JP2006013889A - Image processing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of automatically correcting an image by creating a database reflecting the preference of a user and referring to the database. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing method for receiving an image signal and automatically correcting the received image by one or more methods includes the steps of: adjusting parameters by each correction method; selecting an image prefered by the user among sample images wherein correction effects by the correction methods are stepwise changed by a plurality of strengths; and recording the correction strength corresponding to the image selected by the selection step to the database, and the method uses the parameters corresponding to the correction strength recorded in the database when the method automatically corrects the received image signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and method for automatically correcting an original image.

  In a conventional image processing system that automatically corrects an input image, only one type of correction parameter determined for general use is used, or correction intensity is manually adjusted before correction.

Therefore, if the result of automatic correction does not match his / her preference, the correction intensity can be adjusted by performing automatic correction and then using another correction means to finish the image as desired, or by repeating trial and error. By finding the optimum value, I matched it to my preference.
Patent No.002789207 JP-A-11-317874

  However, with general-purpose parameters, it is not possible to obtain the optimal correction effect for the user's preference difference. In order to obtain the optimal correction effect according to the preference, manual correction that requires some special knowledge is required. There was a problem that trial and error such as repetition had to be performed each time.

Therefore, in the present invention, an image processing method for inputting an image signal and automatically correcting the input image by one or more methods,
Adjusting the parameters for each correction method;
A step in which a user selects a favorite image from sample images obtained by changing the correction effect of the correction method stepwise at a plurality of intensities;
A step of recording a correction intensity corresponding to the image selected in the selecting step in a database;
When automatically correcting the input image signal, correction is performed using a parameter corresponding to the correction intensity recorded in the database.

  According to the above configuration, by creating a database reflecting user preferences and performing automatic correction with reference to the database, a suitable automatic correction result can be applied without the user being particularly conscious.

  Further, if the result can be adjusted after the automatic correction and the adjustment result is fed back to the database, the accuracy with respect to the user's preference can be further improved.

  Furthermore, if this database is held for each user, the optimum correction result for each user can be easily obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment basically includes an image input unit 101 that inputs an image signal, a correction processing unit 102 that performs correction processing, and an image output unit 103 that outputs an image to a printer or the like. This system automatically corrects the brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness of the input image and outputs it. The correction processing unit 102 that performs correction processing includes means for adjusting correction values for the automatically corrected image.

  The CPU 105 executes the process for the control according to a program such as the process described later in FIG. 3 stored in the storage device 107, and the work memory 106 is used as a work area for the process. An operation unit (hereinafter also simply referred to as “UI”) 104 serving as a user interface performs processing related to input by the user and display to the user regarding the execution of the above processing, and includes an input device such as a keyboard and a display.

  FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams schematically showing a dialog used when registering user preferences in a database. This dialog is displayed when the system is installed or when the user calls the automatic correction setting via the UI 104. FIG. 2A shows a test for image brightness, and FIG. 2B shows a test for contrast. In addition, tests for saturation and sharpness are also prepared, and examples of the selection results and correction strength are shown in FIG. In this example, when 3 is selected for each correction item, the initial parameter for automatic correction is applied. When any other number is selected, the intensity adjustment value for the initial parameter is stored in the database of the storage device 107. Store. At the time of storing in this database, the user can create a database for each user by giving a name that is easy to memorize using a keyboard or the like.

  Processing of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment based on the configuration described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing automatic correction processing of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The automatic correction process according to the present embodiment is started, for example, when the user instructs selection and execution of the automatic correction process via the UI 104.

  In FIG. 3, first, in step S201, the correction strength reflecting the user's preference is read from the database stored in the storage device 107 as described above. Next, in step S <b> 202, parameters for each correction process are calculated from the correction strength read in step S <b> 201 and recorded in the storage device 107.

  In step S203, each correction process is performed on the image signal input from the image input unit 101 using the correction parameter calculated in step S202. When the user designates via the UI 104, a correction result adjustment dialog is displayed. To do.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing this correction result adjustment dialog. As shown in the figure, an interface for adjusting the correction result is provided, and the adjusted result can be displayed. In addition, an interface for setting whether or not the adjustment result is reflected in the database is provided. When this is set, the adjustment result is reflected in the database.

  In step S207, the result reflecting the adjustment value of the correction process performed in step S205 is stored in the database of the storage device 107, and this process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, automatic correction is performed with reference to a database storing user preferences. As a result, it is possible to carry out the correction process according to the user's preference without being particularly conscious. Furthermore, the accuracy can be further increased by performing adjustment on the corrected image.

  In addition, by creating a question format that does not require specialized knowledge at the timing of basic settings such as when the system is installed, a database for image correction that reflects user preferences is created, and the database is referenced. By performing automatic correction, a suitable automatic correction result can be applied without the user being particularly conscious.

  Further, if the result can be adjusted after the automatic correction and the adjustment result is fed back to the database, the accuracy with respect to the user's preference can be further improved.

  Furthermore, if this database is held for each user, the optimum correction result for each user can be easily obtained.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, although hardware and the like constituting the network are included, it can be realized by software that sequentially executes each data processing. That is, a storage medium (or recording medium) that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is supplied. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code is stored in various storage media such as CD, MD, memory card, MO, and the like. Can be written to.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code However, it is needless to say that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card 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 the CPU or the like provided in the card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus in the Example in connection with this invention. It is a figure which shows typically UI of the panel test in the Example. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the image processing apparatus in the Example. It is a figure which shows typically UI at the time of the correction process in the Example.

Explanation of symbols

101 Image Input Unit 102 Correction Processing Unit 103 Image Output Unit 104 UI
105 CPU
106 working memory 107 storage device

Claims (9)

An image processing method for inputting an image signal and automatically correcting the input image by one or more methods,
Adjusting the parameters for each correction method;
A step in which a user selects a favorite image from sample images obtained by changing the correction effect of the correction method stepwise at a plurality of intensities;
A step of recording a correction intensity corresponding to the image selected in the selecting step in a database;
An image processing method, wherein when the input image signal is automatically corrected, correction is performed using a parameter corresponding to the correction intensity recorded in the database.   The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein recording in the database is possible for each user.   The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the correction method has a function of adjusting a contrast.   The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the correction method has a function of adjusting brightness.   The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the correction method has a function of adjusting saturation.   The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the correction method has a function of adjusting sharpness.   A step of adjusting the correction strength arbitrarily after the correction is automatically performed by the user and performing correction again; and a step of reflecting the adjusted correction strength in the correction strength recorded in the database. The image processing method according to claim 1.   The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the storing step is performed at a timing of performing basic setting at the time of system introduction or the like. An image processing apparatus that inputs an image signal and automatically corrects the input image by one or more methods,
Means for adjusting parameters for each correction method;
Means for the user to select a favorite image from among sample images in which the correction effect by the correction method is changed stepwise at a plurality of intensities;
Means for recording a correction intensity corresponding to the image selected by the means for selecting in a database;
An image processing apparatus, wherein when the input image signal is automatically corrected, correction is performed using a parameter corresponding to the correction intensity recorded in the database.

Images