JP3408770B2 - 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 used in a digital photo printer or the like for photoelectrically reading an image photographed on a film and obtaining a print (photograph) in which the image is reproduced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the printing of an image photographed on a photographic film (hereinafter referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film onto a photosensitive material (photographic paper) is performed by projecting the image of the film on the photosensitive material. Surface exposure of photosensitive material,
It was performed by so-called direct exposure (analog exposure).

On the other hand, in recent years, a printing apparatus utilizing digital exposure, that is, an image recorded on a film is photoelectrically read, the read image is converted into a digital signal, and then various image processes are performed. A digital photo printer has been put into practical use in which image data for recording is recorded, an image (latent image) is recorded by scanning exposure of a photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to the image data, and an image (latent image) is recorded.

In a digital photo printer, since an image is processed as digital image data and an exposure condition at the time of printing can be determined by image data processing, image jump and blurring caused by backlight or stroboscopic photography are corrected, and sharpness is corrected. (Sharpening) processing, correction of color and density ferria, correction of under-exposure and over-exposure, correction of insufficient peripheral light amount, etc., to obtain high-quality prints that cannot be obtained by conventional direct exposure. You can Moreover, image data processing can be used to combine a plurality of images, divide an image, combine characters, and the like, and it is possible to output a print that is freely edited / processed according to the purpose.
Moreover, according to the digital photo printer, not only can the image be output as a print (photograph), but the image data can be supplied to a computer or the like, or can be stored in a recording medium such as a floppy disk. Can be used for various purposes other than photography.

Such a digital photo printer is basically a scanner (image reading device) for photoelectrically reading an image recorded on a film, image processing of the read image and recording image data (exposure condition). And a printer (image recording device) that scans and exposes a photosensitive material in accordance with the image data to develop the photosensitive material for printing.

In a scanner, reading light emitted from a light source is incident on a film to obtain projection light carrying an image photographed on the film, and the projection light is passed through an imaging lens to an image sensor such as a CCD sensor. An image is read by forming an image and photoelectrically converting it, and after performing various kinds of image processing as necessary, it is sent to the image processing apparatus as image data (image data signal) of the film. The image processing apparatus sets image processing conditions from the image data read by the scanner, performs image processing according to the set conditions on the image data, and outputs the image data to the printer as output image data (exposure condition) for image recording. send. In the printer, for example, in the case of a device that uses light beam scanning exposure, the light beam is modulated according to the image data sent from the image processing device,
The photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed (printed) to form a latent image, and then subjected to a predetermined development process or the like to obtain a reproduced print of the image photographed on the film.

By the way, the shooting conditions of the image shot on the film are not constant, and strobe shooting, backlight scenes, etc.
In many cases, there is a large difference between light and dark (density), that is, the dynamic range of the image is very wide. When such a film image is exposed by a normal method to create a print, an image in either a bright portion (highlight) or a dark portion (shadow) may be crushed. For example,
When a person is photographed with backlight, if a person is exposed so as to obtain a suitable image, a bright part such as the sky will be blown out in white, and conversely, if exposure is performed so that the sky will become a preferable image. , The person is crushed in black.

Therefore, when exposing a light-sensitive material using a film image with large light and dark as an original image, so-called dodging is performed. Dodging means that normal exposure is applied to areas of intermediate density, light is increased in areas where the image is likely to fly, and exposure is reduced in dark areas where the image is likely to be destroyed. It is a technology that corrects the large contrast of captured images and obtains a print in which an appropriate image is reproduced over the entire screen so that it approximates the impression that a human sees the original scene.

In the conventional direct exposure apparatus, a method of performing exposure by inserting a light shielding plate, an ND filter, or the like in the exposure light path, a method of partially changing the light amount of the exposure light source, and a contrast of the image photographed on the film The dodging is performed by partially changing the exposure amount according to the image photographed on the film by, for example, a method of creating a monochrome film in which the image is reversed and exposing it by overlapping. On the other hand, in the digital photo printer, the dynamic range of the image is compressed by image data processing so as to suitably reproduce the bright portion and the dark portion (hereinafter referred to as dodging processing), and thus the direct exposure is performed. It is possible to reproduce an image close to the impression when a human sees the original scene with a higher degree of freedom than dodging, and the applicant of the present invention has previously proposed that method (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-18704). 9-130609, etc.).

[0010]

Generally, in digital image data processing, an image captured on a film is photoelectrically read, the obtained image data is analyzed, and image processing such as dodging processing is performed. Image data processing is performed by setting conditions. However, depending on the type of scene of the original image, the brightness of the original scene, and the state of the light rays, the image shot on film (an image that reproduces this) and the impression that a human sees the original scene often differ. Therefore, even if the optimal dodging process condition is set according to the image data, there is a limit in bringing the output image closer to the impression that a human sees the original scene.

That is, since dodging is conventionally performed in the area of the brightness signal (gray), there is a problem that when dodging is applied to the sky or the like, the sky is grayed. Also, when increasing the density of the sky, unless the saturation is also increased, the color of the sky separates from the so-called memorized color that people consider to be the color that the object originally has. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has the above-described digital photo printer that processes image data obtained from an image photographed on a film to obtain image data for output. It is an image processing apparatus that is preferably used, and even if the dodging process is performed, it is possible to satisfactorily reproduce an image close to the impression that a human sees the original scene, and, for example, when shooting in clear weather, An image processing apparatus capable of controlling gradation for each area, such as softening the contrast of the face without changing the contrast, or hardening the contrast of the background without changing the contrast of the face in shooting cloudy weather, etc. The challenge is to provide.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention applies predetermined image processing to image data obtained by photoelectrically reading an image photographed on a film by an image reading means, An image processing device for creating output image data, comprising a blur weight image creating unit for creating a blur weight image for smoothly connecting a main region and a background region from the image data, and a color reproduction parameter for the main region. And a color reproduction parameter creating unit that creates at least one of the color reproduction parameters of the background area, and subtracts the weight of the blur weighted image from the color reproduction parameter of the main area weighted with the weight of the blur weighted image and the reference value. Output for creating output image data from the image data using at least one of the color reproduction parameters of the background area weighted with There is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: the image creation unit.

Here, the blur weight image creating section includes an area extracting section that divides the main area and the background area from the image data, and a weight mask creating section that creates a weight mask for the main area. It is preferable to have a blur mask processing unit that performs blur mask processing on the weighted image weighted on the main part region to create the blur weighted image.

Further, the area extracting section divides the main area and the background area from the image data by automatic analysis of an image or by an operator's auxiliary input, and the weight mask creating section divides the main mask area by the main mask area. The weight image is created by analyzing the color image data of the partial area, calculating the color balance with respect to the brightness of the main area, and setting a weighting function centered on the calculated color balance. It is preferable that the weight mask creation unit sets the weight function as a lookup table.

Further, the blur mask processing section obtains image data obtained by a prescan for reading an image at a low resolution, which is performed prior to a fine scan for reading the image data for creating the output image by the image reading means. Using the, while creating the blur weighted image, when creating an output image from the image data obtained by the fine scan, perform the expansion and contraction processing of the blur weighted image, or by the image reading means, It is preferable to directly create the blur weighted image by using image data obtained by fine scanning for reading image data for creating the output image.

Further, the color reproduction parameter creating unit subtracts the weight of the blur weighted image from the reference value of the image data for main part analysis, which is obtained by multiplying the image data by the weight of the blur weighted image, and the image data. The background part analysis image data multiplied by the weight is created, and the correction part of the main part region is calculated from the feature amount of the main part analysis image data and the feature amount of the background part analysis image data or input by the operator. It is preferable to create a color reproduction parameter of the main part region consisting of a signal to be added to the image data by multiplying the key by the weight of the blur weighted image, and the signal to be added to the image data is At least one of the RGB signal and the luminance signal is preferable. As the characteristic amount, a dynamic range, an average density value,
There are pixel density distribution, color balance of highlight, middle and shadow.

Further, the color reproduction parameter creating section performs a softening process mainly on highlight when the main area is skin, and there are many highlight areas and shadow areas, and the main area is the main area. When the partial area is the skin and most of the area is outside the color reproduction range, the density shift is performed within the color reproduction range. When the main area is the skin and the highlight balance is bluish It is preferable to create the color reproduction parameter for performing at least one of a process of correcting the gradation to magenta and a process of not increasing the gradation of the human area. Further, it is preferable that the color processing on the image data is performed by at least one of the RGB signal and the luminance signal.

Further, as the color reproduction parameter of the background area, a gradation corresponding to the scene is prepared and input by an operator, or an appropriate one is selected by image analysis, or the gradation is set by the user. It is preferable that the adjusted gradation is registered, and the adjusted gradation is registered, and the gradation is selected and used from among them. The gradation according to the scene is a snow gradation in which the highlight is cyan, or a cyan gradation. It is preferably at least one of a sky gradation that makes bluish black and a mountain gradation that makes green vivid. Furthermore, it is preferable that the reference value is 1 and the blur weight image is normalized by 1.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a digital photo printer using the image processing apparatus of the present invention. A digital photo printer (hereinafter, referred to as a photo printer) 10 shown in FIG. 1 basically includes a scanner (image reading unit) 12 that photoelectrically reads an image captured on a film F, and read image data ( (Image information) image processing and the operation and control of the entire photo printer 10 and the like, and the photosensitive material A is image-exposed with the light beam modulated according to the image data output from the image processing device 14, And a printer 16 for developing and outputting (finished) prints. Further, the image processing apparatus 14 includes an operation system 18 having a keyboard 18a and a mouse 18b for inputting (setting) various conditions, selecting and instructing processing, and inputting instructions such as color / density correction.
A display 20 that displays an image read by the scanner 12, various operation instructions, setting / registration screens for various conditions, and the like is connected.

The scanner 12 is a device for photoelectrically reading an image photographed on the film F or the like frame by frame.
And variable aperture 24, and R, G and B for separating the image into three primary colors of R (red), G (green) and B (blue).
A color filter plate 26 which has a number of color filters and rotates and acts an arbitrary color filter on the optical path, a diffusion box 28 which makes the reading light incident on the film F uniform in the plane direction of the film F, and an image formation. The lens unit 32 and the CCD sensor 3 which is an area sensor for reading an image of one frame of film
4 and an amplifier (amplifier) 36.

In the illustrated photo printer 10,
Depending on the type and size of the new photographic system (Advanced Photo System), 135 size negative (or reversal) film, etc., and the form of the film such as strips and slides, etc. A carrier 30 is prepared, and by exchanging the carrier 30, it is possible to deal with various films and processes. An image (frame) photographed on a film and used for print production is conveyed and held at a predetermined reading position by the carrier 30. Also, as is well known, a magnetic recording medium is formed on the film of the new photographic system, and the cartridge ID, the film type, etc. are recorded. Furthermore, at the time of shooting or developing, the shooting date and time, the shooting time It is possible to record various data such as the presence / absence of stroboscopic light emission, an imaging magnification, a shooting scene ID, information on the position of a main part, and the type of developing machine. New photographic system film (cartridge)
The magnetic information reading means is arranged on the carrier 30 corresponding to the above, and the magnetic information is read when the film is conveyed to the reading position, and the various information is read by the image processing apparatus 1.
Sent to 4.

In such a scanner 12, the read light emitted from the light source 22, the light amount is adjusted by the variable diaphragm 24, the color is adjusted through the color filter plate 26, and the diffused box 28 diffuses the read light. The light is incident on one frame of the film F held at a predetermined reading position and transmitted therethrough, so that projection light carrying an image of this frame photographed on the film F is obtained. The projection light of the film F is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD sensor 34 by the imaging lens unit 32, is photoelectrically read by the CCD sensor 34, and the output signal is amplified by the amplifier 36, and then is transmitted to the image processing device 14. Sent. CCD sensor 34
Is, for example, an area CCD sensor of 1380 × 920 pixels.

In the scanner 12, such image reading is performed three times by sequentially inserting the respective color filters of the color filter plate 26 so that one frame of the image can be read as R, G and B.
Read it after separating it into the three primary colors. Here, in the photo printer 10, prior to a fine scan (main scan) which is an image reading for outputting a print, a pre-scan for reading an image at a low resolution is performed in order to determine image processing conditions and the like. Therefore, image reading is performed a total of 6 times in one frame.

The scanner 12 uses an area CCD sensor and adjusts the reading light by the color filter plate 26 to separate the original image (projected light of the film F) into three primary colors to read the image. The scanners that supply image data to the image processing apparatus of the present invention include R, G
Using three line CCD sensors corresponding to the reading of the three primary colors of B and B, the image is read by so-called slit scanning, in which the film F is scanned and conveyed by the carrier and the slit-shaped reading light (projection light) reads the image. It may be an image reading device for reading.

The photo printer 10 of the illustrated example uses a scanner 12 that photoelectrically reads an image photographed on a film such as negative or reversal as an image data supply source of the image processing device 14, but the image processing device 14 receives the image data. As the image data supply source for supplying the image data, in addition to the scanner 12, an image pickup device such as a digital camera or a digital video camera, an image reading device for reading an image of a reflection original, and LA
Communication means such as N (Local Area Network) and computer communication network, various image reading means and image pickup means such as memory cards and media (recording media) such as MO (magneto-optical recording medium), storage means for image data, etc. Can be used in various ways.

As described above, the output signal (image data) from the scanner 12 is output to the image processing device 14 (hereinafter referred to as the processing device 14).

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the processing unit 14.
The processing device 14 is related to the image processing device of the present invention, and includes a data processing unit 38, a prescan (frame) memory 40, a main scan (frame) memory 42, a display image processing unit 44, and a main scan image processing unit 46. , And a color reproduction parameter creating unit 48. Note that FIG. 2 mainly shows parts related to image processing, and in addition to this, the processing device 14 includes a CPU that controls and manages the entire photo printer 10 including the processing device 14, and the photo printer 1.
A memory for storing information necessary for 0 operation and the like, a means for determining the aperture value of the variable aperture 24 and the accumulation time of the CCD sensor 34 at the time of main scan, and the like are arranged, and the operation system 18 and the display 20 are It is connected to each part via this CPU or the like (CPU bus).

The R, G, and B output signals output from the scanner 12 are subjected to A / D (analog / digital) conversion, Log conversion, DC offset correction, dark correction, shading correction, and the like data processing unit 38. Is processed into digital image data, and the pre-scan (image) data is stored in the pre-scan memory 40 in the main scan (image).
The data is stored (stored) in the main scan memory 42, respectively. The pre-scan data and the main scan data are basically the same data except that the resolution (pixel density) and the signal level are different.

The image information stored in the prescan memory 40 is read out by the display image processing section 44 and the color reproduction parameter creating section 48, and the image information stored in the main scan memory 42 is read out by the main scan image processing section 46. .

The display image processing section 44 reads out the prescan data stored in the prescan memory 40,
A blur weight image (data) that smoothly connects the main part region and the background part region is created, preferably, the main part region and the background part region are divided, and the main part region is weighted,
This is a part where blur image processing is performed to create a blur weight image, which is used to process (pre-scan data) to generate display image data to be displayed on the display 20. The display image processing unit 44 includes a region extraction unit 50, a first lookup table (first LUT) 52, a weight mask creation unit 54, a blur mask processing unit 56, a computing unit 58, adders 60 and 62, a second LUT 64 and a signal converter. 66
Have. Here, the area extraction unit 50, the first LUT 52,
The weight mask creation unit 54 and the blur mask processing unit 56
The blur weighted image creating unit of the present invention is configured, and the first LUT 52
The weight mask creating unit 54 constitutes a weight mask creating unit in a broad sense of the present invention. Further, D / which converts the display image data (digital signal) created by the display image processing unit 44 into an analog signal for displaying on the display 20.
An A converter 68 is provided.

On the other hand, the main scan image processing unit (output image creating unit) 46 reads out the main scan data stored in the main scan memory 42, and the color reproduction parameter creating unit 48.
This is a part that is subjected to predetermined image processing using the color reproduction parameters and the like created in (3) and used as output image data for image recording by the printer 16. Main scan image processing unit 46
Is the first LUT 70, Matrices computing unit (MTX) 7
2, adder 74 and second LUT 76. In addition,
The main scan image processing unit 46 may be further provided with a sharpness processing unit that performs sharpness processing.

The color reproduction parameter creating section 48 creates various kinds of image processing information based on the prescan data stored in the prescan memory 40, and data from the display image processing section 44 or an operator from the auxiliary input section 78. A color reproduction parameter is created based on the input data and the like, and a correction amount used when creating an output image from the original image by the main scan to the printer 16 is created. The information created by the color reproduction parameter creation unit 48 is sent to each look-up table 52, 64, 70, 76.

Next, the components of each section will be described.
First, the area extracting unit 50 of the display image processing unit 44 reads the prescan data from the prescan memory 40,
From this, the main part area is extracted and the main part area and the background area are divided. The extraction of the main part region may be performed by automatic analysis of an image using a region extraction technique or by an auxiliary input of an operator.

The method of extracting the main part is not particularly limited, and the operator uses the mouse 18b or the like to indicate a point in the main part, and the operator extracts the main part from the continuity of colors or the like. Examples thereof include a method of cutting out using the method and a method of automatically extracting using a known main part extraction algorithm. As an automatic extraction algorithm of the main part, for example, a method of extracting a specific color, a method of extracting a specific shape pattern, and a region estimated to correspond to a background are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-138470. Method, etc., different evaluation methods for different main parts are evaluated in advance, weights are set, the main parts are extracted by each extraction method, the extracted main parts are weighted with the determined weights, and the main parts are extracted according to the result. A method of determining and extracting a part is illustrated. In addition to this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-346333 and 5-158 are also available.
No. 164, No. 5-165120, No. 6-160993.
No. 8, 184925, No. 9-101579, No. 9-138471 and the like can also be suitably used.

The first LUT 52 analyzes the extracted color image data of the main part region, calculates the color balance with respect to the brightness of the main part region, and sets a weighting function centered on the calculated color balance. . here,
The weight function is set as a look-up table.
The weight mask creation unit 54 creates a weighted image by weighting the image data of the main part area using the first LUT 52.

The blur mask processing unit 56 performs blur mask processing on this weighted image to create a blur weighted image. The blur mask processing unit 56 is, for example, a matrix calculator (MTX) 56a and a low-pass filter (LPF) 56.
b, lookup table (LUT) 56c, but is not limited to this. MTX56a is
Bright / dark image data, which is a luminance signal for performing the dodging process, is generated from the weight image sent from the weight mask creation unit 54. The LPF 56b processes the light-dark image data with a low-pass filter to extract low-frequency components, thereby blurring the light-dark image two-dimensionally and obtaining blurred image data of the read image. The LUT 56c compresses the dynamic range of this blurred image data.

As a method of generating light and dark image data, R,
Examples include a method of taking one-third of the average value of G and B image data, a method of converting color image data into light and dark image data using the YIQ standard, and the like. An example of a method of obtaining bright and dark image data using the YIQ standard is a method of calculating only the Y component of the YIQ standard from the R, G, and B image data by the following formula. Y = 0.3R + 0.59G + 0.11B

The LPF used for the LPF 56b is an FIR (Finite Impulse Reverb) normally used for blur image generation.
spones) type LPF may be used, but in the point that a small circuit can generate blurred image data that greatly blurs an image,
An IIR (Infinite Impulse Respones) type LPF is preferably used. A median filter (MF) may be used instead of the LPF 56b. The use of the MF is preferable in that the edge can be preserved and the blurred image data in which the noise (high frequency component) of the flat portion is cut can be obtained. In addition, taking advantage of the above advantages of MF,
It is particularly preferable to use the MF and the LPF together and to perform the weighted addition of the images obtained by using both the MF and the LPF from the viewpoint that the blurred image data in which the image is greatly blurred can be generated.

Blurred image data generated by the LPF 56b is sent to the LUT 56c and processed by the dynamic range compression table because the following is necessary.

The density range of the image that can be photographed on the film F is usually wider than the reproduction range of the print. For example, in a backlit scene or stroboscopic photography, the density range greatly exceeds the reproduction range of the print (minimum density). In some cases, an image having a difference between the maximum density and the maximum density = dynamic range) is captured. In this case, it is not possible to reproduce all the image data (pixels) on the print, and the high-density area of the film (read signal strength weak) that exceeds the reproduction area, that is, the bright area of the subject, appears white on the print, and vice versa. , The low-density portion of the film that exceeds the reproduction range, that is, the dark portion of the subject, is blackened on the print. Therefore, in order to obtain an image in which all the image data is reproduced, it is necessary to compress the dynamic range of the image data so as to correspond to the print reproduction range. In other words, the image data is adjusted so as to compress the dynamic range by adjusting the densities of the bright and dark areas without changing the gradation of the intermediate density area so as to give the same effect as the dodging by the conventional direct exposure. Need to be processed (dodging process).

In this way, the blur weight image is created in the blur mask processing section 56. On the other hand, in the arithmetic unit 58, if the weight of this blur weighted image is normalized to a reference value, for example, the weight of this blur weighted image is normalized to 1, then 1
The image data of the background area is multiplied by the subtracted value. The adder 60 adds the image data and the blur weighted image data, and the adder 62 adds the added image data to the weighted image data sent from the weight mask creation unit 54 to perform the dodging process. Use as display image data.

This display image data is stored in the second LUT 64.
In, the gradation is converted into final display image data according to the characteristics of the display 20. After that, the signal is converted into a signal corresponding to the display 20 by the signal converter 66, further D / A converted by the D / A converter 68, and displayed on the display 20.

Next, the first L of the main scan image processing unit 46
The UT 70 reads the image data stored in the main scan memory 42 and performs gray balance adjustment, brightness (density) correction, and gradation correction, and LUTs for performing each correction and adjustment are connected in cascade. Is configured. Each LUT of the first LUT 70 is created and set by the color reproduction parameter creating unit 48.

The MTX 72 performs color correction to increase the saturation of the image data processed by the first LUT 70.
The output image (information) obtained was set according to the spectral characteristics of the film F, the spectral characteristics of the photosensitive material (printing paper), the characteristics of the development processing, etc. so that the output image (information) would be finished in an appropriate color despite the dodging processing. Matrix calculation is performed to perform saturation correction (color correction).

In the adder 74, the main image data processed by the MTX 72 is added by the adder 60 to a background image of the blur weighted image and a background image which is multiplied by a reference value, for example, 1 , By adding, the dynamic range of the image data is non-linearly compressed and the dodging process is performed, and the dynamic range of the output image data and the gradations and densities of the light and dark parts are set to be appropriate, and It is an output image that gives a print that reproduces a high-quality image that gives the same impression as when viewing the (shooting scene). At this time, since the blur weight image is created from the pre-scan image data and the number of pixels is different from that of the main scan image data, before the addition by the adder 74, enlargement / reduction processing is performed by a processing unit (not shown) to Make it compatible with scanned image data.

The second LUT 76 uses a color reproduction parameter so that the image data obtained by the addition by the adder 74 from the main scan image data finally becomes the image data that suitably corresponds to the color development of the photosensitive material A. Then, the gradation is converted, and although not shown in the figure, signal conversion or the like is then performed and output to the printer 16.

Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, in step 100 of FIG. 3, the prescan image is read from the prescan memory 40 to the area extracting section 50 of the display image processing section 44. In the next step 110, the area extraction unit 50 extracts a main area such as a person from the read prescan image, and divides the main area and the background area. As described above, this division is performed automatically or by an auxiliary input from the operator.

In step 120, the color image data of the main part area is analyzed in the first LUT 52, the color balance with respect to the brightness of the main part area is calculated, and the weighting function centered on this color balance is set. For example, in the case of a flesh color, the color balance of all flesh colors such as a light flesh color and a dark flesh color or an intermediate flesh color is output for each brightness and weighted.

In step 130, the weight mask creating section 5
In step 4, a weighted image is created by weighting the extracted image data of the main part region, and the next step 1
At 40, the blur mask processing unit 56 performs blur mask processing on this weighted image to create a blur weighted image. The blur weight image weight is sent to the color reproduction parameter creating unit 48 in order to create the gradation correction amount used when creating the final output image.

In step 150, display 2
Display image data for displaying at 0 is created. In the calculator 58, the image data of the background area is multiplied by a value obtained by subtracting the weight of the blur weight image from a reference value, for example, 1, and the result is added by the adder 60 to the blur weight image. In the adder 62, this is added to the weighted image sent from the weighting mask creating unit 54 to perform dodging,
Create display image data.

In step 160, the display image data is gradation converted by the second LUT 64, converted into a signal corresponding to the display 20 by the signal converter 66, and further D / A converted by the D / A converter 68. , Are displayed on the display 20.

On the other hand, in order to create an output image, a color reproduction parameter of the main part area is created in step 170, and a color reproduction parameter of the background area is created in step 180 for each area. For example, when shooting in clear weather, when the background is clear but the face has a shadow, the contrast of the background is not changed and the contrast of the face is softened, or it is cloudy. This is because the gradation of each area is controlled by increasing the contrast of the background without changing the contrast of the face. By controlling the gradation in this way, the reproduced color can be brought closer to the memory color, and a print that gives the same impression as when a person looks at the original scene (shooting scene) can be obtained.

The color reproduction parameter is created for each area, but it may be created for both the main part area and the background area, or only one of them may be created, if necessary. . For example, when the background area is snowy, the background color can be made closer to the memorized color by making it blue and cold, but if only the background is processed at this time, it is the main area. In this case, the color reproduction parameters are created for both areas so that the face becomes blue and the face is made slightly brighter.

These color reproduction parameters are created by the color reproduction parameter creating section 48. For parameters that are not created, the steps 170 or 1 are executed.
When executing 80, a value that does not change the value of the image data is set as a parameter.

The color reproduction parameters are created by automatic analysis in the color reproduction parameter creating unit 48, and are input by the operator from the auxiliary input unit 78 in step 190, or are preliminarily stored in a file according to system or customer instructions. You may register and select from there. For example, the color reproduction parameters of the background area are relatively uniform and easy to determine, so gradations according to the scene may be prepared and stored and may be selected by the operator. An appropriate one may be selected by analysis, or the user may adjust the gradation and register the adjusted gradation, and then select and use it. Here, as the gradation according to the scene, there can be mentioned a snow gradation in which the highlight is C (cyan) taste, an sky gradation in which C is blue and black, and a mountain gradation in which green is vivid.

In step 170, the color reproduction parameter creating section 48 creates the color reproduction parameters of the main part area. First, the prescan image data read from the prescan memory 40 into the color reproduction parameter creating unit 48 is multiplied by the weight of the blur weighted image to create the main part analysis image data. The color reproduction parameter of the main part area, that is, the corrected gradation is calculated from the characteristic amount such as the dynamic range of the main part analysis image data, the average density value, the pixel density distribution, and the color balance of highlight, middle and shadow. Alternatively, the operator may input the color reproduction parameter of the main portion area, that is, the correction gradation from the auxiliary input unit 78. The second LUT 76 uses the correction amount for the main part region obtained by multiplying the correction gradation and the weight of the blur weighted image as the color reproduction parameter of the main part region.
Set to. This correction amount is a signal that is composed of at least one of the R, G, B signals and the luminance signal and should be added to the image data signal. At this time, if the main area is skin and there are many highlight areas and shadow areas and there are many shadow areas, softening is performed mainly on the highlight area. If it is out of the range, a sufficient correction effect can be obtained even if the density is shifted (the density is increased or decreased) within the color reproduction range. Further, when the main area is the skin and the highlight balance is bluish, the gradation may be corrected to M (magenta). Further, the gradation of the person process may not be hardened. Color reproduction parameter creating unit 4 of the present invention
In 8, it is preferable to create color reproduction parameters so as to perform at least one of these various processes.
The color processing on the image data is preferably performed by at least one of the R, G, B signals and the luminance signal.

In step 180, the color reproduction parameter creating section 48 creates color reproduction parameters for the background area. Here, it is assumed that the operator inputs from the auxiliary input section 78, or some gradation patterns are stored as described above and selected from them. A correction amount for the background area, which is obtained by multiplying the color reproduction parameter of the background area by a reference value, for example, one obtained by subtracting the weight of the blur weighted image, is set in the second LUT 76.

Finally, in step 200, an output image is created. First LUT 7 of main scan image processing unit 46
When 0, the image data is read from the main scan memory 42, the gray balance adjustment, the brightness (density) correction and the gradation correction are performed, the saturation correction is performed in the MTX 72, and these processes are performed. The image data is sent to the adder 74. In the adder 74, this image data is
The dodging process is performed by adding the image sent from the adder 60 (the blurred image to the background image multiplied by a reference value, for example, 1 minus weight) To do. At this time, the image sent from the adder 60 is image data created based on the pre-scan image, and the number of pixels is different from that of the main scan image. Therefore, the scaling process is appropriately performed.

In the second LUT 76, the output image is created by adding the correction amount to the image data thus obtained. That is, as conceptually shown in FIG. 4 as a method of creating an output image, the main scan (fine scan) image is weighted with the color reproduction parameters of the main part region with the weight of the blur weighted image, and the background region is also weighted. The color reproduction parameter is weighted by a value obtained by subtracting the weight of the blur-weighted image from a reference value, for example, 1 and added to obtain an output image.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the gradation can be controlled for each area, the reproduced color does not separate from the stored color even when the dodging is performed, and a high quality print can be obtained. In this embodiment, the blur weight image is created from the pre-scan image, but the blur weight image may be created from the main scan image.

Although the image processing apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment,
It goes without saying that various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the main area and the background area are divided and the gradation can be controlled for each area, even if the dodging is performed, a color close to the memory color can be obtained. It can be reproduced and a high quality print can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital photo printer using an example of an image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus of the digital photo printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a method of creating an output image in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 (Digital) Photo Printer 12 scanner 14 (Image) processing device 16 Printer 18 Operation system 18a keyboard 18b mouse 20 display 22 Light source 24 variable aperture 26 color filter plate 28 diffusion box 32 Imaging lens unit 34 CCD sensor 36 amplifier 38 Data processing unit 40 prescan (frame) memory 42 main scan (frame) memory 44 Display image processing unit 46 Main scan image processing unit (output image creation unit) 48 color reproduction parameter creation section 50 area extraction unit 52 First LUT 54 Weight Mask Creation Unit 56 Defocus mask processing unit 58 calculator

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for producing output image data by subjecting image data obtained by photoelectrically reading an image photographed on a film by an image reading means to create output image data. A blur weight image creating unit that creates a blur weight image that smoothly connects the main region and the background region from the data, and color reproduction that creates at least one of the color reproduction parameter of the main region and the color reproduction parameter of the background region. Parameter generation unit, at least one of the color reproduction parameter of the background area weighted by subtracting the weight of the blur weight image from the color reproduction parameter of the main area weighted with the weight of the blur weight image and the reference value And an output image creating unit for creating output image data from the image data using the image processing apparatus. 2. The blur weight image creating unit, an area extracting unit that divides the main area and the background area from the image data, a weight mask creating unit that creates a weight mask for the main area, and The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a blur mask processing unit that performs blur mask processing on a weighted image weighted on a main part region to create the blur weighted image. 3. The area extracting unit divides the main portion area and the background area from the image data by automatic analysis of an image or by an auxiliary input of an operator, and the weighting mask creating unit is arranged to The weight image is created by analyzing the color image data of the partial area, calculating the color balance with respect to the brightness of the main area, and setting a weighting function centered on the calculated color balance. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein 4. The image data obtained by a prescan for reading the image at a low resolution, which is performed prior to a fine scan for reading the image data for creating the output image by the image reading means in the blur mask processing section. 3. The blur weighted image is created using, and when the output image is created from the image data obtained by the fine scan, the blur weighted image is enlarged or reduced. The image processing device according to item 3. 5. The blur mask processing unit directly creates the blur weighted image by using image data obtained by fine scanning to read image data for creating the output image by the image reading unit. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the image processing device is a device. 6. The color reproduction parameter creation unit subtracts the weight of the blur weighted image from a reference value for the main part analysis image data obtained by multiplying the image data by the weight of the blur weighted image. The background part analysis image data multiplied by the weight is created, and the correction part of the main part region is calculated from the feature amount of the main part analysis image data and the feature amount of the background part analysis image data or input by the operator. By multiplying the key by the weight of the blur weight image,
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color reproduction parameter of a main area including a signal to be added to the image data is created. 7. The color reproduction parameter creating unit, when the main part region is skin, has a highlight region and a shadow region, and has a large number of shadow regions, performs processing to soften the highlight. When the partial area is the skin and most of the area is outside the color reproduction range, the density shift is performed within the color reproduction range. When the main area is the skin and the highlight balance is bluish processing for correcting the gradation magenta tint, and the gray level of the person area is to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that to create the color reproduction parameter for performing at least one process of processes that do not contrast increasing The image processing device described. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein color processing of the image data is performed by at least one of an RGB signal and a luminance signal. 9. The color reproduction parameter of the background area is prepared by preparing a gradation according to the scene and inputted by an operator, or is selected by an appropriate one by image analysis,
Alternatively, the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the user adjusts the gradation, registers the adjusted gradation, and selects and uses it.