JPH10325984A - Printing method, film unit with lens and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of variation in printing quality by a difference in a kind of film and a developing state. SOLUTION: The total number of a request for printing from each customer is counted. A control image corresponding to the total number is selected among many control images, and is printed on the unexposed part of negative film. The density of the control image is measured after developing. Ideal characteristic value data is added to each control image. Correction data is generated from the difference between the ideal characteristic value data and a measured value. Exposure in printing the control image and each image photographed by the customer is controlled by the correction data. The printed photograph of the control image is handed over to the customer together with the printed photograph of the image photographed by the customer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing method, a lens-fitted film unit, and a printer for printing each image of a photographic film in consideration of the development finish of a management image printed before development.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photofinishing lab, a photographed negative film requested by a customer is developed, and thereafter, a surface exposure type printer that prints with the transmitted light of the negative film or a digital printer that prints with image data read from the negative film Each frame is printed on photographic paper using a video printer. The printed photographic paper is cut off one by one after development to produce a printed photograph. This print photo is returned to the customer along with the developed negative film.

[0003] Negative films have the same sensitivity,
The color density varies slightly depending on the type (difference in manufacturer or lot number, etc.). In addition to the type of the negative film, the color density varies depending on the developing state of the negative developing machine. If the color density changes, the density of a printed photograph created from now on will also be different.

It is known to print a check pattern image before developing a negative film in order to correct the print quality variation due to the above-mentioned variation in color density. After developing the negative film, the image of the check pattern is measured to determine a correction amount, and each image is printed according to the correction amount.

[0005]

In the case of using the conventional check pattern, since the check pattern is used only for correcting the density fluctuation, there is no direct merit for the customer.

[0006] By the way, a low-cost camera of a popular type, or a photographic film is pre-loaded at the time of manufacture and sold.
In the case of a camera, such as a film unit with a lens, in which the camera body is collected by the manufacturer after use, since a single lens forms the shooting lens, geometric distortion, peripheral blur, gradation distortion, Concentration unevenness is likely to occur. In order to correct these distortions and the like, it is necessary to use a high-performance photographic lens, which leads to an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing method, a film unit with a lens, and a printer capable of improving a printing service.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing method comprising: exposing a control image to a photographic film; measuring a density or a shape of the control image after development; Correction data is calculated from the density or shape data and the ideal characteristic data corresponding to the management image, and the image of the photographed frame and the management image on the photographic film are printed based on the correction data. It is. As a result, a print photo of the management image is provided to the customer together with the print photo of the photographed frame.

In a printing method according to a second aspect of the present invention, the management image is selected according to processing data for each customer, and is exposed to the photographic film.

In the printing method according to the third aspect, the photographic film is a photographic film stored in a film unit with a lens. For example, before shipment of the film unit with a lens from a factory, a management image is taken by the film unit with a lens. Is done.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the correction data is obtained from a correction table representing a relationship between the measured density value of the photographic film and the corrected density value.

In a printing method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, at least a photographing scene of a person or a landscape is used as the management image.

In the printing method according to the sixth aspect, a management image is photographed in a film unit with a lens, and after development, ideal characteristic data corresponding to the management image and image data of the management image for each film with a lens. By detecting the shift between the two, correction data for correcting the shift is created, and the shift is corrected for the image data of the customer photographed frame using the correction data, and printing is performed. . Then, by this shift correction, at least one of gradation distortion, geometric distortion, density unevenness, and blur is corrected. In addition, a plurality of types of management images can be used by adding identification information of the management image to the film with a lens and identifying corresponding ideal characteristic data based on the identification information after development.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a photographic film has a management image frame for correcting distortion of a photographing frame, and the management image frame is managed by an individual lens of the lens-equipped film unit. Can be obtained by shooting

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for capturing a management image, comparing the captured management image data with the original image data of the management image, detecting a shift between the two, and correcting the shift. And correction means for making corrections using the correction data when printing each frame of a photographic film. Then, at least one of gradation distortion, geometric distortion, density unevenness, and blur is corrected by the shift correction.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a photographed negative film is submitted to a photo lab (including a photo lab) for printing. When receiving a print request, the photofinisher operates the reception machine to input customer ID information and order details. This accepting machine creates a customer database from the input order details.

The customer ID information is for identifying each customer, and is registered in advance at a laboratory. At this time,
The personal information such as the address, age, and gender of the customer is also registered. In addition, if an ID card recording customer ID information is issued and this ID card is presented at the time of a print request, there is no mistake in inputting customer ID information. The customer database includes the date of a print request, the type of negative film (manufacturer, sensitivity, number of sheets, etc.), the type of print, the amount charged, and the like, as well as the total number of negative films requested to be printed. .

In the case of the IX240 film cartridge, a camera is provided with a function of setting customer ID information,
Customer ID information may be automatically recorded on the magnetic layer of the negative film. Alternatively, the total number of negative films photographed so far may be counted on the camera side, and the total number may be recorded on the magnetic layer.

At the developing lab, image data of many management images is stored. The total number of data is read from the customer database, and a management image corresponding to the data is selected. By selecting the management image from the total number, it is possible to prevent the same customer from being provided with a print photograph of the same management image.

As the management image, an image that the customer is pleased with, for example, a famous landscape or building, a portrait of a celebrity such as an idol talent or a professional athlete, or the like is used. The types of management images preferred by customers vary considerably from customer to customer. Therefore, register your favorite type in the customer database,
It is preferable to select a management image from the registered types. It is also possible to put a paid or free commercial in the management image.

Since it is necessary to prepare a considerable number of management images, it is impossible to store and manage all the management images in a mini lab shop or the like. Therefore, it is preferable that only the management images that are frequently used are stored, and the management images that are not frequently used are stored and managed at the laboratory central center. In this case, the mini-lab shop obtains the necessary image data of the management image from the laboratory center using a communication line. As described above, when the management images are managed in the lab central center, when the management images are changed in all the labs, the change work becomes extremely simple.

The selected management image is printed on an unexposed portion at the leading end or the trailing end of the negative film before developing the negative film. For printing the management image, a video printer of a laser type, a CRT type, a liquid crystal type or the like is used. At this time, the exposure amount is controlled according to the film sensitivity so that the density of the management image becomes the ideal density.

Each management image is accompanied by ideal characteristic value data. The ideal characteristic value data includes data representing an ideal density and color distribution of the management image, an ideal negative density value of each pixel, or an ideal density value on a print.

In the case of an IX240 type photographic film cartridge, ideal characteristic value data is recorded on a magnetic layer on a negative film. In the case of the 135 type, it is stored in the memory of the device for calculating the correction amount. In this case, an identification number is given to each management image and the corresponding ideal characteristic value data, and the corresponding ideal characteristic value data is read from the memory based on the identification number.

After printing the control image, the negative film is developed by a film processor. The developed negative film is set in a scanner device, and the density of the control image is measured. The measurement data is compared with the ideal characteristic value data, and correction data is created from the state of the deviation. This shift is related to the difference between the development state and the negative film type.

As the correction data, a correction table is used in the case of a digital printer, and an exposure correction amount known in a photographic printer is used in the case of a surface exposure type printer. The correction table is a table in which each measured density value (image data) and the corrected density value (normalized image data) are converted into a table. Using this correction table, each measured density value is converted into a corrected density value. I do.

In a color image, there are corrections for color balance and density, and the correction data includes three colors of red, green, and blue. In the case of a monochrome image, the correction data is only density correction.

The obtained correction data is sent to a printer via a storage medium such as a wired or wireless cable or a memory card. In the case of an IX240 type photographic film cartridge, the correction data may be recorded on the magnetic layer of the negative film. When the correction data is recorded on the magnetic layer, the correction data can be used at the time of additional printing.

The density and color balance of the management image and each image taken by the customer are corrected by the correction data. Each of the corrected images is printed on photographic paper. Also,
When a commercial is included, the commercial is printed on the front or back surface of the photographic paper. In the case of the IX240 type, commercials may be recorded on the magnetic layer.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the case of a digital video printer, a management image and each image are read by a scanner. The image data of each read image is normalized using a correction table, and the management image and each image are printed on photographic paper with the obtained corrected image data. In the case of a surface exposure type printer, for example, the exposure amount is adjusted by setting an exposure time or a filter set position according to an exposure correction amount obtained from a difference between an ideal characteristic value and an actually measured density value with respect to a screen average density. I do.

Since only a few negative films are used by amateurs in one year, there is almost no case where the same management image is transferred if a new management image is changed on a monthly basis. Therefore, it is possible to print the management image on the negative film when manufacturing the negative film.

In the case of the IX240 type, the ideal characteristic data corresponding to the burned control image is recorded on the magnetic layer when the negative film is manufactured. In addition to recording the ideal characteristic data on the magnetic layer, an identification number for specifying the management image may be recorded on the magnetic layer. Further, an identification number may be inserted in the management image instead of the magnetic recording. In the 135 type, since there is no magnetic layer, an identification number for specifying the management image is included in the management image. When the identification numbers are recorded in this manner, the film maker provides ideal characteristic value data corresponding to each identification number to each developing station in advance. Then, the developing laboratory selects and uses ideal characteristic value data corresponding to the identification number. The management image may be identified by pattern matching of the image without using the identification number.

In the film unit with a lens,
Before shipment from the factory, a management image is taken on a negative film using a film unit with individual lenses. In this case, ideal characteristic data corresponding to the captured management image is magnetically recorded on the negative film, or management image identification data is magnetically recorded. In a photo lab, photographed image data and ideal characteristic data of a management image can be used for each correction of geometric distortion, gradation distortion, density unevenness, and blur of a photographing lens. It can be seen that the distortion of the photographing lens compares the shape of the original image of the management image with the shape of the captured management image. In this case, the shape data is used.

[0034]

FIG. 3 shows a management image printing apparatus. The IX240 type cartridge 10 contains a negative film 11 photographed by a customer. When the spool 12 is rotated, the photographed negative film 11 stored in the cartridge 10 is sent out of the cartridge 10. In the IX240 type, an unexposed portion for several frames is secured at the rear end of the film, and a management image is printed on this portion.

The customer ID information is recorded on the magnetic layer of the negative film 11 by a photographic camera or a DP receiver. When pulling out the negative film 11, the reading head 1
4 reads the customer ID information and sends it to the control unit 15.

The control unit 15 searches the customer database 16 from the customer ID information, and adds "1" to the total number of negative films for which printing has been accepted. The customer database 16 includes the total number of negative films, personal information of customers, and the like, corresponding to each customer ID information. After adding the total number of negative films, the control unit 15 reads the total number of negative films from the customer database 16.

The management image database stores image data of a large number of management images corresponding to the total number and ideal characteristic value data corresponding to each image data. Control unit 1
5 reads from the management image database 17 the image data of the management image corresponding to the total number and the ideal characteristic value data. The image data is sent to the exposure unit 18, and the ideal characteristic value data is sent to the write head 19.

The exposure unit 18 is composed of, for example, a digital video printer of a laser type, and prints the selected management image on the unexposed portion SA of the negative film 11. At this time, the exposure amount of each pixel is controlled according to the film sensitivity so that the image density on the negative becomes the ideal density.

The ideal characteristic value data includes the positions of a plurality of specific pixels and the ideal negative density of each specific pixel. This ideal characteristic value data is recorded on the magnetic layer by the write head 19. After printing the management image, the negative film 11
Is developed by a film processor.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the management image. The management image 22 is printed on an unused part of the customer. Ideal characteristic value data is recorded as a magnetic signal on a track 23 beside the management image 22.

FIG. 5 shows a scanner device. The scanner unit 25 includes a lens and an image sensor, and measures the density of each pixel of the management image 22. The obtained negative density measurement values are sent to the correction table creation unit 27 via the control unit 26. The ideal characteristic value data recorded on the track 23 is read by the read head 28 and sent to the correction table creation unit 27 via the control unit 26. It is preferable that information defining the size of the pixel is included in the ideal characteristic value data.

The correction table creator 27 extracts a specific pixel designated by the ideal characteristic value data from the negative density measurement values of the management image. If the film type is the standard type and the development state is standard, the ideal negative density value and the measured negative density value match, so that FIG.
Is a straight line inclined at 45 degrees as shown by the dotted line.

Actually, the curve is as shown in FIG. 6 (A) due to the difference between the film types and the development state. In this example, the actually recorded density is lower than the original density indicated by the dotted line. If the density deficiency at each density is obtained and added to the measured negative density, the correct density of each pixel is obtained. A correction table shown in FIG. 6B is created from the insufficient density. This correction table is created for each color by using an average density value of three colors in the case of density correction, and by using each color density value of RGB when color correction is involved. Thereby, gradation distortion correction is performed. These correction tables are written to the track 23 by the write head 29.

When a management image or an individual image is printed by a digital video printer, image data of each pixel (FIG. 6)
(B) (corresponding to the negative density measured value on the horizontal axis) is converted using a correction table, and is converted into corrected image data (corresponding to the corrected negative density value on the vertical axis in FIG. 6B). Using the corrected image data, for example, the intensity of a laser beam is modulated, and each image is printed on photographic paper.

The scanner device can be incorporated in a printer in addition to being used as an independent device. In this case, the scanner device is arranged before the print position, the management image is measured, a conversion table is created, and the conversion table is written in the table memory.

A density histogram may be used as ideal characteristic value data. FIG. 7A is an ideal density histogram attached to the management image. The peak values P1, P2, and P3 of the ideal density histogram are written on the track as magnetic data. After printing and developing the management image, the density of each pixel of the management image is measured. FIG. 7B shows a histogram of the obtained density. The peak values in the actually measured density histogram are P4, P5, and P6. The measured peak values P4, P5, P6 and the ideal peak values P1,
A correction table is created from the deviation between P2 and P3.

FIG. 8 shows a management image including the density pattern 32. Each negative ideal value of the density pattern is recorded on the track 33. When creating a correction table, a density pattern is measured to determine a negative density measurement value.
From the negative density measured value and the negative density ideal value, a correction table is created as described above.

By the above-described gradation distortion correction, a film type difference due to a difference in a maker or a lot number and a difference in a negative developing machine can be absorbed to normalize the film characteristics, and also a color balance correction can be performed. be able to.

Next, an example in which the present invention is applied to a film with a lens will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, after the production of the film with lens, the management image is photographed. For example,
After the inspection is completed, a management image is photographed on the production line using a photographing lens. Thereafter, it is shipped after being loaded in the storage bag and sold at the store. When a portrait or the like of a celebrity such as an idol talent or a professional athlete is used as a management image, the contents of the management image and a display indicating that a print of this management image can be obtained as a service print are displayed on the storage bag. It is good to attach. In the case of a product sold at a theme park, an amusement park, or the like, a famous building or character of the theme park may be used as the management image.

After purchasing a film unit with a lens,
Normal shooting is performed. After the photographing is completed, the film unit with the photographed lens is submitted to the developing shop, and DP
(Simultaneous printing of film development and printing) Order is made. At the developing station, the photographic film cartridge is taken out of the film unit with the lens, and the film is developed.

Next, the photographic film cartridge 10 is set in the scanner shown in FIG. 10, and the management image and the image to be printed are read from the negative film 10 by the scanner unit 25. Further, the identification number of the management image is read from the magnetic layer by the read head 28. Then, based on the identification number, the ideal characteristic data corresponding to the management image is read from the management image database 17, and the ideal characteristic data is sent to the correction table creation unit 41 via the control unit 40. The correction table creation unit 41 creates correction data for gradation distortion correction in the same manner as the scanner apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and also performs geometric distortion correction, density unevenness correction, and blur correction. Create correction data for. The same components as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The geometric distortion correction is performed as follows. First, the displacement between the coordinates of the reference point of the original management image in the ideal characteristic data and the corresponding reference point in the on-film management image is determined. Then, this deviation is expressed by an approximate expression, which is used as a distortion conversion characteristic. That is, when the original coordinates (xi, yi) are on the film image, the coordinates (x
If the relational expression at the position of i ′, yi ′) is obtained, the original coordinate position can be specified based on the relational expression, and the original pixel is recorded at this position to correct the geometric distortion. Is done. For example, a square lattice pattern is used for the entire screen as the management image, and distortion correction is performed using the intersection of the pattern as a reference point. Further, the screen may be divided into small blocks, and local distortion conversion characteristics within each block may be obtained.

When a natural image is used as the management image, the screen is divided into small blocks, and pattern matching is performed between the original management image and the on-film management image by two-dimensionally shifting the position of each block. A similar shift position is obtained, and a position shift vector of the block is obtained. Alternatively, a comparison may be made between the respective differentially processed images of the original management image and the on-film management image to determine the displacement vector of the small block. In this way, the amount of misregistration is obtained, misregistration correction is performed for each pixel, and printing processing is performed by a digital printer using the corrected image data. Geometric distortion due to individual differences and assembly individual differences is corrected.

The density unevenness is corrected as follows. The density between the corresponding pixels of the original management image and the on-film management image in the ideal characteristic data is obtained over the entire screen. The two-dimensional distribution of the density difference on the screen is detected as the density, and correction data is obtained so as to eliminate the unevenness. This density unevenness correction is performed for each of the RGB colors.

For example, a pattern in which the same density area (or a small area) may be distributed over the entire screen is used as the management image. In this case, it is preferable to correct the geometric distortion in advance. When a natural image is used as the management image, it is preferable to correct the geometric distortion and the gradation distortion in advance. By this density unevenness correction, it is possible to correct a decrease in the peripheral light amount due to the photographing lens.

In the blur correction, an edge is extracted from the original management image in the ideal characteristic data, and the sharpness of the area of the on-film management image corresponding to the edge portion is checked using a differential filter or the like. If the sharpness of the on-film management image is smaller than a predetermined threshold value than the sharpness of the original management image, it is determined that the area is blurred, and the parameters for image enhancement processing are determined according to the degree of blurring (the amount of sharpness deterioration). Then, a well-known image enhancement process is performed on the image data of the corresponding area.

As described above, the correction table creation unit 4
In step 1, tone distortion correction data, geometric distortion correction data, density unevenness correction data, and blur correction data are obtained. And
The image data of the print target frame captured by the scanner unit 25 is corrected by the image data correction unit 42 based on various correction data from the correction table creation unit 41. The corrected image data is sent to the digital printer 43,
Printing is performed by the digital printer 43. The image data correction unit 42 performs the same correction processing using the same parameters on all frames in one film.

If necessary, the management image may be printed and delivered to the customer as a service print, as in the above embodiment. Instead of recording the identification data on the magnetic layer, ideal characteristic data may be magnetically recorded. Further, the present invention may be applied to a film unit with a lens using a 135 type film. In this case, it is preferable to insert an identification number in the management image, optically detect the identification number, and read out the identification number using character recognition software.

[0059]

According to the present invention, the density of a control image printed before development is measured, correction data is created from the measurement result, and the amount of exposure is controlled based on this data. It is possible to prevent the print quality from being varied due to the difference between the print quality and the development state.
Further, by measuring the shape of the management image, it is possible to correct distortion and the like.

Further, since the management image is printed and provided to the customer, the print service can be improved. Further, since the management image is selected according to the total number of print requests, the customer can always receive a print of a different management image.

Further, since the control image is individually captured by the film unit with the lens, and various corrections are performed based on the control image, the influence of gradation distortion, geometric distortion, density unevenness, blur, etc. in the film unit with the lens is reduced. Can be suppressed. Moreover, there is no need to make any changes to the structure of the lens-fitted film unit, and it is only necessary to capture a management image, so that an increase in cost can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for creating correction data using a management image.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for printing a negative film.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a management image printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a management image.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a scanner device.

6A is a graph showing a relationship between an ideal value of a negative density and a measured value, and FIG. 6B is a graph showing a relationship between the measured value and a correction value.

FIG. 7A shows an ideal density histogram, and FIG.
Indicates a measured density histogram.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a management image having a density pattern.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure in another embodiment using a film unit with a lens.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a scanner device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 IX240 type cartridge 11 Negative film 14, 28 Read head 15, 29 Write head 22 Management image

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A method for exposing a control image to a photographic film, measuring the density or shape of the control image after development, and calculating correction data from the obtained density or shape data and ideal characteristic data corresponding to the control image. And a printing method for correcting and printing the image of the photographed frame and the management image on the photo film based on the correction data. 2. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the management image is selected in accordance with processing data for each customer, and the selected image is exposed on the photographic film. 3. The photographic film is a photographic film housed in a film unit with a lens, and the management image is taken on the photographic film by a lens of the film unit with a lens before shipment. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the correction data is a correction table representing a relationship between a density measurement value of the photographic film and a correction density value. 5. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the management image is a photographing scene of at least a person or a landscape. 6. A control image is photographed on a film unit with a lens, and after development, ideal characteristic data corresponding to the control image and image data of the control image for each film with a lens are compared to obtain the both. A printing method comprising: detecting a shift between images; creating correction data for correcting the shift; and correcting and printing the image data of a customer photographed frame using the correction data. 7. The printing method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of gradation distortion, geometric distortion, density unevenness, and blur is corrected by the shift correction. 8. The printing method according to claim 6, wherein identification information of the management image is added to the film with a lens, and after development, corresponding ideal characteristic data is specified based on the identification information. 9. A film unit with a lens, comprising a management image frame for capturing a management image for correcting distortion of a shooting frame. 10. A photographic printer that prints using a photographic film on which a management image has been captured, wherein a means for capturing the management image is compared with the captured management image data and the original image data of the management image. Means for detecting a shift between the two, and creating correction data for correcting the shift, and a correction means for correcting using the correction data when printing each frame of the photographic film. Photo printer. 11. The photographic printer according to claim 10, wherein at least one of gradation distortion, geometric distortion, density unevenness, and blur is corrected by the shift correction.