 240 to the aperture corrector in the signal converter circuitry 234 to alter the aperture correction in dependence upon zoom.

Other effects including those described above in relation to Figures 1 to 10 can be made available by providing additional control lines from the system 240 and by appropriately extending the storage capacity of the system 240.

or ease of explanation Figure 11 is a very simplied version of the circuitry used in practice, for instance there will normally be three or more different detectors 228 for the different colour components of the signal, whereas only one is shown. It does however serve adequately to illustrate salient principles of the apparatus to those skilled in the art, to whom the detailed implementation will be apparent.

In operation of the apparatus of Figure 11, an operator may desire to use a still image on a single frame of film and to simulate a zoam down from the full image displayed to only part of the image being displayed. To achieve this they load the pre programming system via the user controls 242 with certain items of information as follows: (i) the part of the image to be displayed at the beginning of the effects operation; (ii) the part of the image to be displayed at the end of the effects operatIon; and (iii) the duration (in hours, minutes, seconds and video frames) cf the effects operation between the beginning and end conditions, or alternatively an indication that the change is to be instantaneous.

The parts of the image referred to a (i) and (ii) can conveniently be defined in many ways, but one example is to define two diametrically-opposed corners of the desired part as percentages in relation to the full width and height of the film frame measured from the bottom left hand corner. Thus for a zoom from the full film frame down to the central quarter (in area) the initial condition is defined by co-ordinates 0,0; 100,100 and the final condition by co-ordinates 25,25; 75,75. Another way is to define the centre point of the desired part and its size, in which case the information can be encoded as 50,50; 100 and 50,50; 50 in the above example.

Then in use of the apparatus, the pre-prograiming system 240 operates as follows. It initially instructs the CRT control circuitry over line 252 to form a raster of the size defined by the initiai condition (i). It also appropriately instructs the aperture corrector in circuitry 234 over line 254 asdescribed below. As the scan c^Wmmences, the pre-programming system 240 receives synchronisation information from the signal convertor 234 and in particular receives video picture or field sync. pulses. These pulses are applied over line 250 to the pre-programming system 240 as a timing input.

The pre-procJramming system performs a linear or profiled interpolation between the input and output conditions (i) and (ii) in dependence upon elapsed time measured in picture periods in relation to the total time of the special effect operation as defined at (iii) above. This operation is defined by the user in hours, minutes, seconds and frames and is converted by the preprogramming system to a corresponding number of picture periods. The use of the video signal sync. pulses as a timing clock in this way in the pre-programming system differs from the normal operation of the system 240 which works strictly in relation to cine film frames.

However, the use of such timing pulses enables the appratus to provide effects analogous to those of digital special effects generator with a still picture.

In parallel with control of the CRT scanning raster, the pre programming system also alters the aperture correction provided by the aperture corrector in the signal converter circuitry 234.

Selection of appropriate aperture correction functions is known generally for use in video signal processing, and the aperture corrector can store a number of predetermined functions for selective use, and possibly for appropriate interpolatIon between them, in accordance with the signal received over line 254. The effective size of the basic pixels changes (or sharpens) as the overall image size changes, thus avoiding significant reduction of resolution as can occur with a digital special effects simulator.

Alternatively, the aperture correction circuit can be the circuit of Figure 5, in which case the line 254 will carry information for selecting the proportions of high and low frequency correction to be used.

While the detailed imDlemenzation of such a system as described above is believed to be within thecompetence of the skilled man in the art, some further details of the applicant' s preferred method will now be given with reference to the remaining fIgJres of the drawings.

Figure 12 is a block schematic diagram of one analogue control signal channel in the pre-programming system 240 in Figure 11.

There are typically 232 such channels to enable different effects to be stored for selective use.

Figure 12 shows a control potentiameter 260- coupled to an input amplifier 262 and.hence to a 1 out of 32 selector 264. The output of selector 264 is converted to a digital output in an analogue to digital converter (A/D) 266 which provides data bits indicating the value represented on potentiometer 260 and address bits representing that digital channel.

A processing unit comprises a microprocessor 268 (such as a type No. MC68BO9E produced by Motorola) with data buffer 270 and address decoder 272 which receive the data and address bits respectively and operates in accordance with stored programs as more fully illustrated in Figures 13 to 15 and described below. The microprocessor output controls a digital to analogue converter (D/A) 274 which applies trough a multiplexer 276 and amplifier 278 control signals to the scanning control circuits in circuitry 230, diagrammatically sr.o;sn. The microprocessor also supplies digital signals over line 254 to the aperture corrector in circuitry 234.

Timing information for the microprocessor 268 is received from the telecine. Vertical interval pulses are received in a buffer 280 which dernl-.e the timing of the vertical field blanking interval in the video sisal which is the time àwr;ng which the pre-programming system muse recalculate the scanning parameters for the next picture. Interface circuit 282 provides directional information to processor 268 via interface circuit 284 to enable an "up" count or "down" count, and s coupled to the user controls 232 in Figure 1 by line 236.

The output of buffer 280 is applied to an interrupt request input IRQ on the microprocessor 268 and the output of buffer 282 is applied to a non-maskable interrupt NMI on the microprocessor.

The operation ot the system will be described with reference to the flow charts of figures 13 tol5. Referring first to Figure 13, on initialisation 300, the progrartme jumps to the "hardware initialisation" sequence 302 which configures all the user controls art telecine element required to operate the pre-programmer. This completed, the programme jumps to the main sequencer comprising 304, 306, 308 and 312. This programme loop scans and updates memory within the pre-programmer as well as acknowledge command calls by the user 310.

Tests are implemented as to whether or not the system (preprogrammer) is required to output stored data 312 and if so whether a "time coincidence" has occurred. That is to say that a previously stored time is equal to the count sequence currently active 314. If so, then memory workspace is refreshed with new data from the next sequence or event stored 316. This new data will have been previously entered by the user at a required count by an "Enter Data" command.

On completion of the output of new data, a test is implemented so as to determine whether the subsequent event is a "dynamic" 318.

A "dynamic" is an event which signals the processor 268, Figure 12, to compute the necessary steps required to move the telecine ar~ocue control over the required period of time 320. Having done this the processor programme jumps to the main loop to repeat the sequences described under the disclosed conditions.

As shown in Figure 14, the main loop described in Figure 13 may be ir.terrupted at any time by the vertical interval, IRQ, so as to cause the refresh of all telecine parameters controlled by the pre programmer (Figure 12, elements 280, 282 and 268). This starts at 340 and proceeds to 342 to hold all current register data. On completion, the programme jumps to the output routine when data previously placed in workspace is written to the output hardw e 346. Following this, a "dynamic" check, or test, is carried out such that if a "dynamic" is active the compute steps are added or subtracted from the workspace data ready for the next vertical interval 348, 350 and 352. This done, if necessary, the processor recovers all register data and links back to the point from which is was interrupted 354 and 356.

The flow-chart of Figure 15 is the NMI (Non Maskable Interrupt) sequence which under servo control (run forward, run reverse, inch fc- va-c, inch reverse and stop) determines the direction of the count sequence as well as the rate.

On recent of - > ls MeI signal 360 the processor 268, Figure 12, stores away all current register data 362 and interrogates the servo status 364. If a "stop" is or has been selected, then all count control and update is halted immediately 372 and the programme exits via 378 and 380 restoring all register data, thus returning to the point from which is was interrupted.

Step 366 determines if no servo call was made or what the last call command was. If run forward then an increment of the time code is required 370. On completion the programme exits via steps 378 and 380. Inch forward is tested by step 366 and an increment to the time code (count) is carried out every six vertical intervals. Ihuz and inch reverse also are tested by step 366 and jump to 376 for a decrement of count data again whose exit is via 378 and 380.

It should be noted, referring to Figure 12, that analogue data for step 304 is read using elements 262, 264, 270 and 272; that output data is obtained from elements 274, 276, 270 and 272; and that the NMI control and servo controls comprise elements 280, 282, 284 and 268 on Figure 12 and 230, 240 and 242 on Figure 11.

It will be appreciated that many modifications may be made to the examples described above within the scope and spirit of the claims below.

Claims (29)

1. A method of operating a flying spot telecine to produce a video signal representing an image on a transparent film portion, the method including supplying a focus waveform to control the size of the spot, characterised in that the focus waveform is such as to cause the spot size to increase inuring at least part of its scan, to defocus at least a portion of said image.

2. The method of claim 1, including deriving said focus waveform in accordance with pre-programmed data.

3. The method of claim 2, including loading pre-programming means with said pre-programmed data relating to at least one image portion, supplying synchronising signals to said pre-programming means during operation of said telecine, to cause said preprogramming means to reproduce said preprogrammed data corresponding to the image portion being processed, and selectively increasing said spot size in accordance with said pre-progranmed date.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said synchronising signals identify the portion of said image being processed, said data being different for different image portions.

5. A flying spot telecine cooprising: (a) a cathode ray tube operable to produce a scanning electron beam; (b) focussing means for controlling the size of said spot produced by said beam; (c) defocussing means operable to cause said focussing means to increase said spot size at selectable positions of said spot.

6. The telecine according to claim 5, wherein said defocussing means comprises pre-prograintaing means for storing art reproaacing data representing said selectable positions, whereby said positions may be programmed.

7. The telecine of claim 6, wherein said positions may be programmed for a plurality of film frames or scenes, said telecine further comprising identifying means for supplying signals identifying the film frame or scene being processed and said preprogramming means being responsive to said identifying signals to reproduce stored data corresponding to said identified frame or scene.

8. The telecine of claim 7, wherein said pre-programming means further supplies data identifying a preselected degree of defocussing required.

9. A method of operating a flying spot telecine, including: (i) selecting spot sizes for use when scanning each region of an image to be processed by said telecine; at least some of said spot size selections representing spot size increases generating a soft focus effect; (ii) recording said spot size selections in pre-prograitmirig means; (iii) operating said pre-progrartrnmg means while scanning said image, to reproduce said pre-proarammed spot size selections; and (iv) controlling said spot size in accordance with said preprogrammed spot size selections reproduced by said pre-prograflrning means, including increasing said spot size to generate a soft focus effect.

10. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described.

11. A flying spot telecine according to any of claims 5 to 8, the telecine being substantially as hereinbefore described.

12. A method of operating a flying spot telecine, according to claim 9, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described.

13. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6 for producing a video signal representing an image on a transparent film portion by scanning said film portion in a raster-scanning telecine, wherein said raster of said telecine scans a non-rectangular area of said image, whereby said video signal represents said image after distortion of said image.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the shape of said raster is variable to vary the shape of said non-rectangular area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said shapes are controlled in accordance with pre-programmed shape selections.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said shape selections are preprogrammed for a plurality of film portions to be scanned.

17. The method of claim 16, including the steps of storing said pre-programmed selections in pre-programming, supplying to said pre proarammir.g means synchronising signals indicating the film portion to be scanned, to cause said pre-programming means to reproduce the corresponding pre-programmed selection, and controlling the shape of said raster in accordance with said reproduced selection.

18. A method according to any of claims 13-17 applied to a telecine in which the scanning of said raster is controlled by a horizontal scanning signal and a vertical scanning signal, in which one or both of the scanning signals are modulated by a modulating signal to distort said raster.

19. The method of claim 18, in which said modulating signal is said vertical scanning signal and said modulated signal modulates said horizontal scanning signal.

20. A method according to any of claims 13-19 applied to a flying spot telecine having a cathode ray tube for producing a flying spot which scans a raster, including the steps of generating in the region of said cathode ray a magnetic field to distort said raster to cause said raster to scan a non-rectangular image area.

21. The method of claim 20, in which said magnetic field causes pin-cushion or barrel distortion in said raster.

22. The method of claim 20, in which a plurality of energisable magnetic coils are provided for generating said magnetic field, said coils being energised by currents which are controlled to cause said raster distortion.

23. A telecine according to any of claims 5 to 8 for generating a video signal representative of an image on a transparent film portion, comprising scanning means for causing said scanning electron beam to scan said image with a scanning raster, said scanning means coms A sing distortion means which distort said scanning raster to cause a non-rectangular image portion to be scanned.

24. The telecine of claim 23, wherein said distortion means is operable to distort said raster to a degree which is variable.

25. The telecine of claim 24, comprising control means for controlling said distortion means to distort said raster in accordance with pre-programmed shape selections.

26. The teiecine of claim 25, wherein said control means comprises pre-programming means operable to store and reproduce data representing pre-programmed shape selections for a plurality of film portions to he scanned.

27. A telecine according to any of claims 23-26 wherein said scanning means is operable to generate a horizontal and a vertical scanning signal for controlling said scanning raster, and said distortion means comprises modulation means for modulating one or both of said scanning signals, to distort said scanning raster.

28. The telec-,e of claim 27, wherein said modulation means mcdulates said horizontal scanning signal with said vertical scanning signal.

29. A telecine according to any of claims 23-28 ccanprising a cathode ray tube for generating a flying spot to. scan said raster, and wherein said distortion means comprises field means for generating a magnetic field in the region of the cathode ray.