JPH0546587B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image processing device such as an image processor.

(Prior Art) As one of recent image processing techniques, changing colors on a screen is often performed. In this case, there are generally two methods for inputting colors: numerical input and palette input. In particular, color input using a color palette is
Since the input color can be checked directly with the naked eye, it is more intuitive and easier to understand than numerical input.

Conventional color palettes a, a, etc., as shown in Figure 4, are in the form of rectangular cells filled with various colors, and the colors registered in each cell can be freely selected by the operator. However, it was not possible to create a palette format other than square grid.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) If a single image processing device comes to be used by users in various fields, it is desirable that the format of the palette can be easily changed depending on the user. For example, when a face is displayed on the screen and you want to change the color of lipstick applied to your lips, a lipstick-shaped color palette as shown in FIG. 5 is easier to understand than a rectangular color palette.

However, in conventional image processing apparatuses, the format of the palette is fixed, and for example, the operator cannot create a lipstick-shaped palette as described above.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The image processing device of the present invention includes an image storage means for temporarily storing image information, and processing such as processing and color change on the image information stored in the image storage means. It is equipped with a microprocessor that performs color input, and an external storage means that creates a partial or multiple image through the processing of this microprocessor and stores it as a color palette image used for color input. , one of the color palette images stored in the external storage means is called into the image storage means, and colors are input from a part of the called color palette images.

(Operation) Processing of the image information temporarily stored by the image storage means, color change, etc. is performed by the microprocessor. In addition, the external storage means is
One or more images created by the microprocessor are stored as color palette images used for color input, and when color input is performed, one of the color palette images stored in this external storage means is used. Image processing is performed by recalling a portion of the image to the image storage means and inputting color using one of the color palette images thus recalled.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is an image memory for temporarily storing image information, 2 is a lookup table memory, 3 is a D/A converter, 4 is a display,
5 is a gate for reading and writing the lookup table memory 2; 7 is a microprocessor, and the image memory 1 is accessed from this microprocessor 7 through a bus line 6. Further, 8 is an external storage device for storing images such as a hard disk or floppy disk, 9 is an interface device such as a mouse or digitizer, and 10
is a variable storage memory that stores program variables and the like.

Next, the color palette of the above-described image processing apparatus will be explained.

The color palette is stored in the external storage device 8 as one or more images. One of these color palette images 20 is divided into a plurality of horizontally divided blocks, as shown in FIG. 2, for example. However, the division method and number of divisions are not limited to this embodiment. Among these multiple blocks, brightness, saturation,
Various color palettes 20a, 20 with different hues
b, 20c, etc. are registered. When the operator uses the color palettes 20a, 20b, 20c, etc., the operator selects the color palette of one block (for example, 20b) of the color palette images 20.
is called out and displayed in the image memory 1 being processed by the operator. The situation is shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

Figure 3a is the image being processed by the operator, Figure 3b is the image being processed by the operator.
1 and 2 respectively represent the state in which the color palette 20b is called up. At this time, color palette 20
The image data in the area where b is displayed is
Before calling up the image of the color palette 20b, it is saved in the variable storage memory 10. The position where the color palette 20b is displayed can be set arbitrarily by the operator. Furthermore, the display direction of the color palette 20b can be specified, and furthermore, the operator can also specify which block's color palette of the color palette images stored in the external storage device 8 is to be called up. These specifying methods include a method using coordinate input means,
Various methods are possible, such as using a push button. Furthermore, when erasing the color palette 20b,
The image data saved in advance is transferred onto the image memory 1 again.

Next, we will explain how to specify colors.

To specify a color, place a cursor (not shown) on the screen, move the cursor to the color palette position where the desired color is displayed, and obtain the color information of the cursor display point from image memory 1. be exposed. If the desired color does not exist on the color palette image 20, another color palette image 20 containing the color palette of that color is called up and the color is specified in the same manner as above. In this way, by loading the color palette image 20 onto the image memory 1 and obtaining the desired color from each color palette 20a, 20b, 20c, etc. of the color palette image 20, the desired color can be retrieved from the color palette. You can select from the processed images instead. Therefore, it is very convenient to be able to input colors from two areas, one on the color palette and one on the processed image, in the same color specification mode.

Next, a method for the operator to create a color palette will be explained.

The color palette produced by the image processing device of the present invention combines a plurality of color palettes into one image, and stores this in the external storage device 8. It is possible to load it into the image memory 1 as a processed image. Therefore, the operator can independently create a color palette image using an image creation command that the image processing apparatus itself has. For example, a lipstick-shaped color palette as shown in FIG. 5 can be created using a single lipstick using the copying and color changing functions inherent in the image processing device.

Although the above embodiment describes an image processing apparatus equipped with the lookup table memory 2, the present invention can also be applied to an image processing apparatus that does not have the lookup table memory 2.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the image processing device of the present invention, since a color palette is stored in an external storage device as one or more color palette images, Using various image processing functions, you can create a color palette that suits your purpose.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the image processing device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of an image for color palette, Fig. 3a is a diagram showing a processed image, and Fig. 3b is a diagram showing a color palette called up on the processed image. A diagram showing the state,
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional color palette, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a color palette created in the shape of a lipstick. 1... Image memory, 7... Microprocessor, 8... External storage device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image storage means for temporarily storing image information; a microprocessor for processing the image information stored in the image storage means, such as processing and changing colors; and this microprocessor. an external storage means for creating one or more images through the processing and storing this as a color palette image to be used for color input, and when performing color input, the color palette stored in the external storage means is An image processing apparatus characterized in that a part of a color palette image is called into the image storage means, and colors are input from the called part of the color palette image. 2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the color palette image is arbitrarily created using a microprocessor and can be stored in external storage means. 3. The image processing device according to claims 1 and 2, wherein when the color palette image is called into the image storage means, the position from which the color palette image is called can be arbitrarily set. 4. The image processing device according to claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein when the color palette image is loaded into the image storage means, the direction in which the color palette image is loaded can be arbitrarily set.