JP2004173046A - Photographic print device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic print device which realizes various photographic commodity services requiring setting of a plurality of operation condition items, with easy operation. <P>SOLUTION: The photographic print device is provided with: a CPU part 33 which executes photographic commodity services specified on the basis of data set to a plurality of operation condition items and creates a start picture 90 where start buttons 91 corresponding to the photographic commodity services are arranged; an operation condition link generation part 33a which links set data of operation condition items for executing the specified photographic article services to respective start buttons; and a print management part 32 which reads in set data of operation condition items linked to a start button in response to operation of the start button and controls the photographic print device to execute the photographic commodity service specified on the basis of the set data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photo printing device that executes a photo merchandise service specified based on data set in a plurality of operation condition items.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a photo product service handled by DP shops, etc., in addition to the normal print (simultaneous print), which prints all image frames recorded on a photographic film or memory card as a photo print source one by one at the service size Campaign products with the purpose of promoting the sale of photographic prints using various types of print sources and specific types of photographic paper, special layout and special size print services such as calendar prints and large format prints, and the trend of image digitization have begun to spread. A wide variety of services, such as a service for writing a certain image frame to a CD-R, are developed according to the season or constantly or irregularly.
Since recent photo printing apparatuses have been digitized (generally, such photo printing apparatuses are called digital minilabs), a single apparatus can perform various kinds of photo product services as described above. be able to.
[0003]
When performing a specific photo product service selected using such a photo printing device, first, before starting the photo print process, as an initial setting, a print size setting according to the relevant photo product service, It is necessary to set appropriate data in the operation condition items of the photo printing apparatus, such as the number of prints setting and the setting of the photo print source. In order to perform such initial settings for each of a variety of photo product services, it is necessary to understand the contents of each photo product service and the functions of the photo printing device. Had become.
[0004]
In recent years, even in prints and copiers that hard copy document data and image data created on personal computers, in addition to the function of simply printing data, operation functions such as stapling, punching, and folding are provided. When using such a printer, it is necessary to set in advance the operating conditions including the presence or absence of staples and the presence of punch holes, as well as the orientation of print paper, the number of prints, the print size, and the like. As one measure for simplifying the initial setting work, a window method is adopted in which operating condition setting screens are assigned for each operating condition item, and each operating condition is set while switching among the plurality of operating condition setting screens. (For example, see Patent Document 1). The window method has an advantage that it is easy to understand because the operation condition items to be set are divided for each input screen, but in any case, the operation conditions must be reset each time to receive a print service of a different style. The problem remains.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-216064 A (Paragraph No. 0029-0034, FIG. 5-7)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a photographic printing apparatus that solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technique and enables various photographic product services requiring setting of a plurality of operation condition items with a simple operation. It is to be.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the photographic printing device according to the present invention, which executes a photo product service specified based on data set in a plurality of operation condition items, the photo printing device starts executing the photo product service. A graphic user interface unit for creating a start screen in which start buttons associated with each photo product service are arranged, and an operation condition item for executing the specific photo product service on the start button to which the specific photo product service is assigned An operation condition link generation unit for linking the setting data, and when the start button is operated, the setting data of the operation condition item linked to the operated start button is read and specified based on the setting data. Each of the photo printing devices described above to execute a photo merchandise service Print management unit that controls the parts is provided.
[0008]
In this configuration, by linking the setting data of all the operation condition items required for implementing each photo product service to the start button of the photo product service, the setting data can be associated with the desired photo product service. By simply operating the start button, various processes performed in the photo printing apparatus to provide the photo product service are sequentially executed based on the setting data. In addition, since the start buttons associated with various kinds of photo product services are arranged on the start screen, the operator simply selects a desired photo product service from the start screen, and the troublesome initial operation is performed each time. It is released from the setting work.
[0009]
In a particularly preferred embodiment, each start button is configured to display an icon that simply represents the assigned photo merchandise service. Product services can be handled. In addition, since the content of the photo product service is constantly changing, the user can freely create and arrange the start button and link the setting data of the necessary operation condition items to the start button in response to this change. It is configured to be able to do it.
Other features and advantages according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention. The photographic printing apparatus performs a photo-exposure process and a development process on a silver halide photographic paper P (hereinafter referred to as photographic paper P). Processing of photographed image data and print order data taken from a print station 1B as a printer and a photo recording medium M as a print source such as a memory card Ma and an APS film Mb to generate print data to be used in the print station 1B It is composed of an operation station 1A that performs transfer and the like.
[0011]
This photographic printing apparatus is also called a digital minilab. As can be clearly understood from FIG. 2, the printing station 1B transports the rolled photographic paper P stored in the two photographic paper magazines 11 into the station 1B. The printing paper P thus cut is exposed to light by an exposure engine 12 as a print engine, and the photographic printing paper P thus exposed is subjected to development using a plurality of developing tanks. It is sent to the processing unit 13 and developed. The photographic paper P, that is, the photographic print P, sent to the sorter 15 from the horizontal conveyor 14 at the top of the apparatus after the drying, is accumulated in a state of being sorted on a plurality of trays 15a of the sorter 15 in order units.
[0012]
The exposure engine 12 irradiates the photographic paper P with light rays of three primary colors of R (red), G (green) and B (blue) while sending the photographic paper P based on the print data sent from the operation station 1A. During exposure, the photographic paper P is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, and is exposed in a line along the main scanning direction in synchronization with the conveying speed. In addition, as the exposure head, a laser beam system, a fluorescent beam system, a liquid crystal shutter system, a DMD system, or the like can be employed according to the exposure specification. Here, the laser beam system is employed. The developing section 13 has a transport system having a number of pressure rollers (not shown) so as to continuously send the exposed photographic paper P to a plurality of developing tanks.
[0013]
The operation station 1A is provided with a film scanner at the upper part of the desk-shaped console for acquiring photographed image data from 135 film, which is well known as a conventional photographic film, and photographed image data and print order information from APS film Mb. 2 and a monitor 4 for displaying various information. Further, on the operation table, a keyboard 16 and a mouse 17 used for performing various settings and adjustments for the photo printing apparatus are arranged.
[0014]
Below the operation table, there is provided a general-purpose computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a personal computer) functioning as a controller 3 for processing captured image data and print order information and performing various settings and adjustments for the print station 1B. ing. The controller 3 is also provided with a media reader 18 for acquiring photographed image data and print order information from smart media or compact flash used as a memory card Ma mounted on a digital camera.
[0015]
As shown schematically in FIG. 2, the film scanner 2 includes a light source 20 located above the film transport line and a slit 21 extending below and perpendicular to the film transport line. An optical lens 22 located below, a CCD type sensor unit 23 for photoelectrically converting transmitted light of a photographic film formed by the optical lens 22, and print order information is read from a magnetic recording layer of an APS type photographic film. A magnetic reader 24 is provided. The sensor unit 23 is connected to an image input board mounted on a personal computer, and the digital image data converted by the sensor unit 23 is sent to the memory 30 of the controller 3 via the image input board.
[0016]
The controller 3 of the photographic printing apparatus is substantially a personal computer, and the functional unit for performing various operations of the photographic printing apparatus is constructed by hardware and / or software using the CPU as a core member. As shown in FIG. 3, the functional unit particularly related to the present invention captures image data read by the scanner 2 or the media reader 18 and performs pre-processing necessary for the next processing. A data preprocessing unit 31 and a GUI for constructing a graphic operation screen including various windows and various operation buttons, and a graphic user interface (hereinafter abbreviated as GUI) for managing user operation inputs through such a graphic operation screen. Unit 33, various operation buttons created by the GUI unit 33, and A link generation unit 33a for linking setting data for a specific operation condition of the remote control device, processing of photographed image data transferred from the data preprocessing unit 31 to the memory 30, and processing of user input information transmitted from the GUI unit 33. A print management unit 32 that performs processing; and a monitor 4 that displays a simulated image as a print source image or a predicted finished print image and a graphic data sent from the GUI unit 33 during a pre-judge operation such as color correction. A video controller 34 for generating a video signal; a print data generator 35 for generating print data for the exposure engine 12 of the print station 1B based on the processed photographed image data on which image processing has been completed; Raw captured image data and processed captured images that have undergone image processing Etc. formatter 36 for formatting into a form for writing etc. over data to the CD-R and the like.
[0017]
The data pre-processing unit 31 sends the captured image data to the memory 30 separately from the main data of the captured image when the captured image data includes the thumbnail image data for use for purposes such as displaying a list on the monitor 4. If no thumbnail image data is included, a reduced image is created from this data and sent to the memory 30 as thumbnail image data. The print management section 32 performs color correction, trimming, rotation, and filtering (such as blurring and sharpness) on captured image data developed in the memory 30, and user operation input information provided from the GUI section 33. And a print processing information generation unit 32b that generates print processing information for controlling the print station 1B based on information input through direct operation of the keyboard 16 and the mouse 17 as necessary.
[0018]
A typical flow of setting operating conditions required for producing a photographic print in the photographic printing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0019]
Step 1 (# 01)
According to the photo recording medium M brought by the customer as a print source, an appropriate type is selected using an input media selection screen 50 as shown in FIG. For example, when the smart media is the input media, the user clicks the smart media button 51 a from the “media” frame 51. When the 135 film, which is the photographic film Mb, becomes the print source, the 135 film button arranged on the frame 52 of the “scanner” is clicked.
[0020]
Step 2 (# 02)
Next, the print size is set using a print size selection screen 60 as shown in FIG. On the print size selection screen 60, a print size button 61 indicating a print size that can be handled by the photo printing apparatus, for example, an 89x119 size button, a 127x169 size button, an 89x127 size button, a four-cut button, etc. are arranged. The print size assigned to the clicked button is set.
[0021]
Step 3 (# 03)
When all the image frames included in the received photo recording medium M are printed by the same number, the number is set through a print number setting screen (not shown). In a photo product service that prints the number of prints, the number of copies is also set during the interactive pre-judge print operation described below.
[0022]
Step 4 (# 04)
When a pre-judge print operation well known in the photo print industry is performed, settings such as color density correction and filter processing are performed through a pre-judge print screen 70 as shown in FIG. If the photo product service is not such that the same number of prints are performed, the number of prints of the selected image frame (0 prints, that is, there is a case where printing is not performed) is also set here. On the pre-judge print screen 70, a photographed image frame display column 71 for displaying a list of six photographed image frames (thumbnail images) in the left region, and a button arrangement column 72 for color density correction and number setting in the right column region. Is arranged. To perform color density correction, a frame to be corrected is selected, and each of the “yellow”, “magenta”, “cyan”, and “density” increase / decrease buttons 73 is operated. The correction amount is displayed between each increase / decrease button. In order to set the number of prints, similarly, a frame to be corrected is selected, and each increase / decrease button 73 is operated. Note that the correction amount “N” indicates neutral, meaning no correction. The set number of prints is displayed between the increase / decrease buttons. The "PASS" button is used when printing is not performed.
[0023]
Step 5 (# 05)
When an index print is additionally provided, the index print is performed using an index size selection screen 80 as shown in FIG. On the index size selection screen 80, there are buttons 81 indicating the size of index prints that can be handled by the photo printing apparatus, for example, 89x127 size buttons, 127x226 size buttons, CD size (size inserted into the CD case) button, and the like. The index print size allocated and assigned to the clicked button is set.
[0024]
Step 6 (# 06)
If the selected photo merchandise service includes an image data writing service for image frames, a recording medium used for writing image data and a recording format in some cases are selected through an output medium selection screen (not shown). .
[0025]
After completing the operation of setting the operating conditions necessary for producing a photographic print by the photographic printing apparatus through the above-described steps, the print processing information generation unit 32b is configured from the information on the print order obtained through all the steps so far. Creates print processing information, gives a control command to the image processing section 32a based on this print processing information, performs image processing on the actual photographed image data, and gives a control command to the print data generation section 35, and The print data is generated from the image book data and transferred to the print station 1B. Further, if necessary, a control command is also given to the formatter unit 36 to perform pre-processing for writing the processed image data and / or the processed image data or both to, for example, a CD-R, and to the CD-R of the image data. Is written.
[0026]
The typical flow of setting the operating conditions required for producing a photographic print in a photographic printing apparatus has been described above. A GUI unit 33 for creating a graphic interface capable of providing a photo product service is provided, and at least a part of the troublesome operation condition setting work described above can be omitted.
[0027]
For example, a start screen 90 shown in FIG. 9 is prepared by the GUI unit 33. On the start screen 90, a start button 91 associated with each photo merchandise service provided by the photo printing device is arranged. On each start button 91, the name of the corresponding photo merchandise service is displayed together with an illustration representing the service content. Here, as the photo product service, "campaign product", "value package", "each two-sheet service", "normal print", "CD-R writing service", "quad print", "CD with INDEX" -R writing service "and" backup service ", and each photo merchandise service is provided by appropriately setting data in operation condition items for operating the photo printing apparatus. Therefore, as schematically shown in FIG. 10, the setting data of each operation condition item required for the photo merchandise service is linked to each start button 91 by the link generation unit 33a. When a specific start button 91 is operated, the print management unit 32 reads the setting data of the operation condition item linked to the operated start button 91, and performs image data processing based on the setting data.
[0028]
FIG. 10 shows an example in which “campaign product” is assigned as the start button 91. This “campaign product” is a tie-up to a sales promotion campaign of silver halide prints of images taken by a specific digital camera. The present invention provides a low-cost photo print of a predetermined size for each frame from a smart media on which a photographed image is recorded. For this reason, in the start button 91 of the “campaign product”, the input media as the operation condition item 1 is smart media, the print size as the operation condition item 2 is 127 × 169 mm, and the number of prints as the operation condition item 3 is One sheet does not require pre-judge printing as the operation condition item 4, the index print size as the operation condition item 5 is set to 127 × 226 mm, and the output medium is set to CD-R.
[0029]
Therefore, when the operator clicks the start button 91, a predetermined photographic print is produced only by inserting the corresponding smart media into the media reader 18 and without setting operating conditions thereafter. If this “campaign product” is a photographic product service that can accept media such as compact flash instead of using only smart media as a memory card to record captured images, the input media that is operation condition item 1 is selected. Is set, and when the start button 91 is clicked, the input media selection screen 50 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, and the selection of the media to be used is prompted. In this case, the operator need only select the input media and insert the media into the media reader 18.
[0030]
Each start button 91 shown in FIG. 10 can be assigned a character and an illustration for this button through an environment setting screen (not shown) and provide a photo product service assigned to this button. The keyboard input by the operator who is skilled in the operation condition items necessary for the setting is appropriately set by the function of the link generation unit 33a based on the mouse input. Depending on the photo product service, some operation condition items are manually set, and these setting contents are listed in FIG. Thanks to the start button 91 configured in this way, when a photo print order is received from a customer who has brought the photo recording medium M, the start screen 90 shown in FIG. Even if the start photo button 91 is clicked, and even if the selected photo merchandise service involves various settings and selections, a desired photo merchandise service can be obtained simply by performing the setting operation prompted through the sequentially displayed input screen. Can be provided.
[0031]
In the description of the above embodiment, a plurality of operation condition items are specified to a predetermined one. However, depending on the photographic printing device, more operation condition items are provided, or only a smaller number of operation condition items are provided. It is provided. In any case, what is important in the present invention is that setting data (setting values) of operation condition items necessary for executing the photo product service is linked to a start button associated with each photo product service. It is that you are.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view showing a photo printing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the photo printing device according to FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram relating to the present invention in a controller of the photo printing device. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting each operation condition item in order to provide an image. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an input media selection screen displayed on a monitor. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a print size selection screen displayed on a monitor. 7] Schematic diagram of the pre-judge print work screen displayed on the monitor [Fig. 8] Schematic diagram of the index size selection screen displayed on the monitor [Fig. 9] Schematic diagram of the start screen displayed on the monitor [Fig. 10] Start FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating operating condition items linked to the buttons. Diagram showing the contents list of the operating condition item [Description of the code]
2 Scanner 3 Controller 4 Monitor 16 Keyboard 17 Mouse 18 Media reader 31 Data preprocessing unit 32 Print management unit 32a Image processing unit 32b Print processing information generation unit 33 GUI unit 33a Link generation unit 34 Video control unit 35 Print data generation unit 36 Formatter Part 90 start screen 91 start button

Claims (1)

In a photo print device that executes a photo product service specified based on data set in a plurality of operation condition items,
A graphic user interface unit for creating a start screen in which start buttons associated with the respective photo product services are arranged to start execution of the photo product service;
An operation condition link generation unit that links setting data of an operation condition item for executing the specific photo product service to a start button to which the specific photo product service is assigned;
When the start button is operated, the setting of the operating condition item linked to the operated start button is read, and the photo print device is configured to execute a photo product service specified based on the setting data. A photographic printing device comprising a print management unit for controlling each functional unit.

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