JPH09214764A - Picture recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a reproduction picture with fixed picture quality in spite of difference in a photosensitive material kind in a picture recording device recording a picture on a photosensitive material. SOLUTION: Look-up table data for executing a picture processing to a picture signal is stored in a memory 41 by photosensitive material kinds. CPU 40 reads look-up table data from the memory 41 based on ID information of the photosensitive material which is read by an ID information reading means 43 and sets look-up tables 35R, 35G and 35B by the data. The picture signal is inputted to the look-up tables 35R, 35G and 35B, executed with the prescribed processing and, then, inputted to a developing means so that the picture is recorded on the photosensitive material based on the processed picture signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image recording for displaying as a visible image an image signal obtained from a color image carried on a reflective original such as a photograph or a printed matter, a transparent original such as a negative film or a reversal film. It relates to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image information recorded on a photographic film (hereinafter, referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film or a printed matter is photoelectrically read, and the read image is converted into a digital signal. Digital photo printers are being developed which perform image processing described above to obtain image information for recording, and scan and expose a photosensitive material such as photographic paper with a recording light modulated according to the image information for printing.

[0003] Digital photo printers use various types of images, such as editing of a plurality of images, editing of image division, etc., editing of characters and images, printing image layout, color / density adjustment, scaling, and edge enhancement. Processing can be performed freely, and a print that has been freely edited and image-processed can be output according to the application. Further, in the conventional printing using surface exposure, all the image density information recorded on a film or the like cannot be reproduced due to the restriction of the reproducible density range of the photosensitive material. It is possible to output a print in which almost 100% of the image density information is reproduced.

Such a digital photo printer is basically a reading means for reading an image recorded on a document such as a film, an image processing of the read image is performed to determine subsequent exposure conditions, and the exposure conditions are determined according to the determined exposure conditions. It is composed of an image recording means for scanning and exposing a photosensitive material for development processing and displaying it on a monitor.

In a device for reading an image recorded on a film or the like, in reading by slit scanning, for example, a slit-shaped reading light extending in a one-dimensional direction is applied to the film, and the film is substantially defined in the one-dimensional direction. Move in the orthogonal direction (or move the reading light and photoelectric conversion element)
Thus, the film is two-dimensionally scanned. The transmitted light carrying the film image transmitted through the film is CC
An image is formed on a light receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion element such as a D-line sensor, photoelectrically converted, and read. The read light amount data is amplified and converted into a digital signal by A / D conversion, and various image processings such as correction of characteristic variations by each CCD element, density conversion, and magnification conversion are performed by a look-up table to obtain an image. It is transferred to the recording means.

In the image recording means, the transferred image information is reproduced as a visible image on a display such as a CRT. The operator looks at the reproduced image, and if necessary, further applies corrections such as gradation correction and color / density correction to the reproduced image (setting of setup conditions), and the reproduced image passes as a finished print (test OK). ), The image data is transferred to a developing unit or a monitor as image information for recording.

In the image reading apparatus, if the image recording by raster scanning (light beam scanning) is used, exposure of three primary color photosensitive layers formed on a photosensitive material, for example, three colors of R, G and B are exposed. Of the three types of light beams are modulated in accordance with image information for recording and deflected in the main scanning direction (corresponding to the one-dimensional direction), and at the same time, in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction In the sub-scan direction (relative sub-scan between the deflected light beam and the photosensitive material)
Thus, the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam modulated according to the recorded image, and the read image of the film is recorded on the photosensitive material.

At this time, the photosensitive material is wound in a roll shape, and the rolled photosensitive material is pulled out and conveyed, and a hole is punched between each frame of an image to be recorded by a hole punch, and between the holes. The light-sensitive material of (1) is exposed as a single frame image by a light beam, and the image is recorded on the light-sensitive material as a latent image.

The exposed light-sensitive material is cut into a size of one frame and conveyed to the developing means, and development processing according to the light-sensitive material is performed. → Development processing such as drying is performed and output as a finished print.

[0010]

As described above, when an image is recorded on a photosensitive material, an image signal is subjected to image processing by a look-up table to expose and develop the photosensitive material. Since different color photosensitive materials have different color reproduction characteristics, the density of the obtained image may change even if the photosensitive material has the same exposure conditions and developing conditions. In this way, if the density of the reproduced image changes due to the difference in the type of the photosensitive material, it becomes impossible to obtain a reproduced image of constant quality.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of obtaining a reproduced image of constant quality even if the type of photosensitive material is different.

[0012]

An image recording apparatus according to the present invention sets image processing to be applied to an image signal obtained by photoelectrically reading each frame image of a photographic film on which a color image is recorded. A look-up table, an exposure unit that modulates light based on an image signal subjected to image processing by the look-up table, and scans and exposes the photosensitive material with the modulated light; and the photosensitive material after the exposure. And a developing means for developing an image to record an image represented by the image information on the photosensitive material as a visible image, and a plurality of lookup tables corresponding to a plurality of types of photosensitive materials. Look-up table data storage means for storing data, and the look-up table data according to the type of photosensitive material on which the image is recorded. A lookup table setting unit that reads the lookup table data from the storage unit and sets the lookup table based on the read lookup table data, and the lookup set by the lookup table setting unit. The image processing is performed by an up table.

Further, in the above apparatus, magazine accommodating means for accommodating a magazine to which ID information corresponding to the type of the photosensitive material is attached, and ID information of the magazine are read and input to the look-up table setting means. ID information reading means is further provided, and the lookup table setting means is the ID input from the ID information reading means.
It is preferable that the means is means for reading the lookup table data from the lookup table data storage means based on information.

[0014]

In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of look-up table data corresponding to the type of the photosensitive material is stored in advance in the look-up table data storage means, and the look-up table setting means exposes the image and Look-up table data corresponding to the type of photosensitive material to be developed is read from the look-up table data storage means to set a look-up table, and image processing is performed on the image signal by the set look-up table. It is the one.

As a result, even if the type of the light-sensitive material is different, the image processing is performed on the image signal by the look-up table which always performs the image processing suitable for the light-sensitive material. The image is always the optimum one for the photosensitive material regardless of the type of the photosensitive material. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a reproduced image of constant quality even if the type of the photosensitive material is different.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a digital photographic printer which is an embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

The illustrated digital photo printer 100 includes a bar code reader 8 for reading the bar code of the photo film 20.
2. A screen detection sensor 81 that detects the area of each frame 21 in the film 20 by a change in density, and a sprocket 8 that meshes with the perforations of the film 20 and conveys the film 20.
4, the motor 83 for driving the sprocket 84, the frame number read by the film number read by the bar code reader 82 and the area of each frame 21 read by the screen detection sensor 81 are transmitted to the data bus and the motor 83 A film scanner control interface (I / F) 80 for transmitting a drive control signal to the motor 83, a light source 11 for irradiating the photographing frame 21 of the film 20 with light, a light control unit 12, a color separation unit 13, and a diffusion box 14. The light source unit 10 consisting of, the CCD 52 photoelectrically reading the transmitted image of the image recorded on the photographing frame 21 irradiated with the light from the light source unit 10 through the image forming optical system 51, and the focal length of the image forming optical system 51. A / D converter 53, A for converting the image signal corresponding to the transmission image photoelectrically converted by the AF motor 50, CCD 52 for adjusting The digital image signal output from D converter 53, the first image processing device 5 for outputting a good image signal quality by performing the correction for the effects of shading and dark current in the frame memory 55
4. A second image processing device 56 for performing a process as described later on the image-processed digital image signal once stored in the frame memory 55 and outputting a modulation signal based on the digital image signal S, Printer 60 for reproducing a visible image based on a modulated signal and printer control I /
F58, a hard disk 75 for storing the digital image signal S stored in the frame memory 55 via a data bus, a CRT for reproducing a visible image based on the digital image signal S as necessary, or displaying image processing conditions monitor
71 and the display I / F 70, the image processing condition, the correction value of the image processing condition, the keyboard 73 and the keyboard I / F 72 for inputting the image search information, and the frame number read by the barcode reader 82 via the data bus. The image search information, the image processing conditions input from the first image processing device 54 and the second image processing device 56, and the digital image signal S input from the frame memory 55 are stored in the hard disk 75 in association with each other. In addition, the CPU 74 that controls the search of one digital image signal S associated with the image search information input from the keyboard 73 from the hard disk 75, and controls each device connected to the other data bus, and other digital photographs. A communication port 76, which is connected to the printer system via a communication line, and a detector for inspecting photographic prints reproduced by the printer 60. This is a configuration provided with a keyboard 78 and a keyboard I / F 77, which are arranged in the place of goods and input a reheating instruction as necessary.

The hard disk 75 has a storage capacity of 25 GB (gigabytes) or more. Normally, the image signal required to obtain the resolution corresponding to L size (about 9 cm x 13 cm) photographic prints is calculated to be about 5 MB / 1 image, and when this image signal is data compressed to the extent that the image quality does not deteriorate. , The image signal becomes about 1MB / 1 image. An average minilab store can set the number of working days to 25 days / month, the number of films to be brought in to 50 / day, and the number of shooting frames per film to 20 frames. Assuming that the old image signals that have passed over one month since they were brought in are sequentially erased, the storage capacity required for the hard disk 75 is about 25 GB as described above.

In detail, the printer 60 is composed of a printing section, a developing section and a drying section. The printing section has a roll-shaped photographic printing paper 100 arranged in a magazine 62 with a reference hole for positioning. A hole punch unit 63 for punching, a sub-scanning drive system 64 for conveying the photographic printing paper 100 in the longitudinal direction (sub-scanning direction) with reference to a reference hole for positioning, and a signal modulated by the second image processing device 56. An exposure scanner 61 that irradiates the photographic printing paper 100 with modulated light while scanning it in the main scanning direction, and a back printing unit 65 that prints the image search information input through the printer control I / F 58 on the back surface of the photographic printing paper 100. It consists of

In the drying section, a cutter 66 for cutting the dried photographic printing paper (photographic prints) 100 one by one and a sorter 67 for arranging the photographic prints cut one by one in a line are arranged. Is equipped with.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the second image processing device 56. As shown in FIG. 2, the second image processing device 56
Interface 30 for receiving the input image signal
And line buffers 31R, 31G, 31B for temporarily storing the input RGB image signals, and direct mapping 32 for performing mapping based on the input image signals.
And a frame memory 33R, 33G, 33B for storing the image signal subjected to direct mapping, and a frame memory
Line buffers 34R, 34G, 34B for temporarily storing the image signals stored in 33R, 33G, 33B, and a lookup table 35 for performing image processing on the RGB image signals.
R, 35G, 35B and lookup tables 35R, 35G,
D / A converters 36R, 36G and 36B for converting the image signal subjected to the image processing by 35B into analog data, a CPU 40 for controlling the processing in the image processing means 12, and a plurality of CPUs corresponding to the types of photosensitive materials. 41 for storing lookup table data of the
A frame memory controller 42 for controlling the operation of the G, 31B and the frame memories 33R, 33G, 33B, and ID information reading for reading ID information indicating the type of the photosensitive material attached to a cassette (not shown) containing the photosensitive material. And means 43.

Next, the operation of the image reproducing apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

First, the motor 83 is driven by the film scanner control I / F 80, the transport sprocket 84 connected to the motor 83 is rotated, and the left end of the film piece 20 which is a negative film having an image recorded on each frame 21 is moved. The film piece 20 is transferred by the transfer sprocket 84 by being inserted into the transfer sprocket 84.

Further, the transport sprocket 84 is a film piece.
While the sheet 20 is being conveyed, the screen detection sensor 81 reads the density of the film piece 20 in order to search for the area where the image frame 21 exists, and based on the read density information, the film scanner control I / F 80 determines the direction of conveyance. The operation of the motor 83 is controlled by the control of the CPU 74 so that the first top 21 stops at a predetermined reading position.

When the screen detection sensor 81 detects the first frame 21 and the first frame 21 is stopped at the predetermined reading position under the control of the CPU 74, light is emitted from the light source unit 10 toward the frame 21, and The transmission image of the top 21 illuminated with light enters the imaging optical system 51.

The transmitted image incident on the imaging optical system 51 is a CCD
A predetermined image is formed on the image receiving surface of 52. The CCD 52 photoelectrically converts the image into an image signal representing the image recorded on the frame 21. The converted image signal is converted into a digital image signal S ′ by the A / D converter 53 and input to the first image processing device 54, and the influence of shading and dark current is removed. The digital image signal S ′ processed by the first image processing device 54 is temporarily stored in the frame memory 55.

The image signal S ′ once stored in the frame memory 55 is input to the second image processing device 56. In the second image processing device 56, the following processing is performed on the digital image signal S '.

First, the image signal S input to the second image processing device 56 is input to the line buffers 31R, 31G and 31B through the interface 30. Next, the mapping is performed in the direct mapping 32, and the mapped image signals are stored in the frame memories 33R, 33G, 33B.
Is input to At this time, the line buffers 31R, 31G, 31
B and the frame memories 33R, 33G and 33B are controlled by the frame memory controller 42.

At the same time, the ID information attached to the cassette (not shown) containing the photosensitive material is read by the ID information reading means 43. Here, when the ID information is attached by a barcode, the ID information reading means 43 is a barcode reader, and when attached by magnetic information, the ID information reading means 43 is read by a magnetic reader. It will be. The I read by the ID information reading means 43
The D information is input to the CPU 40. The CPU 40 reads out the lookup table data corresponding to the ID information from the memory 41 based on the input ID information,
The lookup tables 35R, 35G, and 35B are set by this lookup table data. As a result, the look-up tables 35R, 35G, 35B are set with look-up tables capable of performing processing suitable for the photosensitive material for recording an image.

Then, the line buffers 34R, 34G, 34B
The image signal stored in the lookup table 35R,
The images are input to 35G and 35B and subjected to image processing suitable for a photosensitive material on which an image is recorded. Next, the image signal subjected to the image processing is input to the D / A converters 36R, 36G and 36B and converted into analog signals. Analog image signal S '
Is the AOM driver 37 that drives the AOM of the printer 60
Input to R, 37G, 37B. In the printer 60,
The light beam is modulated in accordance with the image information transferred from the AOM drivers 37R, 37G, 37B, and the image represented by the image signal S is printed as a visible image on photographic paper or the like.

In the above embodiment, the ID information attached to the magazine containing the photosensitive material is read,
The look-up table data is read from the look-up table data storage means based on the ID information.
You may make it input into PU.

As described in detail above, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of look-up table data corresponding to the type of photosensitive material is stored in the memory 41 in advance,
Look-up table data corresponding to the type of the photosensitive material on which the image is exposed and developed by the CPU 40 is read out from the memory 41 and the look-up tables 35R, 35G,
35B is set, and the image processing is performed on the image signal by the set look-up table.
Even if the type of the photosensitive material is different, the image processing is performed on the image signal by the look-up table that always performs the image processing suitable for the photosensitive material. It will always be the same regardless of. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a reproduced image of constant quality even if the type of the photosensitive material is different.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image reading device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of a second image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Light source unit 20 Film piece 21 Shooting frame 30 Interface 31R, 31G, 31B, 34R, 34G, 34B Line buffer 32 Direct mapping 33R, 33G, 33B Frame memory 35R, 35G, 35B Lookup table 36R, 36G, 36B D / A Converter 40 CPU 41 Memory 42 Frame memory controller 43 ID information reading means 50 AF motor 51 Imaging optical system 52 CCD 54 First image processing device 56 Second image processing device 81 Screen detection sensor 83 Motor 84 Sprocket

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A lookup table for setting image processing to be applied to an image signal obtained by photoelectrically reading each frame image of a photographic film on which a color image is recorded, and image processing by the lookup table. An exposure unit that modulates light based on the image signal subjected to the exposure, scans and exposes the photosensitive material with the modulated light, and develops the exposed photosensitive material, and is represented by the image information. In an image recording apparatus provided with a developing means for recording an image on the photosensitive material as a visible image, a lookup table data storage means for storing a plurality of lookup table data corresponding to each of a plurality of types of photosensitive materials, The look-up table data is stored in the look-up table data storage means according to the type of the photosensitive material on which the image is recorded. And a lookup table setting means for setting the lookup table on the basis of the read lookup table data, wherein the image processing is performed by the lookup table set by the lookup table setting means. An image recording device characterized by. 2. A magazine accommodating means for accommodating a magazine to which ID information corresponding to the type of the photosensitive material is attached, and an ID information reading means for reading the ID information of the magazine and inputting it to the lookup table setting means. Further, the lookup table setting means is a means for reading the lookup table data from the lookup table data storage means based on the ID information input from the ID information reading means. Item 1. The image recording device according to item 1.