JP3615022B2 - Method for adjusting output data of photographic paper printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention uses a color table in which input digital image data is a standard color output and an output energy table for adjusting output energy, or a conversion table in which the color table and the output energy table are used together. The present invention relates to a method for adjusting output data of a photographic paper printer to be converted into output data to an exposure unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Next, a conventional example will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining a conventional photographic paper printer.
[0003]
In the drawing, in the photographic paper printer 1, a color table 2 that outputs input digital image data as a standard color output, an energy table 3 that adjusts output energy, and an exposure that exposes the photographic paper 5 according to the output data. A unit 4 is provided.
[0004]
There is also a photographic paper printer provided with a conversion table in which a color table and an output energy table are integrated.
A paper magazine 6 accommodates the photographic paper 5 and is set in the photographic paper printer.
[0005]
In the photographic paper printer having such a configuration, the output data to the exposure unit 4 is adjusted by reading the print pattern of the test print 7 that is output to the exposure unit 4 according to the exposure color with the densitometer 8 or the like. From this, the color table 2 and the energy table 3 are calculated.
[0006]
In the case of the photographic paper printer 1 corresponding to a plurality of types of photographic paper 5, the color table 2 and the energy table 3 are necessary for each photographic paper 5. In such a case, the paper magazine 6 is provided with a memory 6a, color table data and energy table data are stored in the memory 6a, and when the paper magazine 6 is set in the photographic paper printer 1, the photographic paper printer 1 Reads the color table data and energy table data in the memory 6 a in the paper magazine 6 and writes the data to the color table 2 and the energy table 3.
[0007]
In addition, a color table 2 and an energy table 3 for each photographic paper set in the photographic paper printer 1 are provided, and these are switched according to the photographic paper set in the photographic paper printer 1.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above photographic paper printer has the following problems.
[0009]
(1) Even with the same type of photographic paper, the sensitivity is slightly different when the paper width is different, so calculation of the color table 2 and the energy table 3 is required.
On the other hand, the method of reading the print pattern of the test print 7 that has been output to the exposure unit 4 according to the exposure color with the densitometer 8 or the like and recalculating the color table 2 and the energy table 3 from the result is troublesome. It takes time.
[0010]
Further, a large amount of memory for storing the data of the color table 2 and the energy table 3 is required.
(2) Since the developer changes little by little every day and the light quantity of the exposure unit also changes, it is necessary to recalculate the color table and the energy table for each photographic paper type every day in order to maintain the output characteristics.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for adjusting output data of a photographic paper printer that is easy to operate and can be adjusted in a short time.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problems, a color table that uses input digital image data as a standard color output and an energy table that adjusts output energy are used, or the color table and the energy table are combined. A method for adjusting the output data of a photographic paper printer for converting into output data to the exposure unit using the converted table, and grouping a plurality of photographic papers having similar characteristics according to the exposure characteristics. When standard data for photographic paper is provided as a standard for photographic paper, and photographic paper other than the standard photographic paper in the group is used, the density value of the test pattern using the standard photographic paper and the print other than the standard photographic paper It is characterized by correcting the output data to the exposure unit from the density value and difference of the test pattern using paper and the standard exposure data. That is a method of adjusting the output data of the photographic paper printer.
[0013]
When using common printing paper, only the standard exposure data can be used, and when using printing paper other than the common printing paper, the output data can be corrected by the difference between the standard exposure data and the common printing paper. Therefore, it is easy to operate and can be adjusted in a short time.
[0014]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the reference exposure data is corrected from a difference between a density value of a test pattern using the reference photographic paper and a density value of a reference test pattern. This is a characteristic adjustment method of output data of a photographic paper printer.
[0015]
By correcting the standard exposure data from the difference between the density value of the test pattern using the standard photographic paper and the density value of the reference test pattern, it is easy to correct the change in the developer and the light amount fluctuation of the exposure unit. It can be done in a short time.
[0016]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, a density difference set by a user is added to a difference between a density value of a test pattern using the reference photographic paper and a density value of a reference test pattern. Is a method for adjusting output data of a photographic paper printer.
[0017]
By adding the density difference set by the user, the user's favorite color matching is also possible.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 2, the photographic paper printer of the present embodiment processes two types of photographic paper (paper) A and B having completely different exposure characteristics. The photographic paper A has five types of paper widths, and the photographic paper B has two types of paper widths.
[0019]
In this embodiment, the group of photographic paper A is grouped as paper group 1, and the group of photographic paper B is grouped as paper group 2.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a photographic paper printer for realizing a method for adjusting output data of a photographic paper printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
In the figure, in the photographic paper printer 11, for the paper group 1, a color table 12 for converting the input digital image data as a standard color output and an energy table 13 for adjusting output energy are provided for the paper group 2. A color table 22 that outputs the input digital image data as a standard color output and an energy table 23 that adjusts output energy are provided.
[0021]
In addition, a common density difference conversion table 24 is provided between the curler tables 12 and 22 and the energy tables 13 and 23 to perform output conversion approximately from the density difference.
[0022]
An exposure unit 14 exposes the photographic paper 15 according to output data.
The common density difference conversion table 24 includes a master channel (M-CH) 33 in which exposure data for common photographic paper is stored, and a paper channel (P-CH) in which exposure data for photographic paper other than the common photographic paper is stored. 34 and a user channel (U-CH) 35 in which user exposure data described later is stored.
[0023]
In the master channel 33, exposure data (standard exposure data) of standard photographic paper of each paper type (two types A and B in the present embodiment) is registered. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, a 127 mm width printing paper is used as the standard printing paper for the A paper type and a 203 mm width printing paper is used for the B paper type.
[0024]
In the paper channel 34, exposure data of photographic paper other than the standard photographic paper is registered. The data registered here is the difference between the exposure data of the standard photographic paper and the exposure data of photographic paper other than the standard photographic paper.
[0025]
In the user channel 35, favorite color matching information visually set by the customer and Dmax (gamma setting) are registered.
Here, Dmax is a setting of the maximum density of black and determines the density of black, and gamma is a setting of the gradient of the density output with respect to the input data.
[0026]
Next, the test pattern 50 used in the gray calibration print performed by the photographic paper printer having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
Reference numeral 51 denotes a gray exposure portion where the exposure is under (U), 52 denotes a gray exposure portion where the exposure is normal (N), and 53 denotes a gray exposure portion where the exposure is over (O).
[0027]
A 16-stage wedge exposure unit 54 is provided above the gray exposure units 51, 52, and 53, and a blue exposure unit 55, a green exposure unit 56, a red exposure unit 57, and a yellow exposure are provided below the gray exposure units 51, 52, and 53, respectively. 58, a magenta exposure unit 59, and a cyan exposure unit 60 are provided.
[0028]
Next, an output adjustment method in the photographic paper printer 11 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
(1) Adjustments made during production at the factory Select the standard photographic paper of paper group 1.
[0029]
2. Standard data is set in the color table 12 and the energy table 13 of the paper group 1.
3. A print pattern of a test print that is output to the exposure unit 14 in accordance with the exposure color is read with a densitometer or the like, and the color table 12 and energy table 13 of the paper group 1 are calculated from the result and rewritten.
[0030]
4). Gray calibration is sequentially performed on the standard photographic paper and the photographic paper other than the standard photographic paper.
5. Also for paper group 2, steps 1 to 3 are performed to calculate and rewrite color table 22 and energy table 23.
[0031]
6). Prepare a gray calibration print created on the reference machine as a reference print for the market.
(2) Machine adjustment in the market Set the paper group and standard photographic paper.
[0032]
2. Specify paper group 1.
3. Insert a market reference print into the densitometer and register the density of the reference print.
[0033]
4). A standard calibration paper gray calibration print is created and inserted into a densitometer to adjust the density of the standard photographic paper print to be the same as the reference print density for the market. At that time, the density correction value necessary for adjustment is registered in the master channel 33 as ΔM1.
[0034]
It is also possible to re-register a gray calibration print of standard photographic paper with the condition of ΔM1 as a reference print.
5. Within the same paper group, a gray calibration print of photographic paper other than the standard photographic paper is created under the condition that the density correction value ΔM1 is added.
[0035]
At that time, “density correction value equal to reference print density−ΔM1” is registered in the paper channel 34 as ΔPx for the photographic paper.
6). The procedure is the same for all photographic paper and all paper groups.
[0036]
7). Actual printing is performed, the customer's favorite level adjustment is registered in the user channel 35 as the density correction value ΔUx, and Dmax (gamma) is set.
8). As a daily adjustment performed by the customer, a gray calibration print is created with a density correction value of ΔM1 on standard printing paper, and “density correction value equal to reference print density−ΔM1” is set as a daily density correction value. Register as ΔM1D in the master channel 33.
[0037]
For daily adjustments after the next time, a gray calibration print is created with a density correction value of “ΔM1 + ΔM1D”, and “density correction value equal to reference print density−ΔM1−previous ΔM1D” is corrected daily. The value is re-registered in ΔM1D of the master channel 33 as a value.
[0038]
9. In actual printing, the color table and energy table of each paper group are designated, and density correction values (ΔM1 + ΔM1D + ΔPx + ΔUx) are set, and printing is executed.
[0039]
The photographic paper printer 11 according to the present embodiment can select photographic paper by at least one of a photographic paper magazine to be set and a user's key operation.
[0040]
According to the above adjustment method, when the customer's favorite level adjustment data is not used, only the data (ΔM1 + ΔM1D) registered in the master channel 33 is output when printing using common photographic paper. Data can be corrected, and when printing paper other than the common printing paper is used, data registered in the master channel 33 (ΔM1 + ΔM1D) and data registered in the paper channel 34 (ΔPx) Since the output data can be corrected by the operation, the operation is easy and the adjustment can be performed in a short time.
[0041]
For daily adjustment, a gray calibration print is created with a density correction value of ΔM1 on standard photographic paper, and the “density correction value to be equal to the reference print density−ΔM1” is set as the daily density correction value. By simply registering it as ΔM1D in 33, it is possible to make corrections for changes in the developer and fluctuations in the light quantity of the exposure unit in a short time.
[0042]
Furthermore, by providing the user channel 35 for registering the density correction value set by the user, the user's favorite color matching can be performed.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of photographic papers having similar characteristics are grouped according to the exposure characteristics, and the standard exposure data of the photographic paper which is a standard in the grouped photographic papers. When using printing paper other than the reference printing paper in the group, the density value of the test pattern using the reference printing paper and the density value difference between the test pattern using the printing paper other than the reference printing paper, By correcting the output data to the exposure unit from the standard exposure data, when using the common photographic paper, only the standard exposure data, and when using photographic paper other than the common photographic paper, the standard exposure data and Since the output data can be corrected with the difference from the common photographic paper, the operation is simple and the adjustment can be performed in a short time.
[0044]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the reference exposure data is corrected from the difference between the density value of the test pattern using the standard photographic paper and the density value of the reference test pattern, thereby changing the developer and Correction for the light amount fluctuation of the exposure unit can be easily performed in a short time.
[0045]
According to the invention described in claim 3, by adding the density difference set by the user to the difference between the density value of the test pattern using the reference photographic paper and the density value of the reference test pattern, Color matching is also possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a photographic paper printer that realizes a method for adjusting output data of a photographic paper printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining types of photographic paper used in the photographic paper printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a test pattern used in gray calibration printing performed by the photographic paper printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing conditions for each exposure.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conventional photographic paper printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
24 Common Density Difference Conversion Table 33 Master Channel 34 Paper Channel 35 User Channel

Claims (3)

Output data to the exposure unit using a color table that uses the input digital image data as standard color output and an energy table that adjusts the output energy, or a conversion table that combines the color table and energy table. A method for adjusting output data of a photographic paper printer to be converted into
Group multiple photographic papers with similar characteristics according to exposure characteristics,
Establish standard exposure data for photographic paper, which is the standard for grouped photographic paper,
When using photographic paper other than the standard photographic paper in the group, the density value of the test pattern using the standard photographic paper, the density value difference between the test pattern using photographic paper other than the standard photographic paper, and the standard exposure data And adjusting the output data to the exposure unit. The standard exposure data is
2. The method of adjusting output data of a photographic paper printer according to claim 1, wherein correction is performed based on a difference between a density value of a test pattern using the standard photographic paper and a density value of a reference test pattern. 3. The output data of the photographic paper printer according to claim 2, wherein a density difference set by a user is added to a difference between a density value of a test pattern using the standard photographic paper and a density value of a reference test pattern. Adjustment method.

Images