JP2000267195A - Photographic printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a photographic printing device capable of restraining the deterioration of the quality of a printed image caused by space between the pixels of an image exposed on photographic paper. SOLUTION: Relating to this printing device, the photographic paper 10 is exposed by a DMD 6 having plural micromirrors controlling the reflecting direction of a light beam from a light source part 1 in accordance with image data. The device is provided with one double refraction plate 7 in contact with the reflection surface of the DMD 6. The plate 7 separates the light beam corresponding to each pixel in the DMD 6 into two light beams having a different optical axis from each other, and the space between the pixels on the photographic paper 10 by either optical axis light beam is exposed by the pixel by the other optical axis light beam.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic printing apparatus for printing an image on a photographic paper by exposing a photographic paper as a photosensitive material using a digital micromirror device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of photographic printing apparatuses for printing a digital image on photographic paper using a light modulation element have been implemented. Among such photographic printing apparatuses, a digital micromirror, in which a large number of extremely small micromirrors are arranged on a plane as a light modulation element, and the inclination angle of each micromirror is controlled to control the reflection direction of reflected light. A photographic printing apparatus using a device (hereinafter abbreviated as DMD) has been proposed.

[0003] The DMD is, for example, compared with a liquid crystal display device (hereinafter abbreviated as LCD) which is widely used at present.
This has the advantage that the efficiency of using light from the light source is high. This is because, in an LCD, the aperture ratio is relatively low due to switching elements, various wirings, and the like, and due to its structure, of the light from the light source, only light having a polarization component in a certain direction can be used. This is because there is a problem. On the other hand, since the DMD has a structure in which light from a light source is reflected by a micromirror, light of all polarization components can be used efficiently.

Here, the configuration of the DMD will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the DMD
The micro-size swingable micro mirror 51 is a post 5
The device is a plurality of devices provided on the substrate 53 through the substrate 2. The exposure of the photographic paper is controlled by adjusting the inclination of each micro mirror 51 according to the image data and changing the light reflection direction.

That is, when the photographic paper is exposed, the micromirror 51 is tilted clockwise with respect to the surface of the substrate 53 by θ (tilted by −θ) as shown in FIG. The light is reflected by the micromirror 51 in the photographic paper direction. On the other hand, when the photographic paper is not exposed, the micromirror 51 is tilted counterclockwise by θ (tilted by + θ) with respect to the surface of the substrate 53 as shown in FIG. The light 51 is reflected in a direction different from the photographic paper direction. The micromirror 51 is in one of the states shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B when the power of the apparatus is turned on or off.

A photographic printing apparatus using such a DMD is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos.
-160140, JP-A-9-160141, JP-A-9-164723, JP-A-9-164
No. 727. These prior arts
In any case, as shown in FIG. 6, during exposure of the printing paper 61, a micro mirror (not shown) of the DMD 63 is placed on the substrate surface so that light from the light source 62 is reflected by the DMD 63 toward the printing paper 61. On the other hand, when the photographic paper 61 is not exposed to light, the micromirror is tilted so that the light from the light source 62 is reflected by the micromirror in the direction of the light absorbing plate 64 (so that the optical path is turned off). It is configured to be inclined with respect to the substrate surface.

Further, between the light source 62 and the DMD 63,
A condenser lens 65 for condensing incident light and irradiating the DMD 63 is provided. This condenser lens 65
In order to prevent the light reflected by the DMD 63 and traveling toward the photographic paper 61 from partially interfering with the condenser lens 65, a portion that may interfere with the condenser lens 65 is cut and arranged. The imaginary lines in the figure indicate portions that may interfere (cut portions).

Although not shown, light source 62 and D
Optical components such as a dimming filter, a heat prevention filter, and a balance filter are arranged between the optical disc and the MD 63 as needed. The light control filter extracts light of each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) from the white light emitted from the light source 62. The heat-insulating filter cuts infrared rays, and the balance filter corrects shading so that the surface of the DMD 63 is irradiated with light with uniform illuminance. A DMD is provided between the DMD 63 and the photographic paper 61.
A printing lens for appropriately enlarging and projecting the light accompanying the image from 63 according to the size of the printing paper 61 is provided.

In the conventional photographic printing apparatus having the above structure, when printing an image on photographic paper, a large number of micromirrors arranged in a plane correspond to each pixel.
By irradiating the DMD with light from a light source, an image is printed on a stationary photographic paper.

[0010]

As described above, the DMD included in the conventional photographic printing apparatus has a configuration in which a large number of micromirrors are arranged in a matrix. In such a DMD, there is a slight gap between the micromirrors. That is, the gap between the micromirrors is a non-reflective area. Where D
The ratio of the reflective area (mirror area) in the entire area of the reflective surface in the MD is much higher than, for example, the aperture ratio of the liquid crystal display element. Therefore, when printing on a relatively small size photographic paper,
A good print image can be provided with almost no influence by the non-reflective area.

However, when the magnification of the printing lens arranged between the DMD and the photographic paper is increased to enlarge the image irradiated on the photographic paper, the pixels corresponding to each micromirror become large, The unexposed area corresponding to the non-reflective area also becomes large.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an exposure state of each pixel on photographic paper by a conventional photographic printing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 7, on the photographic paper, pixels 66 are printed in a matrix, and an unexposed portion in the form of a lattice is formed around each pixel 66. As described above, such a grid-shaped unexposed portion has almost no effect on the quality of a printed image when the printing magnification is low. The line can be checked. In this case, in the printed image, the shape of each pixel appears to be raised, and the image quality is significantly reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to suppress a decrease in image quality of a printed image due to a gap between pixels of an image exposed on photographic paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible photographic printing device.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographic printing apparatus which emits light for each pixel in accordance with input image data, and outputs the light to a photosensitive material. And a single birefringent plate disposed between the image display means and the photosensitive material for separating the optical axis of light emitted from each pixel in the image display means into two. Each pixel exposed on the photosensitive material by light of one optical axis separated by the birefringent plate, to each pixel exposed on the photosensitive material by light of the other optical axis On the other hand, it is characterized in that it is arranged at a position shifted by a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction.

According to the above arrangement, a predetermined area in an unexposed portion between pixels exposed by light on one optical axis separated by the birefringent plate is exposed by light on the other optical axis. Exposed by each pixel. In particular, when the gap between the pixels in the image display means is relatively narrow, most of the unexposed portion between the pixels exposed by the light of one optical axis is exposed by the light of the other optical axis. The exposure is performed by each of the pixels.
Therefore, when a photographic printing apparatus having no birefringent plate is used and printing is performed in a state where the projection magnification on a photosensitive material is relatively large, image quality is deteriorated due to an unexposed area that has occurred on photographic paper. Can be suppressed.

Further, as described above, since the deterioration of the image quality due to the unexposed portion can be suppressed only by providing one birefringent plate, the increase in the material cost and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a photographic printing apparatus excellent in cost performance.

The photographic printing apparatus according to the second aspect is the first aspect of the invention.
In the configuration described above, the shape of each pixel exposed on the photosensitive material is a rectangle whose length in the x direction is a and length in the y direction is b, and one optical axis separated by the birefringent plate. When the width of the gap between the pixels exposed by the light is c in the x direction and d in the y direction, each pixel exposed by light on one optical axis is exposed by light on the other optical axis. X is the distance in the x direction that is moving for each pixel
Assuming that the distance in the y direction is Y, c ≦ | X | ≦ a, d ≦ | Y
| B.

According to the above arrangement, unexposed portions on the photographic paper can be minimized, and unexposed portions formed continuously in the vertical and / or horizontal directions on the image exposed on the photographic paper. The exposure area can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate a striped or grid-like white line due to an unexposed area, and it is possible to provide a good print image in which the shape of each pixel does not appear floating.

Further, by changing the distance between each pixel exposed by light of one optical axis and each pixel exposed by light of the other optical axis within the above range, a printed image is obtained. Can be changed.

The photographic printing apparatus according to the third aspect is the second aspect of the present invention.
In the described configuration, the amount of movement of each pixel exposed by light on one optical axis with respect to each pixel exposed by light on the other optical axis is set to be approximately X = c and Y = d. It is characterized by doing.

According to the above arrangement, each pixel exposed by light on one optical axis is composed of different image data.
Since there is no overlapping of pixels around the pixel exposed by the light of the other optical axis, it is possible to eliminate the blur of the image due to the overlapping of the pixels composed of different image data. Therefore, it is possible to provide a print image of sharp image quality in which the nuances of the original image are faithfully reproduced.

The photographic printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect is the first aspect of the invention.
3. The digital image display device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the image display means has a plurality of micromirrors for controlling a reflection direction of light from a light source according to image data.
It is a micromirror device.

According to the above arrangement, the digital micromirror device having a plurality of micromirrors for controlling the direction of reflection of light from the light source in accordance with image data is used. Has a small gap between the micromirrors. Therefore, as described above, by performing the exposure using the birefringent plate, the unexposed areas on the photographic paper are distributed in a point-like manner. Therefore,
The deterioration of the image quality due to the unexposed area on the photographic paper can be made almost unrecognizable, and a print image with extremely good image quality can be provided.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The photographic printing device is
Light source unit 1, color wheel 2, integrator rod 3, condenser lenses 4.5, DMD 6, birefringent plate 7,
A printing lens 8 and a control unit 9 are provided.

The light source unit 1 is arranged in a direction inclined by a predetermined angle from a normal line direction on the reflection surface of the DMD 6. A color wheel 2, an integrator rod 3, and condenser lenses 4.5 are arranged in this order on the optical axis connecting the light source unit 1 and the DMD 6. Further, the printing lens 8 is arranged in a direction different from the direction in which the light source unit 1 is arranged with respect to the reflection surface of the DMD 6, and the photosensitive lens extends along the optical axis connecting the DMD 6 and the printing lens 8. A photographic paper 10 as a material is arranged. Also,
The birefringent plate 7 is arranged so as to be in contact with the reflection surface of the DMD 6.

The light source unit 1 includes a lamp unit composed of, for example, a halogen lamp, a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the lamp unit in a direction in which the DMD 6 is arranged, and instructs a lamp unit and a reflector at predetermined positions. And a socket for supplying power to the lamp unit.

The color wheel 2 is provided with a disk-shaped wheel, and three substantially fan-shaped filters corresponding to red, green, and blue, respectively, are provided in a region radially divided into three from the center thereof. Configuration. The light from the light source unit 1 rotates about the rotation axis 2A so that the light can pass through any of the regions of the filter.

The integrator rod 3 is made of, for example, quartz glass (BK-7) and has a cross section of 2 mm.
It has a rectangular parallelepiped shape of about 6 mm and a length of about 150 mm. When light enters from one end of the integrator rod 3, total reflection is repeatedly performed inside, and light is emitted from the other end in a state where unevenness in light amount is removed. That is, the light emitted from the light source unit 1 has uneven light intensity due to the influence of the shape of the lamp filament and the shape of the reflector. You.

As a configuration for removing unevenness in the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 1, for example, when a configuration using a diffusion plate is used, light is diffused into a region other than the required range. , The amount of light decreases. On the other hand, as described above, the integrator rod 3 is configured to remove the uneven light amount by repeating total internal reflection, and thus has an advantage that the light amount hardly decreases due to the removal of the uneven light amount. are doing.

The condenser lens 4 converts light emitted from the integrator rod 3 into parallel light.
The condenser lens 5 converts the incident parallel light into a DMD.
The light is condensed toward the display area 6 above.

The DMD 6 includes a plurality of memory cells (not shown) provided in a matrix on a substrate and a plurality of micromirrors (not shown) corresponding to each memory cell. Thus, the reflection direction of the light emitted from the light source unit 1 is changed for each pixel.

More specifically, the DMD 6 has a structure in which a plurality of micro-size swingable micromirrors are provided on a substrate via posts, and the inclination of each micromirror is changed according to image data. The exposure to the photographic paper 10 is controlled by adjusting and changing the light reflection direction.

That is, the micromirrors corresponding to the pixels to be irradiated with light are inclined in such a direction that the light from the light source 1 is reflected in the direction of the photographic paper 10. On the other hand, at the time of non-exposure, and the micromirrors corresponding to the pixels not to be irradiated with light, the micromirrors are inclined in such a direction that the light from the light source unit 1 is reflected in a direction different from the photographic paper 10 direction. According to such control, printing according to the image data sent from the control unit 9 is performed on the photographic paper 10.

Here, the exposure method using the DMD 6 in this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment,
The DMD 6 has a configuration in which 1024 micromirrors are arranged vertically and 1280 micromirrors are arranged horizontally. Then, of the reflection areas in which these micromirrors are arranged, a rectangular area consisting of a part of the width in the vertical direction, for example, 192 micromirrors vertically and 12 micromirrors horizontally.
Only the area (display area) where 80 are arranged is used for actual exposure. The image information is scrolled and displayed in this display area, and the photographic paper 10 is displayed.
Is moved in synchronization with the scroll of the display area.

Thus, in the reflection area of the DMD 6,
Since only a display area which is a part of the display area is used for actual exposure, even if a defective mirror exists in the reflection area, the display area can be set so as to avoid the area where the defective mirror exists. Therefore, the printing paper 10
Since the image printed on the image is completely free from the influence of the defective mirror, a high-quality print image can be provided.

In this embodiment, as described above, a partial area (display area) on the DMD 6 is used, image information is scrolled and displayed in this display area, and the photographic paper 10 is displayed. Although the digital scanning exposure is performed so as to be moved in synchronization with the scroll of the display area, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, DMD6
Display image information using all the above micro mirrors,
A configuration in which the photographic paper 10 is exposed in a stationary state may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the birefringent plate 7 is made of, for example, a hexagonal crystal such as calcite, quartz, or the like.
The refraction separates the extraordinary ray ER whose optical axis moves to a position different from the optical axis of the incident light. The extraordinary ray ER moves from the ordinary ray OR by a shift amount t in the separation direction (shift direction) and is emitted from the birefringent plate 7.

The shift amount t of the extraordinary ray ER with respect to the ordinary ray OR corresponds to the thickness m of the birefringent plate 7, and the shift amount t increases as the thickness m increases. Extraordinary ray E
R is linearly polarized light that oscillates in the shift direction and does not obey the law of refraction. On the other hand, the ordinary ray OR is linearly polarized light that oscillates in a direction perpendicular to the shift direction, and is emitted from the birefringent plate 7 according to the law of refraction.

The photographic printing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which one birefringent plate 7 having the above configuration is provided in contact with the reflection surface of the DMD 6. That is, the light reflected by each micromirror according to the image information passes through the birefringent plate 7 and is separated into an ordinary ray OR and an extraordinary ray ER, and is irradiated onto the photographic paper 10. .

The arrangement position of the birefringent plate 7 is not limited to the above-mentioned position, but may be arranged at any position as long as it is an area between the DMD 6 and the photographic paper 10.

However, when the birefringent plate 7 is arranged at a distance from the DMD 6, the
It is necessary to dispose it at a position outside the light area irradiated on D6. This is because light irradiated from the condenser lens 5 onto the DMD 6 is divided into a region directly incident on the DMD 6 and a region transmitted through the birefringent plate 7 and then incident on the DMD 6. This is because a discontinuity in the amount of light occurs.

When the birefringent plate 7 is arranged at a position distant from the DMD 6, a structure for supporting the birefringent plate 7 is required separately. Further, when supporting the birefringent plate 7,
It is necessary to dispose them so as to be exactly perpendicular to the optical axis of light traveling from the DMD 6 to the printing lens 8.

Therefore, considering the ease of design,
It can be said that a configuration in which the birefringent plate 7 is arranged so as to be in contact with the reflection surface of the DMD 6 as in the configuration of the present embodiment is most preferable.

The printing lens 8 is made up of the photographic paper 10 from the DMD 6.
The light reflected in the direction is once collected, and then the photographic paper 10
It is projected on top. The printing lens 8 is composed of a plurality of lenses. For example, by changing the distance between the lenses, the magnification of the image projected on the photographic paper 10 can be changed. It becomes possible. In addition, as another configuration, the printing lens 8 includes, for example, a plurality of lenses having different focal lengths, and is selectively disposed on an optical axis connecting the DMD 6 and the printing paper 10 to print. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the size of the image to be printed on the paper 6 is changed.

Next, the printing operation on the photographic paper 10 in the photographic printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

The light emitted from the light source unit 1 passes through a filter corresponding to any color in the color wheel 2 and enters the integrator rod 3. The light incident on the integrator rod 3 is emitted from the integrator rod 3 after the unevenness in the light amount is removed by repeating total internal reflection, and is incident on the condenser lens 4. The light incident on the condenser lens 4 is converted into parallel light, and is irradiated on the reflection surface of the DMD 6 by the condenser lens 5.

The light emitted from the condenser lens 5 is transmitted through the birefringent plate 7 and then irradiated onto the DMD 6. However, uniform light is incident on the entire surface of the birefringent plate 7.
Since the light transmitted through the birefringent plate 7 is applied to the entire surface of the DMD 6, there is no influence of the birefringent effect of the birefringent plate 7 on the light incident on the DMD 6.

The light applied to the DMD 6 is reflected in the direction of the photographic paper 10 by a micro mirror which is tilted according to image information. Then, when the light corresponding to each pixel passes through the birefringent plate 7, it is separated into an ordinary ray OR and an extraordinary ray ER, and enters the printing lens 8. Thereafter, the image light by the ordinary ray OR and the image light by the extraordinary ray ER are simultaneously irradiated on the photographic paper 10 by the printing lens 8 whose magnification is appropriately set, and the photographic paper 10 is exposed.

Next, the shift direction and the shift amount t when the ordinary ray OR and the extraordinary ray ER are separated by the birefringent plate 7.
Will be described.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an exposure state of each pixel on the photographic paper 10 by the photographic printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, pixels PA...
Pixels exposed by the ordinary ray OR represent pixels exposed by the extraordinary ray ER.

As shown in FIG. 3, each pixel PB exposed by the extraordinary ray ER is arranged at a position shifted from the pixel PA exposed by the ordinary ray OR of the same pixel data in the direction indicated by the arrow. Will be done. That is, the shift direction and the shift amount t when the ordinary ray OR and the extraordinary ray ER are separated by the birefringent plate 7 correspond to the direction of the arrow and the length of the arrow in FIG. Note that the length of the arrow in FIG. 3, that is, the moving distance of each pixel PB is proportional to the shift amount t,
The length changes according to the magnification by the printing lens 8.

If the exposure is performed on the photographic paper 10 in the state shown in FIG. 3, most of the unexposed portions between the pixels, which have occurred when the light rays are not separated by the birefringent plate 7, are obtained. Are exposed by the pixels PB by the extraordinary ray ER. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the white lines in the form of a lattice due to the unexposed portions, which are generated on the photographic paper when the conventional photographic printing apparatus is used. Therefore, it is possible to provide a good print image in which the shape of each pixel does not appear floating.

Next, the range of the moving direction and moving distance of each pixel PB by the extraordinary ray ER will be described. Here, the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in FIG. 3 are the x direction and the y direction, respectively, and the shape of each pixel PA / PB is a rectangle whose length in the x direction is a and whose length in the y direction is b. Also,
It is assumed that the width of an unexposed region between adjacent pixels PA is c in the x direction and d in the y direction.

In the above relationship, the extraordinary ray ER
Assuming that the moving distance of each pixel PB in the x direction by x and the moving distance in the y direction by Y are c ≦ | X | ≦ a, d ≦ | Y | ≦ b
Is satisfied, the unexposed portion can be minimized. Note that, in the example shown in FIG.
Each pixel PB by R is moved in the upper right direction,
As long as the relationship of the above expression is satisfied, the movement may be performed in any of the upper left, lower left, and lower right directions.

In the state shown in FIG. 3, the extraordinary ray ER
Is partially exposed to the surrounding pixels PA... Composed of different image data, and exposure is performed. Therefore, this overlapping portion is exposed in a halftone state of the image data of the adjacent pixels. Therefore, the print image has a soft image quality. In addition, this state is equivalent to performing high resolution by linear interpolation because halftone pixels are provided between adjacent pixels in the original image.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the exposure state of each pixel on the photographic paper 10 when X = c and Y = d. In such a state, the unexposed portion can be minimized without each pixel PB due to the extraordinary ray ER overlapping the surrounding pixels PA... Composed of different image data. Therefore, when printing is performed in such a state, the printed image has a sharp image quality.

As described above, the image quality of the print image can be changed by changing the moving distance of each pixel PB due to the extraordinary ray ER. To change the moving distance of each pixel PB due to the extraordinary ray ER,
For example, a plurality of birefringent plates 7 having different thicknesses are prepared,
These may be switched and inserted into the optical path.

In normal printing, it is required to faithfully reproduce the nuances of the original image. Therefore, the thickness of the birefringent plate 7 must be set so that the state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. Is preferred.

As described above, in the case of using the single birefringent plate 7 to expose the pixels PA... Due to the ordinary ray OR and the pixels PB .sup. There are two unexposed areas that are not exposed to the pixels PA ... and the pixels PB ... to one pixel. One unexposed area is a rectangle having a width c in the x direction and a width d in the y direction. Therefore, when the distance between adjacent pixels is large, the unexposed area also becomes large.

However, the photographic printing apparatus according to the present embodiment displays image data using the DMD 6, and the DMD 6 has a small space between adjacent micromirrors as described above. Therefore,
Since the interval between adjacent pixels on the photographic paper 10 is relatively small, the unexposed areas as described above are distributed as minute dots on the printed image, and the practical range is expanded. At magnification, it is almost inconspicuous. That is, the configuration in which the pixel PA... Due to the ordinary ray and the pixel PB... Due to the extraordinary ray are exposed on the photographic paper 10 using one birefringent plate 7 is similar to the DMD 6.
It can be said that this is suitable for a photographic printing apparatus using an image display element in which the distance between adjacent pixels is relatively small.

[0062]

As described above, the photographic printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention emits light for each pixel in accordance with input image data, and irradiates the photosensitive material with the light. And a single birefringent plate disposed between the image display means and the photosensitive material and separating the optical axis of light emitted from each pixel in the image display means into two. Each pixel exposed on the photosensitive material by the light of one optical axis separated by the refraction plate has a predetermined direction with respect to each pixel exposed on the photosensitive material by the light of the other optical axis. And is arranged at a position shifted by a predetermined distance.

As a result, most of the unexposed portions between the pixels exposed by the light of one optical axis separated by the birefringent plate are mostly exposed by the pixels exposed by the light of the other optical axis. Will be done. Therefore, when a photographic printing apparatus having no birefringent plate is used and printing is performed in a state where the projection magnification on a photosensitive material is relatively large, image quality is deteriorated due to an unexposed area that has occurred on photographic paper. This has the effect of suppressing noise.

Further, as described above, the deterioration of the image quality due to the unexposed portion can be suppressed only by providing one birefringent plate, so that the increase in the material cost and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed. Therefore, there is an effect that a photo printing apparatus having excellent cost performance can be provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the photographic printing apparatus, the shape of each pixel exposed on the photosensitive material is a rectangle whose length in the x direction is a and length in the y direction is b. When the width of the gap between the pixels exposed by light on one optical axis separated by the refraction plate is c in the x direction and d in the y direction, each pixel exposed by the light on one optical axis is Let X be the distance in the x direction and Y be the distance in the y direction for each pixel exposed by the light of the other optical axis, c ≦ | X | ≦ a, d ≦ | Y It is a configuration satisfying the relationship of | ≦ b.

Thus, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the unexposed portion on the photographic paper can be minimized, and the image exposed on the photographic paper can be vertically and / or horizontally. Unexposed areas formed continuously can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the striped or grid-like white line due to the unexposed area,
There is an effect that a good print image can be provided, in which the shape of each pixel does not appear floating.

In the photographic printing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the amount of movement of each pixel exposed by light on one optical axis with respect to each pixel exposed by light on the other optical axis can be expressed by:
The configuration is such that X = c and Y = d.

Thus, in addition to the effect of the configuration of claim 2, each pixel exposed by light of one optical axis has:
Since there is no overlapping of pixels formed of different image data and exposed by light of the other optical axis around the same, blurring of an image due to overlapping of pixels formed of different image data can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to provide a print image of sharp image quality in which the nuances of the original image are faithfully reproduced.

A photographic printing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a digital micromirror device in which the image display means has a plurality of micromirrors for controlling the direction of reflection of light from a light source in accordance with image data. There is a certain configuration.

Thus, in addition to the effect of any one of the first to third aspects, the digital micromirror device has a small gap between the micromirrors. By performing exposure by using a birefringent plate as described above, the unexposed areas on the photographic paper are distributed in a point-like manner. Therefore, the deterioration of the image quality due to the unexposed area on the photographic paper,
It is possible to make it almost unrecognizable, and it is possible to provide a print image with extremely good image quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing how light is separated by a birefringent plate included in the photographic printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an exposure state of each pixel on photographic paper by the photo printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another exposure state of each pixel on photographic paper by the photo printing apparatus.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views showing the operation of a micromirror in a DMD.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional photographic printing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an exposure state of each pixel on photographic paper by a conventional photographic printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 light source unit 2 color wheel 3 integrator rod 4.5 condenser lens 6 DMD 7 birefringent plate 8 printing lens 9 control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image display means for emitting light for each pixel in accordance with input image data and irradiating the light to a photosensitive material, and disposed between the image display means and the photosensitive material; A birefringent plate for splitting the optical axis of light emitted from each pixel in the image display means into two, and the light on one of the optical axes separated by the birefringent plate on the photosensitive material Each pixel exposed to the light-sensitive material is disposed at a position shifted by a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction with respect to each pixel exposed on the photosensitive material by light of the other optical axis. Photo printing equipment. 2. The shape of each pixel exposed on the photosensitive material is a rectangle having a length in the x direction a and a length b in the y direction, and one optical axis separated by the birefringent plate. The width of the gap between the pixels exposed by the light of
When the y direction is d, the distance in the x direction in which each pixel exposed by light on one optical axis moves with respect to each pixel exposed by light on the other optical axis is X, y. Assuming that the distance in the direction is Y, c ≦ | X | ≦ a, d ≦ | Y | ≦ b
2. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the following relationship is satisfied. 3. The amount of movement of each pixel exposed by light of one optical axis with respect to each pixel exposed by light of the other optical axis is set so that X = c and Y = d. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein 4. The digital micromirror device according to claim 1, wherein said image display means is a digital micromirror device having a plurality of micromirrors for controlling a reflection direction of light from a light source according to image data. 3. The photographic printing apparatus according to any one of 3.