JPH06268824A - Picture processing method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To process a real picture such as picture rotation and magnification conversion without causing deterioration in picture quality by relieving a load on an editer. CONSTITUTION:An original picture holder with an original picture 5 set thereto is mounted on a rotary table of a scanner 10 and a magnification of a zoom lens in the scanner 10 or the like is adjusted to read a picture with rough resolution to read a rough picture signal VGI without rotation. An editer 20 uses a rough picture signal VGI to make editing to provide an optimum rotation angle signal Vtheta obtained by the editing, a 1st processing information signal VPI1 and a 2nd processing information signal VPI2 giving an optimum magnification or the like to a real picture processing unit 30. The real picture processing unit 30 adjusts the magnification of the zoom lens based on the 1st processing information signal VPI1 to control the rotation of a rotary table. Then a real picture signal VRI is read out of the original picture by 2nd resolution and the real picture signal VRI is processed in the real picture processing unit 30 according to the 2nd processing information signal VPI2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing apparatus for producing an image to be used as a printing original plate through reading / editing processing of an image of an original image such as a photograph.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image processing apparatus is a scanner for reading an image of an original image such as a photograph, and a workstation for performing a predetermined image processing by editing an image read by the scanner and an image of a character, a figure, etc. separately generated. , A storage device for storing image data and an image recording device for outputting the image data and recording the image data on a photosensitive film or the like.

The amount of original image data such as photographs is much larger than that of characters and figures. Particularly in the field of printing and the like, high image quality is required. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the resolution and the resolution (the number of bits), and the amount of momentum data becomes enormous. Since such an enormous amount of data is processed, a heavy load is placed on the editing apparatus, a high-performance computer system is required, and it takes a long time to process the data.

Further, when image data, which is a digital signal, is subjected to rotation processing or enlargement / reduction processing at a large ratio, the image quality is greatly deteriorated, and the degree of freedom in the editing stage is practically limited. Was there. Such deterioration of the image quality can be alleviated to some extent by increasing the resolution of the image read by the scanner. However, since a higher performance scanner or computer device is required for that purpose, such a solution means Is not realistic.

As a means for solving such a problem, for example, there is a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-280154. This method is shown in FIG. The method will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, an actual image signal such as a photograph is input using a scanner and stored in a memory (step SS1). Then, the actual image signal is thinned out (by electrical processing) to create and store a coarse image signal with a small amount of data (step SS).
2).

Next, an editing operation is performed using the rough image signal, and at the same time, the processing information determined through the editing operation is stored. That is, after setting the processing information in advance (step SS3), the rough image signal and the image signals such as characters and figures are edited based on the processing information (step SS4), and whether the edited result is the desired result or not. Is displayed on a monitor or the like to determine (step SS5). Then, the above steps are repeated until the edited result becomes the optimum result (steps SS6, SS3 to SS5). If the editing result is optimum, the editing work is terminated, and the processing information at that time is determined to be optimum (steps SS7, SS).
8). Here, the processing information is information that includes processing conditions and the like related to contour enhancement, in addition to information such as the image rotation angle and enlargement / reduction (corresponding to magnification information).

After the editing, the actual image signal is processed based on the processing information, particularly the information on the rotation angle and the enlargement / reduction (step SS9), and the rough image signal included in the edited image and the image after the image processing are processed. Replace with the actual image signal (step SS
10).

[0009]

In the above-mentioned conventional technique, since the image data required for the editing work can be reduced, it is possible to surely reduce the load on the editing apparatus. Further, since the processing of the actual image signal can be performed by the image processing device provided separately from the editing device, the productivity of the entire device can be improved.

However, even with this conventional method,
The following problems were not solved. That is, in the conventional method, since the read image signal is subjected to image rotation, enlargement / reduction, etc., deterioration of image quality cannot be avoided. Furthermore, a large-capacity storage device is required to store the actual image signal during editing work, and a high-performance image processing device for processing the actual image signal (rotation, magnification conversion, etc.). Is newly required.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and does not involve deterioration of image quality, and does not particularly require a high-performance image processing device or a large-capacity storage device. It is intended to realize an image processing method and an image processing apparatus capable of reducing the load in editing processing.

[0012]

In the image processing method according to claim 1, (a) a step of obtaining a coarse image signal represented by a first resolution by reading an original image, and (b) using the coarse image signal are used. And performing the editing process by determining the rotation angle of the original image through the editing process, and (c) rotating the original image by the rotation angle and reading the actual image signal of the second resolution higher than the first resolution from the original image. Is equipped with.

In the image processing apparatus according to claim 2, (a)
The coarse image signal inputting means for reading the coarse image signal of the first resolution from the original image and (b) the coarse image signal are used for the editing process, and the rotation angle signal representing the rotation angle of the original image is determined through the editing process. An image signal editing means and (c) an actual image signal input means for rotating an original image in accordance with a rotation angle signal and reading an actual image signal of a second resolution higher than the first resolution from the original image. There is.

[0014]

In the image processing method according to the first aspect, the rotation angle signal for obtaining the editing process and the actual image signal is determined by using the rough image signal read at the first resolution. After that, the actual image signal read by being angled based on the rotation angle signal is an image signal when the original image is rotated by the rotation angle and has a resolution (second resolution) higher than the first resolution. The image signal is represented.

In the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect, first,
The coarse image signal input means reads the coarse image signal from the original image.
The resolution of this coarse image signal is the coarse first resolution. Next, the image signal editing means performs an editing operation based on the rough image signal, and determines a rotation angle signal in the editing operation. Then, the actual image signal input means rotates the original image by the rotation angle commanded by the rotation angle signal, and reads the image of the original image at the second resolution higher than the first resolution. Therefore, the real image signal is already an angled signal.

[0016]

EXAMPLES A. Overview of system configuration and operation of image processing device

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the image processing apparatus. This device uses one LAN
A scanner (input unit) 10, an editing device 20, an actual image processing device 30, and an image recording device 40 connected by 50. In addition to these devices, for example, a file server for storing image signals and a plurality of scanner / editing devices may be connected to the LAN 50. These devices 10, 20, 30, 4
The interrelationships of the 0 operations are as follows.

First, the editing device 20 reads the image signal at a coarse resolution, that is, the first resolution so that the scanner 10 can read the image signal.
To control. As a result, the scanner 10 reads the rough image signal V _GI represented by the first resolution from the original image and transmits the rough image signal V _GI to the editing device 20.

The editing device 2 receives the rough image signal V _GI.
0 performs predetermined editing processing and determines the optimum processing information. This processing information is composed of a portion represented by the first processing information signal V _PI1 and a portion represented by the second processing information signal V _PI2 . The contents of these signals V _PI1 and V _PI2 will be described later. Then, the editing device 20 outputs the first and second processing information signals V _{PI 1} and V _PI2 together with the edited image signal V _EGI to the real image processing device 30.
And stored in the actual image processing device 30.

The actual image processing apparatus 30 controls the operation of the scanner 10 according to the first processing information signal V _PI1 . That is, the original image arranged on the scanner 10 is rotated at a predetermined angle, and the magnification of a zoom lens (described later) in the scanner 10 is adjusted. As a result, the image signal read from the original image by the scanner 10 becomes the actual image signal V _RI represented by the second resolution higher than the first resolution. The actual image signal V _RI is transmitted to the actual image processing device 30 and is processed in the device 30 based on the second processing information signal V _PI2 .

Thereafter, the actual image processing device 30 replaces the rough image signal V _EGI contained in the edited image signal with the processed actual image signal V _ERI, and replaces the replaced image signal V _IMG with the image. Output to the recording device 40.

B. Specific configuration of image processing device

(1) Configuration of the scanner 10

FIG. 3 is a perspective view (projection part shows a cross section) for clarifying the configuration of the table 1 for mounting the original image 4 schematically shown in FIG.

At the center of the table 1, a rotary table 2 is provided.
Is provided, and the rotary table 2 rotates with respect to the table 1 by receiving the driving force of the rotary table motor 6. The original image 4 (positive film in this embodiment) is set in the original image holder 3 as shown in FIG. That is, the original image 4 is the both glass surfaces 3a, 3b of the original image holder 3.
It is held so as not to move due to being narrowed by. After setting the original picture 4, the original picture holder 3 is placed on the rotary table 2.
It is mounted in a predetermined position on the top. In this case, since the mounting position of the original image holder 3 is fixed, even if the original image holder 3 is repeatedly attached and detached, the position of the original image 4 does not change.

Further, the table 1 receives the driving force of the sub-scanning motor 5 and moves along the rail 7 in the sub-scanning direction X. With the movement in the sub-scanning direction X, the image of the original image 4 is read by the configuration shown in FIG. That is, the fluorescent lamp 11 is arranged above the table 1, and the fluorescent lamp 11
The emitted light is irradiated on the original image 4, and the light transmitted through the original image 4 is imaged on the CCD line sensor 14 via the mirror 12 and the zoom lens 13 and detected. In this case, C
The CD line sensor 14 detects the light amount of the transmitted light, that is, the image signal in the main scanning direction Y according to the timing of the clock signal V _CL output by the control unit 19. Here, the magnification of the zoom lens 13 is adjusted by the magnification adjusting motor 15. As described above, in the present embodiment, by changing the moving speed of the table 1 and the magnification of the zoom lens 13, the resolution for reading the image signal can be changed.

The output signal of the CCD line sensor 14 is A
After being converted into a digital signal by the / D converter 16, the shading correction circuit 17 receives the shading correction. This shading correction is for correcting variations in characteristics of each pixel of the CCD line sensor 14 and uneven illumination of the fluorescent lamp 11. The corrected signal passes through the interface circuit 18 and the LAN 5
0 is transmitted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the control system shown in FIG. 2 in more detail. In the figure, the symbol DR
Indicates a drive circuit.

(2) Structure of the editing device 20

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the editing apparatus 20. The editing device 20 is a workstation mainly including a control unit 21, and includes a memory 22, a monitor 25 (symbol 23 is a drive circuit), and an input unit 26 (symbol 24 is an interface circuit). From the input unit 26, processing information necessary for editing processing is input to the control unit 21. On the other hand, the monitor 25
The contents edited by the control unit 21 are displayed. By checking the editing processing result displayed on the monitor 25 one by one, it is possible to judge the quality of the editing processing result.

(3) Configuration of the real image processing device 30

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the actual image processing apparatus 30. The actual image processing apparatus 30 is also a workstation mainly including the control unit 31, and is provided with a memory 32 and an input unit 34 (symbol 33 is an interface circuit). In response to a command input from the input unit 34, the control unit 31 controls the operation of the scanner 10 and also controls processes such as reading and outputting the image signal V _IMG stored in the memory 32.

C. Operation procedure of image processing device

8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the operation procedure, and the operation procedure will be described according to the flowchart.

Input of coarse image signal V _GI

The original image 4 is set on the original image holder 3 (step S1), and the original image holder 3 is mounted at a predetermined position on the rotary table 2 of the table 1 (step S2) (FIG. 2).
reference).

Next, when the scanning start signal V _START1 is input from the input unit 26 of the editing device 20 so that the image signal is input by the scanner 10 at the first resolution of the coarse resolution (see FIG. 5), The control unit 21 outputs the magnification MO of the zoom lens 13 and the sub-scanning speed V _x1 that give the first resolution as a control signal V _CNT1 to the scanner 10 via the LAN 50 (see FIG. 6). As a result, the control unit 19 of the scanner 10 responds to the control signal V _CNT1 by the zoom lens 1
The magnification of 3 is adjusted to the magnification MO, and the driving force of the sub-scanning motor 5 is controlled so as to be the sub-scanning speed V _x1, and CC
The original image 4 is read by the D line sensor 14 (step S
3). In this case, since the driving force is not applied to the rotary table motor 6, the rotary table 2 does not rotate. However, the data regarding the magnification MO and the sub-scanning speed V _X1 is set in advance by the control unit 21.

In this way, the coarse image signal V _GI represented by the first resolution is read from the original image and the LAN 50
The rough image signal V _GI is stored in the memory 22 of the editing device 20 via (step S3). Then, the original image 4 is stored in the original image holder 3 as it is (step S4).

Editing process using the rough image signal V _GI

The coarse image signal V stored in the memory 22
Editing work is executed in the editing device 20 using the _GI (step S5). This editing process corresponds to the editing process (steps SS3 to SS6) shown in FIG.

That is, the control unit 21 processes the rough image signal V _GI stored in the memory 22 based on the processing information input from the input unit 26, and further processes the processed rough image signal V _EGI . It is displayed on the monitor 25 (see FIG. 5). The operator refers to the monitor 25 and confirms the edited (processed) rough image signal V _EGI on the monitor 25.
The processing information is changed until the result of this editing process is optimized, and the editing work is completed in the optimized state.
The rough image signal V _EGI and signals relating to the processing information (first processing information signal V _PI1 , second processing information signal V _PI2 ) are stored in the memory 22.

Here, the processing information includes the first processing information (first processing information signal V _PI1 ) and the second processing information (second processing information signal V _PI2 ). The first processing information is information that can be processed by changing the optical element,
Specifically, a rotation angle about the image rotation theta (rotation angle signal V [theta]) and the magnification M (ratio signal V _M). On the other hand, the second processing information is basically information processed by electrical processing,
Specifically, it is data indicating image processing conditions such as contour emphasis data and gradation conversion data.

Therefore, in the editing device 20, the first
The editing process regarding the processing information and the second processing information is both performed by electrical processing. For example, for the image rotation processing and the magnification conversion processing included in the first processing information, the coarse image signal V _GI is subjected to coordinate conversion (affine conversion) processing,
Edited rough image signal V by enlarging / reducing
You can get _EGI .

After that, the editing apparatus 20 stores the edited rough image signal V _EGI stored in the memory 22 and the first and second
Processing information read signal V _PI1, V _PI2, these signals _{V EG I, V PI1, V} PI2 and transfers and stores into the memory 32 of the actual image processing apparatus 30 via the LAN 50 (step S6). The transfer / storage process is performed by the control unit 21.

Reading of the actual image signal V _RI

The reading of the real image signal V _RI is controlled by the real image processing device 30 (in particular, its control section 31). First, the original image holder 3 stored in step S4 is mounted again on the rotary table 2 at a predetermined position (step S7).

After that, the control unit 31 stores the memory 32 based on the scanning start signal V _START2 input from the input unit 34.
The first processing information signal V _PI1 stored in the scanner is output to the scanner 10 as a control signal (see FIG. 4). Scanner 1
The control unit 19 of 0 receives the rotation angle signal Vθ included in the first processing information signal V _PI1, and controls the rotation table motor 6 so that the tilt angle of the rotation table 2 with respect to the CCD line sensor 14 becomes the rotation angle θ. The rotation is controlled (step S8), and the zoom lens 1 receives the magnification signal V _M.
The magnification adjusting motor 15 is controlled so that the magnification of 3 becomes M (step S9) (see FIG. 6). Then, by controlling the sub-scanning motor 5 so that the sub-scanning speed V _X2 corresponds to the magnification M, the actual image signal V _RI of the original image 4 is read by the CCD line sensor 14 while moving the table 1. Output to the image processing device 30 (step S1)
0). The resolution (second resolution) of the actual image signal V _RI is determined by the magnification M, and is larger than the first resolution.

As described above, the actual image signal V _RI is processed based on the first processing information signal V _PI1 and is processed by changing the optical element rather than the electric element. is there. Therefore, this actual image signal V _RI is
Since the deterioration of the image quality caused by the electric processing is not included, the image signal becomes more accurate.

The control unit 31 in the actual image processing device 30 processes the actual image signal V _RI based on the information instructed by the second processing information signal V _PI2 (step S11).

Then, the control unit 31 replaces the rough image signal V _EGI included in the edited image signal with the processed actual image signal V _ERI (step S12), and the image signal after the replacement is completed. V _IMG is output to the image recording device 40 as an output image according to the command signal V _COM from the input unit 34 (step S13), and this processing ends.

D. Modification

In the previous embodiment, the scanner 10 has both the rough image signal input means and the actual image signal input means. However, if the original image mounting position is kept constant, they are separated by different scanners. It is also possible to configure. That is, the scanner for inputting the coarse image signal is controlled by the control signal output from the editing device 20, while the scanner as the actual image signal input means operates the first processing information signal V _{PI 1} output by the actual image processing device 30. Controlled by. At that time, it is also possible to use a simple scanner having a low resolution and no rotation mechanism as a dedicated input of the rough image signal.

Further, when the image input process is frequently performed, it is possible to improve the processing efficiency by preparing a plurality of scanners and using an empty scanner as needed. If you want to perform the editing process and the actual image signal generation at different places, prepare a scanner for inputting the rough image signal and a scanner for inputting the actual image signal, which are necessary for the editing process, at each place. In other words, by exchanging the data relating to the rough image signal and the original image holder in which the original image is set, the editing process / image process can be performed.

In the previous embodiment, the respective devices (scanner, editing device, etc.) were mutually connected by LAN, but it is also possible to use a system in which individual devices are combined and data is exchanged by a magneto-optical disk or the like. The present image processing device can be realized.

In the previous embodiment, the resolution was optically adjusted by adjusting the magnification of the zoom lens 13 and adjusting the sub-scanning speed of the table 1. However, for example, when reading a rough image signal, it is shown in FIG. It is also possible to electrically adjust by using the control system of such a scanner.
That is, the image signal output from the CCD line sensor 14 is input to the thinning circuit 9, and the thinning circuit 19 performs thinning according to the thinning rate setting signal V _N output by the control unit 19 to create a rough image signal. . The thinning rate setting signal V _N is a signal obtained by _dividing the clock signal V _CL . In this case, the sub-scanning speed is also adjusted and the magnification is adjusted in the sub-scanning direction, but the zoom lens 13 is not adjusted.

However, by using the main thinning circuit 19 together with the magnification adjustment of the zoom lens 13 (previous embodiment), the reading of the image signal at the first resolution can be realized.

When the control system of FIG. 10 is also applied to the reading of the actual image signal, the thinning rate of the thinning circuit 9 is readjusted when the actual image signal is read.

Further, in the previous embodiment, both the magnification adjustment of the zoom lens 13 and the sub-scanning speed adjustment were performed. However, by adjusting only one of them, the reading of a low resolution image signal is realized. May be.

In the previous embodiment, the original image was held by the original image holder 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the original image is vacuum-sucked on the rotary table (in this case, the rotary table). Can be affixed by applying a vacuum mechanism).

[0060]

The invention according to claims 1 and 2 has the following effects.

When reading the real image signal, the angled real image signal is obtained by rotating the original image itself according to the rotation angle determined during the editing process using the coarse image signal. It is possible to improve the efficiency of the entire process and prevent the deterioration of the image quality that has been caused by the conventional image rotation process. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to freely perform the rotation processing of the image signal in the editing processing stage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a scanner.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a table of the scanner.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an actual image processing device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an editing device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the scanner.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an original image holder.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an image processing method.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an image processing method.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a conventional image processing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 table 2 rotary table 3 original image holder 4 original image 5 sub-scanning motor 6 rotary table motor 10 scanner 13 zoom lens 14 CCD line sensor 19 control unit 20 editing unit 21 control unit 22 memory 25 monitor 26 input unit 30 real image processing unit 31 Control unit 32 Memory 40 Image recording device 50 LAN

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A step of: (a) obtaining a rough image signal represented by a first resolution by reading an original image; and (b) performing an editing process using the rough image signal, and the original image through the editing process. And (c) rotating the original image by the rotation angle and reading a real image signal of a second resolution higher than the first resolution from the original image. 2. (a) a coarse image signal input means for reading a coarse image signal of a first resolution from the original image, and (b) performing an editing process using the coarse image signal, and performing the editing process through the editing process. Image signal editing means for determining a rotation angle signal representing a rotation angle, and (c) rotating the original image in accordance with the rotation angle signal, and then an actual image of a second resolution higher than the first resolution from the original image. An image processing apparatus comprising: an actual image signal input means for reading a signal.