JP2002314834A - Output image adjustment of image data - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust the image quality of image data automatically without damaging output conditions which are arbitrarily set. SOLUTION: When a memory card MC is inserted into a slot 34, the control circuit 30 of a color printer 20 acquires image output control information GI from the memory card MC and analyzes it. When an automatic light source is not provided as a light source, a CPU 31 corrects characteristics parameters other than that of color balance in reference to values and coefficients, and adjusts the image quality of image data by reflecting the corrected characteristic parameters.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image adjustment technique for adjusting the image quality of image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The image quality of image data generated by a digital still camera (DSC), digital video camera (DVC), scanner or the like can be arbitrarily adjusted by using an image retouching application on a personal computer. Generally, an image retouching application is provided with an image adjustment function for automatically adjusting the image quality of image data. By using this image adjustment function, the image quality of image data output from an output device can be easily adjusted. Can be improved. As an image file output device, for example, a CRT, an LCD, a printer, a projector, a television receiver, and the like are known.

A printer driver for controlling the operation of a printer, which is one of the output devices, is also provided with a function for automatically adjusting the image quality of image data. In addition, the image quality of image data to be printed can be easily improved.

[0004]

However, in the automatic image quality adjustment function provided by the image retouching application and the printer driver, the image quality is corrected based on image data having general image quality characteristics. On the other hand, since image data to be subjected to image processing can be generated under various conditions, even if the image quality automatic adjustment function is executed uniformly and the image quality parameter value of the image data is changed using the specified value, In some cases, the image quality cannot be improved.

[0005] Some image data generating apparatuses such as DSCs can arbitrarily adjust the image quality of image data when generating image data, and users can intentionally generate image data having a predetermined image quality. Can be. When the image quality automatic adjustment function is performed on such image data, even the intentional image quality of the image data is automatically adjusted based on the reference image quality, and an automatic image reflecting the user's intention is obtained. There was a problem that adjustment could not be performed. These problems are not limited to DSC,
This is a common problem in other image data generation devices such as a VC.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and has as its object to appropriately and automatically adjust the image quality in accordance with individual image data. It is another object of the present invention to automatically adjust the image quality of image data without damaging arbitrarily set output conditions.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Action / Effect Thereof A first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems includes image data and at least light source information at the time of generating the image data, and is associated with the image data. And an output device for outputting image data using the image output control information. An output device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: an image quality adjustment unit that adjusts a color balance of the image data based on the light source information included in the image output control information; Image data output means for outputting.

According to the output device of the first aspect of the present invention, since the color balance in the image quality adjustment is adjusted based on the light source information included in the image output control information, the image quality is adjusted corresponding to each image data. Can be appropriately and automatically adjusted, and the image quality of the image data can be automatically adjusted without damaging the output condition arbitrarily set, that is, the output condition regarding the light source.

The output device according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising: a light source information determining unit that analyzes the image output control information to determine whether the light source information has been automatically set; If it is determined that has not been automatically set, image quality adjustment control means for prohibiting adjustment of the color balance by the image quality adjustment means may be provided. Alternatively, when it is determined that the light source information has not been automatically set, an image quality adjustment control unit that reduces the degree of adjustment of the color balance by the image quality adjustment unit may be provided.

According to the output device of the first aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the light source information has not been automatically set, the adjustment of the color balance in the image quality adjustment is prohibited.
Alternatively, since the degree of adjustment is reduced, the image quality can be appropriately and automatically adjusted according to the individual image data, and the output conditions arbitrarily set, that is, without impairing the output conditions relating to the light source. The image quality of the image data can be automatically adjusted.

In the output device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image quality adjusting means analyzes the image data,
An image quality parameter value acquiring unit that acquires a value of an image quality parameter indicating a characteristic of the image data, and adjusting an image quality of the image data based on the acquired image quality parameter value and a predetermined reference image quality parameter value. Is also good.

With such a configuration, the image quality of the image data is corrected based on the reference image quality parameter and the image quality parameter, so that the image data can be output with an appropriate image quality.

In the output device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image adjustment means calculates an image quality adjustment amount from the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value, and reflects the light source information to adjust the image quality. The image quality of the image data may be adjusted using a corrected image quality adjustment amount. With this configuration, the image quality of each image data can be more appropriately and automatically adjusted by reflecting the light source information.

In the output device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image adjustment means reflects the light source information to reduce or eliminate a deviation between the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value. The image quality of the data may be adjusted. With this configuration, the image quality of each image data can be more appropriately and automatically adjusted by reflecting the light source information.

[0015] The output device according to the first aspect of the present invention further comprises a reference image quality parameter value correcting means for analyzing the image output control information and correcting a reference image quality parameter value corresponding to the image quality parameter value. The adjusting means is
The image quality of the image data may be adjusted based on the corrected reference image quality parameter value and the acquired image quality parameter value. With such a configuration, the reference image quality parameter value can be corrected in accordance with the characteristics of the individual image data, so that the image quality of the image data can be more appropriately automatically adjusted while reflecting the characteristics of the image data. . Note that the light source information may include information on the white balance used when generating the image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data processing apparatus for processing image data using image data and image output control information associated with the image data at least including light source information at the time of generating the image data. I will provide a. An image data processing device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
Capturing means for capturing the image data and image output control information; image quality parameter value obtaining means for analyzing the image data to obtain a value of an image quality parameter indicating a characteristic of the image data; and a predetermined reference image quality parameter Value, the light source information included in the image output control information,
And image quality adjusting means for adjusting the color balance of the image data based on the acquired image quality parameter values.

According to the image data processing device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those of the output device according to the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained. Further, the second aspect of the present invention
The image data processing device according to the aspect can take various aspects in the same manner as the output device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for adjusting image quality of image data. A method according to a third aspect of the present invention includes acquiring image data, image output control information including at least light source information at the time of image data generation and associated with the image data, and analyzing the image output control information. To determine whether or not the light source information has been automatically set, and if it has been determined that the light source information has not been automatically set, excluding the color balance adjustment, the image quality of the acquired image data Is adjusted.

According to the method of the third aspect of the present invention,
The same operation and effect as those of the output device according to the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained. The method according to the third aspect of the present invention can take various aspects in the same manner as the output device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a program for adjusting the image quality of image data. Fourth of the present invention
The program according to the aspect of the present invention includes a function of acquiring at least image data and light source information at the time of image data generation, and an image output control information report associated with the image data, and a light source included in the image output control information A function of adjusting image quality of the image data including color balance based on information is realized by a computer.

According to the program of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those of the output device of the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained. The program according to the fourth aspect of the present invention can take various aspects in the same manner as the output device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data generating apparatus for generating image data associated with image processing conditions of image data in an output device. An image data generating device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes an image data generating unit that generates image data that generates image data, a light source information obtaining unit that obtains light source information, and analyzes the generated image data. An image quality parameter value obtaining unit that obtains at least an image quality parameter value indicating a characteristic relating to a color balance of the image data; and a predetermined reference image quality parameter, the obtained image quality parameter, and the light source information. An image processing condition generating unit for generating the image processing condition, and an output unit for outputting the generated image processing condition and the image data in association with each other are provided.

According to the image data generating apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present invention, a predetermined reference image quality parameter,
Image processing conditions in the output device can be generated based on the acquired image quality parameters and light source information. Therefore, the color balance can be adjusted based on the light source information, and the image quality can be appropriately and automatically adjusted according to the individual image data, and the output conditions arbitrarily set, that is, the light source The image quality of image data can be automatically adjusted without impairing output conditions. The image data and the image processing conditions may be stored in the same file in association with each other.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The adjustment of an output image of an image file according to the present invention will be described below based on some embodiments with reference to the drawings in the following order. A. Configuration of Image Data Output System: Configuration of Image File: C. Configuration of image data output system that can use image file: Image processing in digital still camera: Image processing in printer: Other embodiments:

A. Configuration of Image Data Output System: The configuration of an image data output system to which an image output device that achieves image output adjustment according to the present embodiment can be applied will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image data output system to which the image output device according to the first embodiment can be applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a digital still camera capable of generating an image file (image data) output by the image output device according to the first embodiment.

An image data output system 10 includes a digital still camera 12 as an input device for generating an image file, and an image processing device that executes image processing based on the image file generated by the digital still camera 12 and outputs an image. And a color printer 20.
As the output device, in addition to the printer 20, a monitor 14 such as a CRT display or an LCD display, a projector, or the like can be used. In the following description, the color printer 20 is used as the output device.

The digital still camera 12 is a camera for acquiring an image by forming light information on a digital device (CCD or photomultiplier tube), and as shown in FIG. 2, a CCD for collecting light information. An optical circuit 121 including an optical circuit 121, an image acquisition circuit 122 for controlling the optical circuit 121 to acquire an image, an image processing circuit 123 for processing an acquired digital image, a control including a memory and controlling each circuit The circuit 124 is provided. The digital still camera 12 stores the acquired image as digital data in a memory card M as a storage device.
Save to C. As a storage format of image data in the digital still camera 12, a JPEG format is generally used. In addition, a TIFF format, a GIF format, and a BMP format are also available.
Format, RAW data format, or other storage format may be used.

The digital still camera 12 also has a selection / decision button 126 for setting a shooting mode, exposure correction, light source, etc., previews a shot image, and sets a shooting mode using the selection / decision button 126. Liquid crystal display 127 is provided. The light source set in the digital still camera 12 is set by specifying the light source, and is automatically set (AUTO), daylight,
A fluorescent lamp, tungsten, or the like can be set. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the light source set in the digital still camera 12 more specifically means the white balance used when shooting under the specified light source. That is, the light sources such as daylight, fluorescent light, and tungsten do not simply mean the light sources at the time of photographing, but also provide the white balance given (preset) to the respective light sources on the digital still camera 12 side in advance. Means. Normally, as a light source in the digital still camera 12, an auto light source (AWB: auto white balance) for automatically recognizing the light source at the time of photographing and automatically correcting the light source (white balance) is set as a default value. Have been. When the image is captured by the automatic light source, for example, 0 is recorded as the parameter value for specifying the light source.

The digital still camera 12 used in the present image data output system 10 stores image output control information GI of image data in the memory card MC as an image file GF in addition to the image data GD. That is, the image output control information GI is automatically stored in the memory card MC as an image file GF together with the image data GD at the time of shooting. When the user has previously selected a shooting mode such as portrait or night view, the parameter value of the image quality parameter corresponding to the selected shooting mode, or the parameters such as the exposure correction amount and the light source are arbitrary. If the value is set to a value, an image file GF including the set value of the set parameter as image output control information GI is stored in the memory card MC.

When photographing is performed in the automatic photographing mode in the digital still camera 12, the values of parameters such as the exposure time, light source, aperture, shutter speed, and lens focal length at the time of photographing are stored in the image output control information. Is stored in the memory card MC. The parameters applied to each shooting mode,
The parameter values are stored in a memory in the control circuit 124 of the digital still camera 12.

The image file GF generated in the digital still camera 12 is sent to the color printer 20 via, for example, a cable CV, a computer PC, or a cable CV. Alternatively, the memory card MC in which the image file GF is stored in the digital still camera 12 is connected via the computer PC mounted in the memory card slot, or the memory card MC is directly connected to the printer 20. Thus, the image file is sent to the color printer 20. The following description is based on the case where the memory card MC is directly connected to the color printer 20.

B. Configuration of Image File: A schematic configuration of an image file that can be used in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing an example of the internal configuration of an image file that can be used in the present embodiment.
The image file GF includes an image data storage area 101 for storing image data GD, and an image output control information storage area 102 for storing information (image output control information) GI for controlling the output state of the image data. Image data GD
Are stored in, for example, the JPEG format, and the image output control information GI is stored in the TIFF format. In addition,
The terms such as file structure, data structure, and storage area in the present embodiment mean an image of a file or data in a state where the file or data is stored in the storage device.

The image output control information GI is information (image quality generation information) related to the image quality when image data is generated (photographed) by an image data generation device such as the digital still camera 12 or the like. It may include parameters related to exposure time, ISO sensitivity, aperture, shutter speed, and focal length that are automatically generated, and output control parameters such as exposure correction, light source, shooting mode, and target color space arbitrarily set by a user. .

The image file GF according to this embodiment is
In addition to the digital still camera 12, an input device (image file generating device) such as a digital video camera and a scanner
Can also be generated by

The image file GF according to the present embodiment basically only needs to include the above-described image data area 101 and the image output control information storage area 102. Can take structure. Hereinafter, a case where the image file GF according to the present embodiment is adapted to a standardized file format will be specifically described.

The image file GF according to this embodiment can have a file structure in accordance with, for example, the digital still camera image file format standard (Exif). Exif file specifications are defined by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA). A schematic structure inside a file when the image file GF according to the present embodiment has a file format according to the Exif file format will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic internal structure of the image file GF according to the present embodiment stored in the Exif file format.

Image file GFE as Exif file
Is a JPEG image data storage area 111 for storing JPEG image data, and an auxiliary information storage area 1 for storing various information related to the stored JPEG image data.
12 are provided. JPEG data storage area 111
Corresponds to the image data storage area 101, and the auxiliary information storage area 112 corresponds to the image output control information storage area 10.
Equivalent to 2. That is, in the attached information storage area 112, image output control information (image output control information GI) referred to when outputting a JPEG image, such as shooting date and time, exposure, shutter speed, light source, exposure correction, and target color space, is stored. Is stored. Also, the attached information storage area 11
2 stores, in TIFF format, thumbnail image data of a JPEG image stored in the JPEG image data storage area 111 in addition to the image output control information GI. As is well known to those skilled in the art, tags are used to specify each data in the Exif format file, and each data may be referred to by a tag name.

The detailed data structure of the attached information storage area 112 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows an auxiliary information storage area 11 of the image file GF which can be used in this embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure of No. 2;

In the attached information storage area 112, parameter values for information such as an exposure time, a lens F value, an exposure control mode, an ISO sensitivity, an exposure correction amount, a light source, a flash, and a focal length are stored in accordance with a predetermined address, as shown in FIG. Is stored. On the output device side, desired information (parameters)
, The image output control information GI can be obtained.

C. Configuration of Image Output Device: The schematic configuration of the image output device according to the present embodiment, that is, the color printer 20, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the color printer 20 according to the present embodiment.

The color printer 20 is a printer capable of outputting a color image. For example, four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K) are printed on a printing medium. This is an inkjet printer that forms an image by ejecting ink to form a dot pattern. Alternatively, it is an electrophotographic printer that forms an image by transferring and fixing a color toner on a print medium. As the color ink, in addition to the above four colors, light cyan (light cyan, LC), light magenta (light magenta, LM), and dark yellow (dark yellow, DY) may be used.

As shown, the color printer 20
A mechanism for driving the print head 211 mounted on the carriage 21 to eject ink and form dots, a mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 21 in the axial direction of the platen 23 by the carriage motor 22, and a paper feed motor 24
And a control circuit 30 for transporting the printing paper P. The mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 21 in the axial direction of the platen 23 includes an endless drive between a carriage shaft 22 and a slide shaft 25 slidably holding the carriage 21 erected in parallel with the shaft of the platen 23. It is composed of a pulley 27 on which a belt 26 is stretched, a position detection sensor 28 for detecting the origin position of the carriage 21, and the like. The mechanism for transporting the printing paper P includes a platen 23,
It comprises a paper feed motor 24 for rotating the platen 23, a paper feed auxiliary roller (not shown), and a gear train (not shown) for transmitting the rotation of the paper feed motor 24 to the platen 23 and the paper feed auxiliary roller.

The control circuit 30 controls the operation panel 2 of the printer.
9 while appropriately controlling the movements of the paper feed motor 24, the carriage motor 22, and the print head 211. The printing paper P supplied to the color printer 20
Is set so as to be sandwiched between the platen 23 and the paper feed auxiliary roller, and is fed by a predetermined amount according to the rotation angle of the platen 23.

The carriage 21 has the ink cartridge 2
12 and the ink cartridge 213 are mounted. The ink cartridge 212 contains black (K) ink,
The ink cartridge 213 has another ink, that is,
In addition to three color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y), inks of a total of six colors of light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM) and dark yellow (DY) are stored.

Next, the internal configuration of the control circuit 30 of the color printer 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal configuration of the control circuit 30 of the color printer 20. As shown in FIG.
CPU 31, PROM 32, RAM 33, PCMCIA slot 34 for acquiring data from memory card MC,
A peripheral device input / output unit (PIO) 35 for exchanging data with the paper feed motor 24, the carriage motor 22, and the like, a timer 36, a drive buffer 37, and the like are provided. The drive buffer 37 includes ink ejection heads 214 to 220
Is used as a buffer for supplying a dot on / off signal to the. These are connected to each other by a bus 38 so that data can be exchanged with each other. The control circuit 30 includes an oscillator 3 that outputs a drive waveform at a predetermined frequency.
9 and a distribution output device 40 for distributing the output from the oscillator 39 to the ink ejection heads 214 to 220 at a predetermined timing.

The control circuit 30 reads the image file 100 from the memory card MC, analyzes the attached information AI,
Image processing is performed based on the analyzed control information AI.
The control circuit 30 outputs dot data to the drive buffer 37 at a predetermined timing while synchronizing with the movements of the paper feed motor 24 and the carriage motor 22. Control circuit 3
The detailed flow of the image processing executed by 0 will be described below. .

D. Image processing in digital still camera: Digital still camera 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.
2 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the process of generating the image file GF in the digital still camera 12.

Control circuit 1 of digital still camera 12
In step S100, it is determined whether the user has set a shooting mode or image output control information such as a light source and an exposure correction amount before shooting. The setting of these image output control information is performed by the selection / setting button 126
Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 127,
The processing is executed by the user selecting from the shooting modes prepared in advance. Alternatively, the operation is performed by operating the selection / setting button 126 in the same manner and changing the set value on the liquid crystal display 127 by the user.

When the control circuit 124 determines that the image output control information has been set (step S100:
Yes), the image data GD is generated using a parameter value defined by the set image output control information in response to a shooting request, for example, pressing down a shutter button (step S110). The control circuit 124 stores the generated image data GD and the image output control information GI including the arbitrarily set output conditions and the automatically given output conditions in the memory card MC as the image file GF (step S120). ), End this processing routine. The data generated by the digital still camera 12 is converted from the RGB color space and is represented by the YCbCr color space.

On the other hand, when the control circuit 124 determines that the image output control information is not set (step S100: No), it generates image data GD in response to the photographing request (step S130). . Control circuit 124
Is image output control information GI including generated image data GD and output conditions automatically given when the image data is generated.
Are stored in the memory card MC as an image file GF (step S140), and this processing routine ends.

By the above-described processing executed in the digital still camera 12, the image file GF stored in the memory card MC contains image data GD and image output control information GI including the value of each parameter at the time of image data generation. Will be provided.

E. Image Processing in Color Printer 20: Image processing in the color printer 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine of a printing process in the color printer 20 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of image processing in the color printer 20. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing routine for automatic image adjustment in the color printer 20. In the image processing in the color printer 20 according to the present embodiment, the color space conversion processing is executed first, and then the automatic image adjustment is executed.

The control circuit 30 (CP) of the color printer 20
U31) reads the image file 100 from the memory card MC when the memory card MC is inserted into the slot 34, and stores the read image file 100 in the RAM 33.
(Step S100). CPU31
Is the attached information storage area 1 of the read image file 100
02 is searched for image output control information GI indicating information at the time of generating image data (step S110). CPU31
If the image output control information can be searched for and found (step S120: Yes), the image output control information GI at the time of generating the image data is acquired and analyzed (step S13).
0). The CPU 31 executes image processing described later in detail based on the analyzed image output control information GI (step S1).
40), print out the processed image data (step S150).

The CPU 31 searches for image output control information.
If not found (step S120: N
o) Since the image output control information at the time of generating the image data cannot be reflected, the image output control information stored in the color printer 20 as a default value in advance,
That is, various parameter values are obtained from the ROM 32 and normal image processing is executed (step S160). CP
U31 prints out the processed image data (step S150), and ends this processing routine.

The image processing executed in the color printer 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The CPU 31 of the color printer 20 extracts the image data GD from the read image file GF (step S20).
0). The digital still camera 12 stores image data as a JPEG format file as described above.
Image data is stored using the CbCr color space.

The CPU 31 executes a 3 × 3 matrix operation S in order to convert image data based on the YCrCb color space into image data based on the RGB color space (step S210). The matrix operation S is an operation expression shown below.

[0057]

(Equation 1)

The CPU 31 executes gamma correction and matrix operation M on the image data based on the RGB color space thus obtained (step S22).
0). When performing gamma correction, the CPU 31 acquires a DSC-side gamma value from the image output control information GI, and performs gamma conversion processing on video data using the acquired gamma value. The matrix operation M is an operation for converting an RGB color space into an XYZ color space. Since the image file GF used in the present embodiment can include color space information at the time of image generation, if the image file GF includes color space information, the CPU 3
1 executes the matrix operation M by referring to the color space information and using the matrix (M) corresponding to the color space at the time of image generation. The matrix operation M is an operation expression shown below.

[0059]

(Equation 2)

The color space of the image data GD obtained after the execution of the matrix operation M is the XYZ color space. conventionally,
The color space used for image processing in a printer or a computer is fixed to sRGB, and the color space of the digital still camera 12 cannot be used effectively. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the image file GF includes color space information,
A printer (printer driver) that changes the matrix (M) used in the matrix operation M according to the color space information is used. Therefore, correct color reproduction can be realized by effectively utilizing the color space of the digital still camera 12.

The CPU 31 executes a process of converting the color space of the image data GD from the XYZ color space to the wRGB color space, that is, a matrix operation N ^-1 and an inverse gamma correction, in order to execute image adjustment based on arbitrary information. (Step S230). Note that the wRGB color space is a color space wider than the sRGB color space. When performing gamma correction, the CPU 31 obtains a default gamma value on the printer side from the ROM 32, and performs an inverse gamma conversion process on video data using a reciprocal of the obtained gamma value.
When executing the matrix operation N ^-1 , the CPU 31
Performs a matrix operation using a matrix (N ^-1 ) corresponding to conversion from the ROM 31 to the wRGB color space. The matrix operation N- ¹ is an operation expression shown below.

[0062]

(Equation 3)

The color space of the image data GD obtained after execution of the matrix operation N ^-1 is a wRGB color space. This w
As described above, the RGB color space is a color space wider than the sRGB color space, and corresponds to a color space that can be generated by the digital still camera 12.

The CPU 31 executes an image quality automatic adjustment process (step S240). In the image quality automatic adjustment process according to the present embodiment, the image data GD included in the image file GF is analyzed to obtain a characteristic parameter value indicating the image quality, and the image output control information GI included in the image file GF is reflected. Then, automatic adjustment of the image quality for correcting the acquired characteristic parameter values is executed. This image quality automatic adjustment process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

First, the CPU 31 analyzes the image data GD to obtain various characteristic parameter values indicating the characteristics of the image data GD, and temporarily stores them in the RAM 32 (step S300). The CPU 31 analyzes the image output control information GI and determines a light source, an exposure correction amount, an exposure time, an aperture, an ISO,
The value of a control parameter (information) for controlling (designating) image output such as a focal length is acquired (step S31).
0).

The CPU 31 changes (corrects) the reference value and coefficient set for each parameter while reflecting the obtained control parameter value (step S320). The reference value and coefficient set for each parameter are values assuming image data generated under general image generation conditions (output control conditions). Therefore, in order to realize automatic image quality adjustment that correctly reflects the intention of the photographer (image creator), in particular, the output control conditions that can be arbitrarily set by the photographer are considered in consideration of the individual output control conditions. Change the value and coefficient. Note that the reference value and the coefficient are index values of parameters for which an output result of an image predetermined by image evaluation based on quantitative evaluation and sensitivity evaluation is optimal.

The CPU 31 determines whether or not the value of the parameter for designating the light source among the obtained control parameters is 0, that is, whether or not the light source condition is set to the auto white balance at the time of photographing (step S1). S33
0). When the CPU 31 determines that the value of the parameter of the light source is not 0 (step S330: No), the color balance (sometimes called white balance) is used.
Then, the color balance automatic adjustment execution flag Fwb for permitting the execution of the image quality automatic adjustment is turned off (Fwb = 0) (step S340). When a setting other than the auto light source is set as the setting value of the light source, the photographer can determine that the light source, that is, the white balance, has been intentionally specified and the image has been captured. Therefore, in order to reflect the photographer's intention, the correction of the parameter value related to the color balance of the image data GD based on the reference value is prohibited.
Note that the default value of the color balance automatic adjustment execution flag Fwb is 1 (on).

On the other hand, when the CPU 31 determines that the value of the parameter of the light source is 0 (step S330:
Yes), the process proceeds to the next step while the color balance automatic adjustment execution flag Fwb is kept on.

The CPU 31 refers to the value of the color balance automatic adjustment execution flag Fwb to perform the image quality automatic adjustment for correcting the characteristic parameter value obtained by the analysis of the image data GD so as to approach the changed reference value. Is set (step S350). When the color balance automatic adjustment execution flag Fwb is 1, automatic image quality adjustment for the color balance is executed.

The automatic adjustment of the color balance is performed, for example, as follows. First, the image data GD is analyzed to obtain a distribution (histogram) of each component value (characteristic parameter value) of RGB, and further, an average value of RGB component values is obtained. Based on the obtained average value, the light source (white point, white balance) at the time of photographing is determined, and a reference value that is an optimum value as the average value for the determined light source is selected.
The color shift of each of the RGB component values with respect to the selected reference value is obtained, and the output level with respect to the input level of each of the RGB components is adjusted by tone curve adjustment so as to eliminate the color shift.

The relationship between the input level and the output level when the color balance is corrected will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a graph conceptually showing the relationship between the input level and the output level for the R component of the RGB components. For example, when the R component is larger than the average value of the RGB components, the output level is reduced according to the level of the color misregistration at the point of 入 力 of the input level (OL1). On the other hand, when the R component is smaller than the average value of the RGB components, the output level is raised at the point of ／ of the input level according to the level of the color shift (OL2). Further, an offset amount of the output value with respect to the input value may be given according to the color shift (OL3). Values excluding the point corresponding to the correction level are interpolated by a spline curve.

When the auto light source is set as the light source setting value, the photographer can determine that the photographing is not performed with emphasis on the light source (white balance).
Even if the color balance of D is automatically and optimally adjusted, it does not go against the photographer's intention.

On the other hand, when the color balance automatic adjustment execution flag Fwb is 0, the automatic adjustment of the image quality for the color balance is not executed. For example, if the light source is set to a fluorescent light and photographed under daylight conditions, a reddish image is obtained, and the same photographing effect as that obtained by photographing using a filter in a silver halide photograph can be obtained. In such a case, if the color balance is corrected based on the reference value in the automatic adjustment, the photographing effect due to the intentional designation of the light source (white balance) is reduced, and the output result is contrary to the photographer's intention. Is obtained. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the light source is specified, the automatic adjustment of the color balance is not executed, so that the image quality can be automatically adjusted with respect to the color balance reflecting the intention of the photographer.

The CPU 31 reflects the automatically adjusted characteristic parameter values on the image data, returns the color balance automatic adjustment execution flag Fwb to the default value of 1 (step S360), and returns to the image processing routine as the main routine. I do.

When the image quality automatic adjustment processing ends, the CPU 31 executes wRGB color conversion processing and halftone processing for printing (step S250). In the wRGB color conversion process, the CPU 31 refers to a lookup table (LUT) for conversion into a CMYK color space corresponding to the wRGB color space stored in the ROM 31, and changes the color space of the image data from the wRGB color space to the CMYK. Change to color space. That is, image data consisting of R, G, and B gradation values is used in the color printer 20, for example, C, M
-Conversion into gradation value data of each of the six colors Y, K, LC, and LM.

In the halftone process, the color-converted image data is received, and the gradation number conversion process is performed. In the present embodiment, the image data after the color conversion is expressed as data having 256 gradation widths for each color. In contrast,
The color printer 20 according to the present embodiment can take only one of the states of “form dots” and “do not form dots”.
Only gradation can be expressed. Therefore, image data having 256 gradations is converted into image data represented by two gradations that can be represented by the color printer 20. As a typical method of the binarization (binarization) processing, there is a method called an error diffusion method and a method called an organized dither method.

In the color printer 20, prior to the color conversion processing, when the resolution of the image data is lower than the print resolution, linear interpolation is performed to generate new data between adjacent image data. If the image data is higher, a resolution conversion process for converting the resolution of the image data to the print resolution is performed by thinning out the data at a fixed rate.
In addition, the color printer 20 executes an interlace process of rearranging the image data converted into a format indicating the presence or absence of dot formation into an order to be transferred to the color printer 20.

As described above, according to the color printer 20 of this embodiment, the image quality of the image data GD can be automatically adjusted by reflecting the image output control information GI included in the image file GF. Therefore, even when the output control condition of the image data is arbitrarily set by the user, the arbitrary output control condition is corrected by executing the image quality automatic adjustment, and the intention of the user can be reflected. It is possible to solve the problem in the conventional image quality automatic adjustment function that cannot be performed.

In particular, the color printer 2 in this embodiment
According to 0, when the image quality of the image data GD is automatically adjusted, if the light source, that is, the white balance is designated, the color balance is not automatically adjusted. Therefore, an output result reflecting the intention of the photographer can be obtained without impairing the photographing effect provided by the light source (white balance) intentionally set by the photographer.

Since the image quality can be automatically adjusted using the image output control information GI included in the image file GF, the image quality can be easily adjusted without performing the image quality adjustment on the photo retouching application or the printer driver. It is possible to obtain a high quality print result reflecting the user's photographing intention.

Although the above embodiment has been described with respect to an example in which the image quality adjustment processing is automatically executed, an image quality automatic adjustment button is provided on the operation panel of the color printer 20.
The image quality automatic adjustment process of the above embodiment may be executed only when the image quality automatic adjustment is selected by the image quality automatic adjustment button.

F. Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, all image processing is executed in the color printer 20 without the intervention of the personal computer PC, and a dot pattern is formed on a print medium in accordance with the generated image data GD. All or part of the image processing may be executed on a computer. In this case, the image processing function described with reference to FIG. 11 is provided to the image data processing application such as the retouch application and the printer driver installed on the hard disk or the like of the computer. The image file GF generated by the digital still camera 12 is transmitted via a cable or
It is provided to the computer via the memory card MC. On the computer, an application is started by a user's operation to read the image file GF, analyze the image output control information GI, and convert and adjust the image data GD. Alternatively, by detecting the insertion of the memory card MC, or alternatively, by detecting the insertion of the cable, the application starts automatically, reads the image file GF, analyzes the image output control information GI, Conversion and adjustment of the data GD may be automatically performed.

In the above embodiment, the automatic adjustment of the image quality has been described focusing on the color balance. However, in addition to this, for example, images such as shadow / highlight points, contrast, lightness, saturation, and sharpness may be used. Automatic adjustment of the image quality reflecting the image output control information GI can be performed on the characteristic parameter value of the data GD.

Further, a characteristic parameter value for executing the automatic image quality adjustment may be made selectable. For example, a parameter selection button on the color printer 20, or
A selection button for a shooting mode parameter in which predetermined parameters are combined according to the subject may be provided, and a parameter for performing the automatic image quality adjustment may be selected with the selection button. When automatic image quality adjustment is performed on a personal computer, a parameter for performing automatic image quality adjustment may be selected on a user interface of a printer driver or a retouch application.

Image processing in the color printer 20 is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 13, the image quality automatic adjustment processing may be executed first, and then the color space conversion may be executed later. Basic information may be processed.

In the above embodiments, the color printer 20 is used as an output device.
A display device such as an LCD and a projector can also be used. In such a case, for example, an image processing program (display driver) for executing the image processing described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 is executed by the display device as the output device. Alternatively, when a CRT or the like functions as a display device of a computer, the computer executes an image processing program. However, the finally output image data is not in the CMYK color space but in RG
It has a B color space.

In such a case, similarly to the case where the information at the time of generating the image data is reflected in the print result via the color printer 20, the image output control at the time of generating the image data is performed on the display result on the display device such as the CRT. The information GI can be reflected. Therefore, the digital still camera 12
Can be displayed more accurately.

Although the image output apparatus according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the above embodiments of the present invention are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and limit the present invention. Not something. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

In the above embodiment, the light source, the exposure correction amount, the target color space, the brightness,
Although parameters such as sharpness are used, which parameter is used as the image output control information GI is an arbitrary decision item.

The values of the parameters illustrated in the table of FIG. 8 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited by these values. Further, the values of the matrices S, M, and N ^-1 in each mathematical expression are merely examples, and the target color space or the color printer 20 may be used.
Needless to say, it can be appropriately changed depending on the available color space and the like.

In the above embodiment, the digital still camera 12 has been described as the image file generating device.
In addition, a scanner, a digital video camera, or the like can be used. When using a scanner, the image file G
The designation of the captured data information of the F may be executed on the computer PC, or a preset button, a display screen for arbitrary setting, and a setting button assigned to the scanner in advance for setting information are set on the scanner. This may be provided, and the scanner may be executable by itself.

In the above embodiment, an Exif format file has been described as a specific example of the image file GF.
The format of the image file according to the present invention is not limited to this.
That is, any image file containing image data generated by the image data generating apparatus and image output control information GI describing conditions (information) at the time of generating the image data may be used. With such a file, the image quality of the image data generated by the image file generation device can be automatically adjusted appropriately and output from the output device.

The digital still camera 12 and the color printer 20 used in the above embodiments are merely examples, and the configuration is not limited to the contents described in each embodiment. The digital still camera 12 only needs to have at least the function of generating the image file GF according to the above embodiment. In the color printer 20, at least the image file G according to the present embodiment is used.
Analyze the image output control information GI of F, and automatically adjust the image quality to reflect the user's intention, especially regarding color balance,
It is sufficient if the image can be output (printed).

In the above embodiment, the case where the image data GD and the image output control information GI are included in the same image file GF has been described as an example. However, the image data GD and the image output control information GI are not necessarily the same. It does not need to be stored in the file. That is, it is sufficient that the image data GD and the image output control information GI are associated with each other. The information GI and the information GI may be stored in independent files, and the associated image output control information GI may be referred to when processing the image data GD. In such a case, although the image data and the image output control information GI are stored in separate files, at the time of the image processing using the image output control information GI, the image data and the image output control information GI cannot be integrated. And the function is substantially the same as that in the case of being stored in the same file. That is, the mode in which the image data and the image output control information GI are used in association with each other at least at the time of the image processing is included in the image file GF in the present embodiment. Furthermore, CD-ROM, CD-R,
Moving image files stored on optical disk media such as DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM are also included.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image data output system to which an image output device according to an embodiment can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a digital still camera capable of generating an image file (image data) output by the image output device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the internal structure of an image file that can be used in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic internal structure of an image file stored in an Exif file format.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure of an attached information storage area 112 of an image file GF that can be used in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a color printer 20 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a control circuit 30 of the color printer 20.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process of refining an image file GF in the digital still camera 12.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine of a printing process in the color printer 20 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of image processing in the color printer 20 according to the embodiment.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine for automatic image adjustment in the color printer 20. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a graph conceptually showing a relationship between an input level and an output level of an R component among RGB components.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine of a printing process in a color printer 20 according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image data output system 12 ... Digital still camera 121 ... Optical circuit 122 ... Image acquisition circuit 123 ... Image processing circuit 124 ... Control circuit 126 ... Selection / determination button 127 ... Liquid crystal display 14 ... Display 20 ... Color printer 21 ... Carriage 211 ... Print head 212 ... Ink cartridge 213 ... Ink cartridge 214-220 ... Ink ejection head 22 ... Carriage motor 23 ... Platen 24 ... Paper feed motor 25 ... Sliding shaft 26 ... Drive belt 27 ... Pulley 28 ... Position detection sensor 29 ... Operation panel 30 Control circuit 31 Arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 32 Programmable read only memory (PROM) 33 Random access memory (RAM) 34 PCMCIA slot 35 Peripheral device input / output unit (PI O) 36 ... timer 37 ... drive buffer 38 ... bus 39 ... oscillator 40 ... distribution output device 100 ... image file (Exif file) 101 ... JPEG image data storage area 102 ... auxiliary information storage area 103 ... Makernote storage area MC ... memory card

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 21, 2002 (2002.6.2
1)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Functions / Effects In order to solve the above-described problems, a first aspect of the present invention includes image data and at least light source information at the time of generating the image data and is associated with the image data. An output device that outputs image data using the image output control information is provided.
The output device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes the image output system.
Control information was analyzed and the light source information was automatically set.
A light source information determining means for determining whether the image quality adjusting means for adjusting the image quality of the image data based on the image output control information, and the source information is not automatically set
If it is determined, the color bar in the image quality adjusting means is determined.
An image quality adjustment control unit for inhibiting the adjustment of the lance, and an image data output unit for outputting the image data with the adjusted image quality are provided.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0008] According to the output apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, based on the light source information included in the image output control information ,
If it is determined that the light source information has not been set automatically,
Since the adjustment of color balance definitive quality adjustment is inhibited, Hoshiimama meaning to set output condition, i.e., it is possible to automatically adjust the image quality of the image data without compromising the output condition relates to a light source. Also adjust the color balance
The image quality except for
Can be automatically adjusted appropriately.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Output device smell of the first aspect of the present invention
The image quality adjustment control means automatically sets the light source information.
If it is determined that the image quality has not been adjusted,
Prohibition of color balance adjustment in
The degree of adjustment of the color balance may be reduced .

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the image data processing device of the second aspect of the present invention, the light source information contained in the image output control information is
The color balance in image quality adjustment is adjusted based on
Automatically adjusts the image quality appropriately for each image data
Arbitrarily set output conditions
Without deteriorating the output conditions for the light source.
The image quality of the image data can you to automatic adjustment. Also,
The image data processing device according to the second aspect of the present invention can take various aspects in the same manner as the output device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a program for adjusting the image quality of image data. Fourth of the present invention
The program according to the aspect, image data, at least including light source information at the time of image data generation and a function of obtaining an image output control information report associated with the image data, and analyzing the image output control information, The light source information
A function to determine whether or not the information is automatically set;
If it is determined that the light source information has not been set automatically,
Is characterized in that a function of adjusting the image quality of the acquired image data is realized by a computer except for adjusting the color balance .

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 5B057 BA02 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CE17 CH07 CH08 CH11 CH12 DA16 5C077 LL01 LL19 MM03 MP08 NN04 NN11 PP15 PP20 PP32 PP33 PP37 PQ12 PQ22 PQ23 RR03B03 H01 RR03B03 H02 HB12 JA23 LA12 LA17 LA23 LA37 LB02 LC09 MA02 MA04 MA11 MA17 NA03 NA04 NA05 NA27 NA29 PA03 PA05

Claims (27)

[Claims] An output device that outputs image data using image data and image output control information associated with the image data, the image output control information including at least light source information at the time of generating the image data, the image output control information comprising: An output device comprising: an image quality adjustment unit that adjusts a color balance of the image data based on the light source information included in the image data; and an image data output unit that outputs the image data whose image quality has been adjusted. 2. The output device according to claim 1, further comprising: a light source information determining unit that analyzes the image output control information to determine whether the light source information has been automatically set; And an image quality adjustment control unit for prohibiting the adjustment of the color balance by the image quality adjustment unit when it is determined that has not been automatically set. 3. The output device according to claim 1, further comprising: a light source information determining unit that analyzes the image output control information to determine whether the light source information is automatically set; An image quality adjustment control unit that reduces the degree of adjustment of the color balance by the image quality adjustment unit when it is determined that has not been automatically set. 4. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the image quality adjusting unit analyzes the image data and acquires a value of an image quality parameter indicating a characteristic of the image data. An output device comprising: an image quality parameter value acquiring unit, wherein the image quality of the image data is adjusted based on the acquired image quality parameter value and a predetermined reference image quality parameter value. 5. The output device according to claim 4, wherein the image adjustment unit calculates an image quality adjustment amount from the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value, and reflects the light source information to obtain the image quality adjustment amount. And an image quality of the image data is adjusted using the corrected image quality adjustment amount. 6. The output device according to claim 4, wherein the image adjustment unit reflects the light source information to reduce or eliminate a deviation between the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value. An output device for adjusting the image quality of an image. 7. The output device according to claim 4, further comprising: a reference image quality parameter value correcting unit that analyzes the image output control information and corrects a reference image quality parameter value corresponding to the image quality parameter value. The output device adjusts the image quality of the image data based on the corrected reference image quality parameter value and the acquired image quality parameter value. 8. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the light source information is information on a white balance used at the time of generating the image data. 9. An image data processing apparatus for processing image data using image data and image output control information associated with the image data at least including light source information at the time of generating the image data, the image data processing device comprising: A capturing unit for capturing the image output control information; an image quality parameter value obtaining unit for analyzing the image data to obtain a value of an image quality parameter indicating a characteristic of the image data; a predetermined reference image quality parameter value; An image data processing apparatus comprising: an image quality adjustment unit that adjusts a color balance of the image data based on the light source information included in the image output control information and the acquired image quality parameter value. 10. The image data processing device according to claim 9, wherein the image quality adjustment unit calculates an image quality adjustment amount from the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value, and reflects the light source information to determine the image quality. An image data processing apparatus, wherein the adjustment amount is corrected, and the image quality of the image data is adjusted using the corrected image quality adjustment amount. 11. The image data processing device according to claim 9, wherein the image quality adjustment unit reflects the light source information so as to reduce or eliminate a deviation between the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value. An image data processing device for adjusting image quality of image data. 12. The image data processing device according to claim 9, further comprising: a reference image quality parameter value correcting unit that analyzes the image output control information and corrects a reference image quality parameter value corresponding to the image quality parameter value. An image data processing device, wherein the image quality adjusting means adjusts the image quality of the image data based on the corrected reference image quality parameter value and the acquired image quality parameter value. 13. The image data processing device according to claim 9, further comprising: analyzing the image output control information to determine whether the light source information has been automatically set. Image data comprising: light source information determination means; and image quality adjustment control means for prohibiting adjustment of the color balance in the image quality adjustment means when it is determined that the light source information has not been automatically set. Processing equipment. 14. The image data processing device according to claim 9, further comprising: analyzing the image output control information to determine whether the light source information has been automatically set. An image, comprising: light source information determination means; and image quality adjustment control means for reducing the color balance adjustment amount in the image quality adjustment means when it is determined that the light source information has not been automatically set. Data processing device. 15. A method for adjusting image quality of image data, comprising: acquiring image data and image output control information associated with the image data, the image output control information including at least light source information at the time of generating the image data; Analyze the information, determine whether the light source information was automatically set, if determined that the light source information was not automatically set, except for adjusting the color balance, the acquired An image quality adjustment method for adjusting the image quality of image data. 16. The image quality adjusting method according to claim 15, wherein the image quality is adjusted by analyzing the image data and acquiring a value of an image quality parameter indicating a characteristic of the image data. And adjusting the image quality of the image data based on the value and a predetermined reference image quality parameter value. 17. The image quality adjustment method according to claim 15, wherein when it is determined that the light source information has been automatically set, the acquired image quality parameter value including a color balance is set in advance. An image quality adjustment method, comprising: adjusting the image quality of the image data based on a determined reference image quality parameter value. 18. A program for adjusting the image quality of image data, comprising: acquiring image data and an image output control information report including at least light source information at the time of generating the image data and associated with the image data. A program for causing a computer to realize a function and a function of adjusting image quality of the image data including a color balance based on the light source information included in the image output control information. 19. The program according to claim 18, further comprising: a function of analyzing the image output control information to determine whether or not the light source information has been automatically set; A program for causing a computer to realize the function of adjusting the image quality of the acquired image data except for adjusting the color balance when it is determined that the image data has not been set. 20. The program according to claim 18, further comprising: a function of analyzing the image output control information to determine whether or not the light source information has been automatically set; A program that, when determined not to be set, reduces the degree of color balance adjustment and adjusts the image quality of the obtained image data by a computer. 21. The program according to claim 18, wherein the function of adjusting the image quality comprises: analyzing the acquired image data to acquire a value of an image quality parameter indicating a characteristic of the image data. A function of acquiring, by a computer, a function of acquiring an image quality parameter value, and a function of adjusting the image quality of the image data based on the acquired image quality parameter value and a predetermined reference image quality parameter value. Program to do. 22. The program according to claim 18, wherein when it is determined that the light source information has been automatically set, the acquired image quality parameter value and color balance are included. A program for causing a computer to realize a function of adjusting the image quality of the image data based on a predetermined reference image quality parameter value. 23. An image data generation device for generating image data associated with image processing conditions of image data in an output device, comprising: image data generation means for generating image data; and light source information acquisition for acquiring light source information. Means, an image quality parameter value obtaining means for analyzing the generated image data, and obtaining at least an image quality parameter value indicating a characteristic relating to a color balance of the image data, a predetermined reference image quality parameter, Generating image data comprising: an image processing condition generating unit that generates the image processing condition based on an image quality parameter and the light source information; and an output unit that outputs the generated image processing condition and the image data in association with each other. apparatus. 24. The image data generation device according to claim 23, further comprising: a light source information determination unit configured to determine whether the acquired light source information is automatically set; Generating an image processing condition for prohibiting color balance adjustment when it is determined that the light source information is not automatically set. 25. The image data generating device according to claim 23, further comprising: a light source information determining unit configured to determine whether the acquired light source information has been automatically set; Generating an image processing condition that reduces the degree of color balance adjustment when it is determined that the light source information has not been automatically set. 26. The image data generation device according to claim 23, wherein the light source information is information of image data that is white balance information used when the image data is generated. Generator. 27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the image data is stored and output in the same file as the image processing conditions.