JPH08263680A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable even a general worker to select easily optimum processing procedure by guiding specified candidate information out of a supporting data base, thus displaying it together with the progress of picture improvement process. CONSTITUTION: A picture processing procedure guiding means 7 is a program stored in a ROM 4, and it is provided with a function which guides the proper one successively from among the various kinds of the information registered in the supporting data base 6, and displays it as a choice on a display means 10, and the function which guides a specified picture processing operation command or a side effect counteracting operation command out, of the supporting data base 6 according as the worker selects successively one of the choices displayed on the display means 10, and records it by delivering it to a picture processing procedure recording means 9. Then, by referring to the candidate information the display means 10 displays as being guided by the processing procedure guiding means 7, and also executing repeatedly selecting operation for the specified processing procedure, the support of the picture improvement processing is executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus which can easily generate an image having an image quality suitable for a purpose of use from image materials such as still images and moving images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a still image such as a color photograph or a color illustration shows various conditions such as weather conditions at the time of shooting, lighting conditions, seasonal restrictions, time restrictions, and storage conditions after shooting and creation. Therefore, with respect to various factors (hue, saturation, brightness, gradation, tone contrast, image noise, composition of image, degree of blurring and sharpness, etc.) that regulate the image quality, the original purpose of use of the still image. When considering, it often contains inappropriate parts and undesirable contents. Therefore, it is usual to perform many image quality improvement processes on the still image until the image quality state suitable for the intended purpose is finally obtained. In this sense, it can be said that the still image before the improvement process is merely an image material. The same thing can be said for a moving image taken using a video camera or the like.

As described above, the device for performing the image quality improving process on the image material is the image processing device, and after converting the image information indicating the given image material into a digital signal, various correction processes (hue correction, Saturation correction, brightness correction, gradation correction, tone contrast correction, image noise correction, image composition correction, blur correction and sharpening correction, etc.) to obtain the optimum image quality state for the intended use of the image material. be able to.

For example, the hue correction in the correction processing includes (a) input of an initial image (b) display of an initial image (c) designation of a range of hue correction points in a displayed image (d) hue evaluation (e) hue Rough correction value setting (f) Rough hue correction processing (g) Judgment of processing result (h) Hue correction fine adjustment value setting (i) Hue fine adjustment correction processing (j) Fine adjustment processing result Judgment (k) It is composed of processing such as saving processing results, and hue correction is executed by inputting a series of operation commands and input information necessary for these processings to the image processing apparatus. The same applies to saturation correction and brightness correction.

Conventionally, for inputting a series of operation commands and input information (hereinafter collectively referred to as "commands") necessary for the above-described correction processing, the image processing apparatus is manually operated via a keyboard or a mouse. It was common to enter, but by recording these commands in advance and reproducing a series of recorded commands for the newly given image material, the image quality improvement processing work of the new image material An "image processing device with image processing procedure delivery means" that enables automation of is also known (Macworld
March 1994, p74, “Two Products That Power Up Photoshop” or Adobe Photoshop 2.5J User Guide, p150, “Applying Color Correction to Multiple Images”,
Publisher = Adobe Systems Japan). There is also known an image processing apparatus in which an operator who does not have specialized knowledge about image processing can perform correction processing by trial and error by designating by the menu interactive method described above (JP-A-3-212771). "General-purpose image processing device" described in the publication).

Then, by using the above-mentioned "image processing apparatus with image processing procedure delivery means" to apply a series of prerecorded commands to another new image material, the image quality improvement processing operation can be automated. , Since the new image material and the original image material are very similar to each other in a special case, in the case of low similarity, the image quality improvement process can be performed manually as in the past. Is going.

By the way, in order to perform an appropriate image quality improving process for a given image material, it is necessary to determine an image quality improving point prior to the process. This image quality improvement point is determined in accordance with the image representation intention, and the image representation intention varies depending on the image material (classification of "landscape", "still life", "portrait", "product", etc.). Is different. That is, in order to properly perform the image quality improvement processing, the image material of the given image material is appropriately classified,
It is necessary to have the ability to accurately estimate the expression intention, and it is possible to accurately determine the image quality improvement point only with these abilities. Further, although the above-mentioned image quality improvement points are realized by performing processing on color physics, in the normal case, there can be multiple kinds of color physical processing for realizing a certain image quality improvement point. In order to realize the improvement point, it is necessary to have the ability to select only one optimum process from a plurality of processes. Furthermore, specific color physics processing is realized by executing the corresponding image processing procedure, which brings about the desired processing effect, but undesired side effects depending on the value of the parameter set when executing the image processing procedure. Since there are many possible image processing procedures and side effect countermeasure procedures that correspond to a certain color physical process, the optimal image processing procedure and side effect countermeasure procedure are the same as above. The ability to select only one item is required.

Therefore, in order to properly perform the image quality improvement processing work for a given image material, the classification of image material, the estimation of the expression intention of the image, the selection of the image quality improvement point, the selection of the color physical processing, Since it is premised that proper judgment can be made regarding selection of the image processing procedure that produces the target processing effect, selection of the side effect countermeasure procedure, etc. In making various judgments, knowledge about classification of image material, knowledge about image representation intention, knowledge about image quality improvement point, knowledge about color physical processing, knowledge about image processing procedure, knowledge about side effect countermeasure procedure, etc. Support is provided by giving appropriate instructions to workers from experts who are familiar with them.

[0009]

However, in the actual image quality improving process, it is often difficult to perform the work with sufficient support from a skilled person. In such a case, the image material Work on various judgments such as classification, estimation of image representation intent, selection of image quality improvement points, selection of color physical processing, selection of image processing procedure that produces the target processing effect, selection of side effect countermeasure procedure, etc. The person himself will do it himself. As described above, it is usual that a plurality of options are considered in the above-mentioned various judgments. Therefore, if an operator who is not familiar with various knowledge performs the image quality improving process, what is required to obtain the target processing effect. However, there is a problem in that trial and error is likely to be repeated even once, so that a large amount of time is wasted in the image quality improvement processing work, and optimal improvement processing cannot always be realized.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems so that even a general worker who is not familiar with various knowledge related to image processing is optimal without repeating trial and error as compared with the conventional technique. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that can easily implement various improvement processes.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has a support in which a correspondence relationship with other information is registered in advance for all information indicating the contents of the image improvement processing. Database, and processing procedure guide means for guiding candidate information regarding one or more processing procedures for advancing the image improvement processing based on the support database, and the progress status of the guided candidate information and image improvement processing. And the like, and image processing means for performing execution control of image improvement processing in accordance with a specific processing procedure selected from the candidate information, and the display means is guided by the processing procedure guiding means. By supporting the image improvement processing by referring to the displayed candidate information and repeatedly executing the selection operation for a specific processing procedure. It is obtained by the Migihitsuji.

[0012]

The operation based on the above configuration will be described.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is based on the support database in which the correspondence relation with other information is registered in advance for all the information indicating the content of the image improvement process, and the image improvement process based on the support database. Selected from the candidate information, a processing procedure guiding means for guiding candidate information regarding one or more processing procedures for advancing, a display means for displaying the guided candidate information or the progress status of the image improvement processing, and the like. Image processing means for performing execution control of image improvement processing according to the specific processing procedure, referring to the candidate information displayed by the display means by being guided by the processing procedure guiding means, and performing the specific processing. By repeatedly executing the selection operation for the procedure, the image improving process is supported.

Therefore, classification of image materials, estimation of image representation intention, selection of image quality improvement points, selection of processing in color physics, selection of image processing procedure that brings about desired processing effect, side effect countermeasure procedure When various judgments such as selection are required by the worker, a group of candidate information having an appropriate correspondence relationship with the specific information selected by the worker in the preceding judgment is provided to the support database by the processing procedure guiding means. Since it is guided from the inside and displayed along with the progress of the image improvement processing, even an ordinary worker who is not familiar with various image processing knowledge can find the optimal processing procedure while checking the change in image quality. Can be easily selected, and an optimum improvement process can be easily realized without repeating trial and error as much as in the past.

[0015]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is still image input means, 2 is still image input control means, 3
Is an input image recording means, 4 is a ROM, 5 is a RAM, 6 is a support database, 7 is an image processing procedure guiding means, 8 is an image processing means, 9 is an image processing procedure recording means, 10 is a display means, and 11 is an image. Processing procedure delivery means, 12 is a command input means, 13 is a processed image recording means, 14 is a computer, 15 is a CPU, and 16 is an OS.

The still image input means 1 is composed of a scanner device having a CCD line sensor, a drive unit, an A / D conversion circuit, etc., and takes in image light signals of various image materials such as color photographs and color printed matter. After the image light signal is digitally processed by the A / D conversion circuit, the obtained image information is output to the computer 14.

The still picture input control means 2 is a group of programs stored in the ROM 4, and the still picture input means 1 described above is used.
To realize the control function of the still image input operation, the transmission function of the digitized image information output from the still image input unit 1 to the input image recording unit 3, and the like.

The input image recording means 3 is housed in the RAM 5 and records the digitized image information transmitted from the still image input control means 2.

The support database 6 is composed of a disk group such as a CD-ROM or an optical disk that records and holds various information and a disk drive device that records and reproduces various information in these disk groups. Various information to be described later, such as and side effect countermeasure commands, is registered.

The image processing procedure recording means 9 is housed in the RAM 5 and records the image processing commands and side effect countermeasure commands transmitted from the image processing procedure guiding means 7 and the image processing procedure delivery means 11.

The display means 10 is composed of a CRT display or the like, and displays various input / output information in the still image input control means 2, the image processing procedure guiding means 7, the image processing procedure delivery means 11 and the image processing means 8.

The image processing procedure guide means 7 is a program stored in the ROM 4, and sequentially guides appropriate information from various information registered in the support database 6 and displays it on the display means 10 as a selection branch. A specific image processing operation command or side effect countermeasure operation command is guided from the support database 6 in accordance with the function of displaying and the operator sequentially selecting one of the selection branches displayed on the display means 10. It has a function of delivering to the image processing procedure recording means 9 and recording.

The image processing means 8 is a program stored in the ROM 4, and reads the still image information recorded in the input image recording means 3 to read the still image information such as hue, color and lightness, and the gradation and tone of these distributions. Functions for evaluation processing of contrast, various correction processing functions (hue correction, color correction, brightness correction, gradation correction, hue contrast correction, image noise correction, 2 gradation processing, multi gradation processing, averaging processing , Blurring or sharpening processing, image composition correction processing, etc.), and the result information obtained by these processings is displayed on the display unit 1.
0, processed image recording means 13, a function of transmitting to the support database 6 and the like.

The image processing procedure delivery means 11 is a program stored in the ROM 4, and has a function of reading the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command recorded in the image processing procedure recording means 9 and delivering them to the image processing means 8. The operator has a function of reading the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command passed to the image processing means 8 by the operator using the command input means 12, transmitting the image processing command to the image processing procedure recording means 9, and recording them.

After the image processing procedure delivery means 11 reads the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command recorded in the image processing procedure recording means 9 and delivers them to the image processing means 8, the worker starts up the image processing means 8. In this case, the image processing means 8 reproduces the image processing process performed previously using the delivered image processing command and side effect countermeasure command. Therefore, by applying the image processing command or the side effect countermeasure command registered in advance in the support database 6 to the new image material in this manner, a part of the image improvement processing process for the new image material or Everything can be done automatically.

The command input means 12 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and various types are provided for the still image input control means 2, the image processing procedure guiding means 7, the image processing procedure delivery means 11 and the image processing means 8. It is used for inputting operation commands and input information required when executing the processing of. The processed image recording means 13 is housed in the RAM 5 and records the image information of the processing result transmitted from the image processing means 8. The computer 14 includes a CPU 15 that executes various types of arithmetic processing, a RAM 5 and a ROM 4 that can record various types of information together with the various means described above.

An input image recording means 3, an image processing procedure recording means 9 and a processed image recording means 13 are housed in the RAM 5. The OS 16 stored in the ROM 4 is a control program, and the operation of the CPU 15 and the CPU 15 and R
By managing and controlling the entry and exit of information to and from the AM 5 or the ROM 4, the processing operation in the still image input control means 2, the image processing procedure guiding means 7, the image processing procedure delivery means 11, and the image processing means 8 is controlled. . OS1
6, a multi-job function capable of simultaneously executing a plurality of programs in parallel and a screen of the display means 15 can be divided into a plurality of parts to display the processing results of the plurality of programs on the same screen. A control program having a multi-window function is used.

Next, various information registered in the support database 6 in FIG. 1 will be described. In the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, prior to execution of the image quality improvement processing work for a given image material, classification of image material, image representation intention, image quality improvement point, color physical processing, image processing The image quality improvement knowledge information about the procedure and the side effect countermeasure procedure, the command knowledge information about the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command, and the image information representing the image material to be processed are arranged in association with each other appropriately. Above, it is registered in the support database 6 in advance.

2 and 3 are diagrams showing an example of the correspondence relationship of information registered in the support database in FIG. In both figures, in each of the columns except the "image material" column, the first '→' mark is added immediately before the next second '→' mark from the arbitrarily selected first '→' mark to the lower part. The above-mentioned respective pieces of information are related to each other so that a group of candidate information pieces that appropriately correspond to information pieces adjacent to the left side of the 'mark are located. That is, a group of information hierarchically arranged from one '→' mark described in the “image representation intention” column in FIG. 2 to immediately before the next '→' mark is It is candidate information of the expression intention that is highly likely to be appropriate as the expression intention of the specific “image subject” described adjacent to the left side of the “→” mark. For example, "magnificence, violence, freshness, divineness" written side by side in the "Intent to express image" column is the expression intent of "Landscape" in the column "Image subject" adjacent to the left side. Probably appropriate.

A group of information hierarchically arranged from one '→' mark described in the “image quality improvement point” column in FIG. 2 to immediately before the next '→' mark is as follows. It is the image quality improvement point candidate information that is highly likely to appropriately realize the specific “intention to express the image” described adjacent to the left side of the “→” mark. For example, in the "Image quality improvement points" column, "Create a sense of perspective, brighten the sea and sky mountains near the water (horizontal) horizon, make the color of the sky blue, give a sense of depth to the sky" It is highly likely to be appropriate as an image quality improvement point that realizes "magnificence" in the "image representation intention" column adjacent to the left side.

A group of information hierarchically arranged from one '→' mark described in the “Color physical processing” column in FIG. 2 to immediately before the next '→' mark is as follows: It is candidate information for color physical processing that is highly likely to appropriately realize the specific “image quality improvement point” described adjacent to the left side of the above “→” mark. For example, "Emphasis of color difference between near view, middle view, and distant view, gradually brightening in the order of near view, middle view, and distant view" described in "Processing on color physics" is "Image quality adjacent to the left side." There is a high possibility that it will be appropriate as a color physical process that achieves "a sense of perspective" in the "improvement points" column.

A group of information hierarchically arranged from one '→' mark described in the "Image processing procedure" column in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 to immediately before the next '→' mark is as follows: , Candidate information of an image processing procedure that is highly likely to appropriately realize a specific “color physical processing” described adjacent to the left side of the above “→” mark. For example, "Increase the contrast of the entire screen by hue correction, increase color saturation in the near view and decrease in the distant view" described side by side in the "Image processing procedure" column is "color physics "Emphasis on color difference between near view, middle view, and distant view" in the "Process" column
There is a high possibility that it will be appropriate as an image processing procedure for realizing.

The image processing procedure described above is based on the hue correction,
Saturation correction, lightness correction, color tone contrast correction consisting of these distribution states, image composition correction, softening correction and sharpening correction for blurring or sharpening the image, dirt
It is configured by processing such as scratch / noise removal correction alone or in combination. For example, for hue correction, as described in the prior art, it starts from calling the file name in which the initial image information is registered, specifies the range of correction points in the image, evaluates the hue, sets the rough hue correction value, and sets the rough hue. Execution of correction processing, determination of processing results, setting of fine adjustment values for hue correction, execution of hue fine adjustment correction processing,
This is executed by inputting to the image processing means 8 a series of operation commands for determining the fine adjustment processing result and storing the processing result.

"C11, C12, ..., C1N" and "C21," described in the "Image processing command" column in FIG.
C22, ..., C2N ”is a series of operation command information to be input to the image processing means 8 when executing the above-mentioned image processing procedure, and is for each individual image processing procedure described in the“ image processing procedure ”column. It is given in one-to-one correspondence with. For example, “C11,
"C12, ..., C1N" is a series of operation command information that is highly likely to appropriately realize "enhance the contrast of the entire screen by hue correction" in the "Image processing procedure" column, and "C11" is the initial image. The command is a command for calling a file name in which information is registered, 'C12' is a range designation command for a correction location in an image, ..., And'C1N 'is a process result save command.

By the way, as described in the prior art, an undesirable side effect often occurs depending on the value of a parameter such as a correction value given when the image processing procedure is executed. Further, in the series of operation commands described above, the range designation of the correction location is designation processing information for minimizing side effects, but the range designation work of the correction location may take a long time depending on the design target. Many,
It is desirable to omit as much as possible. For this reason, it is often the case that the image processing is executed once, the state of the processing result is checked, the parameter values are reviewed, and the processing for specifying the range of the correction location is performed as the finishing processing at the end. The information required for the finishing process is shown in Fig. 3.
It is given in the "Adverse Reaction Countermeasures" column.

A group of information hierarchically arranged from one '→' mark described immediately before to the next '→' mark described in the “Adverse effect countermeasure procedure” column in FIG. Candidates for side effect countermeasure procedures that are likely to be able to appropriately deal with unwanted side effects caused by executing image processing using a specific "image processing command" written adjacent to the left side of the '→' mark Information. For example, "Set contrast increase to within the permissible range of color turbidity" described in the "Adverse effect countermeasure procedure" column means "C11, C1" in the "Image processing command" column adjacent to the left side.
2, ..., C1N ”is a side effect countermeasure procedure that has a high possibility of being able to appropriately deal with an undesirable side effect caused by executing image processing.

"C11 ', C12', ..., C1N '" and "C21', C22 ', ..., C2N'" described in the "Adverse effect countermeasure command" column in FIG. This is a series of operation command information that should be input to the image processing means 8 when executing the procedure, and is 1 for each individual side effect countermeasure procedure described in the “side effect countermeasure procedure” column.
It is given in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, "C11 ', C12', ..., C1N '" in the "Side effect countermeasure command" column
Is a series of operation command information that is highly likely to appropriately realize "the increase in contrast is within the permissible range of color turbidity" in the "Adverse effect countermeasure procedure" column.

"P11, P12, P13" and "P21, P22, P2" described in the "image information" column in FIG.
3 ”is a registration number related to the image information of the still image obtained by executing the specific image processing command or the side effect countermeasure command described adjacent to the left side of the“ → ”mark in the“ Image information ”column. is there. Of these, 'P1
Reference numerals 1'and'P21 'indicate registration numbers of initial image information, and the initial image information of the original material is registered under these registration numbers. Further, “P12”, “P22”, etc. indicate the registration numbers of the image information of the still image obtained by executing the image processing command described in the “image processing command” column, and under these registration numbers, Image information that is appropriate for each of image material classification, image representation intention, image quality improvement point, color physics processing, image processing procedure, and image processing command, but for which side effect countermeasure processing has not been executed is registered. . Since the side effect countermeasure process is not executed, the image information includes both the image quality improvement level being good and the image quality improvement level being not so. Further, “P13”, “P23”, etc. indicate the registration numbers of the image information of the still image obtained by executing the side effect countermeasure command described in the “side effect countermeasure command” column, and under these registration numbers, Image quality classification, image representation intention, image quality improvement points, color physics processing, image processing procedures, image processing commands, side effect countermeasure procedures, side effect countermeasure commands are all appropriate and image quality improvement processing has been completed. Image information in good condition is registered.

The various data described above are registered in the support database 6 by the following procedure. First, the target image material is prepared by taking a picture or collecting it. At this time, whether or not the support database 6 is valid depends on whether the applicable range of registered information is wide or narrow. Therefore, various kinds of image materials are prepared without overlooking as frequently used image materials as possible in fields such as commercial advertisement, education, and art, which heavily use image information.

Next, knowledge about classification of image materials, knowledge about image representation intention, knowledge about image quality improvement points, knowledge about color physical processing, knowledge about image processing procedures, knowledge about side effect countermeasure procedures, and the like. With the support of a skilled expert, the image improving process is performed on all the prepared image materials by using the still image input unit 1, the image processing unit 8, the image processing procedure delivery unit 11, and the like. Then, for each of the prepared image materials, the classification information of the image material corresponding appropriately, the image representation intention information, the image quality improvement point information, the color physical processing information, the image processing procedure information, the image processing command information, the initial image Information, image information after image processing command execution, side effect countermeasure procedure information, side effect countermeasure command information, image information after side effect countermeasure command execution, all of the obtained information is supported in the format shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It records in the database 6 for. The above preparatory work is performed prior to using the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

Since it is easy to copy the information registered in the database, the once completed supporting database 6 can be easily supplied to many workers. Therefore, even for a general worker who is not familiar with various knowledge about image processing, the procedure described below makes it possible to easily realize the optimum improvement process without repeating trial and error as compared with the conventional method. It is also possible to support image improvement processing work by a large number of workers.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of image improvement work performed using the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1 and a corresponding screen display. Hereinafter, the essential points of the image improving work performed using the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As described above, in the support database, in each of the columns except the "image subject" column, the second mark from the arbitrarily selected first '→' mark to the second mark
Of the above-mentioned information such that a group of candidate information corresponding appropriately to the information adjacent to the left side of the first '→' mark is located just before the '→' mark of Relationships are being made. Therefore, if one information is selected from the information registered in each column in the support database, it is possible to find a group of candidate information that appropriately corresponds to the selected information in the adjacent column on the right side. Starting with the classification of image material, estimating the intention of expressing the image, selecting image quality improvement points, selecting color physical processing, selecting image processing procedures, and selecting side effect countermeasure procedures. It is possible to easily guide a group of candidate information that appropriately corresponds to certain information selected in.

The image improvement work is sequentially executed according to the processing flow on the left side of FIG. First working step
In (i), the operator causes the display means 10 to display the initial image of the image material whose image quality should be improved by using the image processing means 8. Then, in the work steps (ii) to (xiii), the worker sequentially refers to each column of the support database 6 by using the image processing procedure guiding means 7, and as described in the screen display on the right side of FIG. Each information is sequentially displayed on the display means 10.

In the work step (ii), the image processing procedure guiding means 7 displays the candidate information registered in the "image subject" column in the support database 6 shown in FIG. "Human flower" is displayed on the display means 10 as a selection branch. On the other hand, the worker is most appropriate from the displayed selection branches to add "○" in the right frame of Fig. 4 according to the feature of the design of the given image material or the purpose of use. Select one that is considered to be, for example, "person".

In the work step (iii), the image processing procedure guiding means 7 causes the "image representation intention" column adjacent to the right side of the "person" in the support database 6 selected in the work step (ii). Candidate information from under the '→' mark to immediately before the next '→' mark is displayed on the right side of Fig. 4, for example,
Cuteness, beauty, vitality and intelligence ”is displayed on the display means 10 as a selection branch. On the other hand, the operator selects the most appropriate one, for example, "beauty" from the displayed selection branches according to the feature of the design of the given image material and the purpose of use. Hereinafter, in each of the processing steps (ii) to (xiii), the guidance display of the candidate information by the image processing procedure guidance means 7 and the operator's selection operation for the guidance information are alternately repeated.

Whether or not the worker can find an appropriate choice in each of the work steps (ii) to (xiii) is whether the applicable range of the information registered in advance in the support database 6 is wide enough. Depends on whether or not. When the applicable range is sufficiently wide, the image processing procedure guiding means 7 starts from (ii) classification of image material, (iii) estimation of image representation intention, (iv) selection of image quality improvement point, and (v) ) Selection of color physics processing, (vi)
Appropriate candidate information can be sequentially and easily guided in each determination leading to the selection of the image processing procedure and the selection of the (x) side effect countermeasure procedure.

After that, the image processing procedure guiding means 7 in the work steps (vii) and (xi) sends the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command corresponding to the candidate information selected in the preceding judgments to the supporting database. Derived from 6,
It is recorded in the image processing procedure recording means 9. In response to this, the image processing procedure delivery means 11 causes the image processing procedure recording means 9
Since the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command recorded in the above are passed to the image processing means 8, the worker can perform these steps in order to improve the image quality of the given image material in work steps (viii) and (xii). Can be used for.

As described above, when the applicable range of the information registered in the support database is wide enough, when the image processing is executed in the work steps (viii) and (xii), the classification of the image material, Since appropriate image processing commands and side effect countermeasure commands related to image representation intention, image quality improvement point, color physical processing, image processing procedure, side effect countermeasure procedure, etc. can be used, command input required for executing image processing It is possible to automate part or all of the work and easily execute appropriate image quality improvement processing for a given image material.

Next, referring again to FIGS. 2 to 4, an example of the image improving work carried out by using the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be concretely described for the image material in which the female face is reflected in the central portion. To do.

At work step (i), the worker activates the image processing means 8. That is, when the worker sends a command signal via the command input means 12, the image processing means 8 causes the display means 10 to display the initial image of the image material to be improved. After that, the worker maintains the state in which the initial image is displayed on the display means 10 until the work step (viii), and performs the work of the work steps (ii) to (viii) while referring to the initial image.

At work step (ii), the worker activates the image processing procedure guiding means 7. That is, when the worker sends a command signal via the command input means 12, the image processing procedure guiding means 7 guides the selection branch registered in the “image subject” column in the support database 6 to display the display means 10. To display. In the case of the support database 6 illustrated in FIG. 2, “landscape person flower” is displayed as shown in the right frame of the work step (ii) in FIG. Next, while referring to the pattern or the like of the given image material being displayed on the display unit 10, the operator considers the purpose of use of the image and the like, and the image considered to be appropriate from the displayed selection branches. There is one classification of the subject, for example, "person", and the command input means 1
Select with 2 mice.

In the work step (iii), the image processing procedure guiding means 7 causes the support database 6 to operate based on the command signal by the operator's selection operation performed in the work step (ii).
The selection means registered in the “intention to express” column adjacent to the right side of “person” in the “image subject” column therein is guided and displayed on the display means 10. In the case of the support database 6 illustrated in FIG. 2, as shown in the right side frame of the work step (iii) in FIG. 4, “Energy, cuteness, beauty, vitality and intelligence” is displayed. Next, the operator estimates the expression intention suitable for the given image material in consideration of the purpose of use of the image while referring to the design of the given image material displayed on the display unit 10, Using the mouse of the command input means 12, one expression intention considered to be appropriate, for example, "beauty" is selected from the displayed selection branches.

In the work step (iv), the image processing procedure guiding means 7 causes the support database 6 to operate based on the command signal by the selection operation performed by the worker in the work step (iii).
A selection branch registered in the “image quality improvement point” column adjacent to the right side of “beauty” in the “image expression intention” column is guided to be displayed on the display unit 10. In the case of the support database 6 illustrated in FIG. 2, as shown in the right frame of the work step (iv) in FIG. 4, “whiten teeth, smooth skin, weaken stains, moles, and scratches”. Is displayed. Next, the operator refers to the pattern and the image quality state of the given image material being displayed on the display means 10, and the operator sets the image quality improvement points suitable for realizing the expression intention selected in the work step (iii). One image quality improvement point that is estimated and considered appropriate from the displayed selection branches,
For example, "weak stains, moles, and scratches" is selected using the mouse of the command input means 12.

In the work step (v), the image processing procedure guiding means 7 causes the support database 6 to operate on the basis of the command signal according to the selection operation performed by the worker in the work step (iv).
A selection branch registered in the "color physical processing" column adjacent to the right side of "weak stains, moles, and scratches" in the "image quality improvement point" column is guided and displayed on the display means 10. In the case of the support database 6 illustrated in FIG. 2, as shown in the right side frame of the work step (v) in FIG. 4, “spots, moles, and scratches are covered with the surrounding skin color, and the sharpness is weakened”. Is displayed. Then, the display means 1
The operator estimates the color physical processing suitable for realizing the image quality improvement point selected in the work step (iv) while referring to the pattern and the image quality state of the given image material displayed in 0. Then, one of the color physical processes that is considered to be appropriate, for example, “decrease sharpness” is selected from the displayed selection branches using the mouse of the command input means 12.

In the work step (vi), the image processing procedure guiding means 7 causes the support database 6 to operate based on the command signal by the selection operation performed by the worker in the work step (v).
A selection branch registered in the "image processing procedure" column adjacent to the right side of "weakening sharpness" in the "color physical processing" column is guided and displayed on the display means 10. In the case of the support database 6 illustrated in FIG. 2, as shown in the right frame of the work step (vi) in FIG. 4, “the shadow area and the middle of the tone curve where the softness filter processing using the G filter is performed. The angle of the area goes to sleep ”is displayed. Next, the worker refers to the design, image quality state, etc. of the given image material being displayed on the display means 10, and the image suitable for the worker to realize the processing on the color physics selected in the work step (v). Using the mouse of the command input means 12, select one of the image processing procedures considered to be appropriate from the displayed selection branches by estimating the processing procedure, for example, "perform softness filter processing using G filter". To do.

In the work step (vii), the image processing procedure guiding means 7 causes the support database 6 to operate based on the command signal by the selection operation performed by the worker in the work step (vi).
"Using G filter," in the "Image processing procedure" column
Information registered in the “image processing command” column and the “image information” column adjacent to the right side of “Perform softness filter processing” is guided and displayed on the display unit 10. In the case of the support database 6 illustrated in FIG. 3, as shown in the right frame of the work step (vii) in FIG. 4, the image processing command “CL1, CL2, ..., CLN” and the corresponding image information PL
1, PL2, PL3 are displayed. Next, while referring to the design and image quality state of the given image material being displayed on the display means 10, the operator selects an inappropriate command among the displayed image processing commands, for example, the initial image file name. After making a correction such as changing the command to the image file name command to be improved, a command signal is sent to the image processing procedure guiding means 7 and the corrected image processing command is recorded in the image processing procedure recording means 9. Then, the operator activates the image processing procedure delivery means 11 to deliver the image processing command recorded in the image processing procedure recording means 9 to the image processing means 8.

In the work step (viii), the worker
After starting the image processing means 8, the image processing work is executed using the image processing command delivered in the work step (vii). At this time, the image processing means 8 changes the image before the image processing into the image after the image processing and displays it on the display means 10 every time the image processing is executed. Note that a specific execution procedure of the image processing work will be described in detail later.

In the work step (ix), the worker judges the image processing result. That is, the worker performs the image processing work or determines the image processing result while comparing the image information PL3 displayed on the display means 10 with the image information of the image material to be improved.

Here, as can be seen from the above description and the supporting database illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image information PL3 indicates that the “beauty” of the image whose image subject is “person” is “stain and blur. In order to express the image quality improvement point of ", weakening the scratches", the processing of the color physics of "decreasing the sharpness" is performed with the image processing procedure of "softening filter processing using G filter" and "not too blurring". Adjusting the value of the parameter ”The side effect countermeasure procedure is realized by using the image processing means 8, and the image information is in a good image quality state. Then work step (v
In iii) and (ix), the operator displays the image information PL3 having a good image quality state and the image information after the image processing of the image material to be improved side by side on the screen of the display means 10 for comparison. This makes it possible to easily set the target image quality state to be improved and set the values of parameters required for image processing.

The judgment result in the work step (ix) is OK.
If it is, the worker finishes the image processing work, or
Alternatively, the process returns to the work step (iii) and the image quality improvement processing work is performed for another improvement point of the image material. If the determination result is NG because a side effect has occurred, the process branches to work step (x). The operator decides which of the work steps (iii) and (x) is to be branched by the operator via the command input means 12 by sending the necessary command signal to the image processing procedure guiding means 7.
By sending to. The worker takes the work step (ix)
Up to (xi), the image after the image processing for the image material is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 10.

In the work step (x), the image processing procedure guiding means 7 causes the support database 6 to operate based on the command signal by the selection operation performed by the worker in the work step (vi).
"CL1, CL2, ..., CLN" in the "Image processing command" column in
The selection branch registered in the “Adverse Reaction Countermeasure Procedure” column adjacent to the right side of is guided and displayed on the display means 10. In the case of the support database 6 illustrated in FIG. 3, as shown in the right side frame of the work step (x) in FIG. 4, “do not blur too much, perform softness filter processing only on the face range”. Is displayed. Next, while referring to the image information obtained as the image processing result by the work step (viii) being displayed on the display means 10, the worker
Taking into consideration the image quality state due to the side effect generated as a result of the image processing by (viii), the side effect countermeasure procedure effective for eliminating the side effect is estimated, and the side effect countermeasure considered appropriate from the displayed selection branches One of the procedures, for example, “perform softness filter processing only on face area” is selected using the mouse of the command input means 12.

In the work step (xi), the image processing procedure guiding means 7 causes the support database 6 to operate based on the command signal by the selection operation performed by the worker in the work step (x).
Guide the information registered in the "Adverse effect countermeasure command" column and "Image information" column adjacent to the right side of "Perform softness filtering only on face area" in the "Adverse effect countermeasure procedure" column It is displayed on the display means 10. In the case of the support database 6 illustrated in FIG. 3, as shown in the right frame of the work step (xi) in FIG. 4, the side effect countermeasure command “CM1 ', CM2', ..., CMN '” Image information PL
1, PL2, PL3 'is displayed. Next, while referring to the design, image quality state, etc. of the given image material being displayed on the display means 10, the operator selects an inappropriate command among the side effect countermeasure commands displayed, for example, the initial image file name. After correcting the command and the like, a command signal is sent to the image processing procedure guiding means 7 and the corrected side effect countermeasure command is recorded in the image processing recording means 9. Then, the operator activates the image processing procedure delivery means 11 to deliver the side effect countermeasure command recorded in the image processing recording means 9 to the image processing means 8.

In the work step (xii), the worker
After the image processing means 8 is started up again, work step (xi)
The image processing work is executed by using the side effect countermeasure command passed in.

Next, the above-mentioned work steps (viii) and
A specific execution procedure of the image processing work in (xii) will be described in detail. After activating the image processing means 8, the operator first confirms whether the image information file name of the image material to be improved is input as the initial image file name. When this confirmation is completed, formally, the image processing means 8 is automatically given all of the initial image information and the image processing command or the side effect countermeasure command, so all the given image processing commands or side effect countermeasure commands are given. In the case of diverting as it is, it is also possible to execute it fully automatically throughout the image processing process by the image processing means 8.

However, in a normal case, the initial image file name in the image processing command or the side effect countermeasure command recorded in the image processing recording means 9 is the support database 6
In many cases, the image file name of the image material registered in is changed to the image file name of the image material that is the target of the image quality improvement processing work. Therefore, among the image processing commands or side effect countermeasure commands recorded in the image processing recording means 9, a command for designating an image range having a high degree of dependence on the design of the image, or a command for a correction process requiring subtle mixing It is inevitable that some inconvenience will occur.

However, even in such a case, the majority of the image processing image quality improvement command or the side effect countermeasure command output from the support database 6 to the image processing recording means 9 can often be used as it is. For example, in the case of hue correction processing, as described above, it starts from calling the file name in which the initial image information is registered,
Specifying the range of correction points in the image, setting the hue item to be corrected, executing hue evaluation, rough setting of the hue correction value, executing rough correction processing, determining the processing result, setting the fine adjustment value of the hue correction, fine It is executed by inputting a series of operation commands to the execution of the adjustment / correction processing, the judgment of the processing results, and the saving of the processing results to the image processing means 8. However, of these series of operation commands, it is impossible to divert them as they are. There are many
Calling the file name where the initial image information is registered,
It is limited to commands related to specifying the range of correction points and setting fine adjustment values for hue correction. Other commands, such as setting the hue item to be corrected, executing hue evaluation, rough setting of the hue correction value, and rough correction processing The commands relating to execution, determination of processing results, execution of fine adjustment correction processing, determination of processing results, and saving of processing results can often be used as they are. The same applies to correction items other than hue, such as saturation, brightness, gradation, contrast, image noise, image composition, and softening and sharpening.

For this reason, it is a particularly difficult judgment work for a general worker who is not familiar with the various knowledge about the image quality improvement processing work, that is, hue correction, saturation correction, lightness correction, gradation correction, tone contrast correction, image Of the various correction processing such as noise correction, image composition correction, blur correction and sharpening correction, the work of determining which correction item should be corrected and the work of estimating an appropriate correction value It can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional one. Also,
In many cases, even if it is necessary to manually re-enter the exact value of the correction value to be given by various correction processes,
Since the order of the correction value is often appropriate, the correction can be performed only by a fine finishing adjustment of the correction value. Further, since there are few inconveniences with respect to the processing that does not specify the image range and the correction processing that does not require subtle blending, the possibility of automating not only the specification of the correction item but also the setting of the correction value is improved. be able to. As described above, it is possible to improve the possibility of automating many operations constituting the image processing process.

However, as a matter of course, the image material having a high similarity to the given image material for improving the image quality and the expression intention suitable for the given image material are registered in advance in the support database 6. If not, or if no image processing command or side effect countermeasure command registered in the support database 6 has high similarity that can be applied to improve the image quality of the given image material, It is inevitable that some inconvenience will occur. In such a case, the same method as when registering various data in the support database 6 or the second best method is temporarily supported by an expert who is familiar with various knowledge regarding the image quality improvement processing work. Information such as a new image processing command or a side effect countermeasure command is created by a method such as finding and improving the same, and additionally registered in the support database 6. However, in any case, if there is no image processing command or side effect countermeasure command registered in the support database 6 that has a high degree of similarity and can be diverted, it is inevitable that an inconvenience will occur. .

Due to the above-mentioned circumstances, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the image processing procedure guiding means 7 performs the command input work required for the image processing performed in the work steps (viii) and (xii) by the work step (vii ) And (xi) support database 6
The image processing commands or the side effect countermeasure commands derived from the above are all used as they are, and the manual processing in which the operator manually inputs these commands is appropriately switched. Further, even in the case of automatic processing, each time the processing procedure advances, the processing work is advanced with a pause state as appropriate in order to confirm the contents of the command input and the processing result. In particular, among the image processing commands and side effect countermeasure commands guided by the image processing procedure guiding means 7 from the support database 6, those relating to the range designation and the setting of the minute correction value, which are expected to cause inconvenience in advance, will be described. , Proceed with the processing work while manually changing it. If any inconvenience occurs in the middle of the processing process, regardless of whether it is automatic processing or manual processing, the status immediately before the processing in which the inconvenience occurred is returned to and necessary for that processing. Change the input information manually, or re-execute after inputting additional information. After the processing that may cause inconvenience is completed, the image processing procedure guiding means 7 again returns to the automatic processing in which the image processing command or the side effect countermeasure command guided from the support database 6 is diverted, and the processing work is performed again. While doing so, the image processing work in the work steps (viii) and (xii) is executed.

After performing the processing of work step (xii),
The worker determines the processing result of the side effect countermeasure in the work step (xiii). Specifically, work step (xii)
In the middle of performing image processing work in
When determining the processing result in i), the image information PL3 ′ after the side effect countermeasure processing displayed on the display unit 10 is compared with the image quality state of the image material to be improved.

The image information PL3 'is image information that has been image-processed so that the image quality is good, like the image information PL3 described above. Similarly to the work step (ix), the worker displays the image information PL3 ′ having a good image quality state and the image information after the side effect countermeasure processing of the image material side by side on the display means 10 and sets them as targets to be improved. Values such as parameters necessary for image processing can be set while easily grasping the image quality state.

The determination result in the work step (xiii) is N
If it is G, the process returns to work step (x), another side effect countermeasure procedure is selected, and work steps (x) to (xii) are executed again. If the determination result is OK, the worker ends the image processing work or returns to the work step (iii) again. Then, when returning to the work step (iii), the image quality improving processing work is performed on another improvement point of the image material, as in the case of returning after the work step (ix). Then, the operator repeats the above processing until all the points to be improved of the given image material are improved.

The operator, if necessary, image processing procedure guiding means 7, image processing means 8, image processing procedure delivery means 1
By sending the command signal to 1, it is possible to return to an arbitrary work step among the work steps (i) to (xii) at an arbitrary time point, and re-execute from an arbitrary process. Further, similarly, it is possible to omit the processing in any of the working steps (i) to (xii) and start the processing from any of the working steps.

As described above in detail, the operator starts from the classification of image materials, estimates the intention of expressing the image, sets the image quality improvement point, selects the color physical processing, selects the image processing procedure, and performs the image processing. With respect to each of the command selection, the side effect countermeasure procedure setting, and the side effect countermeasure command selection, it is possible to easily induce a selection branch having a high possibility of being appropriate and make the most appropriate selection among them.

Further, the operator may be appropriate for each of the classification of image material, the image representation intention, the image quality improvement point, the color physical processing, the image processing procedure, the side effect countermeasure procedure, the command selection, and the like. Since the image processing can be executed by using the high image processing command or the side effect countermeasure command, it is possible to reduce the burden of input work of the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command and also reduce the number of trial and error. . Further, the worker can perform the work while easily grasping the image quality state of the improvement target during the image processing work or when determining the image processing result. In this way, the worker can easily perform the image quality improvement processing work that is highly likely to be appropriate for the given image material.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an application example of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 17 is an image processing device having the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 1, 18 is a disk device (comprised of a recording disk and a disk drive unit), a display device incorporating a RAM and a display, etc. , 19 are lines for connecting the image processing device 17 and the display device 18 for transmitting an image information signal. Here, when the distance between the image processing device 17 and the display device 18 is considerably long, it is preferable to use a wireless line as the line 19.

In the present embodiment, the processed image recording means 1
The image information of the image material which has been recorded in FIG. 3 and for which the image quality improving processing work has been completed is stored in the RAM (not shown) in the display device 18 via the line 19 connecting the image processing device 17 and the display device 18 by the image processing means 8. ) Is displayed on the display provided on the display device 18. When the same image information is presented to a large number of viewers with such a configuration, a large high-definition display such as an HDTV is preferably used as the display provided on the display device 18.

In the above-described embodiments, still images are mainly processed. However, since a moving image is also a still image when viewed in frame units, the image processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied to a case where a moving image is a processing target. Hereinafter, the main points of the embodiment in the case of processing a moving image will be described.

As a means for supplying the image material of the moving image to be improved in image quality, an optical disk or a digital VTR tape for converting the image information of the moving image into a digital signal for recording is suitable, but a means for converting the image information of the moving image into a digital signal. If the above is used, the means for supplying the moving image material is not limited to the above. And as an image processing device for moving images,
In the configuration of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a moving image dividing unit for extracting image information of a moving image by time division and a frame image signal input for extracting image information for each frame and inputting it to the input image recording unit 3. Use the one with means added.

In order to improve the image quality by using a moving image as a processing target, first, the worker uses the above-described moving image dividing means to classify the moving image given as the image material into appropriate time ranges in which the scene change is small. Subdivide with. Next, the worker uses the frame image signal input means to extract the image information of the first frame for each part of the moving image subdivided by the time segment and process the image information of the first frame. As a target, work is performed based on the processing flow of the image quality improvement work shown in FIG.

For each appropriate range with little change in the scene,
In each part of the moving image subdivided by the time division, the image of each frame is usually slightly different from the image of the immediately preceding frame. Therefore, the image processing command and side effect countermeasure command used to improve the image quality of the image of each frame are used as they are without modifying the image processing command and side effect countermeasure command used for the image quality improvement processing of the image of the immediately preceding frame. Often you can. In such a case, the image quality improvement processing operation of the image of each frame can be executed by a completely automatic process using the image processing procedure delivery means 11. Alternatively, even when the image processing command used for improving the image quality of the image of the immediately preceding frame or the side effect countermeasure command needs to be corrected, a very slight correction is often sufficient. The above can be said for images of all parts and all frames obtained by subdivision.

Therefore, after performing the work based on the processing flow of the image quality improvement work shown in FIG. 4 described above, the worker sets the image information of the first frame as the processing target for each of the subdivided parts, The image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command used for the image quality improvement processing of the immediately preceding frame are diverted as they are to perform completely automatic processing, or the image quality of all the second and subsequent frames after a slight correction Perform improvement processing. Then, the image quality improvement processing operation of the entire moving image is performed by repeatedly performing the image quality improvement processing operation in all parts of the moving image subdivided by the time division.

Furthermore, in addition to the moving picture dividing means and the frame image signal input means described above, the hue in a specific range from the image,
The image processing apparatus for moving images is provided with a region-of-interest extracting unit that automatically detects a region of interest in an image by detecting saturation and brightness.
By automating the range designation work of the correction point, it is possible to more efficiently perform the image quality improvement processing work of a moving image, which requires much more work and processing time than a still image.

Further, as a constitution in which the moving picture image processing device is networked or a plurality of input means and plural output means are added to one of the moving picture image processing devices,
If multiple workers can simultaneously perform image quality improvement processing work for each part that is subdivided by time division, the overall image quality improvement work work can be completed in a short time. it can.

In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the still image input control means 2, the image processing procedure guiding means 7, the image processing procedure delivery means 11, the image processing means 8 and the like are assigned to the ROM 4. The input image recording means 3, the image processing procedure recording means 9, the processed image recording means 13, etc.
However, the method of allocating each means described above is not limited to this, and may be allocated to, for example, an external recording means.

In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the image information of the image material whose image quality should be improved is input from the still image input means 1, but it is input from the still image input means 1. There is no need to do so, and for example, it may be supplied by an optical disc or a CD-ROM disc on which image information of image material is recorded.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when the image quality improvement point is selected in the work step (iv) in FIG. 4 or the color physical processing is selected in the work step (v), a textual selection branch is displayed on the display screen. Is displayed, it is also possible to display a keyword-like selection branch on the display screen and use it as an operator's selection branch.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a tone curve obtained by auxiliary visualizing the effect of the command. In the above embodiment, the guidance of the image processing command in the work step (vii) in FIG. Instead of displaying the operation commands such as CL1, CL2, ..., CLN for reference of the operator's selection and modification of the command contents when guiding the side effect countermeasure command in the work step (xi), it is shown in FIG. It is also possible to display a figure such as a tone curve diagram and use it for an auxiliary use of an image processing command or a side effect countermeasure command.

Further, FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing an example of a classification format of image materials in the support database shown in FIG. 1. The image materials in the support database are roughly classified as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. It is also possible to represent it in a middle classification, or in a classification format consisting of large classification, middle classification, and small classification, or in a format giving a specific keyword as shown in FIG. When many image materials are targeted, it is desirable to adopt a fine classification format as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, but the image processing apparatus of the present invention is not particularly dependent on the classification format of the image material. Needless to say.

Further, in the support database shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, only information suitable for being clearly divided and given for each image subject is given, but common items are provided for various image subjects, and images are provided. It may be possible to provide the support database with information that is more suitable if it is not divided for each subject. Such information includes, for example, underexposure or overexposure, color image fog, dust, scratches, and other defects in the image material document, how to use complementary colors or similar colors, or how to use warm or cold colors. Consideration for image quality improvement, consideration for image quality improvement on color contrast such as foreground and background are blurred, and foreground and background are clearly defined, brighter screen is preferred, dark dull tone is disliked, clear gradation is preferred Consideration is given to the improvement of image quality in relation to the improvement of the general taste of.

Further, in the above embodiment, the information about the classification of the image material, the information about the intention of expressing the image, the information about the image quality improving point, the information about the color physical processing, the image processing procedure and the side effect are stored in the supporting database means 6. Although all the information about the countermeasure procedure, the information about the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command, and the image information of the still image are registered, it is not always necessary that all of this information is registered in the support database means 6. For example,
Except for information on image processing commands and side effect countermeasure commands, information on classification of image material, information on image representation intention, information on image quality improvement points, information on color physical processing, information on image processing procedures and side effect countermeasure procedures If the information is guided and displayed by using the image processing procedure guiding means 7 after being registered in the supporting database means 6, although the input work of the image quality improvement command and the side effect countermeasure command is not supported, it starts from the classification of the image material. , Estimation of image representation intention, setting of image quality improvement points, color physical processing selection, image processing procedure selection,
Each decision work leading to the selection of side effect countermeasure procedures will be supported. In this case, since the operator can manually input the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command,
Of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the image processing procedure delivery means 11
Need not be provided.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the image material is classified, the image representation intention is estimated, the image quality improvement point is grasped, the color physical processing is selected, and the image processing procedure is performed. And a side effect countermeasure procedure, an image processing command or a side effect countermeasure command, and a grasp of the image quality state of the improvement target, it is possible to support two or more judgment works. Includes information on classification of image material, information on image representation intention, information on image quality improvement points, information on color physical processing, information on image processing procedures and side effect countermeasure procedures, information on image processing commands and side effect countermeasure commands. ， Of the image information of the still image,
It suffices if two or more pieces of information are properly associated with each other and registered.

[0095]

As described above in detail, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the classification of the image material, the estimation of the intention of expressing the image, the selection of the image quality improvement point, the selection of the processing on the color physics, and the target are performed. In situations where the operator needs to make various judgments, such as selecting an image processing procedure that produces the desired processing effect and selecting a side effect countermeasure procedure, an appropriate response is made to the specific information selected by the operator in the preceding judgment. A group of candidate information having a relationship is guided from the support database by the processing procedure guiding means and is displayed together with the progress of the image improvement processing, so that a general worker who is not familiar with various knowledge related to image processing Also, it is possible to easily select the optimal processing procedure while checking the change in the image quality state, and it is optimal without repeating trial and error compared to the past. The improved process can be easily realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part in an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention.

2 is a diagram (No. 1) showing an example of a correspondence relationship of information registered in a support database in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 2) showing an example of the correspondence relationship of information registered in the support database in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of image improvement work performed using the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1 and a corresponding screen display.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an application example of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a tone curve obtained by auxiliary visualizing the effect of a command.

FIG. 7 is a diagram (part 1) showing an example of a classification format of image material in the support database in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram (No. 2) showing an example of a classification format of image material in the support database in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram (part 3) showing an example of a classification format of image material in the support database in FIG. 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Still Image Input Means 2 Still Image Input Control Means 3 Input Image Recording Means 4 ROM 5 RAM 6 Supporting Database 7 Image Processing Procedure Guidance Means 8 Image Processing Means 9 Image Processing Procedure Recording Means 10 Display Means 11 Image Processing Procedure Handing Means 12 Command input means 13 Processed image recording means 14 Computer 15 CPU 16 OS

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A support database in which a correspondence relationship with other information is registered in advance for all information indicating the content of the image improvement process, and one for advancing the image improvement process based on the support database. Processing procedure guiding means for guiding the candidate information related to the above processing procedure, display means for displaying the guided candidate information and the progress of the image improvement processing, and a specific processing procedure selected from the candidate information. Therefore, the image processing means for controlling the execution of the image improvement processing is provided, and while referring to the candidate information displayed on the display means by being guided by the processing procedure guiding means, the selecting operation for a specific processing procedure is repeated. An image processing apparatus, which supports image improvement processing by executing the image processing apparatus. 2. The support database includes image quality improvement knowledge information about image material classification, image representation intention, image quality improvement points, color physical processing, image processing procedures and side effect countermeasure procedures, and image processing. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the command knowledge information about the command and the side effect countermeasure command and the image information representing the image material to be processed are registered in advance in a mutually associated state. . 3. The processing procedure guiding means includes a selection branch relating to classification of image material, a selection branch relating to image representation intention, a selection branch relating to image quality improvement point, a selection branch relating to color physical processing, an image processing procedure and side effect countermeasures. It is characterized in that any two or more of a selection branch regarding a procedure, a selection branch regarding an image processing command and a side effect countermeasure command, and a selection branch regarding image information representing an image material to be processed are guided as the candidate information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2. 4. The given image processing operation command information is delivered to the image processing means, and based on a part or all of the processing procedure described by the image processing command and the side effect countermeasure command in the image processing operation command information. 4. A structure including a processing procedure delivery means for automatically executing the image improvement processing.
The image processing device according to any one of 1. 5. An individual image information forming the moving image is provided with a moving image dividing means for temporally subdividing the image information of a given moving image into appropriate ranges in which the change of the scene is small. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image improvement processing for the moving image is supported by using as a processing target image material. 6. An image for a moving image, comprising frame image signal input means for extracting image information of each frame from a given moving image, and using each frame constituting the moving image as an image material to be processed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image processing apparatus supports improvement processing. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a region of interest extracting means for automatically extracting a region of interest in each of the image information.