JP2000059638A - Image reparation device and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image preparation device and a recording medium needing image fetching only one time and capable of using the fetched images for various output devices and easily correcting the images or the like as well. SOLUTION: The resolution of a scanner 5 is set as high as possible, a bit number to one pixel is set large, a photo original 3 is scanned by the same condition at all times and master data 7 are prepared and recorded in a master archive 9. The image conversion 11 of resolution conversion and color tone correction, etc., is performed to the master data 7 and destination data 15 are prepared and preserved in a destination archive 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a means for creating a digital image of a subject, a method of scanning a photograph or a positive film of the subject using a scanner is generally used. There is also a method of directly creating a digital image from a subject using a digital camera. At that time, an output device for outputting is assumed, and decomposition conditions are set so that an image is optimally reproduced by the output device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional digital image creation method. Reference numeral 1001 denotes a photographic original, which displays an image on each of three output devices. The output device is an HDTV (Hi
ghDefinition Television) 1
005, a personal computer monitor 1009, a printer 1013, and the like.

[0004] A photo manuscript 10 is set in accordance with each output device.
The scanner is set to decompose and capture the image 01. For example, 4i fills the screen of the HDTV 1005
When displaying an nch × 5 inch photograph, the scanner 1003 is set to, for example, a resolution of 300 dpi (dot p
er inch), RGB (Red, Green, Bl)
ue) Set each color to 8 bits, 24 bits per pixel, and an image size of 1920 × 1080 pixels.

When displaying a 4 inch × 5 inch picture on the entire screen of the personal computer monitor 1009,
Separates the image into three colors, Red, Green, and Blue,
The scanner 1007 is set so that the resolution is 150 dpi, each color of RGB is 8 bits, and each pixel is 24 bits, and the image size is 800 × 600 pixels.

In the printer 1013, 4 inches × 5 inches
To print the photo of channel ch on A4 paper,
an, Magenta, Yellow, Black 4
It is separated into colors, the resolution is 700 dpi, and CMYK (Cya
n, Magenta, Yellow, Black) 8 bits for each color, 32 bits per pixel, image size A4, approx. 4100 × 2900 pixels
11 is set.

[0007] Further, when an image is created by a computer 1017 or the like and an academic analysis is performed, as detailed information as possible is required.
48 bits per pixel, 1000 dpi resolution
It is preferable to set the scanner 1015 under such a condition.

Further, the scanner is set so as to obtain a preferable color reproduction according to the color and gradation distribution of the photographic document 1001. For example, if the subject has a dark color tone, the scanner is set so as to be bright, and if the gray is reddish, the reddishness is set.

By the way, when an image decomposed for a specific output device is to be displayed on another output device, conversion of resolution, bit number, tone curve, color tone, color space, and the like is often required. In particular, when image data created with low resolution and low bit number is converted for another output device, there is a problem that the image is degraded.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which an image obtained by setting the scanner 1053 to a low resolution and a low bit number for the personal computer monitor 1059 is displayed on another output device. Reference numeral 1051 denotes a photo document.

When an image obtained by setting a low resolution and a low bit number is subjected to gradation conversion, color conversion, and the like for display on the HDTV 1057, the number of gradations is reduced and the image quality is reduced. become worse. For example, an image of 256 gradations is converted to an HDTV
To display on 1057, the γ value should be 1.0 to 0.4.
5, the number of gradations is reduced to 183, and the quality of the image is degraded.

Further, if the image data created with a low resolution and a low bit number is enlarged to compensate for lacking information by interpolation for printing by the printer 1063, a problem such as a false contour appearing in a gradation portion occurs. And a clear image cannot be obtained. After all, in order to obtain a beautiful image, it is necessary to perform a plurality of scans by changing the scanner settings according to the output device as shown in FIG.

When it is desired to accurately reproduce the color of a film on an output device or to examine the color distribution of a subject for academic use, the scanned image data is converted to the colorimetric value of the subject on the film. Needs to be converted. For that, it is necessary to know the input characteristics of the scanner, but if you change the scanning conditions according to the picture,
The input characteristics of the scanner also change, and the input characteristics of the scanner must be recorded for each picture. This method is not practical, so it is difficult to convert the colorimetric value of the subject on the film. .

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a method for converting such a conventional RGB image into a colorimetric value (Lab) image. In principle, the setting condition of the scanner 2003 is set to A according to the photo original 2001, and an RGB image 2005 is obtained. The setting condition A performed by the scanner 2003 is recorded,
When the image conversion 2007 is performed, a Lab image 2009 that accurately reproduces the color of the photo document 2001 is obtained.

It is necessary to set the setting condition B of the scanner 2013 for the photo original 2011 and the setting condition C of the scanner 2023 for the photo original 2021, and record the setting conditions of the scanner for each photo original. Further, since the characteristics of the setting parameters of the scanner are not disclosed, the relationship between the setting parameters and the conversion must be investigated. Therefore, it is practically difficult to convert the photo original into its colorimetric values.

Further, there is a case where a picture is displayed on a monitor and the color is corrected while observing the picture.
When displayed on a monitor having another color reproduction, different color reproduction characteristics will be obtained.

Furthermore, the formation of a desirable pattern differs depending on the type of the pattern, such as the color distribution and what the subject is. Normally, only the created pattern is stored, but in that case, when it is necessary to re-create the image from the image before the creation, it is not always possible to create the same pattern as the previous one.

[0018]

As described above, according to the conventional method, it is necessary to perform a plurality of scans when displaying on a plurality of output devices, and there is a difficulty in performing color correction.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to capture images only once, and to use the captured images in various output devices. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image creating apparatus and a recording medium that can easily correct the above.

[0020]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention. Reference numeral 3 denotes a photo manuscript. The scanner 5 scans the photo document 3 to obtain master data 7 as image data. At this time, the scanner 5
Sets the resolution as high as possible and the number of bits per pixel as large as possible, and always sets the same conditions for different photographic originals.

The master archive 9 stores the master data 7 in a recording medium such as a hard disk, an MO, a CD-ROM, etc., and stores image information in a database.
Image conversion 11 such as resolution conversion, highlight point, shadow point setting, tone curve correction, color tone correction, etc. according to the characteristics of an output device from the master archive 9
Perform Further, at this time, it is possible to perform a fabrication for realizing a preferable color reproduction.

In this way, the destination data 15 is created. Destination Archive 17
Indicates that the destination data 15 is an MO, a CD-R
The image information is stored in a recording medium such as an OM and a database of image information. The destination data 15 and the destination archive 17 are data intended to make a clear image appear when displayed on a specific output device.

The creation of the destination data 15 is as follows.
The correction is performed while displaying the image on the monitor 19, but the color reproduction and the gradation reproduction characteristics of the monitor 19 are always unified in the same environment. In this way, the destination data 15 can always be created under the same environment.

The history 13 is a history of conversion, correction, and the like when creating the destination data 15 from the master data 7 for each image. This history 13
Is used, the same destination data 15 can be created from the master data 7 any number of times.

Since the master archive 9 is an image obtained by always setting the scanner 5 under the same conditions, the image conversion 21 into colorimetric values is performed, and the colorimetric (Lab) image 23
Is obtained. Using the colorimetric value (Lab) image 23, the original document restoration 25 of the deteriorated photo original document 3 can be performed, and the image analysis 27 such as a master image can be performed.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the image creating device 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows an input process. First, the scanner 53 is set (step 301). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing setting conditions of the scanner 51. As shown in FIG. 4, the resolution is set high, the number of bits per pixel is set large, and the same conditions are always set regardless of the document to be read.

A photo original 51 is read by a scanner 53,
The master data 55 is obtained (step 302), and the master data 55 is stored in a disk or the like to create a master archive 57 (step 303).

Next, the color reproduction characteristics of the scanner 51 are measured, and a scanner profile 59 is created. Color conversion is performed by the color conversion engine 63 based on the conditions described in the scanner profile 59 and the sRGB profile 61 (step 304). The color conversion engine 63 uses, for example, Color Sync. The scanner profile 59 and the color conversion engine 63 are ICC (Inter)
nationalColor Consortium)
Complies with standards.

Next, for the image converted to sRGB,
Using the image processing software 65, color correction, resolution, size conversion, and bit number conversion are performed, destination data 67 is generated, and a destination archive 73 is created (step 305).

The process of step 305 is performed while displaying an image on the sRGB standard monitor 71, and the color reproduction characteristics of the monitor are adjusted to the sRGB standard. Specifically, the color correction performs setting of highlights, shadows, setting of a tone curve, and the like, thereby realizing preferable color reproduction. The resolution, size change, and bit number conversion are performed according to the size of the device to be output and the number of bits that can be processed.
The conversion processing in step 305 is stored as a history 69 for each image.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the output processing of the image forming apparatus 50. An output device is selected (step 501). When the display device is HDTV75, HDT
V75 conforms to the sRGB standard,
It is displayed (step 502). In the case of the personal computer monitor 77 of the sRGB standard, the monitor is adjusted so as to conform to the sRGB standard, and then displayed (step 503).

In the case of the personal computer monitor 93 which cannot be adjusted to the sRGB standard, the sRGB data is converted into RGB data using the color conversion engine 87 based on the conditions described in the sRGB profile 89 and the monitor profile 91, and displayed. I do.

In the case of the printer 85, since sRGB is converted to CMYK since it is reproduced in four colors of CMYK. sRGB profile 79 and printer profile 8
The sRGB data is converted into CMYK data using the color conversion engine 83 based on the conditions described in 1 (step 504) and printed (step 505).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process for creating the colorimetric value image 93 from the master archive 57. A colorimetric image 93 is obtained from the RGB image data of the master archive 57 using the color conversion engine 87 based on the conditions described in the scanner profile 89 and the Lab profile 91 (step 601).

An image analysis 95 and a document correction 97 are performed using the colorimetric value image 93 (step 602). That is, when the colorimetric value image 93 is used, for example, when examining the color analysis of the image,
Academic image analysis can be performed. The photographic image 51 deteriorates over time, but the measured value image 93
Is used to determine the degree of deterioration and to repair the photographic document 51.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to cope with a single scan, assuming display on a plurality of output devices.

When it is necessary to redo the color correction, the data in the master archive 57 may be converted, and there is no need to perform re-decomposition by the scanner 53. Since the environment for color correction is unified, monitor 7
There is no problem that the correction result is different due to the difference in the color of 1.

Since the history 69 for creating the destination archive 73 remains, if the history 69 is used, the same destination archive 7 can be used any number of times.
3 can be created. Also, if you need to change the color correction,
It can be corrected with reference to the history 69. From the master archive 57, the original can be converted into colorimetric values. By using the colorimetric values, academic image analysis and restoration of a deteriorated original can be performed.

[0039]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the number of times of capturing an image may be one, the captured image can be used for various output devices, and the image can be easily modified. An image creation device and a recording medium can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an image creating apparatus 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an input process of the image creation device 50;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing setting conditions of a scanner 51;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an output process of the image creating apparatus 50;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing for creating a colorimetric value image 93 from a master archive 57;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional digital image creation method.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which an image obtained by setting a low resolution and a low bit number is displayed on another output device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional method for converting an RGB image into a colorimetric value (Lab) image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 50 image forming device 3, 51 photo original 5, 53 scanner 7, 55 master data 9, 57 master archive 11, 21 image conversion 13, 69: History 15, 67: Destination data 17, 73: Destination archive 19: Monitor 75: HDTV 77: Computer monitor 85: Printer

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Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An input means for inputting an image of each subject under the same conditions regardless of each subject at a resolution and a bit number sufficient for output by an arbitrary output device, and holding the image input by said input means. An image creating apparatus comprising: a holding unit that performs conversion of an image held by the holding unit; 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means is a scanner or a digital camera. 3. The image creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means performs color correction, resolution conversion, and other conversion suitable for an output device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color conversion by the conversion unit is performed while observing a monitor that realizes the same color reproduction characteristics. 5. The image creating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a conversion history of said conversion means is stored. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for converting an image held by said holding means into a colorimetric value image. 7. An input means for inputting an image of each subject under the same conditions irrespective of each subject at a resolution and a bit number sufficient for outputting a computer by an arbitrary output device; A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for functioning as holding means for holding an image, and conversion means for converting the image held in the holding means.