JP2006154188A - Photographic printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic printing system capable of flexibly coping with customer's demand while lightening a working burden to the utmost. <P>SOLUTION: The photographic printing system is equipped with a printing device EP printing an image, an image processing means GP image-processing inputted image data to image data to be outputted by the printing device EP, a recording medium write-in device 4 writing the inputted data on a recording medium which is freely loaded and unloaded, and a write-in management device WM managing the write-in of the data by the recording medium write-in device 4. The write-in management device WM is constituted to designate and input whether or not to perform processing for writing the image data after image processing by the image processing means GP and the image data before image processing by the image processing means GP on the recording medium to a plurality of images collectively or to every image individually. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints an image, image processing means that processes input image data into image data for output by the printing apparatus, and input data to a recording medium that can be loaded and unloaded. The present invention relates to a photo print system provided with a recording medium writing device for writing data and a writing management device for managing data writing by the recording medium writing device.

In such a photographic print system, for example, a photographic print is produced based on image data of a read image of a photographic film or an image taken from a memory card. As described above, for example, a high-quality image processed by the image processing means can be recorded on various recording media such as a CD-R medium and a magneto-optical disk and provided to the customer.
The image data written on the recording medium can be used when the customer needs to read and view the image data on the recording medium with his / her own personal computer, or when reprinting (reprinting) is necessary. In general, the recording medium is brought to a print shop and reprinting is requested based on the image data of the recording medium.
The basic idea of reprinting a photo is to reproduce the first photo print as faithfully as possible. In that sense, when using image data recorded on a recording medium as image data for reprinting However, it is sufficient to record and save the image data itself that has been processed by the image processing means and actually used to produce the photographic print. Conventionally, only the image data after the image processing is recorded by the image processing means. Recorded on media and provided to customers.
JP 2003-162012 A

However, with the spread of personal computers in recent years and the improvement in the level of utilization of personal computers, customers who have been provided with recording media are not limited to simply viewing the images recorded on the recording media, but themselves processing the images. It is thought that there are not a few cases where high-level handling such as finishing the desired image is desired, but based on the original image data modified by image processing with image processing means, Depending on the processing characteristics of the image processing means, it may be difficult to produce an image as desired.
In such a case, the customer requests the print shop separately for image data that has not been subjected to image processing by the image processing means.
In a print shop that has received such a request, it is separate from processing as a normal photographic print system in which image data is taken in and processed by image processing means, and the processed image data is written to a recording medium. As an operation, it is necessary to take in the image data and write the captured image data into a recording medium, and it is considered that an excessive work load is required to meet the customer's request.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photo print system capable of flexibly responding to customer demands while reducing the work load as much as possible.

  The first invention of the present application is a printing apparatus that prints an image, an image processing means that processes input image data into image data for output by the printing apparatus, and can be freely loaded and unloaded. In a photographic print system comprising a recording medium writing device for writing input data to a recording medium and a writing management device for managing writing of data by the recording medium writing device, the writing management device is connected to the image processing means. Whether or not to perform processing for writing image data after image processing and image data before image processing by the image processing means to the recording medium, or for a plurality of images, or , Each image can be designated and input.

  Therefore, the operator instructs whether or not to perform processing for writing the image data after the image processing by the image processing means and the image data before the image processing by the image processing means to the recording medium. Only by inputting, both image data can be written to the recording medium in a lump, and a recording medium capable of accurately responding to a more sophisticated customer request can be provided to the customer.

According to a second invention of the present application, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, the image processing means can execute image processing for generating image data by applying a setting template to input image data. It is configured.
In other words, in image processing in which image data is generated by applying various templates, image modification from the original image data is significant, so that not only image data after image processing but also original image data before image processing is stored. It is particularly effective to provide it to customers.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since a recording medium capable of accurately responding to a more advanced customer request can be provided to the customer with a simple input operation, the work load is reduced as much as possible. We have been able to provide a photo printing system that can flexibly meet customer demands.
According to the second aspect of the invention, even when the original image data is greatly modified and subjected to image processing, the original image data is also provided to the customer, thereby accurately responding to the customer's request. Is possible.

Embodiments of a photographic print system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The photo print system exemplified in this embodiment is a system that prints out images taken from various image holding media as photo prints, and is known as a so-called digital minilab machine.
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, the photographic print system DP of the present embodiment has image data for producing a photographic print from a developed photographic film, a memory card, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-R medium, or the like. An image input device IR for capturing and a printing device EP for printing an image on the photographic paper 2 as the image forming target member PS based on the image data captured by the image input device IR.

[Schematic configuration of image input device IR]
As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the image input device IR includes a film scanner 3 for reading frame images of photographic film, and various drives such as a memory reader / writer, a magneto-optical disk drive, and a CD-R / RW drive. And a recording medium writing device 4 for writing input data to a recording medium that can be freely loaded and unloaded such as a memory card, a magneto-optical disk and a CD-R medium corresponding to each drive, and a personal computer. A computer 5 and an image processing device 6 for correcting image data input from the film scanner 3 or the like into an image for output by the printing device EP are provided. The computer 5 simulates a finished print image. Monitor 5a for displaying simulated images and various control information, and manual setting of exposure conditions And is a console 5b for the input operation of the control information is connected, it is also provided further omitted mouse, and the like shown.
Each drive mounted on the recording medium writing device 4 can also read the recording data from the corresponding recording medium, capture the image data recorded and stored in each recording medium, and print it on the printing device EP. Can be processed.
The computer 5 manages the data read / write operation in the recording medium writing device 4 and functions as a write management device WM that manages the writing of data by the recording medium writing device 4 as well as the image input device IR. It also manages the entire photo print system DP.

[Schematic configuration of printing apparatus EP]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus EP includes an image forming apparatus EX, a development processing apparatus PP that develops the photographic paper 2 on which an image is exposed and formed by the image forming apparatus EX, and an interior of the casing. Is provided with a photographic paper transporting system PT for transporting the photographic paper 2 drawn out from the photographic paper magazine 7 arranged in FIG.
Although not shown, a sorter is provided outside the housing of the printing apparatus EP to classify the photographic paper 2 that has been developed and dried by the development processing apparatus PP for each order. The photographic paper 2 discharged from the discharge port is conveyed to the sorter by the conveyor 9.
In the middle of the conveyance path of the photographic paper conveyance system PT, a cutter 10 that cuts the long photographic paper 2 drawn out from the photographic paper magazine 7 into a set print size, and for allocating the photographic paper 2 to a plurality of conveyance rows. A sorting device 11 is provided.

The image forming apparatus EX includes an image forming head 12 that forms an exposure image on the photographic paper 2 and an exposure control device 13 that controls the image forming head 12 as main parts.
The image forming head 12 is attached so that an intermediate position in the conveyance path of the photographic paper 2 cut to the set print size is an image formation position, and a laser beam is emitted in a direction perpendicular to the photographic paper conveyance direction at the image formation position. Scan.
The intensity of the laser beam emitted from the image forming head 12 is modulated based on the image data input from the image processing device 6 under the control of the exposure control device 13.
By scanning the photographic paper 2 transported and driven by the photographic paper transportation system PT with the laser beam whose intensity is modulated as described above, an image is exposed and formed on the photographic paper 2, which is a development processing apparatus. When developed with PP, it is finished as a photographic print.

[Photo print production operation]
Next, the flowchart of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 executed by the computer 5 of the image input device IR in the case where the image print production operation by the photo print system DP having the above-described configuration is performed by taking an image from the film scanner 3 and performing the print processing. Based on the above, a brief description will be given.
Even when an image is captured from the recording medium writing device 4 and printed, the processing is the same as the following processing except that image data is input to the image processing device 6 via the computer 5.
In the photo print system DP of the present embodiment, image data input from the film scanner 3 or the recording medium writing device 4 is corrected by the image processing device 6, and the image data of one image that has been corrected is simply used. A standard output setting for producing a single photo print on the basis of the image data inputted from the film scanner 3 or the like, and various kinds of templates are applied to the image data to give a special decoration process or the like. You can specify special output settings for producing prints.

Hereinafter, the processing of FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described in detail.
In the computer 5, an initial screen for accepting various input operations as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the monitor 5a as a basic standby state.
In this initial screen, a display area for displaying and setting the operating state of the printing apparatus EP, a display area for designating a print size, a display area for designating index print production conditions, and image input In addition to a display area for designating a source, a recording medium output setting display area MW for setting various conditions for writing and outputting image data to a recording medium is provided.

In this recording medium output setting display area MW, an output destination designation button display 21 for designating the type of output destination drive and an output condition designation list box display 22 for designating the type of image data to be written and output are displayed. In addition, an input field for designating the size and format of the image is displayed.
FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which a CD-R / RW drive provided in the recording medium writing device 4 is designated as an output destination drive.
The output condition designation list box display 22 displays image data after image processing by the image processing device 6 or the like as image data to be written and output to the recording medium when writing to the recording medium is designated (in the following, (Referred to as “processed data”), or image data (hereinafter referred to as “raw data”) before image processing by the image processing device 6 or the like, or both The image data can be written and output, and by clicking the output condition designation list box display 22 with the mouse, as shown in FIG. 3, the above-mentioned output conditions are selected. The list is displayed as a drop-down list.
In the present embodiment, the output condition specified in the output condition specifying list box display 22 is applied to one order image at a time, and all the images in one order are of the type specified under the same condition. Image data is written and output to a recording medium.
In other words, whether or not to perform processing for writing image data after image processing by the image processing device 6 and the like and image data before image processing by the image processing device 6 and the like to a recording medium is determined. It is configured so that it can be specified collectively for images.

When the start of the printing operation is instructed from this initial screen, the processing of FIGS. 6 and 7 is started.
When the processes of FIGS. 6 and 7 are started, first, the film scanner 3 is instructed to start capturing image data (step # 1).
Along with this, the film scanner 3 starts to drive the set photographic film, reads each frame image with a CCD line sensor, converts it into digital image data with an A / D converter, and then inputs an image. The images are sequentially output to the image processing device 6 of the device IR.
The image processing device 6 stores and holds the image data of each image received from the film scanner 3 in a storage device such as a memory, and generates a reduced image of those images.

After instructing the start of image capture, the computer 5 requests the image processing device 6 to transmit the reduced image in units of 6 frames (step # 2).
When a reduced image is sent from the image processing device 6 to the computer 5 in accordance with this request (step # 3), the computer 5 changes the screen display of the monitor 5a from the initial screen to a correction input screen as shown in FIG. Step # 4).
In the display screen of FIG. 4, the reduced image received from the image processing device 6 is displayed in the six reduced image display areas S <b> 1 to S <b> 6 in which correction processing is performed under predetermined processing conditions, and in each reduced image display area. Correspondingly, a color correction button display 31 for inputting an instruction for color correction of the image is displayed, and an input completion button for instructing that an input operation such as a correction instruction necessary for the displayed six frames is completed. A display 32 and a list box display 33 for selecting a template to be applied when various templates are applied to image data to be printed and the special output setting is designated are displayed.

The processing conditions of the correction processing applied to the images displayed in the six reduced image display areas S1 to S6 are processing conditions set in advance for the type of photographic film set in the film scanner 3, Correction processing equivalent to that executed in the image processing device 6 is performed on the reduced image. As a result, simulated images simulating the finished print are displayed in the six reduced image display areas S1 to S6.
The operator of the photo print system DP observes the image displayed in each reduced image display area and operates the color correction button display 31 so that the image has a desired color, thereby correcting the processing conditions of the correction process. Enter the amount. In the screen display of FIG. 4, the input value is reflected in the screen display, and the input state is held until further updated.

On the other hand, when the special output setting is designated, the list box display 33 is operated as shown in FIG. 4 for the reduced image “# 03” (the reduced image displayed in the upper right S3). A list of setting templates prepared in advance is displayed as a list using a pull-down menu.
When one of the setting templates displayed in the list is selected (step # 5), an input screen for inputting a processing condition for the selected setting template is displayed in a window (step # 6). ).
In this window display, when the operator inputs a processing condition required for each template and operates a button indicating that the input operation is completed (step # 7), the input processing condition is stored and held. Then, the window display is closed (step # 8).

For the six frames displayed on the screen display of FIG. 4, the input operation of the processing conditions of the correction process is completed from the color correction button display 31, and the setting template displayed as a list in the list box display 33 as necessary. When the input operation is completed and the operator operates the input completion button display 32 (step # 9), each input value on the display screen of FIG. 4 is saved (step # 10), and one order image is displayed. Until the input operation is completed (step # 11), the same processing is repeated for the subsequent six frames (steps # 2 to # 11).
When the input operation such as the correction processing condition for all the images of one order is completed (step # 11), the image processing apparatus 6 is instructed to perform the correction processing under various processing conditions input on the screen display of FIG. 4 (step # 11). 12) The special output setting is designated, or the screen processing of FIG. 3 is set to write the processed data or the raw data on the recording medium, and the image processing apparatus 6 performs the correction process. When the image data or the raw data is required (step # 13), the image processing apparatus 6 is transmitted to transmit either or both of the image data corrected by the image processing apparatus 6 and the raw data. Request (step # 14).

When the requested data is received from the image processing apparatus 6 (step # 15), when any template is applied with the special output setting specified (step # 16), the specified template is applied to perform image processing. Is executed (step # 17).
For example, when “frame” is designated as the setting template, a template for synthesizing the target image is applied to the image pasting area IA at the center of the frame image FI as illustrated in FIG. Image data as illustrated in FIG. 5B is generated.
3, when execution of the writing process to the recording medium is designated (step # 18), the image data of the type selected in the output condition designation list box display 22 is output to the designated drive. (Step # 19).
For example, when “raw data + processed data” is selected in the output condition designation list box display 22, the raw data received from the image processing device 6 is output to the designated drive, and at the image processing device 6. The corrected image data (when the special output setting is specified, the image data obtained by applying the specified template to the corrected image data) is output to the specified drive as the processed data. To write to the recording medium.
Accordingly, not only the image processing device 6 but also the computer 5 functions as image processing means GP that performs image processing on the input image data to image data for output by the printing device EP.

Thereafter, each image is sequentially output to the printing apparatus EP to be printed (step # 20). At this time, for the image for which the special output setting is designated, the image data after applying the template is sent from the computer 5 to the printing apparatus EP via the image processing apparatus 6, and for the other images, the image processing apparatus 6 is sent. The corrected image data stored and held is sent to the printing apparatus EP as it is.
When print output is completed for all images of one order (step # 21), the process returns to the caller process (initial screen).

[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be listed.
(1) In the above embodiment, the computer 5 serving as the writing management device WM displays the image data after the image processing by the image processing unit GP and the image processing by the image processing unit GP according to the screen display illustrated in FIG. It is configured so that whether or not to perform the process of writing the image data before the recording on the recording medium can be collectively specified for a plurality of images (specifically, for one order image). Although the case is illustrated, this designation may be made for each individual image.
For example, in FIG. 8 showing the color correction condition input screen corresponding to FIG. 4 in the above embodiment, the output condition designation list box display 22 in the above embodiment (displayed on the initial screen in FIG. 2 etc.) The output condition designation list box display 41 is provided corresponding to each of the reduced image display areas S1 to S6 of each frame, and the selection state of the output condition designation list box display 41 is stored for each frame image. The type of image data to be stored and written to the recording medium writing device 4 may be designated for each image according to the setting.

(2) Although the laser beam exposure type printing apparatus EP is illustrated as the printing apparatus EP in the above embodiment, the printing apparatus EP of another exposure type such as the PLZT optical shutter array type, the inkjet type, etc. The present invention can also be applied to a system including a printing apparatus EP in a print format that does not depend on exposure.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photo print system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the example of a screen display concerning embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the example of a screen display concerning embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the example of a screen display concerning embodiment of this invention The figure for demonstrating application of the template concerning embodiment of this invention The flowchart concerning embodiment of this invention The flowchart concerning embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the example of a screen display concerning another embodiment

Explanation of symbols

4 recording medium writing device EP printing device GP image processing means WM writing management device

Claims (2)

A printing apparatus that prints an image, an image processing means that processes input image data into image data for output by the printing apparatus, and a recording that writes input data to a recording medium that can be loaded and unloaded A photo print system comprising a medium writing device and a writing management device for managing writing of data by the recording medium writing device,
Whether the writing management device performs processing for writing image data after image processing by the image processing unit and image data before image processing by the image processing unit to the recording medium, A photo print system configured to be able to designate and input a plurality of images at once or for each individual image.   2. The photo print system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing means is configured to execute image processing for generating image data by applying a setting template to input image data.

Images