JP2008219210A - Image processor and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor and an image processing program, capable of easily and surely detecting the instruction when instructing the correction of images using a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: When wanting to correct a part of image data, a user prints a specified sheet by a printer 21. The image of the image data is recorded on the specified sheet, and the user encloses a part of the image with a red pen to be read by a scanner 20. Then, an area enclosed with the red pen is detected by an MFP 1, and the image data stored in an image memory 13 corresponding to the area are corrected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program capable of easily and reliably detecting an instruction when an image correction is instructed using a recording medium. It is.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image processing apparatus that corrects an image in a region when a partial region of the image is designated by a user. With respect to such an image processing apparatus, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, in order to correct an image of a document, a semi-transparent editing sheet having the same size as the document is overlaid on the document, an area to be corrected, and correction processing. Enter a processing mark indicating the contents. Then, the original and the editing sheet are separately read by the scanner, and the image in the designated area is corrected according to the instruction written on the editing sheet.
JP-A-5-205028 (paragraph 0018, etc.)

  However, when correcting the image data using the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, the image data must first be recorded on a recording medium, and an area to be corrected by overlaying an edit sheet must be entered. There was a problem that it was very troublesome. Further, when the position where the recording medium on which the image data is recorded is placed on the document table and the position where the editing sheet is placed on the document table are misaligned, the area designated for correction corresponds to the area. There was a problem that the image could not be corrected correctly because it was read out of alignment.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. When an image correction is instructed using a recording medium, the image processing apparatus and the image can be detected easily and reliably. An object is to provide a processing program.

  In order to achieve this object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 is recorded on a recording medium by a first recording unit that records an image according to the image data on the recording medium, and the first recording unit. Reading means for reading a mark indicating a correction portion added to an image, detection means for detecting the correction portion from the mark read by the reading means, and the image data of the correction portion detected by the detection means Correction means for correcting, and second recording means for recording a corrected image according to the image data corrected by the correcting means on a recording medium, wherein the first recording means records the image to be recorded on the recording medium. Is recorded with a density lower than that of the corrected image recorded on the recording medium by the second recording means.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit detects a pixel having the characteristic of the mark, and has three or more characteristics of the mark around the pixel. When the pixel exists, it is determined that the detected pixel is the mark.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the detection means detects a rectangular region circumscribing the detected mark as the correction portion.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reading unit reads an image by a sensor, and the detection unit is detected by the sensor. A pixel value based on the color is detected as a pixel having the characteristic of the mark.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first recording unit uses a recording medium as an auxiliary symbol for assisting specification of a correction portion of the image data. To record.

The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary symbol is read by the reading unit, and the detection unit is located at a position where the auxiliary symbol is recorded. Based on this, the position of the mark is detected to identify the position of the correction portion.

  The image processing device according to claim 7 is the image processing device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a plurality of the auxiliary symbols are provided, and the first recording means displays the plurality of auxiliary symbols in different colors. Record.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the first recording unit records the auxiliary symbol on a recording medium with a density higher than that of the image. To do.

  The image processing device according to claim 9 is the image processing device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the first recording unit includes the auxiliary symbol on a diagonal line of the image recorded on the recording medium. Record.

  An image processing apparatus according to a tenth aspect is the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the first recording unit records an image in monochrome.

  The image processing device according to claim 11 is the image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first recording unit roughly records the image on a recording medium, and the second recording unit. Records the corrected image densely on a recording medium.

  The image processing program according to claim 12 includes: a first recording step for recording an image according to image data on a recording medium; and a correction portion added to the image recorded on the recording medium by the first recording step. A reading step for reading the mark shown, a detection step for detecting the correction portion from the mark read by the reading step, a correction step for correcting the image data of the correction portion detected by the detection step, and the correction And causing the computer to execute a second recording step of recording a corrected image according to the image data corrected in the step on the recording medium, wherein the first recording step is configured to store the image to be recorded on the recording medium as the second recording step. In this recording step, recording is performed with a density lower than that of the corrected image recorded on the recording medium.

  According to the image processing apparatus of claim 1, the mark indicating the correction portion added to the image recorded on the recording medium by the first recording unit is read by the reading unit, and the mark read by the detecting unit A correction portion is detected. The image data of the detected correction portion is corrected by the correction means, and the image of the corrected image data is recorded on the recording medium by the second recording means. The image recorded on the recording medium by the first recording means is lighter in density than the image recorded on the recording medium by the second recording means, and a mark is added to the image having the lower density. The mark can be easily detected on the basis of the density.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the second aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing apparatus of the first aspect, pixels having mark characteristics are detected by the detection means, and three or more marks are formed around the pixel. If there is a pixel having the characteristic, it is determined that the detected pixel is a mark. Therefore, there is an effect that the presence / absence of the mark can be reliably detected.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the third aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing apparatus of the first or second aspect, the detection unit detects a rectangular area circumscribing the detected mark as a correction portion. There are many general-purpose correction means for correcting rectangular image data, and the general-purpose correction means can be used to correct the detected rectangular image data, so that the development cost can be reduced. There is.

  According to the image processing device of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the pixel value based on the color detected by the sensor by the detecting unit is a mark. It is detected as a pixel having the following characteristics. Since the pixel value of the color detected by the sensor is larger than the pixel value of the color difficult to detect by the sensor, there is an effect that the pixel value having the mark characteristic can be detected more reliably. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, an auxiliary symbol for assisting in identifying a correction portion of the image data is recorded on the recording medium by the first recording means. Therefore, compared with the case where no auxiliary symbol is recorded, the correction portion of the image data can be identified by a simple process.

The image processing device according to claim 6 is the image processing device according to claim 5,
Since the detecting means detects the position of the mark based on the position where the auxiliary symbol is recorded and identifies the position of the correction portion, the position of the correction portion of the image data is compared with the case where the auxiliary symbol is not recorded. There is an effect that it is possible to perform identification with a simple process.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the plurality of auxiliary symbols are recorded in different colors by the first recording means. Therefore, even if the reading medium is read while the recording medium is tilted, the correction portion of the image data can be reliably specified by the position and color of the auxiliary symbol.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the auxiliary recording has a higher density than the image data and is recorded on the recording medium by the first recording unit. Therefore, there is an effect that the auxiliary symbol and the recorded image can be easily discriminated.

  The image processing device according to claim 9 is the image processing device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the first recording means records the auxiliary symbol on the diagonal line of the image recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, even if the recording medium is read by the reading means in a tilted state, the tilt can be calculated, so that the tilt can be easily corrected.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 10 is an image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an image is recorded in monochrome by the first recording means, so that consumption of color ink can be suppressed. There is an effect that can be done. In addition, since the image recorded on the recording medium is monochrome, when the mark indicating the correction portion is added in color, the mark and the recorded image can be easily distinguished, and the mark can be easily detected. There is an effect that can be done.

  An image processing apparatus according to an eleventh aspect is the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the first mode for recording the image roughly on the recording medium and the image on the recording medium are densely selected by the selection unit. The second recording mode for recording is selected. Regardless of the selection by the selection means, the image is roughly recorded on the recording medium by the first recording means, so that the mark indicating the correction portion added to the image data recorded on the recording medium can be easily distinguished from the image. The mark can be easily detected.

  13. The image processing program according to claim 12, wherein a mark indicating a correction portion added to the image recorded on the recording medium by the first recording step is read by the reading step, and correction is performed from the read mark by the detecting step. A part is detected. The image data of the detected correction portion is corrected by the correction step, and the image of the corrected image data is recorded on the recording medium by the second recording step. The image recorded on the recording medium by the first recording step is lighter in density than the image recorded on the recording medium by the second recording step, and a mark is added to the image having the lower density. The mark can be easily detected on the basis of the density.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a multifunction peripheral device (hereinafter referred to as “MFP (Multi Function Peripheral)”) 1 having an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The MFP 1 has various functions such as a printer function, a scanner function, and a copy function.

  An opening 5 is provided on the front surface of the main body of the MFP 1 and the interior is partitioned vertically. A paper feed cassette 3 capable of stacking and storing a plurality of recording sheets is inserted below the opening 5. The paper feed cassette 3 is configured to be able to store recording paper cut to A4 size or the like. The upper side of the opening 5 is a paper discharge unit 4 through which recorded recording paper is discharged.

  An ink jet printer 21 for recording on a recording sheet set at a predetermined paper feed position (not shown) is built in the main body based on an instruction from the CPU 11. The printer 21 includes a recording paper transport motor (not shown) that transports the recording paper, a print head (not shown) that discharges ink to the recording paper, and a carriage that moves a carriage (not shown) on which the print head is mounted. A motor (not shown).

  A scanner 20 for reading a document when executing a scanner function or a copy function is disposed above the opening 5. On the lower side of the document cover body 8, a placement glass plate (not shown) for placing the document is provided. When reading the document, the document cover body 8 is opened upward to place the document. The document is placed on the glass plate, and the document cover body 8 is closed to fix the document. When the manuscript reading key 15d of the operation key 15 is pressed, an image on the manuscript paper is read by a manuscript reading sensor (not shown) provided on the lower side of the placing glass plate.

  The read image data is stored in a predetermined storage area in a later-described RAM 13 (see FIG. 2). Note that, for example, a contact image sensor (CIS) or a charge coupled device (CIS) is used for the document reading sensor of the scanner 20, and red (R), green (G), and blue (B) images of the document are used. Each color component (pixel value) can be detected. Color image data is formed by combining the detected RGB pixel values.

  A horizontally long operation panel 6 is provided in front of the document cover body 8, and includes an operation key 15, an LCD 16, and a speaker 17 (not shown). The operation key 15 includes a print menu key 15a for displaying a print menu, a determination key 15b for determining an item displayed on the LCD 16, a cross key 15c for selecting image data displayed on the LCD 16, and a placement key. An original reading key 15d for reading an original placed on the glass plate is provided. In addition, the user can perform operations such as power on / off and switching of each function by pressing various keys of the operation keys 15.

  The LCD 16 displays menus, operation procedures, and the status of the process being executed. Further, since information corresponding to pressing of the operation key 15 is displayed, the user can check various information such as image data to be recorded and the printer 21. The speaker 17 notifies the user of an operation sound of the operation key 15 or a warning sound when an error occurs.

  A memory card slot 22 for inserting a memory card 22a is provided on the front surface of the opening 5. By inserting the memory card 22a into the memory card slot 22, the image of the image data stored in the memory card 22a is recorded on a recording sheet by the printer 21, or the image data read by the scanner 20 is stored in the memory card 22a. Can be remembered.

  In addition, a connection port of the USB interface 23 into which one end side of a USB cable (not shown) is inserted is opened on the front surface of the opening 5. By connecting one end of the USB cable to a connection port of the USB interface 23 and connecting the other end to a connection port of a USB interface provided in a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”), the MFP 1 and the PC Is configured to enable data communication via a USB cable.

  Next, an electrical configuration of the MFP 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the MFP 1. The MFP 1 mainly includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an operation key 15, an LCD 16, a speaker 17, a scanner 20, a printer 21, a memory card slot 22, and a USB interface 23. The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are connected to each other via a bus line 26.

  Further, the operation key 15, LCD 16, speaker 17, scanner 20, printer 21, memory card slot 22, USB interface 23, and bus line 26 of the MFP 1 are connected to each other via an input / output port 27.

  The CPU 11 of the MFP 1 is connected to the input / output port 27 according to fixed values and programs stored in the ROM 12 and RAM 13, control of each function of the MFP 1, and various signals transmitted / received via the USB interface 23. Each part is controlled. The ROM 12 is a non-rewritable memory, and is recorded in a control program area 12a that is an area for storing various control programs executed by the MFP 1 and two designation sheets 200 (see FIG. 5C) described later. The size of the margin provided between each registration mark mark and the image 100 recorded on the registration mark interval memory 12b in which the printing intervals of the registration mark marks A and B are stored, and the designated sheet 200 (see FIG. 5C) described later. Is stored in the image margin size memory 12c.

  In the control program area 12a, for example, an image processing program (an example of an image processing program described in claims) shown in flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 8 to be described later is stored.

  Here, the contents stored in the register mark interval memory 12b and the image margin size memory 12c will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5C shows a state in which an image of image data stored in the image memory 13 a is recorded on the designated sheet 200. In the present invention, the user enters a closed curve C (an example of a mark indicating the correction portion described in the claims) on the designated sheet 200 with a red pen, and causes the scanner 20 to read the MFP 1 so that the MFP 1 is surrounded by the red pen. The detected area is detected, and the image data in the image memory 13 corresponding to the area is corrected.

  The designated sheet 200 is a recording sheet recorded by the printer 21, and an image 100 of image data stored in the image memory 13 a is recorded in monochrome at the center, and a margin is provided around the image 100. . An L-shaped red registration mark (an example of an auxiliary symbol described in the claims) A is recorded in the upper left margin of the image 100, and an L-shaped blue color is recorded in the lower right margin of the image 100. The registration mark B is recorded.

  In each registration mark, an L-shaped inflection point is used as a reference point, each reference point is positioned on a diagonal line of the image 100, and the L-shape is recorded so as to be parallel to the contour of the image. .

  The reference point of one registration mark and the reference point of the other registration mark are provided with a distance VB in the vertical direction and a distance HB in the horizontal direction. The vertical distance 12b1 of the registration mark interval memory 12b includes The number of pixels corresponding to the distance VB is stored, and the number of pixels corresponding to the distance HB is stored in the lateral distance 12b2. Further, the reference point of the registration mark and the corner of the image 100 adjacent to the registration mark are provided with a distance VF in the vertical direction and a distance HF in the horizontal direction, and the vertical distance of the image margin size memory 12c. 12c1 stores the number of pixels corresponding to the distance VF, and the horizontal distance 12c2 stores the number of pixels corresponding to the distance HF.

  Here, returning to FIG. 2, the RAM 13 will be described. The RAM 13 is a rewritable memory for temporarily storing various data, and is provided with an image memory 13a, an image scale memory 13b, a designated sheet image memory 13c, a red area extraction pointer 13d, and a correction area pointer 13e. ing.

  The image memory 13 a is an area in which image data stored in the memory card 22 a inserted in the memory card slot 22 is stored. In the present embodiment, image processing using bitmap format image data is described, but image data formed by vector information may be used. The bitmap format is a known data format for forming an image by arranging pixels in a grid pattern, and pixel values indicating the color of each pixel are stored for each pixel.

  Here, the image scale memory 13b will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5A is an image diagram schematically showing the contents of the image memory 13a. Since the image data shown in FIG. 5A is bitmap format image data, when it is recorded as an image on a recording sheet, dots corresponding to pixel data arranged in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are displayed in the printer 21. Is formed on the recording paper.

  When an image is recorded on the designated sheet 200 shown in FIG. 5C, the image size to be recorded (distance VB-2VF in the vertical direction and distance HB-2HF in the horizontal direction) is determined in advance. The data image is recorded with the scale Z changed to fit the size of the image. The image scale memory 13b is a memory in which the scale Z of the image data recorded on the designated sheet 200 is stored.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The designated sheet image memory 13c is an area in which image data of a designated sheet read by the scanner 20 is stored.

  Next, the contents stored in the red area extraction pointer 13d will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9B is an image diagram schematically showing the contents of the designated sheet image memory 13c. Each grid shown in the figure represents one pixel of the image data, and only a part of the pixels of the image data is shown here for the sake of simplicity.

  Among these pixels, a colored pixel indicates a pixel that is determined to be the closed curve C that the user has entered on the designated sheet 200 with a red pen. The red area extraction pointer 13d is a pointer indicating an area surrounding the detected pixel (an area indicated by a broken line in the figure). The X-direction minimum value 13d1, the X-direction maximum value 13d2, the Y-direction minimum value 13d3, and the Y-direction maximum value 13d4 each store the pixel position in the designated sheet image memory 13c.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The correction area pointer 13e is a pointer indicating a correction area D (see FIG. 10A) for correcting image data in the image memory 13a. The correction area pointer 13e stores image data areas (pixel positions) in the image memory 13a as an X direction minimum value 13e1, an X direction maximum value 13e2, a Y direction minimum value 13e3, and a Y direction maximum value 13e4.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing image processing of the MFP 1, and is image processing executed by the CPU 11 when the print menu key 15a of the operation key 15 is pressed. When the print menu key 15a is pressed by the user, "Is photo printing?" Is displayed on the LCD 16 (S1). Then, it is determined what key is pressed by the user (S2), and if the pressed key is the enter key 15b, it is determined whether an image file is stored in the memory card 22a (S3). On the other hand, if the pressed key is any other key (a key other than the enter key 15b), the process ends.

  In the process of S3, when the image file is stored in the memory card 22a (S3: Yes), the designated sheet printing process is executed (S4). On the other hand, when the image file is not stored in the memory card 22a (S3: No), the process ends.

  Here, the designated sheet printing process (S4) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the designated sheet printing process (S4), first, the image memory 13a and the image scale memory 13b are initialized (S21). Next, the number of image files stored in the memory card 22a is checked (S22). One image file is read from the memory card 22a, the image is displayed on the LCD 16, and a message “Do you want to print the displayed image?” Is displayed (S23).

  Then, it is determined what the key pressed by the user is (S24). If the pressed key is the cross key 15c, the process returns to S23, and the processes from S23 to S24 are repeated. On the other hand, if the pressed key is the enter key 15b, the image read from the memory card 22a is stored in the image memory 13a (S25), and the LCD 16 reads “Do you want to correct the image for a specific person? ? "Is displayed (S26).

  Then, it is determined what the key pressed by the user is (S27), and when the pressed key is the decision key 15b, “print a designated sheet for identifying a person” is displayed on the LCD 16. It is displayed (S28). On the other hand, if the pressed key is any other key (a key other than the enter key 15b), the image of the image data stored in the image memory 13a is printed (S10) (see FIG. 3).

  Next, a scale Z in which the size of the image to be recorded is vertical (VB-2VF) and horizontal (HB-2HF) is obtained and stored in the image scale memory 13b (S29). The image data stored in the image memory 13a is recorded on the designated sheet with the reduced scale Z obtained by increasing the print dot interval, and the register marks are recorded at the normal print dot interval (S30). Since the designated sheet 200 (see FIG. 5) is recorded by the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 4, the user can surround the area to be corrected with a red pen and instruct the MFP 1 of the position.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, the designated sheet 200 recorded by the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 5A is an image diagram schematically showing the contents of the image memory 13a. FIG. 5B is an image diagram schematically showing the arrangement interval of the document reading sensor of the scanner 20 and the printing dot interval of the printer 21. FIG. 5C shows the designated sheet 200 on which the image data stored in the image memory 13a is recorded.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the printing dot interval when the image 100 is recorded on the designated sheet 200 is the printing dot interval when the image is recorded on the recording paper in the process of S10 shown in the flowchart of FIG. Since recording is performed at an interval wider than the interval, a thin image is recorded on the designated sheet. Since the printing dot interval when the image 100 is recorded on the designated sheet 200 is wider than the arrangement interval of the document reading sensors of the scanner 20, the MFP 1 uses the image 100 recorded on the designated sheet 200 and the user's designated sheet. It is possible to easily distinguish the closed curve C written with a red pen.

  In this embodiment, the image 100 is thinly recorded on the designated sheet 200 by widening the printing dot interval. However, the image may be thinly recorded by reducing the ink amount of dots to be printed. Even in such a case, the image 100 recorded on the designated sheet 200 is recorded with a lower density than the image recorded on the recording paper in the process of S10 shown in the flowchart of FIG. And the image 100 can be easily discriminated, and the closed curve C can be easily detected.

  Further, since the image 100 is printed in monochrome, consumption of color ink can be suppressed. Furthermore, by designating the color of the closed curve C to be entered on the designation sheet 200 by the user as red, the monochrome image 100 can be easily distinguished and the closed curve C can be easily detected. Further, since red is a color detected by the document reading sensor of the scanner 20, the detected pixel value is larger than the color other than the detected color, so that the closed curve C can be detected more reliably. Therefore, the color of the closed curve C specified to the user may be a detected color, and may be green or blue.

  FIG. 5C shows a state in which an image of image data stored in the image memory 13 a is recorded on the designated sheet 200. As described above, in the designated sheet 200, the vertical distance 12b1, the horizontal distance 12b2, and the vertical distance 12c1 and the horizontal distance 12c2 stored in the image margin size memory 12c are stored in the registration mark interval memory 12b. Accordingly, the image 100 is recorded, and the red registration mark A is recorded at the upper left of the image 100 and the blue registration mark B is recorded at the lower left of the image 100. Since each registration mark is recorded with a higher density than the image 100, each registration mark and the image 100 can be easily distinguished.

  Here, the description returns to the flowchart. Next, the designated sheet reading process (S5) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed. The designated sheet reading process (S5) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the designated sheet reading process (S5), first, the designated sheet image memory 13c is initialized (S41). Next, the LCD 16 displays "please mark the person to be corrected in red on the designated sheet, set it on the scanner, and press the document reading key" (S42).

  It is determined whether or not the document reading key 15d is pressed by the user (S43). If the document reading key 15d is pressed (S43: Yes), the designated sheet 200 is read by the scanner 20, and the read image is stored in the designated sheet image memory 13c. Store (S44). On the other hand, when the document reading key 15d is not pressed (S43: No), the process returns to S43 and waits until the document reading key 15d is pressed.

  Next, the image of the designated sheet 200 stored in the designated sheet image memory 13c determines whether the red registration mark A is located at the upper left (S45), and the red registration mark A is located at the upper left of the image. If yes (S45: Yes), the process proceeds to S48. On the other hand, when the red registration mark A is not located at the upper left of the image (S45: No), the image of the designated sheet 200 is rotated by 180 ° and stored in the designated sheet image memory 13c (S46).

  In the scanner 20 of the present embodiment, the placement glass plate for placing the document is configured to have a size equivalent to that of the designated sheet 200, and thus the designated sheet 200 is placed on the placement glass plate. There are only two types of directions. This image rotation process is a process for correcting the orientation of the image so that the red registration mark A is always located at the upper left of the image in the designated sheet image memory 13c. If the placement glass plate is sufficiently larger than the designated sheet 200, the image may be rotated every 90 ° to determine whether the red registration mark A is located at the upper left of the image.

  Next, the image of the designated sheet 200 determines whether or not the red registration mark A is located at the upper left (S47). If the red registration mark A is located at the upper left of the image (S47: Yes). The process proceeds to S48. On the other hand, when the red registration mark A is not located at the upper left of the image (S47: No), the process returns to the process of S42, and the processes of S42 to S47 described above are repeated.

  In the process of S48, the image of the designated sheet 200 determines whether the blue registration mark B is located at the lower right (S48). If the blue registration mark B is located at the lower right of the image ( S48: Yes) A difference θ between the angle between the line connecting the corners (reference points) of the two registration mark marks and the diagonal line (the side where the registration mark marks are located) of the image is obtained (S49). On the other hand, when the blue registration mark B is not located at the lower right of the image (S48: No), the process returns to S42, and the processes of S42 to S48 described above are repeated.

  Then, the image of the designated sheet 200 is rotated by the calculated angle difference θ and stored in the designated sheet image memory 13c (S50). In the image of the designated sheet 200, a scale is obtained in which the vertical distance is VB and the horizontal distance is HB with reference to the corners (reference points) of the two registration marks, and the image size is changed according to the scale. Then, it is stored in the designated sheet image memory 13c (S51). With the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 5, the designated sheet 200 can be read by the scanner 20, and correction can be made even when the read image is tilted.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 7, the image of the designated sheet 200 read by the scanner 20 according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 will be described.

  FIG. 7A is an image diagram schematically showing image data of the designated sheet 200 read by the scanner 20. FIG. 7B is an image diagram showing a state in which the inclination of the image data in FIG. 7A is corrected. As shown in FIG. 7A, an image read by the scanner 20 is often inclined, and in order to correct the inclination, a line connecting the corners of two registration mark marks and a diagonal line (register mark) of the image. The angle difference θ with respect to the mark position) is obtained, and the inclination is corrected as shown in FIG.

  Even if the image 100 read by the scanner 20 is tilted, the registration mark is recorded on the diagonal line of the image 100, so that the tilt can be calculated and the tilt can be easily corrected. In addition, since the registration mark is recorded in different colors, the position of the closed curve C can be easily and reliably specified by the position and color of each registration mark in the image 100 read by the scanner 20. The data correction area D can be reliably identified. Furthermore, since the registration mark is recorded, image processing such as correction of inclination and detection of the closed curve C can be performed by simple processing as compared with the case where no registration mark is recorded. Further, since the registration mark is recorded in the margin, the registration mark and the closed curve C entered by the image 100 or the user can be easily discriminated.

  Since the number of pixels in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the image data of the image read by the scanner 20 is determined by the setting of the original reading resolution of the scanner 20, the higher the resolution, the larger the number of pixels, and the lower the resolution. The number of pixels is reduced. That is, even if the same original is read, the size of the read image changes depending on the resolution of the original reading. In the process of S51 in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the interval between mark marks (VR and HR) shown in FIG. 7B is the same as the interval between mark marks shown in FIG. 5C (VB and HB). The scale of the image has been changed.

  Here, the description returns to the flowchart. Next, the correction area specifying process (S6) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed. The correction area specifying process (S6) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the correction area specifying process (S6), first, the red area extraction pointer 13d and the correction area pointer 13e are initialized (S61). Next, the pixel value of one pixel is read from the designated sheet image memory 13c (S62), and it is determined whether the read pixel value is red (S63). In the process of S63, when the read pixel value is red (S63: Yes), it is determined whether the pixel values of three or more pixels are red in the pixels around the read pixel (S64). On the other hand, when the read pixel value is not red (S63: No), the process proceeds to S67.

  In the processing of S64, when the pixel values of three or more pixels are red in the pixels around the read pixel (S64: Yes), the pixel position (x, y) of the read pixel is extracted as a red region. It is determined whether it is located within the rectangular area indicated by the pointer 13d (S65). On the other hand, when the pixel values of three or more pixels are not red (S64: No), the process proceeds to S67.

  In the process of S65, when the pixel position of the read pixel is located in the rectangular area indicated by the red area extraction pointer 13d (S65: Yes), the process proceeds to S67. On the other hand, when the read pixel position is not located within the rectangular area indicated by the red area extraction pointer 13d (S65: No), the pixel position (x, y) is indicated by the red area extraction pointer 13d. The x value or the y value is reflected in each value of the red area extraction pointer 13d so as to be positioned within the rectangular area (S66).

  In the process of S67, it is determined whether all the pixel values in the designated sheet image memory 13c have been read (S67). If all the pixel values in the designated sheet image memory 13c have been read (S67: Yes), the red area extraction pointer 13d is read. Each stored value is corrected to numerical values (V1, V2, H1, H2) with the origin at the upper left of the image 100 (S68). On the other hand, when all the pixel values in the designated sheet image memory 13c have not been read (S67: No), the process returns to S62, and the above-described processes of S62 to S67 are repeated.

  Then, it calculates which position each value stored in the red area extraction pointer 13d indicates in the image memory 13a, and stores each value (V10, V20, H10, H20) in the correction area pointer 13e ( S69). By the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 8, the position of the closed curve C that the user entered with the red pen on the designated sheet 200 can be detected from the designated sheet 200 read by the scanner 20, and the correction area D ( (See FIG. 10).

  Next, an example of how the MFP 1 detects the closed curve C written on the designated sheet 200 with a red pen and specifies the correction area D will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

  FIG. 9A is an image diagram schematically showing a method for detecting, from the designated sheet image memory 13c, the closed curve C that the user has entered on the designated sheet 200 with a red pen. FIG. 9B is an image diagram schematically showing the contents indicated by the red area extraction pointer 13d. FIG. 10 is an image diagram schematically showing the contents indicated by the correction area pointer 13e.

  Each grid described in FIG. 9 represents one pixel of the image data. Here, in order to simplify the description, only some pixels of the image data are described.

  Among the pixels described in FIG. 9A, a colored pixel indicates a pixel read as red by the scanner 20. An example of a red pixel is a pixel having an R value of 240 or more, a G value of 50 or less, and a B value of 50 or less if the pixel value is in RGB format. On the other hand, among the pixels described in FIG. 9B, the colored pixel is a pixel that is determined to be a pixel that indicates a part of the closed curve C that the user entered with the red pen on the designated sheet 200. Is shown.

  In the image data stored in the designated sheet image memory 13c, as shown in FIG. 9A, the registration mark A is the origin, and the pixel value of each pixel is examined in order in the scanning direction (Y direction). When all the columns being scanned are examined, each pixel in a column adjacent in the X direction is examined sequentially in the scanning direction (Y direction). By repeating this process, the pixel values of all the pixels are examined.

  For example, when the pixel E in a certain column is examined, since the pixel value is red, it is examined whether three or more red pixels are located around the pixel E. The surrounding pixels are pixels that are positioned in the diagonally up / down / left / right directions of the read pixels. Since the red pixels are located on the right side, the lower right side, and the lower side around the pixel E, the pixel E is a pixel that indicates a part of the closed curve C that the user has entered on the designated sheet 200 with a red pen. It is determined. Then, the pixel position of the pixel E whose origin is the registration mark A shown in FIG. 9A is reflected in the red region extraction pointer 13d so that the pixel E is included in the region indicated by the red region extraction pointer 13d. Is done.

  On the other hand, when the pixel F located in another column is examined, since the pixel value is red, it is examined whether three or more red pixels are located around the pixel F. However, since the red pixel is located only on the lower side around the pixel F, it is determined that the pixel F is not a pixel that indicates a part of the closed curve C that the user entered with the red pen on the designated sheet 200. Is done. Thus, by determining whether three or more red pixels are located around a certain red pixel, the closed curve C that the user has entered with the red pen on the designated sheet 200 can be reliably detected. .

  When all the pixels in the designated sheet image memory 13c are examined, as shown in FIG. 9B, a colored pixel (a closed curve entered by the user with a red pen on the designated sheet) is displayed by the red area extraction pointer 13d. A rectangular region including all of the pixels determined to be pixels indicating a part of C) is shown. Thus, by detecting a rectangular area circumscribing a colored pixel, a general-purpose correction processing program for correcting image data of the rectangular area can be used. Next, each value of the red area extraction pointer 13d indicates an area (pixel position) having the registration mark A as the origin, and must be converted into a pixel position in the image memory 13a.

  An example of a method for converting each value of the red area extraction pointer 13d into a pixel position in the image memory 13a will be described with reference to FIG. 9B and FIG. FIG. 9B is an image diagram schematically showing the contents indicated by the red area extraction pointer 13d. FIG. 10A is an image diagram schematically showing the content indicated by the correction area pointer 13e. FIG. 10B shows a conversion formula for converting each value of the red area extraction pointer 13d into a pixel position in the image memory 13a.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, the pixel position having the registration mark A as the origin is stored in the red area extraction pointer 13d. In order to change the origin to the upper left of the image 100, the lateral distance 12c2 is subtracted from the X direction minimum value 13d1 and the X direction maximum value 13d2 of the red region extraction pointer 13d, and the Y direction minimum value 13d3 and the Y direction are subtracted. The vertical distance 12c1 is subtracted from the maximum value 13d4. By doing so, the X direction minimum value 13d1 of the red area extraction pointer 13d has the number of pixels corresponding to the distance H1-HF, and the X direction maximum value 13d2 has the number of pixels corresponding to the distance H2-HF as the minimum in the Y direction. The value 13d3 stores the number of pixels corresponding to the distance V1-VF, and the Y direction maximum value 13d4 stores the number of pixels corresponding to the distance V2-VF.

  Next, each value stored in the red area extraction pointer 13d is converted into a pixel position in the image memory 13a. Since the image data stored in the image memory 13a and the image data stored in the designated sheet image memory 13c have different image sizes (scales), each value stored in the red area extraction pointer 13d is changed to an image. Match the scale of the memory 13a. That is, each value of the red area extraction pointer 13d is multiplied by the value of the image scale memory 13b, and each value is stored in the correction area pointer 13e.

  By doing so, the X direction minimum value 13e1 of the correction area pointer 13e has the number of pixels corresponding to the distance H10, the X direction maximum value 13e2 has the number of pixels corresponding to the distance H20, and the Y direction minimum value 13e3 has the distance. The number of pixels corresponding to V10 is stored in the Y direction maximum value 13e4, and the number of pixels corresponding to the distance V20 is stored, and the correction area D of the image memory 13a is specified as shown in FIG.

  Now, the description returns to the flowchart of FIG. In the image memory 13a, it is detected whether there is a face image in the rectangular area indicated by the correction area pointer 13e (correction area D in FIG. 10A) (S7).

  Then, it is determined whether or not a face image is detected (S8). If a face image is detected (S8: Yes), the detected face image is corrected and stored in the image memory 13a. (S9). On the other hand, when the face image is not detected (S8: No), the correction process is not performed and the process proceeds to S10. The correction processing here is, for example, red-eye correction processing or skin color correction processing.

  In the process of S10, the image of the image data in the image memory 13a is recorded on a recording sheet (S10). 3, when the user wants to correct a part of the image data, the user corrects the image of the image data in the designated area by writing the area C on the designated sheet 200 with a red pen. Can be recorded on recording paper.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, only the register mark is recorded on the designated sheet 200, but a file name for specifying image data recorded on the designated sheet 200, a barcode, or the like may be recorded together. In this embodiment, a series of processes from recording of the designated sheet 200 to correction of image data is performed. However, if a file name, a barcode, and the like are recorded together on the designated sheet 200, the image data to be corrected is specified. Therefore, the user can perform the process of recording the designated sheet 200 and the process of correcting the image data separately.

  In the above embodiment, an L-shaped registration mark is used as an auxiliary symbol. However, since a reference point may be recorded, other symbols such as a plus or a point may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the closed curve C entered by the user with a red pen is detected as a mark indicating the correction portion. However, since the correction portion region only needs to be specified, the mark may be another symbol such as a dot or a circle, An unclosed curve such as C may be used. When using a symbol, the user needs to fill in three or more places, and detects a correction region based on an inner region connecting the entered symbols.

  In the above embodiment, the image 100 on the designated sheet 200 is recorded in monochrome, but may be recorded in color. Since the image 100 of the designated sheet 200 is thinly recorded, it is possible to detect the closed curve C that the user enters with the red pen.

  In the above embodiment, the image 100 of the designated sheet 200 is thinly recorded. However, when the printer 21 has a plurality of recording modes (for example, the draft mode or the standard mode), the designated sheet 200 is used in the draft mode. The image 100 may be recorded, and the image may be recorded on the recording paper in the standard mode (the process of S10 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3). By using the draft mode, the designated sheet 200 can record an image 100 having a lighter density than that recorded in the standard mode.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an MFP having an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the MFP. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing image processing of the MFP. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a designated sheet printing process of the MFP. It is a figure which shows an example of the designation | designated sheet on which the image of image data was recorded. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a designated sheet reading process of the MFP. It is an image figure showing the contents of a specified sheet image memory schematically. 5 is a flowchart showing a correction area specifying process of the MFP. It is the image figure which showed an example of the method of detecting the closed curve C which the user entered with the red pen from the designation | designated sheet image memory. It is the image figure which showed schematically the content which the correction area pointer shows.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP (image processing device)
20 Scanner 21 Printer 22a Memory Card 15 Operation Key (Selection Unit)
200 Designated sheet S9 Correction means S10 Second recording means S21 to S30 First recording means S41 to S51 Reading means S61 to S69 Detection means

Claims (12)

First recording means for recording an image according to image data on a recording medium;
Reading means for reading a mark indicating a correction portion added to the image recorded on the recording medium by the first recording means;
Detecting means for detecting the correction portion from the mark read by the reading means;
Correction means for correcting the image data of the correction portion detected by the detection means;
A second recording means for recording on the recording medium a corrected image according to the image data corrected by the correcting means,
The first recording means records the image to be recorded on a recording medium at a density lower than that of the corrected image recorded on the recording medium by the second recording means. .   The detection means detects a pixel having the mark characteristic, and determines that the detected pixel is the mark when there are three or more pixels having the mark characteristic around the pixel. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a rectangular region circumscribing the detected mark as the correction portion. The reading means reads an image by a sensor,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a pixel value based on a color detected by the sensor as a pixel having the characteristic of the mark.   5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first recording unit records an auxiliary symbol for assisting specification of a correction portion of the image data on a recording medium. The auxiliary symbol is read by the reading means,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detection unit detects a position of the mark based on a position where the auxiliary symbol is recorded, and specifies the position of the correction portion. A plurality of the auxiliary symbols are provided,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first recording unit records the plurality of auxiliary symbols in different colors.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first recording unit records the auxiliary symbol on a recording medium with a density higher than that of the image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first recording unit records the auxiliary symbol on a diagonal line of the image recorded on the recording medium.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first recording unit records an image in monochrome.   The first recording means records the image roughly on a recording medium, and the second recording means records the corrected image densely on a recording medium. An image processing apparatus according to 1. A first recording step of recording an image according to the image data on a recording medium;
A reading step of reading a mark indicating a correction portion added to the image recorded on the recording medium by the first recording step;
A detection step of detecting the correction portion from the mark read by the reading step;
A correction step for correcting the image data of the correction portion detected by the detection step;
Causing the computer to execute a second recording step of recording a corrected image on the recording medium according to the image data corrected by the correcting step;
In the first recording step, the image to be recorded on a recording medium is recorded with a density lower than that of the correction image recorded on the recording medium in the second recording step. .

Images