JP4218517B2 - Color correction device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a color correction apparatus having a function of correcting an extracted color arbitrarily extracted from a color image.

  For computer-based designs such as proposals and various documents, create image data on a display device or input a base image using an image reader, etc., and assign colors to each part of the image To create image data. In the process of finishing these image data, it is necessary to adjust and correct the assigned colors. In creating computer graphics, it is necessary to adjust the color of the created image data. In such a case, means for correcting the color of the image data is already known as described in Patent Document 1.

The patent literature is as follows.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-128225

  In such use of color adjustment / correction on a computer, as described in Patent Document 1, new image data is obtained using a color adjustment / correction result. However, the color reproducibility of the printer may actually differ slightly depending on the characteristics of the individual printer as well as the model.

  As described above, when the color is adjusted for each printing, the adjustment / correction is performed little by little. As a result, it is difficult to know what color the original color designation is, and adjustment may be difficult.

  In order to eliminate such a problem, it is always necessary to correct the color from the original image data, but this time, the original image data is corrected and saved by mistake, and the original image data may be lost. In addition, such image data original management is strictly carried out, but this requires a complicated procedure for color correction. Furthermore, it is necessary to retain original image data more than necessary for backup.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a means for correcting the color of image data, which is easy to operate and accurate, in order to solve the above problems.

The present invention solves such a problem. In the invention according to claim 1, the computer for processing the image data, the representative point instruction input means for inputting the position of the representative point indicating the color to be extracted on the screen, and A color image display device for displaying a color image having a designated color display area for displaying a color designated by a representative point, wherein the computer stores image data stored in the computer; and the color image display device. Representative point input instructing means for inputting the position information of the designated representative point indicating the color to be extracted on the screen, a designated color display unit for displaying the color designated by the representative point, and extracting the designated color A color extraction unit, a correction candidate color selection unit that reads out an extracted color at a position selected as a representative point from the image holding unit, and generates a correction candidate color based on the extracted color; a color extracted from the image data Color correcting means for correcting an extracted color for a range, color extracting means for extracting the designated color, and display memory for storing data for displaying a color image in the image data on the image display device A color correction device having
The color correction means includes correction data creation means for creating correction data separate from the original image data in correspondence with the printer,
The correction data includes difference value data between original image data and a correction result, and information on the printer or the model of the printer,
Based on the difference value data of the correction data created by the correction data creating means, the correction result is printed by adding the difference value to the color of the area in the printer corresponding to the correction data; A color correction apparatus characterized by the above is provided.

  As a result, it is possible to create printer-compatible data without causing a failure caused by correcting the original image data that is the original. In addition, this makes it possible to easily cope with changes in printers and printer models, and to make fine color adjustments easily.

As a result, even if there are many printers and printer models, it is possible to easily deal with many.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 2, in the color correction device of claim 1, wherein said color correction means displays the corrected candidate color extracted color based means and includes means for instructing inputs the candidate color, there is provided a color correction apparatus comprising: the means for modifying the extracted by the candidate colors selected color, the. This makes it easy to select an actual correction candidate color and allows easy correction.
Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 provides the color correction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising correction data storage means for storing the correction data in association with the printer. Is.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform printing corresponding to an individual printer, and thus it is possible to easily cope with fine color characteristics of a printer. Also, even when using multiple printers or multiple printers, the original image data itself is not modified even though it is easy to handle each printer. You won't lose track of what was wrong, and you can fix it with confidence.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an example of the display displayed on the corresponding image display device.

  In FIG. 1, 10 is a computer for processing image data including a CPU and a memory, 11 is an image input device such as an image scanner, 12 is a position input device such as a mouse and a light pen, and 13 is an image display device such as a color display. , 14 is an image holding memory for storing input image data, 15 is a representative point instruction input unit for inputting the position of a representative point indicating the color to be extracted on the screen, and 16 is a designated color for displaying the color designated by the representative point. A display unit, 17 is a color extraction unit that extracts a designated color, 18 is a display memory that stores display data on the color display 13, 19 is a correction candidate color selection unit based on the extracted color, and 20 is on the screen. Correction candidate color display area provided at a specific position, 21 is a representative point instructed by the position input device 12, 22 is an image such as correction of the extracted color for the extracted color range It represents the color correction unit that performs image processing of the data.

  Input image data such as RGB signals input from the image input device 11 such as an image scanner is stored in the image holding memory 14. The image data is first sent to the display memory 18 of the display as it is, and a color image is displayed on the image display device 13.

  When there is a color extraction instruction, the representative point instruction input unit 15 inputs the position information of the representative point 21 instructed by the operator using the position input device 12. The designated color display unit 16 provides a region having a specific size on the display screen as the correction candidate color display region 20, reads the extracted color at the position selected as the representative point from the image holding memory 14, and extracts the extracted color Based on the color, the correction candidate color selection unit 19 creates a correction candidate color, and writes the correction candidate color in an area corresponding to the correction candidate color display area 20 on the display memory 18, whereby the extracted color selected as the representative point The correction candidate colors are displayed as shown in FIG. The correction candidate color display area 20 may be provided in an operation instruction window (not shown).

As described above, when the image data is composed of a plurality of child images, the portion extracted by the color extraction instruction may include only the child image portion as an extraction range. For example, in the case of multi-window format spreadsheet software, pamphlet data or flyer data, it is possible to extract a part of a table, figure, character, etc., even if the same color part is included in the same image data, It is also possible to exclude parts of the same color other than the selected part from being corrected. It is also possible to set the entire image data as the extraction range.

  When a color to be corrected is specified from among the colors displayed in the correction candidate color display area 20, a color in a predetermined range defined with the color as the center in the same color or color space of the image holding memory 14 is displayed. While being changed and displayed by the correction unit 22 or the like, the difference between the extracted color and the designated color is stored as a difference color value, and this is used as correction data.

  If a print instruction is given in this state, the extracted color in the extraction area is printed in a color that takes into account the difference color value. As a result, the color can be adjusted and changed with high accuracy according to each printer.

  If it is determined that the adjustment or the like is insufficient as a result of printing, the extraction operation can be started again. If dissatisfied, the representative color can be designated again and the same operation can be repeated.

  In addition, when there are multiple printers, it is possible to have correction data for each printer, and there is no need to specify correction data if there is a single printer. In some cases, it is preferable to have a plurality. In this case, the correction data can be set for each model, but it is preferable to have the correction data for each individual printer if fine adjustment is desired.

  As for the correction data, it is often preferable to use the color difference difference data because of the data capacity, but it is also possible to use the entire image data after correction or the image data after correction of only the child image portion. The method does not require reference to the original image.

  The correction data may be composed only of the above difference data or the like. However, in order to automatically determine the relationship with the printer or to confirm an error, not only the data relating to the image data but also the printer or printer You may add the information about the model.

  Furthermore, the correction process is not a function that can correct only the image data corresponding to the printer or the printer model, but can also correct the original image data itself, and has a function to select which one to correct. It doesn't matter.

FIG. 3 shows a processing flow according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
First, the flow of color correction processing according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, (101) to (107) correspond to the processes (101) to (107) shown in FIG.

(101) A color image to be extracted is displayed on the color display 13.
(102) In the color image displayed on the display, the extracted color and the extracted area are selected by, for example, instructing the operator of one point of the extracted area with a mouse, a light pen, or the like. For example, if it is a character, only the part of the same color is selected from the character string relevant to the selected character.

4A, A represents a target child image, and 30 represents a mouse cursor. When the mouse button is pressed, the position of the mouse cursor 30 is read, the position is recognized as the designated representative point, only the RGB data in the target child image is recognized, and the representative point is determined from the RGB data. Extraction color is selected by recognizing and extracting only RGB data of the same color.

  (103) Based on the extracted color, the lightness color adjacent to the color and the hue color adjacent to the color are automatically selected, and the extracted color is used as a separate window in the form of a matrix. indicate. In this case, the 3 × 3 matrix display is used. However, when high accuracy is required, a large number of candidate colors may be displayed by a 5 × 5 matrix or gradation display.

  (104) A correction color is selected from the displayed candidate colors. In this selection, 30 represents a mouse cursor. When the mouse button is pressed, the position of the mouse cursor 30 may be read and the correction color designated by that position may be selected. A symbol such as a number is displayed on each candidate color, You may select by inputting with a keyboard etc.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, a specific position on the display viewed by the operator is displayed in the designated color display area 20 provided at the upper left. For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, with the selected extracted color as the center, candidate colors for displaying the next low brightness, the next high brightness, and adjacent hue colors in a matrix form. Are displayed in the correction candidate color display area 20 with a selection number assigned to each candidate color. In this example, the position of the correction candidate color display area 20 is in the upper left, but may be changed according to an instruction from the operator.

  (105) Display the correction result to the operator using a display device so that the correction result can be visually confirmed in the form of an image, and check whether the corrected image is the color to be corrected. In addition, since it may not be confirmed unless it is actually printed, it is printed with the current correction results. If there is a sample or color standard, it is compared with these, even if there is no such comparison. It is possible to print for color balance and confirmation.

  In this case, if direct printing is possible using the image data of the display device, print data in which the difference color value, which is the current correction data, is added to the original print image data is created with the image data, and printing is performed using this print data. Do.

  (106) If the color is not the desired color as a result of the confirmation, the correction is not complete, so the process returns to the process (102) to designate one point in the image again and repeat the same process. (106) If correction is completed, correction data is created and the correction work is completed.

  FIG. 5 shows a method for automatically selecting a plurality of points having the same hue and different lightness from other parts of an image based on image data of one point of an extraction target color designated with a mouse or a light pen. It is a figure for demonstrating.

  In the method shown in FIG. 5A, when a designated point (representative point) P is designated, image data on a cross line in the x and y directions passing through the point is examined, The image data of the same hue is taken out. For example, when the difference between the RGB image data on each xy line and the RGB data of the representative point is equal to or smaller than a certain value, the same hue is set.

  When printing, print data is created by adding difference color values, which are correction data, to original image data, and printing is performed using this print data.

  The present invention relates to a color correction apparatus having a function of correcting an extracted color arbitrarily extracted from a color image.

It is a principle explanatory view of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the image display of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the designation | designated color and designated color by the Example of this invention. It is selection explanatory drawing of multiple points by the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Computer 11 Image input device 12 Position input device 13 Image display device 14 Image holding memory 15 Representative point instruction input unit 16 Designated color display unit 17 Color extraction unit 18 Display memory 19 Correction candidate color selection unit 20 Correction candidate color display region 21 representative points 22 color correction part

Claims (3)

A color image having a computer for processing image data, a representative point instruction input means for inputting a representative point position indicating a color to be extracted on the screen, and a designated color display area for displaying the color designated by the representative point is displayed. And a computer for inputting the position information of the designated representative point indicating the color to be extracted on the screen of the color image display device. Representative point input instruction means, a designated color display section for displaying a color designated by the representative point, a color extraction means for extracting the designated color, and an extracted color at a position selected as a representative point from the image holding means A correction candidate color selection unit that creates a correction candidate color based on the extracted color, a color correction unit that corrects the extracted color for the extracted color range of the image data, and the specified A color correcting device having a display memory for storing the data for the color image displayed on the image display device in the image data and the color extraction means for extracting,
The color correction means includes correction data creation means for creating correction data separate from the original image data in correspondence with the printer,
The correction data includes difference value data between original image data and a correction result, and information on the printer or the model of the printer,
Based on the difference value data of the correction data created by the correction data creating means, the correction result is printed by adding the difference value to the color of the area in the printer corresponding to the correction data; A color correction device characterized by.   2. The color correction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color correction means displays display means for displaying a correction candidate color based on the extracted color, means for instructing and inputting the candidate color, and the selected candidate color. And a means for correcting the color extracted by the color correction apparatus.   2. The color correction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising correction data storage means for storing the correction data in association with the printer.

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