JPH0279173A - Picture inputting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input a high-resolution picture by putting a transparent dividing sheet on an original picture and inputting the pictures of the areas divided by the sheet in the connecting order. CONSTITUTION:When a transparent dividing sheet 8 is put on an original picture, the original picture is divided into plural areas by the dividing lines 9 of the sheet 8. The divided pictures are inputted by means of a picture input section 10. Then the inputted pictures and base line pictures for position the input picture when a freezing process is formed on the pictures are displayed on a monitor screen 19, and when the dividing lines 9 of a divided area match the base line pictures, the picture of the divided area is stored at a prescribed address of a whole picture storing section 20. At the time of the storage of the picture, a picture process is performed on the picture in accordance with the filter constituting the dividing lines 9 so that the picture data on the lines 9 can become the picture before the lines 9 are put on the picture. Therefore, even a picture input section 10 having a less number of picture elements can input a high-resolution picture.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image input method, and particularly to an image input method for a video printer, etc., which is suitable for inputting an image using an image input section with a small number of pixels. Regarding.

[Prior Art] As an image input device for a video printer etc., for example, T.
V-cameras, scanners, etc. are used.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the case of image input devices such as TV cameras and scanners, the number of pixels of the image sensor is limited, and when trying to input a large screen original image at one time, the number of input pixels is limited by the image sensor. Therefore, it is not possible to input high-resolution images. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is difficult to print high-resolution images.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image input method that allows high-resolution images to be input even if the image input section has a small number of pixels. do.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention covers an original image with a transparent partition sheet partitioned into a plurality of partition areas by partition lines having translucent properties, and displays a base line image on the display surface of a monitor. and the image of the partition area that is being input, and by moving at least one of the original image or the image input section, when the image of the partition line and the baseline image match, the image data of the partition area that is being input is converted into the entire image. In addition to importing the data into the storage unit, the image data of the image on the partition line is image-processed to restore the state before the partition lines overlapped. Note that it is preferable that the partition line is formed by an ND filter.

[Operation] When inputting the entire image of the original picture in parts υj, cover the original picture with a transparent partition sheet. The transparent partition sheet is constructed by partitioning the transparent sheet into a plurality of areas by partition lines made of, for example, an ND filter, so the original image is partitioned into a plurality of areas by the partition lines. Images of these divided areas are input by an image input section. This input is performed by moving at least one of the image input unit or the original image, and each section area is input sequentially in the direction of connection. An input image and a baseline image for positioning when freezing the input image are displayed on the monitor screen. While watching this monitor screen, when the dividing line of the divided area matches the baseline image, the image of this divided area is stored at a predetermined address in the entire image storage section. At this time, the image data on the partition line is image-processed according to the filter forming the partition line so that it becomes an image before being covered by the partition line. Thereafter, images of the next divided area are sequentially stored in the entire image storage section in the same manner.

Thereby, the original image can be divided and inputted by the image input section. The entire image of the original image stored in the entire image storage section is read out at the time of printing, displayed on, for example, a CRT for exposure, and printed onto a photosensitive material.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an original image, for example a printed photograph 1, is set on an imaging stand 2. As shown in FIGS.

The imaging stand 2 includes a base 3 and a holding frame 4 attached to the base 3 so as to be openable and closable. The holding frame 4 is provided with an opening 5 through which the entire image P of the printed photograph 1 faces. A transparent partition sheet 8 as shown in FIG. 2 is placed in this opening 5. The transparent partitioning sheet 8 is partitioned into nine partition areas A11 to A33 in a 3×3 matrix, for example, by partition lines 9 made of filters of N D -0°3. The number of sections is determined according to the number of pixels of the image sensor of the TV camera 10, which will be described later. The transparent partition sheet 8 is constructed by forming partition lines 9 on a transparent glass plate or a transparent plastic sheet by overlapping a thin layer film by vacuum deposition. Note that the partition line 9 may be configured with, for example, a color filter instead of the ND filter.

The imaging platform 2 is provided with an X11 direction shift section 6 and a Y axis direction shift section 7, allowing the printed photograph 1 and the transparent division sheet 8 to move freely in two-dimensional directions. X
The axis and Y-axis direction shift unit 6゜7 includes, for example, a guide rod for guiding the movement of the base 3 in each axis direction, a feed screw rod for moving the base 3 in each axis direction, and a feed screw rod for moving the base 3 in each axis direction. It is composed of a pulse motor (both not shown) for rotation.

Note that other moving means such as a moving belt or link means may be used instead of the feed screw rod.

As will be described in detail later, the X-axis and Y-axis direction shift units 6 and 7 are connected to the pressed shift key 22B when the up, down, left, and right shift keys 22B to 22E of the keyboard 22 connected to the controller 13 are pressed. The imaging table 2 is moved by a minute amount in the direction corresponding to ~22E.

A TV camera 10 for inputting a positive image of a printed photograph 1 set on the imaging stand 2 is arranged above the center of the imaging stand 2. The three-color image signals of R, G, and B of the image of the divided areas All to A33 imaged by the TV camera 10 are sent to the image synthesis unit 14 via the A/D converter 11 and the frame memory 12 provided for each color. sent to. The image synthesis section 14 synthesizes this image signal and the baseline signal from the baseline signal generation section 15. As shown in FIG. 3, this synthesis is performed by using the image from the TV camera 10 as a moving image and the reference mark BL as a base line as a still image.
This is done by displaying them all at once on the monitor CRT 19. The combined image signal is sent to the image processing section 16. The image processing section 16 performs well-known gamma correction and gradation correction, as well as density and color balance correction as necessary.

The image signal processed by the image processing section 16 is converted from a digital signal to an analog signal by the D/A converter 17, and then sent to the monitor CRT drive section 18. monitor CRT
The drive unit 18 drives the color monitor CRT 19.
As shown in FIG. 3, images of each of the divided areas A1 to A33 of the print photo 1 captured by the TV camera 10,
The reference mark BL from the baseline signal generator 15 is transferred to the CRT.
19 display screen. The reference mark BL has its corners touching four corners of a rectangular frame formed by the partition lines 9 of the partition areas All to A33 when the partition areas All to A33 are input at the correct positions. Displayed in an L-shape. Note that base lines in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction may be displayed instead of the reference mark BL.

The image signal that has passed through the frame memory 12 is also sent to the entire image storage section 20. The entire image storage section 20 is composed of a hard disk device or a floppy disk device, and writes the image signal from the TV camera 10 to the address specified by the divided area designation circuit 21.

This writing is done by pressing the freeze key 22A on the keyboard 22.
This is done by the controller 13 outputting a preemption signal when is pressed. At this time, the section area A1 to be input
The images on the partition lines 9 of Nos. 1 to A33 are darker in density than the actual images by the amount of the partition lines 9 because the partition lines 9 overlap. Therefore, the density of the image data on the partition line 9 is corrected by the partition line image correction unit 23. This density correction is performed by specifying the address of the image data on the partition line 9 by the controller 13, reading out the image data at this address, and adding a predetermined correction value thereto.

That is, normal] ゛■■Camera gamma correction (Y=X0・45
), so when the partition line 9 of N D-0,3 is used, the gamma correction for each is as shown in the following equation.

Y = (-) '・45-X6.45 20.45 Therefore, the above correction value (-2°1
By adding 5), the partition line image is corrected to become the original image.

The controller 3 is composed of a well-known microcomputer, and in addition to freeze processing, it also controls the freeze key 2.
When 2A is pressed, the X-axis direction shift section 6 and the Y-axis direction shift section 7 are also controlled in order to manually edit the image of the next divided area. That is, a predetermined amount of movement is output to each shift section 6.7, and the TV camera 10 is set at the center position of the next divided area.

The image synthesis section 14 displays the L-shaped reference mark BM as a still image on the display screen of the monitor CRT 19 using the baseline signal from the baseline signal generation section 15, and also displays the divided areas All to A33 manually input from the TV camera 10. Combine image signals so that they are displayed as a moving image. While looking at the image displayed on the monitor CRT 19 on which the composite image is displayed in this way, press the upper, lower, left, and right shift keys 22B to 22E.
By pressing , the position of the imaging platform 2 is adjusted a, and the moving image is scrolled within the display screen of the monitor CRT 19, and as shown in FIG. The corners of the rectangular frame are aligned with the corners of the reference mark BM. If these corners match, freeze key 2
By pressing 2A, the image of this divided area is frozen and stored at a predetermined address in the entire image storage section 20. At this time, the marking line image correction section 23 corrects the density of the image on the marking line 9.

Next, the printing system will be explained. The print system is composed of an image processing section 25 that processes image signals from the entire image storage section 20, a D/A converter 26, a CRT drive section 27, and a CRT 2B for black and white exposure. The image processing unit 25 performs well-known gamma correction and gradation correction, as well as positive/negative conversion and, if necessary, density and color balance correction. The image signal subjected to image processing is converted from a digital signal to an analog signal by a D/A converter 26 and sent to a CRT drive section 27.Based on this, an exposure CRT 2B consisting of a black and white CRT is driven and The entire image is printed and exposed on the color paper 29 by color plane sequential exposure.

In this three-color plane sequential exposure, three monochrome images are sequentially displayed on the exposure CRT 28, and when this monochrome image is displayed, filters 30 to 32 corresponding to this monochrome image are installed in the printing optical path. The insertion is performed using the switching unit 33. At this time, the shutter 34 is driven by the shutter drive section 35 and controlled to provide a predetermined exposure amount. Further, the image t displayed on the exposure CRT 28 is imaged onto the color paper 29 by the printing lens 36. The color paper 29 is wound into a roll and stored in a magazine 38, and is pulled out by a predetermined length by a pair of conveying rollers 39 and set at an exposure position 40. At the exposure position 40, a pressure plate 41 and a paper mask 42 are arranged to ensure the flatness of the color paper 29.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When dividing the entire image P of the printed photograph 1 into a 3×3 matrix as shown in FIG.
The user sets the transparent divided sheet 8 divided into divided areas A11-A2B, and presses the image division input mode key 22F on the keyboard 22. As a result, the video printer is switched to the image division input mode, and the imaging stand 2 is set at the initial input position. This initial input position is set by moving the entire image P from the upper left corner to the right as in this embodiment, first inputting the first row of partitioned areas All to AI3, and then sequentially inputting the next row one step below. When reading out to the right, it is set to the center position of the divided area All in the first row and first column at the upper left corner.

After setting the TV camera 10 to the initial position, in this state,
The image of the divided area All in the first row and first column of the entire image P is input from , and this image signal is sent to the image synthesis section 14 via the A/D converter 11 and the frame memory 12 .

Further, a baseline signal for displaying the reference mark BM is sent to the image synthesis section 14 from the baseline signal generation section 15. As a result, the images of the four reference marks BL are displayed as still images on the monitor CRT 19, and the image of the divided area A11 input by the TV camera 10 is displayed as a moving image.

Therefore, while looking at the display screen of this monitor CRT 19,
By pressing each of the shift keys 22B to 22B on the keyboard 22 and moving the imaging platform 2 in a desired direction, the monitor CR
Shift key 22B to move the image of divided area A11 in T19
Scroll in the direction in which ~22H is pressed. In this way, as shown in FIG. 3, by aligning the corner of the reference mark BL with the corner of the division line 90 of the division area All, and pressing the freeze key 22A'' when they are aligned, the manually created division The image of area All is frozen and stored at a predetermined address in the entire image storage section 20. Among the stored image data of the partition area All, the image data on the partition line 9 is corrected and restored by the partition line image correction unit 23 so that it becomes the same as the original image.

Furthermore, when the freeze key 22A is pressed, the controller 13 outputs the amount of movement of one frame of the divided area to the X-axis direction shift section 6. As a result, the imaging platform 2 moves to this divided area A12 in order to image the next divided area AI2.
is moved to the center position. Thereafter, in the same manner, the images of each section area A12 to A33 are sequentially stored, and the entire image P
Input all images. In this way, the entire image P
However, the TV camera 10 consists of an image sensor with a limited number of pixels.
The image is divided and inputted by , and stored in the entire image storage section 20 . The original image division input procedure described above is shown as a flowchart in FIG. If the entire image is to be printed after the input, the print mode key 22G is pressed to switch the video printer to print mode. This results in
The image signal of the entire image is read out from the entire image storage section 20, and based on this, the exposure CRT 28 is driven, and the entire image is printed and exposed on the color paper 29 by sequential exposure of three color planes.

In the above embodiment, the case of image division input has been explained, but if it is not necessary to divide the image and input it, specify the normal input mode and input the original image one screen at a time to the entire image storage unit 20. It can also be stored in

In addition, the image division input for each section area AIl to A33 is as follows.
Although the imaging stage 2 is moved in two-dimensional directions, the present invention is not limited to this, and the TV camera 10 is moved in two-dimensional directions.
You can also move dimensionally.

Further, when manually capturing images of each divided area, the imaging stand 2 is moved by the respective shift units 6 and 7, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the imaging stand or TV camera is moved between the two.
It may also be possible to move the image pickup table or the TV camera manually by keeping it movable in the dimensional direction.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image on the partition line 9 is corrected by the partition line image correction unit 23, but instead of this, when the image processing unit 25 performs image processing, the image on the partition line 9 is corrected at the same time. Line images may also be corrected. Also,
When gamma correction is not performed on the video printer side, for example, when marking lines of ND-0, 3 are used, the image can be restored by doubling the data of the marking line image.

Further, printing is performed by printing and exposing color paper 29 using CRT 28 for exposure, but other liquid crystal display devices or laser printers may also be used, and furthermore, inkjet printers, heat-sensitive It can also be printed using a printer or the like.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the division line 9 formed by the transparent division sheet 8 is superimposed on the printed photograph 1, and the image is captured by the TV camera 10 to manually create the image. It is also possible to detect the distortion state of the partition line 9 and correct the distortion of the image by image processing based on this detection. Thereby, distortion of the lens of the imaging system can be corrected. Note that this distortion correction of the input image can be performed not only when inputting the entire image in segments, but also when manually inputting the entire image all at once.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, a transparent division sheet is superimposed on the original image, and images of areas divided by this transparent division sheet are input in the order in which they are connected. Even if it is an image-powered department such as a TV camera that has limitations,
You will be able to input high-resolution images. In addition, a baseline image such as a reference mark is displayed on the monitor screen, and the original image or the image operator is moved to match the input dividing line of the divided area with the baseline image, and when this matches, the entire image of the divided area is displayed. Since the images are imported into the image storage section, the images of each divided area can be successively stored as a whole image in the whole image storage section. Furthermore,
Since the image on the lot line is corrected according to the type of filter that makes up the lot line, it is possible to restore the image to the image before the lot line was covered, eliminating the influence of changes in density and color of the input image due to the lot line. Can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a video printer embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the original image is covered with a transparent partition sheet. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a monitor display screen when inputting an image of a divided area. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure for dividing and inputting an original image. BM...Reference mark AIl~A33...Division area...Print photo 2...Imaging table 6.7...Shift section 8...Transparent division sheet 9...Dividing line 10...TV Camera 19...Monitor CRT 22...Keyboard 28...CRT for exposure 29...Color paper. Figure 4

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image input method in which an original picture is divided into multiple divided areas and each divided area is input sequentially using an image input section, a transparent division sheet divided into multiple divided areas by translucent division lines is used as the original image. Display the baseline image and the image of the division area that is being input on the display screen of the monitor, and move at least one of the original image or the image input section so that when the division line image and the baseline image match, the image of the division area that is being input is displayed. At the same time as importing the image data of the divided area into the whole image storage unit,
An image input method characterized in that image data of an image on a partition line is restored to a state before the partition lines overlapped by image processing. (2) The image input method according to claim 1, wherein the partition line of the transparent partition sheet is constructed from an ND filter.