JPH07264420A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To output an output image whose color is adjusted based on the image displayed on a monitor with simple configuration by outputting a color picture signal whose color is adjusted and which is stored in a picture memory to a color generating means. CONSTITUTION:Image data in a large capacity picture memory 15 in a host computer 1 is received by a picture memory 4 upon the request of a terminal equipment 2 and transferred by a direct memory access(DMA) method in this case. Since the content of the picture memory 4 is outputted to a monitor (such as CRT) 9 via a white level conversion circuit 6 and density conversion circuits 7, 8, the color is adjusted by observing the monitor and the image decided finally is stored in the memory 4. Furthermore, the image subjected to conversion processing is monitored by the monitor 9 via a density correction circuit 8 for the CRT. On the other hand, the data are processed by a CPU of the terminal equipment 2 via an interface 3. Then the image data after processing are outputted to a color printer 13 via a half tone dot generator 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image processing apparatus capable of printing and monitoring color image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of displaying, modifying, and processing a color image to take a hard copy, the system system of FIG. 1 is considered. The image data in the large-capacity image memory 15 (for example, magnetic disk, tape, etc.) is requested by the terminal 2,
Data is transferred via the communication line 14 to the image memory 4 placed near the terminal 2. The memory capacity of the image memory 4 is, for example, 512 × 512 × 8-bit bluish purple (BLU
E VIOLET, hereinafter referred to as B), green (GREE
N, hereinafter referred to as G), and red (RED, hereinafter referred to as R) for three colors. This data passes through each processing circuit described later,
It can be monitored by the monitor 9.

On the other hand, the contents of the image memory 4 can be connected to processing by the CPU of the terminal 2 and output to the color printer 13 by switching the switch 5.

Here, an image is output to the color printer 13,
When printing, a halftone for a color printer, which is adjusted by a color conversion circuit (for example, a masking circuit) 10 and a density conversion circuit 11 so that a desired color is obtained, and further can be binarized and recorded by a halftone dot generator 12. Make dots for output.

Here, since the contents of the image when the hard copy output is performed are monitored in advance, a color conversion circuit (for example, a masking circuit) is also provided during the output to the color monitor 9.
6, the density conversion circuit 7 is inserted. The color conversion circuits 6 and 10 and the density conversion circuits 7 and 11 are functionally the same because of different data transfer speeds, different output targets, and the like, but different circuits. Also, the density conversion circuit 8
Is an inverter or the like for correcting the output characteristic of the printer 13 and the output characteristic of the monitor 9 (CRT). However, the adjustment switch 5 is used so that the correction on the monitor is reflected.
Are interlocked.

FIG. 2 shows a color printer 4 as an example.
A drum type color printer is shown in FIG.
Is a scanning optical system, and required image information is taken out as a light beam (laser beam) from an image memory (not shown) by the scanning optical system, and the light beam is cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), An image is formed on a photosensitive drum 19 arranged in parallel corresponding to black (Bl), a developing device 20 is arranged in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 19, and a recording paper (not shown) is attached. A charging device 22 is arranged facing the photosensitive drums 19 on the side of the conveying belt 21 for conveying.

[0007]

However, in the above system, the color conversion circuits (6 and 10) and the density conversion circuit (7) are used.
And 11) require a monitor and a printer, respectively, and have a drawback that the system configuration is large-scale and complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to output an output image color-adjusted based on an image displayed on a monitor with a simple structure to a color forming means.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image memory for storing a given color original image signal and a color adjustment for performing color adjustment for the color original image signal. Means, first output means for outputting the color-adjusted color image signal to display means, setting means for setting color adjustment performed by the color adjustment means based on an image displayed on the display means, Storage means for storing the color-adjusted color image signal in the image memory; and second outputting the color-adjusted color image signal stored in the image memory by the storage means to the color forming means.
And an output means of.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of application of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows a color processing system which is an embodiment of the present invention. The image data in the large-capacity image memory 15 in the host computer 1 is taken into the image memory 4 at the request of the terminal 2. At this time, DMA (d
sent by the direct memory access (switch 16 is B). The contents of the image memory are output to the monitor (for example, CRT) 9 via the color conversion circuit 6 and the density conversion circuits 7 and 8. Therefore, the color adjustment is performed by looking at the monitor, and the finally determined image is stored in the memory 4.
This method is performed by switching the output time series signal from the density conversion circuit 7 to the input terminal of the memory 4 and switching the switch 16 to the A side.
This method will be described later. The converted image is CR
It can be monitored by the monitor 9 via the density correction circuit 8 for T. On the other hand, CPU processing is also possible from the terminal 2 via the interface 3. Image data after processing is halftone dot
The data is output to the color printer through the generator 12 (switch 17 is on the C side). In the above system, the color conversion circuit and the density conversion circuit as described above can be used as one set, and the cost can be reduced.

Next, the operation of the memory 4 will be described. The memory 4 divides the access time of one pixel into halves, one for access for the CRT display 9 and the other for CP.
We use time sharing such as access time for U or color printer output. Therefore C
It has an address counter for memory access for PU display and a memory address counter for CPU or color printer output, and can be switched alternately within one access time. Therefore, the two output data values are also C
It is switched alternately for RT and for CPU or color printer by 1/2 cycle time. In order to display a CRT without flicker, it is necessary to send data in about 70 ns per pixel of 512 × 512 pixels. This is not possible due to the speed of the current D-RAM. Therefore, the output data bus has a large number such as 64 bits and the speed is relatively low. CPU or color printer output may be much slower than CRT output. For this reason, the output data to the CPU and the color printer are relatively slow data and are output in a gate time of 1/2 cycle time. In this way, by performing the internal division of 1/2, the output data of the processing result of the above-mentioned color conversion is C
Using 1/2 time for PU or color printer,
You can write to the same memory. This switches the input data switch 16 to the A side, opens the switch 17 or disconnects the gate with a circuit gate, and outputs the output signal to the monitor of 1/2 cycle time at the next 1/2 cycle time. This is the write signal to the memory. As described above, since the data in the image memory 4 is converted into the corrected data, the respective memories can be independently output to the color printer 13 at different timings. Therefore, output to a 4-drum color printer is also possible. Furthermore,
The output information to the printer can be monitored on the monitor at the same time.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optimum color processing system for making a hard copy of a color, particularly a hard copy of a displayed color image.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to output to the color forming means an output image whose color is adjusted based on the image displayed on the monitor with a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional system for taking a hard copy of a color image.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a 4-drum type color printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a color processing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host computer 4 Memory 9 Monitor 13 Color printer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image memory for storing a given color original image signal, a color adjusting unit for performing color adjustment on the color original image signal, and a first unit for outputting the color adjusted color image signal to a display unit. Output means, setting means for setting the color adjustment performed by the color adjusting means based on the image displayed on the display means, storage means for storing the color adjusted color image signal in the image memory, An image processing apparatus comprising: a second output unit that outputs the color-adjusted color image signal stored in the image memory by the storage unit to a color forming unit.