JP3225710B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for color-editing a designated area of a black-and-white image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of coloring a background portion in a designated area using an image processing apparatus such as a color copying machine,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-277174 filed by the present applicant discloses that image data read from an image input device is A / D-converted, binarized, input to a data synthesizing unit, and colored background areas using a digitizer. Is proposed to specify the color and edit. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-201671 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
In the '869 publication, a color editing area is set by drawing with a marker pen or an editor pad.

The following is generally known as a method for editing the background of a monochrome image. That is, in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the background portion 32 of the character image 31 of the original 30 is to be colored and edited, the image data of the original 30 is scanned on a dashed line 33 in FIG. FIG.
As shown in (B), for example, the density distribution waveform 3 of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) represented by 8-bit 256 gradations
When an image having images 4 and 34 is read by an image scanner, dull waveforms 35 and 35 are formed as shown in FIG. 8C. ) And C (cyan) color material signals and input to the data synthesis unit. In the data synthesizing unit, FIG.
Based on the coloring logic switching table shown in (A), the YMC data set in the pallet and the image data are fetched into the coloring designation area to perform the coloring editing process. That is, at the time of black (K) processing, K of the input image data is output to the character portion, and YMC = 0 (0 indicates density 0, meaning white) of the image data is output to the background portion. . When processing a color other than black, Y for coloring the character portion and the background portion without determining the background portion and the character portion is used.
Output MC data from pallet. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (B), the character portions 35, 35 and the background portion 37 formed by the image data K have the background color YM uniformly.
The color is edited by C.

[0004]

According to the above-described logic switching method shown in FIG. 9A, since coloring is performed with three colors of YMC, delicate colors are not formed. There is a problem that turbidity occurs in the part. The following method is known as another coloring / editing method for solving such a problem. That is, FIG.
Density waveforms 35, 35 which are the image data shown in FIG.
Is binarized by the threshold 36, thereby obtaining FIG.
As shown in the figure, the background portion when the density of the image data is equal to or less than the threshold,
Other than that, narrow character / background part determination signals 38, 38 indicating a character part are formed. The data synthesizing unit which has received the image data 35 and 35 and the character / background part determination signals 38 and 38 shown in FIG. 8C performs color editing based on the coloring logic switching table shown in FIG. I do. That is, based on the character / background part determination signals 38, 38, the image data K is output to the character part and the palette K is output to the background part during black processing, while the character part is output to the character part during non-black processing. YMC = 0 of the image data is output, and YMC of the palette is output to the background portion. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Only K of the image data is output to the character portions 39, 39,
The background portion 40 is colored by four colors of KYMC. Therefore, although a character portion without turbidity is formed, FIG.
There is a problem that character portions 39, 39 having a width narrower than the density waveforms 35, 35 shown in FIG. This thinning is difficult to completely correct even if image data read by an image scanner is filtered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to perform the black processing using the black of the background color setting means and the input image regardless of the determination result of the character / background portion. The data is added and output, and at the time of processing other than black, color editing is performed by outputting the background color data other than black of the background color setting means only to the background part, so that there is no thinning in the character part. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus that can perform a coloring process without causing turbidity and can simplify a control system of a data synthesis unit.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided image data obtained by converting an image signal read by an image input means into color material signals of a plurality of colors including black, and a coloring area designation output from an edit area generating means. A signal and a character / background part discrimination signal of image data output from the binarizing means are input to the data synthesizing means, and the image data and the background color data of the background color setting means are fetched to specify the coloring of the image data. An image processing apparatus for color-editing a background portion and a character portion of an area and outputting a color image, wherein the data synthesizing means performs color-editing on a background portion of the black-and-white image designated as an area, at the time of black processing, Regardless of the determination result of the binarization unit, the image data and the black data of the background color setting unit are fetched, added, and output in the designated area. Characterized by color editing only outputs the background color data other than the black background color setting means to the background portion.

[0007]

[Function] When performing color editing on the background of a black and white original,
At the time of black processing, the image data and the black data of the background color setting means are added and output irrespective of the determination result of the binarization means. The background color data other than black is output by the background color setting means only to the background portion.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus according to the present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram in which the image processing technique of the present invention is applied to a digital full-color copying machine, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data synthesizing unit shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image scanner, which is an image input device that reads a black-and-white document placed on a platen sequentially or dot-sequentially and outputs RGB digital data. Reference numeral 2 denotes a first color correction unit, which is an image input device 1
Converts the R, G, and B color data output from the color data into lightness signal L ^* , hue signal H ^* , and saturation signal C ^* , which are three attributes of color. Since various methods are widely known and are not the gist of the present invention, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Reference numeral 3 denotes a binarization unit which receives a brightness signal L ^* output from the color correction unit 2 and sets the brightness signal L ^* to a threshold value corresponding to the film thickness of KYMC in the background portion, Outputs a determination signal.

The second color correction unit 4 converts the input lightness signal L ^* , hue signal H ^* , and saturation signal C ^* into a toner data format suitable for the image output device 8, and converts the KYMC
Is converted to toner data. Various methods are also widely known for the color correction unit 4 and are not the gist of the present invention, so that detailed description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, since the original image is a black-and-white image, the brightness signal L ^* input to the color correction unit 4 is inverted to operate the copier in the black-and-white mode, as shown in FIG. The digital signals 35 and 35 are converted to K data, and the YMC component is set to 0.
Convert to Therefore, since the original is black and white, the color correction unit 4 performs color correction so that K data obtained by inverting the L ^* signal and YMC become 0 (density 0 means white) and outputs the result.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a palette section in which color data for generating a background color is set in advance in the KYMC data format. Reference numeral 6 denotes an editing area generating unit, which is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-27717.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4 (1999) -2004, a free-form area can be generated by having a bitmap memory, or a rectangular designated area is set using a counter of the number of horizontal pixels and the number of vertical pixels. Reference numeral 7 denotes a data synthesizing unit which receives the output of the binarizing unit 3 and the output of the editing area generating unit 6 and
The image data is read from the input image data and the color data of the five palettes are switched and combined and output. The combined data is output to the image output device 8 as described below, and is printed on paper.

The configuration and function of the data synthesizing section 7 shown by blocks in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to a coloring logic switching table shown in FIG. When a signal indicating outside the designated area is input from the editing area generating section 6, the selector 73 is switched to the terminal D, and the image data K ₀ from the color correcting section 4 is independent of the determination result of the binarizing means 3. , Y ₀ , M ₀ , and C ₀ are output as they are via the terminal D. When a signal indicating the inside of the editing area is input, the selector 73 is switched to the terminal C, and the output of the adder 71 and the selector 7 of the pallet 5 are output.
The outputs YMC of 2, 72 and 72 are output via a selector 73. The adder 71 adds and outputs the image data input from the color correction unit 4 and the K output of the pallet 5 irrespective of the determination result of the binarization unit 3. Each selector 7
2 receives the background part determination signal of the binarization unit 3 and switches each selector 72 to the terminal B, and the Y of the pallet 5
When the MC data is output and the character portion determination signal is input, each selector 72 is switched to the terminal A, and the 0 signal of the terminal A (0 indicates YMC = 0, meaning completely white) is output. It is configured to output.

Next, the switching logic will be described with reference to the switching table shown in FIG. If the input document image data is determined to be within the editing area by the editing area generating unit 6, the selector 73 is switched to the terminal C, and always performs black processing irrespective of the output result of the binarizing unit 3. The image data output from the color correction unit 4 and the K of the pallet 5 are fetched and added by the adder 71. That is, (1) when the character data of the image data is not input, the image data indicating the substantially zero background portion from the color correction unit 4 and the K of the palette 5 are added, and (2) the character of the image data When the data is input, K of the image data and K of the pallet 5 are added. That is,
An addition signal of (K of pallet 5) + (K of image data) is output via the terminal C of the selector 73. (3) The output of the editing area generating section 6 is "outside the editing area".
Is displayed, the selector 73 is switched to the terminal D, so that the image data K ₀ , Y ₀ , M ₀ , C which are the outputs of the color correction unit 4 are output regardless of the output result of the binarization unit 3.
₀ is sequentially output as it is.

At the time of processing other than black, (4) when the output of the editing area generating section 6 indicates "inside the editing area", and when the output of the binarizing section 3 indicates "background section", The selector 73 is switched to the terminal C, and each selector 72 is switched to the terminal B. The selector 72 sequentially takes in the YMC of the pallet 5 and outputs it through the selectors 72 and 73. (5) The output of the binarizing section 3 Indicates a character portion, each selector 72 is switched to the terminal A and sequentially outputs 0 of the terminal A.

The operation of the thus configured image processing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The R, G, and B signals obtained by scanning and reading a black-and-white original image by the image input device 1 are input to the color correction unit 2, and the color correction unit 2 converts the signals into a lightness signal L ^* , a hue signal H ^* , and a saturation signal C ^* . The data is converted and output (step S1), and is input to the color correction unit 4, while the brightness signal L ^* is input to the binarization unit 3. The binarizing unit 3 inputs a character / background part discrimination signal obtained by binarizing the brightness signal L ^* to the data synthesizing unit 7. The color correction unit 4 to which the lightness signal L ^* , the hue signal H ^* , and the saturation signal C ^* have been input, converts these signals into K signals for character data, and YMC for white data of other data. = 0
(Step S2).

When performing black processing (step S3), the data synthesizing unit 7 receives the original image data from the color correcting unit 4, but when the signal of the editing area generating unit 6 does not indicate the inside of the editing area. (Step S4), the selector 73 is switched to the terminal D, and the image data K ₀ , Y ₀ , M ₀ , C of the original sent from the color correction section 4 regardless of the output result of the binarization means 3. ₀ is sequentially output as it is (step S6). Then, if it is determined in step S4 that the image data is within the editing area, the selector 73 is switched to the terminal C. In the data synthesizing unit 7, if the data indicating the character portion of the image data is not input, the color synthesizing unit 4 Since image data indicating the background portion of almost 0 is transmitted,
Regardless of the output result of the value conversion unit 3, K
And the input image data YMC = 0 are added by an adder 71, and as shown in FIG. 4A, only K of the pallet 5 is output as a K component 13 forming a part of the background color. (Step S5). When the character data K indicating the character part of the image data is input from the color correction unit 4, regardless of the output result of the binarization unit 3, the K of the image data transmitted from the color correction unit 4 and the palette 5 and the K data of adder 71
Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, the character data 11 obtained by adding the image data K component to the background color K component 13 is output (step S5).

In the mode of processing other than black in step S7, if the image data read from the color correction unit 4 is not determined to be within the editing area (step S8),
As in step S6, the selector 73 is switched to the terminal D, and the image data K ₀ input from the color correction unit 4,
Y ₀ , M ₀ , and C ₀ are sequentially output as they are (step S
12). If it is determined in step S8 that the area is within the editing area, the selector 73 is switched to the terminal C, and a determination signal indicating a background section is input from the binarization section 3 and determined to be a background section (step S9). The selector 72 is switched to the terminal B, and the YMC signal 12 fetched from the pallet 5 and forming a part of the background color shown in FIG.
The data is sequentially output via the second and the second 73 (step S10).
Then, when a determination signal indicating a character portion is input from the binarization unit 3, it is determined in step S9 that the character is not the background portion, and each selector 72 is switched to the terminal A. (Step S11), whereby the background color signal is not superimposed on the character portion as shown in FIG. 4 (A). The KYMC color data thus synthesized is output from the data synthesis unit 7 (step S13), input to the image output device 8, and printed.

When the coloring process is performed as described above, FIG.
As shown in (A), K data 13 of the background color is output to the background portion in the editing area, and data obtained by adding the K data 11 of the image data to the background color K data 13 is output to the character data portion. YMC12 is output to the background portion, and the background color is colored by four colors of KYMC. No background color is superimposed on the character portion. As is apparent from the signal comparison diagram of FIG. 4B in which conventional thin character data 39 and 39 are superimposed on the image data shown in FIG. 4A, a thin signal is formed in the character portion. Further, since no background color is superimposed on the character portion, no turbidity occurs.

Since the data synthesizing unit 7 of the present invention is not a system for switching and outputting the background color K and the image data K as in the prior art, it is a system for adding and outputting. And the control system for taking out the image data K is simplified. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, following the output of the black data 13 of the background portion, the black data K of the image data is added to the character portion.
11 is output, in the background area other than the area T, the K11 of the pallet is input without taking in the K11 of the image data.
13 only, and in the character part, the K
In order to capture the image data K11 without capturing the image data 13, only one of them may be output. However, in the area T for simultaneously capturing the palette K and the image data K,
For example, while capturing K of the pallet as shown by the solid line K _P, to capture K _I of the image data indicated by the dotted lines simultaneously captures the palette and image data are alternately aligned in one direction of the data output Although it is necessary to perform complicated switching control for the selector that performs the addition, according to the addition and extraction method of the image data K11 and the pallet K13 according to the present invention, it is only necessary to add and output both Ks. Often, there is no need to provide a selector and a complicated switching control system.

In this embodiment, L ^* (brightness signal) is used as the binarized data of the image processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any one of the RGB signals is appropriately selected. Can also be used. Further, the present invention is not limited to a copying machine, and can be applied not only to a printer but also to an analog type.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, when performing color-editing on the background portion of the editing area of a black-and-white image, the data synthesizing means uses the character / background portion of the binarizing means at the time of black processing. Irrespective of the determination result, the image data in the editing area and the black data of the background color setting means are configured to be added and output, so that character data without thinning and without blurring can be output. When processing other than black,
Since the background color data other than black is output from the background color setting means only to the background portion in the editing area, only the background portion is colored, and the character portion is not colored. Does not occur, and high-quality image data can be output.

Further, at the time of black processing, the image data and the black data of the background color setting means are added and output irrespective of the output result of the binarizing means. There is no need to switch and output the black data of the color setting means. Therefore, the switching means and its complicated control system become unnecessary, and the data synthesizing section can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data synthesizing unit in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a coloring logic switching table of a data synthesizing unit in the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

4A is a diagram illustrating a coloring state of a character portion and a background portion of image data output from a data combining unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating image data shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a comparison diagram showing the character data shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for executing a coloring process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional capture method for switching and outputting K of image data and K of a background color of a palette.
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a switching and capturing mode between the pallet K and the image data K in the switching area T.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a document on which character data is drawn, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a state where a background area of the document is colored.

8A and 8B show a process of a conventional coloring process, in which FIG. 8A shows a state of scanning a document, FIG. 8B shows a background portion and a character portion of document image data formed by scanning, and FIG. )
Is the image data output from the image scanner,
It is a figure showing a set threshold.

9A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a character portion and a background portion are uniformly colored by the logic switching of the above-described (A), FIG. It is.

FIG. 10A is another logical switching table of a conventional data synthesizing unit, FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a background / character part discrimination signal formed based on a threshold, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for coloring a background portion of a character portion in which thinning is formed by logical switching of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image input device, 2 first color correction unit for converting RGB signals into lightness, hue, and saturation signals, 3 binarization unit for lightness signals, 4 conversion of lightness, hue, and saturation signals into toner data A second color correction section, a palette in which toner data is set in advance, an editing area generation section for generating an area signal for coloring the background of character data of the original, a signal from the binarization section, and editing. A data synthesizing unit which receives a signal from the area generating unit and switches and outputs image data and a palette signal, 8 image output devices, 11 character data (black), 12 background data (YMC component of the palette) , 13 background part data (black component of palette), 39
Character data formed by the conventional method.

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-1-200964 (JP, A) JP-A-4-284246 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1 / 38-1/393 H04N 1/46-1/64 G06T 1/00-1/40 G06T 3/00-5/50 G06T 9/00-9/40 G06T 11/60-11/80

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image signal obtained by converting an image signal read by an image input means into a color material signal of a plurality of colors including black, a coloring area designation signal output from an editing area generating means, and a The character / background part discrimination signal of the image data to be output is input to the data synthesizing means, and the image data and the background color data of the background color setting means are fetched, and the background part of the coloring designation area of the image data, and An image processing apparatus for color-editing a character portion and outputting a color image, wherein the data synthesizing means performs color-editing on a background portion of a black-and-white image whose area is specified, and performs the binarization means during black processing. Irrespective of the judgment result, the image data and the black data of the background color setting means are fetched and added and output in the designated area. At the time of processing other than black, based on the judgment result of the binarization means, The image processing apparatus characterized by color edit only outputs the background color data other than black of the background color setting means to the background portion.