JPH09312758A - Image reproduction method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relieve the load of the operator by avoiding waste of a photosensitive material in the case of conducting image composite processing such as character insertion when a color image read from a film or the like is recorded on the photosensitive material. SOLUTION: An advance read image signal is read from an image recorded on a film at a comparatively rough picture element interval and an image composite processing means 12 is used to apply processing to the read signal and the result is displayed on a CRT 71. The operator observes it to decide a final image composite processing condition G. A reaular read image signal representing the image recorded on the film is obtained and image composite processing is applied to the signal according to the final image composite processing condition G. A processed image signal SQ" subjected to the processing is given to a development means, by which the signal is recorded on a photosensitive material as a visual image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image reproduction 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 is about the method.

[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, converted into a digital signal by A / D conversion, subjected to various image processing such as correction of characteristic variations by each CCD element, density conversion, and magnification conversion, and transferred to an image recording means. To be done.

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 an image reproducing apparatus, if image recording by raster scan (light beam scanning) is used, a photosensitive layer of three primary colors formed on a photosensitive material, for example, exposure of three colors of R, G and B Are modulated in accordance with the image information for recording and are deflected in the main scanning direction (corresponding to the one-dimensional direction), and the photosensitive material is shifted in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. (Sub-scanning is relatively performed 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.

The exposed light-sensitive material is then subjected to a development process in accordance with the light-sensitive material, for example, in the case of a silver halide photographic material, a development process such as color development / development → bleaching / fixing → washing → drying is carried out to obtain a finished print Is output as

Before the final reproduced image is obtained, the image signal is read at a coarse pixel interval, and this image signal is C
The image is displayed as a visible image on the RT, the image processing conditions such as the hue of the image finally obtained are determined based on the displayed image, and the image processed by the image processing condition is finally reproduced. A method of recording an image on a light-sensitive material has also been adopted.

[0010]

On the other hand, the final reproduced image is reproduced by adding characters to the reproduced image, edging the reproduced image, or synthesizing the images such as designating the size of the output image. The method of obtaining has been practiced in recent years. In the case of synthesizing such an image, the obtained image signal is directly subjected to image synthesizing processing such as character insertion, and the final reproduced image is recorded on the photosensitive material. The processing applied to the image was unknown until the image was recorded on the light-sensitive material. For this reason, if the position to insert characters, the specification with or without borders, or the size of the output image is incorrect, it is necessary to re-synthesize the images again, which wastes the photosensitive material and is also useless for the operator. However, the work efficiency was poor.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image reproducing method and apparatus capable of eliminating waste of photosensitive material and improving working efficiency.

[0012]

An image reproducing method according to the present invention is an image reproducing method for performing a desired image composition on a color image recorded on an original and reproducing the composite image on a recording medium, The image is photoelectrically read, an image signal having a first pixel interval representing the color image is obtained, and the image signal is subjected to signal combination processing determined so as to obtain the desired image combination. In an image reproducing method for reproducing a combined image signal as a visible image on the recording medium, a second pixel interval which is coarser than the first pixel interval and which represents a color image on a document is displayed. A coarse image signal is obtained, signal combination conditions are determined according to desired image combination to be performed on the color image, signal combination processing is performed on the rough image signal according to the signal combination condition, and the combination processing is performed. Out The rough image signal is displayed as a visible image on the display means, and the signal combination condition is corrected as necessary so that the image displayed on the display means is an image that satisfies the desired image combination. A final signal combining condition is determined, a signal combining process is performed on the image signal of the first pixel interval representing the color image according to the final signal combining condition, and the signal combining is performed according to the final signal combining condition. It is characterized in that the processed image signal of the first pixel interval is reproduced as a visible image on the recording medium.

The coarse image signal may be obtained by making a pixel interval coarse when a color image on a document is read and digitized, or an image signal having a first pixel interval for final image reproduction. Alternatively, it may be obtained by performing processing such as thinning processing.

Here, the desired image composition means the type of character when a character is input to the reproduced image, the position of the character, the presence or absence of the edge of the reproduced image, the designation of the edge, the size of the output image, or It refers to various image composition conditions such as the image rotation direction.

[0015]

According to the image reproducing method of the present invention, the coarse image signal is subjected to the signal synthesis process under the signal synthesis condition determined according to the desired image synthesis to be performed on the color image, and the processed coarse image signal is processed. CR visible image based on image signal
It is displayed on a display means such as T, and the displayed visible image is observed to confirm whether or not the determined signal combination condition correctly reflects the desired image combination, and if necessary, the signal is displayed. This is to correct the synthesis condition to determine the final signal synthesis condition. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the photosensitive material from being wasted due to an incorrect synthesis process. In addition, since wasteful processing is not performed, work efficiency can be improved. Further, since the image signal for displaying a visible image for confirmation and correction is a coarse pixel signal with a pixel interval coarser than that of the image signal for final reproduction, signal combination processing for display and signal For the time required for correction of the composition conditions, the image signal for final reproduction is actually subjected to signal composition processing according to the signal composition conditions determined according to the desired image composition to be performed on the color image, A visible image can be displayed on a display unit such as a CRT based on the processed image signal and can be shortened as compared with the case where the correction is performed, and the work efficiency can be improved.

[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 to which the image reproducing method of the present invention is applied.

The illustrated digital photo printer 100 includes a bar code reader 4 for reading the bar code of the photo film 20.
2. A screen detection sensor 41 that detects the area of each frame 21 from the film 20 by a density change, and a sprocket 4 that meshes with the perforations of the film 20 and conveys the film 20.
4, the motor 43 for driving the sprocket 44, the frame number read by the film number read by the bar code reader 42 and the area of each frame 21 read by the screen detection sensor 41 are transmitted to the data bus and the motor 43 A film scanner control interface (I / F) 40 for transmitting a drive control signal to the motor 43, a light source 31 for irradiating the photographing frame 21 of the film 20 with light, a light control unit 32, a color separation unit 33, and a diffusion box 34. Focal point of the image forming optical system 51, a CCD 52 for photoelectrically reading a transmission image of an image recorded on the photographing frame 21 irradiated with light from the light source unit 30 via 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 that performs a process described below on the image-processed digital image signal that has been temporarily stored in the frame memory 55, and a digital image that has been processed by the second image processing device 56. A modulator driver 57 that outputs a modulation signal based on the image signal S, a printer 60 that reproduces a visible image based on the signal modulated by the modulator driver 57, a printer control I / F 58, and a digital memory stored in the frame memory 55. A hard disk 75 for storing the image signal S via a data bus, a CRT monitor 71 and a display I / F 70 for reproducing a visible image based on the digital image signal S or displaying image processing conditions, etc., if necessary. A keyboard 73 and keyboard I / F 72 for inputting conditions, correction values of image processing conditions, information for image search, and the like, a bar code via a data bus Image search information consisting of frame numbers read by the reader 42, image processing conditions input from the first image processing device 54 and the second image processing device 56, and digital image signal S input from the frame memory 55. Are stored in the hard disk 75 in association with each other, and one digital image signal S associated with the image search information input from the keyboard 73 is searched and controlled from the hard disk 75, and each other connected to the data bus. It is located at the CPU 74 that controls the equipment, the communication port 76 that connects to other digital photographic printer system via a communication line, and the inspection place for inspecting the photographic prints reproduced by the printer 60, and gives a reprint instruction if necessary. The keyboard 78 for inputting and the keyboard I / F 77 are provided.

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 transporting the photographic printing paper 100 in the longitudinal direction (sub-scanning direction) with reference to a positioning reference hole, and a signal modulated by a modulator driver 57 are modulated. An exposure scanner 61 that irradiates the photographic printing paper 100 while scanning light 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. ing.

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
Is a first image combination process for performing a predetermined image process on the digital pre-read image signal (coarse image signal) SP 'and a combination process under the signal combination condition determined based on the desired image combination. Means 12 and image synthesizing processing means 12 performs image processing and signal synthesizing processing on the main reading image signal SQ ′ according to the final signal synthesizing processing condition G applied to the preread image signal SP ′ and finally Processed image signal SQ
And the second image composition processing means 14 for obtaining "". The signal composition conditions are input, for example, from the keyboard 73. Here, the first image composition processing means 12 and the second image. Although the synthesizing means 14 is provided separately, the same means may be used, and the pre-read image signal SP ′ processed by the first image synthesizing means 12 is also possible.
The processed image signal SQ ″ which has been processed by the second image composition processing means 14 is displayed on the CRT 71.

Here, the synthesizing process means the following process. That is, when character insertion is performed on the reproduced image, character insertion processing is performed, and when the reproduced image is edged, processing is performed to determine whether or not there is an edge. Further, the size of the reproduced image is enlarged or reduced. Is a process of performing. Further, as the process of inserting characters, there is a process of determining the content of the character, the output position of the character, the character style, and the like. Further, the image processing performed by the image synthesizing processing means 12 and 14 includes final image color matching and gradation processing.

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

In this embodiment, first, CC
Pre-reading to obtain the pre-read image signal SP with a low resolution by making the detection interval of D52 relatively coarse, and after this pre-reading, CCD
The main reading is performed to obtain the main reading image signal SQ with a high resolution by making the detection interval of 52 relatively small.

First, the motor 43 is driven by the film scanner control I / F 40, the transport sprocket 44 connected to the motor 43 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 44 by being inserted into the transfer sprocket 44.

Further, the transport sprocket 44 is a film piece.
While the sheet 20 is being conveyed, the screen detection sensor 41 reads the density of the film piece 20 in order to search for the area where the image frame 21 exists, and the film scanner control I / F 40 changes the direction of the conveyance based on the read density information. The operation of the motor 43 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 41 detects the first frame 21 and the first frame 21 is stopped at a predetermined reading position under the control of the CPU 74, light is emitted from the light source unit 30 toward the frame 21. 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. In the present embodiment, first, the pre-read image signal SP
Therefore, the detection interval of the CCD 52 is set to be relatively coarse. 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 pre-read image signal S by the A / D converter 53.
It is converted to P ′ and input to the first image processing device 54, and the effects of shading and dark current are removed. The digital pre-read image signal SP ′ processed by the first image processing device 54 is temporarily stored in the frame memory 55.

The pre-read image signal SP 'temporarily stored in the frame memory 55 is input to the second image processing device 56.
In the second image processing device 56, the digital pre-read image signal SP 'is input to the image synthesizing processing means 12, where it is subjected to image processing such as gradation processing. Further, together with this image processing, image combining processing is performed.

That is, when character insertion is performed on an image, the content of the character, the output position of the character, the character style, etc. are determined and the character insertion processing is performed, and the reproduced image has a border. Is subjected to a process of adding a border to the reproduced image. Further, an image enlargement / reduction process is performed according to the size of the image to be reproduced, and when the image is rotated, a process of rotating the image is performed so that the image can be viewed directly.

The pre-read image signal SP "thus subjected to the image synthesizing process is input to the CRT 71 and reproduced as a visible image.

As a result, the operator can observe the image displayed on the CRT 71 and observe the image subjected to the synthesis processing according to the signal synthesis condition input from the keyboard 73. Then, as a result of this observation, if the image does not satisfy the desired image composition, for example, if the position or type of the character is different from the request, the signal composition condition is re-input and the hue of the image displayed on the CRT 71 or The gradation is observed, and if it is necessary to correct the gradation, the gradation is corrected, and the final image composition processing condition G is determined.

In this way, the pre-read image signal SP ″ is obtained,
When the image synthesizing processing condition G is determined, then the main reading (fine scanning) is performed. The pre-read image signal S described above
Light is emitted from the light source unit 30 as in the case of obtaining P.
The transmission image of the top 21 irradiated with the light is incident on 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. In the fine scan, the CCD is used to obtain the main reading image signal SQ.
The detection interval of 52 is set to be relatively fine. 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 main reading image signal SQ 'by the A / D converter 53,
It is input to the first image processing device 54, and the effects of shading and dark current are removed. The digital actual reading image signal SQ ′ processed by the first image processing device 54 is
Once stored in the frame memory 55, the second image processing device
Entered in 56.

In the second image processing device 56, the digital actual reading image signal SQ 'is input to the image synthesis processing means 14.
Then, in this image composition processing means 14, the final image composition processing condition G determined in the image composition processing means 12 is obtained.
The image processing is performed on the basis of the above to obtain a final processed image signal SQ ″. The processed image signal SQ ″ is input to the printer 60. In the printer 60, the processed image signal SQ ″ is printed on photographic paper or the like as a visible image.

Further, the processed image signal SQ ″ is sent to the printer 60.
However, the processed image signal SQ ″ may be input to the CRT 71 and displayed as a visible image.

In the above embodiment, the coarse image signal is obtained by pre-reading, and after the final signal processing condition is determined,
Although the image signal for the final reproduction is read again, the image signal for the final reproduction may be read first and the rough image signal may be obtained by thinning out the image signal. In this case, the image signal for final reproduction is stored separately, and after the final signal processing condition is determined using the rough image signal obtained by thinning processing of the image signal, it is stored. The stored image signal may be read out and combined according to the final signal processing conditions.

As described in detail above, in the image reproducing method according to the present invention, the signal combining process is performed on the coarse image signal according to the signal combining condition determined according to the desired image combining to be performed on the color image. Then, a visible image is displayed on a display means such as a CRT based on the processed rough image signal, the displayed visible image is observed, and the determined signal combining condition correctly reflects the desired image combining. It is possible to prevent the waste of the photosensitive material due to an erroneous synthesizing process because the final signal synthesizing condition is determined by correcting the signal synthesizing condition if necessary. . In addition, since wasteful processing is not performed, work efficiency can be improved. Further, since the image signal for displaying a visible image for confirmation and correction is a coarse pixel signal with a pixel interval coarser than that of the image signal for final reproduction, signal combination processing for display and signal For the time required for correction of the composition conditions, the image signal for final reproduction is actually subjected to signal composition processing according to the signal composition conditions determined according to the desired image composition to be performed on the color image, The visible image is C based on the processed image signal.
It can be shortened as compared with the case where correction is performed by displaying on a display means such as RT, and the work efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a digital photographic printer.

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 First image composition processing means 13 Second image composition processing means 20 Film piece 21 Photographing frame 30 Light source unit 41 Screen detection sensor 43 Motor 44 Sprocket 50 AF motor 51 Imaging optical system 52 CCD 54 First image processing device 56 Second image processing device

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image reproduction method for performing desired image combination on a color image recorded on an original and reproducing the combined image on a recording medium, wherein the color image is photoelectrically read,
Obtain an image signal of the first pixel interval representing the color image,
An image that is subjected to signal combination processing determined to obtain the desired image combination for the image signal and that the combined image signal is reproduced as a visible image on the recording medium. In the reproducing method, a coarse image signal representing a color image on a document and having a second pixel interval coarser than the first pixel interval is obtained, and a signal combining condition is set according to a desired image combining to be performed on the color image. The signal composition processing is performed on the rough image signal according to the signal composition conditions, and the coarse image signal subjected to the composition processing is displayed as a visible image on the display unit and displayed on the display unit. The image having the first pixel interval representing the color image is corrected by correcting the signal combining condition as necessary so as to obtain an image that satisfies the desired image combining, and determining the final signal combining condition. For the signal A signal synthesizing process is performed under the final signal synthesizing condition, and the image signal having the first pixel interval subjected to the signal synthesizing process under the final signal synthesizing condition is reproduced as a visible image on the recording medium. Image playback method.