JPH03291642A - Print evaluating method and condition setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To set a correct standard exposure condition by measuring the density of a print obtained by development and evaluating the print quality. CONSTITUTION:The print quality is evaluated by developing a film development evaluating film in which an evaluating latent image is recorded by a film developing part, printing the image of the film obtained by development to paper, developing the printed paper by a paper developing part, and measuring the density of the obtained print by a densitometer 30 connected to a control circuit 50. In such a way, the film development evaluating film, that is, only a film development evaluating control strip is used, and the print quality is evaluated by combination of the performance of both developers without discriminating the performance of a film developer and the performance of a paper developer. In such a way, a correct standard exposure condition can be set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a development and print evaluation method and condition setting method, and particularly to a print evaluation method for evaluating the quality of a print obtained from a film and a print quality setting method. The present invention relates to a printing condition setting method for setting good standard exposure conditions.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention]-m
At a developing laboratory, negative film is developed using a film processor, the image of the resulting negative film is printed onto paper using a color printer, the printed paper is developed using a paper processor, and prints are obtained from the photographed film. There is. In recent years, printer processors that combine a printer and a paper processor have become popular, and the process is similar to that described above. As the developer is used for a long time, problems such as excess or deficiency of replenisher, air oxidation, evaporation of the solution, etc.
Normal performance cannot be maintained due to the influence of contamination with liquid from the previous process. Therefore, in order to always maintain good print quality, it is necessary to constantly control the developer in the film processor and the developer in the paper processor. For this reason, conventionally, a control strip for evaluation of filtration, created by exposing film in advance under multiple conditions, is passed through a film processor, and a control strip for evaluation of paper development, created by prior exposure of paper under multiple conditions, is passed through the film processor. The developed film or print was passed through a paper processor and the density was measured to check for any abnormalities in the developer.

In addition, in order for the printer and processor to consistently produce good quality color prints, it is necessary to manage the developer and perform the development process correctly, and to properly set the printer's standard exposure conditions on the equipment. . For this reason, standard exposure conditions are set when installing the printer, but if you use color paper with a different emulsion number,
Printing conditions change when the exposure lamp in the exposure section is replaced, when the developing processing solution is replaced, or when the content of the photograph changes from having many colors to having fewer colors or vice versa due to changes in seasons, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to correct and reset the standard exposure conditions. Further, since the printing conditions change due to dirt, deterioration, or replacement of the light source system including the light control filter, halogen lamp, reflector, etc., it is necessary to correct and reset the standard exposure conditions in the same way as above. To correct the standard exposure conditions, use a reference negative film that has an area corresponding to the average subject color around the area corresponding to the negative of a gray subject, and use a test image that is printed and developed from this reference negative film. The density of the print is compared with the density of a standard reference print that has been printed and developed in advance (target density) and corrected.

The control strip for film development evaluation is supplied in a cartridge and can be easily stored in the refrigerator. All you have to do is connect it to the film league and set it in the film insertion section of your film processor. On the other hand, control strips for evaluating paper development are difficult to store in the refrigerator due to their large size, and they are stored in a case to prevent exposure to light when setting them in a paper processor or printer processor. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is necessary to get used to inserting the control strip into the developing section and it is time consuming.

As mentioned above, control strips for evaluating film development are relatively easy to use because they are easy to set, but film developers generally have more stable performance than paper developers.

On the other hand, the performance of paper developing solutions tends to change easily, but as mentioned above, the control strip for paper development evaluation requires time and effort, so the actual situation is that they are not adequately managed.

In addition to control strips for evaluating film and paper development, a reference negative film for setting standard exposure conditions is used to manage printer conditions and light sources. This film is supplied by a film manufacturer and developed with a standard developer, and is not developed with a film processor that is actually used. For this reason, standard exposure conditions set using a reference negative film are not necessarily appropriate for each developing laboratory. Furthermore, since the density values obtained from the control strips evaluate only each process, it is difficult to predict what kind of print quality will be obtained, which can lead to distrust or apathy toward management.

The present invention was developed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and makes it possible to manage developer performance in accordance with print quality by taking advantage of the ease of use and storage of a control strip for evaluating film development. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print evaluation method and a print condition setting method capable of setting appropriate standard exposure conditions in each photofinishing laboratory.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention develops a film development evaluation film on which a latent image for evaluation is recorded in a film development section, prints the film image obtained by the development onto paper, and prints the printed paper. The paper is developed in a paper developing section, and the print quality is evaluated by measuring the density of the print obtained by the development.

In the present invention, it is possible to photometer the image of the evaluation film obtained by development to evaluate the performance of film development and to determine the exposure conditions when printing on paper.
The film for film development evaluation is recorded with evaluation latent images whose densities are at least low, medium, and high. When using two density differences in the image recording section, or when printing the image of the evaluation film on paper, at least the three evaluation densities of the low density, medium density, and high density are different. It is effective to print two images on paper with the same exposure.

In addition, the present invention develops a film for evaluation film on which a latent image for evaluation is recorded in a film development section, photometers the image of the evaluation film obtained by the development, and prints it on a paper. Standard exposure conditions are set by developing in a paper developing section and measuring the density of the print obtained by the development. In this invention, when printing an image on the evaluation film onto paper, standard exposure conditions may be set such that the density of the print from at least one film density of the image or set of images is the respective target density. good.

[Effect]

The present invention focuses on the fact that print quality is determined by the combination of the performance of the film developer and the performance of the paper developer, and attempts to ultimately determine the print quality by the combination of the performances of the two developers. . Therefore, in the present invention, a film development evaluation film on which a latent image for evaluation has been recorded is developed in a film development section, the image of the film obtained by the development is printed on paper, and the printed paper is transferred to the paper development section. The image is developed, and the print quality is evaluated by measuring the density of the print obtained by development. As described above, the present invention uses only a film for film development evaluation, that is, a control strip for film development evaluation, and combines the performance of both developers without distinguishing between the performance of the film developer and the performance of the paper developer. Evaluating print quality. Films for film development evaluation include:
Evaluation latent images having at least low, medium, and high densities are recorded. Then, the difference in density between the two latent image recording areas is selectively used to evaluate the performance of the film developer and the performance of the paper developer. When printing the image of this evaluation film on paper, at least two of the at least three evaluation densities are different.
Print two images onto paper with the same exposure. As described above, in the present invention, since only the film for film development evaluation is used, it is easy to store and use, and the number of types of control strips can be reduced.

In the above method, when print quality deteriorates, it is not possible to determine whether the performance of the film developer or the paper developer has deteriorated, but it is possible to evaluate the performance of film development by measuring the film image obtained by development. For example, it is possible to determine which developer has degraded in performance, and from the measured values of this film image, standard exposure conditions for printing on paper can be determined and set to zero. When setting the standard exposure conditions, the standard exposure conditions are determined such that the print density from at least one film density of the image or set of images is the respective target density.

Furthermore, although it is not possible to evaluate variations in paper sensitivity in the present invention, variations in paper sensitivity and variations in the above-mentioned film development performance can be corrected by correcting and setting the exposure conditions when printing on paper. The evaluation of film development and the evaluation of film development are not important to the present invention. On the other hand, the gamma balance of the three colors is important because it cannot be corrected by the exposure amount. Therefore, in the present invention, the difference between at least two different densities among at least three densities of low density, medium density, and high density of the print is important. The γ balance of the three colors of the combination of film and paper is determined using .

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, since the state of the film processor and paper processor is evaluated from the film for film development evaluation, a control strip for paper development evaluation is not required. As a result, only evaluation films that are easy to handle and store are needed, and the quality of the actual prints obtained from the film processor and paper processor system used can be evaluated, increasing the accuracy of print quality evaluations. Effects can be obtained. Furthermore, there is also the effect that standard exposure conditions can be set using the used film development evaluation film in consideration of the performance of the film processor.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printer processor will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer processor to which the present invention is applicable. This printer processor is C
, M, and Y filters, a light diffusion box 15, and a halogen lamp 19.
Paper magazine containing 0 and color paper [12
It is equipped with

Further, a photometer 16 composed of a two-dimensional image sensor or the like for photometering the screen average density of the color negative 1 2 film held between the negative carrier 11 is arranged. This photometer 16 automatically determines the exposure amount depending on the density of the negative film based on standard exposure conditions and photometric values,
It is connected to a control circuit 50 for controlling the light control filter of the light source section 10 to control exposure conditions and for evaluating print quality. The color paper pulled out from the paper magazine section 12 has a negative film image printed thereon in the exposure section 14, and is supplied to the color developing section 20 of a part of the processor via the reservoir section 8. Color developing section 2
The color paper developed with 0.0 is subjected to a fixing process in a bleach-fixing section 22 and then washed with water in a rinsing section 24 to create a color print.

The washed color print is dried in a drying section 26 and then cut into image units in a cutter section 28. A densitometer 30 connected to a control circuit 50 is arranged in the cutter section 28 so as to sandwich the color print being transported. The control circuit 50 also includes a CRT 51 for displaying data, etc., and a keyboard 53 for inputting data, etc.
is connected.

A neutral density filter 34 is arranged between the light control filter 17 of the light source section 10 and the light diffusion box 15 so as to be insertable into the exposure optical path. As the neutral density filter 34, a metal filter with mesh-like or slit-like holes or a vapor-deposited filter made of a multilayer film is used. This neutral density filter 34 can be inserted into the optical path by a motor or the like when necessary.

The control circuit 50 performs printing by controlling the light control filter 17 based on the exposure control value Ej shown in the following equation.

j! ogEj=sj (Aj (dDj-dwj) +dwj) 10Cj...(1) However, dDj=Dj-DNj...(2) 3 4 j: Any one of 1 to 3 representing either RSG or B Number DJ: Image density of film image frames to be printed (e.g. average density of all screens) DNj: Average image density of standard negative film or a large number of film frames (e.g. average full screen density) S slope control value Aj : Color correction value Cj; Color balance value depending on printer, film, and photographic paper characteristics The development control strip of the present invention is used for evaluating film development and paper development.

This control strip has at least one density measurement area between the LD (low density area) and HD (high density area), which are the measurement areas of conventional negative development control strips.For example, the lowest density D111h (for example, , base density), low density LD (e.g., Dffit,
+0. density value around 3>, high density HD (for example, L
(density value 1.6 larger than D), concentration for desilvering degree control Y-p
In addition to the first medium density MDI (for example, Dff
it, +0. (density value around 7), second medium density MD2
(for example, a density value around Dml.+1.2), and a latent image is recorded. In this way L.D.S.
The reason why measurement areas for medium density MDI and HD2 are provided in addition to HD is that when LDSHD is printed on paper, either of them will be out of the density reproduction range of the paper.

Therefore, finer density steps other than LDSHD may be provided on the film. By developing this control strip with a film developer, images 60F, 62F, and
A negative film 70 having 64F, 65F, 66F, and 68F is obtained. Also, image 6 of this negative film 70
2F, 64F, 65F, and 66F are printed on paper and developed with a paper developer to obtain a print 72 shown in FIG.

Next, the film evaluation routine of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. When the print evaluation switch 5 6 is turned on, the routine shown in FIG. 4 is activated.

In step 100, the lamp of the densitometer 30 is turned on. After the lamp has been turned on for several tens of seconds, the concentration measurement using the densitometer 30 becomes possible. In step 102, the neutral density filter 34 is inserted into the exposure optical path, and in step 104, the light source is photometered through the neutral density filter 34.

Here, the purpose of inserting a neutral density filter is to insert a light density filter into the photometer 1 when obtaining a correction value or a reference value for fluctuations in the amount of light from the light source.
This is to prevent saturation of the output of No. 6. Step 106
Now, we will measure the fluctuations in the amount of light from the light source. The photometric value of the light source and the reference value stored in memory in advance (or the previous photometric value)
The light source correction value is obtained by comparing the values and checking the change in the amount of light from the light source. Thereafter, the measured value is corrected using the corrected value. Alternatively, the photometric value when the neutral density filter is inserted may be used as the reference value (for example, density 0.00). In the next step 108, the neutral density filter 34 is retracted from the exposure optical path. In advance, the operator develops the control strip in a film processor.
The obtained negative film 70 is set in a negative carrier. In step 110, the negative film 70 is photometered. Photometry may be carried out one measurement area at a time, or may be carried out simultaneously on a plurality of measurement areas using a two-dimensional image sensor or the like.

In the next step 112, film development management values, that is, the photometric value of the low density LD, the contrast (HD-LD) obtained by subtracting the photometric value of the low density LD from the photometric value of the high density HD, the photometric value of the lowest density D+a l n, Concentration Y-p for controlling degree of desilvering
The film development performance is determined by comparing the photometric value of atch with each reference value stored in advance. To evaluate print quality, film control values are
Only three colors of contrast (HD-LD) may be used. The low density LD is used when managing the sensitivity and sensitivity balance of the film, and the lowest density Dmlh is used when determining fog caused by the developer. This is because these can be corrected by the printer. Even if the low density LD and the lowest density Dal□ deviate from the conventional permissible limits, if the contrast (HD-L12 8 D) is within the permissible range, it can be said that the print quality obtained is within the permissible range. These photometric values are determined in step 106.
This is the value after correcting the light source fluctuations performed in . In step 114, the above-mentioned film development performance determination result and the photometric value of the negative film 70 are displayed on the CRT 51.

In step 116, an exposure condition is calculated using the standard exposure condition of equation (1) above and the photometric value measured in step 110. To evaluate paper development performance, HD
Alternatively, at least one measurement area between the LD measurement area and its density needs to be printed with the same exposure amount.

Therefore, for example, DMl and LD are (a-DM1+b-LD) a+b DM2 and HD are a+b (aSb is a positive coefficient), etc., and the weighted average value of DMI and LD, and the weighted average value of DM2 and HD are calculated for each image. It is determined as a density, and the exposure amount is calculated using the above (1).

Note that as this exposure condition, a constant exposure condition stored in a memory in advance may be used.

In step 118, the image of the negative film is printed onto paper using the above exposure conditions, and processing such as development is performed.

In addition, when printing, the exposure amount of each image may be changed to a fixed amount, for example, 2 to 3 times the determined exposure amount of any one specific image of the images on the negative film, and the image may be printed on paper. .

In the next step 120, it is determined whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since exposure, and it is determined whether the exposed, developed, fixed, and dried print has reached the photometric position. Step 12 when it is determined that the
2, the densities of print images 62P, 64P, 65P, and 66P are measured.

In the next step 124, the photometric value of the printed high-density HD or the printed medium-density MDI, the deviation HD-MD2 or 9 0 print obtained by subtracting the photometric value of the second medium-density MD2 from the photometric value of the printed high-density HD. Deviation MD obtained by subtracting the photometric value of the printed low density LD from the photometric value of the first medium density MDI, 1-L
D and the photometric value of the unexposed area are the lowest density D + a l h
As the photometric value of HD or MDI, (HD-HD2)
The paper development performance is determined by calculating the deviation between each photometric value of (MDI-LD), and D+aln and the reference value. For example, when this deviation is ±0.15, it is abnormal.
A warning is determined when the value is 10 to ±0.15. High density HD printed.

The sensitivity and sensitivity balance of the paper can be determined from the printed medium density MDI. This variation in performance can be corrected by modifying the printer's standard exposure conditions and is not necessarily necessary.

In the next step 126, the photometric value of the printed medium density MDI or the printed low density LD is compared with a predetermined target density, and the color balance value Cj, etc. is adjusted so that the photometric value becomes the target density. Correct the standard exposure conditions and store them in memory. In addition, printed medium density MD2,
The slope control value Sj is corrected so that the printed high density HD has the target density and is stored in the memory. Then, in step 128, the photometric values, determination results, and standard exposure condition correction results are displayed on the CRT.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the paper developer performance can be evaluated using only the control strip for evaluating film development without using the control strip for evaluating paper development. In addition, since the quality of paper is determined by combining film development and paper development at the same time as the performance evaluation of the film developer and paper developer, it is possible to judge the overall print quality. Furthermore, since the standard exposure conditions are corrected using the prints obtained from the control strip for film development evaluation, it is possible to set standard exposure conditions that appropriately correct the performance of the film development being used. Conventional developer evaluation using control strips was an evaluation of each individual solution, not a system-wide evaluation.

Therefore, even if it deviates from the control limit, it is often acceptable on Print 1 2 , leading to mistrust in the evaluation by the control strip. According to the present invention, evaluation results corresponding to actual print quality can be obtained.

Note that in the control strip described above, one pattern is recorded on one screen, but two or more patterns may be formed on one screen. In other words, for example, one screen has a low density L.
D. Medium density MDI and high density HD may be recorded, low density LD and medium density MDI on one screen, medium density MD2 and high density HD on the other screen, lowest density on the remaining screens, 1. and the density Y-patch for managing the degree of desilvering may be recorded. Various arrangements of patterns in the control strip can be considered, but the important thing is that it has two or more density regions and that at least the gradation balance of the negative film and the gradation balance of the paper can be checked. The present invention is applicable not only to printer processors but also to separate systems of printers and paper processors. Furthermore, it can be effectively used in an apparatus in which a film processor and a printer processor are integrated, or in an apparatus in which a part or all of film development and paper development have a common processor. Note that in the present invention, words such as pattern, image, density measurement area, etc. are used, but they all refer to 60F162F, 64F, 65F, 6
6F, 62P, 64P, 65P, and 66P are shown. These are included in the present invention, whether they are patterns or images, as long as they have an area where uniform density can be measured. Further, the photometric value includes a density value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printer processor to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a negative film obtained by developing a control strip, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a print printed with a control strip, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a print quality evaluation routine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 30... Densitometer, 34... Neutral density filter. 3 4 2nd Figure 6F 5P 4P 2P JP-A-291642 (8)

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) Film development on which a latent image for evaluation has been recorded The evaluation film is developed in a film developing section, the image of the film obtained by the development is printed on paper, the printed paper is developed in a paper developing section, and then developed. A print evaluation method that evaluates print quality by measuring the density of prints obtained. (2) The print evaluation method according to claim (1), wherein the image of the evaluation film obtained by development is photometered to evaluate the film development performance and to determine the exposure conditions for printing on paper. (3) recording a latent image for evaluation on the evaluation film such that the density is at least low density, medium density, and high density;
2. The print evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein the difference in density between the two latent image recording areas is selectively used for evaluating the performance of the film developer and the performance of the paper developer. (4) A claim in which, when printing the images of the evaluation film onto paper, two images having at least different densities among the at least three evaluation densities of the low density, medium density, and high density are printed onto the paper with the same exposure amount. Print evaluation method in Section (3). (5) Film development on which a latent image for evaluation is recorded The evaluation film is developed in a film development section, the image of the evaluation film obtained by the development is photometered and printed on paper, and the printed paper is transferred to the paper development section. A printing condition setting method in which standard exposure conditions are set by developing the print and measuring the density of the print obtained by development. (6) When printing the image on the evaluation film onto paper, standard exposure conditions are set so that the density of the print from at least one film density of the image or set of images is the respective target density. (5) Printing condition setting method.