JPH09181890A - Method and device for scanning of original image and image processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain a high operation rate by selecting an original image so as to decide a scanning limit used for scanning the original image, acquiring digital data expression of the original image and conducting final image processing through the use of the data expression. SOLUTION: Data read scanning is conducted by using a computer application program 204 which uses parameters entered by a work station 104 to set a scanner. Raw image data are stored in a digital storage system 210 controlled by an image server 212. When the scanned image data enter the server 212, the processing by an image processing operator 226 is made available in one work station 222 or over. The entry is conducted by an operator 202 with a comparatively inferior technical qualification, while jobs at the right side of a line 200 shown in figure are conducted by an operator 226 with a comparatively high skill. The processing efficiency of the system depends on a speed sent to the server 212.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the use of digital scanning systems in the electronic preprinting and photography industries. The invention particularly relates to scanning and image processing of original images in a production environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of the electronic pre-printing industry, expectations for high image quality have greatly increased. For this reason, more expensive scanners and processing equipment are being used.
Workflow and productivity efficiencies (both expensive equipment and skilled workers) require the scanner to operate at the maximum possible uptime to perform productive tasks. Scanning and post-scanning (skill-intensive) image processing are becoming important as determinants of document image processing efficiency at facilities providing these services.

One of the major factors in determining the time required for scanning and post-scan image processing per document image is that currently available systems scan the image at a low resolution to set the final scan. May have to be decided. After the preview scan is performed, a final scan is performed with a predetermined space and A / D resolution to form a rectangular array of image elements (referred to as "pixels"). The pixels are processed by methods well known in the art and generally output to a print medium using offset printing or other printing methods. The image processing after scanning includes, for example, color correction, rotation, scaling, and print area setting (cropping).

The separate preview scanning in prior art systems is due to the requirements of the processing and storage means, namely the efficiency of acquiring, transferring and computing the data to be scanned, and the ability to digitally store large amounts of image data. It was a thing. For example, for A3 size color reproduction,
A file size of 110 megabytes is typically required for RGB data stored with 16 bits for each color per pixel. The total storage used for a set of images stored at this rate can be several giga. In a file of this size, one factor is the ability of the CPU to perform reciprocal display on the console screen, and video processing such as unsharp masking for bidirectional processing. The traditional approach to processing is to limit the first acquired data to a specific use, and to make multiple processing changes to the acquired data to store multiple copies of the data. I've been avoiding that. This approach did not allow the image to be stored for future use. This is due to the need to limit the size of the dataset and the irreversibility of data changes made in the process.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for scanning and post-scan image processing in a highly efficient scanning system.

A specific object of the present invention is to maximize resource utilization efficiency in a production scanner / image processing system, with additional scanning performed solely to reduce the amount of data processed and stored. And eliminating online processing steps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide storage of original image data in a manner that retains all information acquired in the scanning process.

As a feature of the present invention, it is possible to perform initial setting and document image processing without involvement of an operator having a high skill level.

Another feature of the invention is that all of the image processing operations involving highly skilled operators are performed on the pre-scanned image, in parallel with it, scanning for high resolution scanning. It is possible to maintain a high operating rate in the system.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an apparatus and method for scanning and finalizing an original image, in which: 1. The pre-scan function is one or more operators of relatively low skill level. Are limited to those that can be done independently of the scanning system.

2. Each original image is scanned only once according to the maximum space and A / D resolution required for final processing. What is used here is the scan limit specification and other information obtained without preview scan.

3. Raw scan data of the original image is stored on a digital data storage medium ("image server") accessible by one or more workstations that perform post-scan image processing.

4. All image processing steps include the final cropping, color correction and video processing required for the image,
It is performed using the raw raw scan data obtained from the image server as input. As a result, an output image data set that has been appropriately converted according to the application is generated.

[0014]

The present invention differs from the prior art in that the initial preparation stage is usually limited to image placement and recognition. On the other hand, in the prior art, the scanner and the operator are involved in the preview scanning step, and this is done for the purpose of reducing the data storage amount and the required time of the image scanned at high resolution. In the method of the present invention, the data is acquired with sufficient resolution and digital accuracy to accommodate all expected applications. This available information is typically the complete set that is actually needed for any application. For example, the original image can be cropped to form a small size output image. It is also possible to perform arithmetic processing of the resolution of the raw image data to make the output image a low effective resolution, or to perform (irreversible) image enhancement processing without affecting the original image data. The cost of obtaining the complete set of information is excessive automated processing time and digital data storage. As the technical level of the processing and storage system has advanced, it has become possible to compensate by the involvement of highly productive high-priced equipment, skilled personnel, and reuse of original data.

The objects and features of the present invention will be understood by the preferred embodiments selected and illustrated for the detailed description and description of the invention.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a prior art scanning system. A line 100 in the figure separates each component and process into a pre-scan function and a post-scan function. Associated with the pre-scan components and functions are skilled workers 102, "front end" workstations 104 and scanners 106. The scanner 106 is used in various ways in processing a document image 108 mounted on one of the image holders (or drums) 110. First,
The skilled worker 102 makes preparations in the input preparation unit 112. Preparation includes physically placing the original image 108, cropping it by masking or digitization, and rotating it as necessary, that is, physically placing the original in the original holder 110 at an angle. After performing a low resolution preview scan using the scanner 106, the skilled worker 102 performs further finishing. Here, the front-end workstation 104 performs final cropping and adjustment of color tone and balance of the preview-scanned image.

At the end of the prescan process in the prior art system of FIG. 1, the scanner 106 uses the information for control and data correction to perform a final scan at high resolution. In the figure, this link is provided by the workstation 104. Here, the manual input to the scanner is often made directly, but it depends on the performance of the scanning system. The image thus scanned can be held in the digital data storage system 114 or output directly using the output processor 116 that formats and controls the output device 120. In the output processing unit 116, normal digital halftone screen processing is applied to the continuous tone image data. Output 120 is typically a device such as an imagesetter or printer. The processing by the system components to the right of line 100 is operator 1
22 does, but it requires only minimal skill. With this system, the productivity of the skilled worker 102 is
Configured for saving or output, previewed,
Limited by the processing speed of the scanner 106 processing the conditioned and final scanned image. Except for the image placement work that can be performed in parallel with the actual scanning, the operator 10
The two must spend most of their time waiting for a preview or final scan to be performed.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the scanning system of the present invention. Here, each component and processing is divided into an image input function and an image processing function by a line 200. The input process is performed by the operator 202, which includes placing the document image 108 on the holder 110. Then, the data reading scanning is performed once by using the computer application 204 which performs the scanner setting using the parameters input in the workstation 104. A rough scan limit is a value that, along with the identification information entered for use in storing and accessing data, does not have to be previewed at the desired resolution, the maximum resolution of which is the optimum resolution for the stored data to display the scanned image. It is possible to set. After scanning, the raw image data is stored in a digital archiving system 210 controlled by an "image server" 212. The image server is a computer dedicated to storing and accessing images. In the figure, the network 220 communicates between each component of the input system, the server 212, the image processing workstation 222, and the output device 224. Once the digital data of the scanned image enters the image server 212, one or more workstations 222
The processing by the image processing operator 226 becomes possible. In this configuration, the input work is performed by the operator 202 having a relatively low skill level, while the line 2
The work to the right of 00 is performed by one or more operators 226 at workstation 222, which require relatively high skill. In this case, the processing efficiency of the system depends on the speed of scanning the image and transmitting it to the server 212. Since the number of image processing workstations can be set according to the nature of the images to be processed and the processing contents, it is possible to maximize the utilization efficiency of human resources with high skill levels and expensive “post-installation” equipment. . In addition, it is possible to sequentially scan and "batch" already mounted and recognized image sets, with little operator intervention. Image processing at the workstation can begin upon completion of scanning and storing the first batch of images and can continue until the last image has been scanned and stored, substantially uninterrupted.

Finally, since the original image data is stored in a "read only" state, it can be used in parallel by a plurality of workstations 222. As a result, various output images having different purposes can be simultaneously formed. Furthermore, the stored data can be used for various reprocessings required for new applications.

The present invention has the following features.

A first gist is a method of scanning an original image and performing final image processing, selecting an original image for scanning and final image processing, and determining a scanning limit used for scanning the original image in a scanning system. Then, the spatial resolution used for scanning the original image in the scanning system is determined, and the spatial resolution is equal to or higher than the resolution used for the final image processing of the original image, and is used for scanning the original image in the scanning system. The digital data accuracy is determined, and the digital data accuracy is equal to or higher than the accuracy used in the final image processing of the original image, and the scanning in the determined spatial resolution is performed on the original image in the scanning system. Scanning is performed between the limit and the determined scanning limit in the digital data accuracy, and the original image is scanned. Acquires the digital data representations, using the digital data representation of the original image, a method characterized by performing the final image processing of the original image.

A second gist is a method of scanning a document image and performing final image processing, wherein a digital data representation of the document image is stored in a read-only format, and the stored digital data representation of the document image is used. hand,
The method according to the first aspect, further comprising a step of performing final image processing of the original image.

A third aspect is a method of scanning and final image processing an original image, wherein a digital data representation of the original image stored is used to finalize the original image in parallel at a plurality of workstations. The method according to the second aspect, further including a step of performing image processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a prior art scanning system.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the scanning system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 112 Input Preparation Unit 106 Scanner 202 Low Skilled Operator 104 Front End Workstation 212 Image Server 224 Output Device 222 Processing Workstation 226 High Skilled Operator

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (71) Applicant 595022371 200 BALLARDVALE STREET, WELLMINGTON, MASSA CHUSETTS 01887, U.S.A. S. A.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method of scanning and final image processing an original image, selecting an original image for scanning and final image processing, determining a scan limit used to scan the original image in a scanning system, In which the spatial resolution used for scanning the original image is determined, and the spatial resolution is equal to or higher than the resolution used for the final image processing of the original image, and the digital data accuracy used for scanning the original image in the scanning system is determined. And the digital data accuracy is
The accuracy is equal to or higher than the accuracy used for the final image processing of the original image, the scanning limit in the determined spatial resolution and the scanning in the determined digital data accuracy with respect to the original image in the scanning system. Scanning to and from a limit to obtain a digital data representation of the original image and using the digital data representation of the original image to perform the final image processing of the original image.