JP2011188367A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide: an image processing apparatus for performing image processing in which identifiability for color-blind persons is improved; an image processing method; an image processing program; and a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: In an information processing apparatus Js, a regional information-extracting unit 31 regionally sorts color image data for each object and extracts the object in each of regions and based on a preset identifiability criterion for color-blind persons, a conversion necessity-determining unit 33 determines whether data conversion is required for input color image data, for each region of the object. A color area enlarging unit 36 performs data conversion to improve identifiability for the color-blind persons on a color portion in the region where the necessity of data conversion is determined. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing device, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium, and more specifically, an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image processing program for performing image processing with improved visibility for a color blind person. And a recording medium.

  In recent years, computerization and colorization of information have progressed. Under such circumstances, various output forms (for example, electronic output media such as liquid crystal display devices and the like) In order to emphasize the document image and appeal to the visual sense in the physical output medium (paper, film, etc.), the color of the part to be emphasized of the image or the character is conventionally changed from the color of the other part. To be emphasized. The use of color in this emphasis is to attract attention to the color, so it is very likely that the color will contain important information, but the document in which the color is used is accurate. It is important for the color part to be properly identified in order to be understood.

  However, a document using color is recognized by emphasizing the color part by emphasizing the appropriate color arrangement for important information parts, but for those with normal color vision characteristics, the color part is emphasized and recognized. Some people have color vision characteristics that are difficult to perceive or cannot perceive the difference between red / green and yellow / blue (hereinafter referred to as color blind people). May be emphasized and not recognized. The percentage of such color blind persons is 5% for Japanese men and 0.2% for women.

  Therefore, in order to improve the discrimination against color blind persons, conventionally, character information, color information, and style information of a character string are extracted from a document, and if there are character strings with the same style but different colors, the style is different. A technique for changing to a device has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  Conventionally, the display data is classified into those that are not subjected to color / shape conversion, and the colors of the display data that are classified as those that are subjected to color / shape conversion are based on a predetermined color-shape correspondence. Thus, a technique for converting to a predetermined shape has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

  Conventionally, as an image processing method for improving the visibility for a person with color blindness, an image processing method such as color conversion processing, deformation of a surface shape (implementation of hatching), contour enhancement, or the like has been used.

  However, in the conventional technology for improving the color discrimination of the color blind person described in the above-mentioned conventional publication, simply changing a character string having the same style and a different color to a character string having a different style, When color is added to the display data, it is only necessary to convert the shape into a preset shape. Needed improvement. For example, when expressing color differences by applying color conversion or hatching, it is difficult to perceive the color in a small area or thin line, and the color conversion effect cannot be fully exhibited, or hatching is not possible. There is no pattern, and the difference in hatching cannot be identified. As a result, a region with a small area or a thin line cannot be associated with another region of the same color, and there is a need for improvement in order to improve discrimination.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium that can improve the discrimination of a color-blind part of the color part of the object according to the object. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention classifies input color image data for each object, extracts the object in each area, and sets a predetermined distinguishability for each area of the object. Based on the criteria, it is determined whether data conversion is required for the input color image data, and the color blindness of the color portion of the area determined to require the data conversion is determined. It is characterized by performing improved data conversion.

  In the present invention, when the color portion to be converted is a character, data conversion is performed to switch the character color and the background color. If the color portion is a graphic, the line is replaced with the graphic line. The thick surface may be characterized by performing data conversion to enlarge the area.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, when the result of data conversion in which the character color and the background color are exchanged is a font type that reduces the readability of the character for a color blind person, the character is converted to bold. Good.

  In the determination of whether or not the data conversion is necessary, the present invention determines whether or not the data conversion is necessary using the font size as the discriminability criterion when the object to be determined is a character. In the case of graphics, the type of the graphics may be determined, and the necessity of data conversion may be determined using the type of graphics and its size as the discriminability criteria.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the discriminability with respect to the color blind person of the color part of this object can be improved according to an object.

1 is a system block configuration diagram of a printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The functional block block diagram regarding the image processing of information processing apparatus. Explanatory drawing of the area | region extraction process by an area | region information extraction part. The detailed block block diagram of the conversion necessity determination part. The figure which shows an example of a font information database. The figure which shows an example of a graphics information database. The detailed block block diagram of a color area expansion part. 6 is a flowchart showing basic image processing. 5 is a flowchart showing image processing including detailed processing of conversion necessity determination processing. 5 is a flowchart illustrating image processing including detailed processing of color area expansion processing. The figure which shows an example of the graphics table after conversion. The figure which shows an example of the character table after conversion.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 12 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image according to the present invention. 1 is a system block configuration diagram of a printing system 1 to which an embodiment of a processing program and a recording medium is applied.

  1, a printing system (image processing apparatus) 1 includes an information processing apparatus Js and a printer Pr connected by a wired or wireless network NW. The network NW is a wired or wireless network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). A local area network (LAN), a large-scale network (WAN: wide area network), the Internet, or the like. In FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus includes the information processing apparatus Js and the printer Pr, which are connected to each other via the network NW, in the printing system 1 that is an image processing apparatus. However, image data processing and output processing are integrated. It may be an image processing apparatus such as a composite apparatus or a copying apparatus.

  The information processing device Js performs image processing suitable for a color blind person described later on image data to be printed or displayed on a portable information terminal device such as a computer, a mobile phone device, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants). Any device that outputs data may be used. The information processing device Js includes a controller unit 10, a display unit 11, an operation unit 12, a program reading unit 13, and the like. The controller unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, and a RAM. (Random Access Memory) 23, a hard disk (HDD) 24, a network interface 25, and the like, which are connected by a bus 26.

  The ROM 22 stores programs such as a basic program as the information processing apparatus Js, an image processing program for performing image processing for color blind persons according to the present invention, and necessary system data. The CPU 21 is based on the programs in the ROM 22. While using the RAM 23 as a work memory, each part of the information processing device Js is controlled to execute basic processing as the information processing device Js and execute image processing of the present invention.

  That is, the information processing device Js includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an SD (Secure Digital) card, an MO ( By reading an image processing program for executing the image processing method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as Magneto-Optical Disc) and introducing it into the ROM 21 or the hard disk 24, it is possible to prevent color blind persons described later. However, it is constructed as an information identification device that executes an image processing method for generating an image with good visibility. This image processing program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  The hard disk 24 writes and reads image data and other data under the control of the CPU 21.

  The network interface 25 is connected to the network NW, and is connected to the printer Pr and other devices on the network, for example, personal computers, other information processing apparatuses, other printers, image processing apparatuses such as composite apparatuses, and the like. Send and receive commands and data.

  As the display unit 11, for example, a liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal display with a touch panel, or the like is used. Under the control of the controller 10, various operation contents input from the operation unit 12 and various information notified to the user from the information processing apparatus Js, particularly Various kinds of information necessary for image processing corresponding to a color blind person to be described later are displayed and output.

  The operation unit 12 includes various hard keys necessary for functioning the information processing apparatus Js, function keys displayed on the touch panel, and the like, and notifies the control unit 10 of the operation content.

  The program reading unit 13 reads a program from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or a magneto-optical disk.

  Then, the information processing apparatus Js introduces the image processing program read from the program reading unit 13 into the ROM 22 or the hard disk 24 and executes it, so that the functional blocks necessary for the image processing of the present invention as shown in FIG. Built.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus Js includes an area information extraction unit 31, a color conversion unit 32, a conversion necessity determination unit 33, a font information database 34, a graphics information database 35, a color area enlargement unit 36, and An image composition unit 37 and the like are constructed.

  An area information extraction unit (object extraction unit) 31 converts each area of input color image data of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) (hereinafter simply referred to as RGB) into graphics, The information is classified according to the type of object such as characters and photographs, and information on each area is extracted according to the type of object. For example, in the case of the page description language of the input image data, the area information extraction unit 31 extracts each area information of characters and graphics as shown in FIG. 3, for example, and extracts the extracted area information for each object. The area information table (graphics table) such as a graphics table and a character table is collected. In this case, with regard to characters, the area information table (character table) includes: String: character string included in the character area, Position: position of the character area, FontType: font type, FontSize: font size, RGBColor: character Color RGB value, LabColor: Text color Lab value, Decorated: Decoration presence, DecorLabColor: Decoration color Lab value, ConvJudge: Area conversion necessity, StyleJudge: Style change necessity For graphics, the area information table includes: GraphicsType: Graphics type, Position: Graphics position, Size: Graphics size, RGBColor: Graphics color RGB value, LabColor: Graphics color Lab value of ConvJudge: Items such as necessity of area conversion are included. Since the information processing apparatus Js of the present embodiment does not convert the photograph, the area information extraction unit 31 converts the photograph area into a format that can be output as it is, and obtains the photograph area information. The image is output to the image composition unit 37.

  Then, the area information extraction unit 31 extracts the area information of each object from the input image data as follows. That is, the area information extraction unit 31 first searches for a description for drawing a character such as a String from the page description language, and extracts a value after the description for extracting the character as a character string. Next, the area information extraction unit 31 searches forward from the extracted character string, searches for descriptions such as Position and Font, and uses the values after those descriptions as position, font type, size, and RGB value. Extract as information. The Lab value is calculated by the color conversion unit 32 described later from the RGB values.

  Further, the area information extraction unit 31 searches the page description language for descriptions to be drawn such as Line, RectFill, Arc, etc., and determines and records the graphics type of the area according to the type of the description. . The area information extraction unit 31 further extracts a position and a size according to the extracted graphics type. For example, if the description is Line, the area information extraction unit 31 searches forward, and if the description is Position and setlinewidth, records the value behind it as a position and size. If the description is Rect, the region information extraction unit 31 extracts the size from the third and fourth values with the first and second arguments of the RectFill argument as positions. Furthermore, the area information extraction unit 31 searches forward to find RGB values for graphics, and extracts values after LineColor and FillColor according to the type of graphics. Note that the Lab value is calculated by the color conversion unit 32 as in the case of characters.

  Further, the area information extraction unit 31 acquires the range in which each character string is drawn from the position and size information of the extracted character information with respect to the presence / absence of character decoration and the decoration color extraction. It is determined whether or not the character is decorated by checking whether or not there is a graphics area overlapping the column. For example, when the graphics Rect exists so as to overlap the character range, the region information extraction unit 31 processes the background as colored, and the character range overlaps the horizontal direction. When there is a graphics line whose vertical direction is located at the lower end, processing is performed assuming that an underline is drawn. The area information extraction unit 31 checks the presence / absence of character decoration as described above, and when there is character decoration, describes the type and color of the decoration in the character table. ConvJudge and StyleJudge are recorded according to the determination by the conversion necessity determination unit 33.

  The items in the graphics table and the character table can be deleted or added as necessary, and are not limited to the items described above.

  The color conversion unit 32 converts the RGB character region information and graphics region information extracted by the region information extraction unit 31 into an opposite color signal (Lab signal), converts the converted Lab character region information and This is output to the conversion necessity determination unit 33 as graphics area information. Note that the Lab signal includes L (lightness), a (color area based on the standard: red if a is +, and green complementary color if a is-), b (color area based on the standard: b The color range that can be expressed in the color mode based on the international standard is the largest, and it is possible to express the entire human visible range. It is said.

  The conversion necessity determining unit (determination means) 33 uses the color character information of each region based on the discriminability of the color blind person with respect to the extracted character region information and graphics region information of the Lab. The necessity of correspondence conversion is determined. The conversion necessity determination unit 33 has a functional block configuration as shown in FIG. 4 and includes a standard color setting unit 41, a character conversion determination unit 42, a graphics conversion determination unit 43, and the like.

  The standard color setting unit 41 sets standard colors (character standard color and graphics standard color) of graphics and characters from the area information classified for each object. As the standard color, a color that appears most frequently in the entire image data such as black, a preset color, a color selected and designated by the user, and the like are used, and the standard color setting unit 41 is a standard color. Regarding the color region, it is determined that there is no need for emphasis and classification, and is not subjected to conversion processing.

  The character conversion determination unit 42 determines whether or not conversion of each region is necessary from the font information and character standard color information stored in the font information database 34, and outputs the character conversion region information of the determination result to the color area enlargement unit 36. To do. The character conversion determination unit 42 determines a character having a color different from the standard color and a character whose size is less than the predetermined size indicated in the font information as a conversion required area (area where data conversion is necessary), and stores it in the character table. Record “1” in ConvJudge. On the contrary, the character conversion determination unit 42 performs non-conversion area (data conversion) for characters other than the standard color and characters whose size is different from the default size (reference size) indicated in the font information. It is determined that the area is not necessary, and “0” is recorded in ConvJudge in the character table.

  Further, the character conversion determination unit 42 also determines whether or not style change is necessary for the area determined to require area conversion. First, the character conversion determination unit 42 records the contents of the font information database 34 in the character table when the font type used in the area determined to require the area conversion is designated to change the style. Further, information on adjacent areas is searched from the position information of each character area, and if the background of the adjacent area is the same color as the character color, it is recorded in the character table so as to convert the character color. For example, when a marker is used for the adjacent character of the character to be converted, after replacing the character to be converted and the background, the saturation and hue of the character and background differ from the adjacent region with a brightness equivalent to the background color. Information to be changed to is stored in the character table.

  The font information database 34 is, for example, a table as shown in FIG. 5, and includes a font type (Font Type) and a size threshold (Size Thresh) for determining whether or not conversion is necessary for the font type. ) And information (Style Shift) indicating whether or not the style needs to be changed upon conversion. For example, the font information database 34 indicates that, in the morning, area conversion is necessary for characters less than 24 points and the style is changed to bold. In the Gothic font, the font information database 34 requires area conversion for characters of less than 20 points, and for Times-Roman, it requires area conversion for characters of a size of less than 22 points. It has been shown that no style changes are required. That is, the font information database 34 has a large font size that requires area conversion in a thin line type such as Mincho, and a thick line type such as Gothic, even if the font size is small to some extent. No area conversion is required.

  The graphics conversion determination unit 43 determines the necessity of conversion of each area from the graphic information and graphics standard color information stored in the graphics information database 35, and expands the color area of the graphics conversion area information of the determination result. To the unit 36. The graphics conversion determination unit 43 determines that a graphic having a different color from the standard color and a graphic whose size is less than the predetermined size indicated in the graphics information is a conversion area, and the ConvJudge in the graphics information database 35. Record “1” in On the other hand, the graphics conversion determination unit 43 determines that the graphics other than the standard color and graphics other than the default size indicated in the graphics information are non-converted areas. Then, “0” is recorded in ConvJudge in the graphics table.

  The graphics information database 35 is, for example, a table as shown in FIG. 6, and a size threshold (Size Thresh) for determining whether or not conversion is necessary according to the graphics type (Graphics Type). Is registered according to. For example, the graphics information database 35 requires conversion if the size of a line is less than 5, and for Rect, if any of {x, y} is less than 10, it is less than 10. It is shown that the size of the other needs to be converted.

  The color area enlargement unit (data conversion unit) 36 enlarges the color area of the area determined to be converted by the conversion necessity determination unit 33 and outputs the converted data to the image composition unit 37. The color area enlarging unit 36 has a functional block configuration as shown in FIG. 7, and includes a character color / background color inverting unit 51, a character style converting unit 52, and a line thickness / area enlarging unit 53.

  The character color / background color inversion unit (character conversion means) 51 receives the character conversion area information of the conversion necessity determination unit 33, and the character color / background color inversion unit 51 obtains the ConvJudge information from the character conversion area information. When it is read and conversion is “1”, the character color and the background color are reversed. The character color / background color reversing unit 51 changes the saturation and hue while maintaining the lightness as much as possible when changing the character color, and changes the saturation and hue when the character color is white / black. Because it is not possible, the brightness may be adjusted. Further, as described above, the character color / background color reversing unit 51 replaces the character color with the background color if the background of the adjacent region adjacent to each character region is the same color as the character color. The background is changed to a saturation and hue different from those of the adjacent area with lightness equivalent to the background color. For example, if a character that is similar to the character color is used for the character adjacent to the character to be converted, the marker is used with the brightness equivalent to the background color after the character to be converted and the background are swapped. Change to a different saturation and hue from the adjacent area.

  The character style conversion unit (character style conversion means) 52 reads StyleJudge information from the character conversion area information, and changes the character style if the change is “1”.

  The line thickness / area enlarging unit (graphics conversion means) 53 receives the graphics conversion area information of the conversion necessity determining unit 33, and the line thickness / area enlarging unit 53 receives the graphics conversion area information from the graphics conversion area information. When the information of ConvJudge is read and conversion is necessary, the line is thickened and the area is changed widely. The line thickness / area enlargement unit 53 performs the line thickening change and the area enlargement change by changing the size so as to exceed the value of Size_Thresh of the graphics conversion information recorded in the graphics table. .

  The image composition unit 37 converts the photographic data extracted by the region information extraction unit 31, the character / graphics region data determined not to require color vision conversion by the conversion necessity determination unit 33, and the conversion from the color area enlargement unit 36. Character data and graphics data, which are data, are combined, the combined image data is converted to RGB, output data is generated, and finally output to the printer Pr.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The information processing apparatus Js of the printing system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment extracts an object of input image data, determines whether or not color conversion, style conversion, and size conversion are necessary for each object, and recognizes color blind persons. Convert to good image data.

  That is, the information processing apparatus Js of the printing system 1 executes image processing according to the basic image processing shown in FIG. In other words, the information processing apparatus Js designates a printout of image data with good visibility for a color blind person for image data created, edited, or received from the outside by the information processing apparatus Js. As shown in FIG. 8, first, the region information extracting unit 31 obtains region information such as the type, position, and size of each object of characters, graphics, and photographs from the RGB input image data as shown in FIG. Extract (step S101). At this time, as described above, the area information extraction unit 31 extracts information on the position of the character, the type of font, the size, and the RGB value for the character, and regarding the graphic, the type of the graphic and the graphics Extract the position and size for each type. Furthermore, the area information extraction unit 31 also extracts the presence / absence of decoration of characters and the color of decoration as described above. The area information extraction unit 31 converts the photographic area into a format that can be output as it is, and outputs it to the image composition unit 37 as photographic area information.

  The information processing apparatus Js converts the RGB character region information and graphics region information extracted by the region information extraction unit 31 into a Lab signal by the color conversion unit 32, and uses the Lab character region information and graphics region information as the Lab character region information and graphics region information. It outputs to the conversion necessity determination part 33 (step S102).

  Based on the Lab character region information and graphics region information extracted by the color conversion unit 32, the information processing apparatus Js determines whether or not color conversion corresponding to each region is necessary by the conversion necessity determination unit 33. Regions determined not to require correspondence conversion are output to the image composition unit 37 as they are, and regions determined to require color vision conversion are output to the color area enlargement unit 34 (step S103).

  The information processing device Js performs a process of enlarging the color area of the region in the color area enlargement unit 34 for the region determined to require color vision correspondence conversion by the conversion necessity determination unit 33, and the image composition unit 37. (Step S104).

  The information processing device Js converts the photographic data extracted by the region information extraction unit 31, the character / graphics region data determined by the conversion necessity determination unit 33 to be unnecessary for color vision conversion, and the color area expansion unit 36. Character data and graphics data, which are data, are combined by the image combining unit 37, the combined image data is converted to RGB, output data is generated, and finally output to the printer Pr (step S105).

  Then, the information processing apparatus Js can show the conversion necessity determination process in step S103 in the image processing of FIG. 8 in detail as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the same processing steps as those shown in FIG. 8 are given the same step numbers to simplify the description.

  9, the information processing apparatus Js uses the region information extraction unit 31 to obtain region information such as the type, position, and size of each object of characters, graphics, and photographs from the RGB input image data as shown in FIG. The RGB character area information and graphics area information extracted by the area information extraction unit 31 are extracted (step S101), and the color conversion unit 32 converts RGB into an opposite color signal (Lab signal), thereby converting the Lab character. It outputs to the conversion necessity determination part 33 as area | region information and graphics area | region information (step S102).

  In the standard color setting unit 41, the conversion necessity determination unit 33 sets the standard colors (character standard color and graphics standard color) of graphics and characters from the area information classified for each object (step S201). ).

  The conversion necessity determination unit 33 performs graphic information stored in the graphics information database 35 by the graphics conversion determination unit 43 for each area of the graphics for which standard color setting has been completed by the standard color setting unit 41. Then, it is determined whether or not conversion of each area is necessary from the graphics standard color information, and the graphics conversion area information of the determination result is output to the color area enlargement unit 36 (step S202).

  Further, the conversion necessity determination unit 33 uses the character conversion determination unit 42 to store font information stored in the font information database 34 for each area of the character for which the standard color setting unit 41 has completed the standard color setting. Then, it is determined whether or not conversion of each area is necessary from the character standard color information (step S203). Further, regarding the area determined to require area conversion, it is also determined whether or not style change is necessary, and character conversion of the determination result is performed. The area information is output to the color area enlargement unit 36 (step S204).

  In the information processing apparatus Js, the color area enlargement unit 34 sets the color area of the region for the region determined to require color vision correspondence conversion by the conversion necessity determination unit 33, as in the process of FIG. An enlargement process is performed and output to the image composition unit 37 (step S104). The image composition unit 37 determines that the photo data extracted by the region information extraction unit 31 and the conversion necessity determination unit 33 do not require color vision correspondence conversion. The character / graphics region data and the character data and graphics data which are the conversion data from the color area enlargement unit 36 are synthesized (step S105).

  Then, the color area expansion processing in step S104 in the image processing of FIGS. 8 and 9 in the information processing apparatus Js can be shown in more detail as shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, processing steps similar to those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are given the same step number to simplify the description.

  10, the information processing apparatus Js uses the region information extraction unit 31 to obtain region information such as the type, position, and size of each object of characters, graphics, and photographs from the RGB input image data as shown in FIG. The extracted RGB character area information and graphics area information extracted by the area information extraction unit 31 are converted into RGB opposite color signals (Lab signals) by the color conversion unit 32, and converted Lab. The character area information and graphics area information are output to the conversion necessity determination unit 33 (step S102).

  In the standard color setting unit 41, the conversion necessity determination unit 33 sets the standard colors (character standard color and graphics standard color) of graphics and characters from the area information classified for each object (step S201). ).

  The conversion necessity determination unit 33 performs graphic information stored in the graphics information database 35 by the graphics conversion determination unit 43 for each area of the graphics for which standard color setting has been completed by the standard color setting unit 41. Then, it is determined whether or not conversion of each area is necessary from the graphics standard color information, and the graphics conversion area information of the determination result is output to the color area enlargement unit 36 (step S202). The color area enlarging unit 36, when the line thickness / area enlarging unit 53 reads ConvJudge information from the graphics conversion area information, and if conversion is necessary, the line is thickened and the area is changed widely (step S301). The line thickness / area enlargement unit 53 changes the size of the line so as to exceed the value of Size_Thresh of the graphics conversion information recorded in the graphics table as described above. It is done by changing. For example, as shown in the converted graphics table in FIG. 11, the original size of the Rect whose ID is “8” is {12,7} as shown in FIG. The minimum size “10” is not satisfied. As shown in FIG. 11, the line thickness / area enlargement unit 53 changes “7” → “10” and changes the Rect size to {12,10}. Enlarging processing is performed.

  Further, the conversion necessity determination unit 33 uses the character conversion determination unit 42 to store font information stored in the font information database 34 for each area of the character for which the standard color setting unit 41 has completed the standard color setting. Further, it is determined whether or not conversion of each area is necessary from the character standard color information (step S2303). Further, regarding the area determined to require area conversion, the necessity of style change is also determined and character conversion of the determination result is performed. The area information is output to the color area enlargement unit 36 (step S204). Then, when the character color / background color inversion unit 51 reads ConvJudge information from the character conversion area information and the conversion is “1”, the color area expanding unit 36 sets the character color and the background color. Invert (step S302). As described above, when changing the character color, the character color / background color reversing unit 51 changes the saturation and hue while maintaining the lightness as much as possible, and when the character color is white / black, Since the degree and hue cannot be changed, the brightness may be adjusted. The color area enlarging unit 36 further reads the StyleJudge information from the character conversion area information by the character style conversion unit 52, and changes the character style if the change is necessary “1” (step S303). For example, as can be seen by comparing the character table after conversion in FIG. 12 with the character table before conversion shown in FIG. 3, the character color / background color inversion unit 51 applies the sample ID of “11” to the sample. The font is changed to bold, and the background color {95,0,0} is changed to the text color. However, when the background color is repainted with the text color, the color will be close to the adjacent area, so ColorShift (Character color change) is performed and the saturation and hue are changed to {85, -15,10}.

  In the information processing apparatus Js, the color area enlargement unit 34 sets the color area of the region for the region determined to require color vision correspondence conversion by the conversion necessity determination unit 33, as in the process of FIG. An enlargement process is performed and output to the image composition unit 37 (step S104). The image composition unit 37 determines that the photo data extracted by the region information extraction unit 31 and the conversion necessity determination unit 33 do not require color vision correspondence conversion. The character / graphics region data and the character data and graphics data which are the conversion data from the color area enlargement unit 36 are synthesized (step S105).

  As described above, in the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus Js uses the area information extraction unit 31 to classify color image data for each object, extract the object in each area, and determine whether conversion is necessary. The unit 33 determines whether or not data conversion is required for the input color image data based on a predetermined discrimination criterion for color blind persons for each area of the object, The color area enlarging unit 36 performs data conversion for improving the distinguishability of the color blind person for the color portion of the area determined to require the data conversion.

  Therefore, it is possible to perform data conversion that improves the color discrimination of the color blind person for the color portion of the object that is difficult to identify for the color blind person, and for the color blind person, the color part of the object depends on the object. Can be improved.

  Further, in the information processing apparatus Js of the present embodiment, the color area enlarging unit 36 performs a data conversion for replacing the character color and the background color when the color part to be converted is a character. When the data conversion target is graphics, the line is thick for the graphics line, and the line thickness / area enlarging unit 53 for performing data conversion for enlarging the area for the surface; It is equipped with.

  Therefore, it is possible to perform data conversion for appropriately improving the distinguishability of color blind persons for characters and graphics color portions that are difficult to identify for color blind persons. It is possible to further improve the distinguishability of the color portion.

  Furthermore, in the information processing apparatus Js according to the present embodiment, the color area enlargement unit 36 makes the character conversion result obtained by replacing the character color and the background color by the character color / background color inversion unit 51 easy for the color blind person to read the character. If the font type reduces the character, a character style conversion unit 52 that converts the character into bold data is provided.

  Therefore, it is possible to improve the distinguishability between the color portion of the character and the background that cannot be improved even if the character color and the background color are exchanged.

  In the information processing apparatus Js according to the present embodiment, the character style conversion unit 52 uses the character color / background color inversion unit 51 to replace the character color and the background color, and the background color after data conversion is the background color of the adjacent region. If the color is the same as the color, the character color is converted to data having a lightness equivalent to the background color and a different saturation and hue.

  Therefore, for example, when a marker is used for the adjacent character of the character to be converted and the background color obtained by switching the character color and the background color is the same color as the marker color that is the background of the adjacent character, etc. Character discrimination can be improved.

  Furthermore, in the information processing apparatus Js according to the present embodiment, when the conversion necessity determination unit 34 determines that the object to be determined is a character, the conversion target determination unit 34 determines whether or not data conversion is necessary using the font size as a discriminability criterion. Is a graphic, the type of the graphic is determined, and the necessity of data conversion is determined based on the type and size of the graphic as a distinguishability criterion.

  Therefore, it is possible to convert data such as characters of small fonts and graphics such as thin lines and small areas to improve the distinguishability for persons with color blindness, and to improve these distinguishability.

  In the information processing apparatus Js according to the present embodiment, the conversion necessity determination unit 34 determines that data conversion is not necessary for an object region having the same color as the predetermined standard color in the input color image data. .

  Therefore, for character and graphics areas that are used as standard colors in the entire image data (most frequently used colors, predetermined colors, user-specified colors, etc.) By not increasing the line thickness and area, it is possible to improve the discrimination of color blind persons while appropriately maintaining the image quality of the image data and the user's intention for the image data.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  The present invention is used for an image processing device, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium such as a computer, a mobile phone device, a portable information terminal, and a composite device that perform image processing with improved visibility for a color blind person. be able to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system Js Information processing apparatus Pr Printer NW network 10 Controller part 11 Display part 12 Operation part 13 Program reading part 21 CPU
22 ROM
23 RAM
24 Hard disk (HDD)
25 Network interface 26 Bus 31 Area information extraction unit 32 Color conversion unit 33 Conversion necessity determination unit 34 Font information database 35 Graphics information database 36 Color area enlargement unit 37 Image composition unit 41 Standard color setting unit 42 Character conversion determination unit 43 Graphics Conversion conversion part 51 Character color / background color inversion part 52 Character style conversion part 53 Line thickness / area enlargement part

JP 2007-226448 A JP 2004-178513 A

Claims (9)

Object extraction means for classifying the input color image data for each object and extracting the object in each area;
Determining means for determining whether or not data conversion is required for the input color image data based on a predetermined discrimination standard for color blind persons for each region of the extracted object;
Data conversion means for performing data conversion for improving the discrimination of color blind persons with respect to the color portion of the area determined to require data conversion by the determination means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The data conversion means includes
When the color part to be converted is a character, a character conversion unit that performs data conversion to replace the character color and the background color;
When the data conversion target is graphics, the graphics conversion means for performing data conversion for thickening the line for the graphics line and expanding the area for the surface;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The data conversion means converts the character into data in bold when the result of the data conversion in which the character conversion means interchanges the character color and the background color is a font type that reduces the readability of the character for the color blind person. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising character style conversion means.   The character style conversion means, when the background color after data conversion in which the character conversion means interchanges the character color and the background color is the same color as the background color of the adjacent area, the character color is equivalent to the background color. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein data conversion is performed to a color having at least one of brightness and different saturation and hue.   The determination means determines whether or not data conversion is necessary using the font size as the discriminability criterion if the object to be determined is a character, and if the object to be determined is a graphic, the type of the graphic 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus determines whether or not data conversion is necessary using the type and size of the graphics as the discriminability criterion.   6. The determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the data conversion is unnecessary for an object region having the same color as a predetermined standard color in the input color image data. An image processing apparatus according to 1. Object extraction processing step for classifying the input color image data for each object and extracting the object in each area;
A determination processing step for determining whether or not data conversion is required for the input color image data based on a predetermined discrimination standard for color blind persons for each region of the extracted object; ,
A data conversion processing step for performing data conversion for improving the identifiability of the color blind person for the color portion of the area determined to require data conversion in the determination processing step;
An image processing method comprising: On the computer,
Object extraction processing for classifying input color image data for each object and extracting the object in each area;
A determination process for determining whether or not data conversion is required for the input color image data based on a predetermined criterion for color blindness for each region of the extracted object,
A data conversion process for performing data conversion to improve the discrimination of color blind persons for the color portion of the area determined to require data conversion in the determination process;
An image processing program for executing   A computer-readable recording medium on which the image processing program according to claim 7 is recorded.

Images