JP2002329197A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of basically automatically correcting the color density of an image forming means and quickly setting an operating condition. SOLUTION: The image processor has an image recording means for recording an image in a recording medium, a measuring means for measuring the color density of the image recorded in the recording medium and a control means provided with a correcting function for correcting the color density of the image recording means based on a measured color density measuring value. The control means is provided with an automatic correction value calculating function for automatically calculating a color density correction value for correcting the measured color density to a previously set reference color density value based on the measured color density value, a color density difference calculating function for finding out a color density difference between the reference color density value and the measured color density value and a decision function for deciding whether the color density difference found out by the color density difference calculating function is in a prescribed range or not. When deciding that the color density difference is in the prescribed range, the control means automatically correct the color density of the image recording means based on the automatically calculated correction value, and when deciding that the color density difference exceeds the prescribed range, does not automatically correct the color density of the image recording means based on the automatically calculated correction value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Image recording means for recording an image on a recording medium, measuring means for measuring the color density of the image on the recording medium recorded by the image recording means, and color density measurement values measured by the measuring means And a control unit having a correction function of correcting a color density when an image is recorded by the image recording unit based on the image processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in order to print a frame image recorded on a photographic film or an image recorded on a medium such as a floppy disk onto a recording medium such as a photosensitive material or paper, first record the image on a photographic film or the like. Before printing the image being processed by the image recording means (such as a digital exposure device) of the image processing apparatus, the color density of the image recording means is corrected. To correct the color density of the image recording means, perform a test print for measuring the color density with an image processor, measure the color density of the test-printed print image using a colorimeter or the like, and measure the color density. The operator corrects the color density of the image recording means on the basis of the measurement result.

[0003]

By the way, conventionally,
Normally, the color density of the image recording means is corrected by displaying the measurement result of the color density of the test-printed image on a monitor, and judging whether the color density is good or not while looking at the monitor. Since the correction of the density was performed by manual correction performed by one's own hands, the operator could not leave the machine, and the work of correcting the color density was troublesome.

[0004] For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-241913 proposes a system in which an operator can automatically correct color density without always using a machine. A color density correction value of the image recording means is automatically calculated based on a density difference between the measured value and a preset target color density value, and the color density measurement value and a preset target color density value are calculated. If the density difference is within the predetermined range, print with the automatically calculated correction value assuming that the correction accuracy is good, and if the density difference is larger than the predetermined range, perform test printing again and measure the color density Then, the correction value is calculated.

However, according to this method, when the correction result is bad, it is necessary to repeatedly perform test printing, color density measurement and color density correction value calculation, and it takes a very long time to set working conditions. There is a problem that is applied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processor capable of basically automatically correcting the color density of an image forming means and quickly setting work conditions.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording means for recording an image on a recording medium,
Measuring means for measuring the color density of the image on the recording medium recorded by the image recording means; and correcting the color density when the image is recorded by the image recording means based on the color density measurement value measured by the measuring means. A control unit having a correction function, wherein the control unit records the measured color density by a preset image recording unit based on the color density measurement value measured by the measurement unit. A correction value automatic calculation function for automatically calculating a color density correction value to be corrected so as to be a reference color density value of an image; a preset reference color density value;
A color density difference calculation function for calculating a color density difference from the color density measurement value measured by the measurement means, and a determination for determining whether the color density difference calculated by the color density difference calculation function is within a predetermined range. When the judgment function judges that the color density difference is within a predetermined range, the correction function calculates the color density of the image recorded by the image recording means by the correction value automatic calculation function. If the judgment function determines that the color density difference exceeds the predetermined range, the color density of the image recorded by the image recording means is corrected by the correction function. The configuration is such that control is not performed automatically based on the correction value calculated by the automatic calculation function.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The image processing apparatus reads a frame image of a developed film or an image recorded on various disks such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk. And a printer unit 2 having an exposure unit 21 (image recording means) provided with a digital exposure device such as a PLZT system for printing an input image on a photographic paper serving as a recording medium. And a processor unit 3 equipped with a development processing unit 31 for developing the photographic paper exposed in the exposure unit 21 and a drying processing unit 32 for drying the photographic paper developed in the development processing unit 31. Become.

FIG. 1 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a lamp housing 11 containing a halogen lamp as a light source, a film mask 12 for setting a film, a monitor 13 for displaying various information, a keyboard 14, a mouse 15, and a device for scanning a film image. And a computer 4 serving as a control means. Lamp housing 11, film mask 12, monitor 13,
The keyboard 14 and the mouse 15 are provided on a work table 17 of the machine 10, and the scanner 16 and the computer 4 are mounted inside the machine 10.

In the input unit 1 of the photographic processor, when taking in an image of a film, the film is set on a film mask 12 and light emitted from a halogen lamp in the lamp housing 11 is transmitted to the film mask. 12
The image light accompanied by the image of the film is read by the scanner 16 while being transmitted through the film set in the scanner.

The image data read by the scanner 16 is converted into an electric signal and sent to the computer 4.
The data is recorded in the data storage unit 41 of the computer 4.

When taking in images recorded on various kinds of disks such as a floppy disk and a compact disk, various kinds of disks are set in a disk drive 46 provided in the computer 4, and the images on the disks are stored in the data of the computer 4. The information is recorded in the section 41.

The printer unit 2 prints the image on the photographic paper sequentially drawn from the paper magazine 22 based on the image data stored in the data storage unit 41 of the computer 4 by the exposure unit 21 serving as image recording means. At the same time, the photographic printing paper on which printing has been completed is subjected to development processing in the development
2 and finish the print.

As shown in FIG. 2, the input unit 1 of the image processor according to the present embodiment is equipped with a measuring device 5 (measuring means) for measuring the color density of an image printed on photographic paper. The measuring device 5 is mainly used for measuring the color and density of the photosensitive surface of the photographic paper and the color and density of the image displayed on the screen of the monitor 13.

The measuring instrument 5 is housed in a box 51 for forming a storage room for accommodating the measuring instrument 5, as shown in FIG. 2, at a position below the monitor 13 on the work table 17 of the machine 10. A box body 51 in which the measuring device 5 is stored is assembled.

The box 51 is provided with an insertion port 52, and by inserting photographic paper from the insertion port 52,
The color density of the image printed on the photographic paper can be measured by the measuring device 5 and, as shown in FIG. The opening and closing cover 53 is opened, the measuring device 5 is taken out of the storage room, and the measuring device 5 can measure the color density of the image displayed on the screen of the monitor 13.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Is provided with a correction function 42 for correcting the color density when an image is recorded by the exposure unit 21 of the printer unit 2 based on the color density measurement value measured in Step 2. The color density of the image is corrected to an appropriate color density.

In the present embodiment, in order to automatically correct the color density, the computer 4 preliminarily sets the measured color density on the basis of the color density measurement value measured by the measuring device 5. A correction value automatic calculation function 43 for automatically calculating a color density correction value for correcting the image recorded by the exposure unit 21 to a reference color density value; A color density difference calculating function 44 for calculating a color density difference from the measured color density value, and a determining function 45 for determining whether the color density difference calculated by the color density difference calculating function 44 is within a predetermined range. It has.

Further, in the computer 4, when the judgment function 45 judges that the color density difference is within a predetermined range, the correction function 42 calculates the color density of the image to be printed by the correction value automatic calculation function 43. The image is printed (recorded) by the exposure unit 21 by automatically correcting based on the correction value, and the judgment function 4 determines that the color density difference exceeds a predetermined range.
When the determination is made in step 5, the correction function controls the color density of the image to be burned not to be automatically corrected based on the correction value calculated by the correction value automatic calculation function 43.

A control method for correcting the color density will be specifically described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, a test print for correcting color density is created by an image processor. Image data for test print is sent from the computer 4 of the input unit 1 to the printer unit 2, and the printer unit 2 The test print image data is printed on the photographic paper sequentially pulled out from the paper magazine 22 by the exposure unit 21, and the printed photographic paper is developed by the development processing unit 31 of the processor unit 3 and dried by the drying processing unit 32. And finish the print.

Then, the color density of the image of the test print subjected to the print processing is measured by the measuring device 5 mounted on the input section 1. The test print is inserted into the box 51 in which the measuring device 5 is stored. When the test print is inserted through the opening 52, the color density of the test print image is measured by the measuring device 5.

The color density of the image is corrected by the computer 4. The color density value measured by the measuring device 5 is input to the data storage section 41 of the computer 4 (S1), and the correction value of the computer 4 is automatically adjusted. Arithmetic function 43
, The color density correction value is automatically calculated (S2).

In the judgment function 45, the measuring device 5
The color density value of the test print image measured by
It is determined whether or not the reference color density value of the image recorded by the exposure unit 21 set in advance is within a certain range (S3). First, the color density difference calculation function 44 of the computer 4 calculates the color density difference between the reference color density value and the color density measurement value measured by the measuring device 5,
The determination function 45 determines whether or not the value of the color density difference is within a certain range.

Here, within a certain range, red, green,
It means that the values are within ± 0.3 with respect to the reference color density value (for example, 0.80) of blue and density.

Next, if the value of the color density difference is within a certain range as determined by the determining function 45, the color density is corrected using the correction value calculated by the automatic correction value calculating function 43 (S).
4).

If the value of the color density difference is out of the predetermined range as determined by the determining function 45, the fact that the value is out of the range is displayed on the monitor 13 (S5).

Then, a message as to whether or not to correct the color density is displayed on the monitor 13, and the operator selects one of them (S6).

If the operator selects to correct the color density, the operator inputs a desired color density correction value to the computer 4 by input means such as a keyboard 14 and the like. The color density is corrected (S
7).

If the user selects not to perform the color density correction, the color density is not corrected by the correction value calculated by the correction value automatic calculation function 43, and the color density of the image is corrected by the reference color density value. Is corrected (S8).

When the value of the color density difference is out of the predetermined range, the halogen lamp in the lamp housing is usually deteriorated or the processing liquid in the development processing section 31 of the processor section 3 is deteriorated. And there are few cases where there is a direct problem in the printing process in the exposure unit 21 of the printer unit 2. Therefore, without performing the automatic correction based on the calculated correction value, manually inputting the correction value to perform the correction,
Alternatively, correction based on the reference color density value is performed.

Therefore, if the value of the color density difference is out of the predetermined range, it is checked whether or not there is any problem other than the exposure unit 21.

With the above configuration and color density control, according to the present embodiment, the color density can be automatically corrected and the burden on the operator can be reduced. When the value of the color density difference from the density value is out of the allowable range, correction is performed by performing manual correction etc. without automatic correction with the calculated correction value, so test print and color density measurement and color It is not necessary to calculate the correction value of the density, and the workability can be improved by shortening the time until the setting of the work condition.

When the value of the color density difference is out of the predetermined range as determined by the determination function 45, the fact that the value is out of the range is displayed on the monitor 13.
It is not limited to the display to 3
A warning sound may be emitted. In this way, besides the monitor display, if you turn on the lamp or emit a warning sound,
Even if the worker is away from the monitor 13 and performing another work, it is easy to know that the automatic correction is not performed, and the operator can immediately react, so that the workability can be further improved. it can.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
In the invention described in (1), the control means sets the measured color density to a preset reference color density value of an image recorded by the image recording means based on the color density measurement value measured by the measurement means. Correction value automatic calculation function that automatically calculates the color density correction value to be corrected, and color density difference calculation function that calculates the color density difference between the preset reference color density value and the color density measurement value measured by the measuring means And a judgment function for judging whether or not the color density difference obtained by the color density difference calculation function is within a predetermined range. The judgment function judges that the color density difference is within the predetermined range. When the correction function automatically corrects the color density of the image recorded by the image recording unit based on the correction value calculated by the correction value automatic calculation function, the color density difference exceeds a predetermined range. Is judged by the judgment function, Since the system is configured so that the color density of the image recorded by the recording means is not automatically corrected based on the correction value calculated by the correction value automatic calculation function, the color density can be corrected automatically. When the value of the automatically calculated correction value is outside the normal allowable range while reducing the burden on the user, the correction can be performed by another method without automatic correction using the calculated correction value. This eliminates the need for test print, color density measurement, and color density correction value calculation, thereby shortening the time required for setting the work conditions and improving workability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a photographic processor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an input unit of the photo processor according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows control means and measurement means, a monitor, a keyboard,
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a relationship between a mouse and an image recording unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating control of color density correction of an image.

[Explanation of Signs] 21 Exposure section (image recording means) 4 Computer (control means) 42 Correction function 43 Correction value automatic calculation function 44 Color density difference calculation function 45 Judgment function 5 Measuring instrument (Measuring means)

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H110 BA18 CB22 CD05 CE03 CE07 5B057 AA11 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CE11 CE17 CH08 5C077 LL01 LL12 LL19 MP01 MP08 PP09 PP15 PQ20 TT02 5C079 HA18 KA01 LA

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image recording means for recording an image on a recording medium, a measuring means for measuring a color density of an image of the recording medium recorded by the image recording means, and a color density measurement value measured by the measuring means. Control means having a correction function for correcting the color density when an image is recorded by the image recording means, the control means, based on the color density measurement value measured by the measurement means, A correction value automatic calculation function for automatically calculating a color density correction value for correcting the measured color density to become a reference color density value of an image recorded by a preset image recording means, and a preset reference color A color density difference calculation function for calculating a color density difference between the density value and the color density measurement value measured by the measurement means; and whether the color density difference calculated by the color density difference calculation function is within a predetermined range. With a judgment function to judge When the determination function determines that the color density difference is within a predetermined range, the correction function determines the color density of the image recorded by the image recording unit based on the correction value calculated by the correction value automatic calculation function. When the judgment function determines that the color density difference exceeds the predetermined range, the correction function calculates the color density of the image recorded by the image recording means using the correction value automatic calculation function. An image processing machine which performs control so that correction is not automatically performed based on a corrected value.