JP4817003B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus including a correction unit that performs correction of a correction amount corresponding to an integrated value of an input operation on image data by performing an artificial input operation in an input unit.

  As a technique related to the image processing apparatus configured as described above, there is one described in Patent Document 1. That is, when the operator adjusts (changes settings) the correction value for correcting the image data, the correction value (exposure amount setting information) is automatically saved as a log file along with the adjustment operation. The correction value can be restored by specifying the log file. Specifically, when it is necessary to adjust the image data of all the frames on the film, all the correction parameters are converted into log files in the entire adjustment routine, and date / time data is added and stored in the hard disk. Thereafter, the correction parameter is adjusted based on the input from the console, and the image data corrected with the correction parameter is displayed on the monitor. When the adjustment is determined, the print image data is corrected.

  In addition, when it is necessary to restore the original correction state as in the case of improper adjustment, the correction parameter saved as a log file must be specified by the undo operation in the correction parameter restoration routine. Alternatively, a correction parameter is designated based on the date and time when the correction is performed, and the correction parameter can be set as a correction value.

JP 2001-330913 A (paragraph numbers [0012] to [0028], FIGS. 4 and 5)

  For example, in a digital photo processing device installed at a DP store, the image data (frames) to be printed is specified with the acquired image data displayed on the monitor, and the number of prints Settings are made, and correction processing such as color correction and density correction is performed if necessary. This type of processing is referred to as pre-judgement, and focusing on the correction processing, correction processing by an operator's operation is performed in addition to automatic correction processing.

  In the correction process by the operator's operation, there are many operation modes in which a correction button displayed on the monitor is selected and operated with a pointing device such as a mouse, or a correction key assigned for correction on the keyboard is operated. When this correction process is performed, the correction result can be confirmed from the image data on the display.

  In the color correction and density correction in the correction process, the correction amount is generally set by the number of operations of the correction button displayed on the monitor or the number of operations of the correction key of the keyboard. However, when the correction amount is large, the number of times the mouse is clicked or the number of times the key is operated increases, and there is room for improvement.

  Many of the reasons why the amount of correction increases in this way are due to improper exposure settings at the time of shooting and the color temperature of the lighting. For example, in regions with a lot of snow, the background is snow in the winter. There is a lot of image data, and with this type of image data, the density of a person's face is likely to be insufficient, and conversely, a phenomenon may occur in which the entire image is overexposed in summer. This type of correction leads to an operation for greatly changing the density of image data, and it is desired to reduce the operation of the operator when performing correction processing artificially.

  In addition, in order to improve the above-described inconvenience, considering that a correction parameter stored in a log file is set as a correction value like the one described in Patent Document 1, the correction parameter is restored in Patent Document 1. Thus, only the correction value is set, and the inconvenience described above cannot be solved.

  An object of the present invention is to rationally configure an image processing apparatus that can reduce the trouble of manually correcting image data.

A feature of the present invention is that the image processing apparatus includes a correction unit that performs correction corresponding to the number of input operations on the image data by performing an artificial input operation in the input unit.
When the correction is performed by the correction unit, a storage unit that stores an integrated value of an input operation at the input unit as correction progress information;
When the correction by the correction means is performed a predetermined number of times, as the sum of the integrated values of the input operation of the correction progress information stored in the storage unit is large, the correction amount for a single input operation which the operator performs And a correction amount changing means for setting a large value.

  With this configuration, when an input operation is performed in order to correct image data by the correction means, the integrated value of this input operation is stored in the storage unit as correction progress information, so the correction stored in this storage unit Based on the progress information, the correction amount changing means changes the correspondence between the integrated value of the input operation and the correction amount. That is, in the case where the correction amount is determined by the number of operations of the correction key, the number of operations can be reduced by changing the relationship between the number of operations and the correction amount based on the correction progress information. As a result, for example, even in regions where the trend of correction for each season changes and key operations increase due to this change, an image processing apparatus that can reduce the trouble of manually correcting image data is reasonable. Configured.

Further, with this configuration, when an input operation is performed for a plurality of types of corrections in the input unit, such as a unit that performs a plurality of color corrections and density corrections, the integrated value of the plurality of types of input operations is stored in the storage unit. Is remembered. The correction amount changing means can reduce the labor of the input operation by setting a larger correction amount for a single input operation as the total sum of the input operations is larger.

The present invention includes a monitor that displays a correction result obtained by correcting the image data by the correcting unit, and the input unit is formed by a button or a keyboard key displayed on the monitor, and the number of times the button is operated, or get the number of operations of the key as the integrated value of the input operation may be an interface that gives the correction means.

  With this configuration, when a button displayed on the monitor or a key on the keyboard is operated, the interface gives the number of operations to the correction means as an integrated value of the input operation.

  The present invention includes an automatic correction execution unit that, when the image data is acquired by the image data acquisition unit, sets the correction amount from the acquired image data and gives the correction amount to the correction unit, and realizes correction by the correction unit. In addition, after the correction processing by the automatic correction execution unit, an artificial input operation in the input unit may be allowed.

  With this configuration, correction processing by an artificial input operation can be performed after automatic correction processing, and correction processing when performing correction processing artificially can be reduced.

The present invention, the storage unit, the integrated value of the input operations of a plurality of operators, is stored as data of identifiable structures for each operator, the correction amount changing means and the integrated value of the input operation for each operator The correspondence relationship with the correction amount may be changed.

  With this configuration, by changing the correspondence relationship between the integrated value of the input operation and the correction amount for each operator, not only can the correction process be performed with a sense of operation required for each operator, but, for example, the operator can perform an incorrect operation. Even when it is performed, it is possible to eliminate the adverse effect that other operators correct with a correction amount based on an erroneous operation.

  The present invention may comprise information transmission means for sending out operation progress information stored in the storage unit via a communication line.

  With this configuration, for example, when the operation progress information is managed in a device at a position separated from the image processing device, the operation progress information can be easily obtained via the communication line even when the operation progress information in a plurality of image processing devices is managed. You can get it.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
〔overall structure〕
As shown in FIG. 1, the photographic processing apparatus is configured to include an operating part A and a printing part B. The operating unit A realizes a film scanner 11 that captures a frame image of the photographic film F as a digital signal by photoelectric conversion to the console unit 10, a monitor 12 that displays various information, and image processing and various processing. A computer 13 is arranged, and a keyboard KB and a mouse 15 are provided on the upper surface of the console unit 10.

  The processing device 13 includes a media drive 16 corresponding to the structure of the medium so as to acquire information from a disk type medium such as a CD, MO, or FD, or to acquire information from a semiconductor type medium. . The keyboard KB and the mouse 15 function as an input unit for performing an artificial input operation.

  In this photographic processing apparatus, the computer 13 of the operating part A is connected to a correction progress information managing part 18 via a communication line 17. The correction progress information management unit 18 is constituted by a general-purpose computer, and acquires and manages correction progress information via the communication line 17. The correction progress information is information including the integrated value of the key operation when the operator corrects the image data in the operating part A as will be described later.

  The printing unit B transports silver salt type photographic printing paper P cut into a print size inside the housing 20 to an exposure unit, and the exposure unit exposes image information with a laser beam, and prints after the exposure. The paper P is conveyed to a development tank and subjected to development processing. Next, after the development process, a drying process is performed, the sheet 20 is sent out from the upper part of the housing 20 in the horizontal direction, and the photographic paper P is sorted from the conveying belt 21 to the plurality of trays 23 of the sorter 22 in units of order and accumulated. It is configured to

  The computer 13 stores the image data captured by the film scanner 11 as described above or the image data captured from the media via the media drive 16 with respect to the semiconductor memory 31 and the hard disk HD (see FIG. 4). In addition to performing the saving process, the image data to be printed is displayed on the monitor 12 in a thumbnail format, and setting of the number of prints, print size, and manual correction are realized based on information from the keyboard KB.

  Thus, the monitor 12, computer 13, mouse 15, and keyboard KB provided in the operating section A constitute the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard KB includes four cursor keys 1 for moving a cursor (not shown) vertically and horizontally when selecting any of a plurality of pieces of image information displayed on the monitor 12, and a color Color correction selection key 2 corresponding to yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) for specifying a correction color when performing correction, density correction selection key 3 for selecting density correction, correction amount and print An increment key 4 for increasing the number of sheets, a decrement key 5 for reducing the correction amount and the number of printed sheets, a neutral key 6 for setting these values to initial values, a function key 7, and an execution key 8 for executing printing, A stop key 9 for temporarily stopping the processing is provided. As shown in the drawings, characters, symbols and symbols indicating the key functions are printed on the key tops of the respective keys in a visible form.

  An outline of the control system of this photographic processing apparatus is shown in FIG. That is, the computer 13 includes an input / output interface 30 and a microprocessor CPU that processes information from the input / output interface 30. The input / output interface 30 is accessed by information from the film scanner 11, monitor 12, keyboard KB, mouse 15, media drive 16, hard disk HD (an example of a storage unit), and communication terminal 25. Further, the semiconductor memory 31, operating system 32, image data acquisition means 33, pre-judge screen control means 34, correction means 35, correction progress information storage means 36, correction amount change means 37, print execution means for the data bus of the CPU. 38, so that information from the information transmission means 39 is accessible.

  The operating system 32, the image data acquisition means 33, the pre-judge screen control means 34, the correction means 35, the correction progress information storage means 36, the correction amount change means 37, the print execution means 38, and the information transmission means 39 are all in the semiconductor memory 31. Although software to be deployed is assumed, it can be configured by hardware such as logic. Further, these may be configured in combination with hardware. In the control system shown in the figure, a control bus and an address bus are required in addition to the data bus in order to realize control. The address bus and interface are not shown.

  The operating system 32 manages the semiconductor memory 31 and develops software on the semiconductor memory 31 to execute the execution. The operating system 32 acquires information on the keyboard KB and the mouse 15 and executes the processing being executed. It also functions as a giving interface. The image data acquisition unit 33 acquires image data from the film scanner 11 or the media drive 16. The pre-judge screen control means 34 displays a pre-judge screen 50 shown in FIG. 3 on the monitor 12, and based on the display of this screen, an operator inputs information necessary for print processing, and performs correction processing. The image data to be printed can be confirmed and manual correction can be confirmed.

  The correction unit 35 includes an automatic correction execution unit 35A and a manual correction execution unit 35B, and the automatic correction execution unit 35A implements automatic correction processing by setting correction amounts for various corrections from the state of image data. . Further, the manual correction execution unit 35B realizes a correction process for the image data while checking the correction state on the pre-judge screen 50. The correction progress information storage means 36 performs a process of storing the number of times of operating the key of the keyboard KB and the number of times of operating the buttons displayed on the monitor 12 as correction progress information when performing the correction process.

  The correction amount changing unit 37 changes the correspondence between the integrated value of the input operation and the correction amount when the operator corrects the image data, as will be described later. The print execution unit 38 transmits the pre-judged image data to the print unit B to realize a print process. The information transmission unit 39 transmits a request from the correction progress information management unit 18 and correction progress information stored in the hard disk HD to the correction progress information management unit 18 at preset timings.

[Image processing routine]
An outline of the flow of processing when image processing is performed by the computer 13 is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In other words, when performing image processing, first, an operator's identification information such as an ID code is stored, a correction coefficient set for each operator is set, and an image acquired from the film scanner 11 or the media drive 16 is stored. Performs automatic data correction processing. After this automatic correction process, the pre-judge screen 50 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the monitor 12, and the image data after the automatic correction process is displayed in this screen in a thumbnail format (steps # 101 to # 103).

  The process of acquiring the image data is realized by the image data acquisition unit 33 controlling the film scanner 11 or the media drive 16. The acquired image data has a data structure that is color-separated into three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). This image data includes information (for example, frame number) that can identify each of them. ) And stored in the hard disk HD.

  The automatic correction process is automatically executed by the automatic correction execution unit 35A of the correction unit 35. The automatic correction execution unit 35A determines whether or not various corrections are necessary from the state of the acquired image data. When there is image data determined to be corrected, correction information is set and correction processing is executed. In this automatic correction process, a process of extracting a plurality of image data that cannot be properly printed is also performed.

  Further, the pre-judge screen control means 34 realizes the processing for displaying the pre-judge screen 50 on the monitor 12 and displaying the image data in the thumbnail format on this screen. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the pre-judge screen 50 has a plurality of display portions 51 for displaying image data. An order information display section 52 is formed at a lower position of the screen, and a color correction selection button 53 corresponding to Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) and a density correction selection are displayed at the lower positions of the respective display sections. A button 54 and a print number display portion 55 are formed, and a frame display portion 56 for specifying an image is formed at an upper position of the display portion 51.

  It should be noted that the image data extracted as the one that cannot be printed by the automatic correction process or the image data that the operator has set as the one that does not print is set to “Pass” on the display unit 51 of the image data. A message is displayed.

  When color correction is performed by manual correction while the pre-judge screen 50 is displayed on the monitor 12, the operator moves the cursor (not shown) to one position of the three color correction selection buttons 53 by operating the mouse 15. The switch 15 of the mouse 15 is clicked to match, or one of the color correction selection keys 2 is operated on the keyboard KB, and then the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 is operated. The manual correction execution unit 35B acquires the number of operations of the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 as a correction amount, simulates a correction result corresponding to the correction amount, and outputs the result to the display unit 51 (# 104, # 105 steps).

  The correction amount when the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 is operated once is based on a correction coefficient set for each operator. For example, when the color correction is used, the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 is When the operation is performed a plurality of times, the correction is realized for the corresponding image data of the three primary colors (Y, M, and C) by an operation of multiplying the number of operations by a correction coefficient.

  When color correction is performed in this way, if one of the color correction selection buttons 53 is selected as described above, or if one of the color correction selection keys 2 is selected, the selected state is indicated. For this purpose, display is performed in such a manner that the selected color correction selection button 53 is highlighted, blinked, or the outline is emphasized.

  The three color correction selection buttons 53 and the density correction selection buttons 54 display N characters in the initial state, and when the increment key 4 is operated once in the selected state, +1 is displayed instead of the N characters. When the operation is further performed once, the character +2 is displayed. Similarly, when the decrement key 5 is operated once, -1 is displayed instead of the character N, and when operated once more, the character -2 is displayed.

  When density correction is performed, the mouse 15 is operated to move the cursor (not shown) to the density correction selection button 54 and the mouse 15 switch is clicked, or the density correction selection key 3 on the keyboard KB is pressed. By operating the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 after the operation, the number of operations of the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 is acquired as a correction amount, and a correction result corresponding to the correction amount is simulated and displayed. To the unit 51.

  The pre-judge screen 50 is not formed corresponding to the increment key 4 and the decrement key 5, but an increment button and a decrement button are formed, and the mouse 15 is selected with any of the buttons selected by the cursor. The control mode of the pre-judge screen control means 34 may be set so that the correction amount is set by the number of times the switch is clicked.

  Next, the data indicating the number of operations of the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 is associated with the data indicating the correction type for which the operation has been performed, and each time the image data is manually corrected, these pieces of information are stored. The information is stored in the hard disk HD in association with the operator identification information (step # 106).

  Information stored in this way is referred to as correction progress information, and is realized by processing in the correction progress information storage means 36. Although not shown in the drawing, this correction progress information is associated with, for example, operator identification information, information for identifying various corrections, the number of operations of the increment key 4 and the number of operations of the decrement key 5 to each other. A file having a structure such as Comma Separated Values) is stored every time an operation for correction is performed on each image data on the hard disk HD (an example of a storage unit).

  When the correction amount for each image data is determined by such processing, the correction of the image data stored in the hard disk HD based on the correction amount set for each correction is continued until the pre-judgement is completed. (Steps # 107 to # 109).

[Correction amount change routine]
As described above, when the correction progress information is stored in the hard disk HD, the correction amount changing unit 37 executes a correction amount changing routine shown in FIG.

  In other words, the correction amount is changed when the number of orders of the manual correction processing reaches the set number (steps # 201 and # 202), and it is determined that the set number has been reached. Then, the sum of the integrated values of the number of operations for each correction classified by the operator identification information is acquired (step # 203). The above-described integrated value indicates the number of key operations at the time of correction for one image data, and the correction tendency can be acquired by acquiring the sum of the integrated values.

  Next, when it is determined that the total value exceeds the first set value and does not exceed the second set value, the correction amount for one operation of the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 is increased. The correction coefficient is changed to information indicating that the correction amount for one operation of the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 has increased (steps # 204 to # 207).

  If the total value exceeds the second set value in step # 205, it is possible that the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 has failed or that the manual correction execution unit 35B of the correction means 35 has not performed appropriate processing. Thus, information indicating the possibility of failure is output (step # 208).

  If information is output in steps # 207 and # 208, the information is transmitted to the operator in the form of characters, symbols, etc. on the monitor 12.

  As described above, based on the integrated value of the number of operations for each correction classified by the operator identification information, the correction coefficient is stored for each operator, and when performing image correction, the correction coefficient is set for each operator. Thus, for example, in a state where the influence from the operator performing the biased correction process is eliminated, the number of operations of the increment key 4 or the decrement key 5 when performing the correction is reduced, and appropriate correction is realized.

  The information transmission means 39 transmits the correction progress information stored in the hard disk HD to the correction progress information management unit 18 when there is a request from the correction progress information management unit 18. Further, as a control form when transmitting the correction progress information to the correction progress information management unit 18, it is also possible to transmit at a timing when a preset date and time have passed or when a process for a preset order number is performed. It is done.

  The correction progress information management unit 18 functions effectively to manage correction progress information in a plurality of image processing apparatuses.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the operator performs manual correction while the pre-judge screen 50 is displayed on the monitor 12, the key is operated regardless of whether color correction or density correction is performed. The operator identification information, information for identifying various corrections, the number of operations of the increment key 4 and the number of operations of the decrement key 5 are associated with each other and stored as correction progress information. Since the correction amount is automatically changed based on the correction trend, even if the key operation amount during manual correction varies depending on the season, the necessary correction is performed when manual correction is made after this change. Thus, the number of key operations is reduced, and not only the burden on the operator is reduced, but also quick correction is realized.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the embodiment described above.

(A) When changing the correction amount for one operation of the input unit for setting the correction amount such as the increment key 4 and the decrement key 5, a specific correction among a plurality of image data included in one order is performed. When it is determined that the number of image data performed is large and this correction tendency occurs for a plurality of orders, the correction amount for one operation (single input operation) is increased. Set the change mode.

  In other words, if one order of image data contains overexposed or underexposed images, the number of operations of the input unit increases even when there is only one image data to be corrected. When the number of times is integrated and the correction amount is changed, the correction tendency cannot be properly reflected. However, in this alternative embodiment, when it is confirmed in a plurality of orders that the same correction has been performed on many of a plurality of image data included in one order, a single operation (single input) Therefore, the correction amount can be grasped without error and an appropriate correction amount can be set.

(B) As described in the above embodiment, processing such as copying can be performed so that a correction coefficient (correction amount) set for each operator can be used as a correction coefficient for another operator. By setting the processing mode in this way, an efficient process is realized by using the correction coefficient based on the correction operation of an operator who is skilled in the correction process also by other operators.

(C) After the correction amount for the unit input operation is automatically changed, a restoration unit is provided so that processing for returning to the correction amount before the change can be performed. In order to make this restoration means function, it is conceivable to provide a dedicated key on the keyboard KB, or to display a screen for restoration on the monitor 12. By providing this restoration means, a large amount of special correction processing is performed. After performing, an appropriate manual correction based on the original correction amount can be performed.

(D) Information indicating a correction tendency based on operation progress information stored in the hard disk HD can be displayed on the monitor 12. By displaying the correction tendency on the monitor 12 in this way, the correction according to the correction tendency is actively performed by recognizing the correction tendency even before the correction coefficient (correction amount) is changed. It is also possible to achieve proper correction.

  The present invention can be applied not only to correction of image data for printing, but also to correction of image data used only for display.

Perspective view of photo processing equipment Top view of keyboard Figure showing the pre-judge screen Block circuit diagram showing the control system Flow chart of image processing routine Flow chart of correction amount change routine

Explanation of symbols

12 monitor 15 input unit: mouse 17 communication line 32 interface: operating system 33 image data acquisition unit 35 correction unit 35A automatic correction execution unit 37 correction amount change unit 39 information transmission unit KB input unit / keyboard HD storage unit: hard disk

Claims (5)

An image processing apparatus including a correction unit that performs correction corresponding to the number of input operations on the image data by performing an artificial input operation in the input unit,
The input unit is configured to perform artificial input operation by selecting one of a plurality of types of corrections,
When the correction is performed by the correction unit, a storage unit that stores an integrated value of an input operation at the input unit as correction progress information;
When the correction by the correction means is performed a predetermined number of times, as the sum of the integrated values of the input operation of the correction progress information stored in the storage unit is large, the correction amount for a single input operation which the operator performs An image processing apparatus comprising correction amount changing means for setting a large value. A monitor for displaying a correction result obtained by correcting the image data by the correction unit, wherein the input unit is formed by a button or a keyboard key displayed on the monitor, and the number of times the button is operated or the number of times the key is operated; acquires as the integrated value of the input operation, the correcting means is claim 1 Symbol mounting image processing apparatus comprises an interface that gives the. When the image data is acquired by the image data acquisition unit, the correction amount is set from the acquired image data and given to the correction unit, and an automatic correction execution unit for realizing correction by the correction unit is provided. after the correction process by the correction execution unit, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 to allow artificial input operation in the input section. The storage unit, the integrated value of the input operations of a plurality of operators, is stored as data of identifiable structures for each operator, the correction amount changing means and said integrated value and the correction amount of the input operation for each operator the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, to change the correspondence relationship. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which comprises information transmission means for sending through the communication line has been operated information stored in the storage unit.

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