JPH10309831A - Method for forming image and development process apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain normal image quality even when a color film is developed in a quick development process, by converting read image information optically or electrically to digital image signals, converting the signals to an image characteristic obtained through a reference development process, and outputting to a printer. SOLUTION: A kind of a picked-up color photographic material is detected, and a non-reference development process condition is selected for a development process on the basis of the detected information or information obtained separately. Image information is also read out from the processed color photographic material and converted to optical or electric digital information. The digitized optical or electric information is processed, and an image characteristic value to be obtained when the color photographic material is developed under a reference development process condition. The obtained image characteristic value is output to a printer, whereby image information of the same quality as when subjected to a reference development process is output.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming method for obtaining high quality color image information and a color print from a photographed silver halide color light-sensitive material in a short time, and a developing apparatus used for the method. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The most widely used form of color photography at present is a so-called negative print, in which a color negative film that has been photographed is developed in a photo lab and the resulting film image is printed on photographic paper to obtain a color print. It is a paper system (hereinafter, referred to as an N / P system). The finishing time from the time when the photo shop receives the photographed film from the customer to the time when the color print is handed over to the customer is one day (the next day's finish) in a conventional large-scale lab, but the delivery time from the photographic shop to the lab is one. Time-consuming in-store development is spreading, in which case the finishing time can be as short as about 30 minutes to 1 hour. This kind of in-store developer is called a mini-lab for a large developer. Finishing a print in a minilab can greatly reduce the finishing time and be welcomed by customers.However, the customer requests the development and printing of the photographed film at the store, and then waits for the finish and receives the print on the spot It is far from returning home. Therefore, although it is extremely difficult to reduce the finishing time to the point where the customer finishes the print while in the store, it is also strongly desired. In particular, the time required for the development processing of the color negative film is 10 to 15 minutes in the finishing time, which accounts for a particularly large part of the entire process.

[0003] For this reason, it is particularly desired to reduce the processing time of color negative films, but various types of color negative films have been released from photographic light-sensitive material manufacturers, and each lab undertakes any of them. I have. At a developing site, due to the cost of the developing machine and the required floor area, it is the fact that one developing machine develops various color negative films while using the same processing liquid. Therefore, the processing time of the negative film is
It is determined according to the film that requires the longest time for development processing among various negative films. Color negative films that require long development times have ISO 1 sensitivity.
Most frequently used for over 000 high-sensitivity films
ISO 400 and ISO 100 sensitivity films are suitable for high-sensitivity, slow-development films, while allowing for short processing times. In other words, in the lab, the most economical method of performing various color negative films in the same developing machine using the same photographic processing solution has been selected, and a service of selecting a processing time according to the photosensitive material has been provided. No
As a result, the rapid development processing service is hardly provided.

A technique for correcting variations in the finished quality of the development processing and the photographic quality of the photosensitive material by image processing at the time of the development processing has recently been proposed and has come into practical use.
However, the difference in finish quality from the standard finish when rapid processing of a color negative film requiring a long development processing time is far beyond the range of such variations. Conventionally, correction by image processing from a film processed by a change processing (rapid processing) much larger than such a variation in development processing to normal image quality has not been considered except for the following special fields.
An example of that specialty is the purpose of restoring historic photographs of old age. For example, T. Rowlands, Image Technolog
y, page 190, (Oct. 1993), and Harvard University,
IS & T Reporter, vol.8, page 9 (1993) and others report attempts to restore degraded images. However, even in this case, it can only be restored under limited conditions where certain assumptions apply. Also, a method of extracting and using image information from deformation development has been disclosed (EK Corporation: Tokuho 7-52).
287), the extracted information is limited to a coloring dye and a spectrally neutral silver image, and thus has not been put to practical use.

[0005]

In view of the above-mentioned conventional technical background and the demands of the photographic market, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide substantially the same finished image information as the reference development even when the non-reference development is performed. (Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus capable of obtaining (finished quality). As a more specific example, a single color photographic material developing machine can perform both the standard development process and the rapid development process, and can perform the standard process regardless of the type of the color photographic material. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus which enable to obtain the same finish quality as a developing process.

[0006]

As a result of repeated investigations, the present inventors have found that the above-mentioned object is based on image characteristic values obtained under the standard processing conditions from image information obtained under the development processing conditions deviating from the standard development processing conditions. It is found that the above-mentioned method can be achieved by combining the above-mentioned method with a developing method capable of both the standard processing condition and the non-standard processing condition, especially the rapid developing condition. The present inventors have succeeded in developing a forming method and a developing apparatus used therein, and have completed the present invention.

The basic technique is to convert image information obtained under development processing conditions deviating from the reference development processing conditions into digital information to enable image processing, and to obtain image characteristic values that should be obtained by the reference processing. It is the introduction of means. Specifically, the object of the present invention has been achieved by the following technology.

[0008] 1. A method for developing a photographed silver halide color photographic material and outputting the obtained image information to a printer, comprising the steps of: 1) detecting the type of the photographed color photographic material; 2) detecting the detected information or separately. 3) read image information from the developed color photographic material and convert it into optical or electrical digital information; 4) Image processing of the digitized optical or electrical information to obtain an image characteristic value to be obtained when the color photographic material is developed under standard development processing conditions; By outputting to a printer,
An image forming method characterized by outputting image information of the same image quality as when the reference development processing is performed.

[0009] 2. A device for developing a photographed silver halide color photographic material and outputting the obtained image information to a printer, 1) a mechanism for detecting the type of the photographed silver halide color photographic material, 2) detection A mechanism for selecting one of the reference development processing conditions and the non-reference development processing conditions based on the obtained information or separately obtained information, and performing the development processing in accordance with the selected development processing conditions; 3) the developed color of the color A mechanism for reading image information from a photographic material and converting it into optical or electrical digital information; 4) Image processing the digitized optical or electrical information to develop the color photographic material as a reference development An image processing mechanism for converting the image characteristic value to an image characteristic value to be obtained when developing processing under processing conditions; and 5) an output mechanism for outputting the converted image characteristic value to a printer. Color photographing, wherein the photographed silver halide color photographic material which has been subjected to the non-reference development processing outputs image information of the same image quality as when the photographic material is subjected to the reference development processing. Development processing equipment for materials.

[0010] 3. 3. The developing apparatus for color photographic materials as described in 2 above, wherein the non-standard developing processing is a rapid processing.

4. A mechanism for performing image processing for converting the digitized optical or electrical information into image characteristic values to be obtained when the color photographic material is developed under the standard development processing conditions is as follows. A process of converting the read color balance data into a color balance value when processed under the reference processing condition; 3) a process of converting the read minimum density data under the reference processing condition 4) a process of converting the exposure material into a minimum density value, and 4) a process of correcting the non-linearity of the exposure-density relationship caused by the process of the non-reference processing condition to the exposure amount of the photographic material when the reference processing condition is performed. 5) Correction to the density relationship, and 5) Correction of the non-linearity of the exposure-density relationship depending on the type of the photographic material caused by the processing of the non-reference processing conditions. 4. A color photographing apparatus according to the above item 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one of the steps of correcting the exposure material to the density relationship of the photographic material when the quasi-processing conditions are performed is performed. Development processing equipment for materials.

5. A mechanism for performing image processing for converting the digitized optical or electrical information into an image characteristic value to be obtained when the color photographic material is developed under the standard development processing conditions is an edge enhancement mechanism and improved sharpness. 5. The developing apparatus for color photographic materials as described in 4 above, further comprising a mechanism, a graininess reducing mechanism, and a saturation improving mechanism.

The above-described technique of the present invention more specifically includes the following methods (a) to (l), and a system or a combination thereof. (A) A method of developing a photographed silver halide color photographic material and outputting the obtained image information to a printer, wherein the type of the photographed color photographic material is detected, and the detected information or separately obtained information is obtained. Based on the information, the non-standard development conditions are selected and development is performed. Image information is read from the developed color photographic material and converted into optical or electrical digital information. By processing the optical or electrical information thus obtained to obtain an image characteristic value to be obtained when developing the color photographic material under the standard development processing conditions, and outputting the characteristic value to a printer, An image forming method characterized by outputting image information of the same image quality as when a reference development process is performed.

(B) A method of reading image information from a developed color photographic material, converting the image information into digital information, and obtaining a positive image having the same image quality as when a development process is performed under standard development conditions is disclosed in US Pat. A light source section composed of a lamp, an optical path section for controlling light for reading, transmitting the developed color photographic material to the light receiving section,
The image formation according to (a), wherein the image formation is performed by a light receiving unit that reads transmitted light and records it as electrical image information, an amplification device, an A / D converter, a digital image information processing device, and a log converter. Method.

(C) A method of reading image information from a developed color photographic material, converting the image information into digital information, and obtaining a positive image having the same image quality as that obtained by performing development processing under standard development conditions is known as laser. The image forming method according to (a) above, comprising a light source unit, a drum scanning unit, an amplifying device, an A / D converter, a CCD digital information correcting unit, and a log converter.

(D) An apparatus for outputting digital image information from the processed color photographic material after image processing is a printer for producing a color print, a printer of a thermal transfer system, a digital printer for a silver halide photothermographic material, The image forming method according to any one of (a), (b), and (c), wherein the image forming method is selected from an ink jet printer, a color electrophotographic copying machine, and an instant photo printer.

(E) A device for developing a photographed silver halide color photographic material and outputting the obtained image information to a printer, wherein the mechanism detects the kind of the photographed silver halide color photographic material. , Based on the detected information or information obtained separately, select one of the standard development processing conditions and non-standard development processing conditions,
And a mechanism for performing a development process according to the selected development processing conditions; a mechanism for reading image information from the developed color photographic material and converting it into optical or electrical digital information; Or an image processing mechanism for converting the electrical information into an image characteristic value to be obtained when the color photographic material is developed under the standard development processing conditions, and outputs the converted image characteristic value to a printer. Output mechanism, which is configured to output image information of the same image quality as when the photographic material is subjected to the reference development processing from the photographed silver halide color photographic material subjected to the non-reference development processing. Processing equipment for color photographic materials.

(F) The developing device for color photographic materials as described in (e) above, wherein the non-reference developing process is a rapid process. (G) The developing process for a color photographic material as described in (e) or (f) above, wherein the standard developing process and the non-standard developing process are performed using the same developing machine and a common developing solution. apparatus. (H) The above (e) to (g), in which at least two levels of transport speed can be selected which can perform both the standard development processing and the rapid development processing in which the respective processing step times are shortened at the same ratio. A development processing apparatus for a color photographic material according to any one of the above. (I) It has at least two series of film transport drive mechanisms capable of selecting independent transport speeds, so that the reference development processing and the non-reference development processing are performed by the same development processing apparatus and a common development solution bath. The development processing apparatus for a color photographic material according to the above (h), wherein the development processing apparatus is constituted.

A mechanism for performing image processing for converting the digitized optical or electrical information into image characteristic values to be obtained when developing the color photographic material under standard development processing conditions; Processing to convert read contrast data to a contrast value when processed under standard processing conditions; Processing to convert read color balance data to color balance values when processed under standard processing conditions; Processing to read minimum density data under standard processing conditions The process of converting to the minimum density value in the case of the exposure, the relationship between the exposure amount and the density of the photographic material in the case of performing the reference processing condition by correcting the non-linearity of the exposure amount versus the density caused by the processing of the non-reference processing condition And the non-linearity of the exposure-density relationship depending on the type of color photographic material caused by the non-standard processing conditions Above, characterized in that it is configured to correct the process of correcting the exposure amount versus concentration relationship of the imaging material when subjected to standard processing conditions, at least one or more performing (e) -
The development processing apparatus for a color photographic material according to any one of (1) to (4).

(G) a mechanism for performing image processing for converting the digitized optical or electrical information into image characteristic values to be obtained when the color photographic material is developed under standard development processing conditions; The development processing apparatus for a color photographic material according to the above (1), further comprising an edge enhancing mechanism, a sharpness improving mechanism, a graininess reducing mechanism, and a saturation improving mechanism.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail. First, the elemental technologies constituting the present invention will be described in the following order. 1. 1. Outline of development processing apparatus of the present invention and a method of creating a positive image having image characteristics at the time of reference development processing using the same. 2. Photographed color photography materials 3. Development processing 3.1 Selection of standard development processing and rapid development processing 3.2 Rapid development processing 4. Image reproducing device 4.1 Image information reading from developed film 4.2 Image processing of read image information 4.3 Output of image processed image signal to printer Output photosensitive material

1. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a development processing apparatus of the present invention and a method of creating a positive image having image characteristics during reference development processing using the development processing apparatus. In the present invention, the photographed color photographic material refers to both a color negative film and a color reversal film. Since there is no difference in principle, the following description will be made by taking a color negative film as an example. However, the developing apparatus and method of the present invention can be applied to any photographed color photographic material. In the development processing apparatus of the present invention, the type of a photographed color photographic material (hereinafter, simply referred to as a film) is detected at an initial stage of the process. Used for both varieties. In other words, if one manufacturer manufactures products under the same manufacturing prescription and has the same product name, they have the same “type”, but products with the same manufacturer but different sensitivity indications have different “types”. Film.

In the present invention, the reference development processing refers to a substantially common processing which is generally used in most developing laboratories worldwide, and specifically, processing of a color negative film. In the process, there are development processing prescriptions called CN16 series (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), C41 series (Eastman Kodak Co., Ltd.) and the like. The most common. Further, in the present invention, the term "development" refers to all the processes starting from the development step and being completed in the drying step, and when the "development" step is specifically referred to, the term "development" is used. In the present invention, the term "developing apparatus" is used to generally refer to an apparatus which achieves the object of the present invention. . Further, in the following description, there are two completely different operations even though the common terms “processing” of “development processing” and “image processing” are attached. Expressions are distinguished from “development processing” and “image processing”.

Now, a specific description of the present invention will be made with the foregoing as a preamble. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the development processing apparatus of the present invention and the flow of operations therein.
The film is taken into the developing device from the left end of the diagram. First, the type of the film is read (01). This reading is for knowing the type of the film described in the perforation symbol for identification called a DX code on the film, and by using the “type” information, it is possible to select setting conditions for image processing described later, In some cases, selection is made as to whether to perform the reference processing or the rapid processing condition (02). Select between standard processing and rapid processing, DX
Regardless of what the code is, the operator may make a selection operation according to predetermined criteria (04).

After selection of the developing conditions, the film is conveyed through a series of processing tanks in the developing machine. The developing machine is of a roller transport type, and can perform at least the above-described standard processing that is substantially common to the world and one or more levels of rapid processing. The change between the two is preferably performed by changing the roller transport speed (03 and 03A). The film which has been subjected to the color developing, bleaching, fixing, washing or stabilizing development processing according to the development processing step selected from the reference processing and the rapid processing is then transferred to the image information reading step (1).

In this step, the transmission density (reflection density when the film is a color reversal film) is measured for each small area unit (usually called a pixel) constituting the image of the developed film, and the image information is determined for each pixel. Is read as As a result of the reading, the image information has been converted into an electric image signal based on the density value, and is converted into a digital signal by an A / D (nalog / digital) converter 18 via an amplifier 17. This information signal is sent to the image processing device 5 through the log converter 20 after the CCD function correction 19 such as the correction of sensitivity variation and dark current for each pixel. In the image processing device, the image information converted into the digital signal is subjected to electrical processing and converted into a digital image signal that would be obtained when the reference development processing is performed. When the film is subjected to the reference development, this image processing simply means correcting the variation in the photographing conditions, development processing or film characteristics, and correcting it to a statistical center value. Importantly, it is not the subject of the present invention. Developed film when rapid processing is selected is under-developed,
Contrast, image density, color balance or D
The photographic characteristic values such as min (the density value of the unexposed portion) are deviated from the values at the time of the reference development. The present invention is characterized in that the correction of the bias is performed by image processing as described later. The above image processing operation is described in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 8-1740.
22 and Japanese Patent Application No. 8-182551.

The image signal of the rapid development film converted to the normal photographic characteristic value at the time of the reference development is output to the printer (8), and as a result, a normal positive image is obtained. The printer may be any printer that inputs an electric image signal or a photoelectric image signal, and particularly preferable printers are color print, instant photograph, silver salt color print such as dye thermal transfer type, ink jet, sublimation type thermal transfer, wax. It is a printer for each positive image such as mold thermal transfer and color electrophotography. The outline of the apparatus and the method of the present invention for obtaining a normal positive image obtained by the reference processing from a photographic image in which the photographic characteristics of the rapidly processed film are not normal has been described above.

In the present invention, when the photographic characteristic values obtained by the non-reference development processing such as the rapid development processing are converted into the normal photographic characteristic values at the time of the reference development, the same quality as the image information obtained by the reference development is obtained. This means that image information can be obtained, that is, image information having almost the same photographic characteristics can be obtained. Specifically, whether or not the image information is of the same quality is basically determined based on observation evaluation of a photographic image. However, when importance is placed on objectivity, image density is used as a characteristic value that can represent photographic characteristics. be able to. More specifically, if the density value is within ± 10% of the reference value, it can be said that image information at the time of the reference development processing was obtained. That is, the one-key correction amount of a normal surface exposure type color printer is about 8%, and a difference within this range is usually allowed. 1
If it is within 0%, it can be determined that it is acceptable.

2. Photographed color film. The photographed color negative photosensitive material used in the present invention includes all general-purpose color negative films from various manufacturers generally sold in the market. A typical example is a support comprising at least one, usually 3 to 4, photosensitive layers comprising a plurality of silver halide emulsion layers having substantially the same color sensitivity but different sensitivities. Is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having The photosensitive layer is a unit photosensitive layer having color sensitivity to any of blue light, green light, and red light,
In a multilayer silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material, the arrangement of unit light-sensitive layers is generally arranged in the order of a red-sensitive layer, a green-sensitive layer, and a blue-sensitive layer from the support side. However, the order of installation may be reversed depending on the purpose, or the order of installation may be such that different photosensitive layers are sandwiched between the same color-sensitive layers. A non-light-sensitive layer may be provided between the silver halide light-sensitive layers and as the uppermost layer and the lowermost layer.

Next, several or more than ten tabular silver halide emulsions are usually used in color photographic materials. Tabular silver halide emulsion grains (hereinafter referred to as "tabular grains") have a value obtained by dividing the value of the average equivalent circle diameter by the square of the average thickness (the degree of tabularization) (JP-A-3-135335).
(Defined as ECD / t ^{2 in the} publication) is 25 or more, preferably 50 or more. The tabular grains preferably have an average aspect ratio of 5 or more. Aspect ratio is defined as the circle equivalent diameter of two opposing parallel principal planes (the diameter of a circle having the same projected area as the principal plane) divided by the distance of the principal plane (ie, the thickness of the particle), The average aspect ratio is a number average value of the aspect ratio of each particle. When the input color photographic light-sensitive material is a color reversal light-sensitive material in particular, the tabular grains are preferably monodisperse having a coefficient of variation in particle size distribution of 20% or less. The variation coefficient referred to here is a value obtained by multiplying 100 by a value obtained by dividing the variation (standard deviation) of the projected area of the tabular grain by the circle equivalent diameter by the average value of the projected area of the average grain by the circle equivalent diameter. is there.

The grain size distribution of a silver halide emulsion composed of a group of grains having uniform grain morphology and small variation in grain size shows almost normal distribution,
The standard deviation can be easily obtained. The grain size distribution of the tabular grains of the present invention has a coefficient of variation of 20% or less,
Preferably 15% or less, more preferably 12% or less 1%
That is all. The diameter of a tabular grain (equivalent to a circle) is generally 0.2
To 5 μm, preferably 0.3 to 3.0 μm, and more preferably 0.3 to 2.0 μm. Particle thickness is 0.0
It is preferably from 5 to 0.5 μm, and from 0.08 to 0.5 μm.
More preferably, it is 3 μm. The particle diameter and the particle thickness can be determined from an electron micrograph of the particles as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,226.

3. Development 3.1 Selection of standard development and rapid development The selection of standard development and rapid development involves rapid processing of all films, but if the customer specifically desires the standard processing, the standard processing is usually selected. , Perform a reference process, and select a quick process when the customer wishes to immediately switch color prints. These are selected by a manual operation of a developer operator (FIG. 1). 04). On the other hand, when the selection is made by the type of film, it can be performed manually, but the type for which the rapid processing is to be selected is specified in advance (although the dotted line is omitted in FIG. 1), and the film type is selected. The selection is performed according to the DX code symbol read by the determination device.

3.2 Rapid development processing (03A in FIG. 1) Rapid development processing is particularly preferable in a method of simply increasing the film transport speed. The faster the transport speed, the faster it is, but the increase in the photographic characteristics from the reference development process increases accordingly, and the load on image processing is increased,
Preferred speeding-up conditions are 1.1 to 5 times, more preferably 1.2 times, the standard transport speed when performing the standard development processing.
It is practical to double to triple. In the rapid development processing, a developing machine as disclosed in JP-A-60-129748 and JP-A-61-134759 has two drive systems, one of which performs reference processing and the other performs rapid development. Can also be performed. Also, two types of processing can be performed using different processing groups.

4. Image reproduction device (from image information processed by rapid development to image processed by reference development) Image information of the film processed by rapid development is read, digitized, and then image-processed and converted to image characteristics when the reference development processing is performed. The steps of outputting to a positive image printer will be described over 4.1 to 4.3, but here, for the sake of easy understanding, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos.
The description will be made by using the image reproducing device disclosed in each of the publications of Japanese Patent No. 182551 as a material. However, the developing apparatus and the image reproducing method of the present invention are not limited to these.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an image reproducing system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the image reproducing system reads an image reading device 1 that reads a color image and generates digitized image data. The image processing apparatus 5 includes a processing device 5 and an image output device 8 that reproduces a color image based on image data on which image processing has been performed by the image processing device 5.

4.1 Image Information Reading from Developed Film Image reading can be performed mainly by the following three methods. (I) While rotating the drum while irradiating the measuring light combined with the color separation filter around the rotating drum, the drum is rotated, and at the same time, sub-scanning is performed in the direction of the drum, and the reflection density of each pixel is photoelectrically converted by a photomultiplier tube. (Ii) using a line CCD in which light-receiving elements are arranged one-dimensionally and receiving transmission or reflection density into the line CCD while sub-scanning the image on the developed film. (Iii) a line CCD-scanning method in which the electric signal is converted into an electric signal by electric scanning, and (iii) a two-dimensional pixel density is read using an area CCD, and a time series is obtained by electric scanning from the area CCD. Any of the area CCD systems in which the electrical signals are converted into electrical signals that are rearranged in order may be adopted. Especially preferred is area CC
This is the D method, and the following description will be made on the premise of this method. However, the present invention can be implemented without any problem in the other two methods.

The appearance of the image reproducing system of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, in an actual image reproducing system, as an image reading apparatus 1, a transmission type image reading apparatus 10 for photoelectrically reading a color image recorded on a film, and a color printing apparatus A reflective image reading device 30 that photoelectrically reads a color image recorded in
Optionally, it is configured to be connected to the image processing device 5, so that both the color image recorded on the film and the color image recorded on the color print can be reproduced. However, here, an image reading apparatus will be described for a color negative film according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a transmission type image reading apparatus 10 for a color image reproducing system which generates image data based on a color image. As shown in FIG. 3, the transmission type image reading device 10 irradiates a color image recorded on the film F with light and detects the light transmitted through the film, thereby reading the color image photoelectrically. The light source 11, a light amount adjustment unit 12 capable of adjusting the light amount of the light emitted from the light source 11, and the light emitted from the light source 11 are output to R (red), G (green), and B (blue). A) a color separation unit 13 for separating light into three colors, a diffusion unit 14 for diffusing light so that light emitted from the light source 11 is uniformly irradiated on the film F, and light transmitted through the film F. CCD area sensor 15 for photoelectrically detecting and CCD area sensor 15 for transmitting light transmitted through film F
Is provided with an electric zoom lens 16 for forming an image. The transmission-type image reading apparatus 10 is configured to exchange 135 film negative (135)
Positive film, Advanced Photo System (APS)
Various types of films such as films can be read.

As the light source 11, a halogen lamp is used.
The light amount adjustment unit 12 moves the two aperture plates,
The amount of light changes exponentially with respect to the moving distance. The color separation unit 13 performs color separation into three colors in a plane sequence by rotating a disk having three filters of R, G, and B. The CCD area sensor 15 has a light receiving element of 920 pixels long and 1380 pixels wide,
Image information on film can be read with high resolution. When reading a color image, the CCD area sensor 15 sequentially converts odd-field image data consisting of odd-line image data and even-field image data consisting of even-line image data of the photoelectrically read image. It is configured to transfer.

The transmission type image reading apparatus 10 further includes a CC
An amplifier 17 amplifies the R, G, B image signals photoelectrically detected and generated by the D area sensor 15, an A / D converter 18 for digitizing the image signals, and digitization by an A / D converter 18. A CCD correction unit 19 for performing a process of correcting variations in sensitivity and dark current of each pixel with respect to the obtained image signal, and a log converter 20 for converting R, G, B image data into density data. Log converter 2
0 is connected to the interface 21.

The film F is held by the carrier 22, and the film F held by the carrier 22 is
The driving roller 24 is driven by the driving roller 24 and is fed to a predetermined position, is pressed and held in a stopped state, and is fed by one frame when reading of one frame of a color image is completed. As an auto carrier for handling a negative film, a carrier used in a conventional minilab such as NC135S manufactured by Fuji Film is used. It is possible to read an image in a range corresponding to a print mode, such as a full size, a panorama size, and a powerful size. In addition, when a carrier used in a conventional minilab is used as a trimming carrier, the magnification can be increased by about 1.4 times around the center. Also, as a reversal carrier, Japanese Patent Application Hei 7-
No. 271048, No. 7-275358, No. 7-275
No. 359, No. 7-277455, No. 7-285015
Use what is disclosed in the above item.

The screen detection sensor 25 detects the density distribution of the color image recorded on the film F, and transmits the detected density signal to the CPU 26 for controlling the transmission type image reading apparatus 10.
The CPU outputs a signal based on the density signal.
26 is configured to calculate the screen position of the color image recorded on the film F, and stop the driving of the motor 23 when determining that the screen position of the color image has reached a predetermined position. The image reading device may be at any location such as an entrance or an exit of a drying unit of the developing machine, an independent reading / image processing device or attached to a printer unit. 4.2 Image processing of read image information

The image reading apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described in detail above. Next, the image processing apparatus 5 also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus 5 divided into two figures. As shown in these drawings, the image processing apparatus 5 is provided with an interface 2 of the transmission type image reading apparatus 10.
1 or an interface 48 connectable to the interface 41 of the reflection type image reading device 30 and the value of two adjacent pixel data of the image data generated by the image reading device 1 and sent for each line, Averaging means 49 for averaging and making one pixel data;
A first line buffer 50a and a second line buffer 50b for alternately storing pixel data in each line of image data sent from the averaging means 49.
And the line data stored in the line buffers 50a and 50b are transferred and the 1
First for storing image data corresponding to a color image of a frame
Frame memory unit 51, second frame memory unit 52, and third frame memory unit 53
It has. Here, the first line buffer 50a and the second line buffer 50b store the odd-numbered pixel data of each line of the image data in one line buffer.
It is configured to store even-numbered pixel data alternately in the other line buffer.

In the present embodiment, first, for one frame of color image recorded on the film F, a first reading (hereinafter referred to as pre-reading) by the image reading device 1 and a digital image of the read image are performed. Conversion to data is performed. At this time, based on the image data obtained by the pre-reading, the image processing device 5 performs a second
An image reading condition for reading (hereinafter referred to as main reading) is set. Then, based on the set reading conditions, reading of the color image, that is, main reading, is executed again, thereby generating digital image data to be subjected to image processing for reproduction. In order to perform such processing, the image processing device 5 stores image data obtained by pre-reading in the first frame memory unit 51, and stores image data obtained by main reading in the second frame memory unit 52 and The third frame memory unit 53 is configured to store the information.

Before describing the other components shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, these frame memory units will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing details of the first frame memory unit 51, the second frame memory unit 52, and the third frame memory unit 53. As shown in FIG. 7, the image processing apparatus 5 processes a first frame memory unit 51, a second frame memory unit 52, and a third frame memory unit 52 for processing image data generated by reading a color image.
Of the frame memory units 53
R data memory 51R, G data memory 51G and B data memory 51B, R data memory 52R, G for storing image data corresponding to (red), G (green), and B (blue).
A data memory 52G and a B data memory 52B, an R data memory 53R, a G data memory 53G and a B data memory 53B are provided. Note that, as described above, the first frame memory unit 51 stores the image data obtained by prefetching, and stores the second and third image data.
In FIG. 7, the image data obtained by prefetching is input from the input bus 63 to the first frame memory unit 51, and the second frame data is stored in the first frame memory unit 51. The state where the image data stored in the memory unit 52 is output to the output bus 64 is shown.

The configuration of the image processing apparatus 5 will be described again with reference to FIGS. The image processing device 5 includes a CPU 60 that controls the entire image processing device 5. C
The PU 60 is a CPU that controls the transmission type image reading device 10.
26 (FIG. 4) and a communication line (not shown) that can communicate with each other and controls an image output device 8 described later.
It is configured to be able to communicate with U via a communication line (not shown). With this configuration, the CPU 60 changes the image reading conditions for performing the main reading of the color image based on the image data obtained by the pre-reading stored in the first frame memory unit 51, and further reads as necessary. It is possible to change image processing conditions for image processing to be performed on a subsequent image.

That is, based on the image data obtained by the pre-reading, the CPU 60 sets the image reading conditions for the main reading so that the dynamic range of the CCD area sensor 15 or the CCD line sensor 35 can be used efficiently at the time of the main reading. Is determined, and a reading control signal is output to the CPU 26 of the transmission type image reading device 10 or the CPU 46 of the reflection type image reading device 30. At this time, when the CPU 26 of the transmission type image reading device 10 or the CPU 46 of the reflection type image reading device 30 receives the read control signal, the CPU 26 of the light amount adjustment unit 12 or the light amount adjustment unit 3
Light amount and CCD area sensor 15 adjusted by 4
Alternatively, the storage time of the CCD line sensor 35 is controlled. At the same time, based on the obtained image data, the CPU 60 makes it possible to reproduce a color image having an optimum density, gradation and color tone on a color paper by a first
A control signal for changing image processing conditions such as image processing parameters of the image processing means and the second image processing means is output to the first image processing means and the second image processing means as necessary. At this time, the image reading conditions or image processing conditions determined by the CPU 60 are stored in the memory 66.
Is stored.

When the CPU 60 performs the above control, if the image reading condition or the image processing condition is held by the instruction of the operator, the CPU 60 does not determine the condition based on the pre-read image data as described above. And outputs various control signals based on the held conditions. When the operator sets various conditions by using an input device such as the keyboard 69, and further instructs to hold these conditions,
These conditions are stored in the memory 66, and when the operator subsequently instructs to release the holding of these conditions, the conditions stored in the memory 66 become invalid. Therefore, when performing the above-described control, the CPU 60 first refers to the condition stored in the memory 66, and if the condition is stored, it follows the condition. Determine these conditions based on the data. Therefore, the operator can read from the DX code, instruct the condition setting according to each film type according to a special order of the customer, or automatically set the conditions for each film type in advance and automatically set the conditions. Can be processed in accordance with the instruction. It is not always necessary to hold such conditions in large units such as image reading conditions or image processing conditions, and it is necessary to store the above conditions in the memory 66 or refer to them in more detail. For example, the setting of the saturation may be maintained, and the sharpness may be set using an automatically determined condition.

The configuration of the image processing apparatus 5 in the range shown in FIG. 5 has been described above. Here, the image data generated in the image reading apparatus 1 is input to the image processing apparatus 5 through the interface 48, and the first The processing performed on the image data from the time when the image data is stored in the third frame memory unit will be described in detail.

Next, as described above, an image processing apparatus for performing image processing on the image data stored in the second frame memory unit 52 and the third frame memory unit 53 as a result of the main reading is performed. 5 will be described.

The image processing device 5 includes a second frame memory unit 52 and a third frame memory unit 53
The look-up table and matrix operation are performed so that the color image can be reproduced on the color paper with the desired density, gradation and color tone in the image data stored in
First to perform image processing such as gradation correction, color conversion, and density conversion
The image processing means 61 (FIG. 6) and the image data stored in the first frame memory unit 51 are stored in a look-up table so that a color image can be reproduced on a CRT screen described later with desired image quality. And a second image processing means 62 (FIG. 6) for performing image processing such as gradation correction, color conversion, density conversion, and the like by matrix operation.
The outputs of the second frame memory unit 52 and the third frame memory unit 53 are connected to a selector 55, and the selector 55 stores the output in one of the second frame memory unit 52 and the second frame memory unit 53. The image data is selectively inputted to the first image processing means 61.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing details of the first image processing means 61. As shown in FIG. 8, the first image processing unit 61 includes a color density gradation conversion unit 100 that converts density data, color data, and gradation data of image data, and a color conversion unit that converts saturation data of image data. Digital conversion unit 102 for converting the number of pixel data of image data, frequency processing unit 103 for performing frequency processing on image data, and dynamic range conversion unit 104 for converting the dynamic range of image data. I have. Each of these conversion means,
As generally called pipeline processing, each processing means operates simultaneously, and after the operation is completed, the next processing is performed, so that high-speed processing is possible.

The image processing means shown in FIG. 8 can perform not only processes such as gradation correction, color conversion, and density conversion, but also suppress the film graininess as shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-337510. At the same time, a process for improving sharpness can be performed. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 7-
An automatic dodging process that provides good image reproduction can also be performed on an image having a large contrast between light and dark as shown in Japanese Patent No. 165965. In the present invention, the film for which rapid development processing is selected has (i) a soft tone, that is, a low tone, (ii) a color balance disorder, and (iii) a soft tone particularly in a high density portion. In addition, depending on the film, low-density portions are not developed and the foot is stretched (soft), and (iv) less fogging but not washing out of dyes, etc., or antihalation layer of colloidal silver particles There is a possibility that Dmin remains, and Dmin is considerably shifted to either higher or lower depending on the type of the light-sensitive material. Therefore,
In this CPU, conditions for image processing for correction from the read image information digitized with respect to the four characteristics to the reference processing are set. If these four characteristic values are converted into characteristic values obtained when the reference development processing is performed, the conversion information is stored, and then the process proceeds to a step of outputting a positive image to the printer.

In this series of image processing for image reproduction, the most important image processing for image reproduction is, in particular, the correction of the soft gradation described in (i) to the gradation at the time of reference development. In other words, the tone converting means 100 has a function of correcting the density in the range of the standard development variation to the reference value, and in many cases, the low density obtained by the rapid Although the density information can be corrected up to the reference value even if it is far away from the side, if the correction is insufficient, it is necessary to set the image processing conditions again to enable a large hardening correction. At the same time, a large part of the correction of the color balance described in (ii) is performed by adjusting each color for the high contrast, and further finely adjusted by a combination of the following image processing functions. The further softness of the high-density portion and the elongation of the foot in the low-density portion described in (iii) are set by setting the level of the saturation emphasis of the saturation conversion unit 101 high, and the dynamic range conversion unit 104 and the gradation conversion unit 100 This is performed by modifying the shape of the characteristic curve of the leg and the high-density portion by a combination of changing the density amplification degree by the spatial frequency described below. Also in this case, similarly to the reproduction of the gradation (high contrast), if the reproduction to the reference development processing characteristics is insufficient under the already set image processing conditions, the image processing conditions are reset.

Further, processing for enhancing the fringe of the image,
The image sharpness of the entire and fine image portions can be improved by incorporating the process of increasing the gradation of the low density portion, but this is performed by the frequency processing means 103. That is, the spatial frequency of the image portion is analyzed, and emphasis processing is set for a fringe portion where the frequency greatly changes and a fine image portion where the frequency increases. As described above, the accuracy of the correction of the image information by the above image processing may be within 10% of the reference value as the density value, and preferably within 8%. If the color balance and the gradation characteristics are within the above ranges as the density values, it is determined that the image has been reproduced. The conversion to the characteristic value when the standard development processing is performed may be set automatically for each type of film by setting the conversion conditions and reading the type of film to be processed, or Alternatively, the operator may specify conversion processing conditions for each film to be processed. The operation details of the image processing apparatus used for the above image processing are disclosed in JP-A-8-174022 and JP-A-8-182551.

In addition to the above, the image processing apparatus 5 has a data bus in addition to the input bus 63 and the output bus 64 of the first frame memory unit 51, the second frame memory unit 52, and the third frame memory unit 53. 65
The data bus 65 includes a CPU 60 for controlling the entire color image reproduction system, a memory 66 for storing an operation program of the CPU 60 or data relating to image processing conditions, and a hard disk capable of storing and storing image data. 67, CRT68, keyboard 6
9, a communication port 70 connected to another color image reproducing system via a communication line, and a C of the transmission type image reading apparatus 10.
A communication line with the PU 26 is connected.

4.3 Output of Image-Processed Image Signal to Printer The configuration of the image processing apparatus 5 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has been described in detail. Next, the image output device 8 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an image output device 8 for a color image reproduction system that reproduces a color image on a color paper based on image data processed by the image processing device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. is there.

In FIG. 9, an image output device 8 includes an interface 78 connectable to an interface 77 of the image processing device 5 and a CPU 79 for controlling the image output device 8.
And an image data memory 80 composed of a plurality of frame memories for storing image data input from the image processing device 5.
A D / A converter 81 for converting image data into an analog signal; a laser light irradiation means 82; and a modulator driving means 83 for outputting a modulation signal for modulating the intensity of the laser light. The CPU 79 is configured to be able to communicate with the CPU 60 of the image processing apparatus 5 via a communication line (not shown).

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the laser beam irradiating means 82 shown in FIG. 9. The laser beam irradiating means 82 includes semiconductor laser light sources 84a, 84b and 84c, and emits laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 84b. The light is converted into green laser light having a wavelength of 532 nm by the wavelength conversion means 85, and the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser light source 84 c is converted by the wavelength conversion means 86 into blue laser light having a wavelength of 473 nm.

6 emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 84a
Red laser light of any wavelength between 70 nm and 690 nm,
The green laser light whose wavelength has been converted by the wavelength converting means 85 and the blue laser light whose wavelength has been converted by the wavelength converting means 86 are respectively converted into an acousto-optic modulator (AO).
M) and the like so as to be incident on the optical modulators 87R, 87G, 87B.
B is configured such that a modulation signal is input from the modulator driving unit 83 and the intensity of the laser beam is modulated according to the modulation signal. At this time, if the semiconductor laser light source 84a can operate at high speed, the optical modulator 87R can be omitted by directly modulating the semiconductor laser light source 84a.

The laser light whose intensity has been modulated by the optical modulators 87R, 87G, 87B is reflected by the reflection mirror 88R,
The polygon mirror 89 is reflected by 88G and 88B.
Incident on. Here, the paper is transported at a speed of about 75 mm per second, the scanning line density is 600 lines per inch, and each pixel is modulated every 100 nsec.

The image output device 8 is provided with a magazine 91 in which the color paper 90 is stored in a roll shape. It is configured to: A color paper with a width of 89 mm to 210 mm can be used, and it may be a color paper used in ordinary mini-labs or a special color suitable for high-intensity short-time exposure unique to laser exposure. Paper may be used. As the magazine 91, a magazine used in an ordinary minilab, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 4-317051
Use the one described in the item. The transport path of the color paper 90 is provided with perforation means 92 for making a reference hole at a side edge of the color paper 90 at intervals corresponding to the length of one color print. In the device 8, according to the reference hole, the color paper 90
Is synchronized with the driving of other means. As the transport means, the one shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-272722 is used. As a processing tank, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-280228
Use the one shown in the item.

The laser light modulated by the light modulators 87 R, 87 G, and 87 B is scanned in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 89, and exposes the color paper 90 via the fθ lens 93. Here, color paper 90
Is transported in the sub-scanning direction, so that the entire surface is exposed by laser light. Here, the transport speed of the color paper 90 in the sub-scanning direction is the main scanning speed of the laser beam,
That is, it is controlled by the CPU 79 so as to synchronize with the rotation speed of the polygon mirror 89.

The color paper 90 exposed by the laser beam is sent to the developing section 94 at a speed of about 29 mm per second, where it is subjected to predetermined color developing processing, bleach-fixing processing, and water washing processing. A color image is reproduced on the color paper 90 based on the image data subjected to the image processing. The color paper 90 that has been subjected to the color development processing, the bleach-fixing processing, and the water-washing processing by the color developing tank 94, the bleach-fixing tank 95, and the washing tank 96 is sent to the drying unit 97, where the color paper 90 is dried. Based on the reference holes formed in the side edges, the color paper 9
By the cutter 98 driven in synchronization with the conveyance of 0, it is cut into a length corresponding to a color image recorded on one frame of the film F or one color paper P, sent to the sorter 99, and sent to the sorter 99. The number of sheets corresponding to the film F of the book or the number of customers is accumulated. As the sorter, one shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-332146 is used.

Here, the color developing tank 94 and the bleach-fixing tank 9
5. As the washing tank 96, the drying unit 97, the cutter 98, and the sorter 99, those used in an ordinary minilab automatic developing machine can be used. In this embodiment, the processing method CP47L is adopted.
It is also possible to deal with CP43FA.

Further, in the present embodiment, the characteristic variation and characteristic variation of the color paper used, the laser light source,
Calibration can be performed in order to absorb characteristic variations of the modulator and the development processor and perform stable image reproduction. First, the density data stored as digital data is converted into a single color of each of the three colors cyan, magenta, and yellow, and a gray color obtained by superimposing the three colors.
After exposure and development with each of a plurality of density step patterns, the developed densities are automatically measured using a densitometer. Based on the difference between the target density and the measured density, the table storing the characteristics of the electric signal given to the modulator at the time of exposure is rewritten for the density data to be reproduced. As a result, it is possible to always stably reproduce an image without being affected by changes in the paper used, the device, the environment, and the like. The input device has a calibration function for keeping the characteristics constant independently of absorbing the characteristic fluctuation due to the replacement of the halogen lamp light source or the like in a constant state. As described above, by independently managing the input device and the output device, stable image reproduction can be always performed.

5. Positive photosensitive material for output As described above, the materials for outputting positive images are inkjet, sublimation-type thermal transfer, color diffusion transfer, color electrophotography, heat-developable silver halide color diffusion transfer, and heat-developable multilayer. Any signal such as color diazo or silver salt color paper can be input as long as the image signal is a time-series electrical or optical signal. Among them, color paper is particularly preferable. All of the photosensitive silver halide emulsions in the light-sensitive material preferably have silver chloride content of at least 95 mol%, the balance being silver bromide, and preferably comprise silver halide grains substantially free of silver iodide. Here, "substantially free of silver iodide" means that the silver iodide content is 1 mol% or less, preferably 0.2 mol% or less, more preferably 0 mol%. From the viewpoint of rapid processing, the silver halide emulsion is preferably a silver halide emulsion having a silver chloride content of 98 mol% or more. Among such silver halides, those having a silver bromide localized phase on the surface of silver chloride grains are particularly preferable since high sensitivity can be obtained and photographic performance can be stabilized.

The silver halide emulsion contained in at least one of the light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers has a coefficient of variation in grain size distribution (standard deviation of grain size distribution divided by average grain size) of 15% or less. Some are preferred and 1
Monodispersed emulsions of 0% or less are more preferred. It is preferable to use two or more of the above monodispersed emulsions in the same layer for the purpose of obtaining a wide latitude. At this time, the monodispersed emulsions preferably differ in average grain size by 15% or more, more preferably differ by 20 to 60%, and particularly preferably differ by 25 to 50%. The sensitivity difference between the monodispersed emulsions is preferably from 0.15 to 0.50 logE, more preferably from 0.20 to 0.40 logE, even more preferably from 0.25 to 0.35 logE. . To obtain the desired image gradation of the present invention,
Iron and / or ruthenium and / or osmium compounds are added to silver chlorobromide having a silver chloride content of 95 mol% or more substantially containing no silver iodide at 1 × / mol of silver halide.
A silver halide emulsion containing 10 ^-5 to 1 × 10 ^-3 mol and containing 1 × 10 ^-7 to 1 × 10 ^-5 mol of an iridium compound per mol of silver halide in a silver bromide localized phase. It is effective to use

For the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material for output used in the present invention, conventionally known photographic materials and additives can be used. For example, a transmissive support or a reflective support can be used as a photographic support. Examples of the transmissive support include transparent films such as cellulose nitrate film and polyethylene terephthalate, and polyesters of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (NDCA) and ethylene glycol (EG) and polyesters of NDCA, terephthalic acid and EG. And the like provided with an information recording layer such as a magnetic layer are preferably used. For the purpose of the present invention, a reflective support is preferred, in particular laminated with a plurality of polyethylene layers or polyester layers, and at least one such water-resistant resin layer (laminated layer) contains a white pigment such as titanium oxide. Reflective supports are preferred.

Further, it is preferable that the water-resistant resin layer contains a fluorescent whitening agent. The fluorescent whitening agent may be dispersed in the hydrophilic colloid layer of the light-sensitive material. As the fluorescent whitening agent, preferably, benzoxazole type, coumarin type,
A pyrazoline-based fluorescent whitening agent can be used, and a benzoxazolylnaphthalene-based or benzooxazolylstilbene-based fluorescent whitening agent is more preferable. The amount used is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 100 mg / m ² . The mixing ratio in the case of mixing with the water-resistant resin is preferably 0.0005 to 3% by weight with respect to the resin, and more preferably 0.1 to 3% by weight.
001 to 0.5% by weight. A body in which a hydrophilic colloid layer containing a white pigment is provided on the body may be used. Also,
The reflective support may be a support having a mirror-reflective or second-class diffuse-reflective metal surface.

The above-mentioned reflection type support and silver halide emulsion,
Further, different metal ion species doped in silver halide grains, storage stabilizer or antifoggant of silver halide emulsion, chemical sensitization (sensitizer), spectral sensitization (spectral sensitizer), Cyan, magenta and yellow couplers and their emulsifying and dispersing methods, color image storability improvers (anti-stain agents and anti-fading agents), dyes (colored layers), gelatin species, layer composition of photosensitive material, coating pH of photosensitive material, etc. Is described in Table 1
04448, 7-77775, and 7-301
No. 895 can preferably be applied to the present invention.

[0073]

[Table 1]

[0074]

[Table 2]

Examples of cyan, magenta and yellow couplers that can be used in output light-sensitive materials (color paper) include those described in JP-A-62-215272, No. 91.
4th line in upper right column of page to 6th line in upper left column of 121 pages,
No. 3,144, page 3, upper right column, line 14 to page 18, upper left column last line, page 30, upper right column, line 6 to page 35, lower right column line 11, and EP 0355,660A2, page 4, line 15 Eye~
The couplers described on line 27, line 5, page 30 to page 28, line 45, line 29 to line 31, page 47, line 23 to page 63, line 50 are also useful. As the antibacterial and antifungal agents that can be used in the color light-sensitive material for output, those described in JP-A-63-271247 are useful. In order to make the image reproduction system of the present invention compact and inexpensive, it is preferable to use a second harmonic generation light source (SHG) combining a semiconductor laser or a solid-state laser with a nonlinear optical crystal. Particularly, in order to design an apparatus that is compact, inexpensive, and has a long life and high stability, it is preferable to use a semiconductor laser, and it is preferable to use a semiconductor laser as at least one of the exposure light sources.

When such a scanning exposure light source is used,
The maximum wavelength of the spectral sensitivity of the output color photosensitive material can be arbitrarily set depending on the wavelength of the scanning exposure light source to be used. In a solid-state laser using a semiconductor laser as an excitation light source or an SHG light source obtained by combining a semiconductor laser and a nonlinear optical crystal, the laser oscillation wavelength can be halved, so that blue light and green light can be obtained. Therefore, the spectral sensitivity maximum of the photosensitive material can be provided in the usual three wavelength ranges of blue, green and red. When the exposure time in such scanning exposure is defined as the exposure time for the pixel size when the pixel density is 400 dpi, the preferred exposure time is 10 ^-4 seconds or less, more preferably 10 ^-6 seconds or less. Preferred scanning exposure methods applicable to the present invention are described in detail in the patents listed in the above table. In order to process the color light-sensitive material for output, refer to JP-A-2-207250, page 26, lower right column, first line to 34.
The processing materials and processing methods described in the ninth line in the upper right column of the page and the 17th line in the upper left column on page 5 to the 20th line in the lower right column of page 18 of JP-A-4-97355 can be preferably applied. As the preservative used in this developer, the compounds described in the patents listed in the above table are preferably used.

The method of developing the output color photosensitive material after exposure is, for example, a developing method using a conventional developing solution containing an alkali agent and a color developing agent, or a method using a color developing agent (color-forming reducing agent) for the photosensitive material. A built-in developing method using an activator solution such as an alkali solution containing no developing agent, and the above-mentioned various silver halide and non-silver salt output color photosensitive materials can be used.

6. Development Processing and Material for Color Photography to which the Present Invention is Applicable In the above description of the present invention, the reference development processing is CN1
Although the current general-purpose and common processes such as the 6-system and the C41-system have been premised, the reference process and the rapid process of the present invention are not limited to these as long as they are standard processes.

The color development processing to which the present invention is applied will be supplemented. As the color developer, a known aromatic primary amine color developing agent is used. A preferred example is a p-phenylenediamine derivative, representative examples of which are shown below, but are not limited thereto.

1) N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine 2) 4-amino-N, N-diethyl-3-methylaniline 3) 4-amino-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) -N-
Methylaniline 4) 4-amino-N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) aniline 5) 4-amino-N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) -3-methylaniline 6) 4-amino- N-ethyl-N- (3-hydroxypropyl) -3-methylaniline 7) 4-amino-N-ethyl-N- (4-hydroxybutyl) -3-methylaniline 8) 4-amino-N-ethyl- N- (β-methanesulfonamidoethyl) -3-methylaniline 9) 4-amino-N, N-diethyl-3- (β-hydroxyethyl) aniline 10) 4-amino-N-ethyl-N- (β -Methoxyethyl) -3 methyl-aniline 11) 4-Amino-N- (β-ethoxyethyl) -N-
Ethyl-3-methylaniline 12) 4-amino-N- (3-carbamoylpropyl-
Nn-propyl-3-methylaniline 13) 4-amino-N- (4-carbamoylbutyl-N
-N-propyl-3-methylaniline 15) N- (4-amino-3-methylphenyl) -3-
Hydroxypyrrolidine 16) N- (4-amino-3-methylphenyl) -3-
(Hydroxymethyl) pyrrolidine 17) N- (4-amino-3-methylphenyl) -3-
Pyrrolidine carboxamide

Of the p-phenylenediamine derivatives, particularly preferred are the exemplified compounds 5), 6), 7), 8) and 12). In addition, these p-phenylenediamine derivatives, in a solid material state, usually sulfate, hydrochloride,
It is in the form of a salt such as sulfite, naphthalenedisulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and the like. The concentration of the aromatic primary amine developing agent in the development replenisher or the developer is preferably 2 mmol to 200 mmol, more preferably 12 mmol to 200 mmol, and still more preferably 12 mmol to 150 mmol per liter of the developer. is there.

The developing solution or the developing replenisher may contain a small amount of sulfite ion or may not substantially contain it depending on the kind of the light-sensitive material to be treated. This is because sulfite ions have a remarkable preservative action, but may adversely affect the photographic performance in the color development process depending on the target photosensitive material. Hydroxylamine may or may not be included in the components depending on the type of the light-sensitive material. This is because the photographic properties may be affected because the developer itself has silver developing activity at the same time as the function as a preservative of the developer.

The development replenisher or developer may contain an inorganic preservative such as hydroxylamine or sulfite ion, or an organic preservative. The organic preservative refers to any organic compound that reduces the deterioration rate of an aromatic primary amine color developing agent by being included in a processing solution for a photosensitive material. That is,
Organic compounds having a function of preventing air oxidation of color developing agents, among others, hydroxylamine derivatives, hydroxamic acids, hydrazides, phenols, α-hydroxyketones, α-aminoketones, sugars, monoamines , Diamines, polyamines, quaternary ammonium salts, nitroxy radicals, alcohols, oximes, diamide compounds, and condensed amines are particularly effective organic preservatives. These are disclosed in
−4235, 63-30845, 63-21647, 63-44655
Nos. 63-53551, 63-43140, 63-56654, 63
-58346, 63-43138, 63-146041, 63-44657
No. 63-44656, U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,615,503, 2,494,
No. 903, JP-A-52-143020, and JP-B-48-30496.

Other preservatives include various metals described in JP-A-57-44148 and JP-A-57-53749;
No. 0588, salicylic acids, alkanolamines described in JP-A-54-3532, polyethyleneimines described in JP-A-56-94349, U.S. Pat.
An aromatic polyhydroxy compound or the like described in the specification of JP-A No. 4 may be contained as necessary. In particular, addition of alkanolamines other than the above-mentioned alkanolamines such as triethanolamine, substituted or unsubstituted dialkylhydroxylamines such as disulfoethylhydroxylamine and diethylhydroxylamine, or addition of aromatic polyhydroxy compounds Is preferred. Among the above-mentioned organic preservatives, hydroxylamine derivatives are particularly preferred.
Nos. 6,939, 1-186940 and 1-187557. In particular, it is more preferable to use a hydroxylamine derivative and an amine in combination from the viewpoint of improving the stability of the color developer and the stability during continuous processing. Examples of the amines include cyclic amines described in JP-A-63-239447, amines described in JP-A-63-128340, and other amines described in JP-A-1-1869.
Amines such as those described in JP-A Nos. 39 and 1-187557 are exemplified.

In the development according to the present invention, the developer contains bromine ions or chlorine ions. Bromine ions in the developer are 1-5 × 10
^-3 mol / l, 1.0 for printing material processing
It is preferably at most ^10-3 mol / liter. In addition to the above, 0.1 to 5.0 × 10 ^-4 mol /
Often contains liters of iodine ions.

In the case of the color developer or replenisher which is the object of the method of the present invention, the pH is designed to be 10 or more, more preferably 10.1 to 12.5, and other known developing solutions. A liquid component compound can be included. In order to maintain the above pH, it is preferable to use various buffers. Buffers include carbonates, phosphates, borates,
Tetraborate, hydroxybenzoate, glycyl salt, N,
N-dimethylglycine salt, leucine salt, norleucine salt, guanine salt, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine salt, alanine salt, aminobutyrate, 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol salt, valine salt, proline Salts, trishydroxyaminomethane salts, lysine salts and the like can be used. In particular, carbonates, phosphates, tetraborates, and hydroxybenzoates have excellent buffering ability in the high pH range of pH 9.0 or higher, and adversely affect photographic performance even when incorporated in color and black-and-white developers ( The use of these buffers is particularly preferable because they have the advantage of no fog and low cost. The amount of the buffer added is 0.01 to 1 per liter in the development replenisher prepared therefrom.
2.0 mol, preferably 0.1-O. Adjusted to 5 moles.

Specific examples of these buffers include sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, disodium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, and sodium borate. , Potassium borate, sodium tetraborate (borax),
Potassium tetraborate, sodium o-hydroxybenzoate (sodium salicylate), potassium o-hydroxybenzoate, sodium 5-sulfo-2-hydroxybenzoate (sodium 5-sulfosalicylate), 5-sulfo-
Potassium 2-hydroxybenzoate (potassium 5-sulfosalicylate) and the like can be mentioned. However, the invention is not limited to these compounds.
The amount of the buffer is included so that the concentration in the diluted developer replenisher is 0.1 mol / L or more, particularly 0.1 mol / L to 0.4 mol / L.

The developing solution and the replenishing solution according to the present invention may contain other developing solution components, for example, various chelating agents which are precipitation preventing agents for calcium and magnesium or also improve stability of the developing solution. it can. For example,
Nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N, N, N-trimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N, N, N ', N'-tetramethylenesulfonic acid, transsirohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, 1,2 -Diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, glycol ether diaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediamine orthohydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, N, N'-bis ( 2-hydroxybenzyl) ethylenediamine-N, N'-diacetic acid, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene-4,6-disulfonic acid and the like. These chelating agents may be used in combination of two or more as necessary. The amount of these chelating agents may be an amount sufficient to block metal ions in the developer. For example, it is added so as to be about 0.1 g to 10 g per liter of the prepared processing solution.

The developer and the replenisher according to the present invention may contain an optional development accelerator if necessary. As development accelerators, JP-B-37-16088, JP-B-37-5987 and JP-B-38-78
No. 26, No. 44-12380, No. 45-9019 and U.S. Pat.
No. 3,247, etc., thioether compounds described in the specification or JP-A Nos. 52-49829 and 50-15554, p-phenylenediamine compounds described in JP-A Nos.
Nos. 137726, JP-B-44-30074, quaternary ammonium salts represented in JP-A-56-156826 and JP-A-52-43429, U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,494,903, 3,128,182, and 4,23.
No. 0,796, 3,253,919, JP-B-41-11431, U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,482,546, 2,596,926, and 3,582,346, etc.
37-16088, 42-25201, U.S. Patent No. 3,128,183,
JP-B-41-11431, JP-B-42-23883 and U.S. Pat.
Polyalkylene oxides described in each publication or specification such as No. 501, other 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones, imidazoles, and the like can be added as necessary.

Further, if necessary, an optional antifoggant can be contained. As the antifoggant, alkali metal halides such as sodium chloride, potassium bromide and potassium iodide and organic antifoggants can be used. Examples of the organic antifoggant include benzotriazole, 6-nitrobenzimidazole, 5-nitroisoindazole, 5-methylbenzotriazole, 5-nitrobenzotriazole, 5-chloro-benzotriazole, 2-thiazolyl-benzimidazole, Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds such as -thiazolylmethyl-benzimidazole, indazole, hydroxyazaindolizine and adenine can be mentioned as typical examples. The addition amount of these antifoggants is 0.01 mg to 1 liter of working solution prepared by diluting the treating agent composition with water.
2 g, preferably 0.2 mg of mercaptoazoles when the subject photographic material is a silver iodobromide material.
To 0.2 g, and 1 mg to non-mercaptoazoles.
2 g. When the target photographic material is silver chlorobromide, silver bromide, or silver chloride photographic material, the amount of mercaptoazoles is 0.01 mg to 0.3 g, and that of non-mercaptoazoles is 0.1 mg to 1 g. is there. Further, various surfactants such as alkyl sulfonic acid, aryl sulfonic acid, aliphatic carboxylic acid and aromatic carboxylic acid may be added as needed.

In the development processing according to the present invention, any known bleaching solution, bleach-fixing solution and fixing solution can be used after color development. As the bleaching agent for the bleaching solution or the bleach-fixing solution, any bleaching agent can be used. Acids, persulfates, hydrogen peroxide and the like are preferred.

Of these, organic complex salts of iron (III) are particularly preferred from the viewpoint of rapid processing and prevention of environmental pollution. Iron (III)
Aminopolycarboxylic acids or salts thereof useful for forming an organic complex salt of the following are listed: biodegradable ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (SS form), N- (2-carboxylateethyl) -L-asparagine Acid, beta-alanine diacetate, methyliminodiacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, 1,3
-Diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid,
Iminodiacetic acid, glycol ether diamine tetraacetic acid, and the like. These compounds may be any of the sodium, potassium, lithium or ammonium salts. Among these compounds, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (SS form), N- (2-carboxylateethyl)
-L-aspartic acid, β-alanine diacetate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, methyliminodiacetic acid, and S, S-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, whose iron (III) complex salt has good photographic properties Is preferred. These ferric ion complex salts may be used in the form of a complex salt or a ferric salt such as ferric sulfate, ferric chloride, ferric nitrate, ferric ammonium sulfate, ferric phosphate. And a chelating agent such as aminopolycarboxylic acid may be used to form a ferric ion complex salt in a solution. In addition, the chelating agent may be used in excess of forming a ferric ion complex salt. The addition amount of the iron complex is 0.01 to 1.0 mol / L, preferably 0.05 to 0.50 mol / L, and more preferably 0.10 to 0.1 mol / L for the treatment liquid prepared by diluting with water. It is 50 mol / l, more preferably 0.15 to 0.40 mol / l.

The bleach-fixing solution for color processing or the fixing solution for color includes known fixing agents, for example, thiosulfates such as sodium thiosulfate and ammonium thiosulfate; thiocyanates such as sodium thiocyanate and ammonium thiocyanate; Ethylenebisthioglycolic acid, 3,6-dithia-
It is a thioether compound such as 1,8-octanediol and a water-soluble silver halide dissolving agent such as thiourea, which can be used as a solution of one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds. Also, a special bleach-fixing solution comprising a combination of a fixing agent described in JP-A-55-155354 and a large amount of a halide such as potassium iodide can be used. In the present invention, the use of thiosulfates, particularly ammonium thiosulfates, is preferred. The amount of the fixing agent per liter of the prepared processing solution is preferably from 0.3 to 2 mol, more preferably from 0.5 to 1.0 mol.

The pH range of the prepared bleach-fixing solution or fixing solution is preferably from 3 to 8, and more preferably from 4 to 7.
When the pH is lower than this, the desilverability is improved, but the deterioration of the solution and the leuco formation of the cyan dye are promoted. Conversely, if the pH is higher than this, desilvering will be delayed and stain will easily occur. Further, the pH range of the prepared bleaching solution is 8 or less,
2-7 are preferred, and 2-6 are particularly preferred. If the pH is lower than this, the deterioration of the solution and the leuco-formation of the cyan dye are accelerated. On the other hand, if the pH is higher than this, desilvering is delayed and stain is easily generated. In order to adjust the pH, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, bicarbonate, ammonia, caustic potash, caustic soda, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate and the like can be contained as necessary.

The bleach-fixing composition may contain an antifoaming agent or a surfactant, or an organic solvent such as polyvinylpyrrolidone or methanol, in addition to the various fluorescent brightening agents described above. Compositions of bleach-fixing and fixing agents include sulfites (eg, sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, etc.) and bisulfites (eg, ammonium bisulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, as preservatives) ), Metabisulfites (eg, potassium metabisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, ammonium metabisulfite, etc.), and compounds such as p-toluenesulfinic acid and m-carboxybenzenesulfinic acid. -Sulfinic acid and the like. These compounds are converted to sulfite ions or sulfinate ions in an amount of about 0.02-1.
It is preferable to contain 0 mol / liter.

As a preservative, in addition to the above, ascorbic acid, carbonyl bisulfite adduct, carbonyl compound and the like may be added. Further, a buffer, an optical brightener, a chelating agent, an antifoaming agent, a fungicide, and the like may be added as necessary.

When performing color development according to the present invention, the processing temperature of the color developer in the standard processing is preferably 30 ° C. or higher, more preferably 35 to 55 ° C., and particularly preferably 38 to 45 ° C. The development processing time is preferably 60 seconds or less for a color print material, more preferably 15 to 45 seconds, and even more preferably 5 to 20 seconds. The replenishment amount is preferably small, but is suitably ^{20 to} 600 ml per 1 m ^{2 of} the light-sensitive material, preferably 30 to 600 ml.
It is 120 ml, particularly preferably 15 to 60 ml. On the other hand, the color development step for color negative and color reversal films is 6 minutes or less, preferably 1 to 4 minutes.
Minutes, more preferably 1-3 minutes and 15 seconds for color negatives, and 1-4 minutes for color reversal.

The processing time of the bleaching step, fixing step and bleach-fixing step is 5 to 240 seconds, preferably 10 to 60 seconds.
Processing temperature is 25 ° C to 50 ° C, preferably 30 ° C to 45 ° C
It is. The replenishment rate is 20 ml per m ² of photosensitive material.
２５０250 ml, preferably 30 ml to 100 ml, particularly preferably 15 ml to 60 ml.

After desilvering such as fixing or bleach-fixing, washing and / or stabilization are generally performed. The amount of rinsing water in the rinsing step can be set in a wide range depending on the characteristics of the photosensitive material (for example, depending on the material used such as a coupler), the use, the rinsing water temperature, the number of rinsing tanks (the number of stages), and various other conditions.
Among them, the relationship between the number of washing tanks and water volume in the multi-stage countercurrent method is described in Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (Journal of the Society of Motion Picture).
and Television Engineers) Vol. 64, pp. 248-253 (1955
May issue). Usually, the number of stages in the multistage countercurrent system is preferably 3 to 15, and particularly preferably 3 to 10.

According to the multi-stage countercurrent method, the amount of washing water can be greatly reduced, and bacteria increase due to an increase in the residence time of water in the tank. Occurs. As a solution to such a problem, the method of reducing calcium and magnesium described in JP-A-62-288838 can be used very effectively.
Further, chlorinated fungicides such as isothiazolone compounds and thiabendazoles described in JP-A-57-8542, chlorinated sodium isocyanurate described in JP-A-61-120145, and JP-A-61-26761. Benzotriazole, copper ion, and others described in the official gazette.
1986) Sankyo Publishing, Sanitary Technology Association, "Microbial Sterilization, Sterilization, and Antifungal Technology" (1982) Industrial Technology Association, Japan Society of Antimicrobial and Fungicide, "Encyclopedia of Antifungal Agents" (1986) Can be used.

Also, aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and pyruvaldehyde which inactivate the remaining magenta coupler to prevent fading of the dye and formation of stain, methylol compounds described in US Pat. No. 4,786,583 and hexamethylentetramine Hexahydrotriazines described in JP-A-2-153348, formaldehyde bisulfite adduct described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,779, seized patent publication 504609.
And azolylmethylamines described in JP-A Nos. 519190 and 519190 are added.

Further, in the washing water, a surfactant as a draining agent and a chelating agent represented by EDTA as a hardening agent can be used. Continue with the above washing process or
Alternatively, the treatment can be performed directly with the stabilizing solution without going through the washing step. A compound having an image stabilizing function is added to the stabilizing solution, and examples thereof include an aldehyde compound typified by formalin, a buffering agent for adjusting a membrane pH suitable for dye stabilization, and an ammonium compound. Further, in order to prevent the growth of bacteria in the liquid and impart fungicidal properties to the processed photosensitive material, the above-mentioned various bactericides and fungicides can be used. Further, a surfactant, a fluorescent whitening agent and a hardening agent may be added.

In the processing of the light-sensitive material according to the present invention, when the stabilization is carried out directly without going through a washing step, JP-A-57-8543, JP-A-58-14834, JP-A-60-220345, etc. Can be used. In addition, it is also a preferable embodiment to use a chelating agent such as 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid or ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid, or a magnesium or bismuth compound.

A so-called rinsing liquid is also used as a washing liquid or a stabilizing liquid used after the desilvering treatment. The preferred pH of the washing step or the stabilizing step is 4 to 10, and more preferably 5 to 8. The temperature can be set variously depending on the use and characteristics of the photosensitive material, but is generally 20 ° C to 50 ° C, preferably 25 ° C to 45 ° C. Drying is performed following the washing and / or stabilizing step. From the viewpoint of reducing the amount of water carried into the image film, it is possible to speed up drying by absorbing water with a squeeze roller or cloth immediately after leaving the washing bath. As a means of improvement from the dryer side, as a matter of course, it is possible to speed up the drying by increasing the temperature or changing the shape of the spray nozzle to increase the drying air. Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-157650, drying can be accelerated by adjusting the blowing angle of the drying air to the photosensitive material and removing the exhaust air.

The light-sensitive material according to the present invention is protected against various molds and bacteria which propagate in the hydrophilic colloid layer and degrade the image as described in JP-A-63-271247. It is preferred to add a fungicide. In the case of a photographic film photosensitive material, cellulose triacetate, poly (ethylene terephthalate), and poly (ethylene naphthalate) are used as a support for the photosensitive material according to the present invention. Is a paper (resin-coated paper) laminated with white pigment-kneaded polyethylene,
A support such as a poly (ethylene terephthalate) film kneaded with a white pigment for display is used.

The silver halide emulsion and other materials (additives, etc.) and photographic constituent layers (layer arrangement, etc.) applied to the light-sensitive material according to the present invention, and processing methods applied for processing this light-sensitive material And EP 0,355,660 A2, JP-A-2-33144 and JP-A-sho
Those described in the specification of JP-A-62-215272 or those listed in Table 3 below are preferably used.

[0107]

[Table 3]

Further, as a cyan coupler, JP-A-2-33
No. 144, EP 0,333,185 A2 and JP-A-64-32260 can also be used.

Cyan, magenta or yellow couplers are impregnated with loadable latex polymers (eg, US Pat. No. 4,203,716) in the presence (or absence) of the high boiling organic solvents listed in the preceding table. Or dissolved together with a water-insoluble and organic solvent-soluble polymer and emulsified and dispersed in a hydrophilic colloid aqueous solution. Preferred water-insoluble and organic solvent-soluble polymers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,449, column 7 to column 7.
Homopolymers or copolymers described in column 15 and pages 12 to 30 of WO 88/00723 can be mentioned. In particular, a methacrylate or acrylamide polymer is particularly preferred in terms of color image stability and the like.

The light-sensitive material according to the present invention includes European Patent E
It is preferable to use a color image storability improving compound as described in P0,277,589A2 in combination with a pyrazoloazole coupler, a pyrrolotriazole coupler or an acylacetamide type yellow coupler.

Examples of the cyan coupler include phenol couplers and naphthol couplers described in the publicly known documents in the above table, as well as JP-A-2-33144.
JP, EP 0333185 A2, JP-A-6
4-32260, European Patent EP 0 456 226 A1, European Patent EP 0 484 909, European Patent EP
Preference is given to using the cyan couplers described in US Pat. No. 4,488,248 and EP0491197A1.

In the photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention, as magenta couplers, besides 5-pyrazolone-based magenta couplers described in the publicly known documents in the above table, WO92 / 18901 and WO92 / 18901 can be used. 1890
No. 2 and WO92 / 18903 are also preferable. In addition to these 5-pyrazolone magenta couplers, known pyrazoloazole-type couplers can be used in the present invention. Kaisho 61-65246
No. JP-A-61-14254, European Patent No. 226,8
Use of the pyrazoloazole couplers described in Nos. 49A and 294,785A is preferred.

As the yellow coupler, known acylacetoanilide-type couplers are preferably used. Among them, European Patent EP0447969A and JP-A-5-15-1 are preferred.
07701, JP-A-5-113462, European Patent E
The couplers described in P-0482552A and EP-0524540A are preferably used.

[0114]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described specifically with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. First, the photosensitive material, the developing processor, and the contents of the working which are used will be described. 1. Tested color negative film: A color negative film equivalent to the sample 101 described in Example 1 of JP-A-8-339063 as a sample that can be represented by a general-purpose color negative film was prepared in accordance with the ISO1007 standard. , 24 shots of patrone). The ISO sensitivity of this film is 400. 2. Method of photographic property test ISO58 was applied to each test film.
Standard C described in 00 (sensitivity measuring method for color negative film)
Under the illumination of the light source, the Macbeth chart was photographed at three standard exposures of the standard exposure, 1/4 under exposure and 16 times the standard over exposure, and the development processing conditions were changed as follows. Then, the photographic image reproduction characteristics were evaluated by the reproduced image on the Macbeth chart. 3. Other than the developing processor used for the comparative experiment,
Japanese Patent Application Nos. 8-174022 and 8-182551.
A development processor for color negative film (FP560B, manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) incorporating the image processing mechanism described in the above item (hereinafter referred to as an image processing built-in type). However, the Kudo motor was modified so that the film transport speed could be changed.

3. Developing Process The following developing process specifications for color negative were used. This specification is substantially the same as CN16 which is widely used in the market for developing various types of films on the market. The processing steps and the composition of the processing solution are shown below.

(Processing process) Process Processing time Processing temperature Replenishment amount * Tank capacity Color development 3 minutes 5 seconds 38.0 ° C 20 ml 17 liter Bleaching 50 seconds 38.0 ° C 5 ml 5 liters Fixing (1) 50 seconds 38.0 ° C 5 liters Fixed (2) 50 seconds 38.0 ° C 8 ml 5 liters Rinse 30 seconds 38.0 ° C 17 ml 3.5 liters Stabilized (1) 20 seconds 38.0 ° C-3 liters Stabilized (2) 20 seconds 38.0 ° C 15 ml 3 liters Drying 1 minute 30 seconds 60 ° C * Replenishment rate per 35 mm width of photosensitive material 1.1 m (equivalent to 24 Ex. 1 line)

The stabilizing solution was of a countercurrent type from (2) to (1), and the overflow of the washing water was all introduced into the fixing (2). The fixing solution is also connected from (2) to (1) by a countercurrent pipe. The amount of the developer brought into the bleaching step, the amount of the bleaching liquid brought into the fixing step, and the amount of the fixing liquid brought into the washing step were 2.5 ml and 2.0 ml, respectively, per 1.1 mm width of 35 mm photosensitive material. , 2.0 ml. The crossover time is 6 seconds in each case, and this time is included in the processing time of the previous step.

The composition of the processing solution is shown below. (Color developing solution) Tank solution (g) Replenisher (g) Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid 2.0 2.0 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid 2.0 2.0 Sodium sulfite 3.9 5.3 Potassium carbonate 37.5 39.0 Potassium bromide 1.4 0.4 Potassium iodide 1.3 mg-disodium-N, N-bis (sulfonatoethyl) hydroxylamine 2.0 2.0 hydroxylamine sulfate 2.4 3.3 2-Methyl-4- [N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) amino] aniline sulfate 4.5 6.4 Add water 1.0 liter 1.0 liter pH (adjusted with potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid) 10.05 10.18

(Bleaching solution) Tank solution (g) Replenishing solution (g) Ferric ammonium 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetate monohydrate 118 180 Ammonium bromide 80 115 Ammonium nitrate 14 21 Succinic acid 40 60 Maleic acid 33 50 Add water 1.0 liter 1.0 liter pH (adjusted with aqueous ammonia) 4.4 4.0

(Fixing solution) Tank solution (g) Replenisher (g) Ammonium methanesulfinate 10 30 Ammonium methanethiosulfonate 4 12 Aqueous solution of ammonium thiosulfate (700 g / L) 280 mL 840 mL Imidazole 7 20 Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 15 45 Add water 1.0 liter 1.0 liter pH (adjusted with ammonia water and acetic acid) 7.4 7.45

(Washing water) Tap water was replaced with H-type strongly acidic cation exchange resin (Amberlite IR- manufactured by Rohm and Haas Company).
120B) and a mixed bed column packed with an OH type strongly basic anion exchange resin (Amberlite IR-400) to reduce the calcium and magnesium ion concentration to 3 mg.
Per liter or less, followed by 20 mg / liter of sodium diisocyanurate and 150 mg of sodium sulfate.
mg / l was added. The pH of this solution is 6.5-7,
5 range.

(Stabilizing solution) Common to tank solution and replenisher (unit: g) Sodium p-toluenesulfinate 0.03 Polyoxyethylene-p-monononylphenyl ether (average degree of polymerization: 10) 0.2 Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate 0.05 1, 2,4-triazole 1.3 1,4-bis (1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl) piperazine 0.75 1,2-benzoisothiazolin-3-one 0.10 Add water 1.0 liter pH 8.5 8.5

5. Output device A laser printer / paper processor LP-10 is an example of a commercially available printer that can generate a positive image by inputting an electrical image signal output from the FP560B.
00P (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) was used. For the comparison sample, a commercially available surface exposure type color printer / paper processor PP728A (manufactured by Fuji Mini Lab Champion Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) was used.
The printer of this equipment is a simultaneous general exposure system that prints through a processed color negative and prints on color paper, and controls the color balance by controlling the filter. It is. In each case, color paper uses commercially available Fujicolor Pepper Super FA3 (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), and the development process is a general-purpose CP47L formulation (development process formulation and processing agent for color paper, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) Made)
It went according to.

6. Tests The following tests were performed. Comparative Sample-1 The reference development process (CN16 system described above) was developed with an FP560B image processing built-in type, and the sample was subjected to laser printer / paper processor LP-
At 1000, printing and positive development were performed to obtain a color print for comparison. Comparative Sample-2 A reference development process was similarly performed using the FP560B, and the sample was subjected to baking and a positive development process using a surface exposure type PP728A to obtain a comparative color print. Comparative Sample-3 The rapid development processing was similarly performed with FP560B, and the sample was baked with PP-728A and subjected to positive development processing to obtain a color print for comparison. The rapid development processing was performed by doubling the transport speed of the film. Inventive Sample-1 The same rapid development processing as in Comparative Example-3 was performed with FP-560B, and the sample was baked with LP-1000P and subjected to positive development processing to obtain a color print by the method and apparatus of the present invention. Image processing conditions are FP-5
The conditions set for the processing of the reference processing conditions of 60B were used without change (since the image processing capacity was sufficient).

[0125] 7. Test results The test results are shown in Table 4. Image reproduction performance is determined based on whether or not a sufficient density reproduction area is maintained without a decrease in the difference between the density of the highest density portion of the Macbeth chart, that is, the density of a black patch, and the density of the lowest density portion, that is, the density of a white patch. You.
In Comparative Examples 1 and 2, both Dmax and Dmi of photographic paper were used.
Black and white patch densities close to n were obtained, and it can be seen that standard level image reproduction was obtained even in Comparative Example 2 in which no image processing was performed in the reference development processing. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 3 in which rapid development processing was performed, the decrease in black density was remarkable, particularly in a sample with two-stroke underexposure.
In the present invention, it has a standard density reproduction range by image processing, and it can be seen that excellent image reproduction has been performed.

[0126]

[Table 4]

[0127]

According to the present invention, a photographed color film is rapidly developed, the image information is read, and it is converted optically or electrically into a digital image signal. The apparatus of the present invention that outputs to a printer can output image information of normal image quality even if color film development processing is performed at 1.1 to 3 times (film transport speed) rapid development processing without deteriorating image quality. And a color print of normal image quality can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration and an overall flow of an image forming method and apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an image reproduction system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an image reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a transmission type image reading apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a part of the configuration of the image processing apparatus 5 shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another part of the configuration of the image processing apparatus 5 shown in FIG. 2, which is not shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing details of a first frame memory unit, a second frame memory unit, and a third frame memory unit shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing details of the first image processing means shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the image output device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 shows a laser light irradiation means of the image output device shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Explanation of reference numerals in FIGS. 1 to 10 F film P collar print 01 DX code 02 development selection instruction part 03 reference development step 03A non-reference development step 04 manual development selection 1 image reading device 5 image processing device 8 image output device 10 transmission type Image reading device 11 Light source 12 Light intensity adjustment unit 13 Color separation unit 14 Diffusion unit 15 CCD area sensor 16 Lens 17 Amplifier 18 A / D converter 19 CCD correction means 20 Log converter 21 Interface 22 Carrier 23 Motor 24 Drive roller 25 Screen detection Sensor 26 CPU 48 interface 49 averaging means 50a first line buffer 50b second line buffer 51 first frame memory unit 51R R data memory 51G G data memo 51B B data memory 52 second frame memory unit 52R R data memory 52G G data memory 52B B data memory 53 third frame memory unit 53R R data memory 53G G data memory 53B B data memory 55 selector 60 CPU 61 first Image processing means 62 Second image processing means 63 Input bus 64 Output bus 65 Data bus 66 Memory 67 Hard disk 68 CRT 69 Keyboard 70 Communication port 75 Data synthesizing means 76 Synthetic data memory 76R R data memory 76G G data memory 76B B data memory 77 interface 78 interface 79 CPU 80 image data memory 81 D / A converter 82 laser light irradiation means 83 modulator driving means 84a, b, c Light source 85 wavelength converting means 86 wavelength converting means 87 R, G, B light modulator 88 R, G, B reflecting mirror 89 polygon mirror 90 color paper 91 magazine 92 perforating means 94 color developing tank 95 bleach-fixing tank 96 washing tank 97 drying unit 98 Cutter 99 Sorter 100 Color density gradation conversion means 101 Saturation conversion means 102 Digital magnification conversion means 103 Frequency processing means 104 Dynamic range conversion means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for developing a photographed silver halide color photographic material and outputting the obtained image information to a printer, comprising: 1) detecting the type of the photographed color photographic material; 3) developing a non-reference development processing condition based on the obtained information or separately obtained information; and 3) reading image information from the developed color photographic material and reading it out optically or electrically. 4) image processing of the digitized optical or electrical information to obtain image characteristic values to be obtained when the color photographic material is developed under standard development processing conditions; ) By outputting the characteristic value to the printer,
An image forming method characterized by outputting image information of the same image quality as when the reference development processing is performed. 2. An apparatus for developing a photographed silver halide color photographic material and outputting the obtained image information to a printer, 1) detecting the type of the photographed silver halide color photographic material. Mechanism) 2) a mechanism for selecting either the standard development processing condition or the non-standard development processing condition based on the detected information or information obtained separately, and performing a development process according to the selected development processing condition; 3) development A mechanism for reading image information from the processed color photographic material and converting it into optical or electrical digital information; 4) image processing the digitized optical or electrical information to form the color photograph An image processing mechanism for converting the photographic material into an image characteristic value to be obtained when developing the image under the standard development processing conditions; 5) outputting the converted image characteristic value to a printer Power mechanism, by outputting non-reference developed silver halide color photographic material from the photographed material, the image information having the same image quality as when the photographic material is subjected to the reference development processing. Processing equipment for color photographic materials. 3. The developing apparatus for color photographic materials according to claim 2, wherein the non-reference developing processing is a rapid processing. 4. A mechanism for performing image processing for converting the digitized optical or electrical information into image characteristic values to be obtained when the color photographic material is developed under standard development processing conditions. ) A process of converting read contrast data into a contrast value when processed under the reference processing conditions; 2) a process of converting read color balance data into a color balance value when processed under the reference processing conditions; 4) a process for converting to a minimum density value when processed under the reference processing condition; 4) a photographing when the reference processing condition is performed by correcting the non-linearity of the exposure-density relationship caused by the processing under the non-reference processing condition 5) a process of correcting the relationship between the exposure amount and the density of the material, and 5) a non-linear relationship between the exposure amount and the density depending on the type of the photographic material generated by the process of the non-reference processing condition 4. A process for correcting at least one of an exposure amount and a density relationship of the photographic material when the reference processing condition is performed by correcting the photographic material. A development processing apparatus for the color photographic material described above. 5. A mechanism for performing image processing for converting the digitized optical or electrical information into an image characteristic value to be obtained when the color photographic material is developed under standard development processing conditions. 5. The development processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an enhancement mechanism, a sharpness improvement mechanism, a graininess reduction mechanism, and a saturation enhancement mechanism.