JPH05137155A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a print picture in which an input/output characteristic curve of a color signal is switched in accordance with user's choice by correcting a lightness characteristic of image data, based on conversion data read out of a correction data storage means. CONSTITUTION:When image data is inputted, a gamma curve correcting circuit 12 corrects a gamma curve in accordance with an address designated by a color correcting signal S11. For instance, in the case coloring of low luminance is desired in one area, brightness in a low luminance area is strengthened a little, brightness in a middle luminance area is corrected so as to lower a little, and corrected image data is supplied to a head of a mechanical deck part 13. In this case, a system control CPU 8 controls the mechanical deck part 13 by a mechanical deck control signal S13, carries standard print paper, and executes printing, based on the corrected image data. Also, in the case coloring of high luminance is desired, brightness is corrected so that coloring is executed in a high luminance area. In such a way, a correction can be executed so as to obtain a print picture adapted to user's choice.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. Field of Industrial Application Conventional Technology Problem to be Solved by the Invention (FIG. 5) Means for Solving the Problem (FIGS. 1 to 3) Action (FIG. 4) Example (FIGS. 1 to 4) Effect of the Invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and is suitable for application to, for example, a so-called video printer which prints out a desired image stored in a memory.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a so-called video printer, a video signal VI output from a video tape recorder or the like is once converted into digital data and stored in a frame memory, and the images stored in the frame memory are sequentially read out. It is designed to print on photographic paper.

The printing paper is selected so that the color reproducibility (hue, lightness, saturation) of the print image is almost the same regardless of the type of the print material, and the color reproducibility of the print image is worldwide. It is designed to be common.

[0005]

However, since the preference for color differs depending on the region, it is considered that the usability will be improved if the color adjustment of the print image can be made corresponding to the region where the so-called video printer is used.

Further, for example, when a person image is printed out, different users have different preferences for the development of flesh color. Therefore, if the color reproducibility of the printed image is the same as in the conventional case, the user's preference cannot be sufficiently satisfied. It was

[0007] For example, a user with yellowish skin prefers strong correction of color development at low brightness, and a user with white skin prefers strong correction of color development from low brightness to medium brightness. It becomes a complexion.

As described above, in order to correct different color preferences for each user, the conventional color characteristic of lightness is uniformly corrected, that is, a standard luminance input / output characteristic curve (see FIG. 5).
(Indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5), a fixed input / output value is added / subtracted to obtain a corrected input / output characteristic curve (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 5) in which the luminance is entirely changed, but the luminance of the entire screen changes. Therefore, there is a problem that the dynamic range may be narrowed and whitening may occur.

Further, although the coloring characteristics are usually different for each printing material, since the ones having substantially the same coloring characteristics are selected in order to maintain compatibility, the coloring characteristics are corrected corresponding to the printing materials. If it is possible, the selection of the printing material can be further facilitated, and the usability can be improved.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and provides a printing apparatus capable of obtaining a print image in which input / output characteristic curves of color signals are switched according to the preference of a user who uses a so-called video printer. It is a proposal.

[0011]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention has a storage unit 4 for storing the video signal VI as image data, and the image data stored in the storage unit 4 is printed by a printing unit 13. , 17 for printing images corresponding to image data on photographic paper
In the correction data storage means 16 for storing a plurality of lightness curves, the lightness characteristics of the image data read out from the storage means 4 are corrected based on the conversion data read out from the correction data storage means 16, and the printing means 13 and 17 are provided. The color adjusting means 16 for outputting is provided.

[0012]

The printing apparatus 1 corrects the lightness of the image data of the image to be printed on the printing paper based on the conversion data corresponding to the plurality of lightness curves stored in the correction data storage means 16 and prints it. By doing so, it is possible to obtain an image adjusted to an appropriate color according to the region where the printing apparatus 1 is used and the preference of the user.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a video signal printing apparatus as a whole, and an input video signal VI is displayed on a monitor 2.
Alternatively, the memory image VM stored in the frame memory can be confirmed.

That is, the video signal printing apparatus 1 receives the input video signal VI via the analog / digital conversion circuit 3.
Is converted into digital data and stored in the frame memory 4.

The digital / analog conversion circuit 5 converts the image data stored in the frame memory 4 into an analog signal and outputs it as a memory image VM to the monitor 2 via the switching circuit 6.

Memory control central processing unit (hereinafter C
PU) 7 is a frame memory control signal S
Based on 1, the write operation and the read operation of the frame memory 4 are controlled.

The memory control CPU 7 receives the memory control signal S2 from the system control CPU 8 and outputs a frame memory control signal S1 according to the switching between the frame mode and the field mode and the switching between the full memory mode and the divided memory mode. To do.

The system control CPU 8 is adapted to input the key input signals S3 to S7 from the front keys 9A to 9E provided on the front panel section 9, respectively, and the memory is based on the key input signals S3 to S7. The control signal S2 is transmitted serially.

Here, the input key 9A is a full memory / divided memory switching key, the input key 9B is a memory image / video image switching key, the input key 9C is a print key, and the input key 9D is a memory key. The input key 9E is a field / frame switching key.

The system control CPU 8 has a brightness curve switching key 9F provided on the front panel section 9.
From the print material detection sensor 10 and the switch signal S8 for each destination.
10 is input, and the color correction circuit 12 (FIG. 2) outputs the color correction signal S11 for designating the color correction according to the region or the user's preference.

Further, the front panel 9 is provided with a color adjustment key 9G, and by outputting a color adjustment signal S12 to the frame memory 4, the lightness is increased or decreased while keeping the lightness curve constant. ing.

Further, the system control CPU 8 is
The mechanical deck control signal S13 is sent to the mechanical deck section 13.
Is output to control the timing of paper feeding / discharging and printing of the printing paper by controlling the motor, the sensor, and the like, and the switching control signal S14 is sent to the switching circuit 6.
Is output and the image output to the monitor 2 is switched and controlled.

By the way, the print material detecting sensor 10 determines whether the print material on which the print image is printed is print paper, postcard print paper, sticker print paper, or OHP (ov
er head projecter) print paper, and the detection result is supplied to the system control CPU 8 as a detection signal S9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the color correction circuit 12 has a color masking main correction circuit 14, a color masking sub-correction circuit 15 and a gamma curve correction circuit 16, and the color masking main correction circuit 14 starts from the frame memory 4. The image data S15 is input.

Color masking main correction circuit 1
A color masking sub-correction circuit 4 (FIG. 3A) is a 2 [Mb] read-only memory and is a 1 [Mb] read-only memory based on the color correction signal S11 input from the system control CPU 8. 15 (Fig. 3
By correcting the hue and saturation of the memory image data S15 by reading the converted data from the predetermined area of (B),
It is adapted to output to the gamma curve correction circuit 16 (FIG. 3 (C)).

The gamma curve correction circuit 16 is composed of a read-only memory of 1 [Mb], reads the conversion data from the corresponding address based on the selection of the printing material and the selection of the gamma curve, converts the brightness level, and prints the print data. S
It is designed to output as 17.

Here, the gamma curve correction circuit 16 is
Stores various gamma curve data for area A and standard print paper at addresses "0" to "3FFF (H)",
Store various gamma curve data in the area A and postcard print paper at addresses of "4000 (H)" to "7FFF (H)", and then store "8000 (H)" to "BFFF".
(H) ”,“ C000 (H) ”to“ FFFF (H) ”store various gamma curve data in the area A and the print paper for sticker and the print paper for OHP.

[10000 (H)] to [1FFFF]
In (H), the gamma curve correction data of the B area is sequentially stored. The mechanical deck unit 13 inputs print data S18 from the frame memory 4 via the print controller 11, and at the same time, the color correction circuit 1
2, the output data S17 is input, the print data S17 or S18 is sent to the head 13A (not shown), and the memory image is printed out on the printing paper.

In the above configuration, when a user in the area A operates the video signal printing apparatus 1, if standard printing paper is mounted on the mechanical deck section 13, the system control CPU 8 is input from the printing material discrimination sensor 10 and the display switch 11. Detection signal S9 and switching signal S
The color correction signal S11 is output to the color correction circuit 12 on the basis of 10 to instruct that the image should be corrected by the gamma curve for the area A and printed on the standard print paper as the print target.

Here, when the color correction circuit 12 inputs the memory image data S15 input from the frame memory 4 to the color masking main correction circuit 14, the color correction signal S1.
The conversion data is read from the color masking sub-correction circuit 15 in accordance with the address designated by 1 and weighted to correct the hue and saturation to correct the gamma curve correction circuit 16.
Output to.

When the converted image data is input, the gamma curve correction circuit 16 corrects the gamma curve according to the address designated by the color correction signal S11. For example, in the area A, when color development with low brightness is preferred, the brightness in the low brightness range is slightly strengthened, and the brightness in the middle brightness range is adjusted to the lowest level (the input / output characteristic curve shown by the solid line in FIG. 4). The corrected image data is supplied to the head 13A in the mechanical deck section 13.

At this time, the system control CPU 8
Controls the mechanical deck unit 13 by the mechanical deck control signal S13, conveys standard print paper, and prints based on the corrected image data. On the other hand, B
In the case of regional use, the system control CPU uses the detection signal S10 input from the display switch 11.
Reference numeral 8 corrects the image data so that the characteristic curve for the area A is colored in a higher luminance range (the input / output characteristic curve shown by the broken line in FIG. 4), and the corrected image data is stored in the mechanical deck section 13. Supply to head 13A.

When the user operates the lightness curve switching key 9F to suit his or her preference, the system control CPU 8 causes the system control CPU 8 to designate a specified address (for example, "3").
00 (H) ”to“ 3FFF (H) ”) to the color correction circuit 12
Designated to read the converted data, and
The reproduction color of the image data output to is corrected to the preference of the user who operates it, and printed.

According to the above construction, the setting of the color of the print image printed on the print target is set by the lightness curve correction data, the saturation correction data and the hue correction data according to the destination such as the region and the preference of the user. By correcting each of these, it is possible to obtain a print image adapted to the preference of the user in each region.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the destination such as the area is switched by the display switch 11 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, the destination is discriminated from the value of the power supply voltage, and the color correction is switched. It may be done. For example, when the power supply voltage is 220 [V], it is determined to be European, when it is 120 [V], it is determined to be America, and when it is 100 [V], it is determined to be Japan and corrected. The data may be switched.

In the above embodiment, the case where the destination such as the region is switched by the display switch 11 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the broadcast format of the input video signal (for example, so-called PAL, SECAM, NTS).
The switching control may be performed by (C etc.).

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the standard print paper, the postcard print paper or the like is used as the print material has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be widely applied to other print materials. ..

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the two areas of the area A and the area B can be selected for each destination has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to select from three areas or more. May be.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the read-only memories of 2 [Mb] and 1 [Mb] are combined as the color masking main correction circuit 14 and the color masking sub correction circuit 15, respectively, is described. Not limited to this, the present invention can be widely applied to the case of combining read-only memories of other various capacities.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the read-only memories of 2 [Mb] and 1 [Mb] are stored as the color masking main correction circuit 14 and the color masking sub-correction circuit 15 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be replaced for each finger.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the correction data storage means for storing a plurality of brightness curves, and the brightness characteristic of the image data read from the storage means based on the conversion data read from the correction data storage means. By adjusting the brightness of the image data of the image printed on the photographic paper based on the conversion data and printing, the area where the printing apparatus is used is corrected. An image adjusted to an appropriate color can be obtained according to the user's preference.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a video signal processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a color correction circuit.

FIG. 3 is a chart for explaining correction data.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic curve diagram for explaining gamma curve correction.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic curve diagram for explaining conventional color adjustment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Video signal printing device, 2 ... Monitor, 4 ... Frame memory, 7 ... Memory control CPU, 8 ...
... System control CPU, 9 ... Front panel, 9A ... Full size / divided size switching key, 9B ...
... Memory image / video image switching key, 9C ... Print key, 9D ... Memory key, 9E ... Field / frame switching key, 9F ... Brightness curve switching key, 9G ... Color adjustment key, 10 ... Printing material Detecting sensor, 11 ... DIP switch, 12 ... Color correction circuit, 13 ... Mechanical de- tecting part, 14 ... Color masking main correction circuit, 1
5 ... Color masking sub-correction circuit, 16 ... Gamma curve correction circuit, 17 ... Print controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having a storage means for storing a video signal as image data, outputting the image data stored in the storage means to a printing means, and printing an image corresponding to the image data on photographic paper. In the correction data storage means for storing a plurality of brightness curve data, the brightness characteristics of the image data read from the storage means are corrected based on the conversion data read from the correction data storage means, and output to the printing means. And a color adjusting unit for adjusting the color.