JP2004363731A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a glossy area from being processed into an unexpected color in the case of reading an image including the glossy area. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus 10 stores image information received by a scanner unit 31 to a scanner buffer 26a provided to a RAM 26 of a controller 20. Then a CPU 22 discriminates the glossy area included in the image information stored in the scanner buffer 26a, processes the discriminated glossy area to have a predetermined particular color and stores the result to a print buffer 26b of the RAM 26. Thereafter, a printer ASIC 42 receiving a print command from the CPU 22 reads the image information stored in the print buffer 26b and controls a printer unit 41, which carries out printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing device, a method thereof, and a program thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image processing apparatus provided with an image reading means for reading an image and inputting it as image information, a predetermined tray on which a compact disk-recordable (CD-R) as a recording medium is placed and a scanner for reading the label surface thereof A device having a mechanism has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, a CD-R having a label surface printed thereon is placed on a tray, an image on the label surface is read, and used as image information. Here, since the image of the label surface of the CD to be read is applied to a base having a metallic luster, an area of the label surface where no printing is performed may still have the metallic luster.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2003-1873
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when an image containing such a metallic glossy area is read using a scanner mechanism, the metallic glossy area is processed into an unexpected color because the reflectance is too high, and the image obtained by scanning is left as it is. There was an inconvenience that it could not be used. In addition, similar inconveniences arise when not only CDs but also images and objects including areas such as silver or gold metallic luster or mirror surfaces are read by a scanner mechanism and used as image information.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that prevent a glossy region from being processed into an unexpected color when an image including the glossy region is read And to provide the program.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects]
An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program thereof according to the present invention employ the following means to achieve the above object.
[0007]
The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes:
Image reading means for reading an image and inputting it as image information;
Determining means for determining whether or not the image information input by the image reading means includes a glossy region;
A processing means for processing the glossy area as a predetermined specific color when the determination means determines that the image information includes a glossy area.
[0008]
In the image processing apparatus, when the gloss information is included in the image information input by the image reading device, the determination device determines the gloss region included in the input image information, and determines the determined gloss region in advance. Is processed as the specified color. Therefore, when an image including a glossy region is read, it is possible to prevent the glossy region from being processed into an unexpected color. Here, the “glossy region” may be a region of metallic luster such as silver or gold, or a region such as a mirror surface. The “specific color” refers to a color specified from visual colors including colorless.
[0009]
In the image processing apparatus of the present invention employing this aspect, the determining unit detects a reflectance by irradiating the image with light, and detects a reflectance based on an intensity of the reflected light, and determines whether the reflectance exceeds a predetermined range. It may be determined whether or not the image information includes a glossy region. In this case, since the glossy region has a high reflectance, it is possible to easily determine whether the region is a glossy region using the reflectance. Here, the “predetermined range” of the reflectance is, for example, a non-gloss area that can be clearly distinguished from a gloss area based on the measurement result of the reflectance of the gloss area and the reflectance of the non-gloss area. May be defined as the range of the reflectance.
[0010]
In the image processing apparatus of the present invention employing this aspect, the specific color may be colorless. In this case, since the glossy region is processed as colorless, the user does not need to trim the glossy region after image processing.
[0011]
In the image processing apparatus of the present invention employing this aspect, the image may be an image applied to a predetermined donut-shaped glossy medium. In this case, since the image is applied to the predetermined donut-shaped glossy medium, the portion of the image that uses the base portion as it is becomes the glossy region, but that portion is processed into an unexpected color. Nothing.
[0012]
The image processing apparatus of the present invention employing this aspect includes a selection unit that allows a user to select the specific color from two or more colors, and the processing unit uses the selection unit to select a glossy area determined by the determination unit. The processing may be performed as the selected specific color. By doing so, the user can select a specific color, so that an image desired by the user can be obtained.
[0013]
In the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention that employs this aspect, when the glossy area determined by the determination means is distributed in two or more locations, the user is provided with the specific color for each glossy area. May be selected from two or more colors, and the processing unit may process the glossy region at each location as the specific color selected by the selection unit for each glossy region at each location. In this way, when the glossy regions are distributed at a plurality of locations, each glossy region can be selected as each specific color.
[0014]
The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes an output unit that outputs the image information input by the image reading unit, and the output unit is configured to output the image information input by the image reading unit. The glossy region processed as a specific color may be output as the specific color. In this case, since the glossy area processed as a specific color is output as the specific color, when the image including the glossy area is read, the glossy area is processed into an unexpected color and output. Can be prevented.
[0015]
In the image processing apparatus of the present invention employing this aspect, the output unit may be a printing unit that prints out the image information on a print medium. In this case, the glossy area in the image read by the image reading unit is printed as a specific color instead of an unexpected color.
[0016]
In the image processing apparatus of the present invention employing this aspect, the image is an image applied to the predetermined donut-shaped glossy medium, and the print medium is the predetermined donut-shaped glossy medium, The processing means may process the glossy region as colorless. When an image applied to a predetermined donut-shaped glossy medium is read and printed on the same donut-shaped glossy medium, if the read image includes a glossy area, that is, a portion using the base as it is, the glossy area is used. Is printed as colorless, so that the print medium is printed with the color removed and the underlying color appears. Therefore, an image applied to a predetermined donut-shaped glossy medium is reproduced well on the same donut-shaped glossy medium.
[0017]
The image processing apparatus adopting this aspect may be a printer with a scanner in which a scanner and a printer are integrated. In this case, since the image information input by the scanner is printed on the print medium by the printer, the configuration of the present invention can be easily realized.
[0018]
The image processing method of the present invention is an image processing method executed by a computer mounted on an image processing apparatus,
(A) reading an image and inputting it as image information;
(B) determining whether or not the image information input in step (a) includes a glossy region;
(C) when it is determined in step (b) that the image information includes a glossy area, the glossy area is processed as a predetermined specific color.
[0019]
In this image processing method, when a glossy area is included in the input image information, the glossy area is processed as a predetermined specific color. Therefore, when an image including a glossy region is read, it is possible to prevent the glossy region from being processed into an unexpected color. Note that, in this image processing method, various aspects of the above-described image processing apparatus may be adopted, or steps for realizing the functions of the above-described image processing apparatus may be added.
[0020]
The present invention may be a program for causing one or a plurality of computers mounted on an image processing apparatus to execute each step of the image processing method described above. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, a hard disk, a ROM, an FD, a CD, a DVD, or the like), or may be transmitted from a computer via a transmission medium (a communication network such as the Internet or a LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or transmitted and received in any other form. If this program is executed by a computer mounted on the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus executes each step of the above-described image processing method, so that the same operational effects as those of the above-described image processing method can be obtained. In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, one computer may execute all of the steps, or a plurality of computers may share and execute the steps.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. An image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 20 that controls the entire apparatus, a scanner unit 30 that includes a scanner mechanism 31 that executes a scanner function, and a scanner ASIC 32 that controls the scanner mechanism 31; The printer includes a printer mechanism 41 for realizing functions, a printer unit 40 including a printer ASIC 42 for controlling the printer mechanism 41, and an operation panel 50 for a user to input various commands. Note that “ASIC” is an abbreviation for Application Specific Integrated Circuit.
[0022]
The controller 20 is configured as a microprocessor mainly including a CPU 22, and includes a ROM 24 storing a processing program, and a RAM 26 temporarily storing data. The controller 20 is connected to a scanner ASIC 32, a printer ASIC 42, and an operation panel 50 via a bus 28.
[0023]
The scanner section 30 includes a scanner mechanism 31 and a scanner ASIC 32.
The scanner mechanism 31 is of a so-called flatbed type, and has a glass surface 33 on which a medium M on which an image is applied is placed, and a line image sensor 34 for optically reading the content displayed on the medium M via the glass surface 33. And a moving unit 36 for scanning the line image sensor 34 to read the medium M. The scanner ASIC 32 is an IC chip having a function of controlling the scanner mechanism 31, and stores scan data read by the line image sensor 34 of the scanner mechanism 31 in a scanner buffer 26 a provided in the RAM 26 of the controller 20. . The line image sensor 34 of the present embodiment separates the reflected light emitted toward the medium M into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors to form a known color image as scan data. It is a sensor. Examples of the image include an image applied to a label surface of a glossy medium (CD, DVD, etc., the same applies hereinafter) having a predetermined donut shape defined by the standard and an image applied to a medium having an arbitrary shape. Can be used. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a method of moving the line image sensor 34 while fixing the medium M, a method of fixing the line image sensor 34 and moving the medium M with a roller or the like may be employed.
[0024]
The printer unit 40 includes a printer mechanism 41 and a printer ASIC 42. The printer mechanism 41 includes an ink cartridge 45 mounted on a carriage 44 that moves in the horizontal direction, an ink head unit 46 provided below the ink cartridge 45 for discharging ink onto the medium N, and rotating the medium N by rotating. And a roller 48 for feeding the ink head 46 to a printing position. The ink cartridge 45 of this embodiment is a cartridge for color printing in which cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (B) are stored for each color. The printer ASIC 42 is an IC chip having a function of controlling the printer mechanism 41. The printer ASIC 42 expands image information and the like stored in a print buffer 26b provided in the RAM 26 into bitmap images for each page. The printer mechanism 41 is controlled so that is printed on the medium N. The printer unit 40 can print on a medium such as paper, and can use a glossy medium of a predetermined donut shape defined by a standard such as a CD as the medium N. These donut-shaped glossy media are placed on a predetermined tray 49 and set at a predetermined position of the printer unit 40 for printing.
[0025]
The operation panel 50 is a device for a user to input various commands to the image processing apparatus 10, and as shown in FIG. 2, a display 52 on which characters, graphics or symbols corresponding to the various commands are displayed. , A scan button 53, a print button 54, a cursor movement button 55 for moving a cursor or the like for the user to select a process, and a decision button 56 for deciding a process selection.
[0026]
The reader / writer 60 reads and writes data from and to a memory card 64 inserted into a slot 62 provided in a housing of the image processing apparatus 10.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment thus configured will be described. Here, in the present embodiment, the medium M to be read is a CD on which the entire image is formed including a portion (glossy area) using a base having metallic luster as it is, and the medium N to be printed is A case where the printing surface is a CD-R in which the base of the glossy medium is not changed will be described. First, before printing, the user places a CD on which an image has been applied at a predetermined position on the glass surface 33 of the scanner mechanism 31, places a CD-R for printing on a predetermined tray 49, and places the CD-R on the printer unit 40. set.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a gloss area processing routine executed by the CPU 22 of the controller 20. This routine is stored in the ROM 24 and is executed when the user presses the scan button 53. When the scan button 53 is pressed, the CPU 22 instructs the scanner ASIC 32 to execute a scan (step S100). Then, the scanner ASIC 32 controls the scanner mechanism 31 to optically read the image on the glass surface 33 with the line image sensor 34 and stores the read image information in the scanner buffer 26 a provided in the RAM 26 of the controller 20. Then, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the scan has been completed based on whether or not a scan end signal has been input from the scanner ASIC 32 (step S110). If the scan has not been completed, the CPU 22 stands by as it is. On the other hand, when the scanning is completed in step S110, it is determined whether or not the image information stored in the scanner buffer 26a includes a glossy area (step S120).
[0029]
Here, a method of determining a glossy region will be described in detail. The scanner mechanism 31 reads image information by applying light output from a light emitting element on the line image sensor 34 to an image, inputting the reflected light to a light receiving element, and generating a charge generated according to the intensity of the input light. Is output as a voltage. Since the intensity of light output from the light emitting element is constant, the voltage value output from the light receiving element can be regarded as the reflectance. In addition, the range of the reflectance determined to not include the glossy area can be clearly distinguished from the glossy area based on the measurement result of actually measuring the reflectance of the glossy area and the reflectance of the non-glossy area in advance. The range of the reflectance of the non-glossy area is determined and stored as data in the ROM 24 of the controller 20. Then, the CPU 22 compares the image information actually scanned by the scanning mechanism 31 with the data stored in the ROM 24 to determine a portion where the reflectance exceeds the data stored in the ROM 24 as a glossy region included in the image information. Can be.
[0030]
If it is determined in step S120 that a glossy area is included, the CPU 22 displays a specific color selection screen on the display 52 and allows the user to select a specific color using the cursor movement button 55 (step S130). By this selection processing, a specific color can be selected, so that the user can obtain a desired image. The selection of the specific color is performed by displaying a name of a predetermined color, such as yellow, black, and colorless, on the display 52. The specific color may be selected from a color palette, or may be selected by inputting values of hue, saturation, and lightness. When the user selects a specific color, the CPU 22 processes the glossy area determined in step S120 of the image information stored in the scanner buffer 26a as the specific color selected by the user (step S140), and performs the processing. The image information is stored in the print buffer 26b provided in the RAM 26 (Step S150).
In step S150, if it is determined in step S120 that the glossy area is not included, the CPU 22 stores the read image information in the print buffer 26b as it is.
[0031]
Next, the CPU 22 displays the image information storage screen on the display 52 and allows the user to select whether or not to store the image information stored in the print buffer 26b by using the cursor movement button 55 (step S160). The image information can be stored in the memory card 64 inserted into the slot 62 provided in the housing of the image processing apparatus 10 or in an external storage medium connected to the image processing apparatus 10 (not shown). it can. When the user selects to save the image information, the CPU 22 writes data to the memory card 64 or the external storage medium (step S170).
[0032]
Then, after step S170 or when the user does not save the image information in step S160, the CPU 22 displays a print screen on the display 52 and determines whether to print the image information stored in the print buffer 26b. The user is caused to make a selection using the cursor movement button 55 (step S180). When the user makes a selection to print image information, a print command is output to the printer ASIC 42 (step S190).
[0033]
Then, the printer ASIC 42 that has received the print command reads out the image information stored in the print buffer 26 b provided in the RAM 26 and controls the printer mechanism 41 to print on the label surface of the CD-R placed on the tray 49. Do. Thereafter, the CPU 22 determines whether or not printing has been completed based on whether or not a print end signal has been input from the printer ASIC 42 (step S200). If printing has not been completed, the CPU 22 waits as it is. When the process is completed, the routine ends. On the other hand, if the user selects not to print the image information in step S180, this routine ends as it is.
[0034]
Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The scanner unit 30 of the present embodiment corresponds to an image reading unit of the present invention, the controller 20 corresponds to a determination unit and a processing unit, the controller 20 and the operation panel 50 correspond to a selection unit, and the printer unit 40 corresponds to an output unit and It corresponds to a printing unit. In the present embodiment, an example of the image processing method of the present invention will be clarified by describing the operation of the image processing apparatus.
[0035]
According to the image processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment described above, when the image information input by the scanner mechanism 31 includes a gloss area, the CPU 22 determines the gloss area included in the image information, and The determined glossy area is processed as a predetermined specific color. Therefore, when an image including a glossy region is read, it is possible to prevent the glossy region from being processed into an unexpected color. Further, since the image processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment determines whether or not the image information includes the glossy region based on the reflectance, it can easily determine whether or not the image information is the glossy region. Furthermore, since the image processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment allows the user to select the color of the glossy region, a desired image can be obtained. Furthermore, since the image processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is a printer with a scanner in which a scanner and a printer are integrated, a series of processes from reading an image to printing can be easily realized. Further, when the medium to be read is a CD on which the entire image is formed including a portion (glossy area) using a base having metallic luster as it is, when the user selects colorless as a specific color, the glossy area is changed. Since the image is processed as colorless, image information that does not require the user to trim the glossy area after the image processing is obtained. At this time, if the medium to be printed is a CD-R whose printing surface is the same as the base of the glossy medium, the portion of the CD-R to be printed is printed with the image information printed, the image information is printed, and the part using the base as it is ( Since the image including the glossy area is applied, the image applied to the CD can be copied to the CD-R with good reproducibility.
[0036]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment at all, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.
[0037]
For example, in the image processing apparatus 10 of the present invention, the operation panel 50 of the image processing apparatus is provided with an automatic copy button, and the entire image including the portion (glossy area) where the medium to be read uses the base having metallic luster as it is. When the CD is formed, and the medium to be printed is a CD-R whose printing surface is the same as the base of the glossy medium, pressing the automatic copy button once causes the CPU 22 to use the base as it is. An image may be input as image information by the scanner mechanism 31, a glossy area included in the input image information may be detected, the detected glossy area may be processed as colorless, and printing may be performed on a CD-R. This makes it possible to copy the image using the base as it is from the CD to the CD-R with good reproducibility by a simple operation.
[0038]
Also, in the above-described embodiment, the presence or absence of a glossy area is determined after scanning, and if there is a glossy area, the glossy area is processed as a specific color. Are displayed on the display 52 provided in the image processing apparatus 10 in such a manner that the glossy regions can be visually recognized (for example, shaded), and each of the portions included in the displayed image information is displayed. The user may be allowed to select which color the glossy region should be. FIG. 4 shows an example of the glossy area selection screen displayed on the display 52. On the display 52, the image information 58 input by the scanner mechanism 31 and a message "What is the range?" The image information 58 is displayed by performing a shading process on the glossy region 59a and the glossy region 59b which are the ranges determined as the glossy region. Then, the user operates the cursor movement button 55 to move the cursor 57 up, down, left, and right, and specifies the gloss area by, for example, aligning with the gloss area 59a and pressing the determination button 56. When the specification is completed and the determination is made in accordance with the specification end on the screen, a selection screen for selecting the specific glossy area to be processed as a specific color is displayed on the display 52, and the user processes each glossy area as a specific color. Or choose. By repeating such operations, all glossy areas can be designated, and specific colors can be individually selected. In this way, when a plurality of glossy areas are determined, each glossy area can be processed as each specific color, so that processing with a higher degree of freedom can be performed and an image desired by the user can be obtained. Here, the image information display means may be displayed on a printer monitor (not shown) connected to the image processing apparatus 10 in addition to the display 52 provided in the image processing apparatus 10, or may be connected to the image processing apparatus 10. The information may be displayed on a computer display (not shown). In this case, the preliminary scan is performed, the image information is displayed on the display 52 or the like, the CPU 22 selects the specific color corresponding to the glossy area determined by the user, and then performs the main scan again to process the specific color. It may be.
[0039]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image processing apparatus is configured such that the controller 20, the scanner unit 20, and the printer unit 30 are integrated, but they may be configured separately or in combination. . For example, a computer including the controller 20, a scanner including the scanner unit 30 connected to the computer, and a printer including the printer unit 40 may be employed. This makes it possible to use hardware resources such as an existing computer, so that the present invention can be easily realized. In this case, the printer unit 30 may be omitted. This makes it possible to simplify the configuration of the image processing apparatus when the input image information is used without being printed, such as when an image is distributed on the Internet as image information. The image information obtained by processing the glossy area as a specific color may be displayed on a computer display (not shown) connected to the image processing apparatus 10 instead of the printer unit 30.
[0040]
In the above-described embodiment, the image information read by the scanner unit 30 is printed. However, the image information stored in the memory card 64 inserted into the slot 62 provided in the housing of the image processing apparatus 10 or Printing may be performed by selecting from an external storage medium or the like connected to the image processing apparatus 10 (not shown). In this case, printing can be performed using the stored image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an operation panel 50.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a gloss area processing routine.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation panel 50.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 image processing device, 20 controller, 22 CPU, 24 ROM, 26 RAM, 26a scanner buffer, 26b print buffer, 30 scanner unit, 31 scanner mechanism, 32 scanner ASIC, 33 glass surface, 34 line image sensor, 36 moving unit, 40 printer unit, 41 printer mechanism, 42 printer ASIC, 44 carriage, 45 ink cartridge, 46 ink head unit, 48 rollers, 49 tray, 50 operation panel, 52 display, 53 scan button, 54 print button, 55 cursor movement button, 56 OK button, 57 cursor, 58 image information, 59a glossy area, 59b glossy area, 60 reader / writer, 62 slots, 64 memory card.

Claims (12)

Image reading means for reading an image and inputting it as image information;
Determining means for determining whether or not the image information input by the image reading means includes a glossy region;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit configured to process the glossy area as a predetermined specific color when the determination unit determines that the image information includes a glossy area. The determining means detects the reflectance by irradiating the image with light and the intensity of the reflected light, and determines whether or not the image information includes a glossy region by determining whether or not the reflectance exceeds a predetermined range. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the specific color is colorless. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is an image applied to a predetermined donut-shaped glossy medium. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
Selecting means for allowing a user to select the specific color from two or more colors,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the processing unit performs processing on the glossy area determined by the determination unit as a specific color selected by the selection unit. When the glossy area determined by the determination means is distributed in two or more locations, the selection means allows a user to select the specific color from two or more colors for each glossy area in each location, and the processing means 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein processing is performed with the glossy area of each location as a specific color selected by the selection unit for each glossy area of each location. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
Output means for outputting the image information input by the image reading means,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the output unit outputs, as the specific color, the glossy area processed as the specific color by the processing unit in the image information input by the image reading unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the output unit is a printing unit that prints out the image information on a print medium. The image is an image applied to the predetermined donut-shaped glossy medium, and when the print medium is the predetermined donut-shaped glossy medium, the processing unit processes the glossy area as colorless. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processing is performed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image processing apparatus is a printer with a scanner in which a scanner and a printer are integrated. An image processing method executed by a computer mounted on the image processing apparatus,
(A) reading an image and inputting it as image information;
(B) determining whether or not the image information input in step (a) includes a glossy region;
(C) when it is determined in step (b) that the image information includes a glossy area, the glossy area is processed as a predetermined specific color. A program for causing one or a plurality of computers to implement each step of the image processing method according to claim 11.

Images