JP2004234251A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which performs sufficient correction of an image beforehand in accordance with user's liking before printing the image from picture data and then prints the image on a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: Before printing the image from the picture data, the user can select a suitable color profile suited to his (or her) own liking (age, a resident area, etc.) and a field of the contents of the image from color profiles prepared beforehand , and a reference image 72 corrected by using the selected color profile and corrected images 73, 74 generated on the basis of the reference image 72 are displayed. Thereby the user can select an image matched with his (or her) own liking and print the favorite image on the recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to forming an image on a recording medium after appropriately correcting image data in advance according to user's preference.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a photograph taken by a digital camera or the like is output by a printer, if the user wants to adjust the color and brightness of an output image, the correction has been made using image correction application software.
[0003]
In a printer driver for controlling a printer, an appropriate output mode is set by a user switching a color profile prepared in advance according to the type of an output document.
[0004]
Further, in the case where a satisfactory output cannot be obtained by the user using the standard value set in the printer driver, there are some printers that can correct brightness, color, and the like by detailed settings of the printer driver (for example, , Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-07-023245
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional example, the types of output documents that can be supported when outputting with a printer can only be roughly classified such as text documents, photographs, and graphics. It has not been possible to change the correction conditions of the output image according to the type (for example, person, landscape, still life, etc.) or to set the correction conditions reflecting the user's preference.
[0007]
Further, even when the characteristics of the digital cameras used are different, the image is corrected using the same correction conditions, so that it may not always be possible to provide a user with a preferable image for all inputs.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the related art, and it is an object of the present invention to sufficiently correct an image according to a user's preference before printing an image from image data. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image after applying an image forming method.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data, an information acquisition unit that acquires information about the image data and information about a user, and information about the acquired image data and information about a user. Selecting means for selecting a color profile for correcting the image data based on the image data; standard image generating means for correcting the image data using the selected color profile to generate and display a standard image; Correction image generation means for correcting the standard image based on the correction information for the standard image thus generated to generate and display a corrected image, and an image to be formed on the recording medium from the displayed standard image and the corrected image And image selection means for selecting
[0010]
In the above configuration, before printing the image from the image data, the user can select an appropriate color profile suitable for his / her preference (for example, age, area of residence, etc.) and the content of the image from the prepared color profiles. A color profile for correction can be selected, and an image corrected using the selected color profile is displayed. Based on the displayed image, the user can further perform a correction suitable for his or her preference. Therefore, the user can always easily obtain a print image reflecting his or her preference.
[0011]
An image forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, an image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium based on image data, an information obtaining step of obtaining information on the image data and information on a user, and information on the obtained image data and information on a user A selection step of selecting a color profile to correct the image data based on, a standard image generation step of correcting the image data using the selected color profile to generate and display a standard image, and A corrected image generating step of generating and displaying a corrected image based on the correction information for the standard image, and an image selecting step of selecting an image to be formed on the recording medium from the displayed standard image and the corrected image, It is characterized by having.
[0012]
Further, a control program for controlling an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, a control program for controlling an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data, the program code of an information acquisition step of acquiring information on the image data and information on a user, A program code for a selection step of selecting a color profile for correcting the image data based on information on image data and information on a user, and correcting the image data using the selected color profile to generate a standard image A program code for a standard image generation step to be displayed, a program code for a correction image generation step for generating and displaying a correction image based on the correction information for the generated standard image, and a program code for the displayed standard image and correction image. An image from which an image to be formed on the recording medium is selected from A program code as the 択工, characterized by having a.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As described above, the present invention is embodied in various aspects. Each of these aspects, more specifically, preferably has the following configuration.
[0014]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data, and an information acquisition unit that acquires information about image data and information about a user, information about the acquired image data, and information about a user. Selecting means for selecting a color profile for correcting the image data based on the image data; standard image generating means for correcting the image data using the selected color profile to generate and display a standard image; Correction image generation means for correcting the standard image based on the correction information to generate and display a corrected image, and image selection means for selecting an image to be formed on a recording medium from the displayed standard image and the corrected image. , Is characterized by having.
[0015]
Further, for example, the information on the user preferably includes any one of the user's age and the user's residence area.
[0016]
Further, for example, the information on the image data preferably includes any one of the field of the content of the image and the type of the imaging device.
[0017]
Further, for example, the color profiles are classified according to the field of the content of the image, the region where the user resides, and the age of the user, and are prepared for all the classified combinations, and are stored in the output color profile database. Is preferred.
[0018]
Further, for example, it is preferable that the color profile is prepared for each imaging device that has generated the image data and stored in the input color profile database.
[0019]
Further, for example, the selection unit identifies information relating to the field of the content of the image, the area where the user resides, and the age of the user, which are included in the information regarding the acquired image data and the information regarding the user. It is preferable to select a color profile.
[0020]
For example, the correction information preferably includes at least one of brightness, hue, contrast, and sharpness.
[0021]
Further, for example, it is preferable that the corrected image generation means corrects the standard image by a plurality of correction methods based on the correction information, and generates and displays a plurality of corrected images.
[0022]
Further, for example, it is preferable to further include an updating unit that updates the color profile based on the correction information.
[0023]
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described more specifically and in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024]
[First Embodiment]
[Overview]
In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, before printing an image from image data, the user selects his / her preference (for example, age, residence area, etc.) and the content of the image from the prepared color profiles. An appropriate color profile suitable for the field can be selected, and an image corrected using the selected color profile is displayed. Based on the displayed image, the user can further perform correction suitable for his / her preference. Therefore, the user can always easily obtain a print image reflecting his or her preference.
[0025]
[Functional Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus: FIG. 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an image input unit for inputting image data, 2 is an image correction unit for correcting image data, 3 is an image display unit for displaying image data, and 4 is for each model of input device. 5 is an input color profile database storing a plurality of output color profiles corresponding to user characteristics, and 6 is a color profile database storing one input color from the types of input devices. A color profile selection unit that selects one output color profile from the profile, image characteristics, and user characteristics, 7 is a correction instruction unit that instructs a correction method and a correction amount, and 8 is an output color profile according to the correction amount. Reference numeral 9 denotes a profile updating unit for updating, and a printer 9 for printing an image.
[0026]
The image input unit 1 acquires image data captured by a digital camera or the like and stored in a memory card or the like. The means for transferring image data is not limited to a memory card, and any recording medium or network can be used.
[0027]
[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus: FIG. 2]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the image forming apparatus includes a personal computer as an image processing apparatus and a printer for printing an image. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the example in FIG. The personal computer and the printer in FIG. 2 may be integrated.
[0028]
In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes an input device interface (I / F) (corresponding to the image input unit in FIG. 1), 102 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire image processing apparatus, and 103 denotes a keyboard (correction instruction in FIG. 1). , A print instruction unit (not shown)), and a ROM 104 for storing an operation program of the CPU 102 and various data such as fonts.
[0029]
A RAM 105 functions as a work memory of the CPU 102 or temporarily stores input data. A parallel interface 106 is connected to the printer 107 via a cable. Reference numeral 108 denotes a display (corresponding to the image display unit in FIG. 1). Reference numeral 109 denotes a hard disk as an external storage unit, which stores an input color profile database, an output color profile database, a control program for realizing the processing of a flowchart described later, a lookup table (LUT), and the like.
[0030]
[Printing procedure of image data: FIG. 3]
Next, a procedure for correcting and printing image data in the above-described image forming apparatus according to the user's preference will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The following process is executed by the CPU 102 of the image forming apparatus while controlling each unit based on the control program described above.
[0031]
First, in step S20, when it is received that the user has instructed printing of an image by the print instructing unit (see FIG. 2), the process proceeds to step S21, where it is determined whether or not to perform the first printing, and the first printing is performed. In this case, the process proceeds to step S24 after performing the processes in steps S22 to S23, and in the case of the second or subsequent printing, the process proceeds to step S24 without doing anything.
[0032]
[Input of user registration information: Fig. 4]
Next, in step S22, a screen 40 whose example is shown in FIG. After the user inputs necessary information in the fields of name 41, address 42, and age 43, and then presses the register 44 to input user registration information, the process proceeds to step S23, where the input information is stored on the hard disk ( (See FIG. 2).
[0033]
[Input of image content field and input device model: Fig. 5]
Next, in step S24, a screen 50, an example of which is shown in FIG. 5, is displayed on the image display unit (see FIG. 1). The user selects the field of the content of the image shown in 51 on the screen 50 (in the example of the figure, a person is selected), and further inputs the model of the input device (in the example of FIG. The camera 1234 has been input), and the end of 53 is pressed. As for the model of the input device, the input can be omitted when the model is recorded as the additional information in the image data on the input device side.
[0034]
Next, in step S25, the profile selection unit (see FIG. 1) selects one corresponding output color profile from the output color profile database based on the information of the field of the image content and the information of the user (age, residence area, etc.). Then, one corresponding input color profile is selected from the types of input devices.
[0035]
[Output color profile: Fig. 6]
FIG. 6 shows an example (part) of an output color profile stored in the output color profile database. The output color profiles are classified according to the image content field, the user's residence area, and the user's age. As shown in FIG. 6, output color profiles for color correction corresponding to all combinations are prepared. Stored in the profile database.
[0036]
The color profile for color correction records the correspondence between the color space of the original image data and the color space of the corrected image data. The format is, for example, an ICC proposed by the Intercolor Consortium. Profiles can be used.
[0037]
Here, the color space of the original image data of the input color profile is an RGB space specific to the input device, and the corrected color space depends on the color reproduction range and color reproduction characteristics of an image input / output device such as the XYZ color system. Not a standard color space. The color space of the original image data of the output color profile is the same as the corrected color space of the input color profile, and the corrected color space is an RGB or CMYK space unique to the printer as the output device.
[0038]
Next, in step S26, the selected image data and the selected input color profile and output color profile are sent to the image correction unit 2 (see FIG. 1), and the image data is corrected. As a correction operation method, a lookup table reference method used in general color management can be used. In the correction, the image data is first converted to a standard color space by an input color profile, and then to a printer-specific color space by an output color profile. An image based on the corrected image data is displayed, for example, as a corrected reduced image in an area 72 of a screen 70 shown in FIG.
[0039]
[Standard image and instruction to correct standard image: FIG. 7]
Next, in step S27, it is checked whether or not the user further has an instruction to correct the standard image shown in the area 72 of FIG. 7 according to his / her own preference. Proceeding to S28, the standard image is corrected based on a correction item specified by the user, which will be described later, and the corrected image is displayed in the area 73 or 74 in FIG. 7, and then returns to step S27. The details of step S28 will be described below. On the other hand, if there is no correction instruction in step S27, the process proceeds to step S29.
[0040]
The standard image correction instruction in step S28 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In a region 72, a reduced image corrected by the currently selected output color profile is displayed. Reference numeral 71 denotes a type of correction that can be selected by the user, for example, “brightness 72”, “hue 73”, “contrast 74”, and “sharpness 75”. The user can set by pressing an item to be corrected. The example of FIG. 7 illustrates a case where the user selects “brightness 72” as an item to be corrected from the type of correction.
[0041]
Here, when the user selects an item to be corrected, the image corrected by the item selected by the user is displayed in the regions 73 and 74 on the screen 70 together with the standard image displayed in the region 72. In the example of FIG. 7, the user has selected “brightness 72” as the item to be corrected, so that an image darker than the standard image is displayed in the area 73, and an image brighter than the standard image is displayed in the area 74. Is done.
[0042]
[Standard Image Correction Processing: FIGS. 8A and 8B]
The correction processing of the standard images displayed in the regions 73 and 74 is performed by, for example, the four methods shown in FIG. 8A, “brightness”, “hue”, “contrast”, and “sharpness”.
[0043]
H and V in the figure represent the hue H and lightness V converted from the RGB image signal. A known method can be used as the conversion method. A in the figure is a correction constant, which is calculated using a value set in advance according to the type of correction. In the figure, * represents an image convolution operation, and the convolution filters B and C can use, for example, the 3 × 3 matrix shown in FIG. 8B.
[0044]
As an example of the correction processing of the standard image V, when the user selects “brightness 72” as the item to be corrected in FIG. 7, the image 73 in the area 73 is darker than the standard image V in FIG. In the area 74, an image V + A brighter than the standard image V is displayed.
[0045]
Next, returning to step S27, the user selects an image which is more preferable from the images displayed in the area 72, the area 73, and the area 74 in FIG. Then, the image of the correction amount designated by the user (for example, a bright image in the area 73) becomes a new reference image and is displayed in the area 72. Therefore, when the user again selects an item to be corrected from the type of correction shown in FIG. 7, for example, “hue 73”, the areas 73 and 74 are again converted with respect to the new reference image by the correction formula shown in FIG. The corrected image is displayed.
[0046]
Therefore, by repeatedly performing the same correction processing operation as described for “brightness” (steps S27 to S28), a corrected image for “hue”, “contrast”, and “sharpness” can be performed. As a result, when the user obtains a corrected image that satisfies “brightness”, “hue”, “contrast”, and “sharpness”, the user presses end 75 in FIG. Proceed to S29.
[0047]
Next, in step S29, the corresponding item of the output color profile is updated with the last corrected condition. As a method of updating, it is desirable to set the correction state most frequently selected in all past printings as a standard output color profile. Alternatively, the weighting may be changed according to the type of correction.
[0048]
Next, in step S30, the image data is corrected using the updated output color profile and output by the printer.
[0049]
As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, before printing an image from image data, the user selects his / her preference (age, residence area) and image from among the prepared color profiles. The user can select an appropriate color profile suitable for the field of the content (person, landscape, etc.), and a standard image corrected using the selected color profile is displayed. Correction can be made to suit the taste. Therefore, the user can always easily obtain a print image reflecting his or her preference.
[0050]
[Other embodiments]
Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to store the storage medium. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the program.
[0051]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0052]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and the like can be used.
[0053]
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0054]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0055]
When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowchart (shown in FIG. 3).
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, before printing an image from image data, a user can form an image after sufficiently correcting the image according to his / her preference.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user registration screen.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selecting a type of an image and the like.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color profile database.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selecting a type of correction of image data.
FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an example of a method for correcting image data.
FIG. 8B is a diagram showing an example of data used for correcting image data.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Image input unit.
2. Image correction unit.
3. Image display unit.
4: Input color profile database
5 ... Output color profile database.
6 ... Color profile selection unit.
7 ... Correction instruction section.
8 ... Color profile update unit.
9 Printer.

Claims (1)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data,
Information acquisition means for acquiring information about the image data and information about the user,
Selecting means for selecting a color profile for correcting the image data based on the information on the acquired image data and the information on the user,
Standard image generation means for correcting the image data using the selected color profile to generate and display a standard image,
Correction image generation means for correcting the standard image based on the correction information for the generated standard image to generate and display a corrected image,
Image selection means for selecting an image to be formed on the recording medium from the displayed standard image and the corrected image,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images