JP2000232572A - Image read and reproducing device and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily insert characters and a graphic pattern to a print as to designated by a user without causing any adverse effect to a picture on the print by providing an image recording means or the like that scans and exposes a sensitive material in a single process depending on output image composite data and records a picture on the sensitive material. SOLUTION: Output composite image data generated by an image composite section 22 are fed to the image recording section of a printer 16 that is an image recording means. On the other hand, the sensitive material is cut to a length decided by a CPU 24 in a carrying direction to prepare a cut sheet of a prescribed size and a sensitive material carrying means 33 carries the sensitive material to the imaged recording section. The image recording section applies digital scanning exposure to the sensitive material sheet in a single process in response to the output synthesis image data to form a latent image onto the sensitive material. Then the sensitive material carrying means 33 carries the exposed sensitive material on which the latent image of the synthesis image is formed to a developer, where development processing is applied to the sensitive material to generate a finished print.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for photoelectrically reading an image photographed on a film, performing predetermined image processing,
The present invention relates to an image reading / reproducing apparatus and an image reading / reproducing method for recording a synthesized image by scanning and exposing a photosensitive material in a single step by synthesizing the same with line image data to produce output composite image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing of an image photographed on a photographic film (hereinafter simply referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film on a photosensitive material such as a photographic paper has been performed.
This has been done by so-called direct exposure (analog exposure), in which a film image is projected onto a photosensitive material and the photosensitive material is surface-exposed.

[0003] At this time, since the cut sheet obtained by cutting the photosensitive material into a predetermined size is appropriately held against projection light, a mask is attached to the cut sheet and the periphery thereof is held. In this case, there was inevitably an unexposed white border area around the image.

[0004] In view of this, printing of a photographing date, a CI (corporate identity) mark, or the like has been performed on the white border area by multiple exposure using a lithographic film or the like. The printing of characters and marks on the white border area must be performed by exposing the image printing area of the photosensitive material to light using a lith film while shielding the image printing area of the photosensitive material with a special mask, separately from the image exposure from the film. Such multiple exposure had to be performed.

Then, due to technical innovation, in the case of a cut sheet, vacuum suction is used to hold the sheet on an exposure table. A method such as holding on an exposure table has been adopted, and a mask has become unnecessary, and a photograph without a white border has become mainstream.

In recent years, a digital photo printer using digital exposure, which photoelectrically reads image information recorded on a film, converts the image information into digital image data, performs various digital image processings, and records an image, is used. Has been put to practical use. In such a digital photo printer, image data of characters is generated by image data processing, and combined with image data of an image photographed on a film, an image obtained by combining characters with an image photographed on a film (image data ) Can be generated and used for exposure, so that a much more free sentence can be recorded on the surface of a photograph than a standard sentence such as the date of photography using a conventional lithographic film or the like.

Further, in a recently announced new photo system (APS = Advanced Photo System), various kinds of information can be recorded on a magnetic recording medium formed on a film. The magnetic information includes the title of the image and the like. The magnetic information is read at the time of printing at a lab or the like, and the title and the like are included in the image on the print surface in addition to the conventionally recorded shooting date and the like. Can be recorded.

[0008]

However, in the method of using the conventional squirrel film to put characters on a white edge of a print, in addition to printing a photographic image with a film,
It is necessary to perform multiple exposure for printing of a character iso-line image using a lith film dedicated to a character iso-line image. For this purpose, a dedicated mask is required, and a lith film must be prepared for each image. In particular, in order to produce this squirrel film, it is necessary to produce a plate for each case, and to perform exposure and development, so that there has been a problem that the correction is difficult and troublesome.

Further, characters can be freely inserted on the photographic surface to some extent by the digital photo printer or by using the APS. However, if characters are inserted into an image, the characters may be difficult to see depending on the background image. Conversely, characters may interfere with the image, causing a problem in product quality, and some users may dislike entering characters in the image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has been made in consideration of an image in which characters and / or patterns can be easily placed on a print surface in accordance with a user's designation without disturbing the image. It is an object to provide a reading and reproducing apparatus and method.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for photoelectrically reading an image photographed on a film to obtain digital input image data; Image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on input image data to obtain image-processed image data; line image obtaining means for obtaining digital line image data of a line image including at least one of a character and a picture; An image area for recording an image photographed on the film and a title area other than the image area are provided, and the image-processed image data and the image data are recorded so that the line image is recorded in the title area. Image synthesizing means for synthesizing line image data and creating output image synthesized data;
An image reading / reproducing apparatus comprising: an image recording unit that scans and exposes the photosensitive material in a single step according to the output image combined data and records a combined image on the photosensitive material. It is.

Further, the present invention is the image reading and reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising an image area where the image is recorded in accordance with the image-processed image data, and an image reading and reproducing apparatus in accordance with the line image data. Image size determining means for determining the length of the photosensitive material for recording the composite image in the sub-scanning transport direction from the title area in which the line image is recorded, and a photosensitive material having a length corresponding to the determined length. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading / reproducing apparatus comprising: a photosensitive material cutting means for cutting in advance; and a conveying means for conveying the cut photosensitive material to the image recording means.

Further, the present invention is the image reading and reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising an image area where the image is recorded according to the image-processed image data, and an image area corresponding to the line image data. Image size determining means for determining the length of the photosensitive material for recording the composite image in the sub-scanning transport direction from the title area where the line image is recorded, and a long photosensitive material for each determined length. An image reading and reproducing apparatus, comprising: a cut mark forming means for forming a cut mark in advance; and a conveying means for conveying the long photosensitive material having the cut mark formed thereon to the image recording means. Is what you do.

Here, it is preferable that the line image obtaining means has a line image generating means for generating digital line image data of the line image. In the case where at least one of the character and the picture includes at least a handwritten one, it is preferable that the line image acquiring unit includes a line image reading unit that photoelectrically reads the line image and obtains digital line image data. Or a line image generating means for generating digital line image data of a part of the line image, and photoelectrically reading a line image including at least the handwritten one of the other part of the line image, It is preferable to have a line image reading means for obtaining image data. Preferably, the title area is provided only on one of the image areas, on both sides of the image area, or around the image area, that is, on at least one side of the image area.

The present invention also relates to the image reading and reproducing apparatus, further comprising controlling the image processing means, the image reading means, the line image obtaining means, the image synthesizing means, and the image recording means. Accordingly, an image size determining means,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading / reproducing apparatus having a photosensitive material cutting means and a conveying means, and a control means for controlling the cut mark forming means and the conveying means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image photographed on a film is photoelectrically read, digital input image data is obtained, and predetermined image processing is performed on the input image data to obtain image-processed image data. Obtain digital line image data of a line image including at least one of a character and a picture, and on a photosensitive material, an image area for recording an image photographed on the film and a title area in addition to this image area. Is provided, and the image-processed image data and the line image data are combined so that the line image is recorded in the title area to create output image combined data. Accordingly, the present invention provides an image reading / reproducing method, which comprises scanning and exposing the photosensitive material in a single step, and recording a composite image on the photosensitive material.

Further, the present invention is the image reading / reproducing method according to the second aspect, wherein the image processed image data and the line image data are combined according to the image processed image data. From the title area where the line image is recorded according to the image area to be recorded and the line image data, the length of the photosensitive material for recording the composite image in the sub-scanning conveyance direction is determined, and the determined length is determined. A photosensitive material that is long in length is cut in advance, and the cut photosensitive material is conveyed to the image recording means, and the cut photosensitive material is cut once according to the output image synthesis data. The present invention provides an image reading / reproducing method, wherein scanning exposure is performed in a process, and the composite image is recorded on the pre-cut photosensitive material.

Further, the present invention is the image reading / reproducing method according to the second aspect, wherein the image processed image data and the line image data are combined according to the image processed image data. From the title area where the line image is recorded according to the image area to be recorded and the line image data, the length of the photosensitive material for recording the composite image in the sub-scanning conveyance direction is determined, and the determined length is determined. A cut mark is formed in advance on a long photosensitive material for each length, and the long photosensitive material on which the cut mark is formed is transported to the image recording means, and the long cut material on which the cut mark is formed is formed. Scanning and exposing the photosensitive material in a single step in accordance with the output image composite data, and recording the composite image on the long photosensitive material on which the cut marks are formed in advance. It is to provide a method.

Here, the digital line image data is obtained by photoelectrically reading the digital line image data generated for the line image and the line image including at least one of the character and the picture which is handwritten. It is preferably at least one of the digital line image data obtained. Further, it is preferable that the title area is provided on at least one of or around the image area.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image reading / reproducing apparatus and an image reading / reproducing method according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. First, an image reading and reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, as a first embodiment of the image reading and reproducing apparatus of the present invention,
A description will be given of a case where a finished print in which a title area is provided only on one side or both sides of an image area of a predetermined size on the surface of a photograph is described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an image reading and reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. An image reading and reproducing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes a scanner (image reading means) 1 for photoelectrically reading an image photographed on a film.
2, performing various image processing such as electronic scaling processing according to the finished print size on the read digital image data (image information), and processing the image-processed image data and characters and pictures, which are features of the present invention. An image processing device 14 that combines digital line image data of a line image such as a line image and outputs output combined image data corresponding to a finished print size corresponding to the photosensitive material to be used, and is processed and combined by the image processing device 14. A sheet-shaped photosensitive material in which a roll-shaped long photosensitive material is cut in advance to a predetermined size by a light beam modulated according to the synthesized image data, or a long photosensitive material in which only cut marks at predetermined intervals are formed. (Image recording means) 16 which performs image scanning exposure as it is, develops it, and outputs it as a print.

An image processing unit 14 performs various image processing operations on the image data, including color balance, color density adjustment, gradation adjustment, electronic scaling, sharpness enhancement, dodging, and the like. Line image generation unit 2 that generates digital line image data from characters and patterns according to an instruction or the like
0, and an image combining unit 22 that combines the image-processed image data and the line image data and outputs the combined image data. The operation and control of the entire image reading and reproducing apparatus 10 and each device are performed by a CPU (control means) 24. The CPU 24 includes an operation unit 26 having a keyboard 26a and a mouse 26b for inputting (setting) various conditions, selecting and instructing processing, and instructing color and density correction, and the like. (CRT) that displays images read by the scanner 12 from the film, various operation instructions, setting of various conditions, a registration screen, and the like.
30 are connected. Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example, and the CPU 24 may be provided in the image processing apparatus 14.

In the image reading / reproducing apparatus 10 of the present invention, the CPU 24 converts a combined image from the image data processed by the image processing section 18 and the line image data generated by the line image generating section 20 into a printer. In step 16, the photosensitive material recorded by the digital image scanning exposure also functions as an image size determining means for determining the length in the sub-scanning conveyance direction with respect to the length in the main scanning direction. In addition,
As shown in FIG. 5A, in the present embodiment, the length of the photosensitive material in the main scanning direction is determined by the size of the long photosensitive material loaded in the photosensitive material supply unit 36 of the printer 16 described later, that is, the width. Automatically determined by here,
CP to determine the length of the photosensitive material in the sub-scanning transport direction
The image data and line image data sent to U24 include information on the color and density of the image, as well as information such as the print size and other additional information. The length of the photosensitive material in the sub-scanning conveyance direction determined by the CPU 24 is the printer 1
Sent to 6.

In the printer 16, in response to an instruction from the CPU 24, a cutter 32, which is a photosensitive material cutting means, cuts the photosensitive material in advance in the determined length in the sub-scanning conveyance direction, as will be described later. The transport unit 33 transports the cut sheet-shaped photosensitive material to the image recording unit 38.
At this time, instead of the photosensitive material cutter 32 and the transporting means 33, as shown in FIG. 5B, a frame punch (perforator) 34 and a photosensitive material transporting means 35 as cut mark recording means are provided, and the photosensitive material is transported. The printer 1 does not actually cut, but only forms a cut mark at the position to be cut, that is, punches a punch hole to make the printer 1 long.
6 may be conveyed, the image may be recorded and developed in the printer 16, and the image may be finally cut.

The scanner 12 is a device that photoelectrically reads an image photographed on a film or the like one frame at a time. In the scanner 12, the reading light emitted from the light source and subjected to light amount adjustment, color adjustment, and uniform diffusion is incident on one frame image of the film held at a predetermined reading position and transmitted therethrough, thereby photographing the film. The projection light carrying the image of the frame thus obtained is obtained. This projection light is received by a CCD sensor, and its output signal is amplified by an amplifier, and A / D
After being converted into digital input image data, it is sent to the image processing unit 18. The image processing unit 18 performs various image processing on the digital input image data.

On the APS film, magnetic tracks are formed at both ends in the width direction, and information such as a photographing date and time and an image title can be recorded therein. For this reason, in the case of the APS film-compatible image reading and reproducing apparatus 10, a reading head for reading such magnetic information is provided in the scanner 12.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the printer 16 includes a photosensitive material supply unit 36, a cutter 32, and a photosensitive material transport unit 3.
An image recording apparatus and a developing apparatus (photosensitive material processing apparatus, also simply referred to as a processor) having an image recording section 38 and an image recording section 38;
0. The photosensitive material supply unit 36 is loaded with a photosensitive material magazine 36a in which a long photosensitive material wound in a roll is housed in a light-shielding box, and inside and outside the magazine 36a, near the photosensitive material outlet. A pull-out roller pair 36b for pulling out the photosensitive material is disposed.

As described above, the cutter 32 is provided with the CPU 2.
In response to the instruction from the CPU 4, the long photosensitive material pulled out of the magazine 36a by the pull-out roller pair 36b is processed by the CPU.
The sheet is cut in advance in the length in the sub-scanning conveyance direction determined in 24. The photosensitive material cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 32 is transported by photosensitive material transporting means 33 including a large number of transport roller pairs 33a and transport guides. And the like, and are conveyed to the image recording unit 38. After image exposure
Sorting of the exposed sheet-shaped photosensitive material in the main scanning direction by the sorting device 33c is performed, and the exposed photosensitive material is
The photosensitive material is transported to the developing device 40 by the photosensitive material transporting means 33.

The image recording section 38 has an exposure unit 38a and a scanning and conveying means 38b. The image synthesizing section 22 ejected from the exposure unit 38a while conveying the photosensitive material in the sub-scanning direction by the scanning and conveying means 38b. The photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed to record a latent image by scanning in a main scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the sub-scanning conveyance direction with a light beam modulated by the digital combined image data combined in step (1). The exposure unit 38a forms three main scanning lines on the photosensitive material with three types of light beams modulated in accordance with the composite image data to be recorded and corresponding to the exposure of the three primary colors deflected in the main scanning direction. The light is incident on a predetermined recording position, and the photosensitive material is scanned and exposed on the basis of a center with the center in the main scanning direction and the center in the width direction of the photosensitive material conveyed in the sub-scanning direction being matched. A light source for emitting three types of light beams, three types of light beam modulating means, a light deflector such as a polygon mirror, fθ
This is a known light beam scanning device having a lens, a mirror for adjusting an optical path, and the like.

The developing device 40 develops, fixes and bleaches, applies to the exposed photosensitive material scanned and exposed by the image recording section 38.
It performs drying and sorting after performing wet processing such as washing, and includes a wet processing tank such as a developing tank, a fixing / bleaching tank, and a washing tank, a dryer, and a sorter.
As such a developing device, a conventionally known photosensitive material processing device can be used. Such a digital photo printer and its image recording apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 048,258 and U.S. Pat.
No. 9/048263 is disclosed in detail.

The printer 16 used in the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5A, after a long photosensitive material is cut into a size of a composite image in advance and then subjected to digital scanning exposure, the method is not limited to the one shown in FIG. A cut mark may be recorded in advance in accordance with the size of an image, and digital scanning exposure may be performed without cutting the image in a long state. That is, the printer 16 shown in FIG. 5B includes an image recording device and a developing device (photosensitive device) including a photosensitive material supply unit 36, a frame punch 34 functioning as a cut mark recording unit, a photosensitive material conveying unit 35, and an image recording unit 38. A material processing apparatus, also simply referred to as a processor) 40 and a cutter 42 are provided.

The printer 16 shown in FIG. 5B includes the cutter 32 and the photosensitive material conveying means 3 of the printer 16 shown in FIG. 5A.
3 are the same except that they each have a frame punch 34 and a photosensitive material conveying means 35, and further have a cutter 42. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Omitted. As described above, the frame punch 34 receives the instruction from the CPU 24, and in accordance with the length of the long photosensitive material pulled out from the magazine 36a by the pull-out roller pair 36b in the sub-scanning conveyance direction determined by the CPU 24, in advance. Punch a punch hole to be a cut mark. A long photosensitive material having a predetermined length of punched holes formed by the top punch 34 is provided with a large number of transport roller pairs 35a.
The photosensitive material is transported by the photosensitive material transporting means 35 including a transport guide without cutting along the way.
On the way, back printing information is recorded by the back printing printer 35b and the like, and is conveyed to the image recording unit 38.

At this time, vibrations caused by punching of the punch holes by the frame punch 34 and back printing by the back printing printer 35b before image exposure, entry into the developing device 40 after image exposure, standby, and various transport In order to avoid adverse effects on the digital scanning exposure of the image recording unit 38 such as vibration of the image recording unit 38, a loop 3 of a long photosensitive material is provided before and after the sub-scanning conveyance unit 38b including two pairs of conveyance rollers of the image recording unit 38.
5c is formed. The cut mark is not limited to a punch hole formed by the frame punch 34, and various cut marks such as a print cut mark by a back print printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-133973 of the present applicant can be used.

In the image recording section 38, the photosensitive material is subjected to digital scanning exposure while being long. After the image scanning exposure, the exposed photosensitive material is transferred to the developing device 4 by the photosensitive material conveying means 33.
After being subjected to wet processing such as development and drying in the developing device 40, the developed and dried photosensitive material is cut into a finished print size of a composite image according to the punched holes, and sorted in the developing device 40. Done. Note that the cutter 42 is preferably provided in the developing device 40. Such a digital photo printer and its image recording apparatus are disclosed in detail in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-133973 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,888, filed by the present applicant.

The image reading / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is basically constructed as described above. The operation and the image reading / reproducing method according to the second aspect of the present invention will be described below. explain. Here, a normal negative film is shown in FIG.
It is assumed that an image of Mt. Fuji as shown in FIGS. a and 2b has been taken, and this image is printed in a standard size, for example, L size (s × t = 89 mm × 127 mm),
A case will be described in which a title region is added to only one side of the photographic image, specifically, only to one side in the conveying direction of the photosensitive material. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. A title area may be added to both sides of (sub-scan transport).

The negative film is set on the scanner 12 and
The film image is read, and the read digital input image signal is sent to the image processing unit 18. The image processing unit 18 performs image processing on the image to create image-processed image data.
On the other hand, the photographing date, title, and the like designated by the user are input by the keyboard 26a or the mouse 26b. This input signal is sent to the line image generation unit 20, and the line image generation unit 20 generates digital line image data. In the image synthesizing unit 22, the image-processed image data and the line image data are synthesized to generate output synthesized image data.

Here, when composing the image-processed image data and the line image data to create output composite image data, the image-processed image data is recorded along the conveying direction of the photosensitive material. In this case, a title area for recording line image data is provided after an image area of L size (s × t in the illustrated example) defined here. At this time, the CPU 24 determines the print size of the composite image from the image-processed image data to be composed and the attached information such as the size information included in the line image data, and determines the length of the photosensitive material in the sub-scanning transport direction (transport direction). To decide. At this time, the length of the photosensitive material in the main scanning direction is set to the width of the long photosensitive material.

Therefore, when the photosensitive material is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow a in FIG. 2A, a long photosensitive material having a width s (89 mm) is used. L size (s × t = 89 mm × 127 m)
m) a print area s × (t + α) in which a title area 54 of size s × α is added to the short side of the image area 52
And the CPU 24 determines that the length of the photosensitive material in the transport direction is t + α = (127 + α) mm.
When the photosensitive material is conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow b in FIG. 2B, a long photosensitive material having a width t (127 mm) is used. A print 6 of print size (s + α) × t in which a title area 64 of size α × t is added to the long side of the image area 62 of (s × t = 89 mm × 127 mm)
Output composite image data for outputting 0 is generated, and the CPU 24 determines the length of the photosensitive material in the transport direction to be s + α = (89 + α) mm.

In the title area 54 or 64, a shooting date, a title 64a, a CI mark or the like is recorded. The title areas 54 and 64 are
It is possible to write some messages, illustrations, and the like. The information written in the title areas 54 and 64 has a fixed type (a fixed title such as "New Year" or an animation character) in the image processing apparatus 14 (or the CPU 24) in advance. The user may specify one of them, or the one specified when the user brings it to the lab shop or the like may be designated by the keyboard 26a.
Or a pattern such as a user's handwritten character or illustration may be read by the hand scanner 28, or a character or pattern recorded on a magnetic recording medium such as an FD, Generated or read and stored in other image processing devices,
Characters or patterns created by a computer or other means may be used.

Alternatively, when an APS film is used, information recorded on the magnetic track is read by the scanner 12.
May be read and used. In a normal film, an optically readable barcode such as a DX code, an extended DX code, or an FNS code may be burned in advance as representing various information. In addition,
In the case of an APS film, it is easy to assign another title to each of such titles. Also,
In the case of normal film, when reprinting (printing),
It is easy for the user to assign a different title to each frame, and even in the case of simultaneous printing, the title can be changed for each frame if the number of frames is known.

The generated composite image data for output is sent from the image compositing unit 22 to the image recording unit 38 of the printer 16. On the other hand, the length of the photosensitive material in the carrying direction is determined by the CPU 24 from the cutter 32 of the printer 16 and the photosensitive material carrying means 3.
Sent to 3. In the printer 16, as shown in FIG. 5A, the cutter 32 cuts the photosensitive material extracted from the magazine 36a into the length determined by the CPU 24, and cuts the photosensitive material into a cut sheet of a predetermined size corresponding to the print size. The photosensitive material transport means 33 transports the photosensitive material to the image recording unit 38. In the image recording section 38, the sheet-shaped photosensitive material is digitally scanned and exposed in a single process in accordance with the output composite image data to form a latent image on the photosensitive material. In this way, the exposed photosensitive material on which the latent image of the composite image is formed is transported to the developing device 40 by the photosensitive material transporting means 33, and is subjected to a development process to produce a finished print.

In the printer 16, the cutter 3
5B, the top punch 34 and the photosensitive material conveying means 33 are replaced with the photosensitive material conveying means 33 as shown in FIG.
And a cutter 42 is provided at the end of the developing device 40, and the photosensitive material is transported as it is long without cutting it by merely punching a punch hole (cut mark) with the coma punch 34 in the long photosensitive material. After being conveyed to the image recording unit 38 and subjected to digital scanning exposure in one step, the exposed photosensitive material subjected to digital scanning exposure is developed and dried by the developing device 40, and then cut by the cutter 42. Is also good. Even in this case, the scanning exposure is performed in one process.

Which side (long side or short side) of the title area is to be added to the image area may be specified by the user. For example, when the user specifies to attach a title area to the long side, a photosensitive sheet having a width of t = 127 mm is used as a cut sheet cut to a length s + α in the transport direction, as shown in FIG. 2B. Print 6 like
0 can be output.

In the first embodiment, the image-processed image data is output in a predetermined fixed size as usual, and the line image data may be output subsequently. The synthesis of is very simple.
The print 50 or 60 has an image area 52,
Cut line 5 between 62 and title areas 54 and 64
6, 66 may be inserted. According to this, when the title area becomes unnecessary at a later date, it can be easily separated.

In the example shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the title areas 54 and 64 are provided behind the image areas 52 and 62 in the conveying direction of the photosensitive material. However, the present invention is not limited to this. First, the title areas 54 and 64 are output first, followed by the image areas 52 and 62,
Contrary to the illustrated example, it may be provided on the front side in the transport direction of the photosensitive material, and the provided position may be any of the upper, lower, left and right with respect to the image. Further, a title area 54,
The reference numeral 64 may be provided before and after the photosensitive area in the transport direction of the photosensitive material, that is, on both sides with respect to the image areas 52 and 62.

Next, as a second embodiment of the image reading / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, a title area is provided around an image area as in a conventional white bordered photograph. The output of the finished print will be described. The output print shown in FIG. 3 has a size larger than a normal image output size, for example, a 2L size (s × t = 1).
A normal image output size in a print 70 of 27 mm × 178 mm, for example, L size (89 mm × 127)
mm), a title area 74 is provided around the image area 72.

The output print shown in FIG. 4 is a print 80 of a size larger than the normal image output size, for example, A4 size (s × t = 210 mm × 297 mm).
In the normal image output size, for example, L size (8
A title area 84 is provided around an image area 82 of 9 mm × 127 mm). As shown in these examples, when the finished print size becomes large to some extent, even if the original photographic image is output as it is, or even if it is output slightly smaller, it is possible to provide a somewhat large title area around it. Becomes

An image reading and reproducing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention
The image processing apparatus 14 converts digital image data having a predetermined pixel density read by the scanner 12 so that a finished print having an image area substantially equal to the width of the photosensitive material to be used is output in an ordinary image reading and reproducing apparatus. The image data is converted into output image data having an output pixel density and a finished print size by electronic scaling. For this reason, if the corresponding photosensitive material is used to obtain prints 70 and 80 having a size larger than the normal image output size, the image reading and reproducing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used.
Or, in a normal image reading and reproducing apparatus, a large-sized print image is obtained. Therefore, in the present invention, in the image processing unit 18 of the image processing apparatus 14, it is necessary to perform the electronic scaling process by setting the electronic magnification smaller than the electronic magnification corresponding to the size of the photosensitive material used according to the print size. is there. Thus, the image area 7 for the prints 70 and 80
2 and 82 can be reduced so that the periphery of the image areas 72 and 82 can be a title area.

In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a photographic image is read from a negative film by a scanner 12, digital input image data is obtained, and an electronic Image areas 72 and 8 that have been subjected to various image processing including magnification and electronic magnification processing at an electronic magnification smaller than the size (width) of a long photosensitive material.
Image data equivalent to 2 is created. On the other hand, line image data is created by the line image generator 20 in accordance with various instructions from the user. The image data and the line image data thus obtained are synthesized in the image synthesizing unit 22 such that the image data is arranged in the image areas 72 and 82 in a predetermined size and the line image data is arranged in the title areas 74 and 84. . Thus, in the image combining section 22, output combined image data is created. In the title areas 74 and 84, for example, as shown in FIG.
Etc. are recorded, or as shown in FIG.
If the title area 84 is somewhat wide, a slightly longer free text (free message) 84a and an illustration 84b of an animation character or the like can be recorded.

The output composite image data thus obtained is sent to the printer 16. On the other hand, the CPU 24 determines the length of the photosensitive material to be cut in the sub-scanning conveyance direction according to the print sizes of the prints 70 and 80, and sends the information to the printer 16. In the printer 16, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
The long photosensitive material pulled out by the b.
Is cut by the CPU 24 to the length in the conveyance direction determined by the CPU 24, and the photosensitive material conveying means 33 cuts the image recording section 38
Transported to In the image recording unit 38, the sheet-shaped photosensitive material is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the sub-scanning conveying unit 38b, and is deflected in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction by the exposure unit 38a in accordance with output composite image data. Scanning exposure is performed in one process by the modulated light beam. The exposed photosensitive material exposed in this manner is developed by the developing device 40 and dried to obtain a finished print.

In the second embodiment, the image areas 72, 8
2, the title areas 74 and 84 are provided around, so that the user can write sentences and pictures more freely, further improve the aesthetic decoration effect, and increase the manageability and use value of the finished photograph. Is achieved. Note that the title areas 74 and 84 need not be provided all around the image areas 72 and 82, and may be provided only on three sides. In addition,
Also in the present embodiment, as in the printer 16 shown in FIG. 5B, before the photosensitive material is conveyed to the image recording section 38, it is needless to say that only the cut mark may be formed by the frame punch 34 or the like without cutting. It is.

In each of the first and second embodiments, a title area is provided by a user's arbitrary instruction, and it is possible to select whether to provide a title area for each frame. For example, as described above, when a title area is provided only on one side or on both sides as in the first embodiment, and a cutout line is inserted between the image area and the title area, the title area becomes unnecessary at a later date. Can be easily separated by a perforated line.

It should be noted that if the fixed form sentences and pictures are not stored in the CPU 24 but downloaded from various software stored in the storage device of the external host computer and used, the CPU 24 Of the storage device can be saved.

Although the image reading / reproducing apparatus and the image reading / reproducing method of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to various embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and does not depart from the gist of the present invention. Of course, various improvements and changes may be made.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily insert characters and pictures on the print surface in accordance with the user's designation without disturbing the image, and to improve the print controllability. It has become possible to increase the use value.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an image reading and reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are conceptual diagrams each showing an example of an output finish print according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an output finish print according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing another example of an output finish print according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are conceptual diagrams each showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a printer of the image reading and reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 image reading and reproducing apparatus 12 scanner (image reading means) 14 image processing apparatus 16 printing (image recording means) 18 image processing section 20 line image generating section 22 image synthesizing section 24 CPU (control means, image size determining means) 26 operating means 26a Keyboard 26b Mouse 28 Hand Scanner (Reading Unit) 30 Display (CRT) 32, 42 Cutter 33, 35 Photosensitive Material Conveying Unit 33a, 35a Conveying Roller Pair 33b, 35b Back Printing Printer 33c Distributing Device 34 Coma Punch (Punch) 35c Loop 36 Photosensitive material supply unit 36a Magazine 36b Pull-out roller pair 38 Image recording unit 38a Exposure unit 38b Scanning and conveying means 40 Developing device (processor) 50, 60, 70, 80 Print 52, 62, 72, 82 Image area 54, 64, 74,84 Title area

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An image reading means for photoelectrically reading an image photographed on a film to obtain digital input image data, and an image processing means for subjecting the input image data to predetermined image processing to obtain image processed image data. Line image acquisition means for acquiring digital line image data of a line image including at least one of a character and a picture; an image area for recording an image photographed on the film on a photosensitive material; and an area other than the image area An image synthesizing means for synthesizing the image-processed image data and the line image data so as to create output image data so that the line image is recorded in the title area. Image recording means for scanning and exposing the photosensitive material in one step in accordance with the output composite image data and recording a composite image on the photosensitive material. An image reading and reproducing apparatus. 2. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image area in which the image is recorded according to the image-processed image data; and the line image according to the line image data. Image size determining means for determining the length in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive material for recording the composite image from the title area where the image is recorded; and a photosensitive material cut for previously cutting the long photosensitive material to the determined length. An image reading / reproducing apparatus, comprising: means for conveying the cut photosensitive material to the image recording means. 3. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the image area where the image is recorded according to the image-processed image data; and the line image according to the line image data. Image size determining means for determining the length in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive material on which the composite image is to be recorded, from the title area where the composite image is recorded; and forming cut marks in advance on the long photosensitive material for each of the determined lengths. An image reading / reproducing apparatus, comprising: a cut mark forming unit that performs the cutting operation; and a conveying unit that conveys the long photosensitive material on which the cut mark is formed to the image recording unit. 4. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said line image acquiring means has a line image generating means for generating digital line image data of said line image. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the character and the picture includes at least a handwritten one, and the line image obtaining means includes:
4. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a line image reading unit that photoelectrically reads the line image to obtain digital line image data. 6. A line image generating unit for generating digital line image data of a part of the line image, wherein the line image acquiring unit includes at least one of the character and the pattern. 2. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a line image reading unit that photoelectrically reads a line image including at least the handwritten one of the other part of the line image to obtain digital line image data. 7. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said title area is provided only in one of said image areas. 8. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said title area is provided on both sides of said image area. 9. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said title area is provided around said image area. 10. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the image processing means, the image reading means, the line image obtaining means, the image synthesizing means, and the image recording means. An image reading / reproducing apparatus comprising a control unit. 11. An image photographed on a film is photoelectrically read, digital input image data is obtained, predetermined image processing is performed on the input image data to obtain image-processed image data, and at least one of a character and a pattern is obtained. Obtaining digital line image data of a line image including one image, and providing, on a photosensitive material, an image area for recording an image photographed on the film and a title area in addition to the image area; The image-processed image data and the line image data are combined to create output image combined data so that an image is recorded, and the photosensitive material is subjected to a single operation in accordance with the output image combined data. An image reading / reproducing method, which comprises scanning and exposing in a step and recording a composite image on the photosensitive material. 12. The image reading and reproducing method according to claim 11, wherein the image recorded according to the image processed image data when the image processed image data and the line image data are combined. From the area and the title area where the line image is recorded according to the line image data, determine the length in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive material on which the composite image is to be recorded; The material is cut in advance, the cut photosensitive material is conveyed to the image recording means, and the pre-cut photosensitive material is scanned and exposed in one step according to the output image composite data, An image reading / reproducing method, wherein the composite image is recorded on a photosensitive material cut in advance. 13. The image reading and reproducing method according to claim 11, wherein the image recorded according to the image processed image data when the image processed image data and the line image data are combined. From the area and the title area where the line image is recorded according to the line image data, determine the length of the photosensitive material for recording the composite image in the longitudinal direction, and for each of the determined lengths, A cut mark is formed in advance on the photosensitive material, and the long photosensitive material on which the cut mark is formed is transported to the image recording means, and the long photosensitive material on which the cut mark is formed is output for the output. An image reading / reproducing method, wherein scanning exposure is performed in a single step according to image combined data, and the combined image is recorded on the long photosensitive material on which the cut mark is formed in advance. 14. The digital line image data is obtained by photoelectrically reading digital line image data generated for the line image and a line image including at least one of a handwritten character as at least one of the characters and pictures. 14. The image reading and reproducing method according to claim 11, which is at least one of digital line image data. 15. The image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the title area is provided on at least one of or around the image area.
5. The image reading and reproducing apparatus according to any one of 4.