JP3468944B2 - Image reproducing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image reproduction for displaying as a visible image an image signal obtained from a color image carried on a reflective original such as a photograph or a printed matter, a transparent original such as a negative film or a reversal film. A method and apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image information recorded on a photographic film (hereinafter referred to as a film) such as a negative film and a reversal film and a printed matter is photoelectrically read, and the read image is converted into a digital signal and then variously read. The development of digital photo printers has been advanced in which image processing is performed to obtain image information for recording, and a photosensitive material such as photographic paper is scanned and exposed to print by recording light modulated according to the image information.

A digital photo printer is used to edit a plurality of images, to edit an image such as to divide an image, to lay out a print image such as to edit a character and an image, to adjust various kinds of images such as color / density adjustment, scaling, and edge enhancement. The processing can be performed freely, and the edited and image-processed print can be output according to the intended use. Also, in conventional printing by surface exposure, it is not possible to reproduce all the image density information recorded on the film due to the restriction of the reproducible density range of the photosensitive material, but according to the digital photo printer, it is recorded on the film. It is possible to output a print that reproduces almost 100% of the recorded image density information.

Such a digital photo printer is basically a reading means for reading an image recorded on a document such as a film, an image processing of the read image is performed to determine subsequent exposure conditions, and the exposure conditions are determined according to the determined exposure conditions. It is composed of an image recording means for scanning and exposing a photosensitive material for development processing and displaying it on a monitor.

In a device for reading an image recorded on a film or the like, in reading by slit scanning, for example, a slit-shaped reading light extending in a one-dimensional direction is applied to the film, and the film is substantially defined in the one-dimensional direction. Move in the orthogonal direction (or move the reading light and photoelectric conversion element)
By doing so, the film is two-dimensionally scanned. The transmitted light carrying the film image transmitted through the film is CC
An image is formed on the light receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion element such as a D line sensor, photoelectrically converted, and read. The read light amount data is amplified, converted into a digital signal by A / D conversion, subjected to various image processing such as correction of characteristic variations by each CCD element, density conversion, and magnification conversion, and transferred to an image recording means. To be done.

In the image recording means, the transferred image information is reproduced as a visible image on a display such as a CRT. The operator looks at the reproduced image and, if necessary, further corrects gradation correction, color / density correction, etc. to this reproduced image (setting of setup conditions), and the reproduced image passes as a finished print (verification OK). ), It is transferred to the developing means or the monitor as image information for recording.

In the image reading apparatus, if the image recording by raster scanning (light beam scanning) is used, exposure of three primary color photosensitive layers formed on a photosensitive material, for example, three colors of R, G and B are exposed. Of the three types of light beams are modulated in accordance with image information for recording and deflected in the main scanning direction (corresponding to the one-dimensional direction), and at the same time, in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction In the sub-scan direction (relative sub-scan between the deflected light beam and the photosensitive material)
Thereby, the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam modulated according to the recorded image, and the read image of the film is recorded on the photosensitive material.

At this time, the photosensitive material is wound in a roll shape, and the rolled photosensitive material is pulled out and conveyed, and a hole is punched between each frame of an image to be recorded by a hole punch, and between the holes. The light-sensitive material of (1) is exposed as a single frame image by a light beam, and the image is recorded on the light-sensitive material as a latent image.

The exposed light-sensitive material is cut into a size of one frame and conveyed to a developing means, and a developing process according to the light-sensitive material, for example, in the case of a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material, coloring / developing → bleaching / fixing → washing with water. → Development processing such as drying is performed and output as a finished print.

[0010]

When an image is read from a film by the image reproducing apparatus as described above and the read image is recorded on a photosensitive material, an image is obtained from one of a plurality of frame images recorded on the film. After the signal is obtained and the image signal is subjected to image processing to finish recording on the photosensitive material, another frame image is read and recorded on the photosensitive material. For this reason, when the images are continuously read from the film in which a plurality of frame images are recorded, the next frame image is read until the whole process of recording one frame image on the photosensitive material is completed. However, the processing efficiency is low, and it takes an extremely long time to record the images of all the frames recorded on the film on the photosensitive material.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is an image reproducing apparatus capable of efficiently performing processing in a short time even when a plurality of frame images recorded on a document such as a film are continuously read and processed. It is an object to provide a method and a device.

The image reproducing method according to the present invention uses one photoelectric conversion element from a document on which a plurality of color images are recorded.
The color image is read photoelectrically sequentially at a relatively low resolution to obtain a pre-read image signal representing the color image , pre-reading is performed, and the pre-read image signal is subjected to predetermined image processing and sequentially viewed on the display means. The main reading is performed by displaying the image as an image and reading the color image photoelectrically sequentially from the original at a relatively high resolution using the photoelectric conversion element to obtain a main reading image signal representing the color image. in sequential image reproducing method for reproducing main read image signal subjected to predetermined image processing to the signal as a visible image, the destination read image signal
After obtaining the issue, perform the main reading, and during the main reading,
The pre-read image signal is subjected to the predetermined image processing to display the display image.
The pre-reading is performed after displaying the main reading image signal.
During the pre-reading, the predetermined image is added to the main reading image signal.
It is characterized in that the pre-reading and the pre-reading image signal are displayed on the display means and the main-reading and the reproduction of the main-reading image signal are performed in parallel so as to be processed and reproduced. .

The image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is for implementing the above-mentioned image reproducing method according to the present invention, and photoelectrically converts a color image from a document on which a plurality of color images are recorded at a relatively low resolution. Pre-reading to obtain a pre-reading image signal representing the color image is performed, and the color images are photoelectrically sequentially read from the document at a relatively high resolution to obtain a main-reading image signal representing the color image. With one photoelectric conversion element for main reading
A reading unit for a first image processing means for performing predetermined image processing to the destination read image signal, and a second image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on the present read image signal, the image processing facilities In the image reproducing device, comprising: a display unit for sequentially displaying the read-ahead image signals thus generated as a visible image; and a reproducing unit for sequentially reproducing the image-read main-reading image signal as a visible image, First to temporarily store the pre-read image signal
Buffer means, second buffer means for temporarily storing the main-read image signal, and the pre-read image signal stored in the first buffer after the pre-read image signal is obtained by the reading means. Read out after storage in the first buffer
The main reading is performed by means, and the first reading is performed during the main reading.
Read out the pre-read image signal stored in the buffer means
And perform the image processing by the first image processing means.
The display means displays the pre-read image signal that has been subjected to the image processing.
And the main reading image signal was obtained by the reading means.
After that, the main reading image signal is stored in the second buffer,
After the storage in the second buffer, the reading means
Pre-reading is performed, and in the middle of the pre-reading, the second buffer means
The stored real reading image signal is read out to read the second image.
The image processing is performed by the image processing means.
The reproduced image signal thus reproduced is reproduced by the reproducing means.
, The reading means, the first and second buffers
Means, the first and second image processing means , and the table
It further comprises an indicating means and a control means for controlling the reproducing means .

[0014]

In the image reproducing method and apparatus according to the present invention, the pre-read image signal and the main read image signal read by the reading means are temporarily stored in the first and second buffer means, respectively. The pre-read image signal stored in the first buffer is subjected to image processing by the first image processing means by the control means and is displayed on the display means. The read image signal is subjected to image processing by the second image processing means and is reproduced by the reproducing means. On the other hand, when the preread image signal is stored in the first buffer, the control unit then performs the main reading by the reading unit and stores the obtained main reading image signal in the second buffer. Then, during the main reading, image processing is performed on the preread image signal to display the image represented by the preread image signal on the display means. When the preread image signal is displayed on the display means, the second read image signal is then subjected to image processing by the second image processing means, and the processed main read image signal is reproduced as a visible image by the reproducing means. . On the other hand, while the main reading image signal is being processed, the reading unit prereads other images recorded on the document and is recorded in the first buffer. Then, in the same manner as described above, while the image processing is being performed on the preread image signal, the main reading is performed on another image.
At this time, if the process for the previous main reading image signal is continuing, the main reading image signal representing another image is stored in the second buffer and waits for the next process to start. Thus, as described above, the image processing method and apparatus according to the present invention is configured to read and store in the first and second buffers, perform image processing, and display or reproduce in parallel.

For this reason, even when the image is continuously read from a document on which a plurality of images are recorded and recorded on the photosensitive material, the reading, the image processing, the display on the display means, and the reproduction processing are performed. Since the processing can be performed in parallel, it is possible to eliminate the waiting time until the processing of one image is completed, which enables efficient processing and shortens the processing time.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a digital photographic printer which is an embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

The illustrated digital photo printer 100 includes a bar code reader 4 for reading the bar code of the photo film 20.
2. A screen detection sensor 41 that detects the area of each frame 21 from the film 20 by a density change, and a sprocket 4 that meshes with the perforations of the film 20 and conveys the film 20.
4, the motor 43 for driving the sprocket 44, the frame number read by the film number read by the bar code reader 42 and the area of each frame 21 read by the screen detection sensor 41 are transmitted to the data bus and the motor 43 A film scanner control interface (I / F) 40 for transmitting a drive control signal to the motor 43, a light source 31 for irradiating the photographing frame 21 of the film 20 with light, a light control unit 32, a color separation unit 33, and a diffusion box 34. The light source unit 30 consisting of, the CCD 52 which photoelectrically reads the transmitted image of the image recorded on the photographing frame 21 irradiated with the light from the light source unit 30 through the image forming optical system 51, and the focal length of the image forming optical system 51. A / D converter 53 for converting an image signal corresponding to the transmitted image photoelectrically converted by the CCD 52 into a digital image signal S. A first image processing device 54 that outputs a high-quality image signal to the frame memory 55 by correcting the digital image signal S output from the / D converter 53 against the influence of shading and dark current, and the frame memory A second image processing device 56 and a second image processing device 56 for performing a process described below on the image-processed digital image signal S once stored in 55.
A modulator driver 57 that outputs a modulation signal based on the digital image signal S that has been subjected to the image processing whose parameters have been changed, a printer 60 that reproduces a visible image based on the signal modulated by the modulator driver 57, and a printer Control I / F 58, hard disk for storing the digital image signal S stored in the frame memory 55 via a data bus
75. A CRT that reproduces a visible image based on the digital image signal S, or displays image processing conditions, etc., if necessary
Keyboard for inputting monitor 71 and display I / F 70, image processing conditions, correction values of image processing conditions, image search information, etc.
73, keyboard I / F 72, image search information consisting of frame numbers read by the bar code reader 42 via the data bus, and image processing input from the first image processing device 54 and the second image processing device 56. The condition and the digital image signal S input from the frame memory 55 are stored in the hard disk 75 in association with each other, and one digital image signal S associated with the image search information input from the keyboard 73 is stored in the hard disk 75. Search control from
Other CPUs that control each device connected to the data bus
74, a communication port 76 connected to another digital photographic printer system via a communication line, and a keyboard 78 arranged at an inspection place for inspecting photographic prints reproduced by the printer 60 and for inputting a reprint instruction as necessary. And a keyboard I / F77.

The hard disk 75 has a storage capacity of 25 GB (gigabytes) or more. Normally, the image signal required to obtain the resolution corresponding to L size (about 9 cm x 13 cm) photographic prints is calculated to be about 5 MB / 1 image, and when this image signal is data compressed to the extent that the image quality does not deteriorate. , The image signal becomes about 1MB / 1 image. An average minilab store can set the number of working days to 25 days / month, the number of films to be brought in to 50 / day, and the number of shooting frames per film to 20 frames. Assuming that the old image signals that have passed over one month since they were brought in are sequentially erased, the storage capacity required for the hard disk 75 is about 25 GB as described above.

In detail, the printer 60 is composed of a printing section, a developing section and a drying section. The printing section has a roll-shaped photographic printing paper 100 arranged in a magazine 62 with a reference hole for positioning. A hole punch unit 63 for punching, a sub-scanning drive system 64 for transporting the photographic printing paper 100 in the longitudinal direction (sub-scanning direction) with reference to a positioning reference hole, and a signal modulated by a modulator driver 57 are modulated. An exposure scanner 61 that irradiates the photographic printing paper 100 while scanning light in the main scanning direction, and a back printing unit 65 that prints the image search information input through the printer control I / F 58 on the back surface of the photographic printing paper 100. ing.

In the drying section, a cutter 66 for cutting the dried photographic printing paper (photographic prints) 100 one by one and a sorter 67 for arranging the photographic prints cut one by one in a line are arranged. Is equipped with.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the second image processing device 56. As shown in FIG. 2, the second image processing device 56
Is a first memory for temporarily storing the digital pre-read image signal S _P ′ detected by the CCD 52 and converted into a digital signal.
Buffer 12, a first image processing means 13 for performing a predetermined image processing on the pre-read image signal S _P ′, and a first image processing means 13 for temporarily storing the digital real-read image signal S _Q ′. It comprises a second buffer 15 and a second image processing means 16 for performing final image processing on the read image signal S _Q ′ to obtain a final processed image signal S _Q ″. Here, the second buffer 15 is divided into a first area 15A and a second area 15B.

Next, the operation of the image reproducing apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, first, CC
Pre-reading to obtain the pre-read image signal S _P with a relatively low detection interval of D52 and low resolution, and after this pre-reading, CCD
The main reading is performed to obtain the main reading image signal S _Q with a high resolution by making the detection interval of 52 relatively small.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence of operations according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, the motor 43 is driven by the film scanner control I / F 40, the transport sprocket 44 connected to the motor 43 rotates, and the left end of the film piece 20, which is a negative film having an image recorded on each frame 21, is fed to the transport sprocket. The film piece 20 is carried by the carrying sprocket 44 by being inserted into the film 44.

Further, the transport sprocket 44 is a film piece.
While the sheet 20 is being conveyed, the screen detection sensor 41 reads the density of the film piece 20 in order to search for the area where the image frame 21 exists, and the film scanner control I / F 40 changes the direction of the conveyance based on the read density information. The operation of the motor 43 is controlled by the control of the CPU 74 so that the first top 21 stops at a predetermined reading position.

When the screen detection sensor 41 detects the first frame 21 and the first frame 21 is stopped at a predetermined reading position under the control of the CPU 74, light is emitted from the light source unit 30 toward the frame 21. The transmission image of the top 21 illuminated with light enters the imaging optical system 51.

The transmitted image incident on the imaging optical system 51 is a CCD
A predetermined image is formed on the image receiving surface of 52. In the present embodiment, first, the pre-read image signal S _P
Therefore, the detection interval of the CCD 52 is set to be relatively coarse. The CCD 52 photoelectrically converts the image into an image signal representing the image recorded on the frame 21. The converted image signal is converted into a digital pre-read image signal S by the A / D converter 53.
_It is converted to _P ′ and input to the first image processing device 54, and the effects of shading and dark current are removed. The digital pre-read image signal S _P ′ processed by the first image processing device 54 is temporarily stored in the frame memory 55.

The preread image signal S _P ′ temporarily stored in the frame memory 55 is input to the second image processing device 56.
In the second image processing device 56, the digital pre-read image signal S _P ′ is input to the first buffer 12 where it is temporarily stored. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the pre-read image signal S _P ′ is sequentially input to the first buffer 12 after the prescan is started. Then the first buffer 12
The preread image signal S _P ′ is read from the image processing means 1
Input to 3 and image processing such as gradation processing is performed. The image-processed pre-read image signal S _P ″ is input to the CRT 71 and displayed as a visible image. The first buffer
12 is the pre-read image signal S _P ′ after the prescan is started.
Is used until the image processing for the above is finished, and the first buffer 12 is cleared after the image processing is finished.

The operator observes the hue and gradation of the image displayed on the CRT 71, and if necessary, corrects the hue and determines the final image processing condition G.

On the other hand, main scanning (fine scanning) is performed during the image processing of the pre-read image signal S _P ′. This fine scan is started at the same time as the prescan is completed. That is, as in the case of obtaining the pre-read image signal S _P described above, the light source unit 30
Is emitted toward the frame 21, and the transmission image of the frame 21 irradiated with the light enters the imaging optical system 51.

The transmitted image incident on the imaging optical system 51 is a CCD
A predetermined image is formed on the image receiving surface of 52. In the fine scan, the CCD is used to obtain the read image signal S _Q.
The detection interval of 52 is set to be relatively fine. CCD
52 photoelectrically converts the image into an image signal representing the image recorded on the frame 21. The converted image signal is converted into a digital main reading image signal S _Q ′ by the A / D converter 53,
It is input to the first image processing device 54, and the effects of shading and dark current are removed. The digital actual reading image signal S _Q ′ processed by the first image processing device 54 is
Once stored in the frame memory 55, the second image processing device
Entered in 56.

The digital read image signal S _Q ′ is input to the first area 15A of the second buffer 15 and temporarily stored therein. That is, as shown in FIG.
The fine reading image signal S _Q ′ is sequentially input to the first area 15A of the first scanning section 15 after the fine can is started. Next, the read image signal S _Q ′ is read from the first area 15A of the second buffer 15, and the final image processing determined by the first image processing means 13 is performed by the second image processing means 16. Image processing is performed based on the condition G, and the final processed image signal S
_Q ″ is obtained. The processed image signal S _Q ″ is input to the printer 60 described later. In the printer 60, the processed image signal S _Q ″ is printed as a visible image on photographic paper or the like. The first buffer 12 performs image processing on the main reading image signal S _Q ′ after the prescan is started. Used until finished.

On the other hand, at the same time when the fine scan is completed, the film 20 is frame-fed, the second frame image to be read subsequently moves to a predetermined reading position, and this frame image is processed in the same manner as described above. Prescan is performed. The digital pre-read image signal S _P ′ obtained by this pre-scan is temporarily stored in the first buffer 12, subjected to image processing by the image processing means 13, and displayed on the CRT 71 as a visible image. .

Further, when the prescan of the second image to be read subsequently is completed and the image processing is started, the fine scan is carried out, the processing is carried out in the same manner as described above, and the digital actual reading is carried out. The image signal S _Q ′ is obtained. At this time, since the image processing for the main read image signal S _Q ′ representing the first frame image read previously is not completed,
Read image signal S _Q ′ representing the frame image of the second buffer
It is temporarily stored in the second area 15B of 15. And the first
After the image processing for the frame image is completed, it is input to the second image processing means 16 and subjected to the image processing to obtain the processed image signal S _Q ″.
The read image signal S _Q ′ stored in the area 15A is cleared.

On the other hand, when the fine scan for the second frame image is completed, the pre-scan for the subsequent third frame image is started, and the fine scan is further performed, and the main reading image signal S _Q ′ obtained by this is obtained. It is stored in the first area 15A of the second buffer 15. Below, the film
The frame images recorded in 20 are sequentially read, and the image processing is performed while alternately storing the obtained actual read image signal S _Q ′ in the first area 15A and the second area 15B of the second buffer. , The reading of the frame image recorded on the film 20 is completed.

As described in detail above, the image recording method and apparatus according to the present invention stores the pre-read image signal in the first buffer after the prescan is completed, and the pre-read image stored in the first buffer is stored. Fine scanning is performed during processing of the image signal, and the main reading image signal obtained by the fine scanning is stored in the second buffer, and the main reading image stored in the second buffer is stored. While processing a signal, another frame image is prescanned to obtain a preread image signal.

Therefore, even when the frame images are continuously read from the film on which a plurality of images are recorded and recorded on the photosensitive material, the reading, the image processing, and the CR are performed.
Since the display to T and the reproduction processing can be performed in parallel, the waiting time until the processing of one image is completed can be eliminated, the processing can be performed efficiently, and the processing time can be shortened. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image reading device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of a second image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating details of processing performed in the image reading apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 First buffer 13 First image processing means 14 CRT 15 Second buffer 16 Second image processing means 20 film pieces 21 Shooting frames 30 light source unit 41 Screen detection sensor 43 motor 44 sprockets 50 AF motor 51 Imaging optics 52 CCD 54 First image processing device 56 Second image processing device

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. From a document on which a plurality of color images are recorded
Perform prefetch to obtain a preliminary readout image signal representing the color image by photoelectrically sequentially reads the color image by a relatively low resolution using one of the photoelectric conversion element, performs predetermined image processing to the distal read image signal Are sequentially displayed on the display means as a visible image, and the photoelectric conversion element is used from the original.
The main reading is performed by photoelectrically sequentially reading the color image at a relatively high resolution to obtain a main reading image signal representing the color image, and the main reading image signal obtained by performing predetermined image processing on the main reading image signal is generated. In the image reproducing method of sequentially reproducing as a visible image, the main reading is performed after the pre-read image signal is obtained, and the main reading is performed.
The pre-read image signal is subjected to the predetermined image processing during
And then displaying on the display means to obtain the main reading image signal
The pre-reading is performed on the main reading image signal during the pre-reading.
Displaying the pre-reading and the pre-reading image signal on the display unit and performing the main reading and the reproduction of the main reading image signal in parallel so as to perform the predetermined image processing and reproduce. Image playback method. Wherein the relatively low resolution from the plurality of original color image is recorded by reading sequentially the color image photoelectrically performs prefetching obtaining preliminary read-out image signal representing the color image, comparison from the original One photoelectric conversion in which the main reading is performed by photoelectrically sequentially reading the color images with an extremely high resolution to obtain a main reading image signal representing the color image.
A reading unit having an element, a first image processing unit for performing a predetermined image processing on the preread image signal, a second image processing unit for performing a predetermined image processing on the main reading image signal, and the image processing In an image reproducing device comprising display means for sequentially displaying the pre-read image signal subjected to the above as a visible image, and reproducing means for sequentially reproducing the above-mentioned main-read image signal subjected to the image processing as a visible image First buffer means for temporarily storing the preread image signal, second buffer means for temporarily storing the main read image signal, and after obtaining the preread image signal by the reading means stores the tip read image signal to the first buffer, the first buffer
After the memory is stored in the file, the reading means performs the main reading.
Stored in the first buffer means during the main reading
The first image processing hand reads the destination read image signal was
Before the image processing is performed by the step
The pre-read image signal is displayed on the display means, and the reading means
After obtaining the main reading image signal by
Storage in the second buffer, storage in the second buffer
The pre-reading is performed by the reading means after the
The read image stored in the second buffer means therein
The signal is read and the image is processed by the second image processing means.
The read image signal that has been subjected to image processing and subjected to the image processing
So that the reading means can be reproduced by the reproducing means.
The first and second buffer means, the first and second image processing means , the display means, and the reproducing device.
An image reproducing apparatus further comprising: a control unit that controls a step .