JP2000352774A - Photographic printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To constitute a system for performing the printing of a certificate photograph and a digital photograph by utilizing a printer for performing the printing of an index print. SOLUTION: A signal path capable of printing by controlling the printer C from a photographic printing device A and a microcomputer D is formed, and the microcomputer D is equipped with a reading part 20 for reading the information of a storage medium 18 in which image information photographed by a digital camera 18 is recorded. Furthermore, the system is equipped with a processing system performing the image-processing of the image information of the medium 18 by the microcomputer D and transmitting it to the printer C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for projecting and exposing the image information of a photographic film to silver halide photographic paper, performing a developing process, and photoelectrically converting the image information of the photographic film into a digital signal. The present invention relates to a photographic print system provided with a printing device for outputting image information to a printer for printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photographic printing system configured as described above includes a system for printing image information of an APS film. In this type of system, image information of a photographic film is printed on silver halide photographic paper by one. In addition to the process of projecting and exposing each frame, printing is performed by converting the frame image of the photographic film into a digital signal by photoelectrically converting it with a CCD sensor or the like, and sending this digital signalized image information to a sublimation type printer. Prints image information of multiple frames shot on film on one sheet of paper,
A process for obtaining a so-called index print can be performed.

[0003]

Here, considering printing of an ID photo at a DP store, ID photos require rapid processing from photographing to print finishing, but have the same quality as instant photos. A poor print is not desired, and a high quality print is required. Therefore, it is conceivable to print the ID photo by using an index print printer, which is relatively infrequently used in the above-described photo print system.

An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a photographic print system that uses a printer with a low operating rate to easily perform printing based on external image information.

[0005]

According to a first feature of the present invention (claim 1), as described at the beginning, image information of a photographic film is projected and exposed on a silver halide photographic paper, developed and processed. Photographic film image information is photoelectrically converted into a digital signal, and the digital signalized image information is output to a printer in a photographic printing system having a printing device for performing printing. There is provided an external control means for sending the data to a printer for printing, and its operation and effects are as follows.

A second feature (claim 2) of the present invention is that, in claim 1, one of the image information converted into a digital signal by the photoelectric conversion or the image information converted into a digital signal from the external control means. And a path connection means for sending the selected information to the printer, and the external control means can perform image processing of digitally converted image information,
It consists of a microcomputer that sends the image information after the image processing to the printer.
And the effect is as follows.

A third feature of the present invention (claim 3) is that in claim 2, there is provided a display processing means for displaying on the display of the microcomputer that the printer is in a print state by a signal from the printing device. The operation and effect are as follows.

According to a fourth feature of the present invention (claim 4), the external processing means according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In that it is provided with a reading unit for reading digital signal image information recorded on a storage medium,
The operation and effect are as follows.

According to a fifth feature of the present invention (claim 5), in any one of claims 1 to 3, the external processing means includes:
The digital camera or the image scanner is provided with an input terminal to which digitalized image information from the image scanner is sent. The operation and effect are as follows.

According to the first feature, when performing index printing, digital signal image information from a printing apparatus can be sent to a printer for printing, and when an ID photo or the like is printed. It is also possible to send image information converted into a digital signal from an external control means to a printer for printing.

According to the second feature, one of the image information of the photographic film digitized by the photoelectric conversion or the image information digitized by the external control means is sent to the printer via the path connection means. I will send
A path connection means is interposed in a conventional signal path, and printing can be performed by simply connecting a signal path from an external control means to the path connection means. Since image processing of image information can be performed by a computer, correction of image information printed by a printer, setting of size, and the like can be easily performed by operation of a microcomputer.

According to the third feature, when the printer is printing image information from the printing apparatus,
The display processing means displays on the display of the microcomputer that this printing state is present, and makes this state known to the person who performs the printing operation.

According to the fourth feature, since the external processing means is provided with a reading section for reading image information,
-R, Zip, flash memory and other storage media can be read out by the reading unit and printed.

According to the fifth feature, it is possible to perform printing by sending digital signal image information from a digital camera or an image scanner to an input terminal provided in the external processing means.

[Effects of the Invention] Accordingly, a photographic print system which can print a certification photograph or the like based on image information from the outside without difficulty using a printer with a low operating rate has been rationally constructed. In addition, it is possible to print information from the outside by modifying the conventional signal path to add a new signal path, and also to print after performing image processing with an existing microcomputer. The print timing can be adjusted based on the print status displayed in the storage medium, and the image information recorded on the storage medium and the image information from a digital camera or an image scanner can be printed.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a first signal path L1 for transmitting a signal from the photographic printing apparatus A to a switching mechanism B as a path connecting means is formed, and a second signal path for transmitting a signal from the switching mechanism B to a sublimation type printer C is formed. Signal path L2
And a third signal path L3 is formed from the microcomputer D as an external control means to the switching mechanism B, and a signal can be sent from the photographic printing apparatus A and the microcomputer D to the printer C to perform printing. A photo print system is configured.

The photo printing apparatus A has a built-in microprocessor (not shown),
When a photographic film (not shown) after development is set on the photographic film, a light beam from the light source unit 2 is guided to a frame image of the photographic film, and information of the frame image is supplied from the photographic paper magazine 4 to the exposure unit 3. The silver halide photographic paper is enlarged and projected by an optical lens (not shown), and the exposed photographic paper is developed in a development processing unit 5, dried, cut into a predetermined size, and conveyed. 6, a program for performing a process of sending out is set. In the photographic printing apparatus A, the information of the frame image of the developed photographic film set in the film carrier 1 is converted into three primary colors of R, G and B by a CCD line sensor (not shown) provided in the film carrier 1. A process of color separation, photoelectric conversion and conversion into a digital signal is performed, and the image information converted into the digital signal is displayed on the monitor 7.
On the basis of the display on the monitor 7, a program for operating the console 8 to perform color correction and exposure time correction is set, and a plurality of digital frame image information is switched to the first signal path L1. A program for performing a process of performing index printing by sending to the printer via the mechanism B and the second signal path L2 is set.

The printer C has a sublimation type print head built in the main body 11, prints on a print paper set in a cassette 12 with an exposure head (not shown), and sends the print paper to a discharge unit 13. The microcomputer D includes a main body 14 having a built-in microprocessor, a display 15 for displaying information, a keyboard 16 and a mouse 17.
Is provided with a reading section 20 for reading image information of a storage medium 19 such as a flash memory card in which image information captured by a digital camera 18 and converted into digital signals is recorded.

First, second, and third signal paths L1, L2, L
Reference numeral 3 denotes a SCSI bus, and a switching mechanism B having a function of preferentially connecting a signal path to a photographic printing apparatus A or a microcomputer C of a side to which a signal is input early is used. In this system, using a printer C having a low operating rate only with an index print from the photo print device A, a certificate photo based on image information taken by the digital camera 18 can be printed. The printing of the image information photographed at 18 is realized.

Next, a specific mode of use when printing from the microcomputer D will be described. In this system, the initial menu shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display 15 of the microcomputer D.
This initial menu includes "ID photo" and "Digital photo"
Are displayed. Then, when printing is performed from the storage medium 19 on which the image photographed by the digital camera 18 is recorded, as in the case where a request for an ID photo is made, the storage medium 19
Is set in the reading unit 20 of the microcomputer D,
By operating the cursor key of the keyboard 16 or operating the mouse 17, the cursor is set at the position of the switch S <b> 1 of “ID photograph” and the left button of the mouse 17 is pressed, or the return switch of the keyboard 16 is operated. When the selection is completed, and after the selection, the "OK" switch S3 displayed on the display 15 is operated in a similar operation form, the processing shifts to the next processing.
When the switches displayed on the display 15 are operated in the following processing, the operation is simply referred to as an operation.
This means that the cursor is moved to operate the left button of the mouse 17 or the return key of the keyboard 16 by operating the cursor.

When the selection is completed as described above, all of the image information recorded in the storage medium 2 is read out and temporarily stored in a hard disk (not shown) built in the main body 14 of the microcomputer D. The image information is transferred to a memory (not shown), and a plurality of display units W1, W formed on the display 15 as shown in FIG.
2, displayed on W3. Also, as shown in the figure, in this embodiment, three pieces of image information are displayed on the display 15, but when four or more images are captured on the storage medium 2, By operating the selection switch S4 displayed on the display 15, the image information to be displayed can be switched. The image information most suitable for printing is visually discriminated on this display, and when the discrimination is completed, the printing is completed. The cursor is set at the position (any one of W1, W2, and W3) of the display unit where the most suitable image information is displayed, and the selection is made. Then, the "OK" switch S5
To end the selection of the image information.

When this selection is completed, the message "Please select the type" is continuously displayed on the display 15 as shown in FIG. 4, and "driver's license", "passport", "visa" and "enrollment" are displayed. Five switches SC of “test” and “resume” and a switch SE of “other size” are displayed. Only when the switch SE of “other size” is selected among these switches SC and SE, the input of the values of the vertical size and the horizontal size of the ID photo from the keyboard 16 is permitted. At the time of this input, the input numerical value is displayed on the display unit W4. In addition, "driver's license""passport"
5 switches SC for "Visa", "Entrance examination", "Resume"
Is operated, and after the setting of "other size" is completed, the input of the number of prints is permitted from the keyboard 16, and this number is displayed on the number display section W5, and thereafter "OK" is displayed. When the switch S6 is operated, the process proceeds to the next process.

After the setting of the size and the number of the ID photos is completed, the message "Please align the face" is continuously displayed on the display 15 as shown in FIG. At the same time, the selected image information is displayed on the preview screen WP. The preview screen WP displays a center base line CL indicating the center position in the left-right direction, and horizontal base lines HL and HL for determining the standard positions of the upper end position of the face and the lower end position of the face.
P is a switch S for scrolling image information in the vertical direction.
V and a switch SH for scrolling image information in the horizontal direction
Is displayed. Further, the display 15 displays a zoom switch S6 for enlarging and reducing the image information and a correction switch S7. By operating these switches, the center of the person's face in the image information in the left-right direction is set to the center baseline CL. The composition can be determined by arranging the upper and lower ends of the face in contact with the horizontal base lines HL, HL. When the correction switch S7 is operated, as shown in FIG. 5B, brightness, saturation, hue, R (red),
An auxiliary display unit WC for setting G (green), B (blue), contrast, and sharpness appears. By operating these, the color tone, brightness, contrast, and the like can be arbitrarily corrected. Then, the results of these operations are displayed on the preview screen WP, and when the processed image is finished to be suitable for the ID photo, the next process is performed by operating the “OK” switch S8. .

In the next process, the image information is sent to the printer C and printing is started. If the printer C is not used at the start of this process, the display 15 is displayed on the display 15 as shown in FIG. The message "The ID photo is being printed" is displayed and printing is started. Conversely, if the printer C is being used in the photo printing apparatus A at the start of the process, FIG. As shown, the message "Printer is in use" and the message "Retry automatically" are displayed,
Printing is started at the timing when the use of the printer C by the photo printing apparatus A is released.

When the switch S2 of "digital photograph" is selected and operated in the initial menu shown in FIG. 2, the image information recorded on the storage medium 19 is read out as described above, and the printing process is performed. However, except for the point that image processing such as changing the composition cannot be performed (color correction can be performed), there is not much difference from the printing of the ID photo, so the display contents on the display 15 are omitted.

The outline of the processing described above can be represented as a flowchart in FIG. 8. In this processing, the initial menu is displayed on the display as described above (step # 101). If the switch S1 of the displayed "ID photo" is selected,
The image information recorded on the storage medium 19 is read out, and FIG.
To perform the image processing shown in FIG. 7 and perform printing after the image processing is completed (FIG. 5).
When the "OK" switch S8 is operated in the display of (a)), the process of performing printing is started (# 102 to # 102).
106 steps). If the printer C is not used when the microcomputer D outputs a control signal to the third signal path L3 at the start of the printing, a corresponding signal from the printer C is returned. Is transferred and printing is performed. If the printer C is in the use state, the switching mechanism B does not transmit a signal, so that the corresponding signal is not returned from the printer C.
Based on this, a message "Printer is busy" and "Retry automatically" is displayed on the display 15, and a control signal is output at an appropriate interval and the corresponding signal is returned. To start printing.

Next, when the "digital photograph" switch S2 is selected, the image information recorded on the storage medium 19 is read out, the image information on the storage medium 19 is displayed on the display 15, and printing is performed. Correction processing is performed for selection, the number of prints, and color correction that is required, and when there is an operation to execute printing after this processing, printing processing is started (# 107 to # 11).
1) and these processes are performed until reset (# 112 step).

If the printer C is not used when the control signal is output from the microcomputer D to the third signal path L3 at the start of the printing, the corresponding signal is returned from the printer C as described above. Printing is performed by transferring image information from the microcomputer D. If the printer C is in use, the switching mechanism B does not transmit a signal, so that no appropriate signal is returned from the printer C. Message is displayed on the display 15 and a control signal is output at an appropriate interval, and printing is started after an appropriate signal is returned. I have. In particular, at the time of this printing, the photo printing device A
In order to give priority to the printing by the signal from the printer, the transfer of the signal is interrupted every time one print is performed, and the interruption of the signal from the photo pudding apparatus A is permitted.

In this system, a photographic printing device A
The hue of the background is set such that the print when the printer C is controlled and printed by the signal from the microcomputer and the print when the printer C is controlled and printed by the signal from the microcomputer D can be easily distinguished. Are set differently, or marks or frames are formed outside the print area of the print paper for discrimination.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the order of the photographing and printing of the ID photograph is received at the DP shop, or when the order of the printing of the photograph based on the image information photographed by the digital camera 18 is received. Can respond quickly using a printer C with a low operating rate. For example,
When an order for photographing and printing the ID photo is generated, a portrait of the customer is immediately photographed by a digital camera, and a storage medium 19 such as a flash memory in which the photographed image information is recorded is set in the reading means 20. Based on the display on the display 15, processing is performed in the order in which they are displayed, and only by performing an operation to print, it is possible to finish the ID photo in a short time and hand it to the customer. In particular, in this system, when the ID photo is printed, it is only necessary to perform the processing in the order according to the contents displayed on the display 15, so that it is difficult to perform an erroneous operation. In this case, the index printing cannot be performed by the signal from the photo printing apparatus A until the printing of the ID photo is completed, and the signal for performing the index printing is output from the photo printing apparatus A when the digital photo is printed. In such a case, the index print can be performed by a process of interrupting the print of the digital photograph, so that the inconvenience of delaying the print of the index print is eliminated.

[Other Embodiments] In addition to the above-described embodiment, the present invention provides a system provided with an input terminal for transmitting image information from a digital camera or an image scanner to a printer without using a storage medium as an input unit. It is also possible to configure.

By providing the photo printing device with a communication function, even when a plurality of index prints are performed, the control mode can be set so that the print is interrupted and the ID photo is printed with the highest priority. Is possible,
It is also possible to use this communication function to send a signal to a printer via a printer server.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a photo print system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display contents of a monitor of an initial menu.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing display contents of a monitor when image information is selected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing display contents on a monitor when a print type is selected.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing display contents of a monitor during image processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing display contents of a monitor when printing an ID photograph.

FIG. 7 is a view showing display contents of a monitor in a print standby state.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control mode of the microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 15 display 19 storage medium 20 reading section A printing device B route connection means C printer D external control means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H106 AB95 BA55 BA58 BH00 5C052 AA12 AA17 DD02 FA02 FA03 FB01 FC06 FE04 FE08 5C062 AA01 AA05 AA14 AA31 AB03 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB23 AB38 AB46 AC05 AC07 AC43 AE15 BA00 BD00

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image information of a photographic film is projected and exposed on a silver halide photographic paper, a developing process is performed, and the image information of the photographic film is photoelectrically converted into a digital signal. A photographic printing system provided with a printing device (A) for outputting to a printer (C) for performing printing, wherein external control means (D) for transmitting digitalized image information to the printer (C) for printing. ) Photographic printing system with: 2. A path connection for selecting one of image information converted into a digital signal by the photoelectric conversion or image information converted into a digital signal from the external control means (D) and sending the selected information to the printer (C). Means (B), and the external control means (D) is capable of performing image processing of the digitally converted image information, and comprises a microcomputer for sending the image information after the image processing to the printer (C). The photographic print system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The microcomputer according to claim 2, further comprising display processing means for displaying on a display (15) of said microcomputer that said printer (C) is in a printing state by a signal from said printing device (A). Photo printing system. 4. The external processing means (D) comprises a reading section (20) for reading digital signalized image information recorded on a storage medium (19). A photographic print system according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. The external processing means (D) is provided with an input terminal to which digital signal image information from a digital camera or an image scanner is sent. The photographic print system according to claim 1.