JP4941157B2 - Coloring production apparatus, coloring production method and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a line segment region included in an image under a more suitable condition. <P>SOLUTION: A printer 20 acquires an original image used for generating a coloring picture image by reading out the image from a document under a preset condition of reading resolution by a scanner part 40. A processing condition for blurring is set so as to increase a region of the original image to be blurred in the detection when the reading resolution is higher. A dot processing part 27a removes dots by blurring the original image under a set processing condition, and detects a detection region by applying the line segment detection processing to the resultant original image. A gamma conversion part 27b applies different gamma conversion processing to the detected region and the region other than the detected region, and produces a line segment region and a blank region to generate a coloring picture image. A condition for blurring used for line detection processing is set by use of the reading resolution of the original image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coloring production apparatus, a coloring production method, and a program thereof.

Conventionally, as a coloring manufacturing apparatus, an area having a predetermined luminance or less in an original image is detected as a black line area, a neighboring area surrounding the black line area is detected as a neighboring area, and an area excluding the black line area and the neighboring area is a contour portion. In other words, the coloring area is manufactured by assigning different colors to the black line area and the outline area and the other areas (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A natural line drawing can be generated from an image whose outline is emphasized.
JP 2004-334303 A

  However, in the coloring manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, luminance is taken into consideration, but when generating a coloring image, for example, when executing a line segment detection process for detecting a line segment, other original images The information of was not considered. For this reason, for example, when a document is read to be an original image, the line segment detection process for detecting a line segment area included in the image may not be sufficiently executed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and a coloring manufacturing apparatus, a coloring manufacturing method, and a coloring manufacturing method capable of executing a line segment detection process for detecting a line segment area included in an image under more appropriate conditions. The purpose is to provide the program.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

The coloring production apparatus of the present invention is
Image acquisition means for acquiring an original image used for generation of a coloring image by reading it from a document under predetermined acquisition conditions;
A predetermined process performed on the original image when performing a line segment detection process for detecting a line segment area of the original image based on a reading condition including at least one of the acquisition condition and an image condition related to the original image; Condition setting means for setting processing conditions;
The predetermined process is performed on the original image under the set processing conditions, the line segment detection process is performed on the original image after the process to detect a detection area, and the detected detection area is defined as a line segment area. And an image generation means for generating a coloring image using a region other than the detection region as a blank region;
It is equipped with.

  In this coloring manufacturing apparatus, an original image used for generating a coloring image is acquired by reading from a document under a predetermined acquisition condition, and based on a reading condition including at least one of the acquisition condition and the image condition related to the original image. The processing conditions of the predetermined processing to be applied to the original image when performing the line segment detection processing for detecting the line segment area of the original image are set, the predetermined processing is applied to the original image under the set processing conditions, and the post-processing A line segment detection process is performed on the original image to detect a detection area, and the detected detection area is set as a line segment area and a non-detection area is used as a blank area to generate a coloring image. In this way, the conditions for the predetermined process used for the line segment detection process are determined using the reading conditions including the original image acquisition condition and the original image condition. Therefore, the line segment detection process for detecting the line segment area included in the image can be executed under more appropriate conditions.

  In the coloring manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the image acquisition unit acquires the original image by reading the original from the original with a predetermined reading resolution as a predetermined acquisition condition, and the condition setting unit performs a predetermined process applied to the original image. Processing conditions for blur processing may be set as processing based on the reading resolution, and the image generation unit may perform the blur processing on the original image and execute the line segment detection processing on the original image after the processing. Good. The blurring process has an effect of removing halftone dots that are included in the read image and erroneously detected as a line segment area. Since the reading resolution is related to the degree of the blurring process, it is included in the image using the reading resolution of the read image. The line segment detection process for detecting the line segment area can be executed under more appropriate conditions. At this time, when the processing condition of the blurring process is set based on the reading resolution, the condition setting unit sets the blurring process so that an execution area when the blurring process is executed becomes larger when the reading resolution increases. These processing conditions may be set.

  In the coloring production apparatus of the present invention, the condition setting unit detects a predetermined number of lines of the original image as a predetermined image condition by analyzing an image acquired by reading from the original by the image acquisition unit. A blur processing condition is set based on the detected predetermined number of lines as a predetermined process to be performed on the original image, and the image generation unit performs the blur process on the original image and adds the blur to the original image after the process. The line segment detection process may be executed. The blurring process has the effect of removing halftone dots that are included in the read image and erroneously detected as line segment areas, and the number of lines in the read image is related to the degree of blurring processing. The line segment detection process for detecting the included line segment area can be executed under more appropriate conditions. At this time, the condition setting means sets the line based on the detected number of lines of the original image so that the line segment area of the coloring image generated by the image generation means becomes a predetermined ratio of the whole original image. An execution condition for the minute detection process may be set. By doing so, the line segment detection process can be executed under more appropriate conditions, and therefore the number of lines formed in the coloring image can be optimized. Here, the “predetermined ratio” may be determined empirically based on the state of the generated coloring image and the ratio of the line segment area.

  In the coloring production apparatus of the present invention, the image generating means increases the input value to the detected detection area when the detected detection area is a line segment area and the area other than the detection area is a blank area. A first gamma conversion process that converts to the luminance side and outputs is executed to obtain the line segment area, and the blank area is obtained by executing a second gamma conversion process that converts the input value to white in an area other than the detection area. The coloring image may be generated as a region. In this way, it is possible to generate a coloring image as a line segment area and a blank area relatively easily by gamma conversion processing.

  In the coloring production apparatus of the present invention, the image generation means performs monochrome processing on the acquired original image, performs the predetermined processing on the processed monochrome image under the set processing conditions, and performs the processing. A detection area detected by executing the line segment detection process on a subsequent monochrome image may be used as a line segment area, and an area other than the detection area may be used as a blank area to generate a coloring image. By doing so, the line segment detection process is performed on a monochrome image with limited gradation expression, and therefore the line segment detection process can be executed with a relatively easy process. Alternatively, when executing the line segment detection process, the image generation unit performs the predetermined process on each of a plurality of color components included in the original image under the set processing condition, The line segment detection process may be executed on the original image of each color component to detect the detection area. In this way, line segment detection processing is executed using the original image of each color component, and therefore, line segment detection is performed using a larger number of gradations compared to, for example, line segment detection using a monochrome original image. Therefore, the line segment detection process can be performed more reliably.

  The coloring production apparatus of the present invention includes a display unit capable of displaying an image, a setting acquisition unit capable of acquiring setting information when generating the coloring image set based on a user operation, and the setting acquisition unit. Control means for controlling the display means to display information indicating that the user inputs setting information related to a line segment region generated by the image generating means when the original image is set as a natural image; The condition setting means sets processing conditions for a predetermined process to be performed on the original image when the line segment detection process is performed in consideration of setting information regarding the line segment area acquired by the setting acquisition means. The image generation means performs the predetermined processing on the original image under the set processing conditions, and executes the line segment detection processing on the processed original image to detect a detection region. Good. In this way, when a natural image whose line segment area detection is likely to fluctuate depending on the state of the original image is the original image, information about the line segment area of the coloring image can be specified by a user operation. The line segment detection process for detecting the included line segment area can be executed under conditions that the user prefers. At this time, when the setting acquisition unit acquires the setting information that the original image is an illustration image, the control unit receives information indicating that the user inputs setting information related to the line segment region generated by the image generation unit. The display means may be controlled not to display.

  The coloring production apparatus of the present invention may include a print execution unit that prints the coloring image generated by the image generation unit onto a print medium. This makes it easier to obtain a print medium on which a coloring image is formed.

The coloring production method of the present invention includes:
A coloring manufacturing method for generating a coloring image,
(A) acquiring an original image used for generating a coloring image by reading it from a document under predetermined acquisition conditions;
(B) A predetermined process applied to the original image when performing a line segment detection process for detecting a line segment region of the original image based on a reading condition including at least one of the acquisition condition and an image condition related to the original image. Setting the processing conditions for the processing of
(C) Applying the predetermined process to the original image acquired in the step (a) under the processing conditions set in the step (b) and executing the line segment detection process on the original image after the process Detecting a region, setting the detected detection region as a line segment region and generating a coloring image using a region other than the detection region as a blank region; and
Is included.

  In this coloring manufacturing method, an original image used to generate a coloring image is acquired by reading from a document under a predetermined acquisition condition, and based on a reading condition including at least one of the acquisition condition and the image condition related to the original image. The processing conditions of the predetermined processing to be applied to the original image when performing the line segment detection processing for detecting the line segment area of the original image are set, the predetermined processing is applied to the original image under the set processing conditions, and the post-processing A line segment detection process is performed on the original image to detect a detection area, and the detected detection area is set as a line segment area and a non-detection area is used as a blank area to generate a coloring image. In this way, the conditions for the predetermined process used for the line segment detection process are determined using the reading conditions including the original image acquisition condition and the original image condition. Therefore, the line segment detection process for detecting the line segment area included in the image can be executed under more appropriate conditions. In this coloring manufacturing method, various aspects of the above-described coloring manufacturing apparatus may be adopted, and steps for realizing each function of the above-described coloring manufacturing apparatus may be added.

  The program of this invention is for making each step of the coloring manufacturing method mentioned above implement | achieve in one or several computers. This program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.), or from a computer via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or may be exchanged in any other form. If this program is executed by a single computer, or if each step is shared and executed by a plurality of computers, each step of the above-described coloring manufacturing method is executed. Therefore, the same effect as this coloring manufacturing method can be obtained. can get.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a printer 20 for producing the coloring page 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 20 is configured as a multi-function printer having a scanner function, a printer function, and a copy function, and includes a controller 21 that controls the entire apparatus and a memory card 60 that is a portable storage medium. Is an IC chip that controls the printer mechanism 31 and an interface (I / F) 28 capable of inputting / outputting information between the reader / writer 25 that can be attached / detached to / from the slot 25a, a connected external device, and the like. A printer unit 30 including a printer ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 32, a scanner unit 40 including a scanner ASIC 42 which is an IC chip for controlling the scanner mechanism 41, and information can be displayed to the user. Yes, with user instructions It includes an operation panel 50 is capable force, the. The controller 21, reader / writer 25, I / F 28, printer unit 30, scanner unit 40, and operation panel 50 are electrically connected by a bus 29. The controller 21 is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 22, and can store and erase information and can store a flash ROM 23 that stores various processing programs, a RAM 24 that temporarily stores data, and a printer 20 as a copy. And a copy processing unit 27 that executes image processing and the like when used. The copy processing unit 27 removes halftone dots included in an image read using a Gaussian filter (blurring filter) having a predetermined size (for example, 5 × 5 pixels, 7 × 7 pixels, or 9 × 9 pixels). A unit 27a, and a gamma conversion unit 27b that executes gamma conversion processing such as making the character region, etc., black except the image region of the read image, and has a function of performing image processing at the time of copying. Yes. The printer mechanism 31 includes an ink cartridge 34 that individually accommodates ink of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), and pressure applied to each ink supplied from the ink cartridge 34. A pressure generating unit 35 to be applied, a discharge nozzle 36 for discharging the ink pressurized by the pressure generating unit 35 onto the recording paper S, and a conveyance roller 38 for conveying the recording paper S are provided. The pressure generator 35 may pressurize the ink by deformation of the piezoelectric element, or pressurize the ink by bubbles generated by the heat of the heater. The scanner mechanism 41 is a so-called flatbed type, and includes a glass surface 43 on which a medium M that is a document for reading an image is placed, a reading sensor 44 that optically reads the medium M through the glass surface 43, and a medium M And a moving unit 46 that scans the reading sensor 44 at the time of reading. The reading sensor 44 is a well-known color image sensor that separates the reflected light after being emitted toward the medium M into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors to obtain scan data. The operation panel 50 is a device for a user to input various instructions to the printer 20, and includes a display unit 52 configured by a color liquid crystal panel on which characters and images corresponding to the various instructions are displayed, An operation unit 54 for performing an operation is provided. The operation unit 54 is provided with a cursor key 54a that is pressed when the user moves a cursor or the like for selecting a process or a character, a determination key 54b that is pressed when determining a process selection, or the like. The memory card 60 is a nonvolatile memory in which data can be written and erased, and stores a plurality of image files photographed by a photographing device such as a digital camera.

  Next, the operation of the printer 20 of this embodiment configured as described above, particularly, the operation for producing a coloring page will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the original image 70. The original image 70 is an illustration image divided into several areas such as a color area 70 a and a color area 70 b by a line segment area 72. In the original image 70, a halftone dot 74a is formed along the line segment area 72 on the color area 70a side adjacent to the line segment area 72, and a halftone dot 74b is formed on the color area 70b side. It is formed along the region 72. The halftone dots 74a and 74b are formed at an interval of 130 lines / inch, for example. In general, an illustration image is often formed in an approximate range of line segments such as 175 lines / inch, 150 lines / inch, and 130 lines / inch. In the present embodiment, the coloring production process will be described mainly using the original image 70. First, the operator sets the original M on which the coloring original image 70 is formed on the scanner unit 40, displays a processing execution screen (not shown) on the display unit 52, and creates a coloring from the image obtained by reading the original M. An instruction is input by operating the operation unit 54. Then, the printer 20 executes an image coloring production process set on the scanner unit 40. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a coloring production process routine. This routine is stored in the flash ROM 23 and executed by the CPU 22 after a coloring production instruction is input. When this routine is started, the CPU 22 first executes a coloring generation condition setting process (step S100). Here, the description of the coloring production process routine will be interrupted, and the setting process of the coloring generation condition will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a coloring generation condition setting routine. This flowchart is stored in the flash ROM 23. When this routine is started, the CPU 22 displays a setting input screen on the display unit 52 (step S300). FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a setting input screen 80 displayed on the display unit 52. The setting input screen 80 is a screen for performing basic setting of coloring generation conditions, and is stored in the flash ROM 23. The setting input screen 80 includes a cursor 81 that moves up and down when the cursor key 54a is pressed up and down, an input device setting field 80a in which an image input source such as the scanner unit 40 and the memory card 60 can be set, a document A reading resolution setting field 80b that can be set by a pull-down menu (not shown) displayed when the right key is pressed for the reading resolution of M, and a document type setting field 80c that can set the type of an image formed on the document M such as an illustration or a photograph. A color type setting field 80d for setting whether the document M is color or monochrome, a paper size setting field 80e for setting a paper size such as A4 size or postcard size, and a type of paper to be printed such as plain paper or photomat paper A possible paper type setting field 80f is included. The setting input screen 80 is configured to be able to switch between setting and releasing when the cursor 81 is set and the left and right keys of the cursor key 54a are pressed. The reading resolution setting field 80b can be set only when “scanner” is set in the input device setting field 80a.

  When this setting input screen 80 is displayed, the CPU 22 determines whether or not there is an input in any setting field of the setting input screen 80 (step S310). When a new reading resolution is input to the resolution setting field 80b, the input value is stored in the RAM 24 (step S320). After step S320 or when there is no input in the setting field in step S310, it is determined whether or not the input of the setting value is completed based on whether or not the enter key 54b is pressed (step S330). When the input of the set value has not been completed, the processing from step S300 is repeated, and when the input of the set value has been completed, whether or not the document type input in the document type setting field 80c is a photograph (natural image). Is determined (step S340). When the document type is a photograph (natural image), the so-called edge is weak or the generated coloring image changes depending on the document, so that the user inputs the user's preference such as the number of lines and the color density of the coloring image. The information input screen 82 is displayed and output on the display unit 52 (step S350). FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the sub information input screen 82 displayed on the display unit 52. The sub-information input screen 82 includes a line number setting field 82a in which the number of lines of the generated coloring image can be set to “less”, “normal”, or “large”, and the line color of the generated coloring image A line density setting field 82b that can set the density of the image to any one of five levels, a quality setting field 82c that can set the print quality to either standard or beautiful, and the like are included. Each value in the number-of-lines setting field 82a is empirically based on the state of the generated coloring image, for example, “more” is empirical so that about 15% of the total image area of the generated coloring image becomes a line segment region. A threshold value for line segment detection processing described later is associated, “normal” is associated with a threshold value such that about 10% of the image area is a line segment region, and “less” is image area. Is associated with a threshold value such that about 5% of the line segment region becomes.

  Subsequently, the CPU 22 determines whether or not there is an input in any setting field of the sub information input screen 82 (step S360), and when there is an input in any of the setting fields, for example, in the line number setting field 82a. When “less” is input, the input value is stored in the RAM 24 (step S370). After step S370 or when there is no input in the setting field in step S360, it is determined whether or not the input of the setting value is completed based on whether or not the enter key 54b is pressed (step S380). When the input of the set value has not been completed, the processes after step S350 are repeated. When the input of the setting value is completed in step S380, or when the document type is not a photograph in step S340, that is, an illustration image, the CPU 22 reflects the value set by the user in the setting value for execution (step S390), this routine is terminated. In the following description, it is assumed that an illustration is set in the document type setting field 80c.

  Now, after the coloring generation condition setting process in step S100, in the coloring production process routine, the CPU 22 executes the original image acquisition process using the value set by the user (step S110). Here, the CPU 22 causes the scanner ASIC 42 to drive and control the scanner mechanism 41, scans the document M placed on the glass surface 43 with the reading sensor 44 by the moving unit 46, reads the document M with the reading resolution set by the user, and reads the image data As shown in FIG. 2, the process of acquiring the original image 70 is executed. Here, the read image is assumed to be a monochrome image through a known monochrome process.

  Next, the CPU 22 executes luminance (Y) on the obtained original image 70 (step S120), sets a halftone dot removal filter based on the input reading resolution (step S130), and sets it. A halftone removal process is executed using the halftone removal filter (step S140). The halftone dot removal filter uses a Gaussian filter that is a blurring filter, and this halftone dot removal filter determines the size of the Gaussian filter as an execution area of the blurring process so that the CPU 22 tends to increase as the reading resolution increases. It was. Here, for example, the Gaussian filter size is set to 7 × 7 pixels when the reading resolution is 300 dpi, and the Gaussian filter size is set to 9 × 9 pixels when the reading resolution is 600 dpi. Also, here, when an illustration image is set as a document image, the number of lines of the original image included in the document is 130 lines / inch, and when a natural image is set as the document image, it is included in the document. It is assumed that the number of lines of the original image to be processed is fixed at 175 lines / inch. This halftone dot removal process is executed by the CPU 22 in the halftone dot processing unit 27a of the copy processing unit 27.

  When the halftone dot removal process ends, the CPU 22 executes a line segment area detection process (step S150). The line segment area can be detected by executing an edge detection process using, for example, a Sobel filter or a Laplacian filter. At this time, the threshold value for detecting the edge is basically set to be an empirically determined value depending on whether the document type to be read is an illustration image or a natural image. Here, since the natural image is more difficult to extract the line segment region, the threshold value for detecting the edge is set lower in the natural image than in the illustration image. Further, when the read original is a natural image, this threshold value is lowered when “large” is set in the line number setting field 82a, and is raised when “small” is set. By this edge detection, the line segment area 72 of the original image 70 shown in FIG. 2 is detected.

  When the line segment area detection process ends, the CPU 22 sets a target pixel in the read image data (step S160), and the image as a region where the set target pixel is a line segment area or other than the line segment area. It is determined whether it is an area (step S170). Here, the upper left pixel of the read image data is set as the initial position (x, y), and attention is given in order so that the pixel moves to the right side every time the process is repeated and moves to the right end from the left end pixel in the next row when the right end is reached. The pixel was set. When the target pixel corresponds to the image area, the CPU 22 causes the gamma conversion unit 27b to execute gamma processing for background removal (step S180). FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of gamma conversion lines used for background removal processing. Here, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 7, in the image area, gamma conversion is performed to output the input values in the entire range as white. Note that the gamma conversion unit 27b is set to perform gamma conversion indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the target pixel is a line segment area in step S170, the CPU 22 executes edge enhancement processing (step S190), and causes the gamma conversion section 27b to execute gamma processing for line segment area (step S200). Here, the edge enhancement processing is processing for enhancing a line segment region by performing edge enhancement of an original image using an edge enhancement filter. The line segment gamma process is a process for thinly adjusting the color of the line segment area subjected to the enhancement process to a density suitable for coloring. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of gamma conversion lines used for the line segment region gamma processing. Here, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 8, gamma conversion is performed to convert the input value from black to a predetermined gray (see A1) to the high luminance side of the achromatic color and output as a predetermined gray (see B1). It was supposed to be. Note that, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8, gamma conversion may be performed so that the luminance of the output value increases as the luminance of the input value increases. Note that the gamma conversion unit 27b is set to perform gamma conversion indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG.

  After step S200 or after step S180, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the processing of steps S180 to S200 has been completed for all regions of the read image data (step S210), and the processing of all regions has been completed. If not, the processing in steps S180 to S200 is repeated, and when the processing for all areas is completed, the generated image data is displayed on the display unit 52 (step S220). FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the coloring page 10. As shown in FIG. 9, by the processing of steps S180 to S200, the line segment area 72 of the original image 70 (see FIG. 2) is made a slightly thin achromatic line segment area 12, and the color area 70a of the original image 70 is blank. A coloring image is generated by setting a certain blank area 10a and the color area 70b of the original image 70 as a blank area 10b.

  After step S220, the CPU 22 causes the display unit 52 to display a message as to whether or not to generate the coloring page again, and determines whether or not to restart the coloring image generation process (step S230). In this determination, a confirmation screen (not shown) including a print execution button and a redo button is displayed on the display unit 52, and whether or not the redo button is selected by operating the cursor key 54a and the determination key 54b is pressed on the confirmation screen. Based on. When the redo button is pressed on the confirmation screen and the coloring image generation process is redone, the CPU 22 repeatedly executes the processes after step S100. On the other hand, when the print execution button is pressed on the confirmation screen, the CPU 22 executes print processing for the generated coloring image (step S240), and ends this routine. In the printing process, the CPU 22 outputs the image data to the printer ASIC 32, and the printer ASIC 32 receiving the image data develops the image data into a bitmap image in the print buffer of the RAM 24, and stores it in the ink cartridge 34 based on the developed data. The pressure generator 35 and the transport roller 38 of the printer mechanism 31 are controlled so that the stored ink is ejected onto the recording paper S. In this way, the coloring area 10 shown in FIG. 9 is formed in which the line segment area 12 having higher luminance than the original image is formed, and the blank areas 10a and 10b adjacent to the line segment area 12 are formed. is there.

  Here, a case where a photograph (natural image) is set as the document type and the processes in steps S100 to S230 are repeated will be described. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams when the coloring 96 is produced from the photograph 90. FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram of the photograph 90, FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram of the coloring 92 with a small number of lines, and FIG. FIG. 10C is an explanatory diagram of the coloring 94 having a large number of lines, and FIG. 10D is an explanatory diagram of the coloring 96 having an appropriate number of lines. First, the user operates the operation unit 54 to input a production instruction for producing a coloring from an image obtained by reading a photograph 90 placed on the glass surface 43. Next, the user sets “photograph” in the document type setting field 80c on the setting input screen 80 shown in FIG. Subsequently, since the sub information input screen 82 is displayed on the display unit 52, “normal” is set in the line number setting field 82a. Then, the CPU 22 sets a halftone dot removal filter in step S130 according to the set reading resolution, and executes line segment region detection processing in step S150. At this time, a threshold value for edge detection is set according to “normal” set in the line number setting field 82a, and pixels exceeding this threshold value are detected in the line segment region in step S160. The threshold for edge detection is determined empirically using a plurality of general photographs, but depending on the original image, there may be a coloring 92 with a small number of lines as shown in FIG. . In such a case, the user selects redoing the generation process of the coloring image in step S230, and sets “large” in the line number setting field 82a on the sub information input screen 82 displayed again. Then, the CPU 22 sets the edge detection threshold value low and performs line segment region detection processing in step S150. Then, more line segment regions than the coloring 92 are detected, and a coloring 96 with an appropriate number of lines shown in FIG. 10D can be generated. Further, when “normal” is set in the number-of-lines setting field 82a and coloring is performed, when the coloring number 94 has a large number of lines as shown in FIG. 10C, the user displays it again. If “less” is set in the number-of-lines setting field 82a on the sub-information input screen 82, an appropriate coloring 96 having the number of lines shown in FIG. 10D can be generated. Although the number of lines in three stages can be set in the number-of-lines setting field 82a, the number of lines may be further increased to five or more, and a threshold value corresponding to this may be provided empirically.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The scanner unit 40 and the controller 21 of the present embodiment correspond to an image acquisition unit, the controller 21 corresponds to a condition setting unit, an image generation unit, and a control unit of the present invention, the display unit 52 corresponds to a display unit, and a printer The unit 30 corresponds to a print execution unit, and the operation panel 50 and the controller 21 correspond to a setting acquisition unit. The recording paper S corresponds to a print medium, the line segment gamma processing corresponds to the first gamma conversion processing, and the background removal gamma processing corresponds to the second gamma conversion processing. In the present embodiment, an example of the coloring manufacturing method of the present invention is also clarified by describing the operation of the printer 20.

  According to the printer 20 of the present embodiment described in detail above, an original image used for generating a coloring image is acquired by reading from a document under a set reading resolution condition, and when this reading resolution increases, line segment detection is performed. Set the processing conditions for this blurring process so that the execution area when performing the blurring process applied to the original image when processing is performed, and perform the blurring process on the original image under the set blurring process conditions. A line segment detection process is performed on the subsequent original image to detect a detection area, and this detected detection area is set as a line segment area and a non-detection area is used as a blank area to generate a coloring image. In this way, the blurring processing conditions used for the line segment detection processing are determined using the reading resolution of the original image. Therefore, the line segment detection process for detecting the line segment area included in the image can be executed under more appropriate conditions. In addition, the blurring process has an effect of removing halftone dots that are included in the read image and erroneously detected as a line segment area, and the reading resolution is related to the degree of the blurring process. The line segment detection process for detecting the included line segment area can be executed under more appropriate conditions. Furthermore, since the gamma processing for the line segment area is executed to form a line segment area, and the color image is generated as a blank area by the gamma process for background removal, the color image is relatively easily converted into the line segment area and the blank area by the gamma conversion process. Can be generated. Furthermore, since the line segment detection process is performed on the monochrome image, the line segment detection process can be executed with a relatively easy process. Then, since the line segment detection process is performed in consideration of the setting information related to the line segment area specified by the user in the line number setting field 82a, a natural image whose line segment area detection is likely to fluctuate depending on the state of the original image. When the image is an image, line segment detection processing for detecting a line segment area included in the image can be executed under conditions that the user prefers. In addition, since the printer unit 30 is provided, it is easy to obtain the recording paper S on which a coloring image is formed. Furthermore, since coloring can be produced using the halftone dot processing unit 27a and gamma conversion unit 27b used for the copy function, it is possible to realize generation of a coloring image without increasing a new configuration for coloring production. Can do.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the line segment region 12 is formed of a high gray color with respect to the original image among the achromatic colors. It may be formed with a chromatic color, or may be formed with a luminance equal to or lower than the luminance of the original image.

  In the above-described embodiment, halftone dot removal processing, line segment detection processing, and the like are performed on the original image acquired as a monochrome image in step S110. However, the color components included in the original image acquired as a color image ( For example, each image of R, G, B, etc.) may be generated, and halftone dot removal processing, line segment detection processing, etc. may be executed for each color component. In this way, since the line segment detection process is executed using the original image of each color component, for example, the line segment detection process can be performed more reliably than when the line segment is detected using a monochrome original image. it can.

  In the above-described embodiment, the achromatic region of the original image is made higher in brightness and whitened with respect to the image region using the gamma conversion line (FIGS. 7 and 8). The achromatic region of the original image may be made a brighter color without using a line, and the image region may be whitened.

  In the above-described embodiment, the line segment detection process is performed on the read original image. However, an area extraction image is created by duplicating the read original image, and the created area extraction image Alternatively, the line segment detection process may be executed to detect information on the range of the line segment region 72, and the line segment region 72 may be extracted from the original image using the detected information. In this way, for example, various image processing can be applied to the region extraction image, so that the line segment region can be detected relatively easily.

  In the embodiment described above, the number of lines of the original image is set to a predetermined value according to the document type and the subsequent processing is performed. However, the number of lines of the original image is grasped by reading the document M by the scanner unit 40. It is good also as what to do. Specifically, when a coloring production instruction is input, the CPU 22 reads the original M with the scanner unit 40 and acquires the original image 70. Next, the content of the acquired original image 70 is analyzed to detect the number of line segments per unit area, the interval between the halftone dots 74a and 74b, and the number of lines in the original image is detected from the detected values. Then, the CPU 22 sets the size of the blurring filter used for the halftone dot removal process determined in advance based on the experience according to the number of lines of the detected original image and the reading resolution, and uses the set blurring filter. Point removal processing may be performed, and line segment detection processing may be performed. For example, when the line segment of the detected image is 130 lines / inch, the size of the Gaussian filter as the execution area is set to 7 × 7 pixels, and when the line segment of the detected image is 175 lines / inch, Gaussian is set. The filter size may be set to 5 × 5 pixels. As described above, the blurring process has an effect of removing halftone dots included in the read image and erroneously detected as a line segment area. On the other hand, the number of lines of the read image is related to the degree of the blurring process. It is possible to execute a line segment detection process for detecting a line segment area included in an image using a more appropriate condition. When the Gaussian filter size determined based on the number of lines of the original image and the Gaussian filter size determined based on the reading resolution are different, the larger Gaussian filter size is selected to be used for the blurring process. It may be a thing. Also, at this time, based on the detected number of lines of the original image, the line segment area after coloring is empirically set to a predetermined value (for example, 5%, 10%, 15%, etc.) of the entire image. A threshold value for the minute detection process may be set. For example, the relationship between the number of lines of the original image detected by analyzing the original image obtained by reading the document M and the number of lines of the coloring image obtained by executing the line segment detection process using a certain threshold is empirically determined. If the number of lines of the original image is given using this relationship, a threshold value for the line segment detection process may be set. In this way, it is easy to set the line segment area of the coloring image to be produced to an appropriate range.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is determined in step S230 whether or not to create a coloring image again. However, this processing may be omitted and the produced coloring image may be printed as it is. In this case, since the halftone dot processing unit 27a and the gamma conversion unit 27b of the copy processing unit 27 are used for producing the coloring image, the original M is read from the original M at the same speed as the copy processing. Up to printing can be executed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the coloring 10 is produced from the image read by the scanner unit 40. However, the coloring 10 is created from an image stored in the memory card 60 or an image obtained from a network (not shown) via the I / F 28. It may be produced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 20 has been described as the coloring production apparatus of the present invention. However, the printer 20 is not particularly limited as long as it generates a coloring image having a line segment area and a blank area from the image. Digital video, mobile phone with camera, personal computer, etc. Further, although the printer 20 is a multi-function printer provided with a scanner, the scanner unit 40 may be omitted or may be a FAX. In the above-described embodiment, the printer mechanism 31 is an ink jet type mechanism that discharges pressurized ink onto the recording paper S and executes a printing process. However, an electrophotographic color laser printer, A thermal transfer type color printer, a dot impact type color printer, or a monochrome printer of these may be used. In particular, in a laser printer or the like, it is possible to produce a coloring page 10 that can be colored with an aqueous or oily paint. Furthermore, although the embodiment of the printer 20 has been described, it may be an embodiment of a coloring production method or an embodiment of a program of this method.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a printer 20. It is explanatory drawing of the original image. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a coloring production process routine. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a coloring generation condition setting routine. It is explanatory drawing of the setting input screen 80 displayed on the display part 52. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the sub information input screen 82 displayed on the display part 52. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the gamma conversion line used for a background removal process. It is explanatory drawing of the gamma conversion line used for the gamma process for line segment area | regions. It is explanatory drawing of the coloring 10. It is explanatory drawing at the time of producing the coloring 96 from the photograph 90. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  10a, 10b Blank area, 12 line segment area, 20 printer, 21 controller, 22 CPU, 23 flash ROM, 24 RAM, 25 reader / writer, 25a slot, 27 copy processing section, 27a halftone processing section, 27b gamma conversion section, 28 Interface (I / F), 29 Bus, 30 Printer section, 31 Printer mechanism, 32 Printer ASIC, 34 Ink cartridge, 35 Pressure generating section, 36 Discharge nozzle, 38 Transport roller, 40 Scanner section, 41 Scanner mechanism, 42 Scanner ASIC, 43 Glass surface, 44 Reading sensor, 46 Moving part, 50 Operation panel, 52 Display part, 54 Operation part, 54a Cursor key, 54b Enter key, 60 Memory card, 70 Original image, 70a, 70b Color area, 72 lines Minute area, 74 , 74b, halftone dot, 80 setting input screen, 80a input device setting field, 80b reading resolution setting field, 80c original type setting field, 80d color type setting field, 80e paper size setting field, 80f paper type setting field, 81 cursor, 82 Sub information input screen, 82a Line number setting column, 82b Line density setting column, 82c Quality setting column, 90 Photos, 92, 94, 96 Coloring.

Claims (11)

Image acquisition means for acquiring an original image used for generation of a coloring image by reading it from a document under predetermined acquisition conditions;
As a predetermined process to be performed on the original image when performing a line segment detection process for detecting a line segment area of the original image based on a reading condition including at least one of the acquisition condition and an image condition related to the original image Condition setting means for setting processing conditions for blur processing;
The blurring process is performed on the original image under the set processing conditions, the line segment detection process is performed on the original image after the process to detect a detection area, and the detected detection area is set as a line segment area. And an image generation means for generating a coloring image using a region other than the detection region as a blank region,
The image acquisition means acquires the original image by reading from the document at a predetermined reading resolution as a predetermined acquisition condition,
The coloring production apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the condition setting means sets a processing condition of the blurring process applied to the original image based on the reading resolution . The condition setting means, when setting the processing condition of the blurring process based on the reading resolution, the processing condition of the blurring process so that an execution area when the blurring process is executed becomes larger when the reading resolution increases. The coloring production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The condition setting means detects a predetermined number of lines of the original image as a predetermined image condition by analyzing an image acquired by reading from the original by the image acquisition means,
A processing condition for the blurring process applied to the original image is set based on the detected predetermined number of lines,
The coloring production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image generation unit performs the blurring process on the original image and executes the line segment detection process on the original image after the process. The condition setting unit is configured to perform the line segment detection processing based on a predetermined number of lines of the detected original image so that the line segment area of the coloring image generated by the image generation unit is a predetermined ratio of the entire original image. The coloring production apparatus according to claim 3, wherein execution conditions are set. The image generation means converts the input value to the detected luminance area to the high luminance side and outputs the detected area when the detected area is a line segment area and an area other than the detected area is a blank area. The coloring image is generated as the blank area by executing a first gamma conversion process to obtain the line segment area and executing a second gamma conversion process for converting the input value to white in the area other than the detection area. The coloring production apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4. The image generation unit performs monochrome processing on the acquired original image, performs the blurring process on the processed monochrome image under the set processing conditions, and detects the line segment in the processed monochrome image. The coloring production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a detection image detected by executing the process is used as a line segment region, and a coloring image is generated using a region other than the detection region as a blank region. When executing the line segment detection process, the image generation unit performs the blurring process on each of a plurality of color components included in the original image under the set processing conditions, and performs the processing for each color component after the processing. The coloring production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the detection area is detected by executing the line segment detection process on an original image. It is a coloring manufacturing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-7,
Display means capable of displaying images;
Setting acquisition means capable of acquiring setting information when generating the coloring image set based on a user operation;
When the setting acquisition unit acquires the setting information that the original image is a natural image, the display unit is controlled to display information indicating that the user inputs setting information related to the line segment region generated by the image generation unit. Control means for
The condition setting means sets processing conditions for a predetermined process to be performed on the original image when performing the line segment detection process in consideration of setting information regarding the line segment area acquired by the setting acquisition means,
The coloring production apparatus, wherein the image generation unit performs the predetermined process on the original image under the set processing conditions, and executes the line segment detection process on the original image after the process to detect a detection area. It is a coloring manufacturing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-8,
A coloring production apparatus comprising: a print execution unit that prints a coloring image generated by the image generation unit on a print medium. A coloring manufacturing method for generating a coloring image,
(A) acquiring an original image used for generating a coloring image by reading it from a document at a predetermined reading resolution as a predetermined acquisition condition;
(B) A predetermined process applied to the original image when performing a line segment detection process for detecting a line segment region of the original image based on a reading condition including at least one of the acquisition condition and an image condition related to the original image. Setting processing conditions for blur processing based on the reading resolution as the processing of
(C) The blurring process is performed on the original image acquired in the step (a) under the processing conditions set in the step (b), and the line segment detection process is performed on the original image after the processing to detect a detection area Detecting the detected area as a line segment area and generating a coloring image with an area other than the detected area as a blank area;
Coloring manufacturing method including.   The program for making one or more computers perform each step of the coloring manufacturing method of Claim 10.

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