JP2005057634A - Picture printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture printer adopting such technique that prints produced on the basis of still picture data taken in from a moving picture source can be easily printed again and moving picture scenes where printed still pictures are presented can be easily found out. <P>SOLUTION: The picture printer is provided with; a moving picture/still picture conversion management part (31) acquiring still picture data from the moving picture source together with a corresponding time code; an image processing part (32) for subjecting the still picture data to image processing; a print data generation part (35) for generating picture print data from still picture data subjected to image processing and generating time code print data from the time code; and a print station for forming a still picture corresponding to the picture print data and a time code corresponding to the time code print data on a recording medium (P). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention reads moving image data generated by an imaging device such as a digital video camera or a moving image editing device and stored in a moving image recording medium from the recording medium, and extracts a specific scene included in the moving image as still image data. The present invention relates to an image printing apparatus that performs print output.

  There are many favorite scenes that you want to keep as separate prints in videos shot with a video camera, etc., so only the necessary scenes are taken out as still image data, and recording media such as photographic paper Video printers that can be printed on have been put into practical use. As a technique for searching for a scene desired to be printed in such a video printer and simplifying the printing, a video recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing a video signal on a magnetic tape, and a video signal reproduced from the video recording / reproducing apparatus A video printer that captures a predetermined screen and prints out an image based on the captured screen. The time code is recorded in a predetermined information recording area of the magnetic tape, and the time code is stored in the video printer. There is a system that searches for a screen position to be printed out in a video signal reproduced from a video recording / reproducing apparatus, captures an image of the screen position to be printed out in a video printer, and prints out the image (for example, Patent Literature 1). In such a video printout system, the time code recorded along with the playback screen supplied to the video printer is stored in the storage means, and the desired playback screen is based on the time code stored in the storage means. Is retrieved, and the retrieved playback screen is captured by the video printer and printed on photographic paper, etc., so the screen you want to print and the screen can be printed smoothly. When it is desired to print again or to view a moving image including the printed screen, it is necessary to search for a desired scene while reproducing the video tape again.

  In addition, in order to obtain a higher quality still image print from moving image data, it is possible to print a still image from moving image data using a specialized DP shop (laboratory). From the myriad of scenes, it is necessary to identify the scenes that you want to print as still images and inform the lab employees. For this purpose, bring a recording medium with moving image data into the lab, in front of the lab employees. Then, play the movie on the monitor to show the scene you want to print. In order to simplify such a series of operations, moving image data acquiring means for acquiring moving image data, and still image data specifying means for specifying one scene of moving images recorded in the acquired moving image data as still image data And an order content input means for inputting the order content related to the image to be output, and an output for generating output content instruction data in which the image to be output and the accompanying conditions are recorded based on the specified still image data and the order content There has also been proposed an image printing apparatus including content instruction data generating means and printing means for printing an image according to the output content instruction data (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In such an apparatus, not only can still images identified from moving image data be printed as they are, but also can process still image data and edit new images, so that high-value still images can be easily printed. However, when a user wants to reprint a screen that has been printed once or to view a moving image including the printed screen, it is necessary to search for a desired scene while playing the video tape again.

JP 07-38831 A (paragraph number [0009], FIG. 3)

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-215772 (paragraph numbers [0009]-[0011], FIG. 1)

  In view of the above situation, the object of the present invention is to easily reprint a print created based on still image data captured from a moving image source, or to easily find a moving image scene where a printed still image appears. It is to provide an image printing apparatus employing the technology.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the image printing apparatus according to the present invention, a moving image / still image conversion management unit that acquires still image data together with a corresponding time code from a moving image source, and image processing that performs image processing on the still image data A print data generation unit that generates image print data from the image-processed still image data and generates time code print data from the time code, a still image corresponding to the image print data, and the time code print data And a print station for forming a time code corresponding to the above on a recording medium.

  In this image printing apparatus, when a scene desired to be printed as an image hard copy is taken out as a still image data from a moving image source such as a digital video tape, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory in which the moving image data is recorded, The time code to be specified, that is, the address data specifying the still image data is fetched together, the still image data and the time code are linked, the image processing necessary for image hard copy is performed, and then the still image data Based on the above, an image is formed on the recording medium, and a time code for the still image (one scene of the moving image) is formed on the same recording medium. The print produced in this way is formed with a desired still image and a time code (address code) for specifying the position of the still image in the moving image source. When watching a movie, it is possible to easily find the scene that is the source of the still image from the movie source by using the time code.

  When forming the time code on the recording medium, the still image is formed on the front side of the recording medium and the time code is formed on the back side so as not to interfere visually with the still image formed there. Is convenient. In particular, this image printing apparatus is a photographic printing apparatus that produces a print by exposing a photographic image to photographic paper based on photographic image data obtained from a photographic film through a film scanner or photographic image data obtained by a digital camera. When configured, the time code can be printed by a back print unit known as CVP which prints information such as exposure conditions equipped on the photographic printing apparatus on the back surface of the photographic paper.

  Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the moving image / still image conversion management unit has a function of acquiring a plurality of still image data and a corresponding time code based on a predetermined acquisition pattern, and the acquisition An image editing unit that creates index image data in a form in which a plurality of still images acquired based on a pattern and time codes corresponding thereto are arranged in a list is provided, and the index image is generated by the print data generation unit Using the index image print data converted from the data, the print station forms an index image on the recording medium. In the moving image index print created in this way, still images showing scenes appropriately selected from the moving image source are formed in a list display format together with time codes. In other words, this moving image index print can be used as a table of contents with an image of the original moving image source, and even if various events are recorded on the moving image source such as a video tape, the still image associated with the time code of the moving image index print is recorded. A time code of a desired event can be immediately found from the image, and a moving image of the event can be viewed.

How to select a still image for moving image index printing from a moving image source, that is, as an acquisition pattern of still image data from a moving image source, for example, an acquisition pattern at a predetermined time interval, an acquisition pattern by a marker specified by a user An acquisition pattern for each scene cut can be considered. The acquisition pattern at a predetermined time interval is suitable when the moving image source is recording one event, and the progress of the event can be known from the moving image index print. In the acquisition pattern by the marker specified by the user, it is necessary to perform marker setting while reproducing the moving image source. However, a moving image index print in which a characteristic scene in the moving image source is extracted can be produced. In order to avoid human burdens such as marker settings, scene cuts (such as the start point of the section recorded in a single recording or from the outside to the room, color temperature change, etc.) are automatically detected from the video data. A pattern that acquires a still image at that point is suitable. These acquisition patterns may be implemented as necessary so that they can be selected.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments using the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing a photographic printing apparatus that also functions as an image printing apparatus according to the present invention. This photographic printing apparatus is a printing station 1B as a photographic printer that performs exposure processing and development processing on photographic paper P. FIG. In addition to processing photographed image data captured from developed photographic film, memory cards for digital cameras, etc. to generate and transfer print data used in the print station 1B, it is used for video photography with a video camera. An operation station 1A that processes still image data taken from moving image data recorded on a moving image source such as a video tape 2a, an optical disc 2b, or a semiconductor memory, and generates / transfers print data used in the print station 1B. It consists of and.

  As can be understood from FIG. 2, the photo printing apparatus 1B pulls out the roll-shaped printing paper P stored in the two printing paper magazines 11 and cuts it into a print size by the sheet cutter 12. The print processing information such as the color correction information and the frame number is printed on the back surface of the photographic paper P by the back print unit 13 called CVP (correct value printer) on the photographic paper P that has been cut into pieces, and the exposure print. The section 14 exposes the photographed image on the surface of the photographic paper P, and sends the exposed photographic paper P to a processing tank unit 15 having a plurality of development processing tanks for development processing. After drying, the photographic paper P, that is, the prints P, sent to the sorter 17 from the transverse feed conveyor 16 at the upper part of the apparatus is accumulated in a plurality of trays 17a of the sorter 17 in a state of being sorted in units of orders (see FIG. ). Note that an index print PX that lists a plurality of reduced images, which will be described in detail later, is also developed in the post-processing tank unit 15 that is exposed by the exposure unit 14 to the photographic paper P that has been appropriately cut in the same manner as the print P. By being processed, it is output to the transverse feed conveyor 16 and is collected together with the prints P on the tray 17a.

  A photographic paper transport mechanism 18 is laid to transport the photographic paper P at a transport speed in accordance with various processes for the photographic paper P described above. The photographic paper transport mechanism 18 is composed of a plurality of nipping and transporting roller pairs including a chucker type photographic paper transport unit 18a disposed before and after the exposure unit 14 in the photographic paper transport direction.

  The exposure unit 14 applies R (red), G (green), and B (blue) to the photographic paper P conveyed in the sub-scanning direction based on print data from the operation station 1A along the main scanning direction. A line exposure head for irradiating laser beams of the three primary colors is provided. The processing tank unit 15 includes a color developing tank 15a for storing a color developing processing liquid, a bleach-fixing tank 15b for storing a bleach-fixing processing liquid, and a stabilizing tank 15c for storing a stable processing liquid.

  On the desk-like console of the operation station 1A, a film scanner 19 that acquires photographed image data from photographed image frames of photographic film, and an image input that reads moving image data and still image data from a recording medium as a moving image source or a still image source The unit 20 and a general-purpose personal computer that functions as the controller 3 of the photo printing apparatus are arranged. The image input unit 20 includes a video playback unit 22 that plays back the video tape 2a used for shooting by the video camera, and various semiconductors used as an image recording medium 2b other than the tape mounted on the video camera, digital camera, or the like. And a media reader 21 that reads captured image data (moving image data in the case of video, still image data in the case of a camera) from a memory or an optical disk. Further connected to the controller 3 are a monitor 23 for displaying various information, and a keyboard 24 and a mouse 25 used as an operation input unit used when performing various settings and adjustments.

  The controller 3 includes a CPU as a core member, and a functional unit for performing various processes on input data is implemented by hardware and / or software. The functional unit particularly related to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, still image data is captured from moving image data reproduced through a working memory 30, a video reproduction unit 22, or a media reader 21 that temporarily stores image data for various processes. The video / still image conversion management unit 31 developed in the working memory 30 and the image data subjected to various image processing such as color correction, filtering (blurring, sharpness, etc.) and trimming on the image data developed in the working memory 30. The processing unit 32 arranges a plurality of image data in a predetermined list layout for one index. An image editing unit 33 that integrates the image data, a video control unit 34 that captures the image data and other display items into a video memory, converts the image developed in the video memory into a video signal by a video controller, and sends the video signal to the monitor 23; A print data generation unit 35 and a GUI unit that convert final image data and the like processed by the image processing unit 32 and the image editing unit 33 into print data and transfer them to the back print unit 13 and the exposure print unit 14 of the print station 1B. The image input unit 20, the moving image / still image conversion management unit 31, the image processing unit 32, and the image based on the operation command input through the operation input unit under the operation screen created by 36a or a pre-programmed operation command. There is a print management unit 36 that controls the editing unit 33 and the like.

  Captured image data captured from a photographic film through a film scanner 19 and captured image data captured from a digital camera recording medium through a media reader 21 are directly developed in a working memory 30 and converted into print data after undergoing various image processing. However, the moving image reproduced by the image input unit 20 is converted from the moving image data to the still image data by the moving image / still image conversion management unit 31 as a still image of the desired scene, and then developed in the working memory 30 and then appropriately The image data is converted into print data.

  The moving image / still image conversion management unit 31 includes a still image data acquisition unit 31a that acquires still image data in a specific scene from moving image data, and a time code acquisition unit 31b that acquires a time code associated with the specific scene. I have. The acquired still image data and the time code are linked inside the controller 3, and the corresponding time code can be related to the still image data being processed at any time. Thus, a time code corresponding to the still image is added to the print P or index print IP on which the still image extracted from the moving image according to the present invention is formed.

In this photographic printing apparatus, the procedure for producing a photographic print P from a still image source that originally recorded a still image, such as photographic film, is the same as the procedure in the conventional photographic printing apparatus, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here. A typical example of the procedure for producing the print P from the moving image source will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.
If the moving image source to be processed is the digital video tape 2a, the digital video tape 2a is loaded into the video reproducing unit 22, and the reproduction of the moving image is started. At this time, the still image capturing operation screen 60 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the monitor 23 by the operation of the GUI unit 36 a of the print management unit 36. The operation screen 60 is divided into a moving image operation area 61 occupying the left half and a captured still image display area 62 occupying the right half. The moving image operation area 61 includes a moving image display screen unit 63, a timeline indicating a time position in the moving image source, a button group for playback and pause, and fast forward and fast reverse, and a scene displayed on the moving image display screen unit 63. A time code display unit 64 for displaying the time code, a capture button 65 for instructing to capture a scene displayed on the moving image display screen unit 63 as a still image, and the like are arranged. In the captured still image display area 62, a still image that is one scene of a moving image acquired by pressing the capture button 65 is displayed together with its time code.

  That is, in the moving image / still image conversion management unit 31, when the still image data acquisition unit 31a acquires still image data from the moving image data by operating the acquisition button 65, the time code acquisition unit 31b acquires the time code and Link image data and time code. The captured still image data is transferred to the working memory 30 and displayed in the captured still image display area 62 of the still image capturing operation screen 60 with an appropriately reduced size. At the same time, the time code is also displayed in the vicinity thereof.

  The still image data developed in the working memory 30 is subjected to a color correction setting and a print number setting necessary for each image through the same work as the PJP (pre-judge printing) work well known in the photo print processing. . At that time, the PJP screen displayed on the monitor 23 is shown in FIG. 6. Here, the simulated images 70 for six still images are displayed, and the upper side of each simulated image 70 is displayed. A number indicating a time code for specifying the still image is displayed in the frame area 71, and the lower correction information frame 72 corresponds to “Y” corresponding to yellow, “M” corresponding to magenta, and cyan corresponding to magenta. Then, a letter “C” and a letter “D” are displayed to indicate density correction information, and a numerical value indicating the number of prints is displayed in the lower print number frame 73. The simulated image here is an image that is expected when the image is actually formed on the photographic paper P by the exposure printing unit 14 based on the still image data. However, a print P having a desired color can be produced by instructing color correction. When the simulated image 70 is displayed on the monitor 23, for example, when the yellow key as the operation key set on the keyboard 24 is operated, the correction information frame 72 corresponding to the simulated image 70 in the selected state is displayed. The operator recognizes that the yellow component is selected for correction by highlighting the “Y” character, inverting the character, or blinking, and press the plus key in this state. In such a case, image processing is performed in which the yellow component is increased stepwise by the number of times the button is pressed. Similarly, when the minus key is pressed, the yellow component is decreased stepwise by the number of times the button is pressed. When the neutral key is pressed, a process for returning to the state before correction is performed. When a plurality of simulated images 70 are displayed as in the example of FIG. 6, by giving a hue that is easily noticeable to a selection frame 74 surrounding one of these simulated images 70, the simulated images are displayed. It is clearly shown that it is in the selected state. A frame 75 for displaying an order number and the like is arranged in the lower side area of the monitor screen.

  When the PJP operation for all the captured still images is completed, the still image data subjected to appropriate image processing is converted into print data by the print data generation unit 35 and sequentially transferred to the exposure print unit 14. At the same time, the time code linked to each still image data is also sent to the print data generation unit 35, and each time code print data is formed on the surface by the exposure print unit 14 by an image of still image data having a link relationship. The time code is printed on the back surface of the photographic paper P to be transferred to the back print unit (CVP) 13. Thus, a still image taken from the moving image data is formed on the front side of the print P output from the print station 1B, and a time code for specifying the position of the still image in the moving image data is printed on the back side. By obtaining such a print P, when reprinting the print, it is possible to quickly find out the scene to be captured from the moving image data by the time code on the back side, and the scene of the image formed on the print If you want to watch the movie as a video, you can quickly set the playback position using the time code on the back.

  The photo printing apparatus further acquires a plurality of still image data and a corresponding time code from a moving image source such as a digital video tape 2a based on a predetermined acquisition pattern, and reduces the acquired plurality of still image data. After processing, it has a function of creating a moving image index print in which these still images are arranged in a list together with corresponding time codes. As an acquisition pattern, an acquisition pattern by a predetermined time interval, an acquisition pattern by a marker specified by the user, an acquisition pattern by each scene cut, and the like can be prepared. Here, the acquisition pattern is by a predetermined time interval (predetermined time code interval). A processing procedure of the moving image index print IP based on the acquisition pattern will be described.

  Here again, if the moving image source to be processed is the digital video tape 2a, when the digital video tape 2a is loaded into the video reproduction unit 22 and reproduction of the moving image is started, a predetermined time code interval (for example, an interval of 5 minutes, this interval). Can be arbitrarily set), and still image data and its time code are fetched and developed in the working memory 30. The still image data developed in the working memory 30 is subjected to image processing such as color correction and image size change (reduction in this case) by the image processing unit 32 as necessary, and at the same time code order by the image editing unit 33. At this time, the time code is also arranged at a specific portion (for example, the lower side) around each still image, and moving image index image data for producing the moving image index print IP is generated. The moving image index image data is converted into print data by the print data generation unit 35, transferred to the exposure print unit 14, and photographic paper P is printed. An example of the moving image index print IP output from the print station 1B is shown in FIG. When such a moving image index print IP is obtained, the contents of the digital video tape 2a that is the moving image source of the moving image index print IP can be grasped in the form of a scene image, and the scene image can be viewed as a moving image. The playback position can be quickly set by the time code printed below the scene image.

  In the above-described embodiment, since the image input unit 20 such as the video playback unit 22 is incorporated in the operation station 1A, the operator searches for a scene designated by the customer using a time code or the like when creating the single print P. However, instead of such an embodiment, a desired monitor is taken in as a unit by adding a dedicated monitor to the image input unit 20 and the moving image / still image conversion management unit 31. It is also possible to configure a separate image print accepting machine so that a customer can specify a desired scene while searching for a moving image source. In this case, the still image data acquired by the image print accepting device is transferred to the controller 3 of the operation station 1A via the data transmission path in a form linked to the corresponding time code. The transferred still image data and time code are used for the production of the print P in which the still image is formed on the front side and the time code on the back side, and the moving image index print IP, as in the embodiment.

  In the case where the presence of the time code does not cause much trouble in viewing a still image, the time code may be formed together with the still image on the front side of the photographic paper P. In this case, the time code and the still image are sent as composite image data to the exposure print unit 14 and the image is printed on the photographic paper P, which is convenient for a photo printing apparatus in which the back print unit 13 is not provided. .

  In the printing process described above, the digital video tape 2a is used as a moving image source, but a recording medium 2b such as an optical disk or a semiconductor memory may be used. Further, the time code in the present invention is used in the sense of address data that specifies the position of each frame (field) of the moving image data. In the case where there is no time code in a special moving image format, any moving image scene is used. Information for specifying the position of this is used as the time code of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a moving image source in which no time code in a narrow sense exists.

  Reads moving image data generated by an imaging device such as a digital video camera or a moving image editing device and stored in a moving image recording medium from the recording medium, extracts a specific scene included in the moving image as still image data, and prints it out. It can be applied to all image printing apparatuses.

1 is an external view of a photographic printing apparatus as an example of an image printing apparatus according to the present invention. Schematic diagram showing the schematic internal structure of a printing station of a photographic printing apparatus Schematic diagram showing the main functions of the controller of the photo printing device Schematic diagram explaining the role of each function of the photo printing device when creating still image prints from movies Monitor screen showing the still image capture operation screen Monitor screen showing an example of PJP screen Plan view showing an example of movie index print

Explanation of symbols

1B print station 13 back print unit 14 exposure print unit 20 image input unit 21 video playback unit 22 media reader 31 video / still image conversion management unit 31a still image data acquisition unit 31b time code acquisition unit 32 image processing unit 33 image editing unit 35 Print data generation unit 36 Print management unit P Recording medium (printing paper, print)
IP video index print

Claims (4)

  A moving image / still image conversion management unit that acquires still image data from a moving image source together with a corresponding time code, an image processing unit that performs image processing on the still image data, and generates image print data from the processed still image data And a print data generation unit that generates time code print data from the time code, a still image corresponding to the image print data, and a print station that forms a time code corresponding to the time code print data on a recording medium. An image printing apparatus comprising:   2. The print station includes an exposure print unit that forms the still image on the front side of the recording medium and a back print unit that prints the time code on the back side of the recording medium. The image printing apparatus described in 1.   The video / still image conversion management unit has a function of acquiring a plurality of still image data and a corresponding time code based on a predetermined acquisition pattern, and a plurality of still images acquired based on the acquisition pattern And image editing for creating index image data in a form in which the corresponding time codes are arranged in a list, and using the index image print data converted from the index image data by the print data generation unit The image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print station forms an index image on a recording medium.   The acquisition pattern according to claim 3, wherein an acquisition pattern at a predetermined time interval, an acquisition pattern by a marker designated by a user, an acquisition pattern by each scene cut, or a combination thereof is prepared as the acquisition pattern. Image printing device.

Images