JP2002314826A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to enjoy the pleasure and sense of fulfillment of a printing operation by the use of handmade image. SOLUTION: This image processing method of carrying out a discoloration treatment for image data comprises a first step 101 of storing the color range of image material used for image data, a second step 102 of enabling each color of the image material of the image data to carry out a discoloration treatment, and a third step 103 of converting the colors of the image material subjected to the discoloration treatment into colors within the color range.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to, for example, a CD-RO
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus suitable for being applied to a process of changing the color of a hand-made image provided via M or the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to print an image with an image quality comparable to that of a silver halide photograph, the technology relating to an ink jet printer has rapidly advanced. Specifically, for example,
By making the volume of the ink ejected from the nozzle extremely small, the granularity of the ink on the printed matter was greatly reduced. In addition, cyan, which is used in process color printing,
By using light cyan and light magenta inks in addition to the magenta, yellow and black inks, the smoothness of the low density portion was increased. Conventionally, isolated points formed by cyan and magenta in low-density portions have been conspicuous to the naked eye. However, by expressing the density of the isolated points with light cyan or light magenta, the isolated points cannot be distinguished by the naked eye due to the low density of these inks, and the smoothness of the low density portion can be increased. .

[0003] By improving the image quality of the printing process using the ink jet printer apparatus thus formed,
Inkjet printers have made it possible to faithfully reproduce handmade paintings and handwritten characters. For example, letters printed on white paper with a fountain pen or brush, crayon, colored pencils, paintings drawn with watercolors, prints and stencils are printed by an image scanner, and the read image is printed by an inkjet printer. When printing is performed using an image, an image can be formed that is faithful to the original. If you make a handmade painting, read it with an image scanner and convert it into a digital image, you can print multiple copies of the same image. In addition, if a hand-made painting is printed as an illustration of a communication surface of a New Year's card, a large number of printed matter having a hand-made texture can be created without trouble.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, for those who do not make paintings themselves but want to put illustrations of handmade textures on postcards, handmade images that have been agreed on copyright with the author have been obtained. Is stored on a CD-ROM or a web server on the Internet, and a service of providing handmade images via the CD-ROM or the Internet has appeared. However, in the service form as described above, the user simply inserts the provided handmade image into the postcard as an illustration as it is, so that the user cannot obtain a sense of fulfillment that the user himself created the image by himself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily change the color of a hand-made image by using a computer system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology that makes it possible to give a user a pleasure to work on based on his / her own sensitivity and a sense of fulfillment.

[0006]

A feature of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus for performing a color changing process on image data, and a storage unit for storing a color gamut of an image material used by the image data; The image processing apparatus includes a color change processing unit that performs a color change process for each color of the image material of the image data, and a color conversion processing unit that converts the color of the color material after the color change process so that the color of the color material after the color change process falls within the color gamut. It is in. In other words, in this image processing apparatus, the color change processing is executed so that the color after the color change is always in a color gamut that can be expressed by the image material, so that the color change processing without a sense of incongruity without realizing an imaginary color is realized. can do.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image processing apparatus according to the present invention
The present invention can be applied to and executed on processing for processing a handmade image provided via a D-ROM or the Internet. Therefore, the configuration and operation of the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention has been applied and implemented to the above processing with reference to FIGS. Will be described in detail.

<< Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus >> First, the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

An image processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
Is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as shown in FIG.
nit) 2, RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, ROM
(Read Only Memory) 4, an input unit 5, an output unit 6, and an image information storage unit 7 are connected via a system bus, so that digital signals and digital data can be transmitted and received between components.

The CPU 2 performs various controls in accordance with the programs stored in the ROM 4. For example, the CPU 2 transmits, from the ROM 4, a color change processing program 4a, a color conversion processing program 4b, and various data necessary for executing the programs to R.
Load it into AM3 and execute the program.

The RAM 3 secures a work area for temporarily storing programs and data relating to various processes executed by the CPU 2.

The ROM 4 stores various programs such as a start-up program of the image processing apparatus, a color change processing program 4a and a color conversion processing program 4b, and data related thereto. The ROM 4 includes a recording medium readable by the CPU 2, such as a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The recording medium is a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Rea
d Only Memory) and a fixed medium such as a hard disk. Further, the program, data, and the like stored in the recording medium may be partially or wholly received via a transmission medium such as an electronic network line, and the recording medium is constructed on an electronic network. Alternatively, the recording medium of another server may be used. Further, the program may be configured to be transmitted and installed via a transmission medium such as an electronic network line.

The input unit 5 performs an input process of various types of information related to image processing.
It is output to M3 and ROM4. As a form of the input unit, for example, a keyboard, a mouse pointer, a light pen and the like can be adopted.

The output section 6 performs an output process of various kinds of information related to image processing, and as a form, for example, a printer device, a display device, or the like can be adopted.

The image information storage section 7 stores handmade image data to be subjected to image processing and color information (color of each pixel, color gamut, etc.) of image data after image processing. Here, the handmade image data refers to an RG obtained by reading an original image using an image scanner or the like.
This is B data.

<< Operation of Image Processing Apparatus >> Next, FIGS.
The operation of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

An image processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
Indicates that the user inputs a handmade image to be subjected to image processing via the input unit 5 or selects handmade image data to be subjected to image processing from handmade image data stored in the image information storage unit 7 By inputting the handmade image data (S101) and instructing to execute the color changing process on the input handmade image data, the CP
U2 loads the RAM 3 with the color change processing program 4a and various data necessary for the color change processing from the ROM 4, executes the data, and executes the first color change processing program 4a as follows.
-Execute the color changing process according to the third embodiment (S10
2).

<Color Changing Process According to First Embodiment> First, the color changing process according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the color changing process according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the user inputs the value of the hue rotation angle θ and instructs to execute the color changing process of the handmade image data, the handmade input data in the process of S101 is obtained. Constructing image data 1
The color information Pn obtained by rotating the hue of the color information Cn of the pixel by the hue rotation angle θ is calculated (S202), and one of the handmade image data is calculated.
The pixel color information Cn is converted into the calculated color information Pn (S
203). Then, the processing of S202 and S203 is performed by n
Starting from = 1 (n indicates the pixel number of the handmade image data), the process is repeatedly executed until the value of n reaches the total number of pixels constituting the handmade image data.

According to the color changing process according to the first embodiment, the handmade image data can be changed to a color rotated by the hue rotation angle θ only by inputting the value of the hue rotation angle θ. It is possible to easily execute the color change processing of the image data. The image processing apparatus 1 outputs, for example, a hue rotation processing screen as shown in FIG. 4 to the output unit 6, and uses a text box B and a slide bar C provided in the hue rotation processing screen to generate a hue rotation. The user may input the rotation angle θ. Thus, even a user who is unfamiliar with the apparatus can easily execute the color change processing. Further, if the color information of the pixels before and after the color change is displayed using the color palettes D and E, and the image data after the color change is displayed to the user via the area A, the state of the color change processing is provided to the user. Can be notified.

<Color Change Processing According to Second Embodiment>
With reference to FIG. 5, a color change process according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the color changing process according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the user inputs the change value α of the saturation and instructs to execute the color changing process of the handmade image data, the handmade image input in the process of S101 is performed. Color information P obtained by changing the saturation of the color information Cn of one pixel forming the image data by the change value α
n is calculated (S302), and the color information Cn is converted into the calculated color information Pn (S303). And S302, S
The process of step 303 is repeatedly executed starting from n = 1 until the value of n reaches the total number of pixels constituting the handmade image data.

According to the color changing process according to the second embodiment, the color of the handmade image data can be changed to a color changed by α only by inputting the change value α of the saturation. It is possible to easily change the color of handmade image data. Note that, similarly to the color change processing according to the first embodiment, the image processing apparatus 1 outputs, for example, a saturation change processing screen as shown in FIG. Using box B and slide bar C,
The change value α may be input. Further, it is preferable that the color information before and after the color change is displayed using the color palettes D and E, respectively, and the image data after the color change is displayed to the user using the area A.

<Color Change Processing According to Third Embodiment>
With reference to FIG. 7, a description will be given of the color change processing according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the color changing process according to the third embodiment of the present invention, when the user inputs a lightness change value β and instructs execution of the color changing process of the handmade image data, the handmade handwriting input in the process of S101 is performed. Constructing image data 1
The color information Pn in which the brightness of the color information Cn of the pixel is changed by the change value β is calculated (S402), and the color information Cn is converted into the calculated color information Pn (S403). And this S402,
The process of S403 is repeatedly executed starting from n = 1 until the value of n reaches the total number of pixels constituting the image data.

According to the color changing process according to the third embodiment, the brightness of the homemade image data can be changed to a color changed by β only by inputting the brightness change value β. It is possible to easily change the color of the image data. Note that, as in the above-described embodiment, the image processing apparatus 1
Outputs a brightness change processing screen such as that shown in FIG. 8 to the output unit 6 and uses the text box B and the slide bar C in the brightness change processing screen to input a change value β. Is also good. Alternatively, the color information before and after the color change may be displayed on the color palettes D and E, respectively, and the image data after the color change may be displayed to the user using the area A.

When the color change processing is completed by the above processing, the CPU 2 temporarily stores the handmade image data after the color change processing in the RAM 3. Then, the CPU 2 sets R
The color conversion processing program 4b and various data necessary for the color conversion processing are loaded from the OM 4 into the RAM 3 and executed, and the color conversion processing according to the first and second embodiments described below is executed according to the color conversion processing program 4b. Yes (S10
3).

<Color Conversion Processing (Shortest Distance Color Replacement Method) According to First Embodiment> First, referring to FIGS.
The color conversion processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the color conversion process according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the CPU 2 sets the values of the counters n and m to 1 (S501, S502), and then sets the color information Cn of the color-changed image data and the color material. The distance d from the color information Pm is calculated (S503). When the distance d is calculated, the CPU 2
Sets the minimum distance value MIN, which is a reference of the color conversion processing, to d, and at the same time, sets the color information Pm of the color material to Pmin, as shown in FIG. 10 (S505). Note that the color information here means, for example, a uniform color space L ^* a ^* b ^* or an RGB value output from an image scanner.

When the processing of S505 is completed, the CPU 2 next increments the value of the counter m by 1 (S508), and determines whether or not the value of the counter m is larger than the number of color information MAXm of the color material. (S509). If the value of the counter m is smaller than the number of color information MAXm of the color material as a result of the determination, the CPU 2 calculates the distance d between the color information Cn of the color-changed image data and the color information Pm of the color material ( S503), it is determined whether the calculated distance d is less than or equal to the shortest distance value MIN (S506). Then, as a result of the determination, when the distance d is longer than the shortest distance value MIN, the processing after S508 is executed again. On the other hand, if the distance d is shorter than the minimum distance value MIN, the minimum distance value MIN is set to the distance d, and the color information Pm of the color material is set to Pmin (S5).
07), and execute the processing after S508.

On the other hand, if the value of the counter m is larger than the number of color information MAXm of the color material as a result of the discrimination processing in S509, the value of the counter n is incremented by 1 (S510), and then the value of the counter n is increased. It is determined whether it is larger than the total number of pixels MAXn (S511). Then, as a result of the determination, the counter n
Is larger than the total number of pixels MANn, a series of color conversion processing is completed. On the other hand, if the value of the counter n is smaller than the total number of pixels MANn, the processing after S502 is executed again.

As described above, in the color conversion processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the color after the color change processing and all the colors of the color materials used in the original document is calculated. The color after the color change processing is replaced with the color of the color material at the shortest distance. That is,
In this process, the color information after the color change processing is converted into the actual color material color information. Therefore, according to this color conversion processing, it is possible to faithfully reproduce the color of the color material.

<Color Conversion Processing (Color Gamut Compression Method) According to Second Embodiment> Next, the color conversion processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. .

In the color conversion processing according to the first embodiment, if the stored color information is not sufficient, the color after the color change processing may be greatly different from the color after the color conversion processing. Therefore, in the color conversion processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention, some representative color information is obtained,
The color gamut of the color material is obtained, and a color conversion process is performed based on the color gamut. Thereby, the color information of the color material to be acquired in advance may be small. Here, as a method of selecting a representative color, it is better to select a color having high saturation. Then, a color gamut is obtained by connecting the representative colors with a straight line or connecting them with a curve that minimizes an error. FIG. 11 is an example in which a color gamut is obtained by interpolating with a curve. A technique such as B-spline is used for the interpolation. Also, as a method of this color conversion, for example,
Even if the color information Cn after the color change processing is replaced with the color in the color gamut closest to the distance as shown in FIG. 12, the saturation or brightness is reduced at a certain rate in the color gamut direction as shown in FIG. It may be replaced. Further, as shown in FIG. 14 (the color gamut compression method shown in FIG. 12), the color information Cn not in the color gamut after the color change processing and the shortest distance d to the color gamut are calculated (S6).
03), the process of replacing the color information Cn with a color in the color gamut closest in distance (S604, S605) may be performed for all pixels.

When the color conversion processing is completed by the above processing, the CPU 2 temporarily outputs the image data after the color conversion processing to the RA.
Store it in M3. Then, according to the user's instruction, R
The image data after the color change processing stored in the AM 3 is output to the output unit 6 or the image information storage unit 7 (S104), and a series of image processing steps is completed.

<< Effects of Embodiment >> As described above,
According to the image processing apparatus of this embodiment, the color of the handmade image can be easily changed using the computer system, so that the user can enjoy the modification of the handmade image based on his / her sensitivity using the handmade image, A sense of fulfillment can be obtained.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus of this embodiment, the color change processing and the color conversion processing are executed on the apparatus side only by a simple instruction to the apparatus, so that a hand-made image reflecting its own color preference can be easily created. It becomes possible to make.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus of this embodiment, the color changing process is executed for each color of the image material, and the color is changed to a color faithful to the color gamut of the used image material. Therefore, it is possible to realize image processing without a sense of incongruity.

<< Other Embodiments >> The invention made by the present inventors has been described in the above embodiment. However, it should be understood that the description and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the invention. should not do. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples, and operation techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the so-called local processing in which the user directly operates the image processing apparatus has been described.
17 to 17, a server-client type image processing system may be constructed, and the above-described image processing may be executed remotely via an electronic network. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, WWW connected on the Internet
The image data for performing the image processing may be downloaded from the server, and the above-described image processing may be performed on the content at the local site. According to this system configuration, the user can obtain only the required amount of image data at the required time when needed, so that it is possible to provide an image processing service suited to the user's convenience.

As shown in FIG. 16, an applet and image data may be downloaded from a WWW server via the Internet, and image processing of the image data may be executed using the applet at a local site. According to this system configuration, since a device containing a virtual machine of an applet may be prepared, the range of options for the user is expanded. In addition, since image processing is performed using an applet, there is an advantage that a load is not imposed on the server side, and it is possible to quickly respond to requests from many users. Generally, an applet has a program on the server side and downloads only a necessary program to a local site when needed, so that there is no need to install an image processing program on the local site. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17, a WWW server executes image processing via the Internet, downloads the image data after completion of the image processing via the Internet, and outputs the image data at a local site. May be. According to this system configuration, since the WWW server performs all processing, no burden is placed on the user's computer system, and the PDA (Personal Digit
al Assistants) Image data subjected to image processing can be obtained even in a device having a low CPU power, such as a mobile communication terminal such as a terminal or a mobile phone. In addition, if a printer device that can directly output from this device is used, similarly, image data subjected to image processing can be easily obtained. Further, the user can perform the processing via a web browser that is familiar every day.

Note that the above application examples are not limited to the Internet, but mean any communication network utilizing telecommunications technology.

As described above, it should be understood that the present invention includes various embodiments and the like not described herein. Accordingly, the present invention is limited only by the matters specifying the invention according to the claims that are reasonable from this disclosure.

[0045]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide the user with a pleasure and a sense of fulfillment to make changes based on his / her own sensitivity using handmade images.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a coloring process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a hue rotation processing screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a coloring process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a saturation processing screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a coloring process according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a brightness processing screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a color conversion process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a color conversion process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a color conversion process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a color conversion process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a color conversion process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a color conversion process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an application example of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating an application example of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating an application example of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 CPU 3 RAM 4 ROM 4a Color changing processing program 4b Color conversion processing program 5 Input unit 6 Output unit 7 Image information storage unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C262 AA24 BA16 BA18 BA19 BC19 CA01 CA11 EA02 EA03 EA11 GA51 GA57 GA59 5B021 AA01 LG07 5B057 AA11 CA01 CA08 CB01 CB08 CE14 CE17 5C077 LL19 MP08 PP28 PP32 PP33 PP35C37 HA01 HB11 LA06 LB12 NA03 NA06 NA11 PA01 PA02 PA03

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for performing a color changing process of image data, comprising: a storage unit for storing a color gamut of an image material used by the image data; and performing a color changing process for each color of the image material of the image data. An image processing apparatus comprising: a color change processing unit; and a color conversion processing unit that converts the color of the image material after the color change processing so that the color of the image material after the color change processing falls within the color gamut. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color changing process is performed by at least one of a hue rotation process, a saturation changing process, and a brightness changing process.