JP3602280B2 - Photographic image output method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for outputting a photographic image, and particularly to a method for printing out a photographic image recorded on a photographic film as a photographic print, and further storing the photographic image data as a file for later use. The present invention relates to a photographic image output method and apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a photofinishing system that reads an image of each frame of a photograph recorded on a photographic film (hereinafter simply referred to as a film) by a film scanner, obtains image data, performs necessary image processing, and outputs the resultant as a photographic print. Have been.
[0003]
On the other hand, photo image data is stored as image files on removable media so that it can be used on personal computers, etc., but this service is generally performed only for some photos selected by customers Usually, equipment such as a scanner and an image processing apparatus are provided separately from the photofinishing system as described above. At this time, in order to provide a high-quality image file that can be printed out as a photographic print as well as displayed on a monitor, it was necessary to prepare expensive equipment as the above facilities. It was not always cheap.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In recent years, with the rapid spread of personal computers, demand for the above-described file output service to removable media has been increasing. In addition, a service form has been proposed in which all customer photographs are stored and stored as image files in a server computer (hereinafter referred to as an image server) having a large-capacity disk installed in a lab or the like and used for additional printing. ing. For this reason, there is a demand for a method capable of efficiently outputting a photograph image data file at a lower cost.
[0005]
Also, from the viewpoint of the image quality of a photographic image, it is not very preferable to separately perform print output and file output as in the related art. When processing is performed separately, reading conditions and image processing conditions do not always match. For example, when a print is created from an image file, the same finish as in simultaneous printing is not necessarily obtained, and the same finish is obtained. This is disadvantageous in that adjustments must be made by trial and error.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and in the case where a photographic image recorded on a film is printed out and stored in a storage medium as an image file, an image file capable of obtaining a desired finish at the time of printing is efficiently output and the cost is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic image output method and apparatus that can be provided to customers.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the photographic image output method of the present invention, a plurality of image frames are sequentially read by a film scanner having an automatic film feed function to obtain a plurality of image data, and the plurality of image frames are recorded on a photographed and developed photographic film. The image data is printed out by a printer and output to a predetermined storage medium as a file. That all SANYO which attempt to both print output and the file output of the image data in one film handling, in particular, performs a first reading in one direction of the film feeding, the image data read It is characterized in that all the printouts are made, then the second reading is performed with the film feeding in the opposite direction, and the read image data is output to a file (of course, the file is output and then the printout is performed) Good).
[0008]
It is desirable that the reading be performed only on the image of a desired frame among the frames of the photograph recorded on the photographic film. The “desired frame” means a normal frame excluding, for example, defocus, an extreme under, an over frame, and the like. In an APS (Advanced Photo System) or the like, a photographer can judge whether printing is necessary or not and read the information magnetically on the film before reading the film. Some have a function of reading this information and automatically skipping unnecessary frames. That is, in such a case, the “desired frame” means a frame in which information indicating that printing is required is recorded on the film.
[0010]
As a general method of reading a film, there is known a method of performing a prescan to determine reading conditions and the like and then performing a fine scan for obtaining image data of a desired resolution. “One reading” means one reading for obtaining image data of a desired resolution, and the prescan is not counted.
[0011]
When performing image processing on image data before performing print output and file output, it is desirable to perform different image processing in accordance with the image quality required for the photographic image output in each mode.
[0012]
Further, the photographic image output apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for performing an output process according to the above-described method, and automatically feeds a plurality of photographic frame images recorded on a photographed and developed photographic film to the photographic film. A film scanner for sequentially reading while obtaining a plurality of image data, a printer for printing out the image data as a photographic print, and a file output means for outputting a file of the image data to a predetermined storage medium; Image data read by one-way film feeding by a scanner is sequentially printed out by the printer, and image data read by one-way reverse film feeding is sequentially output to the file output means by a file. It is assumed that.
[0013]
In this apparatus, when performing different image processing on image data and then performing print output / file output, two image processing means are provided to perform image processing for print output and image processing for file output, respectively. The processing may be performed, or one image processing unit that can adjust the processing conditions by changing the parameters may be provided, and the image processing may be performed by changing the parameters to print output or file output as necessary.
[0014]
The photographic image output method and apparatus of the present invention is intended for a case where a large amount of film must be quickly processed by utilizing an automatic film feeding function, such as a photofinishing system installed in a laboratory or the like. I have. In other words, unlike a case where a film scanner and a printer are connected to a personal computer, a film is manually set while selecting frames, scanned, and then output as a file and then printed out. It is assumed that the image data is output one after another in the order in which it is read, and that the next data is read while the output processing is being performed. In other words, as a system configuration, for example, as in a conventional laboratory auto-printer, read image data is alternately written to two frame memories, and image data is read and output from the frame memory to which writing has not been performed. It assumes a simple configuration.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
According to the photographic image output method and apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of photographic image data obtained by one film handling is printed out by a printer and output to a predetermined storage medium as a file. By effectively utilizing the equipment, it is possible to efficiently perform both print creation and image file saving at low cost.
[0016]
At this time, performing the print output and the file output by one film handling means that when performing the image processing, the processing is performed based on the same criterion. In the case of print output, a desired finish can be obtained without adjustment by trial and error.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a photographic image output method and apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. This is a photo finishing system installed in a lab or the like, and has a function of outputting photographic image data output as a simultaneous print as a file to a removable medium or an image server in the lab.
[0018]
This system, like the conventional photo-finishing system, reads all normal photographs except for out-of-focus images, extreme unders, over frames, etc., and obtains digital image data obtained by this. Is stored in the frame memory 2. Alternatively, when reading an APS film, as described above, only frames requiring printing may be read based on the information magnetically recorded on the film indicating whether printing is necessary.
[0019]
Reading is performed by performing two scans of pre-scan and fine scan on each frame. The pre-scan is performed to set an optimal reading condition, and image data obtained by the fine scan is used for output.
[0020]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, pre-scan and fine scan may be performed for each frame, and then the film may be fed by one frame. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the pre-scan and fine scan are performed at different positions. 3 can be read in about half the time of the method of FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the film may be sequentially fed in one direction to perform only the pre-scan for all the frames, and then the film may be fed in the reverse direction to perform the fine scan.
[0021]
The image data read in this way is stored alternately in the two frame memories 2a and 2b. This is so that the read processing and the output processing can be performed in parallel by making the output processing of the image data in the other frame memory while the read image data is written in one frame memory. To do that.
[0022]
Image data extracted from the frame memory 2 for output processing is processed by two image processing means 3a and 3b, respectively. At this time, the processing by the two image processing means and the subsequent output processing are performed simultaneously (in parallel) for each image data. When both processes are completed, the frame memory is switched, and the next image data is read into the two image processing units.
[0023]
The image processing performed by the image processing units 3a and 3b is, for example, color and gradation correction, but the processing of the two image processing units differs depending on the purpose of outputting image data. For example, the image processing unit 3b performs a process for improving the image quality when the image data is recorded on a photographic paper as a photographic print, and the image processing unit 3a makes the image data displayed on the monitor of the personal computer easy to see. For image processing. However, even though different image processing is performed, the processing performed by the image processing unit 3a and the processing performed by the image processing unit 3b can be associated with each other. When the file is printed out later, the image processing to be performed can be uniquely determined from the association.
[0024]
The image data processed by the image processing means 3a is compressed by the compression means 4 and stored in the storage medium 6 as a compressed image file. On the other hand, the image data processed by the image processing means 3b is printed out by the digital printer 5.
[0025]
In the embodiment described above, file output and print output are simultaneously performed for each image data. Next, an embodiment in which file output and print output are alternately performed for each image data will be described. This will be described with reference to FIG. The mode of film reading in the embodiment of FIG. 2 is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG.
[0026]
The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes image processing means 3 for file output and print output respectively. However, the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has only one image processing means. When the processing path is switched to the compression means 4, image processing for file output is performed, and when the processing path is switched to the digital printer 5, processing for print output is performed.
[0027]
In the embodiment of FIG. 2, file output and print output may be alternately performed for each image data. For example, after image data of all frames read by sending a film in one direction is output to a file, The processing path may be switched, then the film may be fed in the reverse direction, each frame may be read again, and the image data may be printed out.
[0028]
Here, in implementing the present invention, whether to adopt the form of FIG. 1 or the form of FIG. 2 may be determined in consideration of the capability of the film scanner or the digital printer. For example, when it takes a long time to read by a film scanner, there is a high possibility that a wait occurs in the output processing. Therefore, it is sufficient to alternately perform output without providing two image processing units. That is, it is desirable to select a mode that maximizes the usage rate of each facility.
[0029]
When file output and print output are performed by the photographic image output method and apparatus according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. It is desirable to record it below. Thus, for example, when a request for additional printing is received, the search of the image file 8 stored in the image server 6 of the laboratory becomes easy, and a quick service can be provided.
[0030]
If the apparatus described above is installed in a lab or the like as an alternative to a conventional photofinishing system, file output as well as print output can be performed at the same cost as that required for conventional print output. And provide inexpensive services to customers.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a photographic image output device according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a photographic image output device according to the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the film feeding sequence. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another example of the film feeding sequence. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of recording a file name on a print. Description]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 film 2 frame memory 3 image processing means 4 compression means 5 digital printer 6 storage medium 7 print 8 image file 9 simultaneous print 10 index print

Claims (2)

A plurality of image data obtained by reading the images of the frames of a plurality of photographs recorded on the photographed and developed photographic film by one-way film feeding by a film scanner are sequentially printed out by a printer,
Outputting a plurality of image data obtained by reading the image of the photographic frame by film feeding in the direction opposite to the one direction by the film scanner and sequentially outputting the image data to a predetermined storage medium as a file; Method. A film scanner that sequentially reads images of a plurality of frames of a photograph recorded on a photographed and developed photographic film while automatically feeding the photographic film to obtain a plurality of image data,
A printer for printing out the image data as a photographic print,
File output means for outputting a file of the image data to a predetermined storage medium,
The image data read by one-way film feeding by the film scanner is sequentially printed out by the printer, and the image data read by the one-way film feeding in the opposite direction is sequentially output as a file by the file output means. An output device for a photographic image, characterized in that:

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