JPH10302063A - Image processor and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of objectively evaluating the effect of an image processing by updating the display of a processing pattern as well every time a parameter is updated. SOLUTION: When source images to be processed and the image processing are specified from an input device 3, the source images are inputted. For the source images, present images can be read by an image input device 1 or they can be read from an image preservation device 5. Then, a window for the image processing is opened. In the case that the use of a test pattern is instructed by a check box, the window for the test pattern is opened by judgement. Then, when a processing parameter is set, the processed image or the test pattern image processed by the set processing parameter is displayed at the corresponding window and the instruction of an operator is waited for. Then, the image processing is executed to the source images by the set processing parameter and the processed images are outputted. Also, when the instruction for meaning NG to an image processed result is inputted, the processing parameter is updated.

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 method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method for performing desired image processing on an input image and outputting the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When digital image processing is performed, several processing parameters are designated. By changing these parameters, the image processing effect can be changed.
As a method of confirming the change of this effect, as shown in FIG. 1, a window 101 for displaying an original image and a window 102 for displaying an image after processing are prepared, and parameters are set by a window 103 for setting processing parameters. There is a method of displaying, in the window 102, a preview image obtained by performing image processing based on the parameter on the original image each time the parameter is changed.

[0003]

However, the above technique has the following problems. In other words, every time the processing parameters are changed,
It takes time to update the preview image displayed in 102. In particular, when performing image processing on a high-resolution, large-size image or performing complex image processing, even if a preview image obtained by processing the original image is displayed, the degree of the effect of the image processing can be objectively determined. There is a problem that cannot be evaluated.

Also, it takes time to display an image after processing,
There is also a problem that it takes time for trial and error to find an appropriate processing parameter.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of objectively evaluating the effect of image processing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of obtaining appropriate image processing parameters in a short time.

[0007]

The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

[0008] An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus for subjecting an input image to desired image processing and outputting the same, wherein a setting means for setting the parameters of the image processing and a predetermined pattern are provided. Image processing means for performing the image processing, and display means for displaying a processing pattern subjected to the image processing, wherein the display of the processing pattern is also updated each time the parameter is updated I do.

Further, an image processing method according to the present invention is an image processing method for performing a desired image processing on an input image, wherein the parameters of the image processing are set, and the image processing is performed on a predetermined pattern. And displaying the processing pattern subjected to the image processing, and updating the display of the processing pattern each time the parameter is updated.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 1 is composed of a computer device such as a personal computer. The CPU 1a of the image processing device 1 controls each component of the image processing device 1 via a bus 1e and controls peripheral devices via an interface (not shown). The ROM 1b of the image processing apparatus 1 stores a boot program and a BIOS, and the hard disk 1d stores an OS, various application programs including the image processing software according to the present invention, various data, and the like. Also,
The RAM 1c is used as a work memory of the CPU 1a.

According to the present invention, the CPU 1a reads a program or data such as application software designated by the input device 3 which is a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse from the hard disk 1d to the RAM 1c and executes the program. It executes image processing or application software provided with the image processing according to the present invention. 2 is an image input device such as an image scanner, a film scanner, a digital camera, etc., 4 is an image output device such as a printer or a film recorder, 5 is an image storage device provided with a removable medium such as a hard disk or a magneto-optical disk, 6
Is an image display device such as a CRT or an LCD.

[Processing] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of image processing according to the present invention, which is a process executed by the CPU 1a.

When an original image to be processed and its image processing are designated by the input device 3, the original image is input in step S1. The original image may be obtained by reading the image of the document by the image input device 1, or may be read from the image storage device 5.

Next, in step S2, a window for image processing, an example of which is shown in FIG. 4, is opened. The windows for image processing include a window 201 for displaying an original image, a window 202 for displaying a processed image, a window 203 for setting processing parameters, and the like. Furthermore, for example, at the lower left of the window for image processing, there is a check box 204 for instructing “use a test pattern”. If the check box 204 instructs the use of a test pattern, As a result, in steps S4, windows 205 to 210 for test patterns, an example of which is shown in FIG. 5, are opened. The details of the setting of the processing parameter using the test pattern will be described later.

Next, when the processing parameters are set in step S5, a processed image or a test pattern image-processed by the set processing parameters is displayed in a corresponding window in step S6, and an operator's instruction is input in step S7. wait. For example, when an operator inputs an instruction indicating OK with respect to the image processing result by pressing an unillustrated “OK” button or pressing a key of a predetermined combination, the process proceeds to step S8, and the setting is performed. The image processing is performed on the original image according to the processed processing parameters, and the processed image is output in step S9. The output of the processed image includes printout by the image output device 4, printing on a film, and storage by the image storage device 5. When an instruction indicating NG is input from the operator for the image processing result, or when the window 203 for setting the processing parameters is accessed,
Returning to step S5, the processing parameters are updated.

[Setting of processing parameters] Next, taking a spatial filter processing as an example of image processing, setting of processing parameters using a test pattern will be described.

In the spatial filter processing, for example, a pixel of interest and a block of n × n (n is a natural number) pixels around the pixel of interest are subjected to arithmetic processing using a 3 × 3 or 5 × 5 weighting matrix as shown in FIG. Things. In the spatial filter processing, the weight matrix corresponds to a processing parameter,
By manipulating the size of the weight matrix and each coefficient, various effects can be given to the original image.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a weighting matrix for a smoothing filter with a large weight given to the center, FIG. 8 shows an example of a weighting matrix for a smoothing filter using a circular neighborhood, and FIG. The Prewitt operator to emphasize, FIG. 9 (b) is the Prewitt operator to emphasize the horizontal edge, FIG. 10 (a) is the Sobel operator to emphasize the vertical edge, and FIG. 10 (b) is to emphasize the horizontal edge FIG. 11 shows a Laplacian operator for extracting an edge and obtaining an edge image.

Test patterns 205, 207, 209 such as circles, rectangles, and crosses shown in FIG.
Is processed, test patterns 206, 208,
With 210, it is possible to easily confirm in which direction and to what extent edge enhancement and edge extraction can be performed, and to objectively evaluate.

Also, as shown in FIG. 12, by preparing a test pattern in which the inclination between the frame and the rectangle in the frame is increased by a predetermined angle θ up to 45 degrees, edge enhancement and edge extraction can be performed in any direction and to what extent. It is possible to check in more detail whether it is possible and to evaluate objectively. For example, when the Sobel operator shown in FIG. 10A is used, the vertical component of the edge is enhanced, and the horizontal component is not enhanced. This can be visually recognized by using a test pattern as shown in FIG.
It is possible to objectively determine the degree of edge enhancement when using the Sobel operator. The same applies when another operator is used.

Further, if a test pattern in which the luminance level is changed smoothly or stepwise in each of the vertical, horizontal, and oblique directions is prepared, it is determined in which direction and to what extent smoothing, edge emphasis, and edge extraction can be performed. Confirmation and objective evaluation.

Further, instead of the test pattern, a part of the original image, in particular, an image part for which the effect of the image processing is to be checked can be cut out and used, or a reduced image of the original image or a part of the original image can be used. An image obtained by enlarging or reducing a part can be used instead of a test pattern.

[0025]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.
Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the PU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above. Each module shown will be stored in a storage medium. That is, at least the program code of each module of “parameter setting”, “image processing”, and “image processing window display” may be stored in the storage medium.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An image processing apparatus and method capable of objectively evaluating the effect of image processing can be provided.

Also, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and method for obtaining appropriate image processing parameters in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a method for displaying a change in an image processing effect due to a change in a processing parameter;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image processing according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a window for image processing according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a window for image processing according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a weighting matrix for image processing;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a weighting matrix for a smoothing filter with a large weight given to the center;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a weighting matrix for a smoothing filter using a circular neighborhood;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a Prewitt operator for edge emphasis,

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a Sobel operator for edge enhancement,

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a Laplacian operator for edge extraction;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a test pattern.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a storage medium storing a program code according to the present invention.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for performing desired image processing on an input image and outputting the image, comprising: setting means for setting parameters of the image processing; and an image for performing the image processing on a predetermined pattern. An image processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit; and a display unit that displays a processing pattern on which the image processing has been performed, and wherein the display of the processing pattern is updated each time the parameter is updated. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern is for indicating a direction of edge enhancement by a spatial filter process. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern is for indicating a direction of edge extraction by spatial filtering. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern is a plurality of rectangles inclined at a predetermined angle pitch. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the predetermined pattern and a processing pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern side by side. 6. An image processing method for performing desired image processing on an input image, comprising: setting parameters of the image processing; performing the image processing on a predetermined pattern; and performing the image processing. An image processing method comprising: displaying a pattern; and updating the display of the processing pattern each time the parameter is updated. 7. A computer-readable memory storing an image processing program code for performing a desired image processing on an input image, wherein: a code of a step of setting parameters of the image processing; A code of a step of performing image processing, and a code of a step of displaying a processing pattern subjected to the image processing and updating a display of the processing pattern every time the parameter is updated. Computer readable memory.