JP5629024B1 - Image generation method, image generation apparatus, image generation program, engraving method, engraving, and printed material - Google Patents

Abstract

A high quality image is generated. An image data acquisition step (S1) for acquiring image data including pixel values at a plurality of coordinate positions on an XY coordinate plane composed of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction; A height acquisition step (S2) for acquiring height information indicating the height of a three-dimensional object in association with a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane, and a plurality of lines on the XY coordinate plane Based on the line image generation step (S3) for generating a line image by placing the line on the line and the height corresponding to each of the coordinate positions, the position of the line at the coordinate position is determined in the Y-axis direction. The coordinate line position based on the pixel value at each coordinate position included in the image data acquired in the image data acquisition step (S4) The width of the line in Includes a binary image generating step of generating a modified binary image was (S5), the. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image generation method, an image generation apparatus, an image generation program, a sculpture manufacturing method, a sculpture, and a printed material.

  Conventionally, a method of expressing a three-dimensional figure on two-dimensional coordinates by changing the angles of a plurality of parallel parallel lines based on three-dimensional data of a binary image including the height information of the three-dimensional object is known. (For example, see Patent Document 1). According to the conventional method, it is possible to express a solid using a two-dimensional image by moving the position of the line in the Y-axis direction on the XY coordinate plane by an amount corresponding to the height of the solid object. did it.

  Conventionally, a halftone processing method for expressing a multi-tone image using a binary image by using halftone dots having different sizes and densities according to the tone of the image data is known (for example, (See Patent Document 2). According to the conventional method, by increasing the halftone dots or increasing the density of the halftone dots, an image having a high density can be expressed, and the halftone dots can be reduced or the density of the halftone dots can be reduced. The image with low density could be expressed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-120450 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-1003003

  However, the three-dimensional data used in the method described in Patent Document 1 is a binary image including a first pixel indicating a background portion and a second pixel indicating a pattern portion. Therefore, although the three-dimensional shape of the pattern portion could be expressed by a two-dimensional image, the contents of the pattern could not be expressed.

  Specifically, the stereoscopic data image used in the conventional method is not intended to represent a picture but merely to represent a three-dimensional shape. It was not expected to fall below.

  In addition, the method described in Patent Document 2 cannot faithfully reproduce all the gradations from the bright part to the dark part of the image. In particular, when unevenness is applied to a base material such as metal or wood, it is not easy to form a large number of halftone dots. In particular, due to restrictions on the minimum workable size of the base material, if the base material is engraved by a method using halftone dots to express a multi-tone image, the size of the halftone dot needs to be increased as a whole, and the screen is displayed. In addition to being rough, the reproducibility of the highlight portion and the shadow portion where the halftone dots have to be made relatively fine is remarkably inferior, and the image quality cannot be improved.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and a method, apparatus, and program for generating a high-quality image, and an engraving object based on the image generated by using the method, apparatus, or program. It is an object to provide a manufacturing method and a sculpture manufactured based on the image.

  The image generation method according to the first aspect of the present invention includes image data including pixel values at a plurality of coordinate positions on an XY coordinate plane formed of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction. An image data acquisition step for acquiring, a height information acquisition step for acquiring height information indicating the height of a three-dimensional object in association with a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane, and a plurality of lines Based on the line image generation step of generating a line image by arranging on the XY coordinate plane and the height corresponding to each of the coordinate positions, the position of the line at the coordinate position is Y Based on the pixel value at each of the coordinate positions included in the image data acquired in the image data acquisition step, the deformation line image generation step of generating a deformation line image that has moved in the axial direction. The width of the line Comprises a binary image generating step of generating a modified binary image was, the.

  In the image data acquisition step, the image data including an image obtained by projecting an image of the surface of the three-dimensional object on the XY coordinate plane may be acquired. In the image data acquisition step, the image data including an image different from an image obtained by projecting an image of the surface of the three-dimensional object on the XY coordinate plane may be acquired.

  In the binary image generation step, a binary image is generated by changing the width of the deformed line image without changing the center position in the width direction of the line constituting the deformed line image. May be. In the binary image generation step, the binary image may be generated by changing the continuous length of the line based on the pixel value at the coordinate position. In addition, in the binary image generation step, when a pixel value of a pixel for which the binary image is to be generated is included in a predetermined range, a floor other than the gradation corresponding to the predetermined range is included. By dividing the line image having the same width as the line image used in the tone and generating the broken line-shaped line image having the same width as the line image used in the other gradations, the binary image is generated. May be generated.

  In the binary image generation step, the binary image may be generated by dividing the line when the pixel value at the coordinate position is closer to a white pixel value than a predetermined threshold value. In the binary image generation step, the binary image may be generated by dividing the line when the pixel value at the coordinate position is closer to a black pixel value than a predetermined threshold value. In the binary image generating step, the minimum length of the line segment constituting the broken line image may be longer than the line width of the broken line image.

  The height acquisition step may include a step of extracting a contour line in the image data, and a step of determining the height according to each coordinate position and a distance from the contour line.

  The manufacturing method of the sculpture according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a step of forming a concave portion and a convex portion on the base material based on the binary image generated by the image generating method. The engraving product manufacturing method may further include a step of coloring at least a part of the concave portion and the convex portion based on the position of the line included in the binary image. Moreover, the manufacturing method of said engraving thing may further comprise the process of forming the recessed part of the depth more than the width | variety of the said line based on the position of the said line included in the said binary image.

  An image generation apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention includes image data including pixel values at a plurality of coordinate positions on an XY coordinate plane formed of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction. An image data acquisition unit to be acquired, a height information acquisition unit for acquiring height information indicating the height of a three-dimensional object in association with a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane, and a plurality of lines Based on the line image generation unit that generates a line image by arranging on the XY coordinate plane and the height corresponding to each coordinate position, the position of the line at the coordinate position is Y Based on the pixel value at each of the coordinate positions included in the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit, the deformation line image generation unit that generates a deformation line image that has moved in the axial direction, and at the coordinate position Binary with changed width of the line And a binary image generator for generating an image.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an image generation program stores, in a computer, pixel values at a plurality of coordinate positions on an XY coordinate plane including an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction. An image data acquisition step for acquiring image data including, a height information acquisition step for acquiring height information indicating the height of a three-dimensional object in association with a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane; Based on the line image generation process of generating a line image by arranging the line on the XY coordinate plane and the height corresponding to each of the coordinate positions, the line at the coordinate position Based on the pixel values at the respective coordinate positions included in the image data acquired in the image data acquisition step, the deformation line image generation step of generating a deformation line image that has moved in the Y-axis direction, The coordinates And the binary image generating step of generating a binary image width of the line screen is changed in location, to the execution. The image generation program may be provided by being stored in a storage medium, or may be provided via a communication line.

  The engraving according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is based on image data including pixel values at a plurality of coordinate positions on an XY coordinate plane composed of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction. The Y-axis direction position differs according to the height of the three-dimensional object corresponding to the coordinate position, and the pattern on the surface of the three-dimensional object is placed on the XY coordinate plane. A base material in which concave portions and convex portions having different widths are formed in accordance with pixel values for each coordinate position of the image data obtained by projection is provided.

  The printed matter according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is based on image data including pixel values at a plurality of coordinate positions on an XY coordinate plane composed of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction. The generated printed material has a position in the Y-axis direction that differs depending on the height of the three-dimensional object corresponding to the coordinate position, and projects the pattern on the surface of the three-dimensional object onto the XY coordinate plane. Lines with different widths are printed according to pixel values for each coordinate position of the image data obtained in this way.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that a high-quality image can be generated.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the image generation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the image generation method which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the image data which an image data acquisition part acquires. It is a figure for demonstrating the method to produce | generate a raster image. It is a figure which shows the outline extracted from the image data of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the method of calculating height based on image data. It is a figure which shows the line image which the line image generation part produced | generated. It is a figure which shows the deformation | transformation line image which the deformation | transformation line image generation part produced | generated. It is a figure which shows the binary image produced | generated by changing the width | variety of the line shown in FIG. 8 based on the pixel value of the image data shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the gradation of image data, and the width | variety of a line. It is a figure which shows the other example of the relationship between the gradation of image data, and the width | variety of a line. It is a figure which shows the 1st method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 1st method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 1st method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 1st method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 2nd method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 2nd method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 2nd method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 2nd method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 3rd method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 4th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 4th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 5th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 5th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 6th method which engraves a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 6th method which engraves a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 7th method which engraves a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 7th method which engraves a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 7th method which engraves a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 7th method which engraves a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 8th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 8th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 8th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 8th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 9th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the 9th method of engraving a binary image on a base material. It is a figure which shows the image data which the image data acquisition part which concerns on 3rd Embodiment acquires. It is a figure which shows the binary image produced | generated using the image data of FIG. It is a figure which shows the binary image produced | generated using the parallel line arrange | positioned in the diagonal direction.

<First Embodiment>
[Image generation method]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image generation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the image generation method according to the first embodiment. The image generation apparatus 1 includes an image data acquisition unit 10, a height acquisition unit 11, a line image generation unit 12, a modified line image generation unit 13, and a binary image generation unit 14. The image generation apparatus 1 includes a computer such as a CPU, and the computer is based on an image generation program stored in a storage medium such as a memory, and an image data acquisition step (S1) according to an image generation method; The height acquisition step (S2), the line image generation step (S3), the modified line image generation step (S4), and the binary image generation step (S5) can be executed.
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the image generation apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The image data acquisition unit 10 acquires image data of a three-dimensional object including pixel values at a plurality of coordinate positions on an XY coordinate plane composed of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction (S1). ). The three-dimensional object image data is, for example, an image obtained by projecting an image of the surface of a three-dimensional object on the XY coordinate plane. The image data is composed of, for example, 256 gradation pixel values, and pixel values of 0 (black) to 255 (white) are assigned in association with the respective coordinate positions.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 10. FIG. 3 shows an image of a wooden carved doll (kokeshi doll) composed of a cylindrical face part and a body part rounded at both ends. When the image data is 3D image data, the image data acquisition unit 10 sets a viewpoint for viewing a virtual object in the 3D image, and generates a 2D raster image when the object is viewed from the viewpoint. By doing so, image data is acquired. Pixel values may be given in advance to each part of the surface of the virtual object.

Specifically, the image data acquisition unit 10 generates a raster image by the following method, for example.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a raster image. First, the image data acquisition unit 10 includes a plane P including a contour line L obtained by a set of contact points between a tangent line drawn from the point C, which is the position of the viewpoint, to the surface of the virtual object in the three-dimensional image data and the object surface. Is generated. The image data acquisition unit 10 generates a raster image based on the virtual object on the viewpoint side among the two parts of the virtual object divided by the plane P. Specifically, the image data acquisition unit 10 XY of the point A ′ where the straight line connecting the point C and an arbitrary point A on the virtual object surface intersects the plane P in the XY coordinate plane of the plane P. The coordinates are (xA ′, yA ′). In FIG. 4, a point A1 ′ where a straight line connecting the point C and the point A1 intersects the plane P and a point A2 ′ where the straight line connecting the point C and the point A2 intersects the plane P are shown.

  Subsequently, the image data acquisition unit 10 calculates the point A on the virtual object as a result of calculation when the point C is viewed from the viewpoint under a specific light source position, light source color, ambient light, reflection state, and the like. The pixel value derived as indicated by is copied to the point A ′. For example, the image data acquisition unit 10 sets the pixel value of the point A1 under a certain condition as the pixel value of the point A1 'and the pixel value of the point A2 under the same condition as the pixel value of the point A2'. According to the above procedure, all the pixels in the region surrounded by the contour line L on the plane P are given pixel values under the condition that the corresponding virtual object surface is present, and a two-dimensional raster image is obtained.

  The height acquisition unit 11 acquires the height h corresponding to each coordinate position, associates the coordinate x in the X-axis direction, the coordinate y in the Y-axis direction, and the height h and stores them in the memory. The height h indicates the amount by which the three-dimensional object corresponding to the image data protrudes with respect to the XY coordinate plane. The height h is, for example, the amount of protrusion from the plane P when the object is viewed from the viewpoint. Specifically, when the XY coordinate of a point A ′ where a straight line connecting an arbitrary point A and point C on the virtual object surface intersects the plane P is (xA ′, yA ′), (xA ′, yA) The height h corresponding to ') is the length of AA'. In FIG. 4, the height corresponding to (xA1 ', yA1') is indicated as h1, and the height corresponding to (xA2 ', yA2') is indicated as h2. Note that the length of the normal line from the point A to the plane P may be the height h.

  When the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 10 includes information indicating height in association with each coordinate position, the height acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating height from the image data. The height acquisition unit 11 may calculate the height h based on the viewpoint by the above method based on the three-dimensional information included in the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 10. Further, the height information may be acquired from data different from the image data. The other data including the height information may include height information associated with each coordinate position of the image data.

  Further, the height acquisition unit 11 does not include information indicating the height in association with each coordinate position in the image data, and when the height information cannot be acquired from other data, The height is calculated based on the contour line. Specifically, when the height acquisition unit 11 cannot acquire height information from other data including information indicating the height in a state associated with each coordinate position of the image data, The contour line included in is extracted (S21). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing contour lines extracted from the image data of FIG.

  Subsequently, the height acquisition unit 11 calculates the height based on a function of a distance from a predetermined contour line (S22). FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method for calculating the height based on the image data. The pixel A shown in FIG. 6 is away from the nearest contour line by Dx in the X-axis direction and Dy in the Y-axis direction. The height acquisition unit 11 may calculate the height based on Dx and Dy, or may calculate the height based on a function of Dx and Dy.

For example, the height acquisition unit 11 sets h = m (Dx ² + Dy ² ) ^0.5 (m is a real number) so that the height of the cone-shaped three-dimensional object whose bottom surface is the surface surrounded by the contour line. Can get. The height acquisition unit 11 sets h = [{2b (Dx ² + Dy ² ) ^0.5 −Dx ² −Dy ² } / c] ^0.5 (b and c are real numbers), so that the radius is b. It is possible to obtain the height of a rounded three-dimensional object that is obtained by expanding and contracting a semicircle to the height direction at a rate of c. If c = 1, the cross section of this three-dimensional object is semicircular. The height acquisition unit 11 can set various other functions, and by selecting this function, various heights having different stereoscopic effects can be acquired. Furthermore, the height acquisition unit 11 can acquire the height of a three-dimensional object having a complicated shape such as a human body by setting a plurality of contour lines and using different functions for the respective contour lines.

  The height acquisition unit 11 may acquire a pixel value obtained by deforming the contour as information indicating the height. For example, the height acquisition unit 11 may acquire the amount of change in the pixel value according to the degree of contour deformation as information indicating the height. As described above, the height acquisition unit 11 can acquire various information as information indicating the height.

  The line image generation unit 12 generates a line image by arranging a plurality of line lines each having substantially the same width on the XY coordinate plane at substantially the same interval as the line width (S3). . Here, it is assumed that the line is a straight line in the X-axis direction of the XY coordinate plane. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a line image generated by the line image generation unit 12. The line image is configured by arranging the lines shown in black at equal intervals. That is, in the line image, black line segments and white line segments are alternately arranged. If the width of the lines in FIG. 7 is w, the interval between adjacent lines is also w. The width of the line is larger than the minimum processable width when engraving or printing is performed based on the binary image generated by the image generation apparatus 1. Here, “black” and “white” in the present specification indicate an example showing two kinds of colors different in density, hue, and saturation, and are limited to “black” and “white”. It is not to be interpreted as. Further, the number of gradations of the line image may be other gradations as long as it is 2 or more.

Based on the height at each coordinate position, the deformed line image generation unit 13 generates a deformed line image in which the position of the line at the coordinate position is moved in the Y-axis direction (S4).
Specifically, the deformed line image generation unit 13 first reads the height h corresponding to (xA ′, yA ′) stored in the memory by the height acquisition unit 11. Next, the deformed line image generation unit 13 calculates a movement amount ah (where a is a real number) in the Y-axis direction of the line at the position (xA ′, yA ′). Subsequently, the deformed line image generation unit 13 moves the Y coordinate by the size of ah. That is, the deformed line image generation unit 13 moves the line at the position (xA ′, yA ′) to the position (xA ′, yA ′ + ah). The deformed line image generation unit 13 generates a deformed line image by performing the above-described movement processing on each coordinate position on the line. When a <0, the three-dimensional object is expressed as viewed from above, and when a> 0, the three-dimensional object is expressed as viewed from below.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a modified line image generated by the deformed line image generation unit 13 by moving the position of the line. For the line image shown in FIG. 7, the line moves in the Y-axis direction in the area inside the outline of the doll according to the shape of the face part and the body part of the doll shown in FIG. 3. Yes. It can be seen that the three-dimensional appearance of the doll is expressed by the fact that the lines move in the Y-axis direction according to the height of the doll. Since the amount of movement of each line in the deformed line image in the Y-axis direction changes according to the height h, the density of the lines changes according to the height h. For example, the width of a line in a region with a steep slope is smaller than the width of a line in a region with a gentle slope. In addition, the interval between lines in a region with a steep slope is smaller than the interval between lines in a region with a gentle slope.

  Based on the pixel value of the image data corresponding to each coordinate position on the line, the binary image generation unit 14 generates a binary image in which the width of the line at the coordinate position is changed (S5). For example, the binary image generation unit 14 changes the width of the line without changing the center position in the width direction of the line constituting the deformation line image generated by the deformation line image generation unit 13. A binary image is generated. Specifically, the binary image generation unit 14 based on the pixel values at the respective coordinate positions in the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 10 in the Y-axis direction at the pixels corresponding to the pixel values on the line. Determine the width.

  More specifically, the binary image generation unit 14 increases the number of lines in the pixel corresponding to the pixel value as the pixel of the image data is closer to black and the pixel value of the pixel is closer to the black pixel value. Increase the width. Conversely, the binary image generation unit 14 decreases the width of the line in the pixel corresponding to the pixel value as the pixel of the image data is closer to white and the pixel value of the pixel is closer to the white pixel value. To do. The binary image generation unit 14 reduces the width of the line as the pixel value of the pixel for which the binary image is to be generated is closer to the black pixel value, and the pixel for which the binary image is to be generated. The width of the line may be increased as the pixel value becomes closer to the white pixel value. The binary image generation unit 14 does not change the width of the line when the pixel value of the pixel for which the binary image is generated is an approximately intermediate value in the range of pixel values that can be included in the image data. Therefore, for example, when all the pixels included in the image data are gray between white and black, the binary image generated by the binary image generation unit 14 is the deformation generated by the deformation line image generation unit 13. It is the same as the line image.

  In addition, when the line image has more than two gradations, the binary image generation unit 14 sets the pixel value of the image data at the coordinate position where the binary image is to be generated and The width of the line may be changed based on the average value with the pixel value of the line. The binary image generation unit 14 compares the pixel value of the image data at the coordinate position where the binary image is to be generated with the pixel value of the line at the coordinate position, and changes the width of the line. May be.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a binary image generated by changing the width of the line shown in FIG. 8 based on the pixel values of the image data shown in FIG. It can be seen that both the three-dimensional appearance and the pattern of the doll shown in FIG. 3 are expressed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the gradation of an image and the width of a line. FIG. 10A shows an 8-gradation image as an example of the image. When the pixel value is represented by 8 bits (decimal 0 to 255), gradation 1 corresponds to pixel values 0 to 31, gradation 2 corresponds to pixel values 32 to 63, and gradation 3 corresponds to a pixel. Corresponding to values 64 to 95, gradation 4 corresponds to pixel values 96 to 127, gradation 5 corresponds to pixel values 128 to 159, gradation 6 corresponds to pixel values 160 to 191 and gradation 7 Corresponds to pixel values 192 to 223, and gradation 8 corresponds to 224 to 255. The gradation 2 corresponds to a shadow area image, and the gradation 7 corresponds to a highlight area image.

  FIG. 10B shows the width of a line corresponding to each gradation image. When the pixel value of the pixel for which the binary image is generated is included in the range of pixel values of gradation 1, the binary image generation unit 14 sets the maximum width to the line. In this case, in FIG. 10B, adjacent lines are in contact. When the pixel value of the pixel for which a binary image is generated is included in the range of pixel values of gradation 2, the binary image generation unit 14 is included in the range of pixel values of gradation 1. Generate a line with a smaller width than the case. In FIG. 10B, a thin white region is formed between adjacent lines. When the pixel value of the pixel for which a binary image is to be generated is included in the range of pixel values of gradation 7, the binary image generation unit 14 sets the line to the minimum width. When the pixel value of the pixel for which a binary image is to be generated is included in the range of pixel values of gradation 8, the binary image generation unit 14 deletes the lines. In this way, the binary image generation unit 14 changes the width of the line according to the pixel value of the pixel for which the binary image is generated, thereby expressing the gradation with binary values of black and white. be able to.

  Here, based on a binary image that expresses gradation by the width of a line, it can be a base material such as stainless steel, copper, brass, bronze, aluminum, titanium alloy, plastic, glass, ceramic, stone, wood or paper. When engraving, it is difficult to form a line segment having a width smaller than the processing limit width determined based on the material of the base material.

  For example, when a binarization process (halftoning process) is performed on an 8-gradation image using a 0.175 mm wide (0.35 mm pitch) line image, the width of the gradation 1 line is 0.35 mm. The width of the line 2 for gradation 2 is 0.30 mm,..., The width of the line for gradation 7 is 0.05 mm, and the width of the line for gradation 8 is 0 mm. In gradation 2, the width of the white area is 0.05 mm. Therefore, in order to express the shadow area image of gradation 2 and the highlight area image of gradation 7, it is necessary to form a black line and a white line of 0.05 mm on the base material. However, when the base material is processed to form irregularities corresponding to black lines and white lines, there is a minimum line width that can be processed, which is determined based on the material of the base material and the processing method.

  Therefore, depending on the material of the base material and the processing method, not all the lines shown in FIG. 10B can be formed. That is, as shown in FIG. 10C, the white area between the adjacent lines disappears in gradation 2, or the lines that existed in FIG. 10B disappear in gradation 7. It may happen. Therefore, when the pixel value of a target pixel for generating a binary image is included in a predetermined range (for example, 160 to 191 that are pixel values of gradation 6), the binary image generation unit 14 A broken line is formed by dividing a line having the same width as a line used in a gradation other than the gradation corresponding to the predetermined range (for example, a gradation adjacent to the gradation corresponding to the predetermined range). Generate a line of

  That is, the binary image generation unit 14 increases the length of the line segment constituting the broken line as the pixel value of the pixel for which the binary image is generated is closer to the black pixel value. The closer the pixel value of the target pixel for generating the binary image is to the white pixel value, the smaller the length of the line segment forming the broken line. The binary image generation unit 14 reduces the length of the line segment forming the broken line as the pixel value of the pixel for which the binary image is generated is closer to the black pixel value, and 2 As the pixel value of the pixel for which the value image is generated is closer to the white pixel value, the length of the line segment constituting the broken line may be increased.

  FIG. 10D is a diagram showing a binarization method suitable for engraving the base material. In gradation 2 in the figure, a line segment having the same width as gradation 3 having a lower density than gradation 2 is formed, and a black broken line is formed between adjacent lines. The length of the line segment constituting the black broken line and the width of the broken line in the Y-axis direction are set larger than the minimum length and width that can be formed when engraving on the base material. In gradation 7 in FIG. 10D, a broken line having the same width as gradation 6 having a higher density than gradation 7 is formed. The length of the line segment constituting the broken line and the width in the Y-axis direction of the broken line are set to be larger than the minimum length and width in the Y-axis direction that can be formed when engraving on the base material. The broken line is generated by changing the continuous length of the line.

  In this way, the binary image generation unit 14 uses the base material when the width of each line or the distance between adjacent lines is smaller than the minimum line width that can be formed when engraving on the base material. By generating a binary image including a broken line having a width equal to or larger than the minimum line width that can be formed when engraving, the number of gradations that can be expressed by engraving can be increased as compared with a case where no broken line is used. . When generating a binary image using a broken line, the binary image generating unit 14 sets the minimum length of the line segment constituting the broken line to be equal to or larger than the minimum line width that can be formed when the base material is engraved. That is, it is preferable that the binary image generation unit 14 sets the minimum length of the line segment constituting the broken line to a length equal to or larger than the line width of the broken line.

  FIG. 10E is a diagram showing a binarization method using a line having a width larger than that of the line in FIG. In FIG. 10E, a broken line having a higher white ratio than that in gradation 2 is formed between adjacent lines of gradation 3. Further, in the gradation 6, a broken line having a longer black line ratio and a longer black line ratio than the gradation 7 is formed. As described above, the binary image generation unit 14 adjusts the length of the line segment constituting the broken line according to the pixel value, so that the minimum line width that can be formed when engraving on the base material is relatively large. Even in this case, a binary image that can express more gradations can be generated.

  When generating the binary image, the binary image generation unit 14 sets the gradation between the maximum density and the minimum density as the width of the line before changing the width. Further, the binary image generation unit 14 sets the gradation of the maximum density to almost twice the width of the line before the width is changed. By doing in this way, the binary image generation part 14 can generate | occur | produce a binary image based on the pixel value of the image data in the coordinate position on a parallel line.

  Further, the binary image generation unit 14 is configured so that when the number of pixels having gradations that make a broken line a broken line is continuous with a number smaller than the number of pixels corresponding to the minimum length of the line segment constituting the broken line, The line is not a broken line, but a line having a width corresponding to the adjacent gradation. For example, when there is only one pixel corresponding to gradation 7, the binary image generation unit 14 treats the pixel as gradation 6.

  Note that the binary image generation unit 14 may perform a process of changing the width of each line in a predetermined length unit in the X-axis direction. For example, the binary image generation unit 14 is an average value of the pixel values of the image data at a plurality of coordinate positions included on the parallel line of the length in a unit of length larger than the minimum length of the line segment constituting the broken line. Based on this, the width of the line may be changed.

  The method of binarizing a multi-tone image as described above is particularly effective when unevenness is applied to a base material such as metal or wood, which is not easy to form a large number of halftone dots. Conventionally, fine halftone dots cannot be formed on the base material as in printing due to the restriction of the minimum workable size of the base material. Therefore, when engraving the base material by a method using halftone dots to express a multi-tone image, it is necessary not only to increase the size of the halftone dots as a whole, but also to make the screen rougher. Therefore, the reproducibility of the highlight portion and the shadow portion that must be finely divided is extremely inferior, and the image quality cannot be improved. With the method according to the present embodiment, even when the base material such as metal or wood is uneven, the image quality can be improved. Further, printing and printing-related technologies are particularly effective in processing methods that are difficult to be finely processed, such as screen printing, barco printing, UV thick printing, embossing, and foil stamping. It is also effective for 3D printer output.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of the relationship between the gradation of an image and the width of a line. FIG. 11A shows an image of gradation 4 and gradation 5 in FIG. 10A and an image of gradation intermediate between them (gradation 4 + 1/2). FIG. 11B shows a binary image corresponding to gradation 4, gradation 4 + 1/2, and gradation 5. FIG. The first line segment of the width of the line of gradation 4 as the first gradation and the second line segment of the line of the line of gradation 5 as the second gradation alternately with the same length. By arranging, a binary image of gradation 4 + 1/2, which is an intermediate gradation between the first gradation and the second gradation, is generated.

  FIG. 11C shows binary values corresponding to gradations 4 + 1/3 and gradations 4 + 2/3 by making the lengths of the first and second line segments alternately arranged different from each other. It shows that an image can be generated. Specifically, the ratio of the first line segment corresponding to the first gradation and the ratio of the second line segment corresponding to the second gradation are adjusted according to the image density. As a result, a binary image corresponding to a gradation between the first gradation and the second gradation can be generated. Note that the width and length of the plurality of line segments are larger than the minimum workable width of the base material.

  In FIG. 11D, the first line segment and the second line segment having the same length are alternately arranged, and the width of the first line segment and the width of the second line segment are adjusted, whereby the gradation 4 + 1 / 4 shows that a binary image corresponding to gradations 4 + 1/2 and gradations 4 + 3/4 can be generated. Thus, even if the number of gradations that can be reproduced is limited because the number of steps for adjusting the line width is small by adjusting the width and length of a plurality of types of line segments arranged alternately. More gradations than the number of steps can be displayed. Thereby, a binary image closer to the rich gradation change of the original multi-gradation image can be generated.

  FIG. 11 (e) is an example of how to represent intermediate gray levels different from those in FIGS. 11 (b) and 11 (d). Instead of dividing the line in the X-axis direction as shown in gradation 4 + 1/2 in FIGS. 11B and 11D, the width can be changed asymmetrically in the Y-axis direction. Similar to 11 (b) and FIG. 11 (d), it is possible to generate a binary image corresponding to an intermediate gradation between gradation 4 and gradation 5. In addition, FIG. 11 (e) divides one line into a plurality of lines in the Y-axis direction, and based on the pixel values of the image data corresponding to the coordinate positions on each line after division, It is also shown that a binary image corresponding to a plurality of gradations can be generated by adjusting the width of each line. For example, in the gradation 4 + 1/2 in FIG. 11E, the gradation of the upper line after division is gradation 5, and the gradation of the lower line after division is gradation 4. Show. Thus, by changing the width asymmetrically in the Y-axis direction, it is possible to express the gradation information of the image data more finely.

[Data structure of image]
The binary image data is in the Y-axis direction according to the height of a three-dimensional object corresponding to a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane composed of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction. Are different, and are composed of a plurality of lines of image data having different widths according to the pixel values for each coordinate position. In addition, the deformed lines are decomposed into pixels arranged in a dot matrix, and not only the deformed lines are recorded as a set of pixels in the raster image, but also each deformed line is directed as a whole. Can be recorded as a vector image having a change in curvature, and the gradation can be expressed by changing the thickness of the line, and the form of image data that can be recorded and displayed at the same time can be recorded and displayed as a three-dimensional shape and gradation. it can.

[First engraving method]
Hereinafter, a method of engraving the base material using the binary image generated by the above image generation method will be described.
12A to 12D are diagrams illustrating a first method for engraving a binary image obtained by the above-described image generation method on a base material.

First, as shown in FIG. 12A, a resist is applied on a base material using a mask created based on a binary image. For example, the resist is applied at a position corresponding to a white area in the binary image.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 12B, for example, an etching process using an etching agent is performed to form a recess in a region where the resist is not applied.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 12C, the base material in which the recesses are generated is colored with a color (for example, black) having a higher density than the color of the base material. As a coloring method, plating, painting, chemical coloring, oxidation coloring, electrolytic coloring, dye coloring, or the like can be used. In selecting the coloring method and the type of resist, it is preferable to select a combination in which the resist portion is difficult to be colored because the resist is not covered with a film and the resist is easily peeled off.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 12D, by removing the resist, the concave portion corresponding to the black region of the binary image is black, and the portion other than the concave portion corresponding to the white region of the binary image is lighter than black. The sculpture is completed.

  In the above description, the base material is colored before the resist is peeled off. However, it is also possible to remove the paint adhering to the regions other than the recesses by pouring the paint into the recesses after peeling the resist. Sculpture can be created.

[Second engraving method]
13A to 13D are diagrams illustrating a second method of engraving a binary image obtained by the above-described image generation method on a base material.

  First, as shown in FIG. 13A, the surface of the base material is colored by plating or painting. For example, the surface of the base material is colored black. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13B, a resist is applied to the black region of the binary image using a mask created based on the binary image.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13C, an etching process is performed to engrave a region other than the region where the resist is applied, thereby forming a convex portion corresponding to the black region. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13D, the resist is peeled off. As a result, a sculpture in which a portion corresponding to the black region in the binary image is colored and protrudes is completed.

[Third engraving method]
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a third method for engraving a binary image obtained by the above-described image generation method on a base material. In this method, the concave portion is engraved using a cutting tool, laser processing, or the like at a position corresponding to the black region of the binary image. By setting the depth of the concave portion to be equal to or larger than the width of the concave portion, a shadow is generated inside the concave portion and the black portion appears black. By doing so, it is possible to create a sculpture in which the black region of the binary image looks dark and the brightness of the original image is expressed without coloring.

[Fourth engraving method]
15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating a fourth method of engraving a binary image obtained by the above-described image generation method on a base material. First, as shown in FIG. 15A, the surface of the base material is colored by plating or painting. For example, the surface of the base material is colored black. Subsequently, engraving using a cutting tool or the like completes the engraving in which the portion corresponding to the black region in the binary image is colored and protrudes.

[Fifth engraving method]
FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are diagrams showing a fifth method of engraving a base material with a binary image obtained by the above image generation method. The color of the base material used in this method is darker than the color of the base material used in the fourth method.

  First, as shown in FIG. 16A, the base material is colored with a lighter color than the base material. Subsequently, a recess is engraved using a cutting tool or the like at a position corresponding to the black region of the binary image. By forming a recess that penetrates the colored layer and reaches the base material, the interior of the recess becomes darker than a region where no recess is formed. As a result, it is possible to create a sculpture in which the black region of the binary image looks dark.

  The fourth engraving method and the fifth engraving method correspond to images in which the negative and the positive are reversed with respect to each other. By exchanging the relationship between the color and coloring of the base material, it is possible to create a sculpture in which the negative and the positive are reversed even in other engraving methods.

[Sixth engraving method]
FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B are diagrams showing a sixth method for engraving a binary image obtained by the above-described image generation method on a base material.
First, as shown in FIG. 17A, a recess is engraved using a cutting tool or the like at a position corresponding to the black region of the binary image. Subsequently, a paint having a color darker than the color of the base material is poured into the recess, and the paint adhering to the area other than the recess is wiped off. By doing so, it is possible to create a sculpture in which the black region of the binary image looks dark.

[Seventh engraving method]
18A to 18D are diagrams showing a seventh method of engraving a base material with a binary image obtained by the above-described image generation method.

First, as shown in FIG. 18A, a resist is applied on a base material using a mask created based on a binary image. For example, the resist is applied at a position corresponding to a black area in the binary image.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 18B, an etching process is performed on the base material coated with a resist to form a recess in a region where the resist is not coated. As a result, a convex portion is formed in the region where the resist is applied.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 18C, the resist is removed. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 18D, the protrusion from which the resist is peeled is colored. For example, only the tip of the convex portion is colored using a roller. In this way, a sculpture is completed in which the convex portion corresponding to the black region of the binary image is dark and the portions other than the convex portion corresponding to the white region of the binary image are light.

[Eighth engraving method]
19A to 19D are diagrams illustrating an eighth method of engraving a binary image obtained by the above-described image generation method on a base material.

  First, as shown in FIG. 19A, a second resist having characteristics different from those of the first resist applied in FIG. 18A is applied to the surface of the base material in the state shown in FIG. 18B. For example, if the first resist is alkali-soluble, the second resist is an acid-soluble or organic solvent-soluble wet resist.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 19B, the first resist and the second resist applied to the tip of the convex portion are removed. When the first resist is alkali-soluble, for example, by using an alkali developer, the second resist applied to the tip of the convex portion can be peeled off together with the first resist. At this time, the first resist and the second resist can be efficiently peeled by polishing the surface of the tip of the convex portion to expose at least a part of the first resist.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 19C, the base material after the first resist and the second resist are peeled is colored by plating or the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 19D, by removing the second resist, the convex portion corresponding to the black region of the binary image is dark and the convex portion corresponding to the white region of the binary image other than FIG. 18D. The sculpture of the light color is completed.

[Ninth engraving method]
20A and 20B are diagrams illustrating a ninth method of engraving a binary image obtained by the above-described image generation method on a base material. Although the side surface and the bottom surface of the concave portion in FIGS. 12 to 19 are formed in a flat shape, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, a curved surface may be formed inside the concave portion formed in the base material. .

  When the base material is made of metal or the surface of the base material is plated with a metal that reflects light, the light is reflected at the concave portion to obtain gloss. By forming a curved surface inside the recess, the position at which the light incident on the eye is reflected in the recess can be changed by changing the angle at which the engraved base material is viewed or by moving the position of the light source. Change. Or the recessed part of a different position looks shiny. As a result, it is possible to give a unique stereoscopic effect as if the sculpture is reproducing the height information acquired by the height acquisition unit 11.

[How to duplicate a sculpture]
A plurality of the same engravings can be produced by using the engraving plate obtained by each of the engraving methods as a mold and pouring and solidifying the metal or resin dissolved in the mold.

[Engraving method using printing technology]
If it is a plate-shaped object with irregularities formed, the effect according to the present embodiment can be obtained. Therefore, the engraving according to this embodiment can be manufactured by printing. For example, you may manufacture a sculpture using the method of forming an unevenness | corrugation by printing and a printing related technique like screen printing, barco printing, UV thick printing, embossing, and foil stamping. The same processing can also be performed with a 3D printer. By using these to form a binary image obtained by the above-described image generation method on paper or other base material, it becomes easy to obtain the same effect as the ninth engraving method. For example, by making the gloss of at least a part of the formed concave part or convex part (hereinafter referred to as an uneven part) higher than the gloss of other parts, a remarkable effect of obtaining a unique three-dimensional effect can be obtained. Can be obtained.

  In addition, a pattern may be formed on the base of the uneven portion by offset printing, screen printing, or the like. If the concavo-convex part is transparent, the underlying pattern appears to pass through the concavo-convex part, and furthermore, the concavo-convex part has a unique three-dimensional effect as if the height information acquired by the height acquisition unit 11 is reproduced. By adding, an unprecedented effect can be obtained. The pattern may be formed on the concavo-convex portion, or the concavo-convex portion itself may represent the binary image and the pattern at the same time. Here, the binary image represented by the uneven portion may be a binary image obtained by the binary image generation unit 14, or a modified line image obtained by the modified line image generation unit 13. Alternatively, the image may be an image adjusted so that a more optimal result can be obtained by changing the line width or the line length of the deformed line image obtained by the deformed line image generating unit 13.

[Effect in the first embodiment]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of lines in a line image generated by arranging a plurality of lines on the XY coordinate plane at the same interval as the width of the plurality of lines, A three-dimensional object is generated by generating a deformed line image moved in the Y-axis direction based on the height of the three-dimensional object, and changing the width of the line constituting the deformed line image based on the pixel value of the image data. It is possible to generate a binary image that can represent the shape and the pattern of the image on two-dimensional coordinates. According to the configuration of the present embodiment, since a binary image suitable for engraving can be generated using a computer, it becomes possible to manufacture a high-quality engraving in a short period of time without relying on the special skills of an individual. .

  In addition, in the binary image generation process, by changing the width of the line based on the pixel value at the coordinate position in the image data, a binary image with various textures is generated according to the shape and gradation of the line. can do.

  Further, in the binary image generation step, the closer the pixel value of the pixel for which the binary image is to be generated is closer to the black pixel value, the larger the width of the line and the target for generating the binary image. The closer the pixel value of the pixel is to the white pixel value, the smaller the width of the line, so that the density of the image data can be expressed by a binary image. Further, in the binary image generation step, when the pixel value of the pixel that is the target of generating the binary image is closer to the white pixel value than the predetermined threshold, or the pixel value of the pixel that is the target of generating the binary image When the base material is processed based on the binary image, it is not necessary to use a line thinner than the processing limit of the base material by dividing the line when the pixel value is closer to the black pixel value than the predetermined threshold value. Therefore, even when the base material is engraved, the density of the image data can be reproduced more faithfully.

  Further, the height acquisition step includes a step of extracting a contour line in the image data and a step of determining the height according to each coordinate position and the distance from the contour line. Even if it is not given, the stereoscopic effect of the three-dimensional object can be expressed by the binary image.

  In one embodiment of the above-described method for manufacturing a sculpture, a concave portion and a convex portion are formed on the base material based on the binary image generated by the above-described image generation method, and the engraving object is included in the binary image. By coloring at least part of the concave and convex portions based on the position of the line, the three-dimensional effect of the three-dimensional object can be expressed using a base material such as metal or plastic. By engraving these base materials, it is possible to obtain much higher durability than photographs produced by printing on paper.

  Moreover, in one embodiment of the above method for manufacturing a sculpture, a recess having a depth equal to or greater than the width of the line is formed based on the position of the line included in the binary image generated by the image generation method. Since it is formed, the shade of the image can be expressed without coloring by using the shadow generated in the recess.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the height acquisition step of acquiring the height of the three-dimensional object and arranging a plurality of lines on the XY coordinate plane at the same interval as the width of the plurality of lines. A line image generation process for generating a line image, and a modified line image generation process for moving the position of the line at the coordinate position in the Y-axis direction sequentially based on the height corresponding to each coordinate position By executing, a deformed line image was generated. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, an image of a three-dimensional object including pixel values at a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane composed of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction. The first is that a deformed line image is generated by irradiating laser light to a three-dimensional object formed through an image data acquisition step of acquiring data and a step of forming a three-dimensional object based on the image data. Different from the embodiment.

In the second embodiment, a deformed line image is obtained by the following procedure.
First, an arbitrary continuous tone photo is prepared. Next, heat is applied to a transparent plastic plate such as an acrylic plate to enhance plasticity, and the plastic plate is deformed to reproduce a three-dimensional form such as the face of the original image. Instead of deforming the plastic plate, a three-dimensional form may be reproduced by a three-dimensional printer based on the three-dimensional image data.

  Subsequently, the deformed acrylic plate is irradiated with laser light in parallel at substantially equal intervals in a scanning line shape. A continuous line that looks like a circle is drawn by scorching the acrylic plate by laser light irradiation. Here, the stereoscopic effect can be adjusted by changing the angle at which the laser beam is irradiated. By laying a photosensitive material under this acrylic plate and exposing it from above using light that is highly parallel and straight, a projected image that looks like a cross-section of three-dimensional shapes cut into circles at a specific angle is arranged on the photosensitive material. can get. That is, a plurality of lines are arranged on the XY coordinate plane at the same interval as the width of the plurality of lines, and the lines at the coordinate positions are based on the heights corresponding to the respective coordinate positions. A deformed line image in which the position is moved in the Y-axis direction is generated. The process after generating the deformed line image is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  In addition, the formation method of a solid object is not limited to said method. A deformed line image may be generated by irradiating a three-dimensional object formed without being based on image data with laser light.

[Effects of Second Embodiment]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, a deformed line image is generated by irradiating a laser beam after reproducing a three-dimensional form based on an original image. By doing in this way, even if it is a case where height information is not contained in image data, the binary image showing a desired three-dimensional shape and a sculpture can be generated. Further, according to the present embodiment, when the original image is not a data but a conventional photograph, a three-dimensional shape can be expressed without going through a digital processing step.

<Third Embodiment>
In the above embodiment, the image data acquisition unit 10 acquires the image data of the three-dimensional object, and the binary image generation unit 14 changes the binary line width at the coordinate position based on the image data of the three-dimensional object. A method for generating an image has been described. In contrast, the image data acquisition unit 10 acquires image data other than the three-dimensional object image data, and the binary image generation unit 14 determines that the width of the line at the coordinate position is other than the three-dimensional object image data. A binary image modified based on the data may be generated.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 10 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 21 is a photographic image of a flower that is different from the image of the wood carving doll shown in FIG. The binary image generation unit 14 according to the present embodiment is a binary image in which the width of the line at the coordinate position is changed based on the pixel value of the image data of the three-dimensional object corresponding to each coordinate position on the line. Is generated based on the pixel value of the image data as shown in FIG. 21, which is different from the image data of the three-dimensional object.

  22 shows a binary image generated based on the information indicating the height of the wood carving doll shown in FIG. 3 and the image data shown in FIG. Thus, by generating a binary image based on the height information indicating the height of the three-dimensional object and the image data other than the image data of the three-dimensional object, the three-dimensional shape of the three-dimensional object can be recalled, It becomes possible to provide a sculpture and a printed matter having an unprecedented design that can recall the design of the object.

<Other embodiments>
In the above embodiment, after moving the position of the line in the Y axis direction based on the height information of the three-dimensional object indicated by the image data, the width of the line and the line are changed based on the pixel value of the image data. A binary image was generated by changing any of the lengths of the constituent line segments. However, even if either the width of the line or the length of the line segment constituting the line is changed based on the pixel value of the image data without using the movement amount obtained from the height information of the three-dimensional object Good.

  Specifically, the processing in the binary image generation unit 14 described with reference to FIGS. 10D and 10E is an image having light and shade regardless of whether or not the image data is a three-dimensional object. It can be applied when binarizing data. The engraving object manufacturing method described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 20 is based on the binary image generated by the binary image generation unit 14 regardless of whether the image data is a three-dimensional object. It can be applied to the manufacture of goods. In this case, the image generation device 1 does not need to include the height acquisition unit 11 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the image generation method does not need to execute the height acquisition step S2 illustrated in FIG.

  In the above embodiment, any one of the position of the line in the Y-axis direction, the width of the line, and the length of the line segment constituting the line is determined by the amount of movement obtained from the height information of the three-dimensional object. In addition to changing, the movement amount obtained from the height information of the three-dimensional object is replaced with a pixel value, and the position of the line in the Y-axis direction, the width of the line, and the line constituting the line based on the pixel value Any of the minutes length may be changed.

  Moreover, in the above embodiment, although the example which uses the image formed using the image forming method which concerns on this invention for an engraving was demonstrated, it can apply to another use. For example, in a display medium such as a low-resolution electronic bulletin board, since the number of pixels that can be used for display is small, it is difficult to display image data with rich gradation. However, by using the image generation method according to the present invention, it is possible to improve gradation reproduction performance in a display medium such as a low-resolution electronic bulletin board.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the lines are arranged in the horizontal direction, but the direction of the lines may be any direction. For example, FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a binary image generated using lines arranged in an oblique direction. In this case as well, by setting the direction of the line to the X-axis direction, it is possible to obtain an image having the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment and having an image different from the image obtained in the above-described embodiment. it can.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, the line image in the above-described embodiment is composed of a straight line, but the shape of the line is not limited to a straight line. The line image may be composed of line lines arranged at equal intervals in a curved line shape. Further, the lines in the above embodiments may be black or may have a plurality of gradations.

  In addition, the binary image in the above embodiment is not limited to an image composed of only two pixel values of white and black, but in a first pixel value range (for example, a pixel value close to black). The image may be composed of a data group included and a data group included in a second pixel value range (for example, a pixel value close to white). That is, the pixels constituting the binary image may be expressed with multiple gradations.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the line image is described as an example composed of lines arranged at intervals equal to the width of the lines, but the interval between lines is equal to the width of the lines. It is not limited and does not need to be equally spaced.

  In the above embodiment, the black pixel value is described as being smaller than the white pixel value. However, the black pixel value may be larger than the white pixel value. Further, “white” and “black” are merely examples of different colors, and “white” and “black” may be used in reverse to the configurations described in the claims and the specification.

  In addition, the engravings in the above-described embodiments include an alumite layer of an anodized aluminum plate that is incinerated by laser processing to represent a pattern, a laser irradiation on the surface of the base material to engrave the pattern, laser marking In some cases, fine irregularities formed by an image or a pattern are formed by coloring by the above or by attaching a pigment by a method such as an ink jet method. Further, the engraving in the above embodiment includes a sculpture formed with a 3D printer.

  In addition, the present invention is particularly effective for engravings in which a base material is processed to form a pattern, but the scope to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to engravings. For example, the present invention can also be applied to printed matter generated by printing an image on paper, cloth, wood, plastic material, etc. using the image generation method according to the present invention. That is, the position in the Y-axis direction differs according to the height of a three-dimensional object corresponding to a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane consisting of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction, and A printed matter on which lines with different widths are printed according to the pixel value at each coordinate position is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the image data acquisition process, the height acquisition process, and the line image generation process are executed in this order has been described. However, the order in which these processes are executed is arbitrary, and the order of the processes May be replaced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image generation apparatus 10 Image data acquisition part 11 Height acquisition part 120,000 Line image generation part 13 Deformation line image generation part 14 Binary image generation part

Claims (16)

An image data acquisition step of acquiring image data having a pixel value for each coordinate position on an XY coordinate plane consisting of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction;
A height information acquisition step of acquiring height information indicating the height of a three-dimensional object in association with a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane;
A line image generation step of generating a line image by arranging a plurality of lines on the XY coordinate plane;
Based on the height corresponding to each coordinate position, a deformed line image generation step of generating a deformed line image in which the position of the line at the coordinate position is moved in the Y-axis direction;
A binary image generation step of generating a binary image in which the width of the line at the coordinate position is changed based on the pixel value at each of the coordinate positions included in the image data acquired in the image data acquisition step. When,
An image generation method comprising: In the image data acquisition step, the image data including an image obtained by projecting an image of the surface of the three-dimensional object on the XY coordinate plane is acquired;
The image generation method according to claim 1. In the image data acquisition step, the image data including an image different from an image obtained by projecting an image of the surface of the three-dimensional object on the XY coordinate plane is acquired;
The image generation method according to claim 1. In the binary image generation step, a binary image is generated by changing the width of the deformed line image without changing the center position in the width direction of the line forming the deformed line image. ,
The image generation method according to claim 1. In the binary image generation step,
The binary image is generated by changing the continuous length of the line based on the pixel value at the coordinate position.
The image generation method according to claim 1. In the binary image generation step,
When the pixel value of the pixel for which the binary image is to be generated is included in a predetermined range, the same width as the line image used in other gradations other than the gradation corresponding to the predetermined range Generating the binary image by dividing the line image and generating a broken line image having the same width as the line image used in the other gradations,
The image generation method according to claim 5. In the binary image generation step,
When the pixel value at the coordinate position is closer to a white pixel value than a predetermined threshold, the binary image is generated by dividing the line.
The image generation method according to claim 6. In the binary image generation step,
The minimum length of the line segment constituting the broken line image is a length equal to or larger than the line width of the broken line image,
The image generation method according to claim 6 or 7. The height acquisition step includes a step of extracting a contour line in the image data, and a step of determining the height according to a distance from each coordinate position and the contour line,
The image generation method according to claim 1. Based on the binary image generated by the image generation method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a step of forming a concave portion and a convex portion in the base material.
Manufacturing method of engraving. Further comprising a step of coloring at least a part of the concave portion and the convex portion based on the position of the line included in the binary image,
The method for manufacturing a sculpture according to claim 10. Further comprising forming a recess having a depth greater than or equal to the width of the line based on the position of the line included in the binary image.
The manufacturing method of the sculpture according to claim 10 or 11. An image data acquisition unit that acquires image data having a pixel value for each coordinate position on an XY coordinate plane including an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction;
A height information acquisition unit that acquires height information indicating the height of a three-dimensional object in association with a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane;
A line image generator for generating a line image by arranging a plurality of lines on the XY coordinate plane;
Based on the height corresponding to each of the coordinate positions, a deformed line image generation unit that generates a deformed line image in which the position of the line at the coordinate position is moved in the Y-axis direction;
Based on the pixel value at each of the coordinate positions included in the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit, a binary image generation unit that generates a binary image in which the width of the line at the coordinate position is changed When,
An image generation apparatus comprising: On the computer,
An image data acquisition step of acquiring image data having a pixel value for each coordinate position on an XY coordinate plane consisting of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction;
A height information acquisition step of acquiring height information indicating the height of a three-dimensional object in association with a plurality of coordinate positions on the XY coordinate plane;
A line image generation step of generating a line image by arranging a plurality of lines on the XY coordinate plane;
Based on the height corresponding to each coordinate position, a deformed line image generation step of generating a deformed line image in which the position of the line at the coordinate position is moved in the Y-axis direction;
A binary image generation step of generating a binary image in which the width of the line at the coordinate position is changed based on the pixel value at each of the coordinate positions included in the image data acquired in the image data acquisition step. When,
An image generation program for executing A sculpture formed on the basis of image data obtained by projecting a pattern on the surface of a three-dimensional object onto an XY coordinate plane composed of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction, The image data has a pixel value for each coordinate position on the XY coordinate plane, the position in the Y-axis direction differs according to the height of the three-dimensional object corresponding to the coordinate position, and the three-dimensional object A sculpture comprising a base material in which concave portions and convex portions having different widths are formed according to pixel values for each coordinate position of the image data obtained by projecting a pattern on the surface onto the XY coordinate plane. A printed material that is created based on image data obtained by projecting the pattern of the surface of the three-dimensional object in the X-axis direction, and the X-Y coordinate plane consisting of the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction, the The image data has a pixel value for each coordinate position on the XY coordinate plane, the position in the Y-axis direction differs according to the height of the three-dimensional object corresponding to the coordinate position, and the surface of the three-dimensional object A printed matter on which lines having different widths are printed in accordance with pixel values for each coordinate position of the image data obtained by projecting the pattern on the XY coordinate plane.