JP2000196854A - Method and device for photographic processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic processing method and a photographic processing device which adopt customer's unrestrained conception as it is to inexpensively finish a photograph with strong individuality. SOLUTION: A drawing which the customer made is read by an optical drawing read means 3, and read drawing information is stored, and image information of a photographed and developed film is read independently of this drawing information, and drawing information and image information are digitally processed to create a composite photograph.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic processing method and a photographic processing apparatus, and more particularly to a photographic processing method and a photographic processing apparatus for producing an individual composite photograph at low cost.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various processing methods of adding character information to a photographed image, enclosing the photographed image in a frame of a special shape, and printing the image on a print have been carried out by various methods to enhance a planar print image. It is often used to satisfy the desire to change the taste or to enhance the recordability of photographs, and is in great demand. For example, as a method of adding character information to a photographed image, a squirrel film in which white characters are described on a black background is separately prepared, and this and a photographed film image are printed and synthesized on photographic paper. As a method of enclosing an image shot with a special frame, several types of template frames are prepared in advance, and a customer selects a desired frame and prints it on photographic paper together with the shot image. Further, an illustration image that the customer likes is selected from illustration images prepared in advance, and this is combined with a photographed film image.

Recently, it has become possible to create various types of composite photographs using a personal computer. Character information is written in an image photographed by a digital camera, or a plurality of photographed images are combined into one composite photograph. And so on.

[0004]

However, when text information is added to a photographed image, a method using a lith film is used, or a specific template frame is used for enclosing a photographed image in a frame. The method and the method of adopting and combining illustrations are based on the fact that the creator of the photo (lab side) prepares a squirrel film, template frame and illustrations with the characters written in advance, so the characters, frames and illustrations Can only be of a limited type, can adopt the customer's free ideas, and can meet the demand for a more individualized photo finish without being constrained by existing characters and frame shapes. Did not.

[0005] Furthermore, the image processing method using a personal computer can perform a variety of processing, but it is necessary to have a personal computer. However, at present, anyone from children to adults cannot easily process images into satisfactory images.

Although it is conceivable that the processing by the personal computer is carried out by the photograph creator, it takes considerable time to adopt the demands of customers, so that the production cost must be extremely high. Not get
It is not commercially viable.

In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to adopt a customer's free idea as it is and to write a customer's favorite typeface or picture on a photographed image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photo processing method and a photo processing apparatus capable of inexpensively finishing an individual photograph adopting any desired taste.

[0008]

The above object is achieved by the invention described in each claim. That is, the characteristic configuration of the photo processing method of the present invention is that the drawing created by the customer is read by the optical drawing reading means, the read drawing information is stored, and the image information of the photographed and developed film is separately stored. Reading, and then digitally processing the graphic information and the image information to create a composite photograph.

According to this configuration, a composite photograph is created mainly by arbitrary information created by the customer without being restricted by the existing patterns, so that a unique photograph is completed. This process is performed by a personal computer using a commercially available OCR
The user only needs to read the drawing provided by the customer using such a method, so the reading operation itself is extremely easy and the processing is completed in a short time, and the photographing provided by the customer using the existing photo processing device・ Since processing is only performed on the developed film, the processing can be completed in a short time, the burden on both the photographer and the customer can be reduced, and a unique composite photograph can be created at low cost. . Needless to say, the customer does not need to have a personal computer, and even if they are unfamiliar with the handling of personal computers, it can be used by a wide range of children and adults. As a result, it has been possible to provide a photo processing method that allows the customer's free idea to be used as it is, and enables a low-cost, individualized photo finishing that incorporates the customer's desired preferences. The “drawings” in the present invention include not only original drawings by various techniques but also illustrations, geometric figures, characters, symbols, numbers, and the like.

[0010] As a photo processing method of the present invention, a composite photo may be created by combining with a drawing prepared in advance. In this way, it is possible to complement the customer's technique and to obtain a more diverse and unique composite photograph, which is preferable.

Further, the characteristic configuration of the photo processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an optical drawing reading means for reading a drawing created by a customer, a storage means for storing the read drawing information, An image reading means for reading the image information of the photographed and developed film, and a digital processing means for synthesizing the read graphic information and image information are provided.

[0012] According to this configuration, a composite photograph can be created mainly using arbitrary information created by a customer without being restricted by an existing pattern, so that a unique photograph is completed. In this processing, since the photographer only reads the drawing provided by the customer using a commercially available scanner or the like, the reading operation itself is extremely easy and the processing is completed in a short time. All the processing is done in a short time, because it only involves synthesizing with the photographed and developed film provided by the customer using existing photo processing equipment.
The burden on both the photographer and the customer is small, and a unique composite photograph can be created at low cost. Needless to say, the customer does not need to have a personal computer, and even if they are unfamiliar with the handling of personal computers, it can be used by a wide range of children and adults. As a result, it has been possible to provide a photo processing device that allows the customer's free idea to be used as it is, and enables inexpensive individual photo finishing that incorporates the customer's desired preferences.

Further, it is preferable that the optical drawing reading means, the image reading means, and the digital processing means are integrally incorporated. This is convenient because a series of photographic processing operations can be performed in a cohesive unit. Further, a developing process, a drying unit, and the like may be connected.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show the procedure of the photo processing method according to the present embodiment. First, a drawing, an illustration, a design, a character, a symbol, a number, and the like are drawn on the drawing paper 1 of FIG. To change the shape of the frame, the customer may freely trim the drawing paper 1. The drawing paper 1 may be prepared on the photo processing side (lab side) or may be paper carried by the customer, and is not particularly limited.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, a drawing paper 1 'on which a picture, a character, etc. brought by the customer is drawn
The image data is read by an optical image reading means (image scanner or the like) 3 connected to the computer 2, the read image is confirmed by a display means 2b such as a CRT, and is recorded in the storage device 2a of the personal computer 2.
The image information stored in the storage device 2a is introduced into a photographic processing device having a digital processing function via a recording medium such as an MO (magneto-optical disk) and a CD-ROM. In this case, the image information may be introduced from a personal computer through a network line such as a LAN into the photographic processing device.

Then, a storage medium storing the read image and another developed film 4 (FIG. 2A) for a synthetic photograph provided by a customer are synthesized using a photographic processing apparatus.
This photographic processing apparatus has a digital processing function, and a commercially available one can be used. That is, although not shown, the read image from the storage medium storing the read image
After the film 4 is inserted into the negative carrier and the predetermined screen is positioned, the image information of the film 4 is read by the CCD linear sensor (scanner) and reproduced on the display screen. Then, the read image and the composite image are created here. After performing necessary corrections and the like on the composite image, the composite image information is transmitted to the printer unit and printed on photographic paper. The baked photographic paper is developed, bleached, fixed, rinsed and the like, dried and finished to be completed (FIG. 2 (b)).

[0017] By doing so, a composite photograph is created mainly with arbitrary information created by the customer without being restricted by the existing patterns, so that a unique photograph is completed. In this processing, since the photographer only reads the drawing provided by the customer using a commercially available scanner or the like, the reading operation itself is extremely easy and the processing is completed in a short time. Since only the photographing and developed film provided by the customer is combined using the existing photo processing equipment, all the processing is completed in a short time, and both the photographer and the customer are burdened. The production cost is low and the production cost can be kept low. Needless to say, the customer does not need to have a personal computer, and it is irrelevant even if he is unfamiliar with the handling of the personal computer. Therefore, the method shown in this embodiment can be used for a wide range of classes from children to adults.

At present, only one image is obtained per screen on a personal computer, but according to the present embodiment, a plurality of synthesized image information can be simultaneously displayed on the display unit. Various processes and correction processes can be conveniently performed at once.

[Other Embodiments] (1) In the above embodiment, the personal computer 2 and the optical drawing reading means 3 connected to the personal computer 2 are configured separately from the photographic processing apparatus, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, a photographic processing apparatus A in which these are integrated may be used. That is, the photo processing apparatus A includes an input / image processing unit 5 and a printer unit 6. The input / image processing unit 5 includes an optical drawing reading unit 3 for optically reading a drawn image created by a customer, a negative carrier 7 for introducing the film 4, and a light source unit 8 including a light source for irradiating the film 4. A display unit 9 for displaying an image, an operation unit 10 including a keyboard or the like for inputting instructions for image correction, image synthesis, and the like;
CD linear sensor, film feeding means (motor, etc.),
A main unit 11 and the like that house a control mechanism for controlling these movements and controlling and instructing the operation of each component are provided.

On the other hand, the printer unit 6 includes magazines 12, 12 in which two types of long photographic papers having different widths are wound and stored.
A printing unit for printing the image information read by the input / image processing unit 5 on photographic paper, and a development processing unit (not shown) for developing, bleaching, fixing, and washing the printed photographic paper. And a finishing unit (not shown) for drying the developed photographic paper and cutting it into a predetermined size, and a sorter unit 1 for discharging and aligning the photographic paper for each order (unit of customer request).
3 mag.

Then, the drawn paper 1 'provided by the customer is placed in the optical drawing reading means 3 to perform a reading operation, and the developed film 4 also provided by the customer.
Are arranged in the negative carrier 7, a predetermined image is extracted, these are synthesized, and displayed on the display unit 9, and correction is performed as necessary. However, the reading process by the optical drawing reading unit 3 and the film image inserted into the negative carrier 7 are individually projected on the display unit 9 to confirm an appropriate image, and after performing a correction process as necessary, the two images are combined. Preferably, they are synthesized.

When the image synthesis is completed, the image is developed on photographic paper, dried and taken out of the sorter. The film and the drawn drawing paper provided by the customer are returned to the customer, and the printed photographic paper is provided to the customer.

(2) The film used in the present invention can be either negative or positive.

(3) The composite photograph created in the above embodiment may be printed on a business card, calendar, postcard or the like, instead of being printed on photographic paper.

(4) In the above embodiment, an example of a composite photograph of a drawing created by a customer and a film is shown.
A more diverse composite photograph may be created by incorporating and combining templates, fixed phrases, and the like prepared in advance by the photograph creator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a photo processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a photo processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of a photo processing apparatus according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2a storage means 3 optical drawing reading means 4 film

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Mikiya Seto 579 Umehara, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama Prefecture F-term in Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd. 2H109 BA06 BA11 5B057 BA02 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CE08 5C076 AA12

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A drawing created by a customer is read by an optical drawing reading means, the read drawing information is stored, image information of a photographed and developed film is read separately from the read drawing information, and then the drawing information and the image are read. A photo processing method that digitally processes information to create a composite photo. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising creating a composite photograph by combining the image with a previously prepared image. 3. Optical drawing reading means for reading a drawing created by a customer, storage means for storing the read drawing information,
A photographic processing apparatus comprising: image reading means for reading image information of a film photographed and developed separately from the image information; and digital processing means for synthesizing the read image information and image information. 4. The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said optical drawing reading means, image reading means, and digital processing means are integrally incorporated.