JP2007278949A - Gloss feel evaluation device, gloss feel evaluation value creation method and program for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain gloss feel evaluation value high in the correlation with subjective gloss feel further than conventional approach. <P>SOLUTION: The variable reflection distribution measurement part 212 acquires variable reflection distribution performance, based on the direction of specular reflection of the surface of a body and the direction of reflection light from the vicinity of the specular reflection. Based on the distribution performance of the variable reflection light obtained by the distribution performance measurement part 212 of the variable angle reflection, the evaluation parameter extraction part 213 extracts the evaluation parameter. The gloss feel evaluation operation part 224 calculates the gloss feel evaluation value, based on the evaluation parameter extracted by the evaluation parameter extraction part 213. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a glossiness evaluation apparatus, a glossiness evaluation value generation method, and a program, and more particularly to a glossiness evaluation apparatus that generates an evaluation value related to the glossiness of an object surface based on reflected light from the object surface, and the glossiness The present invention relates to a glossiness evaluation value generation method applied to an evaluation apparatus, and a program for causing a computer to execute the glossiness evaluation value generation method.

  For example, in a print medium such as a hard copy printed by an image output device such as a color printer, a gloss evaluation device and a gloss evaluation value generation for obtaining an evaluation value highly correlated with the subjective glossiness of an image observer The present invention relates to a method and a program.

  Glossiness of a print medium printed by an image output device such as a color printer is an important image quality factor in photographic printing and document printing, and is used as one of quality control items of the print medium. In a print medium, glossiness on the surface of the print medium varies depending on the printing method, color material, paper, and the like.

In the evaluation of glossiness of a printing medium, conventionally, a measurement value obtained by a glossiness meter based on a specular glossiness measurement method for measuring the intensity of specular reflection light (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1) is used. Further, for evaluation of glossiness of a highly glossy object such as an outer plate of an automobile, a haze measurement method (for example, refer to Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3) for measuring the degree of haze on the sample surface, or an image of an object reflected on the sample surface. The image clarity measurement method (for example, refer nonpatent literatures 4 and 5) which measures the definition of the image is used.
JIS Z 8741 ISO 13803 ASTM E 430 JIS K 7105 JIS H 8686

  However, the measurement values obtained from the gloss meter based on the above conventional specular gloss measurement method, the haze meter based on the haze measurement method, and the image clarity measuring device based on the image clarity measurement method are human visual evaluation and There is a problem that does not correspond.

  That is, the specular gloss measurement method measures only the intensity of regular reflection light. However, human beings evaluate glossiness by considering not only the intensity of regular reflection light but also the spatial reflected light distribution characteristics in the vicinity of regular reflection. Therefore, if the print medium to be evaluated includes a sample with a broad distribution of reflected light near specular reflection and a narrow sample, the correlation between the objective evaluation value obtained by the specular gloss measurement method and the subjective evaluation value Becomes worse.

  On the other hand, in the haze measurement method and the image clarity measurement method, the intensity of specular reflection light is not measured, but only the reflected light intensity in the vicinity of specular reflection or only the component corresponding to the spread in the vicinity of specular reflection is measured. Therefore, the difference in glossiness due to the difference in the intensity of the regular reflection light cannot be detected, and the correlation between the objective evaluation value obtained by the haze measurement method and the image clarity measurement method and the subjective evaluation value is deteriorated.

  In other words, the measurement methods generally used conventionally do not measure physical elements sufficient for evaluation of glossiness.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and is a gloss evaluation apparatus and a gloss feeling that can obtain a gloss evaluation value that has a higher correlation with subjective glossiness than conventional methods. An object is to provide an evaluation value generation method and a program.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gloss evaluation device that generates an evaluation value related to the gloss of an object surface based on the reflected light from the object surface. A variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition means for acquiring a variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic based on the reflection direction and the reflected light from the vicinity of the regular reflection direction; and the variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition means acquired by the variable-angle reflection light distribution characteristic acquisition means Evaluation parameter extraction means for extracting an evaluation parameter from the angular reflected light distribution characteristic, and glossiness evaluation value calculation means for calculating a glossiness evaluation value based on the evaluation parameter extracted by the evaluation parameter extraction means, A glossiness evaluation apparatus is provided.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 15, there is provided a gloss evaluation value generation method applied to a gloss evaluation device that generates an evaluation value related to the gloss of the object surface based on reflected light from the object surface, In the variable reflection light distribution characteristic acquisition step for acquiring the variable reflection light distribution characteristic based on the regular reflection direction of the object surface and the reflected light from the vicinity of the regular reflection direction, and in the variable reflection light distribution characteristic acquisition step An evaluation parameter extraction step for extracting an evaluation parameter from the acquired variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic; and a glossiness evaluation value calculation step for calculating a glossiness evaluation value based on the evaluation parameter extracted in the evaluation parameter extraction step. A glossiness evaluation value generation method is provided.

  Further, a program for causing a computer to execute the glossiness evaluation value generation method is provided.

  According to the present invention, the angle distribution characteristic of reflected light is measured, and the intensity component of specular reflection light extracted from the angle distribution characteristic of reflected light and the spatial spread component of the reflection light distribution near the specular reflection are evaluated. Used as an evaluation parameter for value calculation. This makes it possible to quantitatively evaluate the level of glossiness of the object surface with a good correlation with the human subjective glossiness as compared with the conventional method.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the glossiness evaluation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This glossiness evaluation apparatus is composed of a control device, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a control program executed by the CPU, and a RAM that the CPU uses for calculation. (Random Access Memory), and input / output devices. Each block unit shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to each function realized by the CPU executing the control program.

  The glossiness evaluation apparatus includes a light reception signal processing unit 210 and an evaluation value calculation processing unit 220. The received light signal processing unit 210 includes a photometry unit 211 and an evaluation parameter extraction unit 213. The photometric unit 211 includes a variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic measuring unit 212, and the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic measuring unit 212 measures the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic on the surface of the print medium to be evaluated.

  The evaluation parameter extraction unit 213 includes a regular reflection light intensity extraction unit 214 and a regular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215. The specular reflection light intensity extraction unit 214 and the specular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 determine the specular reflection light intensity and specular reflection from the variable angle reflection light distribution characteristics of the print medium surface measured by the variable reflection light distribution characteristic measurement unit 212. The near light intensity is extracted.

  The evaluation value calculation processing unit 220 includes an evaluation parameter input unit 221, a gloss evaluation value calculation unit 224, and a gloss evaluation value output unit 225. The evaluation parameter input unit 221 includes a regular reflection light intensity input unit 222 and a regular reflection vicinity light intensity input unit 223. In the evaluation parameter input unit 221, the specular reflection light intensity extracted by the evaluation parameter extraction unit 213 is input by the specular reflection light intensity input unit 222, and the specular reflection vicinity light intensity is input by the specular reflection vicinity light intensity input unit 223.

  The glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 224 performs a predetermined calculation process on the specular reflection light intensity and the specular reflection vicinity light intensity input by the evaluation parameter input unit 221 to obtain the glossiness evaluation value of the print medium to be evaluated. calculate.

  The gloss evaluation value output unit 225 outputs the gloss evaluation value calculated by the gloss evaluation value calculation unit 224 in a predetermined format.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of glossiness evaluation processing performed in the glossiness evaluation apparatus shown in FIG.

  First, in step S101, the photometry unit 211 performs photometry of the variable reflection light distribution characteristic of the print medium to be evaluated. That is, the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic measuring unit 212 of the photometry unit 211 measures the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic on the surface of the print medium to be evaluated.

  In step S102, the evaluation parameter extraction unit 213 extracts an evaluation parameter from the variable reflection light distribution characteristic measured in step S101. That is, the specular reflection light intensity extraction unit 214 and the specular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 of the evaluation parameter extraction unit 213 have the variable reflection light distribution characteristics of the print medium surface measured by the variable reflection light distribution characteristic measurement unit 212. Then, the specular reflection light intensity and the specular reflection near light intensity are extracted.

  In step S103, the evaluation parameter input unit 221 inputs the evaluation parameter extracted in step S102. That is, the specular reflection light intensity extracted by the evaluation parameter extraction unit 213 is input by the specular reflection light intensity input unit 222, and the specular reflection vicinity light intensity is input by the specular reflection vicinity light intensity input unit 223.

  In step S104, the gloss evaluation value calculation unit 224 performs a predetermined calculation process based on the evaluation parameter input in step S103, and calculates a gloss evaluation value. That is, the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 224 performs predetermined calculation processing on the specular reflection light intensity and the specular reflection vicinity light intensity input by the evaluation parameter input unit 221 to evaluate the glossiness evaluation of the print medium to be evaluated. Find the value.

  In step S105, the glossiness evaluation value output unit 225 outputs the glossiness evaluation value calculated in step S104 in a predetermined format. That is, the glossiness evaluation value output unit 225 outputs the glossiness evaluation value calculated by the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 224 in a predetermined format.

  Next, the photometry of the variable reflection light distribution characteristic by the photometry unit 211 performed in step S101 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a photometric method of the variable reflection light distribution characteristic implemented by the photometric unit 211.

  In FIG. 3, when the illumination light source 31 illuminates the measured portion 34 on the surface of the print medium 33 from a direction inclined by an arbitrary angle θ from the normal direction of the print medium 33 to be evaluated, the intensity of the reflected light Has a distribution like a reflected light distribution 35. That is, the reflected light distribution 35 having such a shape is generated due to the unevenness of the surface of the print medium 33, the refractive index of the surface material, and the like.

  The gloss evaluation apparatus includes a light receiver 32, and the variable reflection light distribution characteristic measurement unit 212 controls movement of the light receiver 32. As a result, the light receiver 32 moves on the circumference around the measured part 34 and on the circumference around the specularly reflected light position (position at an angle θ opposite to the light source 31 from the normal direction). The intensity of reflected light is measured at a plurality of positions. As a result, the variable reflection light distribution characteristic measurement unit 212 acquires the spatial intensity characteristic of the reflected light distribution 35.

  Although the light source 31 is composed of, for example, a halogen lamp, a pulse xenon lamp or the like may be used in addition thereto, and the type of the light source is not limited. The light receiver 32 is provided with a detector such as a photodiode for detecting light, and is constituted by, for example, a radiance meter. As long as the light receiver 32 is a detector that can detect the light intensity, other optical sensors may be used, and the type of the light receiver is not limited.

  Next, extraction of evaluation parameters by the evaluation parameter extraction unit 213 performed in step S102 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first example of an evaluation parameter extraction method that can be performed by the evaluation parameter extraction unit 213.

  FIG. 4 shows the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic 41 measured by the photometry unit 211. The vertical axis represents the reflected light intensity, and the horizontal axis represents the light receiving angle. In the horizontal axis, the direction of regular reflection (angle θ) with respect to the light source 31 in FIG. The variable reflection light distribution characteristic 41 corresponds to the reflected light distribution 35 of the print medium 33 to be evaluated shown in FIG.

  The regular reflection light intensity 42 is the light intensity received in the direction of regular reflection (angle θ) with respect to the origin O, that is, the light source 31. The regular reflection light intensity 42 is extracted by the regular reflection light extraction unit 214 shown in FIG. The regular reflection light extraction unit 214 may detect the maximum value of the reflected light intensity from the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic 41 and use this as the regular reflection light intensity 42.

The specular reflection near light intensity 43 is the intensity of the reflected light at a position deviated by a predetermined angle θ ₁ from the origin O, that is, the specular reflection direction (angle θ) with respect to the light source 31. The regular reflection near light intensity 43 is extracted by the regular reflection near light intensity 43 shown in FIG. The regular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 applies the intensity of the reflected light at a position shifted by a predetermined angle θ ₁ from the origin O and the intensity of the reflected light at a position shifted by the same angle θ ₁ in the opposite direction from the origin O. It is also possible to calculate the sum or average value of the above and obtain the light intensity near the regular reflection.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second example of an evaluation parameter extraction method that can be performed by the evaluation parameter extraction unit 213.

  FIG. 5 also shows the variable reflection light distribution characteristic 51 measured by the photometry unit 211 as in the first example, the vertical axis represents the reflected light intensity, and the horizontal axis represents the light receiving angle.

  In FIG. 5, the width index value 52 is the width of the light receiving angle when the reflected light intensity becomes half the maximum value of the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic 51, that is, the full width at half maximum. The specular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 in the second example extracts the width index value 52 as the specular reflection vicinity light intensity. The width index value 52 may be defined as the width of the light receiving angle when the reflected light intensity is, for example, 1/10 or 1/100 of the maximum value of the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic 51. Further, the width index value 52 may be set to a half of the width of the light receiving angle when the reflected light intensity becomes a half value of the maximum value of the variable reflection light distribution characteristic 51, that is, a half value half width.

  In the second example, the specular reflection light intensity extracted by the specular reflection light intensity extraction unit 214 is the same as the specular reflection light intensity 42 in the first example, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a third example of an evaluation parameter extraction method that can be performed by the evaluation parameter extraction unit 213.

  FIG. 6 shows the first derivative 61 of the reflected light intensity measured by the photometry unit 211, the vertical axis represents the change rate of the reflected light intensity, and the horizontal axis represents the light receiving angle.

  The first-order differential value 61 of the reflected light intensity indicated by the broken line in FIG. 6 is a value obtained by first-order differentiation of the variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic 41 shown in FIG. The absolute value 62 of the first derivative of the reflected light intensity indicated by the solid line in FIG. 6 represents the absolute value of the first derivative 61 of the reflected light intensity. The maximum increase rate 63 and the maximum decrease rate 64 represent values with the largest rate of change of the reflected light intensity with respect to the light receiving angle.

  The regular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 in the third example extracts the maximum increase rate 63 or the maximum decrease rate 64 as the regular reflection vicinity light intensity.

  The regular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 may use the sum of the maximum increase rate 63 and the maximum decrease rate 64 or an average value thereof as the regular reflection vicinity light intensity. In addition, before the first-order differentiation of the variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic 41, a predetermined low-pass filter may be applied to the measured reflected light intensity to reduce noise during measurement. Furthermore, the specular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 may calculate the standard deviation of the first derivative 61 of the reflected light intensity and use this as the specular reflection vicinity light intensity.

  In the third example, the specular reflection light intensity extracted by the specular reflection light intensity extraction unit 214 is the same as the specular reflection light intensity 42 in the first example, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In any case of the first to third examples, the specular reflection light intensity extraction unit 214 and the specular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 perform normal reflection based on discrete reflected light intensity values measured at a plurality of light receiving angles. The reflected light intensity and the light intensity near the regular reflection are extracted. Prior to the extraction, a predetermined interpolation process or fitting process may be performed on the discrete reflected light intensity values.

  In addition, before inputting the specular reflection light intensity and the specular reflection vicinity light intensity from the specular reflection light intensity extraction unit 214 and the specular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 to the evaluation parameter input unit 221, respectively, It is desirable to perform a predetermined scale calibration corresponding to human sensitivity.

  As described above, in the first to third examples, the intensity of the reflected light has been described. However, instead of the intensity of the reflected light, index values such as the reflectance, brightness, and brightness of the reflected light may be used.

  Next, input of evaluation parameters by the evaluation parameter input unit 221 performed in step S103 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for realizing the processing in the evaluation value calculation processing unit 220.

  In the GUI shown in FIG. 7, the evaluation parameter input unit 710 is used for processing in the evaluation parameter input unit 221 in FIG. 1, and the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 720 is in the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 224 in FIG. 1. The glossiness evaluation value output unit 730 is used for processing in the glossiness evaluation value output unit 225 of FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an evaluation parameter input procedure performed by the evaluation parameter input unit 221.

  First, in step S801, it is determined whether the evaluation parameter input method is manual or automatically performed by calling a file in which the evaluation parameters are input in advance. If it is manual, the process proceeds to step S802, and if it is automatic, the process proceeds to step S805.

  In step S802, the user inputs the value of the specular reflection light intensity extracted by the specular reflection light intensity extraction unit 214 of FIG. 1 into the specular reflection light intensity input text box 711 of FIG. The input of the regular reflected light intensity in the reflected light intensity input unit 222 is realized.

  In the next step S803, the user inputs the value of the light intensity near specular reflection extracted by the specular light vicinity intensity extraction unit 215 of FIG. 1 in the text field 712 for specular reflection vicinity light intensity input of FIG. The input of the near-reflection near light intensity input unit 223 in FIG. 1 is realized.

  In the next step S804, the evaluation parameters (specular reflection light intensity and specular reflection near light intensity) input in steps S802 and S803, respectively, are stored in a memory (such as the aforementioned RAM).

  On the other hand, in step S805, when the user presses the data call button 713 in FIG. 7, a list of a plurality of files stored in advance in a hard disk or an external storage medium provided in the control device is displayed on the GUI. The These files are obtained by inputting the specular reflection light intensity value and the specular reflection near light intensity value in a predetermined format, and the file selected by the user is stored in the memory (S804). .

  Next, calculation of the glossiness evaluation value by the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 224 performed in step S104 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for calculating a glossiness evaluation value performed by the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 224 based on the evaluation parameter input by the evaluation parameter input unit 221.

  In the present embodiment, by changing the weighting of each parameter from the same evaluation parameter, it is possible to quantitatively evaluate a texture other than the glossiness of the object, for example, a sense of luxury, transparency, profoundness, and glare. . Therefore, the evaluation item can be selected using the evaluation item list selection button 721 of FIG.

  First, in step S901 in FIG. 9, the evaluation parameter input to the memory is called by the evaluation parameter input unit 221 in FIG.

  In step S902, when the user presses the evaluation item selection list display button 721 in FIG. 7, a list including a plurality of evaluation items is displayed. Then, an evaluation item is selected from the list by the user.

In the next step S903, when the evaluation value calculation button 722 in FIG. 7 is pressed by the user, a weight corresponding to the evaluation item selected in step S902 is added to each evaluation parameter and linearly combined (1) based on the calculated evaluation value G _V.

G _V = αG _B + βG _C (1)
Here, G _B is specular reflected light intensity, the G _C specular reflection neighboring light intensity, alpha, beta is a weighting factor.

  That is, by determining the weighting factors α and β corresponding to each selected evaluation item in advance, evaluation values for a plurality of evaluation items relating to the texture including glossiness are calculated.

At step S904, the stored evaluation item selected in step S902, the an evaluation value _{G V} calculated in step S903 into the memory.

  Finally, the glossiness evaluation value output in step S105 of FIG. 2 is performed by the glossiness evaluation value output unit 225 of FIG.

  That is, the glossiness evaluation value calculated by the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 224 and stored in the memory is called from the memory and displayed in the evaluation value output text box 731 of FIG. Here, when the evaluation value data storage button 732 in FIG. 7 is pressed by the user, the value of the specular reflection light intensity input in the specular light intensity input text box 711 in FIG. 7 and the specular reflection near light in FIG. The specular reflection near light intensity value input in the intensity input text box 712, the evaluation item selected by the evaluation item selection list display button 721 in FIG. 7, and the glossiness displayed in the evaluation value output text box 731 in FIG. One or more desired values are selected from the evaluation values, and are output and stored in a predetermined format file.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the variation distribution characteristic of the reflected light is measured, and the intensity component of the regular reflection light extracted from the variation distribution characteristic of the reflection light and the spatial distribution of the reflection light distribution near the regular reflection are measured. A wide spread component is used as an evaluation parameter for calculating an evaluation value. This makes it possible to quantitatively evaluate the level of glossiness of the object surface with a good correlation with the human subjective glossiness as compared with the conventional method.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  Since the configuration of the second embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is used in the description of the second embodiment. Only the differences are explained.

  The glossiness evaluation apparatus according to the second embodiment is an apparatus that outputs a glossiness evaluation value based on a specular glossiness measurement method and a haze measurement method. In the second embodiment, the received light signal processing unit 210 and the evaluation parameter input unit 221 of the evaluation value calculation processing unit 220 in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the glossiness evaluation apparatus according to the second embodiment. This glossiness evaluation apparatus is also configured by a control device, and each block unit shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to each function realized by the control device executing a control program.

  The glossiness evaluation apparatus according to the second embodiment includes a light reception signal processing unit 1110 and an evaluation value calculation processing unit 1120. The received light signal processing unit 1110 includes a photometry unit 1111, and the photometry unit 1111 includes a specular gloss measurement unit 1112 and a haze measurement unit 1113. The evaluation value calculation processing unit 1120 includes an evaluation parameter input unit 1121, a glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 1124, and a glossiness evaluation value output unit 1125. The evaluation parameter input unit 1121 includes a specular gloss input unit 1122 and a haze input unit 1123.

  In the photometry unit 1111 of the received light signal processing unit 1110, the specular gloss measurement unit 1112 measures the specular gloss (intensity of specular reflection light) of the print medium to be evaluated based on the specular gloss measurement method. The measurement value of the glossiness is input by the specular glossiness input unit 1122 of the evaluation parameter input unit 1121. Further, the haze measurement unit 1113 measures the haze of the print medium to be evaluated (the degree of cloudiness of the material surface) based on the haze measurement method, and the measured value of the haze is the haze input unit 1123 of the evaluation parameter input unit 1121. It is input with.

  As in the first embodiment, the specular gloss measurement value and the haze measurement value respectively measured by the specular gloss measurement unit 1112 and the haze measurement unit 1113 are input to the evaluation parameter input unit 1121. Before inputting, it is desirable to perform a predetermined scale calibration so as to correspond to human sensitivity.

  The glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 1124 and the glossiness evaluation value output unit 1125 perform the same processing as the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 224 and the glossiness evaluation value output unit 225 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Do.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure until the glossiness evaluation apparatus according to the second embodiment outputs a glossiness evaluation value based on the specular glossiness measurement method and the haze measurement method.

  First, in step S1001, the specular gloss measurement unit 1112 measures the specular gloss of the print medium to be evaluated based on the specular gloss measurement method.

  In step S1002, the haze measurement unit 1113 measures the haze of the print medium to be evaluated based on the haze measurement method.

  In step S1003, the specular gloss measurement value and the haze measurement value respectively measured in step S1001 and step S1002 are input as the evaluation parameters by the specular gloss input unit 1122 and the haze input unit 1123.

  In step S1004, the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 1124 performs a predetermined calculation process based on the evaluation parameter input in step S1003, and calculates a glossiness evaluation value.

  In step S1005, the glossiness evaluation value output unit 1125 outputs the glossiness evaluation value calculated in step S1004 in a predetermined format.

  The processing flow after step S1004 is the same as that after step S104 in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the gloss evaluation value can be output using the existing specular gloss measurement method and haze measurement method.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  Since the configuration of the third embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is used in the description of the third embodiment. Only the differences are explained.

  The glossiness evaluation apparatus according to the third embodiment is an apparatus that outputs a glossiness evaluation value based on a specular glossiness measurement method and an image clarity measurement method. In the third embodiment, the received light signal processing unit 210 and the evaluation parameter input unit 221 of the evaluation value calculation processing unit 220 in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a glossiness evaluation apparatus according to the third embodiment. This glossiness evaluation apparatus is also constituted by a control device, and each block unit shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to each function realized by the control device executing a control program.

  The glossiness evaluation apparatus according to the third embodiment includes a light reception signal processing unit 1310 and an evaluation value calculation processing unit 1320. The received light signal processing unit 1310 includes a photometry unit 1311, and the photometry unit 1311 includes a specular gloss measurement unit 1312 and a image clarity measurement unit 1313. The evaluation value calculation processing unit 1320 includes an evaluation parameter input unit 1321, a gloss evaluation value calculation unit 1324, and a gloss evaluation value output unit 1325. The evaluation parameter input unit 1321 includes a specular gloss input unit 1322 and an image definition input unit 1323.

  In the photometry unit 1311 of the received light signal processing unit 1310, the specular gloss measurement unit 1312 measures the specular gloss (intensity of specular reflection light) of the print medium to be evaluated based on the specular gloss measurement method. The measurement value of the glossiness is input by the specular glossiness input unit 1322 of the evaluation parameter input unit 1321. Further, the image clarity measurement unit 1313 measures the image definition of the print medium to be evaluated (the definition of the image of the object reflected on the material surface) based on the image clarity measurement method, and measures the image clarity. The value is input by the image definition input unit 1323 of the evaluation parameter input unit 1321.

  As in the first embodiment, an evaluation parameter is input to the specular gloss measurement value and the image sharpness measurement value measured by the specular gloss measurement unit 1312 and the image clarity measurement unit 1313, respectively. It is desirable to perform a predetermined scale calibration so as to correspond to human sensitivity before inputting to the unit 1321.

  The glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 1324 and the glossiness evaluation value output unit 1325 perform the same processing as the glossiness evaluation value calculation unit 224 and the glossiness evaluation value output unit 225 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Do.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure until the glossiness evaluation apparatus according to the third embodiment outputs a glossiness evaluation value based on the specular glossiness measurement method and the image clarity measurement method.

  First, in step S1201, the specular gloss measurement unit 1312 measures the specular gloss of the print medium to be evaluated based on the specular gloss measurement method.

  In step S1202, the image clarity measuring unit 1313 measures the image definition of the print medium to be evaluated based on the image clarity measurement method.

  In step S1203, the specular gloss measurement value and the image sharpness measurement value measured in steps S1201 and S1202, respectively, are input as the evaluation parameters by the specular gloss input unit 1322 and the image sharpness input unit 1323.

  In step S1204, the gloss evaluation value calculation unit 1324 performs a predetermined calculation process based on the evaluation parameter input in step S1203, and calculates a gloss evaluation value.

  In step S1205, the glossiness evaluation value output unit 1325 outputs the glossiness evaluation value calculated in step S1204 in a predetermined format.

  Note that the flow of processing after step S1204 is the same as that after step S104 in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the glossiness evaluation value can be output using the existing specular glossiness measurement method and image clarity measurement method.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  Since the configuration of the fourth embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, in the description of the fourth embodiment, the same parts as the configuration of the first embodiment are used. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the first embodiment is used, and only different portions will be described.

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the glossiness evaluation apparatus includes one light receiver 32, and the variable reflection light distribution characteristic measurement unit 212 in FIG. 1 controls the movement of the light receiver 32. As a result, the light receiver 32 moves on the circumference around the measured part 34 and on the circumference around the regular reflected light position (position of the angle θ opposite to the light source 31 from the normal direction). The intensity of reflected light is measured at a plurality of positions.

  On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, a plurality of fixed light receivers are provided, and the variable reflection light distribution characteristic measurement unit 212 does not perform movement control of the light receivers.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a reflected light intensity measurement method performed by the photometry unit 211 according to the fourth embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment, the light receiver 1402 is fixed at a regular reflection light position (when the light source 31 is at an angle θ from the normal direction), the position is at an angle θ opposite to the light source 31. In addition, the light receiver 1403 is fixed at a position at an angle θ ₁ on the normal direction side from the specularly reflected light position.

  The variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic measuring unit 212 sends the reflected light intensity obtained from the light receiver 1402 to the regular reflected light intensity extracting unit 214 of the evaluation parameter extracting unit 213 as the regular reflected light intensity. The variable reflection light distribution characteristic measurement unit 212 sends the reflected light intensity obtained from the light receiver 1403 to the regular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 as the regular reflection vicinity light intensity. The subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment.

Note that the light receiver 1403 may be fixed at a position of an angle θ ₁ opposite to the normal direction from the specular reflection light position. Further, it may be provided on the angle theta ₁ of the position and normal direction of the normal line orientation and the position of the angle theta ₁ of the opposite side.

  Thus, unlike the first embodiment, the fourth embodiment does not require a drive unit for moving the light receiver, and realizes the gloss evaluation device with a relatively simple configuration. Is possible.

  In addition, the variable reflection light distribution characteristics are approximated by a predetermined function based on a plurality of light intensity near specular reflection including the intensity of specular reflection obtained by measuring three or more fixed light receivers. However, as in the first embodiment, the width index value may be obtained and used as the light intensity near the regular reflection.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  Since the configuration of the fifth embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, the description of the fifth embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the first embodiment is used, and only different portions will be described.

  In the fifth embodiment, the light receiver 32 is not provided as in the first embodiment, but instead, the imaging device 1502 is provided at the regular reflection light position.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a reflected light intensity measurement method performed by the photometry unit 211 according to the fifth embodiment.

  In the fifth embodiment, the imaging device 1502 is fixed at the regular reflection light position. The imaging device 1502 is configured by a two-dimensional CCD camera, but may be a line sensor such as a photodiode array. The imaging device 1502 measures reflected light from the regular reflection direction over a predetermined spatial range. The variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic measuring unit 212 in FIG. 1 generates a variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic based on the image captured by the imaging device 1502 and sends it to the evaluation parameter extracting unit 213.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an image captured by an imaging device 1502 configured with a two-dimensional CCD camera.

  In FIG. 16, the X axis is an axis orthogonal to the regular reflection direction in the plane including the light source 31, the imaging device 1502, and the measurement target 34 in FIG. 15. The Y axis is an axis orthogonal to the plane including the light source 31, the imaging device 1502, and the measured part 34.

  The variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic measuring unit 212 obtains a value obtained by adding or averaging the pixel values in the captured image 1601 in the Y-axis direction, and uses this as the variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic. Based on this variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic, as in the first embodiment, in the evaluation parameter extraction unit 213, the regular reflection light intensity extraction unit 214 indicates the regular reflection light intensity, and the regular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 215 performs the same. The specular reflection near light intensity can be extracted.

  In the fifth embodiment, it is desirable that the light source 31 has a configuration that can irradiate slit-shaped light.

  In this way, unlike the first embodiment, the fifth embodiment also does not require a drive unit for moving the light receiver, and realizes the gloss evaluation device with a relatively simple configuration. It is possible.

[Other Embodiments]
As described above, in the first to fifth embodiments, the glossy feeling of the print medium has been described. However, the glossiness and texture of the painted surface of an object other than the print medium, such as an outer plate of an automobile, can also be evaluated. The present invention is applicable.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus (or CPU, MPU, or the like). Is also 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 embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention. .

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. An optical disc such as RW or DVD + RW, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code Includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the expanded function is based on the instruction of the program code. This includes a case where a CPU or the like provided on the expansion board or the expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code is actually Needless to say, the present invention also includes a case in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing part or all of the processing and the processing.

  In this case, the program is supplied by downloading directly from a storage medium storing the program or from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the glossiness evaluation apparatus based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the glossiness evaluation process performed in the glossiness evaluation apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the photometry method of the variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic implemented in a photometry part. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the extraction method of the evaluation parameter which can be implemented in an evaluation parameter extraction part. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the extraction method of the evaluation parameter which can be implemented in an evaluation parameter extraction part. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of the extraction method of the evaluation parameter which can be implemented in an evaluation parameter extraction part. It is a figure which shows the example of GUI for implement | achieving the process in an evaluation value calculation process part. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the input of the evaluation parameter implemented in an evaluation parameter input part. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the calculation of the glossiness evaluation value implemented by the glossiness evaluation value calculating part based on the evaluation parameter input in the evaluation parameter input part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the glossiness evaluation apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a procedure until the glossiness evaluation apparatus in 2nd Embodiment outputs a glossiness evaluation value based on the specular glossiness measuring method and a haze measuring method. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the glossiness evaluation apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a procedure until the glossiness evaluation apparatus in 3rd Embodiment outputs a glossiness evaluation value based on the specular glossiness measuring method and the image clarity measuring method. It is a figure which shows the measuring method of the reflected light intensity implemented by the photometry part in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the measuring method of the reflected light intensity implemented by the photometry part in 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the image image | photographed with the imaging device comprised with the two-dimensional CCD camera.

Explanation of symbols

31 Illumination light source 32 Light receiver (variable reflection light distribution characteristic acquisition means)
33 Print media (object)
34 Unit to be Measured 35 Reflected Light Distribution 210 Received Light Signal Processing Unit 211 Photometric Unit 212 Variable Angle Reflected Light Distribution Characteristic Measurement Unit (Variable Angle Reflected Light Distribution Characteristic Acquisition Unit)
213 Evaluation parameter extraction unit (evaluation parameter extraction means)
214 Regular reflection light intensity extraction unit 215 Regular reflection vicinity light intensity extraction unit 220 Evaluation value calculation processing unit 221 Evaluation parameter input unit 222 Regular reflection light intensity input unit 223 Regular reflection vicinity light intensity input unit 224 Glossiness evaluation value calculation unit (gloss) Sensation evaluation value calculation means)
225 Glossiness evaluation value output section

Claims (26)

A gloss evaluation device that generates an evaluation value related to gloss of an object surface based on reflected light from the object surface,
A variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition means for acquiring a variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic based on the regular reflection direction of the object surface and the reflected light from the vicinity of the regular reflection direction;
Evaluation parameter extraction means for extracting an evaluation parameter from the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquired by the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition means;
A glossiness evaluation apparatus comprising: a glossiness evaluation value calculation means for calculating a glossiness evaluation value based on the evaluation parameter extracted by the evaluation parameter extraction means.   The variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic is a distribution characteristic of reflected light intensity with respect to a reflection angle, which is generated based on a plurality of reflected lights having different reflection angles from a measurement position on the object surface. Item 2. The gloss evaluation device according to Item 1. The variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition means includes:
Illumination means for illuminating the object surface;
Measuring means for measuring the intensity of a plurality of reflected lights having different reflection angles from the measurement position on the object surface illuminated by the illuminating means by moving on a circumference around the measurement position. The glossiness evaluation apparatus according to claim 1.   The glossiness evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the glossiness evaluation value calculation means calculates the glossiness evaluation value by linear combination of the evaluation parameters extracted by the evaluation parameter extraction means. The glossiness evaluation value calculating means includes:
Weight coefficient storage means for storing a predetermined weight coefficient;
The glossiness evaluation apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a weighting factor reference unit that reads the weighting factor stored in the weighting factor storage unit and performs the linear combination. Evaluation item storage means for storing in advance at least one evaluation item related to the texture including glossiness;
When one evaluation item is selected from the evaluation items stored in the evaluation item storage unit, the weighting factor reference unit obtains a weighting factor corresponding to the selected evaluation item from the weighting factor storage unit. 6. The gloss evaluation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the linear combination is performed by reading.   2. The gloss evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation parameter is an intensity of specular reflection light and an intensity of reflected light near the specular reflection.   2. The gloss evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation parameter is an intensity of specular reflection light and a degree of spread of a reflected light distribution near the specular reflection.   2. The gloss evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation parameters are a value of a specular gloss measured based on a specular gloss measurement method and a value of a haze measured based on a haze measurement method. .   2. The gloss according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation parameters are a value of the specular gloss measured based on the specular gloss measurement method and a value of the image sharpness measured based on the image clarity measurement method. Feeling evaluation device.   2. The gloss evaluation according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation parameter extraction unit extracts a maximum value or a regular reflection light intensity in the variable reflection light distribution characteristic acquired by the variable reflection light distribution characteristic acquisition unit. apparatus.   The evaluation parameter extracting means is a first angle shifted by a predetermined angle from the regular reflection direction to the normal direction side of the object surface in the variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquired by the variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition means. Reflected light intensity at a position, reflected light intensity at a second angular position deviated by a predetermined angle from the normal reflection direction to the direction opposite to the normal direction, reflected light intensity at the first angular position, and the second angular position Or the average value of the reflected light intensity at the first angular position and the reflected light intensity at the second angular position, or the width index value at a predetermined reflected light intensity is extracted. The glossiness evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition means includes:
Illumination means for illuminating the object surface;
First measuring means arranged in the regular reflection direction and measuring the intensity of reflected light from the object surface illuminated by the illuminating means;
2. The gloss according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one second measuring unit that is arranged in the vicinity of the regular reflection direction and that measures the intensity of reflected light from the surface of the object illuminated by the illuminating unit. Feeling evaluation device. The variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition means includes:
Illumination means for illuminating the object surface;
An imaging means arranged in the regular reflection direction and imaging the object surface and outputting a two-dimensional image;
The glossiness evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: generation means for generating a variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic based on the two-dimensional image output from the imaging means. A glossiness evaluation value generation method applied to a glossiness evaluation apparatus that generates an evaluation value related to glossiness of an object surface based on reflected light from the object surface,
A variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition step for acquiring a variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic based on the regular reflection direction of the object surface and the reflected light from the vicinity of the regular reflection direction;
An evaluation parameter extraction step of extracting an evaluation parameter from the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquired in the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition step;
A glossiness evaluation value generation method comprising: a glossiness evaluation value calculation step for calculating a glossiness evaluation value based on the evaluation parameter extracted in the evaluation parameter extraction step.   The variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic is a distribution characteristic of reflected light intensity with respect to a reflection angle, which is generated based on a plurality of reflected lights having different reflection angles from a measurement position on the object surface. Item 16. The gloss evaluation value generation method according to Item 15.   The glossiness evaluation value generation method according to claim 15, wherein, in the glossiness evaluation value calculation step, the glossiness evaluation value is calculated by linear combination of the evaluation parameters extracted in the evaluation parameter extraction step. The glossiness evaluation value calculating step includes:
A first storage step of storing a predetermined weighting factor in the weighting factor storage means;
The glossiness evaluation value generating method according to claim 17, further comprising: a weighting factor reference step of reading the weighting factor stored in the weighting factor storage unit and performing the linear combination. A second storing step of storing in advance at least one evaluation item relating to the texture including glossiness in the evaluation item storage means;
In the weighting factor reference step, when one evaluation item is selected from the evaluation items stored in the evaluation item storage unit, a weighting factor corresponding to the selected evaluation item is obtained from the weighting factor storage unit. 19. The glossiness evaluation value generation method according to claim 18, wherein the linear combination is performed by reading.   16. The glossiness evaluation value generation method according to claim 15, wherein the evaluation parameter is the intensity of regular reflection light and the intensity of reflected light in the vicinity of regular reflection.   16. The glossiness evaluation value generation method according to claim 15, wherein the evaluation parameter is the intensity of specular reflection light and the degree of spread of the reflected light distribution near the specular reflection.   The gloss evaluation value according to claim 15, wherein the evaluation parameters are a value of a specular gloss measured based on a specular gloss measurement method and a value of a haze measured based on a haze measurement method. Generation method.   16. The gloss according to claim 15, wherein the evaluation parameters are a value of the specular gloss measured based on the specular gloss measurement method and a value of the image sharpness measured based on the image clarity measurement method. A feeling evaluation value generation method.   16. The gloss evaluation according to claim 15, wherein, in the evaluation parameter extracting step, a maximum value or a regular reflection light intensity in the variable reflection light distribution characteristic acquired in the variable reflection light distribution characteristic acquisition step is extracted. Value generation method.   In the evaluation parameter extraction step, a first angle shifted from the regular reflection direction by a predetermined angle from the regular reflection direction to the normal direction side of the object surface in the variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquired in the variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition step. Reflected light intensity at a position, reflected light intensity at a second angular position deviated by a predetermined angle from the normal reflection direction to the direction opposite to the normal direction, reflected light intensity at the first angular position, and the second angular position Or the average value of the reflected light intensity at the first angular position and the reflected light intensity at the second angular position, or the width index value at a predetermined reflected light intensity is extracted. The glossiness evaluation value generation method according to claim 15. A program for causing a computer to execute a glossiness evaluation value generation method applied to a glossiness evaluation apparatus that generates an evaluation value related to glossiness of an object surface based on reflected light from the object surface,
A variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition step for acquiring a variable-angle reflected light distribution characteristic based on the regular reflection direction of the object surface and the reflected light from the vicinity of the regular reflection direction;
An evaluation parameter extraction step of extracting an evaluation parameter from the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquired in the variable angle reflected light distribution characteristic acquisition step;
A glossiness evaluation value calculation step for calculating a glossiness evaluation value based on the evaluation parameter extracted in the evaluation parameter extraction step.

Images