JPH04304773A - Picture synthesizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize specific picture synthesis by reproducing a picture of a 2nd original in a form including a pattern picture like a ghost or fog picture while being made transparent through a picture of a 1st original. CONSTITUTION:A density correction means 5 corrects read picture information of a 2nd read original into a density corresponding to brightness information of a 1st read original stored in a memory means 12. Thus, the corrected color information results in having density of color information of the 2nd read original modulated by the density of color information of the 1st read original and includes the color information of the 1st and 2nd read originals. When the image of the corrected color information is formed, the picture of the 2nd read original is reproduced in a form of a pattern picture including the picture of the 1st read original like a ghost or fog picture. Thus, a specific picture synthesis method is realized.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image composition apparatus that reads an original image with a scanner and displays the image of a first original as a pattern on the image of a second original.

0002

[Prior Art] In the color copying machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 196268/1983, when color image information written in memory and black and white image information of a document are to be combined, a superposition (logical OR) process is performed. to generate recorded image information. Jitsukai 1986
Japanese Patent No. 44565 discloses a copying apparatus that repeatedly forms images by arranging image information read into a memory on the same surface.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In simple superimposition (logical sum) processing, superimposed images are expressed equally. On the other hand, there are also image representation applications in which one image is represented as a pattern image (sub-image) such as a watermark, ghost, or blurred image, and the other image is represented as a relatively clear main image.

One possible method for compositing the image densities of the first read original and the second read original is to switch the gamma characteristics of the gamma correction circuit 5 or 7 in accordance with the image density of the first read original. . In the case of a color original, it may be possible to change the gamma characteristics of R, G, B or Y, M, C, Bk independently, but such a method would result in a composition process as shown in Figure 8. In some cases, the composition process is unsatisfactory because no change appears depending on the color (A in FIG. 8), or the color of the first read document cannot be predicted (B in FIG. 8).

The present invention aims to provide this type of unique imaging.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image synthesizing device of the first invention of the present application includes a scanner (3) that optically scans a document and generates read image information representing color information of one or more colors; Image signal processing means (5 to 7) for processing read image information into an image signal for image output, memory means (12), and brightness calculation means (10) for calculating brightness information from color information of the first read document.
), writing means (1, 2) for writing the brightness information into the memory means (12), and correcting the read image information of the second read document to a density corresponding to the brightness information in the memory means (12). A density correction means (5) is provided.

The image synthesizing device of the second invention of the present application includes a scanner (3) that optically scans a document to generate read image information representing color information of one or more colors, and a scanner (3) that generates read image information representing color information of one or more colors, and outputs the read image information as an image. image signal processing means (5 to 7)
), memory means (12), brightness calculation means (10) for calculating brightness information from the color information, and writing means (1) for writing the brightness information of the first read document into the memory means (12).
, 2), and a brightness correction means (15) for correcting the brightness information of the second read original in accordance with the brightness information of the memory means (12). In one embodiment of the second invention, the brightness correction means converts the brightness information of the second read document into
Modulation is performed using brightness information read from the memory means. One more
In one embodiment, the brightness correction means replaces the brightness information of the second read document with the brightness information read from the memory means.

Note that symbols in parentheses indicate corresponding elements or matters in the embodiments shown in the drawings and described later.

[0009]

[Operation] According to the first invention, the density correction means (5) stores the read image information of the second read document in the memory means (12).
The density is corrected to correspond to the brightness information of the first read document. The color information thus corrected is obtained by modulating the density of the color information of the second read original by the density of the color information of the first read original, and includes the color information of the first read original and the second read original. When an image is formed using the corrected color information, the image of the second read original is reproduced in a form that includes the image of the first read original as a pattern image such as a watermark, a ghost, or a blurred image.

According to the second invention, the luminance correction means (1
5) stores the luminance information of the second read document in the memory means (12).
) is corrected in accordance with the brightness information of the first read document. The color information obtained by this means that the brightness of the second read original corresponds to the brightness of the first read original, and includes color information of the first read original and the second read original. When an image is formed using the corrected color information, the image of the second read original is reproduced in a form that includes the brightness of the image of the first read original as a pattern image such as a watermark, a ghost, or a blurred image. .

Other objects and features of each invention of the present application will become clear from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment (first embodiment) of the first aspect of the present invention. In the full color copy mode, the scanner 3 optically scans the original and generates three sets of image density signals separated into R, G, and B colors. Each image density signal is subjected to gamma correction corresponding to the image reading characteristics of the scanner 3 in a gamma correction circuit 5 of the image processing circuit 4. The three sets of image density signals are then sent to a color correction processing circuit 6.
The signals are converted into Bk, C, M, and Y recording density signals. These four sets of recording density signals are processed by the gamma correction circuit 5.
Gamma correction corresponding to each color recording characteristic of the laser printer 14 that performs color recording is performed. The recording density signal is subjected to area gradation processing in the gradation processing circuit 9, written into the image memory 12, and then provided to the printer 14 via the output buffer amplifier 13.

FIG. 2 shows the general structure of the laser printer 14 of the full color copying machine shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. The laser printer 14 has monochrome recording units arranged at predetermined intervals (120 mm) as shown in FIG. A recording paper conveyance belt is arranged along these arrays, and the recording paper is conveyed by this recording paper conveyance belt to form a Bk toner image, a C toner image, an M toner image, and a Y toner image in this order. The images are sequentially transferred to a recording paper, and the recording paper after full-color transfer is subjected to a fixing process. Although Bk image recording (exposure: latent image formation) can be started with almost no time delay with respect to document scanning by the scanner 3, C image recording, M image recording, and Y
The image recording distance is 110mm and 220m respectively.
It must start after reading the document for 330 mm and 330 mm. Therefore, in the full color copy mode, the image memory 12 has three areas (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) that can store gradation-processed image signals of 110 mm, 220 mm, and 330 mm, respectively. C memory, M memory, Y memory), and each
A toner image signal, an M toner image signal and a Y toner image signal are stored. That is, the image signal whose recording is delayed by the recording (transfer) delay due to the arrangement of the recording devices of each color of the laser printer 14 is stored in a delayed memory in the image memory 12, thereby compensating for the deviation in recording of each color due to the recording delay. Image memory 12 is therefore a data delay memory.

Referring again to FIG. Operation/display board 1
Full color copy selection key, single color (Bk, C, M
, Y respectively) various input keys for color recording and composite recording selection, such as copy selection indicator key, composite selection key, composite output key, etc., copy number input key, and recording paper size selection key. Various input keys for copying instructions such as -, magnification input key, start key, etc., and display means such as status indicator light, warning light, character display for displaying the number of sheets, and two-dimensional liquid crystal display for various notifications are provided. It is equipped. Image processing modes that can be set are as follows.

A. Full color copy: Bk, C, M
, Y superimposition record, B. 3-color copy: C, M, Y overlay recording, C.
Two-color copy: Overlay recording of any two colors among Bk, C, M, and Y, D. Monochrome copy: Recording in any one color among Bk, C, M, Y, and E. Synthesis: Modulated image synthesis of two images.

The above mode A is for obtaining a full color copy, and its processing mode is as described above. B,C
In the modes D and D, recording processing similar to that for full color copying is performed only for the selected recording color.

The modulated image synthesis mode of E is for the first original (first read original) and the second original (second read original).
By getting rid of the concept of simply superimposing and compositing,
A composite image is obtained by processing information on a second read original using information on the first read original. When reading an image of the first original (first read original), the image processing circuit 4 is functionally configured as shown in FIG.
A brightness calculator 10 calculates brightness information from the color information of the read document, and writes this brightness information into the memory 12. When reading the second read document, the image processing circuit 4 has a functional configuration as shown in FIG. The color information of the second read document is corrected using the selected gamma curve. The lookup table (memory) of the gamma correction circuit 5 contains a standard curve (data) shown in FIG. 4(b).
The curves shown in FIG.
The read signals R, G, and B are gamma-corrected using the standard curve (b in Figure 4) when reading the first original, but when reading the second original. , brightness information on the first read document corresponding to the reading position of the second read document is read out from the memory 12, and the gamma correction circuit 5 specifies a gamma curve corresponding to the brightness information;
Among the specified gamma curves (data group), one piece of data associated with the read color signal of the second read document is output from the gamma correction circuit 5. The color signals R, G, B outputted from the circuit 5 are converted into recording color signals Y, M by the color correction circuit 6.
, C, and Bk, are subjected to area gradation processing in the gradation processing circuit 9, and then written to the memory 12. When the operator instructs (inputs) composite output after completing such image reading and image information processing of the second read document, the image information in the memory 12 is given to the printer 14,
An image (composite image) is obtained.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
, G, B data (read color information) to obtain brightness information,
This is used to select the R, G, and B gamma curves in the reading process of the second read document. The luminance information is calculated using the YIQ method using the following formula.

Y (RGB brightness components)=
0.299R+0.587G+0.114B・
...(1) In addition, when using the CIE XYZ method, Y=
It becomes 0.177R+0.812G+0.011B. The brightness calculator 10 shown in FIG. 1 calculates the above equation (1). Its configuration is shown in FIG. 4(a). The circuit configuration shown in FIG. 4(a) converts the above equation (1) into Y=(1/22+1/2
4) Approximately R+(1/2+1/24)G+(1/23)B. In other words, the R data (8 bits) is obtained by adding the data shifted by 2 bits in the direction of the lower digits and the data shifted by 4 bits, and the G data is obtained by adding the data shifted by 1 bit and the data shifted by 4 bits. The B data is shifted by 3 bits, and these are added.

In the first embodiment described above, the scanner gamma correction circuit 5 modulates the R, G, and B reading densities of the read information of the second read document using the luminance information of the read information of the first read document. Such modulation may be similarly performed by the printer gamma correction circuit 7. For example, the printer gamma correction circuit 7 may be provided with a plurality of gamma curves, one of which may be selected based on the luminance information read from the memory 12. Also, when reading the first original, record density signals (Y, Y, C, Bk
), calculate the brightness information and write it to the memory 12,
When reading the second original, the gamma curve of the printer gamma correction circuit 7 may be selected based on the luminance information read from the memory 12.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment (second embodiment) of the second invention, and FIG. The functional configuration is (b
) shows the functional configuration of the image processing circuit 4 when reading the image of the second read document. In this second embodiment, when reading the image of the first read original, the brightness calculator 10 uses the above-mentioned formula based on the color information of the first read original, similar to the first example.
Y (RGB brightness components) = 0.299R + 0.58
7G+0.114B...(1), Y1=(1/22+1/24)R+(1/2+
Approximate by 1/24)G+(1/23)B to obtain luminance information Y1
is calculated, and this brightness information is written into the memory 12 (a in FIG. 7). When reading the image of the second read original, first, the brightness calculator 10 calculates the brightness information of the second read original using the above-mentioned approximation formula Y2=(1
/22+1/24)R+(1/2+1/24)G+(1
/23) The brightness and color separator 11 calculates the following (2) from the brightness information Y2 of the second read original calculated by the brightness calculator 10 and the R, G, B signals of the second read original. formula
I=R-Y2, Q=B
-Y2...(2) Calculate color signals I and Q. Luminance information Y1 of the first read original read out from the memory 12 and the luminance and color separator 11
The color signals I and Q calculated by are given to the RGB restorer 15, and the RGB restorer 15 calculates Y1=(1/22+1/24
)R+(1/2+1/24)G+(1/23)B,I=
R, G, and B are calculated by inverse transformation of R-Y1, Q=B-Y1, and these are provided to the gamma correction circuit 5. As a result, the synthesized R, G, and B signals of the second read original are obtained in which the brightness information of the second read original is replaced with the brightness information of the first read original. The gamma correction circuit 5 performs scanner gamma correction conversion on these R, G, and B signals based on a standard gamma curve. Recording density information Y, M, obtained by this
C and Bk are each subjected to area gradation conversion by the gradation processing circuit 9 and written into the memory 12. When the operator instructs (inputs) composite output after completing such image reading and image information processing of the second read document, the image information in the memory 12 is given to the printer 14, and an image (composite image) is obtained. It will be done. In this second embodiment, Y
(RGB brightness components) = 0.299R + 0.587G
Luminance information (Y) and color signals (I, Q) are separated by +0.114B, I (color signal) = R-Y, Q (color signal) = B-Y, but according to the CIEXYZ method, Y = 0.177R+0.812G+0.0
11B, L*=116(Y/Y0)1'3
-16 (luminance signal),
X=0.490R+0.310G+0.20
0B, Z=0.000R+0.010G+
0.990B, a*=500 [(X/X0
)1'3-(Y/Y0)1'3] (color signal),
b*=200 [(Y/Y0)1'3-(Z/Z0)
1'3], where X0, Y0, Z0 are the values of the reference white board,
Luminance information and color signals may be separated. In addition, "1'3
” means 1/3 power. In the second embodiment described above, the brightness information of the R, G, B signals of the second read original is replaced with the brightness information of the R, G, B signals of the first read original, and the R, G, Although the B signal is obtained, in the third embodiment,
The brightness information and color signal of the second read original are calculated, the brightness information is changed to a value obtained by multiplying K x the brightness information of the first read original (K is a coefficient), and the brightness information and the color signal are calculated with the changed brightness information. The R, G, and B signals are restored from the color signals and used as the color information of the composite image.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the R, G, and B signals read by the scanner are synthesized, but instead of this, recorded color information Y converted by the color correction circuit 6 is used.
, M, C, and Bk may be combined in the same manner as described above.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image of the second read original is reproduced in such a manner that the image of the first read original is overwritten and includes a pattern image such as a ghost or a blurred image. , a unique image composition is obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the first invention.

2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing memory group divisions for data delay during full color copying of the image memory 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

4 is a drawing showing the configuration of the brightness calculator 10 of the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4(a) is a block diagram showing the configuration of the brightness calculator 10, c.
) is a graph showing the characteristics of data stored in the lookup table (memory) of the gamma correction circuit 5 shown in FIG.

5 is a block diagram illustrating how the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 1 combines two images; FIG. b
) shows the functional configuration when reading the image of the second read document.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the second invention.

7 is a block diagram illustrating how two images are combined in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 7(a) shows the functional configuration when processing the image information of the first document; The functional configuration at the time of processing the image information of the second original is shown.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing one aspect of color image synthesis considered previously.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Operation/display board
2: Controller 3: Scanner
4: Image processing circuit 5: Gamma correction circuit
6: Color correction 7: Gamma correction circuit
9: Gradation processing circuit 10: Brightness calculator
11: Brightness, color separator 12: Image memory
13: Output buffer amplifier 14: Full color laser printer 15: R
GB restorer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A scanner that optically scans a document to generate read image information representing color information of one or more colors, an image signal processing means for processing the read image information into an image signal for image output, a memory means, A brightness calculation means for calculating brightness information from the color information of the first read original, a writing means for writing the brightness information into the memory means, and a writing means for writing the read image information of the second read original into the brightness information of the memory means. An image synthesis device comprising a density correction means for correcting density. 2. A scanner that optically scans a document to generate read image information representing color information of one or more colors, an image signal processing means for processing the read image information into an image signal for image output, a memory means, A brightness calculating means for calculating brightness information from the color information, a writing means for writing the brightness information of the first read original into the memory means, and a writing means for writing the brightness information of the second read original into the brightness information of the memory means. An image synthesizing device comprising: brightness correction means for correcting brightness. 3. The image composition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the brightness correction means modulates the brightness information of the second read document with the brightness information read from the memory means. 4. The image composition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the brightness correction means replaces the brightness information of the second read document with the brightness information read from the memory means.