JPH01200349A - Video color film analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily judge whether or not the density and color balance of a color image which is displayed by simulation are proper by displaying reference images in one row or column of a matrix. CONSTITUTION:When a film is tested, reference images whose density and color balance are proper are displayed on a display means, for example, one row and color images of frames picked up by a TV camera in order are displayed in rows. Those reference images are referred to for frame specification as to a color image whose finish is recognized as improper finish, and then a correction quantity is inputted. When this frame specification is performed, the color image of the specified frame or color images or reference images of one row including the image are shifted so as to facilitate the ratio to the reference images, and the frame-specified color image and reference images are displayed in an array. Consequently, the finish of a print frame is easily decided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a video-type color film analyzer for use in testing color films.

[Conventional technology]

This type of video color film analyzer, as described in European Publication No. 0108158, uses a television camera (hereinafter referred to as a TV camera) to sequentially image a plurality of frames recorded on a color film. , write the image data of each frame obtained into the image memory, read out the image data of each frame after this writing, perform image processing, and arrange the color images of the multiple frames processed in a matrix and display them on one CRT. What is displayed is known.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The conventional color film analyzer described above displays a color image that simulates a printed photograph, but there is a problem in that it is difficult to judge whether the density and color balance are appropriate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a video-type color film analyzer that makes it possible to easily determine whether the density and color balance of a simulated color image are appropriate.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention displays a plurality of reference images with appropriate density and color balance in one row or column of a matrix, and sequentially captures images with a TV camera in the remaining rows or columns. It is configured to display color images of multiple frames, respectively.

The reference image and the image data of each frame are stored in an image memory, and it is convenient to arrange color images in a matrix if this image memory is configured with memory blocks corresponding to the rows or columns of a matrix. In this case, multiple memory blocks are divided into one for one reference image and one for multiple frames, the image data of multiple reference images is written in the memory block for reference images, and the television camera is written in the memory block for multiple frames. Write the image data of multiple frames taken with . The original image of the reference image may be taken with a TV camera and inputted, but if it is written to a magnetic floppy disk and the image data is read from this and written to the reference image memory, the input is an hour wheel and the image quality is excellent. The reference image can be created manually.

In addition, the image memory is divided into blocks according to the rows or columns of the matrix, and images are read out for each memory block, and a means for changing the order of reading is provided, and frames can be specified for correction of color images. When the color image for one row or one column including this frame and the reference image are displayed adjacent to each other, one of them is shifted. Furthermore, the color image may be shifted only for frames specified.

[Effect]

At the time of film verification, a plurality of reference images with appropriate density and color balance are displayed, for example, in one line on the display means, and color images of a plurality of frames sequentially captured by a TV camera are displayed in a plurality of lines. The finished state of each frame is determined with reference to this reference image. For a color image that is recognized as not having a good finish, frame designation is performed, and then a correction amount is input. When this frame designation is performed, the color image of the designated frame or the color image of one line containing this or the reference image is shifted to facilitate comparison with the reference image, and the color image of the designated frame is shifted. and the reference image are displayed side by side.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 schematically shows the color film analyzer of the present invention. The long film 10 is made up of a plurality of color films, such as color negative films, joined together with a splice tape. A plurality of color negative images are recorded on these color negative films, and a notch is provided at a position along the center line of each frame. The long film lO is nipped by two pairs of feed rollers 11 and 12 and fed in the direction of the arrow. During this transfer, the notch sensor 13 detects the notches made on each frame. The detection signal of the notch sensor 13 is sent to the CPU 15 via the I10 port 14. This notch sensor 13 and
Since the distance to the photometry position is known in advance, the amount of transport of the long film 10 is measured from the time of notch detection, and by transporting the long film 10 by this distance, the frame with this notch is located at the measurement position. can be positioned. The amount of transport of the long film 13 can be determined, for example, by counting drive pulses of a pulse motor 16 provided for driving the pair of feed rollers 11 and 12.

A negative mask 18 is placed at the measurement position, and the frame positioned at this position is illuminated with illumination light emitted from a lamp 19 and condensed by two condenser lenses 20. This illuminated frame is scanned by the scanner 21.
Red sensor 22° Green sensor 23. It is measured by the sensor 24 for blue color. The scanner 21 has a lens 25
and an image area sensor 26,
Each point of the image formed on the photosensitive section is photoelectrically converted and output as a time-series signal. This time series signal is sent to the A/D converter 2
7, it is converted into a digital signal, and then sent to the arithmetic unit 28.
sent to. This arithmetic unit 28 is composed of an 8-bit microcomputer, logarithmically transforms the photometric data of each point, and writes the obtained density value into the memory.

After this writing, the density value of each point belonging to the pre-designated area is read out, and these are arithmetic averaged to obtain the density value of the area. In this way, density values are obtained for multiple areas, for example, the center of the frame, and the remaining upper and lower half areas excluding this center, and the patterns are classified based on the density value distribution of each area. A density correction amount (color correction amount common to each color) is obtained from a correspondingly prepared arithmetic expression, and this is written into the RAM 29.

The red color sensor 22. The green sensor 23 and the blue sensor 24 are for measuring the LATD value of the positioned frame, and a lens is placed in front of it. The signals output from these sensors 22 to 24 are converted into digital signals by the A/D converter 27, and then taken into the CPU 15 via the I10 port 14.
The correction l and ND filter value for each color are calculated respectively.

These color correction amounts and ND filter values are written into the RAM 29.

The frames that have passed through the photometry position are transported to the imaging position after passing through a buffer loop. A notch sensor 32 is provided in front of this imaging position to position the frame at the imaging position.

A negative mask 33 is arranged at the imaging position, and the frames positioned on this negative mask 33 are illuminated with illumination light from a lamp 35 that is diffused by a mixing box 34. Two ND filters 36 are arranged between the mixing box 34 and the lamp 35, and are moved by a pulse motor 37 in opposite directions in a plane perpendicular to the optical path.

This ND filter 36 is normally inserted at a standard position, is withdrawn from the optical path for overexposed frames, and is further inserted into the optical path for extremely underexposed frames.

Two sets of feed rollers 38 are provided on both sides of the negative mask 33.
, 39 are arranged and are driven by a pulse motor 40. This pulse motor 40 has a motor controller 41
The rotation is controlled by , and the notched frames are sequentially positioned at the imaging position. The light transmitted through this positioned frame is reflected by a mirror 43 and then imaged by a TV camera 44.

This TV camera 44 has a red signal R1 and a green signal G.

Generates blue signal B and synchronization signal 5sync. These red signal R, green signal G, and blue signal B are processed by the image processing section 45.
After the image is processed, it is displayed on a color monitor (image display means).
Sent to 46. The color monitor 46 is composed of, for example, a color CRT, and displays a plurality of color images arranged in a matrix on its display surface 46a. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, there are four lines (A-D) in the vertical direction, and each line is composed of four frames. Here, four reference images are always displayed in the D row, and 12 frames of color images sequentially captured by the TV camera 44 are displayed in the A to 0 rows. Among these, row A is the color image of the frame imaged first, row 0 is the color image of the frame imaged last, and within the same row, the color image of the frame on the left side is imaged first.

The write controller 47 is controlled by the CPU 15, creates an address signal, etc. based on the synchronization signal 5sync, and controls writing of image data in the image processing section 45. Further, the read controller 48 is controlled by the CPU 15 and creates address signals for reading image data, synchronization signals for sending to the color monitor 46, and the like.

The keyboard 50 has 1, color key 51. density key 52,
Operation key 53. Alphanumeric keys 54. It has a frame designation key 551 and a next page key 56. The color key 51 is a cyan key for correcting cyan, and a magenta key for correcting magenta.

The yellow key color is used to correct yellow, and each color key consists of multiple keys with different correction amounts in stages. The i-change key 52 is for correcting the density, and a plurality of keys having different correction amounts in stages are arranged in a row. The operation key 53 is used to instruct the start of verification, printout of correction data, etc. The alphanumeric keys 54 are used to set print conditions and input data. The frame designation key 55 is used to manually designate a frame to be corrected, and is composed of 12 keys corresponding to each frame. The next page key 56 is the color monitor 4
This is for switching the display of 6 to the next page.

The floppy driver 58 reads the image data of the reference image written on the magnetic floppy 59 and writes it to the image processing section 45 . The puncher 60 is activated at the end of film verification and records correction data (color correction amount, density correction amount) on the punch tape 61. ROM62
Fixed data such as print conditions and programs that control the operations of each part are written in the . Work RAM6
3 is used for backing up the image data of the reference image, etc.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the image processing section, and since the red signal processing system, green signal processing system, and blue signal processing system all have the same configuration, only the red signal processing system is shown. The red signal output from the TV camera 44 is amplified by an amplifier 70 and then sent to a clamp circuit 71, where the level of the reference signal is set. The red signal output from the clamp circuit 71 is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 72 and then sent to a logarithmic converter 73. This logarithmic converter 73 is configured with a look-up table memory, and logarithmically transforms the input signal to convert it into image data proportional to the density value. The CPU 15 is the TV camera 4
4, the table data stored in the ROM 62 is written into the logarithmic converter 73.

The saturation correction circuit 74 is for correcting the difference between the spectral sensitivity of the color paper used in the color printer and the spectral sensitivity of the imaging unit of the TV camera 44, and is used to weight the image data of each color. It consists of three look-up table memories 74a and an adder 74b that adds the outputs of these three look-up table memories 74a and outputs the addition result as red image data. Before starting the Firno test, the CPU 15
The three sets of coefficients stored in the ROM 62 are read out and changed in steps to create three types of table data for red color saturation correction. Write in the corresponding one.

The saturation-corrected red image data is sent to a demultiplexer.
75 to an image memory 76.

This image memory 76 is composed of four memory blocks corresponding to each row of the color image matrix.

Each of these memory blocks has four memory areas, and each memory area stores one frame of image data. The first (first row) memory block is composed of memory areas A13 to A16, and stores image data of four #WIB14 elephants displayed in row D in FIG. 3. Further, the second memory block is composed of memory areas A9 to AI2, and stores four frames of image data captured by the TV camera 44. These four-frame color images are displayed in six lines in FIG. In this way, the 12 frames of image data captured by the TV camera 44 are stored in the memory areas A1 to A12, respectively. Note that two sets of image memories may be provided so that when one is in the write mode, the other is in the read mode.

By using the image memory for two pages in this manner, it is possible to eliminate interruptions in film inspection during the capture of image data.

The second to fourth blocks store image data of print frames.
The th memory block is sent to multiplexer 79 via selector 78. This selector 78 is
In response to a switching signal from the CPU 15, the connection between the input side and the output side is switched, thereby substantially changing the location of the memory block of the image memory 76. This means that when a frame is designated to correct color or density, the display positions of one line of color images including this frame and six lines of color images are exchanged. Note that since the display position of the memory block in the first row that stores the image data of the reference image is not changed, it is sent as is to the multiplexer 79.

The multiplexer 79 selects the image data sent from the four memory blocks according to the position of the scanning line on the color monitor 46, and sends it to the tone conversion circuit 80. This gradation conversion circuit 80 has a maximum of 1
It is composed of 16 lookup table memories corresponding to 6 frames, and negative/positive conversion and gradation conversion are performed using table data stored in each lookup table memory. Of these, the reference table data stored in the ROM 62 is written into the lookup table memory for the reference image, and the lookup table data for the print frame is written according to the photometric tail of the frame and the amount of manual correction. It is created by shifting the reference table data. The image data subjected to gradation conversion for each frame is converted into a serial signal by a parallel-to-serial converter 81, and then sent to a D/A converter 82. The red signal converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter 82 is sent to the color monitor 46. Note that reference numeral 83 is an interface that allows the CPU 15 to write and read image data to and from the image memory 76.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. First, the magnetic floppy disk 59 is set, and the image data of the four reference images written therein are read out and written into the work RAM 63. After this writing, the image data of the four reference images are read from the work RAM 63 and written into the memory areas A13 to A16 corresponding to row D of the color monitor 46, respectively.

After setting the developed long film 10, operate the alphanumeric keys 38 on the keyboard 34 to match the color film analyzer's verification conditions with the color printer's exposure conditions. Specify the same print channel. When the start of film inspection is instructed, the long film 10 is transported in the direction of the arrow, and during this transport, a notch is detected by the notch sensor 13. By controlling the film feed amount based on this notch detection, the frame with the first notch is positioned at the photometry position.

The frame positioned at the photometry position is illuminated by the lamp 19, and in this state, each point of the negative image is photometered by the scanner 21, and the LATD sensors 22 to 24
Accordingly, the LATD values of red, green, and blue are photometered.

When photometry is completed, the pulse motor 16 rotates again to transport the long film 10, positions the second notched frame at the photometry position, and measures the light. Thereafter, the third and subsequent frames are also sequentially positioned at the photometry position and photometered.

When the first frame for which photometry has been completed is transported toward the imaging position, the notch of the first frame is detected by the notch sensor 32. The film feed amount is controlled based on this notch detection, and the first frame is positioned at the imaging position. While this first frame is positioned at the imaging position, it is determined whether it is super overexposed or super underexposed from the photometry results of the LATD sensors 22 to 24, and whether the super overexposed frame is teeth,
The CPU 15 drives the pulse motor 37, moves the ND filter 36 out of the optical path, and illuminates the frame with strong illumination light from the lamp 35. Conversely, for underexposed frames, an ND filter 36 is inserted into the optical path to attenuate the illumination light.

Before the first frame is positioned at the imaging position,
Since the filter 36 has been adjusted, imaging by the TV camera 44 starts immediately after positioning is completed. The time-series red signal, green signal, and blue signal outputted from the TV camera 44 are sent to an image processing section 45, where they are subjected to A/D conversion, saturation correction, and storage 9-gradation conversion. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the red signal is amplified and clamped, and then converted into red image data by an A/D converter 72. This red image data is processed by the logarithmic converter 7
3, the data is converted into red image data proportional to the density value, and then sent to the saturation correction circuit 74.

The saturation correction circuit 74 multiplies the three-color image data by coefficients and adds them, and outputs the added value as red image data. The red image data is sent to the demultiplexer 75.
The image data is sent to the image memory 76 designated by the write controller 47, and written to the first memory area A1 of the 12 memory areas designated by the write controller 47. Similarly, the second and subsequent frames are sequentially positioned at the imaging position,
The images are captured by the TV camera 83 and sequentially written into the memory area A2 and subsequent areas of the image memory 1'01a.

When 12 frames are sequentially captured by the TV camera 44 and the obtained image data is written into the memory areas Al-Al2, reading of the image for one page is completed.

After reading this image, the image memory 76 is set to read mode, and the image data is read out by the read controller 4. The image data of the reference image read from the first memory block is sent as is to the multiplexer 79, and the image data of the print frame read from the second to fourth memory blocks is sent as is to the multiplexer 79.
It is sent via selector 78 to multiplexer 79.

Typically, sector 78 connects a first input terminal to a first output terminal and similarly connects a second input terminal to a second output terminal.
Since it is connected to the 4th output terminal, the 2nd to 4th
The image data read from the th memory block is directly sent to the multiplexer 79 as if the selector 78 were not present.

The multiplexer 79 selects the image data read from the four memory blocks according to the position of the scanning line, and sends it to the gradation conversion circuit 80. Since this gradation conversion circuit 80 has a look-up table memory prepared for each frame, the one corresponding to the frame being read is selected, and the image data is converted using the table data stored therein. Here, different table data is written for each frame in the lookup table memory for print frames. This table data includes the density correction amount obtained by photometry using the scanner 21 and the LATD sensor 22.
The reference table data is created by shifting the reference table data according to the color correction amount obtained by photometry using 24.

The gradation-converted image data is converted into a serial signal by a parallel-to-serial converter 81, and then converted to a serial signal by a D/A converter 82.
The red signal is converted into an analog signal and the obtained red signal is sent to the color monitor 46. Similarly, the green signal and the blue signal are also read out and displayed on the 16 color image color monitor 46, as shown in FIG. In fact, 16
The color images are spaced apart a little so that they do not stick to the adjacent color image, and the space between them is displayed as a white frame.

On the color monitor 46, four reference images 90 to 9 are displayed in row D.
3 is displayed, and a 12-frame color image 94 simulating a printed photograph is displayed from line A to line 0. Therefore, while referring to the reference images 90 to 93, it is determined whether the finish of the 12 color images 94 is appropriate. Then, for a color image that is recognized as not having a good finish, the frame designation key 5 on the keyboard 50 is pressed.
Operate 5 to specify the frame.

When a frame is specified, the image data of the specified frame is read from the image memory 76 and written to the work RAM 63 via the interface 83. This work RA
Among the image data written in M63, the image data of a specific area where the frame designation cursor 95 is inserted as shown in FIG. Creating the image data of the frame designation cursor 95 The image data of the frame designation cursor 95 created in this way is transferred to the interface 8.
3 to the image memory 76, and is written into a part of the memory area of the read frame.

The image data of this written portion is transferred to the gradation conversion circuit 80.
Since the negative/positive conversion is performed in step 1, the frame designation cursor 95 is displayed as a negative image, which is the same as the image recorded on the color film.

Further, when a frame is designated, the CPU 15 sends a switching signal to the selector 78 to switch the connection state between the input terminal and the output terminal. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the frame in the third row and fourth column is specified, so the selector 78 connects the first input terminal to the second output terminal, and connects the second input terminal to the second output terminal. Connect to the first output terminal. This causes the second memory block of the image memory 76 and the third
The read order is exchanged with the th memory block. Therefore, the 4 displayed in row B shown in FIG.
The positions of the four color images displayed in the zeroth row are exchanged as shown in FIG. Since the color image designated as a frame in this way is shifted and displayed at a position close to the reference images 90 to 93, it becomes easy to compare the color image of this frame with the reference image.

Next, color key 5 is applied to the color image specified by the frame.
1 or the density key 52 to input the correction amount. When this correction amount is input, the table data of the look-up table memory that performs the gradation conversion of the specified frame is updated. Since the image data is converted using this new table data, the color image of the specified frame is displayed with the density or color corrected. If this correction is insufficient, the color key 51 or density key 52 may be operated again. If correction is required for another frame as well, the frame designation key 55 may be operated as described above. In this case, the previously specified frame is shifted to the original position, row 0, and the image data stored in the work RAM 63 is written to the original memory area.

As a result, the frame designation cursor 95 displayed on the color image of the corrected frame is erased, and the frame designation cursor 95 is displayed on the color image of the newly designated frame.

If it is recognized that all the frames are finished well, the next page key 56 is operated. When the next page key 56 is operated, the TV left camera 4 takes an image, the print image is simulated, and is displayed from line A to line 0 on the color monitor 46. Film verification can be performed.

When the film verification is completed for all the frames recorded on the long film 13, by operating the operation key 53, the correction data for each frame stored in the RAM 29 is recorded on the punch tape 61. . This correction data is the sum of the amount of correction automatically calculated by the scanner 21 and the amount of manual correction manually entered. When printing a photo, if the puncher 161 is set in the printer, the correction data is read from the puncher 161.

In addition, since the printer is equipped with red, green, and blue LATD sensors, these
ATD value is measured. The exposure amount for each color is measured from these LATD values, and by adding the correction data read from the punch tape 61, the exposure amount during photographic printing is adjusted for each color.

In the embodiment described above, the display position of one line including the frame-designated color image is shifted to the side of the reference image, but the reference image may be shifted in the opposite direction. In this case, the first memory block may also be connected to the selector 78. Furthermore, the specified frame may be shifted within the same column and displayed at a position close to the reference image.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, a plurality of reference images with appropriate colors and densities are displayed in one row or one column of a matrix, so this reference image can be used as a reference. This makes it easy to judge the finish of the print frame. Further, in the present invention, the display area of the reference image is one
With one row or column, several standard scenes can be displayed at the same time. Furthermore, since the present invention stores the reference image on a magnetic floppy, it is easy to input the reference image, and the reference image can always be input with constant image quality.

Also, when specifying a frame, either this frame, the color image for one row or column containing this frame, or the reference image for one row or column are shifted to a position close to the other. Comparison with a reference image becomes easy. When shifting this color image or reference image, the image memory is correspondingly divided into blocks, which simplifies the shifting of the image.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a color film analyzer of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an image processing section. FIG. 3 is an example of a color monitor display showing the state before frame designation. FIG. 4 is an example of a color monitor display showing the state after frame designation. 10... Long film 21... Scanner 22-24... LATD sensor 46... Color monitor 50... Keyboard 55... Frame designation key 76... Image Memory 78...Selectors 90-93...Reference image 94...Color image of print frame 95...Frame designation cursor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) Image display means that sequentially images a plurality of frames recorded on a color film with a television camera and arranges a plurality of color images simulating finished printed images of these frames in a matrix. A video color film analyzer that displays a plurality of reference images in one row or column of the matrix. (2) A patent characterized in that the image memory includes an image memory for storing the reference image and image data of each frame, and the image memory is composed of a plurality of memory blocks corresponding to each row or column of a matrix. A video color film analyzer according to claim 1. (3) The plurality of memory blocks are composed of one for one reference image and one for a plurality of frames, and the image data of the plurality of reference images is written in the memory block for reference images, and the memory for plural frames 3. The video color film analyzer according to claim 2, wherein image data of a plurality of frames captured by a television camera are written in each block. (4) the reference image is read from a magnetic floppy;
4. A video color film analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the video color film analyzer is written into a reference image memory block. (5) Sequentially capture multiple frames recorded on color film with a television camera, store these image data in image memory, perform image processing on the image data read out, and then finish each frame. In a video color film analyzer in which a plurality of color images simulating print images are arranged in a matrix and displayed on an image display means, the image memory is divided into blocks for each row or column, one of which is a reference image memory. used as a block,
A video color film analyzer characterized in that image data of a plurality of input reference images are respectively written, and image data of a plurality of frames captured by a television camera are written into the remaining memory blocks. (6) When a means is provided to shift the display position of the color images one row or one column at a time, and a frame is designated to correct the color or density of one of the color images, Claim 5, characterized in that the color image in one row or column containing this frame is shifted next to the reference image.
Video color film analyzer described in Section 1. (7) A means is provided for exchanging the display position of the color image in the one row or one column with the reference image, and a frame is designated in order to correct the color or density of one of the color images. 6. The video color film analyzer according to claim 5, wherein, in the case of a frame, a reference image in one row or column is shifted next to the color image in one row or column containing this frame. (8) Sequentially capture multiple frames recorded on color film with a television camera, store these image data in image memory, perform image processing on the image data read out, and then finish each frame. In a video color film analyzer that arranges a plurality of color images simulating printed images in a matrix and displays them on an image display means, frame designation is used to correct the color or density of one of the plurality of color images. This video type color film analyzer is characterized by shifting this frame next to a reference image when