JP2002314907A - Print system, printer and electronic storage medium used for print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system for realizing the best image processing for image data according to an output printer. SOLUTION: A smart media 13 memorizes printer information 20 concerning with the photograph printer for outputting images. The printer information 20 consists of a printer name 25, a recording method 26, the kind of recording paper 27, and a printable size 28. A digital camera controls each parameter 37-42 of image processing information 30b based on the printer information 20 and carries out the image processing of the image data to print the best image in the photograph printer. The image processing information 30b and ordering information 30a are written in the smart media 13 as an image file 22 along with image processed image data 31. The photograph printer prints the image based on image production information 3. Then, a photograph print 15 in the best image processing is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly, to a digital camera, an electronic storage medium for storing image data of an image picked up by the digital camera, and recording the image data stored in the electronic storage medium. The present invention relates to a print system including a printer that prints out to a medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital cameras and photographic printers for personal use have rapidly become widespread as the number of pixels increases and the price decreases. A digital camera converts an optical subject image formed on a photocathode of an image sensor such as a CCD image sensor disposed behind a taking lens into a digital signal,
Smart Media and Compact Flash (registered trademark)
And the like as an image data in an electronic storage medium (hereinafter, referred to as a memory). The image data stored in the memory can be displayed on the LCD monitor or an externally connected display using the operation switch provided on the digital camera, and images that have failed to be shot or unnecessary images can be deleted. You can do it easily. The memory is detachable, so take out the memory from the digital camera and set it in the photo printer. When the print start operation of the photographic printer is performed, the image data stored in the memory is printed on the recording paper in the same manner as the silver halide photograph, and a high-quality photographic print can be easily obtained. As described above, a printing system for personal use is constituted by a digital camera, a photo printer, and a removable memory.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned printing system, the photographic printer has various recording systems such as a thermal system, a thermal transfer system and an ink jet system, and the types of recording paper and printable sizes are different. ing. For this reason, if the image data of the captured image is simply printed out as it is, the image quality will differ depending on the output photographic printer. Therefore, in order to obtain an optimal photo print with each photo printer, it is necessary to process image data (image processing) before printing.

As in a print system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-146308, order information of an image desired by a user to be printed by a digital camera, such as the number of prints and print size, is stored in a memory and output to a lab or output. There is a center which outputs a photographic print of an image desired by a user based on this order information. However, there has been no print system capable of performing image processing on image data so that an optimal photographic print can be obtained according to a photographic printer that prints image data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a printing system for performing image processing of image data according to a photographic printer that prints out image data so as to obtain an optimal photographic print. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to the present invention comprises a digital camera,
In a print system including an electronic storage medium that stores image data of an image captured by a digital camera and a printer that prints out image data stored in the electronic storage medium to a recording medium, printer information related to the printer is stored in an electronic storage medium in advance. Printer information writing means to be stored in the digital camera, and image data of an image taken by the printer based on the printer information stored in the electronic storage medium so that the printer can obtain an optimal print output. Image processing means for performing processing. Preferably, the printer information writing means writes the printer information when the electronic storage medium provided in the printer is initialized. Preferably, the printer information includes at least one of a recording method of the printer, a type of recording medium, and a printable size. Further, in a printer that prints out image data of an image captured by a digital camera stored in an electronic storage medium to a recording medium, printer information is stored in the electronic storage medium. Further, in an electronic storage medium for storing image data of an image captured by a digital camera, printer information of a printer that prints out the image data is written in advance.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to the present invention. Print system 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a digital camera 11, a photo printer 12, and a smart media 13. The print system 10 stores the subject image captured by the digital camera 11 in the smart media 13 as digital image data. The image data stored in the smart media 13 is printed on a recording paper 14 by a photographic printer 12 to obtain a photographic print 15.

The smart media 13 is composed of a DRAM which can be accessed at a high speed. As shown in FIG. 2, the ID information 19, the printer information 20, the image file 2
It has a file structure consisting of 2, 23, 24, etc.

The ID information 19 includes ID information consisting of numerals and characters for respectively identifying a plurality of media. The printer information 20 includes the smart media 13
Various information of the photographic printer 12 which outputs the image data described below stored in the printer 12 is described. The printer information 20 includes a printer name 25, a recording method 26, a recording paper type 2
7, printable size 28, and the like. The printer information 20 is written and stored when the photographic printer 12 initializes the smart media 13.

The image file 22 is composed of image reproduction information 30 and image data 31. Image reproduction information 3
0 is an ID number 32 indicating a frame number of the image data 31
, Order information 30a describing information such as the number of prints 33 and trimming 34, and the data amount 3 of the image data 31
7, image processing information 30b in which parameters such as color information 38, luminance information 39, and gradation 40 are described. The image data 31 is image data obtained by performing image processing on image data of a subject image captured by the digital camera 11 based on the printer information 20 stored in the smart media 13 as described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the digital camera 11 includes a photographing lens 45, a CCD image sensor 46, an analog signal processing circuit 47, a digital signal processing circuit 48,
It comprises a PU 49, a memory 50, an LCD monitor 51 and the like. The CPU 49 manages the electrical operation of the digital camera 11 as a whole, including the signal processing circuits 47 and 48, and includes an operation switch 52 and a shutter switch 53.
Also performs signal processing according to the input signal from. At the time of shooting, the smart media 1 initialized by the photo printer 10
3 is set on the holder 11a (see FIG. 1).

A CCD arranged behind the photographing lens 45
Micro color filters of R, G, and B are arranged in a matrix on the photoelectric surface of the image sensor 46. CCD image sensor 46 through photographing lens 45
The optical subject image formed on the photocathode is converted into an electrical image signal for each color by the driving of the CCD driver 54 and output.

The R, G, and B image signals are subjected to signal processing such as amplification, noise reduction, matrix calculation, and white balance adjustment in an analog signal processing circuit 47. Thereafter, each imaging signal is transferred to the A / D converter 55 and converted into a digital image signal. A / D converter 5
The image signal converted by 5 is input to the digital signal processing circuit 48.

In the digital signal processing circuit 48, the CPU 4
Various image processing is performed in accordance with the command from No. 9.
This image processing is performed based on the printer information 20 written in the smart media 13, and by controlling the parameters 37 to 42 of the image processing information 30b, the photographic printer 12 specified by the printer information 20 is used. Best photo print 1 for printing images
5 is obtained.

For example, when the printable size 28 is small, the data amount 37 is reduced so as to thin out the pixels, and the gradation 40 is hardened. In the case of the recording system 26 with a narrow color reproduction range, high saturation and high brightness colors are used. Also, the color information 38 is controlled so that the color is compressed so that there is no color loss. In addition, in the ink jet method, the noise may not be noticeable due to error diffusion, so the parameter of the sharpness 41 is set large. Furthermore, depending on the print size, MT
The parameter of the sharpness 41 is varied so that the F characteristic can be varied, and when the print size is large, the high frequency portion is emphasized.

An image signal for one screen after the image processing is written to the memory 50 as image data. The image data is subjected to an appropriate data compression process by the compression / expansion circuit 56 and written to the smart media 13. At the same time, the parameters 37 to 42 of the image processing information 30b are also written in the smart media 13.

On the other hand, the image data written in the memory 50 is also input to the display signal processing circuit 57. The image data input to the display signal processing circuit 57 is converted into an analog signal again, and then transferred to the LCD monitor 51 to display a captured image.

While viewing the image displayed on the LCD monitor 51, the user sets the order information 30a such as the print size 33, the number of prints 34, the trimming 35, and the rotation 36 by using the operation switch 52. The set order information 30a includes the image processing information 30b and the image data 31 described above.
Is written to the smart media 13. In this manner, the printer information 20 for one screen of the captured subject image
And the writing of the image file 22 is performed. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, image processing based on the printer information 20 is performed for each captured subject image, and the image file 23 and the image file 24 are sequentially written to the smart media 13.

The LCD monitor 51 is provided on the back of the body (not shown) of the digital camera 10 and displays an image of a subject in a shooting mode, and displays an image stored in the smart media 13 in a playback mode. I do. As is well known, the drive source of the CCD driver 54 and the sampling timing of the A / D converter 55 are synchronized.

The photographic printer 12, as shown in FIG.
CPU 60, digital signal processing circuit 61, memory 62,
It is composed of a printer head 63 and the like. CPU 60
The photographic printer 1 including the digital signal processing circuit 61
2, and also performs signal processing according to an input signal from the operation switch 64. To initialize the smart media 13, the user sets the smart media 13 in the holder 12a and instructs the operation switch 64 to start the initialization (see FIG. 1). Thereby, all the image files stored in the smart media 13 are erased, and the printer information 20 of the photo printer 12 is written.

When printing an image, first, the smart media 13 storing the image file is placed in the holder 1.
Set to 2a. When a print start is instructed by operating the operation switch 64, the image data 31 and the image reproduction information 30 are appropriately read from the smart media 13.
In the digital signal processing circuit 61, the order information 30 is added to the image data 31 processed by the digital camera 11.
Image processing such as trimming and rotation based on a is performed.

The image data for one screen after the image processing is written to the memory 62 as print data.
The head driver 65 drives the printer head 63 according to the print data written in the memory 62, and prints an image on the recording paper 14. The recording paper 14 on which the image has been printed is used as the photo print 15 as the paper output port 11b
Is discharged from. In this manner, the photographic print 15 on which the optimal image processing has been performed is printed out.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the smart media 13 for storing image data is stored in the photo printer 12.
Set in the holder 12a. When the smart media 13 is set in the holder 12a and initialization is instructed by operating the operation switch 64, the smart media 13 is initialized. When the initialization is completed, the printer information 20 is written to the smart media 13.

The smart media 13 on which the printer information 20 has been written is extracted from the holder 12a and set in the holder 11a of the digital camera 11. The CPU 49 of the digital camera 11 reads the printer information 20 from the smart media 13 and outputs the printer name 25, the recording method 26, and the recording paper type 2 of the photographic printer 12 to be output.
7. Identify the printable size 28.

The user looks into the finder to perform framing, and performs shuttering at a desired timing.
Press 3 By pressing the shutter switch 53, the CCD driver 54 is driven, and the optical subject image formed on the photoelectric surface of the CCD image sensor 46 is converted into an electrical image signal.

The R, G, and B image signals are converted into digital image signals by an analog signal processing circuit 47, an A / D converter 55, and a digital signal processing circuit 48.
In the digital signal processing circuit 48, the smart media 13
, The parameters 37 to 42 of the image processing information 30b are controlled on the basis of the printer information 20 stored in the printer, and image processing of the image data 31 is performed so that the photographic printer 12 can obtain the optimum photographic print 15.

When the image processing is completed, the image data 31 and the image reproduction information 30 are written to the smart media 13. Imaging can be performed until the storage capacity of the smart media 13 becomes full.

When printing an image after imaging is completed, the smart media 13 is pulled out of the holder 11a of the digital camera 11 and the holder 12 of the photographic printer is removed.
Set to 2a. When a print start is instructed by pressing the operation switch 64, the image data 31 and the image reproduction information 30 for one screen are read.

The digital signal processing circuit 48 performs image processing such as trimming and rotation based on the order information 30a. The image data on which the image processing has been completed is written to the memory 62 as print data. Head driver 6
5 prints an image on the recording paper 14 by driving the printer head 63 based on the print data. When the predetermined number of prints or all the images stored in the smart media 13 have been printed, the photo printer 11 enters a standby state.

In the above embodiment, an example is described in which smart media is used to store printer information, image files, and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other storage media such as a compact flash may be used. May be used. Further, although the writing of the print information is performed when the printer is initialized, it may be written by a personal computer having a card reader or the like.

[0031]

As described above, according to the print system of the present invention, printer information writing means for storing printer information relating to a printer in an electronic storage medium in advance and a digital camera are provided and stored in the electronic storage medium. Image processing means for performing image processing on image data of an image captured so that an optimum print output can be obtained by the printer based on the printer information, so that the image data is printed out to a recording medium. Optimal image processing is performed in accordance with each printer, and an optimal photographic print can be obtained with each printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a file structure of a smart media.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a photographic printer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the printing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 print system 11 digital camera 12 photo printer 13 smart media 20 printer information 30 image reproduction information 31 image data

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/907 H04N 5/907 B 5C053 5/91 101: 00 // H04N 101: 00 5/91 J ( 72) Inventor Koji Ichikawa 3-13-45 Izumi, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koichi Sakamoto 3-13-45 Izumi, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture F Term in Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Reference) 2C087 AC07 BA03 BA07 BA12 BA14 BC12 BC16 BD05 BD24 BD31 BD40 DA17 2H054 AA01 5B021 AA30 DD19 EE03 5C022 AA13 AC03 AC42 5C052 AA17 DD02 EE08 FA02 FA03 FC08 FD02 FD05 FD13 FE04 GA03 GA03 GA08 GB03

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A printing system comprising: a digital camera; an electronic storage medium for storing image data of an image captured by the digital camera; and a printer for printing out image data stored in the electronic storage medium to a recording medium. Printer information writing means for storing printer information on the printer in the electronic storage medium in advance; provided in the digital camera, based on the printer information stored in the electronic storage medium, an optimum print output by the printer. An image processing means for performing image processing on image data of an image captured so as to be obtained. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein said printer information writing means writes printer information when an electronic storage medium provided in said printer is initialized. 3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printer information includes at least one of a printing method of a printer, a type of a printing medium, and a printable size. 4. A printer that prints out image data of an image captured by a digital camera stored in an electronic storage medium to a recording medium, wherein printer information is stored in the electronic storage medium. 5. An electronic storage medium for storing image data of an image captured by a digital camera, wherein printer information of a printer that prints out the image data is written in advance.