JP2002315019A - Printer system, white balance control method therefor, electronic camera and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reflect a white balance set at the camera side in photographing to the printer side, thereby preventing an image recorded by intentionally leaving the atmosphere of a light source from being corrected to compensate this atmosphere in printing. SOLUTION: The camera 10 is a digital camera, having a white balance process function which leaves the atmosphere of a photographing light source. In photographing, the camera records information of WB adaptation ratio which as represents the degree of white balance correction in a memory medium 34 as additional information to photographed images. The printer 40 reads the WB adaptation ratio information at the camera side via the recording medium 34 to control the white balance interlocked with its setting and, e.g. for a WB adaptation ratio of less than 100%, sets off an AWB process at the printer to print a recorded image, as it is without changing its color.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a white balance control technique for a system including an electronic camera and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic white balance (AWB) of an electronic camera, a light source type is determined from information of an external white balance (WB) sensor or a CCD image sensor for detecting a color temperature, and a white light suitable for the determined light source is determined. The balance is adjusted (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-2246).
08 publication). The basics of AWB are that a gray subject is imaged in gray under a photographing light source. However, depending on the type of electronic camera, depending on the type of light source determined at that time, it is necessary to leave the atmosphere of the light source at that place. There are controls that weaken AWB correction. For example, in order to leave an impression of the scene when photographed under tungsten, a slightly weaker white balance is performed so as to leave a grayish red tint.

On the other hand, when printing an image captured by an electronic camera, AWB processing is also performed inside the printer. The AWB process inside the printer is performed by the electronic camera
In many cases, it is set based on the concept of correcting an image captured by making a B mistake.

[0004]

However, when a print is created by a combination of the above-mentioned "electronic camera having an AWB function that leaves the atmosphere of the light source" and a "printer which internally performs AWB processing", the following problem occurs. There are such disadvantages. In other words, the image signal itself obtained by imaging with the electronic camera has a W
Despite the B processing, the printer determines that the image is a WB mistake and creates a print in which the atmosphere of the light source is canceled.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the white balance setting intended on the camera side can be reflected on the printer side, thereby preventing the creation of a print in which the atmosphere of the light source is canceled. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer system and a white balance control method thereof, and an electronic camera and a printer used in the system.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer system for printing an image photographed by an electronic camera by a printer. White balance correction means for performing white balance correction processing on an image signal obtained in such a manner as to leave an atmosphere of a photographing light source, and white balance adaptation indicating a degree of white balance correction performed by the white balance correction means. Recording means for recording data relating to the ratio on the recording medium together with the photographed image as additional information of the image, the printer comprising: an information acquisition means for reading the image recorded on the recording medium and the additional information; Using the white balance adaptation rate information contained in the additional information read from the means And white balance control means for controlling the white balance processing printer side, is characterized by comprising a.

[0007] The electronic camera used in the system of the present invention comprises:
The camera has a white balance processing function that retains the atmosphere of the photographing light source. At the time of photographing, information on the adaptation rate indicating the degree of white balance correction is recorded on the recording medium as additional information of the photographed image. The adaptation rate on the camera side may be automatically determined by the auto white balance function of the camera, or may be arbitrarily set (manually) by the user operating a predetermined operation unit.

On the printer side, the adaptation rate information on the camera side is read via the information acquisition means, and white balance processing is controlled in accordance with the information. As described above, by performing the white balance control of the printer in conjunction with the setting of the white balance adaptation rate in the electronic camera, it is possible to prevent the creation of a print in which the atmosphere of the light source is canceled.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a white balance control method applied to the above system. That is, this method invention is a white balance control method applied to a printer system that prints an image taken by an electronic camera by a printer, and leaves an atmosphere of a shooting light source when shooting with the electronic camera. A step of performing white balance correction processing, and a step of recording data on a white balance adaptation rate indicating a degree of white balance correction performed by the white balance correction processing on a recording medium together with the captured image as additional information of the image, Capturing the image recorded on the recording medium and the additional information into the printer,
Using the white balance adaptation rate information included in the additional information captured by the printer, the printer controls the white balance processing of the printer, and executes printing with a white balance reflecting the setting of the white balance adaptation rate used by the electronic camera. And a step of performing

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera for use in the above-mentioned system, wherein an image pickup means for converting an optical image of a subject into an electric signal and an image signal obtained via the image pickup means are provided. And white balance correction means for performing white balance correction processing so as to leave the atmosphere of the shooting light source, and data relating to a white balance adaptation rate indicating the degree of white balance correction performed by the white balance correction means as additional information of the image. Recording means for recording on a recording medium together with the photographed image.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for use in the above-described system, which acquires an image captured by an electronic camera and information on a white balance adaptation rate indicating a degree of white balance correction for the image. Means, white balance control means for controlling white balance processing at the time of printing using information on the white balance adaptation rate read from the information acquisition means,
According to the white balance control by the white balance control means, there is provided a printing means for performing printing with a white balance reflecting the setting of the white balance adaptation rate used in the electronic camera.

As one mode of white balance control on the printer side linked to the setting of the white balance adaptation rate on the electronic camera side, in the printer of the present invention, the white balance correction means inside the printer is used to control the white balance. The white balance correction process in the case of performing gray balance (R = G = B) in which the respective color signal levels of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are equal by performing balance correction is referred to as “normal white”. When defined as "balance correction processing", there is a mode in which the white balance control means executes the normal white balance correction processing when information on the white balance adaptation rate cannot be obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the white balance adaptation rate read from the information obtaining means is smaller than a set threshold value, the white balance control means may output the information to the printer. This is characterized in that the white balance processing on the side is turned off. For example, the threshold value may be set to a value indicating complete correction, or the threshold value may be changed by a user operation.

According to the aspect of the present invention, the white balance adaptation rate can be represented by a numerical value from 100% indicating complete correction to 0% indicating no white balance correction, and the white balance inside the printer is adjusted. White balance correction is performed by the correction means, and the white balance correction amount when achieving a gray (R = G = B) in which the respective color signal levels of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are equal is calculated. When defining the "normal white balance correction amount", the white balance control means calculates the printer-side white balance correction amount by the following equation: printer-side white balance correction amount = normal white balance correction amount x white balance adaptation rate ( %) / 10
0 is determined.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the printer of the present invention, the "camera adaptation rate ignoring mode" for executing the normal white balance correction processing even when the information on the white balance adaptation rate is read. There is also a mode in which the camera adaptation rate ignoring mode can be selected by operating the mode selecting means.

[0016] A "camera adaptation rate utilization mode" for performing white balance processing reflecting the setting of the white balance adaptation rate used in the electronic camera and a "camera adaptation rate ignoring mode" can be selected according to a user operation. By switching the white balance control method according to the selected mode, it is possible to respond to various user requests.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a printer system, a white balance control method thereof, and an electronic camera and a printer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. Shooting lens 1 of camera 10
2 may be a single focus lens or a variable focal length lens such as a zoom lens. The light that has passed through the taking lens 12 is imaged on a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD) 16 via an infrared cut filter 13 and an optical low-pass filter 14. Photosensors are arranged in a plane on the light receiving surface of the CCD 16, and primary color filters of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are arranged in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to each sensor.

The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 16 is converted by each photosensor into a signal charge of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light. The CCD 16 has a so-called electronic shutter function of controlling the charge accumulation time (shutter speed) of each photosensor by the timing of a shutter gate pulse.

The signal charge stored in each photosensor of the CCD 16 is a voltage signal (image signal) corresponding to the signal charge based on a pulse given from a CCD driver (not shown).
Are read out sequentially. The image signal output from the CCD 16 undergoes predetermined analog signal processing such as correlated double sampling (CDS) processing and color separation processing.
It is converted into a digital signal by the D converter 18.

The digitized image signal is applied to a linear matrix circuit 20. The linear matrix circuit 20 converts the input RGB data according to the following equation <1> to obtain new RGB data.

[0022]

(Equation 1) Here, a to i are constants.

The signal processed by the linear matrix circuit 20 is sent to a white balance adjustment circuit (hereinafter referred to as a WB circuit) 22 and a white balance gain control unit 24. In this specification, “white balance” is abbreviated as “WB” as necessary. The WB circuit 22 has R
It comprises a multiplier for increasing or decreasing the digital value of each color signal of GB, and each color signal is added to a corresponding multiplier. The white balance correction values (gain values) Rg and G are supplied from the WB gain control unit 24 to the multiplier for each color.
Commands g and Bg are added, and each multiplier adjusts the level of the color signal according to the commands. The RGB signals subjected to white balance adjustment in the WB circuit 22 are sent to a gamma conversion circuit 26. The content of control by the WB gain control unit 24 and the concept of the WB adaptation rate used for the control will be described later.

The gamma conversion circuit 26 converts the input / output characteristics so that the RGB signals whose white balance has been adjusted have desired gamma characteristics. The gamma-converted signal is RG
The signal is sent to a B → YCr Cb conversion circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a YC conversion circuit) 28, where the RG
The B signal is converted into a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cr and Cb.

The luminance / color difference signals (Y, Cr, Cb) obtained by the YC conversion circuit 28 are converted into a Cr Cb matrix circuit 3.
0, and color correction of the color difference signal is performed. The image data processed by the Cr Cb matrix circuit 30 is compressed /
After being compressed by a decompression circuit 32 according to a JPEG or other predetermined format, it is recorded on a recording medium 34 such as a memory card. At this time, the WB gain control unit 24
The information of the WB adaptation rate controlled by the above is recorded on the recording medium 34 as additional information of the image. For example, the WB adaptation rate is written in the tag information of the image file. The recording medium 34 is not limited to a removable medium, but may be an internal memory of the camera 10.

Next, a method of controlling the white balance of the camera 10 configured as described above will be described. AE in response to half-pressing of shutter button (not shown)
(Automatic exposure adjustment) control is performed. In the AE control, the R, G, and B signals are fetched a plurality of times at a predetermined exposure value, and the subject brightness (shooting EV value) is obtained based on the integrated value of the R, G, and B signals. The aperture value and shutter speed at the time of shooting are finally determined based on the values. Then, when the shutter button is fully pressed, the aperture and the electronic shutter (charge storage time) are controlled according to the determined aperture value and shutter speed.

The R, G, B signals for one screen taken in from the CCD 16 in response to the full-press operation of the shutter button are sent to the WB gain control unit 24 via the linear matrix circuit 20. The WB gain control unit 24 divides one screen into a plurality of areas (for example, 8 × 8), obtains an average integrated value for each color of R, G, and B signals for each divided area,
The ratio R / G between the integrated value of the R signal and the integrated value of the G signal, and B
A ratio B / G between the integrated value of the signal and the integrated value of the G signal is obtained.

R / G, B calculated for each divided area
/ G is used to determine which of the plurality of detection frames shown in the graph of FIG. 2 is included in the divided area. Each detection frame such as a shade detection frame, a daylight color detection frame, a daylight white detection frame, a white detection frame, and a tungsten detection frame in FIG. 2 defines a color distribution range such as a light source type. The light source type is automatically determined based on the number of areas included in the detection frame, and white balance adjustment corresponding to the light source type is performed.

FIG. 3 is an example of the camera WB adaptation rate when the photographing light source is tungsten. The horizontal axis indicates the B / G gain value, and the vertical axis indicates the R / G gain value. However, the B / G gain value and the R / G gain value at the time of daylight are normalized to 1 and displayed (point A). In FIG. 3, “gain value corresponding to tungsten adaptation rate 100%” (point B), that is, R / G
= 0.5 and R / G = 2.0, the gray subject under the tungsten light source is imaged in gray (R = G = B).

On the other hand, "a gain value corresponding to a tungsten adaptation rate of 70%" (point C), that is, R / G = 0.65, B / G
When the correction is performed at 1.7, the gray object under the tungsten light source is imaged in a reddish gray while retaining the atmosphere of the light source.

As described above, the adaptation ratio indicates the extent to which the atmosphere of the light source remains, and is defined on the graph by the distance between the daylight gain value (point A) and the complete correction point (point B). . The space defining the color distribution is shown in FIG.
G, B / G) space, and a LAB color space or another chromaticity diagram can also be used.

In the case of this example, the adaptation rate is appropriately set between 100% (complete correction) and 0% (no correction). The adaptation rate of 100% is obtained when the white balance is completely obtained, and the atmosphere of the light source does not remain at all. When the adaptation rate of 0% is selected, white balance correction is not performed as a result, and the color of the light source is output as it is. This is the same state as when the manual white balance is set to “daylight (sunny)”. If the adaptation rate is "0
The closer to “%”, the more the atmosphere of the light source remains, and “100%”
Means that the atmosphere of the light source is smaller.

The camera WB adaptation rate may be automatically determined by the auto white balance (AWB) function of the camera 10, or may be manually set arbitrarily by the camera user. In the present embodiment, the adaptation rate of AWB can be changed according to the preference of the photographer. The adaptation rate may be set stepwise or may be set continuously. The information of the set adaptation rate is recorded together with the image on the recording medium 34 as additional information at the time of recording the image.

Next, the printer will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image captured by the camera 10 and its additional information are
The data is transferred from the camera 10 to the printer 40 via a removable recording medium (removable medium) 34. If the image file is stored on a recording medium inside the camera,
The image and its additional information are transmitted from the camera 10 to the printer 40 using a wireless or wired data communication means.

The printer 40 includes a JPEG compressed image decompression processing unit 42 and a YCr Cb → RGB conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as RGB).
It is called a conversion circuit. ) 44, WB correction circuit 46, look-up table (LUT) correction circuit 48, RGB → YMC
A conversion circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a YMC conversion circuit) 50, a print engine 52, and a control unit 54 for controlling these are provided.

The image data read from the recording medium 34 is decompressed by a JPEG compressed image decompression processing unit 42 and then sent to an RGB conversion circuit 44. RG from YC signal
The signal converted to the B signal is sent to the WB correction circuit 46,
Here, the gain of each color signal is adjusted. Control unit 54
Analyzes the image fetched from the JPEG compressed image decompression processing unit 42 and adds WB, which is additional information of the image.
Determine the gain value of each color signal based on the adaptation rate information,
A gain control signal is given to the WB correction circuit 46.

The data processed by the WB correction circuit 46 is
After the correction processing is performed in the LUT correction circuit 48, Y
It is sent to the MC conversion circuit 50. The YMC conversion circuit 50 converts the received RGB data into Y (yellow), magenta (M), and cyan (C) color signals. The image data converted into the YMC signal is sent to the print engine 52, and the image content indicated by the image data is printed on a print sheet or other print medium. Thus, a print 56 on which the image content is printed is obtained.

The control unit 54 includes an image analysis unit and a printer.
It has an AutoSetUp function section and a coefficient determination section. The control unit 54 of the printer 40 reads the WB adaptation rate information included in the additional information of the image, and performs white balance correction control reflecting the setting of the adaptation rate. For example, the following processes (1) to (3) are performed.

(1) If there is no additional information of the WB adaptation rate, normal AWB processing is performed. Here, "normal AW
"B processing" means that the printer corrects the white balance with respect to the input image data so that the color signal levels of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) become equal (R = G = B) is a process of adjusting the gain of each color signal so as to achieve = B).

(2) If the camera WB adaptation rate is less than 100%, the printer AWB process is turned off. As a result, printing is performed with the white balance set on the camera side, and correction that cancels the atmosphere of the light source can be avoided. The threshold value serving as a criterion for determining whether to turn off the printer AWB process may be fixed at “100%” indicating complete correction, or the threshold value setting may be changed by a user operation. It may be configured. For example,
When the threshold value is set to 80%, the camera WB adaptation rate is 8
If it is less than 0%, the printer AWB processing is turned off, and if the camera WB adaptation rate is 80% or more, the printer AWB is turned off.
The control is switched so that the processing is performed.

(3) The AWB correction amount on the printer side is expressed by the following equation:
2>

[0042]

## EQU00002 ## Printer AWB correction amount = ordinary AWB correction amount.times.adaptation rate (%) / 100... Calculated according to <2>. Do. Here, the “normal AWB correction amount” means the white balance correction amount by the normal AWB processing.

In the printer 40 shown in FIG. 4, even if the additional information of the WB adaptation ratio is read on the printer 40 side, the AWB control reflecting the information is not performed, and the normal printer AWB process is executed. It is also preferable to provide a mode in which "rate neglect mode" is provided.

That is, the printer 40 uses the WB adaptation rate information set on the camera 10 side to perform AWB control of the printer 40, and the “camera adaptation rate utilization mode”, and the “camera adaptation rate mode” that does not use the adaptation rate information. The mode selection means 58 is provided so that the user can appropriately select a mode. The selection information of the mode selection unit 58 is input to the control unit 54, and the control unit 54 switches the AWB control method according to the selected mode.

FIG. 5 shows the camera 10 and the printer 4 described above.
It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the system which combined 0. First, the camera 10 acquires data for light source determination (step S110), and performs light source determination based on the acquired data (step S112). Next, the adaptation rate table corresponding to the determined light source is read, and the R / G gain and the B / G gain are determined based on the light source type and the adaptation rate. As the WB adaptation rate, a value preset on the camera side as in step S114 may be used, or the camera WB adaptation rate may be arbitrarily set by means such as a GUI (graphical user interface). May be configured.

Next, the image data and the additional information thereof (camera WB
The process of recording the adaptation rate (including the adaptation rate) on the recording medium 34 is executed (step S118). After the photographing, the recording medium 34 is taken out of the camera 10 and attached to the media insertion slot of the printer 10. The printer 40 reads image data and additional information (including the camera WB adaptation rate) from the recording medium 34 (step S120). AWB on the printer side is performed based on the read image data and the additional information.
The processing (any one of the above (1) to (3)) is performed to print the target image (step S
122).

Next, an example of application to a camera (movie camera) for recording moving images will be described.

When printing one scene of a moving image without additional information on the WB adaptation rate, normal AWB processing is performed on the printer side. On the other hand, when one scene is extracted from a moving image having additional information regarding the WB adaptation rate and printed, the same processing is performed as in the case of printing from the camera 10 (electronic still camera) described above.

The white balance adjustment at the time of shooting a moving image includes a method described below in addition to a case where a light source type and a color temperature are estimated and a WB adaptation rate is set according to the estimated light source type and the color temperature. That is, the WB gain is set so that the integral value of RGB or the integral value of the color difference signal becomes gray for the entire screen or a part of the screen (for example, a certain area in the center). In this case, if the WB gain value required for the integrated value to be gray is within a certain range (within a predetermined range), an adaptation rate process for intentionally setting the WB gain to a relatively low value is performed. Will be FIG. 6 shows an example. In the figure, the area indicated by reference numeral 62 is an area that defines a range to be set to an adaptation rate of 100%, and the other area (reference numeral 64) is to define a range to be set to an adaptation rate of 80%. Stipulated.

For example, the R gain and the B gain necessary for obtaining a perfect white balance are 1.1, 0.
In the case of 9, since this is within the area of the adaptation rate of 100% indicated by reference numeral 62 in FIG. 6, the WB control is performed with R gain = 1.1 and B gain 0.9.

When the R gain and the B gain necessary to obtain a complete WB are 0.6 and 2.0, respectively, since these are within the area of the adaptation rate of 80% indicated by reference numeral 64, each gain value To the following equations <3>, <4>

[0052]

## EQU3 ## R gain = 1.0− (1.0−0.6) × 0.
8 = 0.68 ... <3>

[0053]

## EQU4 ## B gain = 1.0 + (2.0−1.0) × 0.
8 = 1.8... Calculated according to <4>, and WB is calculated using the calculated R gain and B gain.
Perform control.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, white balance adaptation rate information set by an electronic camera is recorded on a recording medium together with an image, and at the time of printing, the printer reads the adaptation rate information and reads the information on the camera. The white balance control linked to the settings in
With respect to an image recorded by the photographer intentionally leaving the atmosphere (color) of the light source, it is possible to avoid a situation in which correction is made to cancel the atmosphere during printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a detection frame indicating a range of a color distribution such as a light source type.

FIG. 3 is a graph for explaining a white balance adaptation rate set on a camera side;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a system including a printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the camera and printer system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a white balance adaptation rate process for a moving image.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 camera, 12 photographing lens, 16 CCD, 18
... A / D converter, 20 ... Linear matrix circuit, 22
WB circuit, 24 WB gain control section, 26 gamma conversion circuit, 28 YC conversion circuit, 34 recording medium, 40
Printer, 46: WB correction circuit, 48: LUT correction circuit, 50: YMC conversion circuit, 52: print engine,
54: control unit, 58: mode selection means

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2H002 EB00 2H054 AA01 5C055 AA05 AA06 AA14 BA06 BA08 EA05 EA19 FA22 HA37 5C065 AA03 BB02 CC01 CC08 5C066 AA01 AA05 AA07 CA00 CA05 EA14 EA15 GA01 GA32 GA33 KD06

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printer system for printing an image captured by an electronic camera by a printer, wherein the electronic camera adjusts a white balance of an image signal acquired via an imaging unit so as to leave an atmosphere of an imaging light source. White balance correction means for performing correction processing, recording means for recording data on a white balance adaptation rate indicating the degree of white balance correction performed by the white balance correction means on a recording medium together with a captured image as additional information of the image, An information acquisition unit that reads an image recorded on the recording medium and additional information thereof, and a printer side using white balance adaptation rate information included in the additional information read from the information acquisition unit. White balance control to control white balance processing Printer system characterized by comprising: a stage, a. 2. A white balance control method applied to a printer system for printing an image taken by an electronic camera by a printer, wherein the white balance is maintained so that an atmosphere of a photographing light source is left when the electronic camera takes a picture. Performing a correction process, and recording data on a white balance adaptation rate indicating a degree of white balance correction performed by the white balance correction process together with a captured image as additional information of the image on a recording medium; Capturing the image recorded on the medium and the additional information into the printer; and controlling the white balance processing of the printer using the white balance adaptation rate information included in the additional information captured by the printer. Reflected the white balance adaptation rate setting used in White balance control method characterized by comprising the step of performing a printing by white balance, the. 3. An image pickup means for converting an optical image of a subject into an electric signal, and a white balance correction processing for an image signal obtained via the image pickup means so as to leave an atmosphere of a photographing light source. Balance correction means, and recording means for recording data on a white balance adaptation rate indicating the degree of white balance correction performed by the white balance correction means on a recording medium together with a captured image as additional information of the image. Electronic camera featuring. 4. An information acquisition means for reading an image captured by an electronic camera and information on a white balance adaptation rate indicating a degree of white balance correction for the image, and information on a white balance adaptation rate read from the information acquisition means. A white balance control means for controlling a white balance process at the time of printing by using the white balance control means; And a printing means for performing the following. 5. The printer according to claim 4, wherein white balance correction is performed by white balance correction means inside the printer so that red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color signal levels are equal. Gray (R = G =
When defining the white balance correction processing for achieving B) as “normal white balance correction processing”, the white balance control unit determines the normal white balance correction information when the information of the white balance adaptation rate cannot be obtained. A printer that performs a correction process. 6. The white balance control means, if the white balance adaptation rate read from the information acquisition means is smaller than a set threshold, turn off the white balance processing on the printer side. The printer according to claim 4, characterized in that: 7. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the white balance adaptation rate is 100% indicating complete correction.
To 0% indicating no white balance correction. White balance correction is performed by white balance correction means inside the printer, and each color of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) is Gray with equal signal level (R = G =
When the white balance correction amount for achieving B) is defined as “normal white balance correction amount”, the white balance control means calculates the white balance correction amount on the printer side as follows: Normal white balance correction amount x White balance adaptation rate (%) / 10
0. A printer characterized in that the printer is determined according to 0. 8. The printer according to claim 5, further comprising a “camera adaptation rate ignoring mode” for executing the normal white balance correction processing even when the information on the white balance adaptation rate is read, A printer characterized in that the camera adaptation rate ignoring mode can be selected by operating a mode selecting means.