JPH0391733A - Camera and photographic printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the double exposure corrections of a camera and a photographic printer and to produce a printed photograph having a proper density and a proper color balance by recording the information of the exposure correction obtained by means of a camera side to a recording medium and determinating a printing and exposing quantity through the use of the exposure correcting information. CONSTITUTION:In a photographic processing laboratory, a photographic film 18 is developed, a latent image recorded on each frame and an exposure correcting mark 24 selectively recorded are converted to visible images. Frames where a frame correcting mark 34 is not recorded and where a manual correction is carried out are only color-corrected. The color-correction is carried out in such a way that the correction coefficient of each color is automatically obtained through the use of an ACCS system composing one part of a calculating part 51 and the fact is multiplied by a reference printing and exposing quantity. When the exposure correcting mark indicating that a counter light correction is carried out is recorded it is judged that the density of the frame is at a high level in comparison with a frame where the counter correction is not carried out, and the reference printing and exposing quantity is corrected based on the fact.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a photographic method in which information about exposure correction performed by a camera is recorded on a recording medium, and this exposure correction information is used to determine the exposure amount for printing at the time of printing. The present invention relates to a camera used in a printing system and a photo printing method.

[Conventional technology]

Recent single-lens reflex cameras use a multi-pattern metering method to control exposure with high precision.

In this multi-pattern photometry, a photographic scene is divided into photometers using a plurality of photometric elements, the output signals of each photometric element are compared to classify the photographic scene, and an exposure correction value is calculated according to the classification. Then, the exposure correction value is added to or subtracted from the exposure value obtained from the average photometric value obtained by arithmetic averaging the outputs of the respective photometric elements. Also, depending on the classification, average metering, center-weighted metering,
Some systems allow one photometry method to be selected from central spot photometry.

On the other hand, in a photographic printer, the images recorded on photographic film are photometered using a scanner, the frames are classified into scenes using the photometric values obtained at each point, and the printing exposure stamp is corrected according to each scene.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional negative/bodi photo printing method, the camera and photo printer perform exposure compensation independently.

However, since it is sufficient to perform this exposure correction on either one, it has not been possible to produce printed photographs with appropriate density and color balance.

For example, adjust the shutter speed or aperture value to correct the density, and set a red filter and a green filter at the pupil position of the photographic lens. It is possible to perform color correction by arranging blue filters and adjusting the set positions of these color filters. If complete correction is performed on the camera side in this way, then the photo printer can print with a constant printing exposure by applying timer printing without having to correct every frame. Practically speaking, only density correction is possible as correction on the camera side, but if this density correction is completely performed, density correction on the photo printer side becomes unnecessary. Furthermore, when partial density correction is performed, the remaining density correction can be performed using a photo printer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera and a photo printing method that prevent double exposure compensation from being performed in a camera and a photo printer, and make it possible to produce printed photos with appropriate density and color balance. It is about providing.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the camera of the present invention is provided with means for generating exposure correction information and means for recording this exposure correction information on a recording medium.

The exposure compensation information indicates the content of the compensation performed by the camera, for example, the presence or absence of backlight compensation, but may also include the degree of exposure compensation (exposure compensation value). Furthermore, marks, barcodes, characters, etc. are used as the exposure correction information.

Further, in the photo printing method of the present invention, exposure correction information on the camera side recorded on a recording medium is read, and the printing exposure amount is determined using this exposure correction information.

[Effect]

During photography, when exposure compensation is performed manually or by automatic exposure compensation means, exposure compensation information representing the content of the compensation is recorded on a recording medium, such as a photographic film, at the same time as or before or after the photography. When printing, information on exposure correction performed on the camera side is read from the photographic film, and the printing exposure amount is determined in consideration of this exposure correction information.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a photographic camera that records information on exposure correction performed on the camera side. The photographing lens 10 is composed of an optical system 10a and a lens barrel 10b that holds the optical system 10a, and is moved back and forth along the optical axis 11 to adjust the focus by manual operation or an autofocus mechanism.

A shutter mechanism l2 that performs program control is arranged behind the photographic lens IO. This shutter mechanism 12
, for example, from two shutter blades 13.14, and each shutter blade 13.14 has a notch 13a.
14a are shown in their respective forms.

These shutter blades 13, 14 move the movable pin 16 by the drive mechanism 15 to a position according to the exposure value (EV). When the movable bottle 16 moves toward the fixed pin 17, it moves away from the fixed pin 17 to overlap the notches 13a14a. This notch 13a
, 14a are opened, and light passing through the opening enters the photographic film 18. Note that the drive mechanism 15 has a limit function to prevent camera shake, and the maximum shutter speed is regulated to, for example, 1/50 second.

The photometry section 20 is separated from a lens 21 and a sensor unit 22, and performs divisional photometry of a photographic scene. In this embodiment, the sensor unit 22 is monitored from nine photometry areas, and measures the light of a photographic scene in nine divisions. The nine brightness signals output from the sensor unit 22 are sent to a basic exposure value calculation section 23, a backlight correction circuit 24, and a strobe device 25. The basic exposure value calculation circuit 23 has 9
The average brightness of the scene to be photographed is calculated by taking the arithmetic average of the brightness values, and the basic exposure value is calculated from this average brightness and film sensitivity. The obtained basic exposure value is sent to the exposure correction calculation circuit 26 and is added to or subtracted from the correction value output from the backlight correction circuit 24 or the correction signal generation circuit 27.

The backlight correction circuit 24 compares the brightness measured in the photometry area in the center of the sensor unit 22 with the brightness measured in the surrounding photometry areas, determines whether the shooting scene is a backlight scene, and corrects the backlight. The exposure compensation value is calculated depending on the degree.

The strobe device 25 determines whether or not the brightness of the subject is low based on the brightness signal of the sensor unit 22, and if the brightness is low, it automatically emits light in conjunction with shutter operation. In the case of this strobe photographing, the shutter speed is regulated to, for example, 1/50 second by the speed setting function of the drive mechanism 15. In addition, the strobe device 25 is provided with a synchro inch 28 during the daytime, and when this is ONL, the flash discharge tube 2
9 is forced to emit light. In this daytime synchronized photography, AE control is performed by the basic exposure value calculation circuit 23, but since strobe light is added, the main subject tends to be overexposed. Therefore, during the day synchronization switch 2
When 8 is turned ON, a signal is sent to the exposure correction calculation circuit 26, and correction calculation is performed to reduce the exposure value.

An exposure compensation dial 30 is attached to the outside of the camera body (not shown) and has numbers rl/2'', rl'' expressed as exposure values. When the exposure compensation dial 30 is turned, the compensation signal generation circuit 27 outputs a compensation signal in conjunction with the rotation. This correction signal is sent to the exposure correction calculation circuit 26, which adds or subtracts 1/2EV or IEV from the basic exposure value.

The mark signal generation circuit 3l includes a backlight correction circuit 24, a strobe device 25. A correction signal generation circuit 27 is connected.

This mark signal generation circuit 31 determines the contents of exposure compensation, that is, the presence or absence of backlight correction, and the presence or absence of manual correction. A mark signal indicating the presence or absence of strobe photography is generated and sent to the driver 32. In the case of flash photography, no exposure compensation is performed except for synchronized photography during the day, but once it is known whether flash photography is being used, the exposure amount for printing is increased during printing to produce printed photographs with appropriate density. It becomes possible to do so. Therefore, in this embodiment, the presence or absence of flash photography is included in the contents of exposure correction.

The driver 32 operates the mark recording device 33 in response to a signal from the drive mechanism 15, and performs exposure compensation on the photographic film 18.
Burn in the correct mark. As this mark recording device 33, a light emitting diode, a combination of a liquid crystal panel and a lamp, or the like is used.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a photographic film on which exposure compensation marks are recorded. This photographic film 18 has perforations 18b at regular intervals? A perforation 18b is detected by a sensor of a winding device to advance one frame. An exposure correction mark 34 is imprinted on the opposite side of the bar foliation 18b, and is converted into a visible image by photographic development. Note that barcodes, symbols, characters, etc. can be used instead of this mark.

In this embodiment, the contents of the exposure correction are coded as follows using two marks.

Code 00 01 10 11 Exposure compensation details Full density compensation Backlight compensation Manual compensation available Flash use Here, code "00" means that no mark is recorded, and only the automatically determined exposure value is used. This shows the state in which the photo was taken. Further, correction includes color correction in addition to density correction, and color filters are required to perform this color correction, but this usually increases cost, so only density correction is performed on the camera side. Note that the density and
If you want to correct both colors, you can just print on a timer on the printer side. The case where only density correction is performed on the camera side will be described below.

FIG. 3 shows a photo printer. The white light emitted from the light source 40 is passed through a cyan filter 41 . After passing through a magenta filter 42 and a yellow filter 43, it enters a ξ kissing box 44.

The amount of insertion of these color correction filters 4l to 43 into the optical path 46 is adjusted by a filter adjustment section 45, thereby adjusting the trichromatic light components of the printing light and their intensity. The mixing box 44 is a rectangular tube whose inner surface is a mirror surface, with diffuser plates attached to both ends.

The film carrier 47 is placed at a printing position, the developed photographic film 18 is set thereon, and the film carrier 47 is illuminated with light transmitted through the xing box 44. In order to ensure the flatness of the photographic film 18, a film mask 48 is provided above the printing position. As is well known, this film mask 48 has an opening corresponding to the size of the frame, so that when the photographic film 18 is transferred,
It is lifted up by a solenoid (not shown) and presses down the photographic film 18 during printing.

A mark sensor 50 is arranged in front of the printing position, and when the photographic film 18 is sent to the printing position, the exposure compensation mark 3 recorded on the photographic film 18 is detected.
4 is read and sent to the calculation section 51.

Also, diagonally above the print position, a scanner 5 is installed, which is blocked by a lens 52 and an image area sensor 53.
4 is placed at the printing position, and the transmitted light at each point of the frame set at the printing position is measured.

The signal from the scanner 54 is sent to a signal processing circuit 55, where it is subjected to logarithmic conversion and digital conversion, and then the density signal at each point is sent to the calculation section 51.

The controller 57 adjusts the set positions of the color correction filters 41 to 43 according to the printing exposure amounts of the three colors calculated by the calculation unit 51. Further, the controller 57 controls each section, such as the shirt shutter drive section 58, in addition to the filter adjustment section 35.

A printing lens 59 is arranged above the printing position, and enlarges and projects the image of the set frame onto the color paper 6 {arranged behind the paper mask 60. A shutter 62 whose opening/closing is controlled by a shutter drive unit 58 is provided between the printing lens 59 and the color paper 61.
is located.

Reference numeral 64 denotes a keyboard, which is provided with a density correction key, a color correction key, a numeric keypad, etc. as is well known. Also,
The display panel 65 displays the types of special prints and operating procedures. Display input data etc.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained. After pointing the camera at the subject and deciding on the composition, if the release button (not shown) is pressed in the first step, the photometering section 20 is activated and the sensor unit 22 measures the subject in segments. The nine luminance signals obtained by the divisional photometry are sent to the basic exposure value calculation circuit 2.
3, where they are arithmetic averaged to calculate the average luminance. A basic exposure value is calculated from this average brightness and film sensitivity, and a signal of this basic exposure value is sent to the exposure correction calculation circuit 26.
sent to. In addition, the nine luminance signals are sent to the backlight correction circuit 24.
By comparing the brightness measured in the central photometry area with the brightness measured in surrounding photometry areas, it is possible to identify whether the scene is a front-lit scene or a backlit scene. Furthermore, the strobe device 25 determines whether the subject has low luminance based on the magnitude of the luminance signal in the photometric area located at the center. When the shooting scene is a front-lit scene, the backlight correction circuit 24
Since the exposure correction value is not calculated from the basic exposure value calculation circuit 23, the signal of the basic exposure value calculated by the basic exposure value calculation circuit 23 is sent as is to the drive mechanism 15. When you press the release button further down, the drive unit! 1115 reciprocates the movable bin 16 by a stroke corresponding to the basic exposure value. As a result, the shutter mechanism 12 is controlled to open and close according to the basic exposure value, and the image of the subject is recorded on the photographic film 18 at an appropriate density.

In a front-light scene, the mark signal generating circuit 31 does not generate a mark signal, so the mark recording device 33 is not activated. Therefore, in this frontlit scene, photographic film 1
8, no exposure compensation mark is recorded.

When the backlight correction circuit 24 determines that the photographic scene is a backlight scene, it calculates an exposure correction value according to the degree of backlighting, and sends a signal of this exposure correction value to the exposure correction calculation circuit 26. The exposure correction calculation circuit 26 calculates an exposure value by adding the exposure correction value to the basic exposure value, and sends this signal to the drive mechanism 15. Therefore, in a backlit scene, the exposure value is increased according to the degree of backlighting, and the exposure is controlled so that the main subject located in the center of the screen has an appropriate density. In addition, in this backlight scene, a signal indicating that backlight correction has been performed is sent from the backlight correction circuit 24 to the mark signal generation circuit 31. As a result, the mark recording device 33 is activated via the driver 32 at the same time as or immediately after photographing.
An exposure compensation mark 34 representing the code "Ol" is recorded on the photographic film 18.

When manually performing exposure compensation, turn the exposure compensation dial 30 to specify the compensation value. A correction signal is output from the correction signal generation circuit 27 in conjunction with the exposure correction dial 30, and this correction signal is sent to the exposure correction calculation circuit 26.
sent to. The exposure correction calculation circuit 26 adds or subtracts a manually corrected correction value to the basic exposure value, and sends a signal of the obtained exposure value to the drive mechanism 15. In addition, in this manual correction, a signal representing manual correction is sent from the correction signal generation circuit 27 to the mark signal generation circuit 3l.
sent to. As a result, an exposure compensation mark 34 representing the code "lO" is recorded on the photographic film 18. When the subject is of low brightness, the strobe device 25 is automatically activated, causing the flash discharge tube 29 to emit light at the same time as photographing, and projecting strobe light onto the subject. In this strobe photography,
The shutter mechanism 12 has a shutter speed of 1/50 seconds due to the ξ cut function.

Further, during flash photography, an exposure compensation mark 34 representing a code "11" is recorded on the photographic film 18. When performing daytime synchronized photography, the daytime synchronized switch 28 is turned on. In this case, the exposure correction calculation circuit 26 calculates the exposure value by subtracting a predetermined correction value from the basic exposure value. Therefore, in daytime synchronized photography, exposure compensation is performed so that the main subject is not overexposed, and an exposure compensation mark 34 representing strobe photography is recorded on the photographic film 18.

Note that daytime synchronized photography is often performed for backlit scenes, so when daytime synchronized photography is designated, it is desirable to disable the backlight correction circuit 24. Further, in order to distinguish between daytime synchronized photography and low-brightness strobe photography, it is preferable to record an exposure correction mark representing daytime synchronized photography on the photographic film.

When the photographing of one roll of photographic film 18 is completed, the photographic film 18 is taken out from the camera and submitted to a photo processing laboratory. At the photo development laboratory, the photographic film 18 is developed to convert each frame recorded as a latent image and the selectively recorded exposure correction mark 34 into a visible image.

The developed photographic film l8 is loaded into a film carrier 47 of a photographic printer shown in FIG. Then, the photographic film 18 is sent and the frame to be printed, for example 18a, is set at the printing position. This frame 18a
If an exposure compensation mark 34 is recorded when the camera is transported toward the print position, this is read by the mark sensor 50.

When the frame 18a is set in the print position, the scanner 54 prints a red color for each point of the frame lea. green. Measure the transmitted blue light respectively. The photometric values of these three colors are converted into densities by the signal processing circuit 55 and then sent to the calculation section 5l. This calculation unit 51 calculates the average density of the entire screen,
The basic printing exposure amounts for red, green, and blue are calculated from this average density.

The basic printing exposure amount is corrected using the exposure correction mark 34, and the obtained printing exposure amount is sent to the controller 57. That is, only color correction is performed for frames in which no exposure correction mark 34 is recorded and frames for which manual correction has been performed. This color correction is performed by the calculation unit 51
This is done by automatically determining a correction coefficient for each color using the ACCS system (trade name, manufactured by Fuji Photo Film), which is a part of the system, and multiplying this by the basic printing exposure amount.

If an exposure correction mark with backlight correction is recorded, it is determined that the density of the frame is higher than that of a backlight scene without backlight correction, and the basic printing exposure amount is corrected based on this. Specifically, the amount of exposure for printing is reduced compared to a frame without backlight correction. For frames in which strobe photography has been performed, a predetermined correction amount is added to the basic printing exposure amount to increase the printing exposure amount.

The controller 57 determines the filter set position from the printing exposure amount determined in consideration of the exposure correction performed on the camera side, and transmits this filter set position signal to the filter adjustment section 4.
Send to 5. This filter adjustment section 45 adjusts the amount of insertion of the color correction filters 41 to 43 into the optical path 46. After this filter adjustment, the shutter 62 is opened for a certain period of time, and the frame 18a is printed and exposed on the color paper 61. Thereafter, each frame of the photographic film 18 is sequentially printed and exposed in the same manner.

In the embodiment described above, exposure compensation information is recorded on the photographic film 18, but as shown in FIG. 4, a magnetic recording section 71 is formed in the cartridge 70, and the exposure compensation information and The frame number (number of shooting order) may be recorded in the magnetic recording section 71. At photo labs, a magnetic head reads exposure compensation information and frame numbers, and punch holes are punched near the frames for which exposure compensation has been performed, or the read information is written into an LSI card set in a photo printer. Alternatively, an IC card may be set in the camera and exposure correction information may be recorded on it, or a magnetic recording tape may be connected to the photographic film.

In the embodiment described above, backlight correction is automatically performed by finding the characteristics of the photographed scene using multi-pattern photometry, but instead of this, a backlight correction button may be provided to manually perform backlight correction. In this case, a signal indicating that the backlight correction button has been operated is sent to the mark signal generation circuit. In addition to the presence or absence of exposure compensation, information indicating the amount of exposure compensation was recorded on the photographic film.
It is desirable to take this into consideration when determining the printing exposure amount.

This can be done by recording the basic exposure value and exposure compensation value on the photographic film. Furthermore, camera photometry includes average metering, center-weighted metering, center spot metering, etc. If information indicating the type of metering is also recorded on the photographic film, it will be easier to judge the exposure status of each frame. It is convenient. Furthermore, 4. It is also possible to record the position information of the main subject, the subject brightness information, the information representing the trichromatic ratio of the photographic light, etc., and determine the printing exposure amount by taking these into consideration.

The present invention can also be applied to electronic still photography systems. In electronic still cameras, exposure compensation information is written to a magnetic floppy along with image data. For example, when an image is displayed on a CRT and recorded on color paper by a digital color printer, the exposure correction information is read out and used to control the exposure of each pixel.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the present invention having the above structure, information on exposure compensation performed on the camera side is recorded on a recording medium, and this exposure compensation information is used to determine the exposure amount for printing. It is possible to prevent double printing and produce printed photographs with appropriate density and color balance.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a photographic camera of the present invention that records exposure correction information. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a photographic film on which exposure compensation marks are recorded. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a photographic printer embodying the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cartridge equipped with a magnetic recording section for recording exposure correction information. 10 12 18 20 2nd grade 30 33 34 50 54 70 Photographic lens shutter mechanism Photographic film Photometer sensor unit Exposure compensation dial Mark recording device Exposure compensation mark Mark sensor Scanner Batrone.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A camera characterized by being provided with means for generating information on exposure correction performed by the camera and means for recording this exposure correction information on a recording medium. (2) A photo printing method characterized by reading camera-side exposure correction information recorded on a recording medium and determining the printing exposure amount using this exposure correction information.