JPH05341399A - Photograph printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a photograph printing device which automatically reads variety information(DX code) put on film and can select printing channels consisting of the optimum combination of printing conditions according to a printing processing mode specified by the variety information and the operation of a printer. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a 1st input means(discriminating code input part) 1 inputting the variety discriminating code of the photographic film, a 2nd input means(mode information input part) 3 inputting the printing processing mode, a printing channel table storage means 4 previously storing a table for making the variety discriminating code correspond to plural printing channels classified by the printing processing mode, and a selection means(printing channel selecting processing part) 2 selecting the corresponding printing channel by referring to the table according to the variety discriminating code and printing processing mode; and the control of the printing channel and the setting of the conditions are facilitated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic printing apparatus capable of automatically selecting optimum exposure conditions based on film type information, print processing mode, etc. when a film original image is printed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a photographic printing apparatus for printing an original image of a film on photographic paper to make a print has a print channel (exposure) depending on the film type and sensitivity, the type of photographic paper to be used and its developing conditions. It is necessary to appropriately set various conditions related to.

In the conventional apparatus, one for each type of each film
The print channels can be assigned and the reference exposure time and the like can be set. The print channels are selected in a one-to-one correspondence by specifying the film maker, the film sensitivity, and the like. Further, also in the case of automatic classification by a DX code (a bar code recorded on a part of the film and representing a film type), the DX code and the print channel are also used in a one-to-one correspondence setting.

[0004]

However, in recent years, as the number of kinds of films has increased, a plurality of kinds of films having the same sensitivity are present even if the films are made by the same manufacturer, and the number of print channels required is also increased. The number is increasing. Therefore, it has become difficult to specify the print channel only by the film maker and the film sensitivity as in the conventional device. In addition, the selection of print channels by manual operation is also prone to error.

Photographic printing apparatuses equipped with automatic exposure amount correction means (scanners) have become widespread. When used in the automatic exposure amount correction mode and in the conventional manual mode (the automatic exposure amount correction mode is used). In some cases, the exposure conditions to be set may not match, and it is becoming difficult to use both modes in a mixed manner under one condition.

Further, in the automatic exposure amount correcting means as well as the print channels of the photo printing apparatus, when the print channels are set according to the type of film, both print channels should be designated simultaneously under one condition. There is a problem that you can not. In view of the above points, the present invention automatically reads the type information (DX code) attached to the film, and based on the type information and the print processing mode specified by the printer operation,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic printing apparatus capable of selecting a print channel consisting of an optimum combination of printing conditions.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first input means for inputting a product identification code of a photographic film and a second input means for inputting a print processing mode.
An input unit, a table storage unit that stores in advance a table that associates the product type identification code with a plurality of print channels classified by the print processing mode, and refers to the table with the product type identification code and the print processing mode, By providing a selecting means for selecting a corresponding print channel, management of print channels and condition setting are facilitated.

Further, the first input means automatically reads the type information attached to the photographic film and converts it into a type identification code, so that the selection of the print channel is accurate and reliable. The table converts the photographic film type identification code into print channels in which those having similar exposure conditions are grouped to facilitate management of print channels.

Further, the second input means specifies the print processing mode by turning on and off the automatic exposure amount correction means, and channel selection can be changed according to the manual mode and the automatic print processing mode. It is the one. Further, the second input means specifies the print processing mode according to the output of the automatic exposure amount correction means, enables adjustment according to the print finish tendency, and can set exposure conditions with higher accuracy. It was done like this.

[0010]

The bar code (DX code) recorded on the side edge of the original film is read by the first input means, converted into a product type identification code, and input. Further, a print processing mode for designating on / off of the automatic exposure amount correcting means (scanner) is inputted from the second input means provided in the operation panel.

On the other hand, a table in which the product type identification code can be associated with a plurality of print channels classified by the print processing mode is stored in advance in the table storage means. Next, the selection means causes the first input means and the second input means.
The print channel in the table is selected according to the product identification code and the print processing mode input from the input means. At this time, since the print channels are classified according to the print processing mode, the optimum print channel can be efficiently selected. Moreover,
The type identification code that has been input is converted into print channels that are grouped for those that give the same exposure conditions in the table, so the number of channels to be stored can be saved and the exposure conditions for films with similar characteristics can be set. And adjustments can be made flexibly.

Further, when the print processing mode designates the automatic exposure amount correcting means to be ON, the second input means is designated according to the output of the automatic exposure amount correcting means. Therefore, the exposure conditions can be adjusted appropriately according to the print finish tendency.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1 showing the basic configuration of the photo printing apparatus of the present application, 1 is a first input means (identification code input section).
Then, the first input means 1 throws a pair of bar codes (DX codes) recorded on the original image film to be exposed.
It is configured so that it can be automatically read by a bar code reader including a light receiving unit and can be input to a selection unit (print channel selection processing unit) 2 described later as a product type identification code.

3 is a second input means (mode information input section)
Then, the second input means 3 is for inputting a print processing mode for designating which of the manual mode and the automatic mode the printing apparatus 7 is operated. The second input means 3 is installed on the side of an operation panel (not shown), and an automatic exposure amount correction section 5 (a device for estimating film characteristics and determining exposure amount control based on image information of an original image film. , Scanner) can be turned on and off.

Reference numeral 4 is a table storage means (print channel table storage portion).
A table T in which a film type identification code and a plurality of print channels corresponding to print processing mode information are associated with each other can be stored in advance. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a table T in which the print channels corresponding to the product type identification code (= DX code) are classified according to the print processing mode (manual and automatic mode).
Can be remembered.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the print channels are a master channel C ₀ used regardless of the type identification code, and a manual channel C _M designated by a table T according to the type identification code. It is composed of a scanner channel C _S. That is,
In the master channel C ₀ , there are channels for lenses and paper, and the exposure conditions are set according to the enlargement ratio during photo printing and the type of paper used.
You can choose. Further, parameters such as a negative density for a standard negative, an exposure time, a light source registration value, and a light source variation correction value are stored. This makes it possible to set and adjust the exposure conditions for the enlargement ratio, paper type, standard negative, and variations in the printer light source and paper development in common for each film type, simplifying data management and saving memory capacity. Can be planned.

In the manual channel C _M , a manual correction value for the exposure condition selected by the master channel C ₀ is set as an amount of deviation from the standard exposure condition for each print channel corresponding to the product type identification code. It is stored in 6. The scanner channel C _S includes, for example, three types of print channels,
C _S1 (reference channel), C _S2 (correction channel), C
It is composed of _S3 (internal channel). Here, the correction value of the exposure condition selected by the master channel C ₀ is _stored in the reference channel C _S1 as the correction channel C _S2.
A correction value for the image processing result of the scanner is stored as a deviation amount from the standard exposure condition for each print channel corresponding to the product type identification code. Further, inside the scanner 5, a storage area for image accumulation data, which will be described later, is secured corresponding to the internal channel C _S3 , and this internal channel is selected by the table T by the film type identification code as in the above. It has become so.

In the exposure controller 6, each channel C
_The exposure condition calculation unit 6a calculates the exposure condition to be transmitted to the print processing unit 7, based on the information from ₀ , C _M , C _S1 , and C _S2 . Further, in the scanner 5, the exposure condition to be transmitted to the printing apparatus 7 is calculated by the correction information calculation unit 5a based on the information from the channel C _S3 .

When creating the table T, if the product identification codes (DX codes) that can be handled under the same exposure condition are classified and stored in the same group, the print channel to be set is set. The number can be saved to a minimum. That is, if film types having similar characteristics are grouped into a plurality of types and used as the scanner internal channel C _S3 , a data area can be selected and used for each group. For example, it is possible to store image data processed in the past only for a predetermined period of time, use the image accumulated data to determine the characteristics of the film group, and use it for exposure correction.

In this case, a sufficient amount of data can be always secured by grouping the accumulated data. In particular, if a film type having a small number of processed lines is grouped with another film type having a large number of processed lines and similar characteristics, a predetermined data amount can be secured. As described above, the product type identification codes are configured so that those having similar exposure conditions are classified into one group, the number of print channels to be supported is minimized, and the system can be simplified. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the manual type and the scanner type can be individually classified into groups, which enables flexible support according to the respective print processing modes. Further, by using the image processing function of the scanner 5, it is possible to appropriately correct the film type for which the number of data is insufficient by grouping.

Further, the bar code cannot be read by the first input means 1, or the DX is not registered.
When a code is entered, the default settings allow you to set exposure conditions that will not cause extremely bad prints. The selection unit 2 refers to the table T of the table storage unit 4 and sets the first
According to the type identification code input from the input means 1, one of the print channels classified by the print processing mode input from the second input means 3 can be selected. That is, the selecting means 2 is configured to select a print channel from the print channel group for manual printing when the print processing mode is the manual mode and from the print channel group for the scanner when the print processing mode is the automatic mode. Has been done.

However, in the automatic mode, the selecting means 2 can also simultaneously select the above-mentioned scanner reference channel, correction channel, and internal channel inside the scanner. That is, in the automatic mode, the selecting means 2 may simultaneously select the correction channels in the table T, taking into account the information output from the scanner (correction information indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1). For example, the print channel to be selected can be appropriately changed according to the characteristic information obtained by accumulating the image information of the same type (or group) of original films over one or a plurality of films. ing. Alternatively, the print channel to be selected can be appropriately changed according to the density correction value by the scanner, for example, the magnitude of the density correction value or the positive / negative of the density correction value. This is because the exposure conditions are appropriately adjusted based on the print finish tendency of the scanner. Further, as described above, the internal channel can be simultaneously selected as the data storage area for the internal processing of the scanner.

The final exposure condition is determined by searching the table and setting the correction coefficients of various parameters. That is, final exposure condition = master channel (standard film, lens, paper) + manual channel (corresponding to film type identification code) or final exposure condition = master channel (standard film, lens, paper) + reference channel for scanner (film) Alternatively, there is a relation of final exposure condition = master channel (standard film, lens, paper) + scanner reference channel (film type identification code) + scanner correction channel (scanner output information).

The final exposure conditions determined in this way are sent to the printing processing section 7 so that printing can be performed. In the above embodiment, the table T in the table storage means 4 is searched based on the film type identification code input by the first input means 1 and the print processing mode input by the second input means 3, and the exposure condition is set. The print channel that gives the output is selected appropriately. At this time,
The selected print channel provides correction data for the exposure conditions of the master channel. Further, the above table not only converts the film type identification code into the print channels in which similar film types are grouped, but also converts into the correction channel according to the image processing result of the scanner if necessary. The exposure condition thus determined is sent to the printing processing section 7, and the printing operation is performed based on this exposure condition.

In the above, the case where the bar code is used as the film type information has been described.
Instead of the bar code, a magnetic code or the like recorded on the film may be used. Further, as the print processing mode, the case of the manual mode and the automatic mode has been described, but these may be replaced with a mode selected depending on the type of paper, for example. In this case, the exposure conditions can be set and adjusted with higher accuracy according to the combination of the film and paper types.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first input means for inputting the type identification code of the photographic film, the second input means for inputting the print processing mode, and the type identification code according to the print processing mode are used. Table storage means for storing in advance a table associated with a plurality of classified print channels, and selection means for selecting the corresponding print channel by referring to the table according to the product type identification code and print processing mode Since the film channel can be selected independently by the product type identification code and print processing mode, it is not easy for channel selection errors to occur and the exposure conditions can be set and adjusted accurately and accurately. it can. Further, even if this table is of one type, it is possible to obtain a plurality of converted outputs for a plurality of inputs, and further, since the input / output correspondence is simple and clear, it is possible to reduce complicated settings and storage capacity. Can be done efficiently and can be set very easily.

Further, since the condition for absorbing the difference in the exposure condition between the scanner mode and the manual mode and correcting the condition in the daily management can be set in the master channel, the management becomes easy. In addition, a default table is provided in the table, and it can be used for film type identification codes that are not registered. Also, since the table is designed to convert film types having similar exposure conditions into print channels that are grouped, it is possible to reduce print channels to be stored and to easily manage film channels. Also, the scanner internal channels as parameters for the automatic exposure correction processing can be grouped independently of the above channel settings.

Further, since the second input means designates ON / OFF of the automatic exposure amount correction means, the print channel is changed by the same procedure regardless of the manual mode and the automatic print processing mode. be able to. Further, since the selecting means is capable of selecting the print channel in accordance with the output of the automatic exposure amount correcting means, from the tendency of the finish of printing by the scanner,
The exposure conditions can be adjusted appropriately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion related to channel selection of a photo printing apparatus of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a configuration example of a print channel.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a channel data area.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st input means (identification code input part) 2 selection means 3 2nd input means (mode information input part) 4 Table storage means 5 Automatic exposure amount correction means (scanner) 6 Exposure control part 7 Printing processing part T table

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first input means for inputting a product identification code of a photographic film, and a second input means for inputting a print processing mode.
An input unit, a table storage unit that stores in advance a table that associates the product type identification code with a plurality of print channels classified by the print processing mode, and refers to the table with the product type identification code and the print processing mode, A photo printing apparatus, comprising: a selection unit that selects a corresponding print channel. 2. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first input means automatically reads the type information attached to the photographic film and converts it into a type identification code. 3. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the table is for converting the type identification code of the photographic film into a print channel in which those having similar exposure conditions are grouped. 4. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second input unit specifies the print processing mode by turning on and off an automatic exposure amount correction unit. 5. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second input means designates a print processing mode in accordance with an output of the automatic exposure amount correction means.