JPH1062929A - Method and device for outputting color image signal by using silver halide color photographic sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a color image having rapid processing aptitude and superior in color balance and graininess and sharpness. SOLUTION: The imagewise exposed silver halide color photographic sensitive material is developed with a processing solution containing the color developing agent represented by the tormula and the obtained image is read out by a photographing device, and obtained image signals are subjected to digital image conversion into the digital color image signals to be outputted. In the formula, each of R1 -R6 is, independently, an H atom or a substituent but at least one of the couples of R1 and R2 , R3 and R4 , and R5 and R6 is both a substituent; R7 is an alkyl or alkyl or heterocyclic group; R8 is a substituent; and (m) is an integer of 0-3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for obtaining a color image signal, and more particularly, to reading a color image obtained by subjecting a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material to color development processing to obtain an image signal. The present invention relates to a color image signal output method and apparatus for obtaining an output color image signal by performing digital image processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The most common method of conventional color photography is a method of combining a color negative film and a color paper. The color negative film and the color paper used here are constituted by a subtractive color method that produces yellow, magenta and cyan colors with three kinds of spectral sensitivities of blue, green and red, respectively. A negative image photographed by a color negative film is subjected to three-side exposure to a color paper through three color filters to obtain a positive image. JP-A-7-287370 discloses a tetrahydroquinoline-based compound as a developing agent which has a low fog and can be rapidly processed in color development of a color negative. However, in combination with this and a conventional coupler, the graininess is improved but the sharpness is deteriorated,
Improvements have been required in this regard.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to obtain a color image which is suitable for rapid processing, has excellent color balance, and has excellent granularity and sharpness. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for outputting a color image signal, which realize the method.

That is, the present invention provides a color image signal output method and apparatus for outputting a processed image signal to a positive image after reading a negative image obtained by a color development process with an imaging device and performing digital image processing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for outputting a color image signal which realizes a color image which is excellent in color balance, granularity and sharpness at that time.

[0005]

That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for outputting a color image signal for obtaining an excellent color image.

The above object has been attained by a method and apparatus for outputting a silver halide color image signal according to claims 1 to 7. That is, (1) an image-exposed silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material is developed with a processing solution containing at least one color developing agent represented by the following general formula (D), and obtained by the color development processing. A color image signal output method for reading an image obtained by an image pickup device, performing digital image processing on the image signal obtained by reading the image, and obtaining an output color image signal.

General formula (D)

[0008]

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(Wherein R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R
₆ may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. Where R ₁ and R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ and R
_{In the} group consisting of each combination of ₅ and R ₆ , at least one pair is a substituent. R ₇ represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group. R ₈ represents a substituent, and m represents an integer of 0 to 3. (2) The color image signal output method according to (1), wherein the processing time of the color development processing is 90 seconds or less.

(3) In the above (1), the blue, green and red filters used in reading the color-developed image have transmission maximum wavelengths of 450 to 47, respectively.
0 nm, 550-580 nm and 660-700 nm
A color image signal output method, wherein

(4) In the above (1), the image signal obtained by reading is decomposed into a low frequency component, an intermediate frequency component and a high frequency component, thereby enhancing the high frequency component and suppressing the frequency emphasis. A method for outputting a color image signal, comprising: performing an embedding process; and combining the low frequency component with the intermediate frequency component and the high frequency component after the frequency emphasis suppressing process to obtain the output color image signal.

(5) A color developing means for developing the image-exposed silver halide color photographic material with a processing solution containing at least one color developing agent represented by the general formula (D); A color device comprising: an imaging device for reading an image developed by the color developing device; and an image processing device for performing digital image processing on an image signal read by the imaging device and outputting a color image signal. Image signal output device.

(6) In the above (5), the transmission maximum wavelengths of the blue, green and red filters used by the imaging device are 450 to 470 nm and 550 to 580, respectively.
and a color image signal output device in the range of 660 to 700 nm.

(7) In the above (5), the image processing means decomposes the read image signal into a low frequency component, an intermediate frequency component, and a high frequency component, and emphasizes the high frequency component. A color image signal for performing frequency emphasis suppression processing for suppressing the interrogation frequency, and performing image processing for synthesizing the intermediate frequency component and the high frequency component and the low frequency component after the frequency emphasis suppression process. Output device.

In the present invention, R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₅ ,
R ₇ , R ₈ and m will be described in detail below.

R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. More specifically, R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ are a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and examples of the substituent include a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a cyano group, a nitro group, and a hydroxyl group. , Carboxyl group, sulfo group, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, acylamino group, amino group, alkylamino group, anilino group, ureido group, sulfamoylamino group, alkylthio group, arylthio group, alkoxycarbonylamino group, sulfonamide group , Carbamoyl, sulfamoyl, sulfonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, heterocyclic oxy, azo, acyloxy, carbamoyloxy, silyl, silyloxy, aryloxycarbonylamino, imide, heterocyclic thio, sulfinyl Group, phosphonyl group, aryloxyca A rubonyl group and an acyl group. These may be substituted with an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, a hydroxyl group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a halogen atom or other substituents formed by an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom or a carbon atom. Good.

Further examples of the substituents of R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ are shown below. Examples of the halogen atom include a fluorine atom and a chlorine atom. The alkyl group has 1 to 2 carbon atoms.
5, preferably a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, t-butyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, benzyl, 2- Methanesulfonamidoethyl, 3-methanesulfonamidopropyl, 2-methanesulfonylethyl, 2-methoxyethyl, cyclopentyl, 2-acetamidoethyl, hydroxymethyl, 2-carboxylethyl, 2-carbamoylethyl, 3-carbamoylpropyl, 2, 3-dihydroxypropyl, 3,4-dihydroxybutyl, methanesulfonamidomethyl, n-hexyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, 4-hydroxybutyl, 2-carbamoylaminoethyl, 3-carbamoylaminopropyl, 4-carbamoylaminobuty , 4-carbamoyl-butyl, 2
-Carbamoyl 1-methylethyl, carbamoylaminomethyl, 4-nitrobutyl, 2- (2-hydroxyethoxy) ethyl, 2- [2- (2-hydroxyethoxy)
Ethoxy] ethyl, 2- (2- [2- (2-hydroxyethoxy) ethoxy] ethoxy) erth, 2- [2-
(2- [2- (2-hydroxyethoxy) ethoxy] ethoxy) ethoxy] ethoxy, 2- (2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl, 2- [2- (2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxy] ethyl, 2- (2- [2- (2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxy] ethoxy) ethyl, 2- [2- (2-
[2- (2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxy] ethoxy)
Ethoxy] ethyl, 2- (2-ethoxyethoxy) methyl and 2- [2- (2-butoxyethoxy) ethoxy] ethyl.

The aryl group is an aryl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, such as phenyl, naphthyl and p-methoxyphenyl. The heterocyclic group is a 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing at least one oxygen atom, nitrogen atom or sulfur atom having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and the number of heteroatoms constituting the ring. And the kind of element may be one or more, and examples thereof include 2-furyl, 2-thienyl, 2-pyrimidinyl, 2-benzotriazolyl, imidazolyl, and pyrazolyl.

The alkoxy group is an alkoxy group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, 2-methoxyethoxy and 2-methanesulfonylethoxy. The aryloxy group is an aryloxy group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, for example, phenoxy,
p-methoxyphenoxy, m- (3-hydroxypropionamido) phenoxy. The acylamino group is an acylamino group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as acetamido, 2-methoxypropionamide, and p-nitrobenzoylamide.

The alkylamino group has 1 to 1 carbon atoms.
6, preferably an alkylamino group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as dimethylamino, diethylamino and 2-hydroxyethylamino. The anilino group has 6 to 2 carbon atoms.
Examples of the anilino group 4 include anilino, m-nitroanilino, and N-methylanilino. The ureido group is a ureido group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as ureide, methyl ureide, N, N-diethyl ureide and 2-methanesulfonamidoethyl ureide.

The sulfamoylamino group has 0 carbon atoms.
To 16, preferably 0 to 6 carbon atoms, for example, dimethylsulfamoylamino, methylsulfamoylamino, 2-methoxyethylsulfamoylamino. The alkylthio group has 1 to 1 carbon atoms.
16, preferably an alkylthio group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, for example, methylthio, ethylthio and 2-phenoxyethylthio. The arylthio group is an arylthio group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, such as phenylthio, 2-carboxyphenylthio, and 4-cyanophenylthio. The alkoxycarbonylamino group has 2 to 2 carbon atoms.
16, preferably an alkoxycarbonylamino group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methoxycarbonylamino, ethoxycarbonylamino, and 3-methanesulfonylpropoxycarbonylamino.

The sulfonamide group has 1 to 1 carbon atoms.
6, preferably a sulfonamide group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methanesulfonamide, p-toluenesulfonamide and 2-methoxyethanesulfonamide. The carbamoyl group has 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 carbon atom.
And carbamoyl groups such as carbamoyl, N, N
-Dimethylcarbamoyl, N-ethylcarbamoyl. The sulfamoyl group is a sulfamoyl group having 0 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 0 to 6 carbon atoms, such as sulfamoyl, dimethylsulfamoyl and ethylsulfamoyl.

The sulfonyl group is an aliphatic or aromatic sulfonyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methanesulfonyl, ethanesulfonyl,
2-chloroethanesulfonyl. The alkoxycarbonyl group has 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 1 carbon atoms.
Examples of the 6 alkoxycarbonyl groups include methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, and t-butoxycarbonyl. The heterocyclic oxy group is a 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic oxy group having at least one oxygen atom, nitrogen atom, or sulfur atom having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, which forms a ring. The number of atoms and the type of element may be one or more, for example, 1-phenyltetrazolyl-5-oxy, 2-tetrahydropyranyloxy,
2-pyridyloxy.

The azo group is an azo group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as phenylazo, 2-
Hydroxy-4-propanoylphenylazo and 4-sulfophenylazo. The acyloxy group is an acyloxy group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as acetoxy, benzoyloxy and 4-hydroxybutanoyloxy. The carbamoyloxy group is a carbamoyloxy group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include N, N-dimethylcarbamoyloxy, N-methylcarbamoyloxy, and N-phenylcarbamoyloxy.

The silyl group is a silyl group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 3 to 6 carbon atoms, such as trimethylsilyl, isopropyldiethylsilyl and t-butyldimethylsilyl. The silyloxy group has 3 to 1 carbon atoms.
6, preferably a silyloxy group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, such as trimethylsilyloxy, triethylsilyloxy and diisopropylethylsilyloxy. The aryloxycarbonylamino group is an aryloxycarbonylamino group having 7 to 24 carbon atoms, such as phenoxycarbonylamino, 4-cyanophenoxycarbonylamino, and 2,6-dimethoxyphenoxycarbonylamino.

The imide group is an imide group having 4 to 16 carbon atoms, such as N-succinimide and N-phthalimide. The heterocyclic thio group is a 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic thio group having at least one oxygen atom, nitrogen atom, or sulfur atom having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, which forms a ring. The number of atoms and the kind of element may be one or more, and examples thereof include 2-benzothiazolylthio and 2-pyridylthio.

The sulfinyl group has 1 to 16 carbon atoms,
Preferably it is a C1-C6 sulfinyl group, for example, methanesulfinyl, benzenesulfinyl, and ethanesulfinyl. The phosphonyl group has 2 to 1 carbon atoms.
6, preferably a phosphonyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, for example,
Methoxyphosphonyl, ethoxyphosphonyl and phenoxyphosphonyl. The aryloxycarbonyl group is an aryloxycarbonyl group having 7 to 24 carbon atoms, such as phenoxycarbonyl, 2-methylphenoxycarbonyl, and 4-acetamidophenoxycarbonyl. As the acyl group, an acyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as acetyl, benzoyl,
4-chlorobenzoyl.

R ₅ and R ₆ each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent. In this case, the substituent represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group. The details are the same as those described for R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ . However, R ₅ , R ₆
Is a heterocyclic group, it is bonded to a carbon atom constituting the heterocyclic ring of the heterocyclic group.

R ₇ represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group. Details are given in R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄
This is synonymous with the one described in. However, when R ₇ is an alkyl group, among the carbon atoms in R ₇ , the compound represented by the general formula (D)
The carbon atom directly bonded to the nitrogen atom in the inside is not bonded to any element other than the two elements of the hydrogen atom and the carbon atom. When R ₇ is a heterocyclic group, the nitrogen atom in the general formula (D) to which R ₇ is bonded is connected to a carbon atom constituting the hetero ring of the heterocyclic group. R ₈ represents a substituent. The details are the same as those described for R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ . m represents an integer of 0 to 3.

Among the compounds represented by the general formula (D),
Compounds represented by the following general formulas (DD1-) and (DD-2) are particularly preferred.

General formula (DD-1)

[0032]

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Wherein R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ , R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , R ₁₅ , R
₁₆ may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. However, in the group consisting of each of R ₁₁ and R _12, R ₁₃ and R _14, R ₁₅ and R _16, which is at least one of both substituents. R ₁₇ represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group. R ₁₈ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent.

General formula (DD-2)

[0035]

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Wherein R ₂₁ , R ₂₂ , R ₂₃ , R ₂₄ , R ₂₅ , R
₂₆ may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. However, in the group consisting of each of R ₂₁ and R _22, R ₂₃ and R _24, R ₂₅ and R _26, which is at least one of both substituents. R ₉ and R ₂₈ represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and n represents an integer of 2 to 8.

In the general formula (DD-1), R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ ,
Preferred combinations of R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , R ₁₅ , R ₁₆ , R ₁₇ and R ₁₈ will be described below.

R ₁₈ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, R ₁₇ is an alkyl group, and R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ ,
It is preferable that R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , R ₁₅ and R ₁₆ are each a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. Here, the alkyl group and the alkoxy group include those substituted with another substituent.

In this combination, R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ , R ₁₃ ,
It is more preferred that at least one of R ₁₄ , R ₁₅ , R ₁₆ , R ₁₇ and R ₁₈ is an alkyl group substituted with a water-soluble group, and further a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a sulfo group, an alkoxy group, an acylamino group , Amino group, alkylamino group, ureido group, sulfamoylamino group, sulfonamide group, carbamoyl group, sulfamoyl group,
Alternatively, it is preferably an alkyl group substituted with a sulfonyl group, and particularly preferably an alkyl group substituted with a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a ureido group, or a sulfonamide group.

As a more preferred combination, R ₁₈ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or
And R ₁₇ is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ , R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , R ₁₅ and R ₁₆
Is preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

In this combination, R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ ,
More preferably, at least one of R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , R ₁₅ , R ₁₆ , R ₁₇ and R ₁₈ is an alkyl group substituted with a water-soluble group, and further a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group,
Sulfo group, alkoxy group, acylamino group, amino group,
Alkylamino group, ureido group, sulfamoylamino group, sulfonamide group, carbamoyl group, sulfamoyl group, or preferably an alkyl group substituted with a sulfonyl group, particularly a hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, ureido group, sulfonamide It is preferably an alkyl group substituted with a group.

As a more preferred combination, R ₁₈ is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and R ₁₇ is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
It is preferable that R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ , R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , R ₁₅ and R ₁₆ are each a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

In this combination, R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ ,
More preferably, at least one of R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , R ₁₅ , R ₁₆ , R ₁₇ and R ₁₈ is an alkyl group substituted with a water-soluble group, and further a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group,
Sulfo group, alkoxy group, acylamino group, amino group,
Alkylamino group, ureido group, sulfamoylamino group, sulfonamide group, carbamoyl group, sulfamoyl group, or preferably an alkyl group substituted with a sulfonyl group, particularly a hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, ureido group, sulfonamide It is preferably an alkyl group substituted with a group.

In a more preferred combination, R ₁₈ is a methyl group and an isopropyl group, and R ₁₇ is
And R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ , R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , R ₁₅
And a combination in which R ₁₆ is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, respectively.

In this combination, R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ ,
It is more preferred that at least one of R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , R ₁₅ , R ₁₆ and R ₁₇ is an alkyl group substituted with a water-soluble group, and further a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a sulfo group, an alkoxy group, an acylamino group , Amino group, alkylamino group, ureido group, sulfamoylamino group, sulfonamide group, carbamoyl group, sulfamoyl group,
Alternatively, it is preferably an alkyl group substituted with a sulfonyl group, and particularly preferably an alkyl group substituted with a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a ureido group, or a sulfonamide group.

In the general formula (DD-2), R ₂₁ , R ₂₂ ,
It described the preferred combinations below _{R 23, R 24, R 25} , R 26, R 9 and R _28.

R ₂₈ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, R ₉ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and R ₂₁ , R ₂₂ , R ₂₃ , R ₂₄ ,
A combination in which R ₂₅ and R ₂₆ are each a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group is preferred. Here, the alkyl group, the alkoxy group, the aryl group and the heterocyclic group include those substituted by other substituents. As a substituent, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a sulfo group, an alkoxy group, an acylamino group,
Preferred are an amino group, an alkylamino group, a ureido group, a sulfamoylamino group, a sulfonamide group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group and a sulfonyl group, and particularly preferred are a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a ureido group and a sulfonamide group.

In a more preferred combination, R ₂₈ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
6 is an alkoxy group, R ₉ is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and R ₂₁ , R ₂₂ , R ₂₃ , R ₂₄ ,
A combination in which R ₂₅ and R ₂₆ are each a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms is preferable. Here, the alkyl group and the alkoxy group include those substituted with another substituent. As the substituent, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a sulfo group, an alkoxy group, an acylamino group, an amino group, an alkylamino group, a ureido group, a sulfamoylamino group, a sulfonamide group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group or a sulfonyl group is preferable. Particularly, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a ureido group and a sulfonamide group are preferred.

As a more preferred combination, R ₂₈ is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R ₉ is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and R ₂₁ ,
It is preferable that R ₂₂ , R ₂₃ , R ₂₄ , R ₂₅ and R ₂₆ are each a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Here, the alkyl group includes those substituted with another substituent. As the substituent, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a sulfo group, an alkoxy group, an acylamino group, an amino group, an alkylamino group, a ureido group, a sulfamoylamino group, a sulfonamide group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group or a sulfonyl group is preferable. Particularly, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a ureido group and a sulfonamide group are preferred.

In a more preferred combination, R ₂₈ is a methyl group and an isopropyl group, R ₉ is a hydrogen atom and a methyl group, and R ₂₁ , R ₂₂ , R ₂₃ , R ₂₄ , R ₂₅ and R _25
26 is preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Here, the alkyl group includes those substituted with another substituent. As the substituent, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a sulfo group, an alkoxy group, an acylamino group, an amino group, an alkylamino group, a ureido group, a sulfamoylamino group, a sulfonamide group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group or a sulfonyl group is preferable. Particularly, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a ureido group and a sulfonamide group are preferred.

Next, specific examples of the representative developing agent represented by formula (D) in the present invention will be shown, but it should not be construed that the invention is limited thereto.

[0052]

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[0053]

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[0054]

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[0055]

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[0056]

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[0057]

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[0058]

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[0059]

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[0060]

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[0061]

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[0062]

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[0063]

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[0064]

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[0065]

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[0066]

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[0067]

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[0068]

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[0069]

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[0070]

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[0071]

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[0072]

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[0073]

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[0074]

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[0075]

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[0076]

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[0077]

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The compound represented by the general formula (D) is very unstable when stored as a free amine.
In general, it is preferable to produce and store the salt as a salt of an inorganic acid or an organic acid, and then to form a free amine for the first time when the salt is added to the treatment solution. Examples of the inorganic and organic acids that form a salt of the compound of the formula (D) include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, and naphthalene-
1,5-disulfonic acid and the like can be mentioned. Among these, a salt of sulfuric acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid is preferable, and salt formation as a salt with sulfuric acid is most preferable.

The color developing agent of the present invention can be produced, for example, by using the Journal of the American Chemical Society 73
Volume, 3100 pages (1951), and JP-A-7-28737
No. 0 and Japanese Patent Application No. 8-112472 can be easily synthesized.

The color developing agent of the present invention can be used alone or in combination with other known p-phenylenediamine derivatives. Representative examples of the compounds to be combined are shown below, but are not limited thereto.

P-1 N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine P-2 4-amino-3-methyl-N, N-diethylaniline P-3 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-
(3-hydroxypropyl) aniline P-4 4-amino-N-ethyl-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) aniline P-5 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-
(2-hydroxyethyl) aniline P-6 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-
(2-methanesulfonamidoethyl) aniline P-7 N- (2-amino-5-N, N-diethylaminophenylethyl) methanesulfonamide P-8 N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine P-9 4- Amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-
(2-Methoxyethyl) aniline P-10 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-
(4-hydroxybutyl) aniline P-11 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-
(2-Butoxyethyl) aniline Of the above-mentioned p-phenylenediamine derivatives, P-3, P-5, P-6 or P-10 is particularly preferable as the compound to be combined. Further, these p-phenylenediamine derivatives and salts such as sulfates, hydrochlorides, sulfites, p-toluenesulfonates, nitrates, naphthalene-1,5-disulfonates are generally used. .

In the present invention, the treatment composition may be liquid or solid (for example, powder or granule).

These compounds can be used in combination of two or more depending on the purpose. The amount of the aromatic primary amine developing agent used is preferably 0.001 per liter of the color developing solution.
Mol to 0.2 mol, more preferably 0.005 mol to
0.1 mol.

In the color developer of the present invention, compounds which directly preserve the aromatic primary amine color developing agent are disclosed in JP-A-63-5341, JP-A-63-106655 or JP-A-4-144446. Various hydroxylamines, hydroxamic acids described in JP-A-63-43138, hydrazines and hydrazides described in JP-A-63-146041, and phenols described in JP-A-63-44657 and 63-58443. 63-4
Α-Hydroxy ketones and α-amino ketones described in No. 4656, various sugars described in 63-36244 and the like can be contained. Further, in combination with the above compounds, JP-A-63-4235, JP-A-63-24254,
No. 63-21647, No. 63-146040, No. 6
Monoamines described in JP-A-3-27841 and JP-A-63-25654, JP-A-63-30845, JP-A-63-14
No. 640, No. 63-43139, diamines described in JP-A Nos. 63-21647, 63-26655 and 63-44655, polyamines described in No. 63-44655, and No. 63
Nitroxyl radicals described in JP-A-53551, 63
Alcohols described in JP-A-43140 and JP-A-63-53549, oximes described in JP-A-63-56654, and tertiary amines described in JP-A-63-239947 can be used.

Other preservatives are described in JP-A-57-441.
Various metals described in Nos. 48 and 57-53749; salicylic acids described in 59-180588; alkanolamines described in 54-3582;
If necessary, polyethyleneimines described in JP-A-6-94349, aromatic polyhydroxy compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,544, and the like may be contained. In particular, when hydroxylamines are used, the above-mentioned alkanolamines and aromatic polyhydroxy compounds are preferably used in combination.

Particularly preferred preservatives are disclosed in
Hydroxylamines represented by the general formula (I) of No. 144446, and among them, compounds having a methyl group, an ethyl group, a sulfo group or a carboxy group are preferable. The addition amount of these preservatives is 20 to 200 mmol, preferably 30 to 150 mmol, per liter of the color developer.

Other additives described in JP-A-3-144446 can be used in the color developer of the present invention. For example, carbonic acids, phosphoric acids, boric acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, etc. described in page (9) of the same patent can be used as a buffer for maintaining pH. It is preferable that the pH of the color developer is maintained at 9.0 to 12.5 using these buffers. More preferably, it is 9.5 to 11.5.

Examples of the antifoggant include halide ions and organic antifoggants described on page (10). In particular, when the concentration of the developing agent in the color developer is as high as 20 mmol / L or more, or when high-temperature processing at 40 ° C. or more is performed, the bromide ion concentration is preferably somewhat high, and more preferably from 17 mmol / L to 60 mmol. . If necessary, halogen can be removed using an ion-exchange resin or an ion-exchange membrane to control the concentration in a preferable range.

As the chelating agent, aminopolycarboxylic acid, aminopolyphosphonic acid, alkylphosphonic acid and phosphonocarboxylic acid are preferably used. For example, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-
1,1-diphosphonic acid, nitrilo-N, N, N-trimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N, N, N, N
Compounds such as tetramethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-di (o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) and salts thereof can be used. Preferred chelating agents include compounds having biodegradability. Examples of this are disclosed in JP-A-63-146998 and JP-A-63-1.
No. 99295, JP-A-63-267750, JP-A-63-267750
JP-A-3-267775, JP-A-2-229146, JP-A-3-186841, German Patent 3739610, European Patent 468325 and the like.

Further, development inhibitors such as benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles or mercapto compounds, development accelerators such as benzyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, quaternary ammonium salts, amines, dye-forming couplers, competitive couplers, Auxiliary developing agents such as -phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, viscosity-imparting agents, or various surfactants such as alkylsulfonic acids, arylsulfonic acids, aliphatic carboxylic acids, and aromatic carboxylic acids may be added as necessary. Good.

The replenishment amount of the color developing solution of the present invention is preferably 550 ml or less per 1 m ^{2 in} the case of a photographic material.
450 ml or less is more preferable, and 400 ml or less, 80
The most preferred is ml or more. By reducing or not including the bromide ion concentration in the replenisher, 300 ml
It can also be:

The processing temperature of the color developer is preferably 35 ° C. or higher, more preferably 40 ° C. or higher and 50 ° C. or lower.

The processing time of the color developer is preferably 3 minutes and 15 seconds or less, more preferably 30 seconds to 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

It is preferable to prevent evaporation of the liquid and air oxidation. The contact area between the photographic processing solution and air in the processing tank can be represented by the aperture ratio defined below. That is, aperture ratio = [contact area between treatment liquid and air (cm ² )] ÷ [capacity of treatment liquid (cm ³ )] The above-mentioned aperture ratio (cm ⁻¹ ) is preferably 0.05 or less, more preferably Preferably it is 0.0005-0.01.
As a method of reducing the aperture ratio in this way, in addition to providing a shield such as a floating lid on the photographic processing liquid surface of the processing tank, a method using a movable lid described in JP-A-1-82033,
A slit developing method described in JP-A-63-216050 can be exemplified. Further, it is preferable that the processing solution in the replenishment tank of the color developer or the processing layer is shielded with a high boiling point organic solvent or a high molecular compound to reduce the contact area with air. Particularly, liquid paraffin, organosiloxane and the like are preferable.

The reduction of the aperture ratio can be applied not only to both the color development step and the black and white development step, but also to all subsequent steps such as bleaching, bleach-fixing, fixing, washing, stabilization and the like.

The developer can be regenerated and used.
Regeneration of the developing solution means that the used developing solution is subjected to anion exchange resin or electrodialysis, or the activity of the developing solution is increased by adding a processing chemical called a regenerating agent, and used again as a processing solution. . In this case, the regeneration rate (the ratio of the overflow solution in the replenisher) is preferably 50% or more, particularly preferably 70% or more.

As a method of regeneration, it is preferable to use an anion exchange resin. Regarding the particularly preferred composition of the anion exchange resin and the method of regenerating the resin, see Mitsubishi Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Examples include those described in the published Diaion Manual (I) (1986, 14th edition). Among the anion exchange resins, resins having the composition described in JP-A-2-952 and JP-A-1-281152 are preferable.

In the present invention, the color-developed photosensitive material is subjected to a desilvering process. The desilvering process referred to here basically comprises a bleaching process and a fixing process, but is constituted by a bleach-fixing process in which these processes are performed simultaneously and a combination of these processes.

Examples of the bleaching agent include the above-mentioned JP-A-3-144.
As described on page 446 (11), ferric aminopolycarboxylic acid salts or salts thereof are preferably used. For example, ferric salts such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, methyliminodiacetic acid, 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, and glycol etherdiaminetetraacetic acid can be used. In addition, complex salts such as citric acid, tartaric acid and malic acid can be used as bleaching agents. Among these, iron (III) complex salts of aminopolycarboxylic acid such as iron (III) complex salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetate and 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetate complex salt are particularly preferable. These iron (III) aminopolycarboxylic acid complex salts are particularly useful in a bleaching solution and a bleach-fixing solution.

In the bleaching solution, the bleach-fixing solution and the prebath thereof, a bleaching accelerator can be used if necessary.
Specific examples of useful bleach accelerators are described in the following specification: U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,858, West German Patent Nos. 1,290,812, 2,059,988, JP Nos. 53-32736, 53-57831, 53
No. 37418, No. 53-72623, No. 53-95
No. 630, No. 53-95731, No. 53-10423
No. 2, No. 53-124424, No. 53-141623
Compounds having a mercapto group or a disulfide group described in Research Disclosure No. 17129 (July, 1978); thiazolidine derivatives described in JP-A-50-140129; -8506, JP-A-52-20832
No. 53-32735, U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,5
No. 61; thiourea derivative; West German Patent No. 1,12
7,715; iodide salts described in JP-A-58-16235; West German Patent Nos. 966,410 and 2,748,4.
Polyoxyethylene compounds described in No. 30;
Polyamine compounds described in JP-A-5-8836; and JP-A-49-40943, JP-A-49-59644 and JP-A-53-96444
No. 94927, No. 54-35727, No. 55-265
Nos. 06 and 58-163940; bromide ions and the like. Among them, a compound having a mercapto group or a disulfide group is preferred in view of a large accelerating effect, and in particular, U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,858, West German Patent 1,290,812, and JP-A-53-95630.
Are preferred. Further, U.S. Pat.
Compounds described in 552,834 are also preferred. These bleaching accelerators may be added to the light-sensitive material. These bleaching accelerators are particularly effective when bleach-fixing a color photographic material for photography.

In the desilvering bath of the present invention, a rehalogenating agent, a pH buffering agent and known additives described in JP-A-3-144446 (page 12) can be used in addition to the bleaching agent.

The bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution preferably contain an organic acid in addition to the above compounds for the purpose of preventing bleaching stain. Particularly preferred organic acids are compounds having an acid dissociation constant (pka) of 2 to 6, specifically acetic acid,
Propionic acid, hydroxyacetic acid succinic acid, maleic acid,
Examples thereof include glutaric acid, fumaric acid, malonic acid, and adipic acid, and succinic acid, maleic acid, and glutaric acid are particularly preferable.

The pH of the bleaching solution or bleach-fixing solution is usually 4.0.
~ 8.0, but can be treated at lower pH for faster processing.

Examples of the fixing agent used in the fixing solution or the bleach-fixing solution include thiosulfates, thiocyanates, thioether compounds, thioureas, and a large amount of iodides. Use is common, especially ammonium thiosulfate being the most widely used. It is also preferable to use a combination of a thiosulfate with a thiocyanate, a thioether-based compound, thiourea, or the like.

As a preservative of the fixing solution or the bleach-fixing solution, a sulfite, a bisulfite, a carbonyl bisulfite adduct, or a sulfinic acid compound described in EP-A-294769A is preferable. Further, for the purpose of stabilizing the liquid, it is preferable to add a chelating agent such as various aminopolycarboxylic acids or organic phosphonic acids. Preferred chelating agents include 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N, N, N ', N'-tetrakis (methylenephosphonic acid), nitrilotrimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexane Examples thereof include diaminetetraacetic acid and 1,2-propylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Among them, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid are particularly preferred.

The fixing solution or the bleach-fixing solution preferably contains a compound having a pKa of 6.0 to 9.0 for pH adjustment. For example, it is preferable to add imidazoles such as imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 1-ethylimidazole and 2-methylimidazole in an amount of 0.1 to 10 mol / l.

The imidazole compound represents imidazole and its derivatives, and preferable substituents of imidazole include an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an amino group, a nitro group, a halogen atom and the like. Further, the alkyl group, alkenyl group, and alkynyl group may be further substituted with an amino group, a nitro group, a halogen atom, or the like. The preferred total carbon number of the substituents of imidazole is 1 to 6, and the most preferred substituent is a methyl group.

The following are specific examples of the imidazole compound, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Imidazole 1-methylimidazole 2-methylimidazole 4-methylimidazole 4- (2-hydroxyethyl) -imidazole 2-ethylimidazole 2-vinylimidazole 4-propylimidazole 4- (2-aminoethyl) imidazole 2,4 -Dimethylimidazole 2-chloroimidazole Among these, preferred compounds are imidazole, 2-methyl-imidazole, 4-methyl-imidazole,
The most preferred compound is imidazole.

When the replenishment method is employed in the processing of the present invention, the replenishment amount of the fixing solution or the bleach-fixing solution is preferably from 100 to 3000 ml per 1 m ² of the photographic material, and more preferably from 300 to 1800 ml. Replenishment of the bleach-fixing solution may be carried out as a bleach-fixing replenisher, or by using an overflow solution of the bleaching solution and the fixing solution as described in JP-A-61-143755 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2-216389. You may.

In the present invention, the total processing time of the desilvering step comprising a combination of bleaching, bleach-fixing and fixing is preferably 30 seconds to 3 minutes, more preferably 45 seconds to 2 minutes. The processing temperature is 30 to 60 ° C, preferably 35 to 55 ° C.
It is.

The processing solution having the bleaching ability of the present invention is particularly preferably subjected to aeration during processing, since the photographic performance is kept very stably. Any means known in the art can be used for aeration, and air can be blown into a processing solution having bleaching ability, or air can be absorbed using an ejector.

In blowing air, it is preferable to discharge air into the liquid through an air diffuser having fine pores. Such a diffuser is widely used for an aeration tank in activated sludge treatment. Regarding aeration, Z-121 issued by Eastman Kodak Company,
USING PROCESS C-41 3rd Edition (1982
Year), and the items described on pages BL-1 and BL-2 can be used. In the processing using the processing solution having the bleaching ability of the present invention, it is preferable that the stirring is strengthened, and the processing is carried out as described in JP-A-3-33847, page 8, upper right column, line 6 The contents described in the second row from the lower left column can be used as they are.

The processing solution having a fixing ability of the present invention can be subjected to silver recovery by a known method, and a regenerating solution subjected to such silver recovery can be used. As a silver recovery method,
Electrolysis (described in French Patent No. 2,299,667),
Precipitation method (JP-A-52-73037, German Patent No. 2,3
31 and 220), an ion exchange method (JP-A-51-1)
No. 7114, described in German Patent No. 2,548,237) and metal replacement method (described in British Patent No. 1,353,805)
Etc. are effective. These silver recovery methods are preferably performed in-line from the tank liquid, because the rapid processing suitability is further improved.

The processing solution having the bleaching ability of the present invention comprises
The overflow liquid used for the treatment is recovered, and after the components are added to correct the composition, the overflow liquid can be reused. Such a method of use is usually referred to as reproduction, but the present invention can also preferably perform such reproduction. For details of reproduction, see Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Film Processing Manual, Fuji Color Negative Film, CN-16 processing (revised August 1990), page 39-
The matters described on page 40 are applicable.

The kit for preparing the processing solution having the bleaching ability of the present invention may be liquid or powder, but when the ammonium salt is excluded, most of the raw materials are supplied in powder and have low hygroscopicity. This makes it easier to make powder.

From the viewpoint of reducing the amount of waste liquid, the regenerating kit is preferably a powder because it can be directly added without using excess water.

Regarding the regeneration of the processing solution having the bleaching ability,
In addition to the aeration mentioned above, "Basics of photographic engineering-silver halide photography-" (edited by the Photographic Society of Japan, published by Corona, 1979)
Year) can be used. Specifically, in addition to electric field regeneration, a method for regenerating a bleaching solution with bromic acid, zinc acid, bromine, bromine precursor, persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide using a catalyst, bromite, ozone, etc. No.

In the regeneration by electrolysis, the cathode and the anode are placed in the same bleaching bath, the anode and the cathode are separated from each other by using a diaphragm, and the bleaching solution is again used with the diaphragm. The developer and / or the fixer can be simultaneously regenerated. The regeneration of the fixing solution and the bleach-fixing solution is carried out by electrolytic reduction of accumulated silver ions. In addition, it is also preferable to remove the accumulated halogen ions with an anion exchange resin in order to maintain the fixing performance.

In the desilvering step, it is preferable that stirring is strengthened as much as possible. As a specific method for enhancing the stirring, a method described in JP-A-62-183460, in which a jet of a processing solution is made to impinge on the emulsion surface of a light-sensitive material, and a method described in JP-A-62-183460.
No. 2-183461, a method of increasing the stirring effect by using the rotating means, and further, by moving the photosensitive material while bringing the wiper blade provided in the liquid into contact with the emulsion surface, and causing the emulsion surface to become turbulent, thereby further stirring. A method for improving the effect and a method for increasing the circulating flow rate of the entire processing liquid can be given. Such a stirring improving means is effective for any of the bleaching solution, the bleach-fixing solution and the fixing solution. It is considered that the improvement of the stirring speeds up the supply of the bleaching agent and the fixing agent into the emulsion film, and consequently increases the desilvering speed. The means for improving the stirring is more effective when a bleaching accelerator is used, and can remarkably increase the accelerating effect or eliminate the fixing inhibition effect of the bleaching accelerator.

The automatic developing machine used for the light-sensitive material of the present invention is described in JP-A-60-191257, JP-A-60-191258 and JP-A-60-1912.
It is preferable to have the photosensitive material conveying means described in No. 59. As described in the above-mentioned JP-A-60-191257, such a conveying means can significantly reduce the carry-in of the processing liquid from the pre-bath to the post-bath, and is highly effective in preventing the performance of the processing liquid from deteriorating. Such an effect is particularly effective for reducing the processing time in each step and reducing the replenishing amount of the processing solution.

After the processing step having the fixing ability, usually,
A water washing process is performed. After processing with a processing solution having fixing ability,
A simple treatment method of performing a stabilization treatment using a stabilizing solution without substantially performing water washing can also be used.

The amount of rinsing water in the rinsing step depends on the characteristics of the photosensitive material (for example, depending on the material used such as a coupler), the application, the rinsing water temperature, the number of rinsing tanks (the number of stages), the replenishment method such as countercurrent, forward flow, etc. Can be set in a wide range depending on the conditions.
Of these, the relationship between the number of washing tanks and the amount of water in the multi-stage countercurrent method is described in the Journal-al of the Society of MotionPicturean.
d Television Engineers Vol. 64, pp. 248-253 (1955
May issue). The number of stages is preferably 2 to 4 stages. The replenishment amount is 1 to 50 times, preferably 1 to 50 times the amount brought in from the previous bath per unit area.
It is 30 times, more preferably 1 to 10 times. As a method of efficiently reducing the replenishment amount, a so-called multi-chamber washing method in which a washing tank or a stabilizing bath is divided by a partition wall, and the photosensitive material is processed in a liquid without passing through a slit portion of a wiper blade or the like to enter the air. Alternatively, a stable treatment is preferably used.

According to the above-mentioned multi-stage countercurrent method or multi-room water washing method, the amount of washing water can be greatly reduced. However, due to an increase in the residence time of water in the tank, bacteria are propagated, and the generated suspended matter is exposed to light. Problems such as adhesion to materials occur. In the processing of the color light-sensitive material of the present invention, as a solution to such a problem, the method of reducing calcium ions and magnesium ions described in JP-A-62-288838 can be used very effectively. In addition, JP
No. -8,542, isothiazolone compounds, thiabendazoles, chlorinated fungicides such as chlorinated sodium isocyanurate, and other benzotriazoles, etc., written by Hiroshi Horiguchi, "Chemistry of Fungicides and Fungicides" (1986) Sankyo Publishing Co., Ltd. "Sterilization, Sterilization, and Mold Prevention Techniques of Microorganisms" edited by the Sanitation Technology Society (1982), Japan Society of Industrial Technology, "The Encyclopedia of Bactericidal and Antifungal Agents" (ed. 1986)
Can be used.

The pH of the washing water and the stabilizing solution in the processing of the light-sensitive material of the present invention is from 4 to 9, preferably from 5 to 8. The temperature and time can also be variously set depending on the characteristics of the photosensitive material, the application, etc., but generally ranges from 15 to 45 ° C. for 20 seconds to 10 minutes, preferably from 25 to 40 ° C. for 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Selected. Further, the light-sensitive material of the present invention can be processed directly with a stabilizing solution instead of the above-mentioned washing. In such a stabilization process, JP-A-57-8543, JP-A-58-14834, and JP-A-60-2
All known methods described in 20345 can be used.

The stabilizing solution contains a compound for stabilizing a dye image, for example, benzaldehydes such as formalin and m-hydroxybenzaldehyde, an adduct of formaldehyde bisulfite, hexamethylenetetramine and its derivatives, hexahydrotriazine and its derivatives, N-methylol compounds such as dimethylol urea and N-methylol pyrazole, organic acids and pH buffers are included. The preferable addition amount of these compounds is from 0.001 to 0.02 mol per liter of the stabilizing solution. However, the lower the concentration of free formaldehyde in the stabilizing solution, the less the formaldehyde gas is scattered. From these viewpoints, examples of the dye image stabilizer include N-methylolazoles such as m-hydroxybenzaldehyde, hexamethylenetetramine and N-methylolpyrazole described in JP-A-4-270344, and N, N'-bis (1 4,3,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl) piperazine and the like.
Azolylmethylamines described in 13753 are preferred. In particular, azoles such as 1,2,4-triazole and 1,4-bis (1,2,4) described in JP-A-4-359249 (corresponding to EP-A-519190A2).
A combination of azolylmethylamine and its derivative such as (-triazol-1-ylmethyl) piperazine is preferable because of high image stability and low formaldehyde vapor pressure. Further, if necessary, ammonium compounds such as ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfite, metal compounds such as Bi and Al, a fluorescent brightener, a hardener, and US Pat.
No. 86,583, and a preservative which can be contained in the above-mentioned fixing solution or bleach-fixing solution, for example, a sulfinic acid compound described in JP-A-1-231105 is also preferable. .

The washing water and the stabilizing solution may contain various surfactants in order to prevent unevenness of water droplets when the processed photosensitive material is dried. Among them, a nonionic surfactant is preferably used, and an alkylphenol ethylene oxide adduct is particularly preferable. Octyl, nonyl, dodecyl, and dinonylphenol are particularly preferred as the alkylphenol, and the number of moles of ethylene oxide added is particularly preferably 8 to 14. It is also preferable to use a silicon surfactant having a high defoaming effect.

It is preferable that the washing water and the stabilizing solution contain various chelating agents. Preferred chelating agents include aminopolycarboxylic acids such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, N, N, N'-trimethylenephosphonic acid, diethylenetriamine-N, N,
Organic phosphonic acids such as N ', N'-tetramethylenephosphonic acid, and a hydrolyzate of a maleic anhydride polymer described in European Patent 345,172A1 can be mentioned.

The overflow solution accompanying the washing and / or replenishment of the stabilizing solution can be reused in other steps such as a desilvering step.

In the processing using an automatic developing machine or the like, when each of the above processing solutions is concentrated by evaporation, an appropriate amount of water or a correction solution or processing replenisher is replenished in order to correct the concentration by evaporation. Is preferred. There is no particular limitation on a specific method for performing water replenishment. Among them, a monitor water tank different from the bleach tank described in JP-A Nos. 1-254959 and 1-254960 is installed, and water in the monitor water tank is provided. Of the water in the bleaching tank is calculated from the amount of evaporation of the water, and water is replenished to the bleaching tank in proportion to the amount of evaporation or disclosed in JP-A-3-248155 and JP-A-3-249644. No. 3-249645, 3-2
An evaporation correction method using a liquid level sensor or an overflow sensor described in Japanese Patent No. 49646 is preferable. Tap water may be used as water for correcting the evaporation of each processing solution, but it is preferable to use deionized water or sterilized water which is preferably used in the above-mentioned washing step.

The various processing solutions in the present invention are used at 10 ° C. to 50 ° C. Usually, a temperature of 33 ° C to 38 ° C is standard, but a higher temperature promotes the processing and shortens the processing time, and conversely, lowers the temperature to achieve the improvement of the image quality and the stability of the processing solution. be able to.

As the input color negative film used in the present invention, a conventionally known color negative film can be used, but it is preferable that the gradation is relatively soft and has a wide latitude. This can be achieved by adjusting the sensitivity of a plurality of silver halide emulsions having different silver halide emulsions and adjusting the coating amount of the silver halide emulsion or coupler.

Further, in order to realize this gradation, as disclosed in JP-A-1-304459, JP-A-4-93941 and JP-A-4-40446, at least different average particle sizes are required. It is preferred that two or more types of monodispersed silver halide emulsions are contained in the same photosensitive layer or in all of the layers having the same color sensitivity.

Similarly, to realize this gradation, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,301,242,
A method of mixing several emulsions having the same grain size with different rhodium contents to form a gradation is also preferably used. Further, here, other than rhodium, desensitizers described in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-8082, for example, the fourth, fifth and sixth cycles of Group 7, Group 8, and Group 9 are used. Metal ions, antifoggants, stabilizers, desensitizing dyes and the like can also be preferably used.

It is preferable that the minimum density of the input color negative photosensitive material in the image after the development processing, that is, the density of the unexposed portion is 0.2 or less. More preferably, it is 0.1 or less.

The image density after the development processing is measured by Macbeth densitometer status M.

The density of the unexposed area is caused by coloring of the support, colored couplers for masking, fog by silver halide emulsions, dyes added for various purposes, and the like.

In particular, when a color negative is photoelectrically read by a CCD area sensor, if the density of the unexposed portion is high, the S / N ratio of the obtained signal is deteriorated, and the image quality of the finally obtained reproduced image is deteriorated. It turned out to be.

This is the same for any of yellow, magenta, and cyan. It has been found that, particularly when the image is read through a yellow image, that is, through a blue filter, the influence on the S / N ratio is particularly large.

Therefore, it can be said that the lower the minimum density of yellow, the more preferable.

Further, the gradations γR, γG and γB of the input color light-sensitive material in standard white light source exposure are all set to 0.
The color negative is preferably 35 or more and 0.90 or less. More preferably, it is 0.40 or more and 0.80 or less.

The gradient in the standard white light source is obtained as follows. First, a standard white light source, for example, if the light-sensitive material is a daylight type light-sensitive material,
An undeveloped light-sensitive material for input is wedge-exposed with a light source having an energy distribution of 500 ° K. After development processing using the processing solution of the present invention, red light having a transmission maximum at about 483 nm, 547 nm and 689 nm, respectively. , Green and blue filters, and the logarithm of the amount of exposure is plotted on the horizontal axis and the density is plotted on the vertical axis.
The values giving the densities of 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 are plotted, and these points are linearly approximated by the least squares method. γG and γB were determined.

In addition, a light-sensitive material which is not a daylight type (for example, a tungsten-type light-sensitive material) has a black body radiation of 3%.
The gradation is determined in the same manner as described above except that the exposure is performed using a light source having an energy distribution of 200 ° K.

When reading an image using a scanner,
Pressure fog on the image has a very significant effect on the final reproduced image. In particular, knick-shaped fogging that occurs when the film is folded before processing, and scratches and pressure fogging that occur during handling in laboratory equipment such as cameras, splicers, and processing equipment sometimes occur. It has been found that the damage to the final image is large.

Although various methods have been conventionally used to reduce this effect as far as possible, it has been difficult to say that a sufficient effect has been obtained for an image reproducing system using a digital photo printer. So as a result of various studies,
It was found that the effect was reduced when the amount of silver halide used was reduced to 5 g / m ² or less in terms of the amount of coated silver. Next, tabular silver halide emulsion grains used in an input color photographic light-sensitive material will be described.

It is desirable that the tabular grains have an average aspect ratio of 3 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.

For tabular grains, the coefficient of variation of the grain size distribution is 2
Monodispersed particles of 0% or less are also preferred. 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
-5 μm, preferably 0.3-3.0 μm, more preferably 0.3-2.0 μm.

The particle thickness is preferably from 0.05 to 0.5 μm, more preferably from 0.08 to 0.3 μm.

The particle diameter and the particle thickness can be determined from the electron micrograph of the particles as described in US Pat. No. 4,434,226.

The input color photographic light-sensitive material used in the present invention may have at least one light-sensitive layer provided on a support. A typical example is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having at least one light-sensitive layer comprising a plurality of silver halide emulsion layers having substantially the same color sensitivity but different sensitivities on a support. It is. The light-sensitive layer is a unit light-sensitive layer having color sensitivity to any of blue light, green light, and red light. The red-sensitive layer, the green-sensitive layer, and the blue-sensitive layer are provided in this order from the support side. However, depending on the purpose, the order of installation may be reversed, or the order of installation may be such that different photosensitive layers are sandwiched between layers of the same color sensitivity. A non-light-sensitive layer may be provided between the silver halide light-sensitive layers and as the uppermost layer and the lowermost layer. These may contain a coupler, a DIR compound, a color mixing inhibitor and the like described below. The plurality of silver halide emulsion layers constituting each unit photosensitive layer are a high-speed emulsion layer as described in DE1,121,470 or GB923,045,
It is preferred that the two low-sensitivity emulsion layers are arranged so that the sensitivity gradually decreases toward the support. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
12751, 62-200350, 62-206541, and 62-206543, a low-speed emulsion layer may be provided on the side farther from the support, and a high-speed emulsion layer may be provided on the side closer to the support. .

As a specific example, from the side farthest from the support,
Low sensitivity blue photosensitive layer (BL) / High sensitivity blue photosensitive layer (BH) / High sensitivity green photosensitive layer (GH) / Low sensitivity green photosensitive layer (GL) / High sensitivity red photosensitive layer (RH) / In the order of the low-sensitivity red photosensitive layer (RL), or in the order of BH / BL / GL / GH / RH / RL, or BH / BL / GH /
They can be installed in the order of GL / RL / RH.

As described in JP-B-55-34932, the blue-sensitive layer / GH / RH
They can also be arranged in the order of / GL / RL. JP-A-56-2
As described in 5738 and 62-63936, the layers may be arranged in the order of blue-sensitive layer / GL / RL / GH / RH from the side farthest from the support.

As described in JP-B-49-15495, the upper layer is a silver halide emulsion layer having the highest sensitivity, the middle layer is a silver halide emulsion layer having a lower sensitivity, and the lower layer is a layer having a higher sensitivity than the middle layer. An example is an arrangement in which a silver halide emulsion layer having a low sensitivity is arranged and three layers having different sensitivities are sequentially reduced in sensitivity toward a support. Even when such a three-layer structure having different photosensitivity is used,
As described in JP-A-59-202464, in the same color-sensitive layer, the layers may be arranged in the order of medium-speed emulsion layer / high-speed emulsion layer / low-speed emulsion layer from the side away from the support.

In addition, a high-speed emulsion layer / low-speed emulsion layer / medium-speed emulsion layer, or a low-speed emulsion layer / medium-speed emulsion layer / high-speed emulsion layer may be arranged in this order. The arrangement may be changed as described above even in the case of four or more layers.

To improve color reproducibility, US Pat. No. 4,663,27
1, 4,705,744, 4,707,436, JP-A-62-160448, 63
It is preferable to arrange a donor layer (CL) having a multilayer effect having a spectral sensitivity distribution different from that of the main photosensitive layers such as BL, GL, and RL described in the specification of -89850 adjacent to or close to the main photosensitive layer.

A preferred silver halide used in the present invention is silver iodobromide, silver iodochloride, or silver iodochlorobromide containing about 30 mol% or less of silver iodide. Particularly preferred is silver iodobromide or silver iodochlorobromide containing from about 2 mol% to about 10 mol% silver iodide.

The silver halide grains in the photographic emulsion include those having regular crystals such as cubic, octahedral and tetradecahedral, those having irregular crystal forms such as spherical and plate-like,
It may have a crystal defect such as a twin plane or a composite form thereof.

The silver halide may be fine grains having a grain size of about 0.2 μm or less or large grains having a projected area diameter of about 10 μm, and may be a polydisperse emulsion or a monodisperse emulsion.

Examples of the silver halide photographic emulsion usable in the present invention include, for example, Research Disclosure (hereinafter referred to as RD).
No. 17643 (December 1978), 22-23
Page, "I. Emulsion preparation and type
s) ", and No. 18716 (November 1979), 6
48, ibid., No. 307105 (November 1989), 863-
P. 865, and Grafkid, "Physics and Chemistry of Photography",
Published by Paul Montell (P. Glafkides, Chemie et Phisique
Photographique, Paul Montel, 1967), Photographic Emulsion Chemistry by Duffin, published by Focal Press (GF Duff
in, Photographic Emulsion Chemistry, Focal Press,
1966), "Manufacture and coating of photographic emulsions" by Zelikman et al., Focal Press (VL Zelikman, et al., Making
and CoatingPhotographic Emulsion, Focal Press, 19
64) and the like.

US 3,574,628, US 3,655,394 and GB 1,4
Monodisperse emulsions described in 13,748 are also preferred.

The crystal structure may be uniform, the inside and the outside may be composed of different halogen compositions, or may have a layered structure. Silver halides having different compositions may be joined by epitaxial joining, or may be joined to a compound other than silver halide, such as, for example, silver rhodanate or lead oxide. Also, a mixture of particles of various crystal forms may be used.

The above emulsion may be a surface latent image type in which a latent image is mainly formed on the surface, an internal latent image type in which the latent image is formed inside the grains, or a type having a latent image on both the surface and the inside. Type emulsion. Among the internal latent image type emulsions, core / shell type internal latent image type emulsions described in JP-A-63-264740 may be used.
-It is described in 133542. The thickness of the shell of this emulsion varies depending on the development process and the like, but is preferably 3 to 40 nm, particularly preferably 5 to 20 nm.

As the silver halide emulsion, usually, those subjected to physical ripening, chemical ripening and spectral sensitization are used. The additives used in such a process are RD No. 17643, RD No. 1
8716 and No. 307105, and the relevant portions are summarized in the table below.

The light-sensitive material used in the present invention includes two or more types of emulsions having at least one characteristic different from each other in grain size, grain size distribution, halogen composition, grain shape and sensitivity of the photosensitive silver halide emulsion. It can be mixed and used in one layer.

US Pat. No. 4,626,498, JP-A-59-214852, described in US Pat. No. 4,082,553.
It is preferable to apply silver halide grains or colloidal silver having the inside of the grains described in (1) to the light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and / or the substantially light-insensitive hydrophilic colloid layer. A silver halide grain having a grain inside or a surface is defined as a silver halide grain that can be uniformly (non-image-wise) developed regardless of the unexposed portion and the exposed portion of the photosensitive material. The preparation method is described in US Pat. No. 4,626,498,
It is described in 214852. The silver halide forming the internal nucleus of the core / shell type silver halide grain having the inside of the grain fogged may have a different halogen composition. Any of silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, silver bromoiodide, and silver chloroiodobromide can be used as the silver halide having a grain inside or a surface. The average grain size of these fogged silver halide grains is 0.01 to 0.75 μm,
Particularly, the thickness is preferably 0.05 to 0.6 μm. The grains may be regular grains or polydisperse emulsions, but may be monodisperse (at least 95% of the weight or number of silver halide grains has a grain size within ± 40% of the average grain size). Is preferable.

In the present invention, it is preferable to use non-photosensitive silver halide grains. Non-photosensitive fine grain silver halide is silver halide fine grains that are not exposed during imagewise exposure to obtain a dye image and are not substantially developed in the developing process, and are preferably not fogged in advance. . The fine grain silver halide has a silver bromide content of 0 to 100 mol%, and may contain silver chloride and / or silver iodide as needed. Preferably, it contains 0.5 to 10 mol% of silver iodide. The fine grain silver octogenide preferably has an average particle size (average value of a circle equivalent diameter of a projected area) of 0.01 to 0.5 μm, more preferably 0.02 to 0.5 μm.
0.2 μm is more preferred.

The fine silver halide grains can be prepared in the same manner as in the case of ordinary light-sensitive silver halide. The surface of the silver halide grains does not need to be optically sensitized, and no spectral sensitization is required. However, before adding this to the coating solution, a triazole-based, azaindene-based,
It is preferable to add a known stabilizer such as a benzothiazolium-based or mercapto-based compound or a zinc compound. Colloidal silver can be contained in the layer containing fine silver halide grains.

The photographic additives that can be used in the present invention are also described in RD, and the relevant portions are shown in the following table.

Types of additives RD17643 RD18716. RD307105 1. Chemical sensitizer page 23 page 648 right column page 866 2. Sensitivity increasing agent, page 648, right column 3. Spectral sensitizer, pages 23-24, page 648, right column 866-868, super sensitizer ~ page 649, right column Brightener page 24 page 647 right column page 868 5. 5. Light absorber, page 25-26, page 649, right column, page 873, filter-page 650, left column, dye, ultraviolet absorber. 6. Binder page 26 page 651 left column pages 873 to 874 7. Plasticizer, page 27, page 650, right column, page 876, lubricant 8. Coating aid, pages 26 to 27, page 650, right column, pages 875 to 876 Surfactant Static 27 pages 650 right column 876-877 Inhibitors 10. Matting Agents, pages 878 to 879 Various dye-forming couplers can be used in the light-sensitive material used in the present invention, and the following couplers are particularly preferable.

Yellow coupler: EP502, 424A
Couplers represented by the formulas (I) and (II): EP513,496A
(Especially Y-28 on page 18); couplers represented by formula (I) in claim 1 of EP 568,037A; 45-5 of column 1 of US 5,066,576.
5 rows of couplers represented by the general formula (I);
A coupler represented by general formula (I) in paragraph 0008 of 4425; a coupler described in claim 1 on page 40 of EP498,381A1 (especially D-35 on page 18); Couplers represented (especially Y-1 (p. 17),
Y-54 (p. 41)); column 7, 36 of US 4,476,219.
The couplers represented by the formulas (II) to (IV) in rows 58 to 58 (particularly II-17, 19 (column 17), II-24 (column 1
9)).

Magenta coupler: JP-A-3-39737 (L-
57 (page 11, lower right), L-68 (page 12, lower right), L-7
7 (page 13, lower right); EP 456,257 [A-4] -63 (1
34), [A-4] -73, -75 (page 139); EP
486, 965 M-4, -6 (p. 26), M-7 (27
M-45 of EP571,959A (page 19); JP-A-5-2041
06 (M-1) (p. 6); paragraph 023 of JP-A-4-32631.
7 M-22.

Cyan coupler: CX- described in JP-A-4-04843
1,3,4,5,11,12,14,15 (14-16
Page): C-7, 10 (p. 35), 3 of JP-A-4-43345
4, 35 (p. 37), (I-1), (I-17) (42
To 43); a coupler represented by formula (Ia) or (Ib) of claim 1 of JP-A-6-67385.

Polymer coupler: P- described in JP-A-2-44345
1, P-5 (page 11).

Examples of couplers in which the coloring dye has an appropriate diffusibility include US Pat. No. 4,366,237, GB 2,125,570, EP 96,873B, and DE.
Those described in 3,234,533 are preferred.

Couplers for correcting unnecessary absorption of a coloring dye are described in formulas (CI) and (CI) described on page 5 of EP456,257A1.
Yellow colored cyan couplers represented by I), (CIII) and (CIV) (especially YC-86 on page 84);
Yellow colored magenta coupler ExM-7
(Page 202), EX-1 (page 249), EX-7 (25
1), US Pat. No. 4,833,069, magenta colored cyan coupler CC-9 (column 8), CC-13
(Column 10), (2) of US 4,837,136 (column 8),
Preference is given to colorless masking couplers of formula (A) of claim 1 of WO92 / 11575 (especially the exemplary compounds on pages 36 to 45).

Examples of compounds (including couplers) which react with oxidized developing agents to release photographically useful compound residues include the following. Development inhibitor releasing compound:
Formulas (I), (II) and (II) described on page 11 of EP378,236A1.
Compounds represented by I) and (IV) (particularly T-101 (3
0), T-104 (page 31), T-113 (36
Page), T-131 (page 45), T-144 (page 51, T
-158 (p. 58)), the compound represented by the formula (I) described on page 7 of EP 436,938A2 (particularly D-49 (51
Page)), the compound of formula (1) of EP 568,037A (especially (23) (page 11)), and the compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) described on pages 5 to 6 of EP 440,195 A2. (Especially I- (1) on page 29); Bleach accelerator releasing compound: compounds represented by formulas (I) and (I ') on page 5 of EP 310,125 A2 (especially (60) on page 61) , (61)) and the compound represented by the formula (I) in Lecture 1 of JP-A-6-59411 (especially (7) (page 7); Ligand releasing compound: US 4,55)
The compound represented by LIG-X described in claim 1 of 5,478 (especially the compound on line 21-41 of column 12); leuco dye releasing compound: compounds 1-6 of columns 3-8 of US 4,749,641; fluorescent dye release Compound: a compound represented by COUP-DYE of claim 1 of US Pat. No. 4,774,181 (especially compounds 1 to 11 of columns 7 to 10); a development accelerator or fogging agent releasing compound: formula (1) of column 3 of US 4,656,123; 2), compounds represented by (3) (particularly, (I-22) in column 25) and ExZX-2 on page 75, lines 36 to 38 of EP450,637A2; a compound which releases a group which becomes a dye only after leaving Compounds of formula (I) of claim 1 of US 4,857,447 (especially columns 25 to
36 Y-1 to Y-19).

As the additives other than the coupler, the following are preferable.

Dispersion medium for oil-soluble organic compound: JP-A-62-21
5272 P-3,5,16,19,25,30,42,4
9, 54, 55, 66, 81, 85, 86, 93 (14
Latex for impregnation of oil-soluble organic compound: latex described in US Pat. No. 4,199,363; oxidized developing agent scavenger: 54 to 62 of column 2 of US Pat. No. 4,978,606
Compounds of the formula (I) in the row (especially I- (1),
(2), (6), (12) (columns 4-5), US 4,92
3,787, column 5, lines 5-10 (especially compound 1 (column 3); stain inhibitor: EP 298321A, page 4, pages 30-3)
Formulas (I) to (III) in three rows, especially I-47, 72, III-
I, 27 (pages 24 to 48); Antifading agent: A-6, 7, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 3 of EP 298321A
0, 37, 40, 42, 48, 63, 90, 92, 9
4,164 (pp. 69-118), US Pat. No. 5,122,444, columns 25-38, II-1 to III-23, especially III-10, EP 4
71347A, pages 8-12, I-1 to III-4, especially II-2, U
A-1, 1-4 of columns 32 to 40 of S5, 139, 931
8, especially A-39, 42; a material for reducing the amount of a color-enhancing agent or a color-mixing inhibitor used: I-1 to II-15, especially I-46 on page 5 to 24 of EP 411324A; SCV-1 on page 24-29
8, especially SCV-8; hardener: column 1, H-1,4,6,8,14 on page 17 of JP-A-1-148845, US Pat.
Compounds (H-1 to 54) represented by Formulas (VII) to (XII) of 3 to 23, Compounds (H-1 to 76) represented by Formula (6) on the lower right of page 8 of JP-A-2-214852. , Especially H-
14, a compound described in claim 1 of US Pat. No. 3,325,287; a development inhibitor precursor: P-24,3 of JP-A-62-168139
7, 39 (pages 6 to 7); compounds described in claim 1 of US Pat. No. 5,019,492, especially 28, 29 of column 7; preservatives and fungicides: I-1 of columns 3 to 15 of US 4,923,790
~ III-43, especially II-1, 9, 10, 18, III-2
5; Stabilizer, antifoggant: column 6 to US 4,923,793
16 I-1 to (14), especially I-1, 60, (2),
(13), Compound 1 in columns 25 to 32 of US 4,952,483
65, especially 36: Chemical sensitizer: triphenylphosphine selenide, compound 50 of JP-A-5-40324; Dye: a-1 to b-20, especially a-1 of pages 15 to 18 of JP-A-3-156450. , 12,18,27,35,36, b-5,27
Pages 29 to 29, especially V-1, EP 445627A 3
FI-1 to F-II-43 on pages 3-55, especially FI-
11, F-II-8, III-1 on pages 17 to 28 of EP457153A
To 36, especially III-1,3, W088 / 04794, 8
Of fine crystals of Dye-1 to 124, EP 31999
Compounds 1 to 22 on page 6 to 11 of 9A, especially compound 1, EP51
Compound D- represented by formulas (1) to (3) of 9306A
1 to 87 (pages 3 to 28), compounds 1 to 22 (columns 3 to 10) represented by formula (I) in US 4,268,622, US 4,92
3,788 compounds (1) to (31) represented by formula (I)
(Columns 2 to 9); UV absorber: compounds (18b) to (18r), 1 represented by the formula (1) in JP-A-46-3335
Compounds (3) to (66) (pages 10 to 44) represented by formula (I) and compounds HBT-1 to HBT-1 to 10 represented by formula (III) in EP 52 0938A. 1
4), compounds (1) to (31) represented by the formula (1) of EP521823A (columns 2 to 9).

In the present invention, various color light-sensitive materials such as a color negative film for general use or a movie, a color reversal film for a slide or a television can be used as a light-sensitive material for input. In addition, Tokuhei 2-3261
5. A lens-equipped film unit described in JP-B-3-39784 can also be suitably used.

Suitable supports that can be used in the present invention are described, for example, in RD. No. 17643, page 28, No. 18716, 64
From the right column on page 7 to the left column on page 648, and 87 of No. 307105
It is described on page 9.

The photosensitive material used in the present invention has a total thickness of 28 μm of all the hydrophilic colloid layers on the side having the emulsion layer.
Is preferably 23 μm or less, more preferably 18 μm or less, and particularly preferably 16 μm or less. Further, the film swelling speed T _1/2 is preferably 30 seconds or less, and more preferably 20 seconds or less. T _1/2 is the time required for the film thickness to reach 1/2 when the saturated film thickness is 90% of the maximum swollen film thickness reached when the color developing solution is processed at 30 ° C. for 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Is defined. The film thickness means a film thickness measured at 25 ° C. and a relative humidity of 55% (2 days).
_1/2 is A. Green's Photographic Science and Engineering (Phot)
ogr. Sci. Eng.), Vol. 19, 2, 124-129, can be used for the measurement. T _1/2 can be adjusted by adding a hardening agent to gelatin as a binder or by changing the aging conditions after coating. The swelling ratio is preferably from 150 to 400%. The swelling ratio can be calculated from the maximum swelling film thickness under the conditions described above by the formula: (maximum swelling film thickness-film thickness) / film thickness.

The photosensitive material used in the present invention has a total dry film thickness of 2 μm to 20 μm on the side opposite to the side having the emulsion layer.
It is preferable to provide a hydrophilic colloid layer (referred to as a back layer) of m. The back layer preferably contains the above-mentioned light absorber, filter dye, ultraviolet absorber, antistatic agent, hardener, binder, plasticizer, lubricant, coating aid, and surfactant. The swelling ratio of the back layer is preferably from 150 to 500%.

The light-sensitive material used in the present invention preferably has a magnetic recording layer in the back layer.

The magnetic recording layer used in the present invention is obtained by coating a support with an aqueous or organic solvent-based coating solution in which magnetic particles are dispersed in a binder.

The magnetic particles used in the present invention are γFe
Ferromagnetic iron oxide with ₂ O ₃ , Co-coated γFe ₂ O ₃ , C
oDeposited magnetite, Co-containing magnetite, ferromagnetic chromium dioxide, ferromagnetic metal, ferromagnetic alloy, hexagonal Ba
Ferrite, Sr ferrite, Pb ferrite, Ca ferrite and the like can be used. Co-coated ferromagnetic iron oxide, such as Co-coated γFe ₂ O _3, is preferred. The shape may be any of needle shape, rice grain shape, spherical shape, cubic shape, plate shape and the like.
The specific surface area is preferably 20 m ² / g or more in S _BET ,
0 m ² / g or more is particularly preferred. The saturation magnetization (σs) of the ferromagnetic material is preferably from 3.0 × 10 ^{4 to} 3.0 × 10 ^4
5 A / m, particularly preferably 4.0 × 10 ⁴ to 2.
5 × 10 ⁵ A / m. The ferromagnetic particles may be subjected to a surface treatment with silica and / or alumina or an organic material. Further, the surface of the magnetic particles may be treated with a silane coupling agent or a titanium coupling agent as described in JP-A-6-161032. Also JP-A-4-25991
1. Magnetic particles having an inorganic or organic material covered on the surface described in JP-A-5-81652 can also be used.

Next, the output photosensitive material will be described.
A known printing material such as color paper can be used.

All of the photosensitive silver halide emulsions in the output light-sensitive material have a silver chloride content of at least 95 mol% and the remainder is silver bromide, and are composed of silver halide grains substantially free of silver iodide. Preferably, 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%
Means 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 photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer 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, and more preferably from 0.25 to 0.35 logE. Is more preferred.

The point gamma at an exposure of 10 times the exposure at the point where the output silver halide photographic material gives a density 0.1 higher than the minimum color density on the characteristic curve obtained at an exposure time of 0.1 second. On the other hand, in order to make the ratio of point gamma at the above-mentioned exposure amount 0.7 to 1.3 in the characteristic curve obtained at an exposure time of 10 ⁻⁴ seconds, for example, silver iodide is substantially contained. No silver chloride content 9
5 mol% or more of silver chlorobromide contains iron and / or ruthenium and / or osmium compound in an amount of 1.times.10.sup.- ⁵ to 1.times.10.sup.- ³ mol per mol of silver halide, and in a silver bromide localized phase. 1 × 10 ^-7 to 1 per mole of silver halide
It is effective to use a silver halide emulsion containing × 10 ⁻⁵ mol of an iridium compound.

As 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, as a photographic support, a transmission type support or a reflection type support can be used. As the transmission type support, a transparent film such as a cellulose nitrate film or polyethylene terephthalate,
-A material in which an information recording layer such as a magnetic layer is provided on a polyester of naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (NDCA) and ethylene glycol (EG) or a polyester of NDCA, terephthalic acid and EG is 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.

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.

The reflective support may be a transmissive support or a reflective support as described above, on which a hydrophilic colloid layer containing a white pigment is applied.

The reflection type support may be a support having a mirror-reflective or second-class diffuse-reflective metal surface.

The above-mentioned reflective supports and silver halide emulsions,
Further, different metal ion species doped in silver halide grains, storage stabilizers or antifoggants for silver halide emulsions, chemical sensitization (sensitizer), spectral sensitization (spectral sensitizer), Cyan, magenta, yellow couplers and their emulsifying and dispersing methods, color image preservability improvers (anti-stain and anti-fading agents), dyes (colored layers), gelatin species, layer composition of photosensitive material, coating pH of photosensitive material, etc. The ones described in the patents in Table 1 can be preferably applied to the present invention.

[0198]

[Table 1]

Other cyan, magenta and yellow couplers which can be used in output light-sensitive materials (eg, color paper) are described in JP-A-62-215272, page 91, upper right column, line 4 to page 121, upper left column, line 6 Eye, JP-A-2-33
No. 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 E
P0355,660A2, page 4, lines 15 to 27, page 5, line 30 to page 28, last line, page 45, lines 29 to 3
The couplers described on line 1, page 47, line 23 to page 63, line 50 are also useful.

As the antibacterial and antifungal agents which 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 color image signal output device 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 a device that is compact, inexpensive, and has a long life and high stability, it is preferable to use a semiconductor laser.
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.

The exposure time in such scanning exposure is as follows:
If the pixel size when the pixel density is 400 dpi is defined as the exposure time, the preferable exposure time is 1
It is ^0-4 seconds or less, more preferably ^10-6 seconds or less.

The preferred scanning exposure method applicable to the present invention is described in detail in the patents listed in the above table.

In order to process the color light-sensitive material for output, it is possible to process the lower right column, page 26 to the upper right column, page 34 of JP-A-2-207250 and to the fifth line of the upper right column of JP-A-4-97355. The processing materials and processing methods described in the upper left column of the page, line 17 to the lower right column of page 18, line 20 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.

As a method of developing the output color photosensitive material after exposure, for example, a conventional developing method using an alkaline agent and a color developing agent, and a method in which a color developing agent (color reducing agent) is incorporated in the photosensitive material. There is a method of developing with an activator solution such as an alkali solution containing no developing agent.

In particular, the activator processing method is preferable from the viewpoint of environmental preservation because the processing liquid does not contain a color developing agent, so that the processing liquid can be easily managed and handled, and the load of waste liquid processing is small. It is.

In the activator processing method, a photosensitive material containing a color developing agent or a precursor thereof is used.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Nos. 7-63572 and 7-334190.
Nos. 7-334192, 7-334197, and 7-344396, are preferred. Photosensitive materials containing a hydrazine compound as a color developing agent are preferred. A method of amplifying (intensifying) an image of a light-sensitive material having a low silver content by using hydrogen peroxide is also preferably used.
An image forming method using an activator liquid containing hydrogen peroxide described in JP-A Nos. 3587 and 7-334202 is preferably used.

Although desilvering is usually performed after the activator processing, desilvering processing is not required in the image amplification processing using a low-silver amount photosensitive material. Therefore, after the activator processing, washing or stabilization processing is performed. Simple processing is preferred.

Activator liquid which can be used in the present invention,
The materials and methods for treating the desilvering solution, washing and stabilizing solution are described in detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-63572, Research Disclosure Item 36544 (September 1994), pp. 536-541.

In the color image signal output method of the present invention, an apparatus for reading image information and reproducing the output image signal in a print is disclosed in JP-A-8-16238.
The digital photographic printer described on pages 5 to 12 of the issue and FIGS. 1 and 2 is preferably used. In particular, it is preferable to use an acousto-optic element which is well known in the art for modulating the intensity of a light beam in an image recording unit and which is easily available.

Preferred embodiments of the method and apparatus for outputting a color image signal of the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a color image signal output device reads an image of a color and generates digitized image data. The image reading device 1 performs a predetermined image processing on the image data generated by the image reading device 1. And an image processing device 5 for performing the output. As shown in FIG. 2, an image output device 8 for reproducing a color image is connected to this device based on an output image signal which has been subjected to image processing by the image processing device 5 and output. Is done.

An overview of an image forming system including the image output device 8 is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, in an actual image forming system, a negative film or An image reading device 10 for photoelectrically reading a color image recorded on a film such as a reversal film is connected to the image processing device 5, whereby the image recorded on a film such as a negative film or a reversal film is formed. A color image can be reproduced.

Next, the image reading apparatus will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an image reading apparatus 10 for a color image reproduction system that generates image data based on a color image. As shown in FIG. 3, the image reading device 10 irradiates a color image recorded on a film F such as a negative film or a reversal film with light and detects light transmitted through the film, thereby obtaining a color image. A light source 11, a light amount adjustment unit 12 capable of adjusting the light amount of light emitted from the light source 11, and a light source
The light emitted from 11 is R (red), G (green) and B
A color separation unit 13 for separating light into three colors (blue), a diffusion unit 14 for diffusing light so that light emitted from the light source 11 is uniformly applied to the film F, and transmitted through the film F. A CCD area sensor 15 for photoelectrically detecting light and an electric zoom lens 16 for forming an image of the light transmitted through the film F on the CCD area sensor 15 are provided. The transmission type image reading apparatus 10 can read various kinds of films such as 135 negative film, 135 positive film, and advanced photo system (APS) film by exchanging a film carrier (not shown).

[0216] A halogen lamp is used as the light source 11, and the light amount adjusting unit 12 changes the light amount exponentially with respect to the moving distance by moving the two aperture plates. 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 is 920
Each pixel has a light receiving element of 1380 pixels in width, and can read image information on a film with high resolution. C
When reading a color image, the CD area sensor 15
It is configured to sequentially transfer image data of an odd field composed of image data of an odd line and image data of an even field composed of image data of an even line of a photoelectrically read image.

The image reading device 10 further generates the R, G, and R signals that are photoelectrically detected by the CCD area sensor 15 and generated.
An amplifier 17 for amplifying the image signal of B, an A / D converter 18 for digitizing the image signal, and an image signal digitized by the A / D converter 18 vary in sensitivity for each pixel and dark current. It comprises a CCD correction means 19 for performing correction processing and a log converter 20 for converting R, G, B image data into density data. The log converter 20 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 sent to a predetermined position by a driving roller 24 driven by a motor 23, and is pressed and held in a stopped state. When the reading of the color image of the frame is completed, the image is fed by one frame. 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 7-271048
Nos. 7-275358, 7-275359, 7-277455, 7-
The one disclosed in No. 285015 is used.

The screen detection sensor 25 detects the density distribution of the color image recorded on the film F, and outputs the detected density signal to the CPU 26 which controls the transmission type image reading apparatus 10. Based on the CPU 26,
When the screen position of the color image recorded on the film F is calculated and it is determined that the screen position of the color image has reached a predetermined position, the driving of the motor 23 is stopped.

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 structure of the image processing apparatus 5 divided into two figures. As shown in these figures, the image processing device 5 is generated by the image reading device 1 and the interface 48 connectable to the interface 21 of the transmission type image reading device 10 or the interface 41 of the reflection type image reading device 30. Averaging means 49 for adding and averaging two adjacent pixel data values of the image data sent for each line to obtain one pixel data, and an image sent from the averaging means 49 A first line buffer 50a and a second line buffer 50b for alternately storing pixel data in each line of data, and a line buffer 50a
, 50b are transferred, and the image data corresponding to one color image recorded on the film F (FIG. 3) or the color image recorded on one color print P (FIG. 4) is transferred. A first frame memory unit 51, a second frame memory unit 52, and a third frame memory unit 53 for storing are provided. Here, a first line buffer 50a and a second line buffer
50b is configured to store the odd-numbered pixel data of each line of the image data in one line buffer and the even-numbered pixel data in the other line buffer alternately.

In the present embodiment, first, the first reading (hereinafter referred to as “hereinafter”) of the color image of one frame recorded on the film F or the color image recorded on one color print P is performed. , Pre-reading), and conversion of the read image into digital image data. At this time, based on the image data obtained by the pre-reading, the image processing device 5 sets image reading conditions for the second reading (hereinafter, referred to as main reading) to be performed next. 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. To perform such processing, the image processing device 5 stores the image data obtained by the pre-reading in the first frame memory unit 51, and stores the image data obtained by the main reading in the second frame memory unit 52, 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 the image data generated by reading the color image by using a first frame memory unit 51,
The second frame memory unit 52 and the third frame memory unit 53 are R (red), G (green),
R data memory 51R, G data memory 51G, and B data memory 51 for storing image data corresponding to B (blue)
B, R data memory 52R, G data memory 52G and B
A data memory 52B, an R data memory 53R, a G data memory 53G and a B data memory 53B are provided.
As described above, the first frame memory unit 51
Stores image data obtained by pre-reading,
While the second and third frame memory units 52 store the image data that is actually read and stored, FIG. 7 shows that the image data obtained by prefetching is input from the input bus 63 to the first frame memory unit 51. The image data stored in the second frame memory unit 52 is output to the output bus 64.
The state output to is shown in FIG.

The configuration of the image processing device 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. CP
U60 is a CPU 26 (FIG. 3) for controlling the transmission type image reading device 10 or a CPU 46 for controlling the reflection type image reading device 30.
And a communication line (not shown), and can communicate with a CPU controlling the image output device 8 described later 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 the reading control signal is transmitted to the CPU 26 of the transmission type image reading device 10 or the C of the reflection type image reading device 30.
Output to PU46. At this time, C of the transmission type image reading device 10
When this reading control signal is input, the PU 26 or the CPU 46 of the reflection type image reading device 30 determines the light amount adjusted by the light amount adjusting unit 12 or the light amount adjusting unit 34 and the accumulation time of the CCD area sensor 15 or the CCD line sensor 35. Control. At the same time, based on the obtained image data, the CPU 60 executes a first image processing means and a second image processing method, which will be described later, so that a color image having an optimum density, gradation and color tone can be reproduced on color paper. A control signal for changing image processing conditions such as image processing parameters by the processing means is output to the first image processing means and the second image processing means as necessary. At this time, CP
The image reading conditions or image processing conditions determined by U60 are stored in the memory 66.

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 using an input device such as a keyboard 69 and further instructs to hold these conditions, these conditions are stored in the memory 66, and thereafter, when the operator instructs to release the holding of these conditions, the The condition stored in the memory 66 becomes invalid. Therefore, CPU 60
In performing the above-described control, first, a condition stored in the memory 66 is referred to. If the condition is stored, the condition is followed.If the condition is not stored, the condition is determined based on the pre-read image data. To determine these conditions.
It is not always necessary to hold such conditions in large units such as image reading conditions or image processing conditions, and more detailed conditions such as storing or referring to the above conditions in the memory 66 when storing the above conditions are used. 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.

As described above, image data obtained by pre-reading is used exclusively for determining image reading conditions for main reading and image processing conditions in image processing after reading. Therefore, the image data obtained by pre-reading may have a smaller data amount than image data obtained for the purpose of performing image processing for reproduction, that is, image data obtained by main reading. In the present embodiment, as described below,
Based on the image data obtained by the pre-reading, the color image is reproduced on the CRT 68, and by observing the reproduced color image, the operator can set the image processing conditions or apply the conditions to the subsequent reproduction. It is configured to be able to hold as much as possible. Therefore, the amount of image data obtained by prefetching is
It is sufficient that the data amount is sufficient to reproduce a color image on the CRT 68. In the present embodiment, the data amount obtained by pre-reading is reduced and stored in the first frame memory unit 51.

Specifically, in the transmissive image reading device 10, the CCD area sensor 15 transfers only the image data of the odd field or the even field at the time of pre-reading, and in the reflection type image reading device 30, Sometimes, the moving speed of the light source 31 and the mirror 32, that is, the sub-scanning speed, is doubled, so that the data amount of the image data to be read is reduced by half compared to the case of the main reading. 1 is configured.

Further, the averaging means 49 of the image processing apparatus 5 adds and averages the values of two adjacent pixel data of the image data sent for each line to obtain one pixel data. Thus, the number of pixel data in each line of the image data is reduced to half. At the time of pre-reading, only one of the odd-line and even-line pixel data of the image data in which the number of pixel data has been reduced by half by the averaging operation means 49 is transferred to the first line buffer 50a and the second line buffer 50a. By alternately transferring the image data to the line buffer 50b, the number of lines of the image data is reduced to one.
/ 2. That is, one of the pixel data of the odd line and the even line is transferred to the first line buffer 50a and the second line buffer 50b, and the other is not transferred to the line buffers 50a and 50b. Decrease by ２. At this time, the odd-numbered pixel data of each line transferred to the line buffers 50a and 50b is stored in one of the first line buffer 50a and the second line buffer 50b, and the even-numbered pixel data of each line is stored in the first line buffer 50a and the second line buffer 50b. The data is stored in the other of the first line buffer 50a and the second line buffer 50b. Therefore, each of the line buffers 50a and 50b stores every other pixel data of the odd line or the even line.

Further, only the image data (that is, every other pixel data) stored in one of the first line buffer 50a and the second line buffer 50b is stored in the first frame memory unit 51. By
The number of pixel data in each line is further reduced to １ ／. As a result, finally, the number of pixel data of the image data obtained by the prefetching is reduced to 1/16 and stored in the first frame memory unit 51.

At the time of pre-reading, as described above,
Since the number of pixel data in the image data is reduced, the second image data for storing the image data obtained by the main reading is stored.
The frame memory unit 52 and the third frame memory unit 53 read a color image of one frame recorded on a film F such as a negative film or a reversal film or a color image recorded on one color print P. Although the first frame memory unit 51 has a capacity capable of storing the obtained image data, the second frame memory unit 52 and the third frame A memory unit much smaller than the memory unit 53 is used.

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 apparatus 5 reproduces a color image on color paper with desired density, gradation and color tone from the image data stored in the second frame memory unit 52 and the third frame memory unit 53. Where possible, look-up tables and matrix operations
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 have a look-up table so that a color image can be reproduced on a CRT screen with a desired image quality on a CRT screen described later. 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,
55, the second frame memory unit 52 and the second
The image data stored in any one of the frame memory units 53 is selectively input 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, a first image processing means 61 includes a color density gradation conversion means 100 for converting density data, color data and gradation data of image data, and a color density gradation conversion means 100 for converting saturation data of image data. Degree conversion means 101, digital magnification conversion means 102 for converting the number of pixel data of image data, frequency processing means 103 for performing frequency processing on image data, and dynamic range conversion means 104 for converting the dynamic range of image data.
It has. Each of these conversion means operates at the same time, as is usually called pipeline processing,
Since the following processing is performed after the operation is completed, 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, as shown in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 7-165965, for images with large contrast between light and dark,
An automatic dodging process that provides good image reproduction can also be performed.

The first image processing means 61 is connected to the data synthesizing means 75 shown in FIG. 6, and the data synthesizing means 75 is connected to a synthesized data memory 76. Synthetic data memory 76
Are R data memories 76R and G for storing image data such as figures and characters corresponding to R (red), G (green) and B (blue).
An image output device which includes a data memory 76G and a B data memory 76B, combines a color image recorded on a film F (FIG. 3) or a color print P (FIG. 4) with image data obtained by reading the image, and 8 stores image data such as figures and characters to be combined with the color image when the color image is reproduced on the color paper. The data synthesizing means 75 is an interface
Connected to 77.

In addition, the image processing apparatus 5 includes a first frame memory unit 51 and a second frame memory unit.
52 and the input bus 63 of the third frame memory unit 53
A data bus 65 is provided separately from the output bus 64. The data bus 65 includes a CPU 60 for controlling the entire color image reproduction system, an operation program of the CPU 60, and a memory 6 for storing data relating to image processing conditions.
6, Hard disk that can store and save image data 6
7, a CRT 68, a keyboard 69, a communication port 70 connected to another color image reproducing system via a communication line, a communication line with the CPU 26 of the transmission type image reading device 10 or the CPU 46 of the reflection type image reading device 30, etc. Have been.

The configuration of the image processing apparatus 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described above in detail. Next, the image output device 8 also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 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 color paper based on image data processed by the image processing device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. .

In FIG. 9, the image output device 8 stores an interface 78 connectable to the interface 77 of the image processing device 5, a CPU 79 for controlling the image output device 8, and image data input from the image processing device 5. Data memory 80 comprising a plurality of frame memories for converting the image data, a D / A converter 81 for converting the image data into an analog signal, a laser beam irradiating means 82, and a modulator for outputting a modulation signal for modulating the intensity of the laser beam. Driving means 83 is provided. CPU
Reference numeral 79 is communicable with the CPU 60 of the image processing apparatus 5 via a communication line (not shown).

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

The 67 emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 84a
The red laser light having an arbitrary wavelength between 0 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 acousto-optically modulated, respectively. Container (AO
M) and the like, and the optical modulators 87R, 87G, and 87B are configured to receive the modulation signals from the modulator driving means 83, respectively. The configuration is such that the intensity of the laser light is modulated accordingly. 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 and 87B is reflected by the reflection mirrors 88R, 88G and 88B.
And is incident on the polygon mirror 89. Here, the paper is conveyed at a speed of about 75 mm per second, the scanning line density is 600 lines per inch, and each pixel is 100 ns.
It is modulated every ec.

The image output device 8 includes a magazine 91 in which the color paper 90 is stored in a roll shape. The color paper 90 having a paper width is conveyed at a speed of about 110 mm per second in the sub-scanning direction along a predetermined conveyance path. It is configured as follows.
Color paper with a width of 89 mm to 210 mm can be used. Color paper used in ordinary minilabs or the like, or special color paper suitable for high-illuminance short-time exposure unique to laser exposure May be used. As the magazine 91, a magazine used in an ordinary minilab, for example, a magazine described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-317051 is used. In the transport path of the color paper 90, at intervals corresponding to the length of one color print,
Perforating means 92 for perforating a reference hole at the side edge of the color paper 90
In the image output device 8, the conveyance of the color paper 90 and the driving of other means are synchronized in accordance with the reference holes. As the transport means,
Use the one shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-227722. As the treatment tank, the one shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-280228 is used.

The laser light modulated by the light modulators 87R, 87G, and 87B is scanned in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 89, and passes through the fθ lens 93 to the color paper 90.
Is exposed. Here, since the color paper 90 is transported in the sub-scanning direction, the entire surface is exposed by the laser beam. Here, the conveyance speed of the color paper 90 in the sub-scanning direction is controlled by the CPU 79 so as to synchronize with the main scanning speed of the laser beam, that is, 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 washing processing. A color image is reproduced on the color paper 90 based on the image data subjected to the image processing. Color developing tank 94, bleach-fix tank 95, and washing tank
The color paper 90 subjected to the color development processing, the bleach-fixing processing, and the washing processing by 96 is sent to the drying unit 97,
After being dried, the cutter 98 driven in synchronization with the transport of the color paper 90 based on the reference holes formed in the side edges of the color paper 90 causes one frame of the film F or one color paper. The sheet is cut to a length corresponding to the color image recorded on the sheet P, sent to the sorter 99, and is stacked by the number of sheets corresponding to one film F or each customer. As a sorter, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-33
Use the one shown in No. 2146.

Here, as the color developing tank 94, the bleach-fixing tank 95, 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. it can. In this embodiment, processing method C
P47L is adopted, but CP40FA, CP43FA
Can also be handled.

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 exposed in a pattern as shown in FIG. 11 for each of a plurality of density steps in a single color of each of the three colors cyan, magenta, and yellow, and in gray obtained by superimposing the three colors. After the development, 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.

Next, the image processing according to the present invention will be described.

Generally, in an image processing system that converts an image into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal using an imaging device, the sharpness of the image is deteriorated due to the restriction of the frequency characteristics of the input and output systems. Therefore, sharpness enhancement processing is performed before output.

The sharpness enhancement processing is generally performed by enhancing image data in a high frequency band, such as unsharp mask processing. However, when the sharpness enhancement process is performed, there is a disadvantage that undesired information such as graininess in the same frequency region is also enhanced. For this reason, a method has been adopted in which the conventional sharpness enhancement is performed in a modest degree such that grain deterioration is not noticeable. In some cases, adaptive sharpness enhancement such as changing the degree of sharpness enhancement according to image information of a specific area is also performed, but the same is true in that the degree of sharpness enhancement cannot be increased much.

The sharpness enhancement in the present invention is an epoch-making method that has solved these disadvantages. A detailed description will be given in the embodiment, which is a method in which sharpness is emphasized while suppressing graininess by the following method (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei.
No. 021842).

[0253] 1. Image separation is performed in the frequency band. Specifically, first, it is divided into a low frequency component and a high middle frequency component.

[0254] 2. The high and medium frequency components obtained in 1 include three components of R, G, and B, which are converted into one channel of a luminance component.

[0255] 3. The high and medium frequency components including only the luminance information obtained in the above 2 are divided into high frequency components and medium frequency components.

[0256] 4. From the high middle frequency component obtained in the above 1,
A correlation between R, G, and B is obtained, and a weight coefficient between the granular area and the image signal area is obtained.

[0257] 5. Finally, in the image of the low frequency component,
The high frequency component of 3 and the low frequency component of 4 are converted to R
The processing of the strength is performed with reference to the GB correlation to obtain an image in which sharpness is enhanced while suppressing graininess.

The image processing method will be described in more detail below.

The image data obtained by the image reading device is subjected to image processing by the image processing device based on automatically or manually set image processing conditions.
In an image reproduction system for reproducing on a recording material by an image output device, the image processing device is provided with means for holding the image processing conditions set automatically (auto set-up) or manually, thereby automatically setting the image processing conditions. The image processing conditions set and the image processing conditions set by manually changing the image processing conditions can be reused later.

This greatly reduces the time required for setting conditions, improves work efficiency, and enables rapid reproduction of a large number of images under optimal image processing conditions. For details of the automatic setting means and the manual setting means, refer to Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 8-1
No. 5161.

When dodging processing is performed when processing photoelectrically read image information, it is preferable to use the method described in Japanese Patent Application No. 165965/1995.

The image processing method will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a system in which an image is read from a color photograph including an image processing apparatus according to the present invention and an image is formed on a recording material. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a system including an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit 1 for reading an image from a color photograph
An image processing unit 2 that performs image processing on an image signal representing a color photograph image obtained by the reading unit 1, and a recording material that converts the image signal processed by the image processing unit 2 into a visible image as a visible image. And a reproducing means 3 for recording the information on the recording medium.

The reading means 1 converts a color image 4 such as a negative film or a reversal film from a color image signal R,
It has a CCD area sensor 5 for photoelectrically reading G and B, and has an imaging lens 6 for forming light from the color image 4 on the CCD area sensor 5. In this embodiment, the CCD area sensor 5 is composed of 2760 × 1840 pixels and rotates a filter turret 30 provided with three color separation filters of red (R), green (G) and (B) blue. By scanning image data, a full-color image can be obtained in a frame-sequential manner. Further, the CCD area sensor 5 includes A / D conversion means 7 for digitally converting an image signal representing a color image detected by the CCD area sensor 5, CCD correction means 8 for correcting the CCD area sensor 5, Logarithmic conversion means 9 having a look-up table for logarithmically converting an image signal representing a color image corrected by the CCD correction means 8. The reading means 1, to obtain a pre-scanning data S _P by performing prescanning for reading the outline of a color image 4 is read photoelectrically by first scanning interval of the color image 4 coarse prior to obtaining RGB3 one image signals, After that, fine scan is performed at fine scanning intervals and fine scan data S
It is configured to obtain _F.

The image processing means 2 outputs the pre-scan data S
And auto-setup operation means 10 for setting parameters such as gradation processing during fine scanning based on _P, based on the set parameters by the automatic set-up operation means 10, the color-gradation of the phi scan data S _F processing the color and gradation processing means 14 for performing a monitor display and user interface 12 for connecting the CRT11 and automatic set-up operation unit 10 reproduces the pre-scanning data S _P as a visible image, is a feature of the present invention Processing means 13 for performing graininess suppression processing and sharpness enhancement processing on the color image signal.

Further, the reproducing means 3 has a printer 15 for recording a color image signal on a recording material 16.

The operation of each means will be described below.

First, a prescan is performed by the reading means 1 to read the outline of the color image 4 at a coarse scanning interval from the color image 4 such as a negative film or a reversal film. Prescan data S _P output three color obtained by this pre-scan, the A / D converter 7 is converted into digital data, which have been made corrected by the CCD compensation means 8 is logarithmically amplified by the logarithmic conversion means 9 image processing The data is input to the auto setup operation unit 10 and the monitor display and user interface (hereinafter referred to as interface) 12 of the means 2. Prescan data S _P input to the interface 12 appears as a visible image on the CRT 11, the selection result by the user selecting the sharpness processing menus 11A displayed separately from the visible image on the CRT 11 signals S ₁ representative is input to the interface 12, further the signals S ₁ auto setup calculation unit
Entered in 10. In the automatic set-up operation unit 10, based on the prescanned data and signal S _1, the parameters for the color and gradation processing performed by the color and gradation processing means 14 later is set. Also, some of these parameters are input to the processing means 13 described later.

Here, details of the parameter setting will be described. Concentration range and a print size of the color image 4 on the basis of the inputted pre-scanning data S _P in the automatic set-up operation unit 10 is obtained, further CRT
The signal S input from 11 through the interface 12
_The gain M multiplied by the intermediate frequency component in the emphasis suppression process performed by the
And a gain H by which the high frequency component is multiplied. Further, the color / gradation performed by the color / gradation processing means 14
Parameters for gradation processing are also obtained and input to the processing means 13 and the color / gradation processing means 14.

[0270] Then, in reading means 1 is made fine scan for reading the color image 4 at fine scanning intervals, three-color fine scanning data S _F is obtained as a color image signal. Fine scan data _SF is A /
The data is converted into digital data by the D
The data is corrected by the correction means 8, logarithmically amplified by the logarithmic conversion means 9, and input to the color / gradation processing means 14. In the color / gradation processing means 14, the fine scan data S
_F is subjected to color / gradation processing and input to the processing means 13.
Hereinafter, the processing performed by the processing unit 13 will be described.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining the details of the processing performed by the processing means 13. As shown in FIG.
The fine scan data S _F (RGB) is filtered by a 9 × 9 low-pass filter 20 shown below, and the fine scan data S _F (RGB) is obtained.
, Low frequency components R _L , G _L , and B _L are extracted.

[0272]

(Equation 1)

[0273] and extracted low frequency components from the fine scanning data _{S F R L, G L,} B L and subtracted to intermediate and high frequency components R _MH, G _MH, and B _MH. The low-frequency components R _L , G _L , and B _L thus extracted do not include the edges in the color image, the fine texture, and the roughness due to the graininess of the film. On the other hand, the intermediate frequency components R _M , G _M , and B _M include roughness due to film grain, and the high frequency components R _H , G _H , and B _H include edges and fine textures in a color image.

Here, the low frequency component, the intermediate frequency component and the high frequency component of the fine scan data are shown in FIG.
Are the frequency components when the gains M and H for multiplying the later-described intermediate and high frequency components distributed are set to 1.0, and the intermediate frequency components R _M , G _M , and B _M
Is intended to refer to the Nyquist frequency f _s / 2 1/3 frequency component as a distribution H _M with a peak near the output at the time of reproducing the processed data as a visible image, the low frequency components R _L , _GL , and _BL refer to components having a peak at 0 frequency and having a distribution _HL, and high-frequency components _RH ,
G _H and B _H are components having a peak at the output Nyquist frequency f _s / 2 and having a distribution H _H. In the present embodiment, the Nyquist frequency is
Nyquist frequency when recording at 300 dpi. Here, in FIG. 14, the sum of the frequency components is 1 at each frequency.

Next, a luminance component is extracted from the decomposed middle / high frequency components R _MH , G _MH and B _MH . Extraction of the luminance component are those intermediate and high frequency components R _MH of the fine scanning data S _F, G _MH, components Y _MH of when converting the B _MH to YIQ provisions represent the luminance component of the data. Here, the conversion to the YIQ regulation is given by the following equation

[0276]

(Equation 2)

The above is performed.

A component I which is a color component converted to the YIQ definition
For _MH and component Q _MH are those containing a roughness of color due to the film graininess, wherein the component I _MH and component Q _MH suppress roughness of color due to the film graininess at zero. Here, components I _MH and component Q _MH a color component in the case of ordinary images taken of an object that most no component has been found empirically. Therefore, the component I _MH and the component Q _MH are regarded as color roughness caused by the granularity of the film and are set to 0, whereby a good reproduced image in which the roughness is suppressed can be obtained.

Next, the component Y _MH is subjected to a filtering process by a 5 × 5 low-pass filter 22 as described below in the gain processing unit 21 to obtain an intermediate frequency component Y _M of the component Y _MH .

[0280]

(Equation 3)

[0281] obtaining a high-frequency component Y _H of the components Y _MH by further subtracting the intermediate frequency components Y _M of component Y _MH.

Next, the gains M and H obtained by the above-described auto-setup operation means 10 are multiplied by the components Y _M and Y _H , respectively, as shown in the following equation (1), and the processed components Y _M ′ and Y _H ′ is obtained, and the processed components Y _M ′ and Y _H ′ are combined to obtain a component Y _MH ′.

[0283] Y _MH '= gain M × Y _M + gain _{H × Y H ... (1)} (Y M' = gain _{M × Y M, Y H '} = gain H × Y _H) where the gain M and the gain H is set in the auto setup calculation means 10 so that the gain M <the gain H. That is, roughness of the luminance component based on the film graininess is because it contains a relatively large amount to an intermediate frequency component, by setting a relatively low gain of the components Y _M, is capable of suppressing the graininess. Also, since the sharpness of the image depends on the higher frequency components of the luminance component, by relatively increasing the gain H of the high frequency components Y _H of the luminance component, which can be emphasized sharpness of processed image It is.

Here, in the auto-setup operation means 10, for example, when the color image 4 is under negative, the roughness caused by the film graininess is conspicuous, and
When the gradation is set to improve the gradation characteristics, the image becomes very poor in graininess, and therefore, the gain M is set to a considerably low value. And thereby, granularity can be suppressed strongly. Further, the optimum gain M and gain H are set depending on the print size. Further, as described above, when the user selects a desired menu from several sharpness enhancement processing menus, the gain M and the gain H according to the menu are stored as a table, and the menu is stored according to the menu selection. It is preferable that the optimum gain M and gain H can be selected in such a manner. This makes it possible to perform processing for each image or according to the user's preference.

The thus obtained component Y _MH '
The low frequency components R _L of the fine scanning data S _F described above, G _L, B _L and synthesizing the processed signals R ', G',
B 'is obtained. At this time, the above-mentioned component I _MH and component Q _MH
Is set to 0, the processed luminance component Y _MH ′
Is inversely converted to correspond to RGB data, RGB3
All the two data have the same value as the component Y _MH '. Therefore, even if the processed luminance component Y _MH ′ is not inversely transformed, the result of the synthesis is the same as the result of the inverse transformation. Therefore,
In order to simplify the processing, the processed luminance component Y _MH ′ is synthesized without being inverted.

Thereafter, the processed signals R ', G', B 'are input to the reproducing means 3 and reproduced by the printer 15 on the recording material 16 as a visible image.

In the image reproduced in this way, the color components of the middle and high frequency components of the data including the roughness caused by the film graininess are set to 0, and the luminance component of the middle and high frequency components is further reduced. Since the gain _M of the intermediate frequency component Y _M is suppressed and the gain _H of the high frequency component Y _H is emphasized, an image is obtained in which sharpness is enhanced and roughness due to film graininess is suppressed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram for explaining details of the processing performed in the processing means 13 of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 15, the processing means 13 of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention
Is provided with a specific color extraction gain calculating means 23. In the specific color extraction gain calculating means 23, a specific color portion is extracted from the color image 4, and a gain M for multiplying the above-mentioned luminance component _YMH only for this portion is extracted.
And the value of the gain H are changed. The specific color extraction gain calculating means 23 performs the processing shown in FIG. That is, low frequency components of the fine scanning data _{S F R L, G L,} B performs processing for converting the YIQ defined for _L, more aforementioned five components by performing a filtering process by the low-pass filter 22 × 5 Y _L to obtain a low frequency component of the component I _L and component Q _L. here,
The components Y _L , I _L, and Q _{L of the} low frequency components R _L , G _L , and B _L are filtered by the low-pass filter for the following reason. That is, the low frequency components R _L, G _L, components B _L Y _L, the components I
Frequency characteristics of the _L and component Q _L, as shown in FIG. 6, component I _L and component Q _L is primarily a signal to a lower frequency band, component Y _L are those having components up to a high frequency band. And the high frequency band of the component Y _L (the shaded portion in FIG. 17)
Contains a relatively large amount of noise components. Therefore, in order to improve the accuracy of color extraction performed later by removing the noise component, filtering is performed by the low-pass filter 22 to remove the noise.

[0290] Then this way extracted components Y _L, I _L, of Q _L, the detection of a specific color using the components I _L and the component Q _L. In addition. In this embodiment, it is assumed that flesh color is detected. The horizontal axis The skin color detection, respectively the components Q _L and component I _L is the color components as shown in FIG. 7, in a QI plane on the vertical axis a predetermined range around the color to be hue angle theta (in Fig. A pixel having a signal value of (shaded area) and a signal value larger than a predetermined threshold value is detected as a skin color area. Here, the threshold value processing is mainly performed on a human face when skin color detection is performed, and the signal value of this part is considerably larger than other areas. Therefore, threshold processing is performed in order to prevent other skin-ish parts from being extracted and to easily detect the face area.

After the flesh color area is detected in this manner, the gain M and the gain H for the flesh color area are determined.
Is changed. In other words, as shown in FIG. 19 (a), a weighting function W (θ) for emphasizing the hue angle portion corresponding to the hatched portion shown in FIG. 18 is determined, and FIG. The gain M and the gain H are changed as shown in FIG. The gain M (θ) and the gain H (θ) at the hue angle θ are calculated by the following equation (2).
Shown in

Gain M (θ) = gain Mh−W (θ) · (gain Mh−gain Ml) Gain H (θ) = gain Hh−W (θ) · (gain Hh−gain Hl) (2) , Gain Mh, gain Hh: maximum value of gains M and H gain Ml, gain Hl: minimum value of gains M and H According to equation (2), as shown in FIG. The value of H is set smaller than the gains M and H of the other color regions.

After obtaining the gain M (θ) and the gain H (θ) in this manner, based on the gain M (θ) and the gain H (θ), the intermediate frequency component Y _M of the luminance component Y _MH described above is obtained. and multiplied by a gain in the high frequency components Y _H.
Then, the intermediate frequency component Y _M ′ multiplied by the gain and the high frequency component Y _H ′ are combined to obtain a processed luminance component Y _MH ′,
Further, the processed image signals R ', G', and B 'are obtained by combining the low-frequency components R _L , G _L , and B _L.

As described above, by detecting a specific color region from an image and changing the gain by which the specific color region is multiplied, it is possible to further suppress the roughness of a skin color region in which the roughness due to the film graininess is a concern. A higher quality reproduced image can be obtained.

In the above-described second embodiment of the present invention, the detection of a flesh-colored area has been described. However, in a color image, the roughness in the sky-colored area is relatively conspicuous. May be performed. In addition, the sky blue is a portion indicated by a shaded broken line in FIG. 18 on the QI plane.

Next, a third embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram for explaining details of the processing performed in the processing means 13 of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 20, the processing means 13 of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention
Is provided with a correlation value calculating means 30 for calculating a correlation value between the three colors RGB. In this correlation value calculation means 30, the intermediate and high frequency components of the fine scanning data S _F R _MH, G _MH, correlation values between each of the colors B _MH epsilon
Is calculated, and the value of the gain M is obtained by referring to the look-up table 31 based on the calculated ε. Hereinafter, calculation of the correlation value ε will be described in detail.

[0298] In general, a random variable X, the cross-correlation of Y _{is, E {(X-X m} ) · (Y-Y m)} X m, Y m: expressed as mean value, as shown in FIG. 21 3 Can be classified as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), E {( X-X m) · (Y-Y m)} = no correlation with X and Y in the case of 0, in FIG. 21 (b) As shown, E {(X−X _m ) · (Y−Y _m )}> 0, and when the absolute value is large, the correlation between X and Y is large, and as shown in FIG. In addition, E {(X−X _m ) · (Y−Y _m )} <0, and when the absolute value is large, the correlation between X and Y is large.

Assuming that the correlation values have such a relationship, the correlation values ε _RG , ε _GB , and ε _BR between the colors of the intermediate and high frequency components R _MH , G _MH , and B _MH are calculated by the following equation ( 3) Determined by.

[0300]

(Equation 4)

Ε _RG : Correlation value between _RG ε _GB : Correlation value between _GB ε _BR : Correlation value between _BR m: Size of mask for obtaining correlation value (m = 1,
(About 2, 3, 4) Note that here, the intermediate and high frequency components R _MH , G _MH , and B _MH
When the average value is obtained, the average value becomes substantially 0, so that subtraction of the average value from each signal value can be omitted.

Here, a correlation value between the colors is obtained as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 22, when the correlation value between the component R _MH and the component G _MH is obtained, the flat portion 33 having a large amount of noise due to the granularity of the film shows a random signal for each component. It is almost 0. Also, the edge part
In the case of 34, since a signal appears similarly for each component, the correlation value becomes a large value. Further, when the correlation value is negative as shown in FIG. 21 (c) described above, it is a correlation between the signals as shown in FIG. 23, and cannot be at the edge of the image signal. In this case, it is regarded as 0. Therefore, when each of the correlation values ε _RG , ε _GB , and ε _BR is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the portion where the correlation value is obtained is a flat portion with a lot of noise due to granularity, and the correlation value is If the correlation value is larger than the predetermined threshold value, the part where the correlation value is obtained can be regarded as an edge part.

Next, in the above equation (3), m = 1
The details of the calculation of the correlation values ε _RG , ε _GB , and ε _{BR and} the calculation of the gain in the case of will be described. As shown in FIG. 24, first, correlation values of the components R _MH , G _MH , and B _MH are obtained.
In FIG. 24, referring to the table 36, the correlation value is set to 0 when the correlation values ε _RG , ε _GB , and ε _BR become negative. Intermediate and high frequency components R _MH, G _MH, components R _MH of B _MH, above formulas for the component G _MH, and component B _MH in (3) m
The correlation value between each signal when = 1 is given by the following equation:
Required by (4).

[0304]

(Equation 5)

Then, the correlation values ε _RG , ε _GB , and ε _BR obtained by the equation (4) are added by the following equation (5).

Ε = ε _RG + ε _GB + ε _BR (5) Then, from ε obtained in this manner, FIG.
The value of the gain M according to the correlation value of each pixel is obtained with reference to a look-up table as shown in FIG. That is,
When the correlation value ε is smaller than a predetermined threshold value Th, the value of the gain M is reduced, and when the correlation value ε is larger than the threshold value Th, the value of the gain M is increased. Then, the gain M obtained in this manner is converted to the intermediate frequency component Y _M of the luminance component Y _MH of the above-described intermediate / high frequency components R _MH , G _MH , and B _MH.
And the intermediate frequency component Y multiplied by the gain M
_M and synthesize 'the gain H are high frequency components Y _H, which is multiplied by', and the low frequency components R _L of the fine scanning data S _F, G _L, B _L and synthesizing the processed image signals R ',
G 'and B' are obtained.

As described above, the correlation value ε of each color R, G, B between the signals is calculated, and the value of the gain M is changed according to the correlation value ε, so that the noise caused by the film graininess is conspicuous. Since the correlation value ε is small, the gain M is further reduced to further suppress the roughness, and a higher quality reproduced image can be obtained.

Hereinafter, a method of changing the gain according to the correlation value according to the present embodiment and a method of changing the gain according to the variance described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-502975 will be described in comparison.

The method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 3-502975 obtains a local variance value plotted with respect to the number of appearances of a flat portion, a texture and an edge portion where there is a lot of noise due to film grain of an image, and obtains a blur mask. Processing equation S '= S
This is a method of setting a coefficient K in org + K · (Sorg−Sus) as a function of the local variance value. That is, in a normal image, local variance values of a flat portion, a texture, and an edge portion are as shown in FIG. Here, focusing only on the local variance value σ _N of the image signal of the flat portion, the values of the variances σ _Na , σ _Nb , and σ _Nc change according to the granularity of the film as shown in FIG. . That is, the peak value of the variance σ increases as the film grain size increases (in FIG. 27, σ _Na
Is the dispersion of a low-sensitivity film with small film granularity, σ _Nb is the dispersion of a medium-sensitivity film with medium film granularity, and σ _Nc is the dispersion of a high-sensitivity film with large film granularity. As described above, the variance value of the image signal changes due to the film granularity, and furthermore, depending on the film granularity, it is difficult to separate the dispersion of the flat portion from the dispersion of the texture, so that the gain setting becomes very complicated. .

On the other hand, the distribution of the correlation value is similar to the distribution of the variance as shown in FIG. 28, but the peak of the correlation value σ _{N in} the flat portion is always 0 irrespective of the film granularity.
That is, as shown in FIG. 18, the peaks are 0 for all the grains, and only the size of the _tails ε _Na , ε _Nb , and ε _Nc of the distribution changes. In addition, as shown in FIG. 30, by increasing the value of m in the above-mentioned equation (3), the number of data points is increased and the dispersion of variance is reduced, so that the skirt can be reduced. Therefore, by obtaining the gain by which each area of the image is multiplied based on the correlation value, it becomes easier to separate the flat portion, the texture, and the edge compared with the case of obtaining the gain based on the variance. The gain according to the color can be obtained. The larger the value of m, the more accurately the correlation value can be obtained.

In the above-described third embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate frequency component Y _M of the luminance component Y _MH is determined based on the correlation value ε between the colors of the intermediate and high frequency components R _MH , G _MH , and B _MH.
Is changed by multiplying the value of the gain M by
Based on this correlation value, the high frequency component Y _H of the luminance component Y _MH
May be changed.
That is, as shown in FIG. 31, a look-up table 32 for gain H is further provided, and when the correlation value ε between the colors is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the pixel for which the correlation value is obtained is compared with other pixels. By reducing the degree of emphasis of the high-frequency component, it is possible to prevent the flat part of the image from being grainy due to the luminance component when the degree of emphasis of the high-frequency component is set to be large.

In the above-described third embodiment of the present invention, the gains M and H are changed based on the correlation value ε of the sum of the correlation values ε _RG , ε _GB and ε _BR between the colors. However, the correlation values ε _RG , ε _GB ,
The gains M and H may be changed based on any one or the sum of two correlation values of ε _BR . Thereby, the calculation of the correlation value can be simplified, and the scale of the processing device can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the intermediate and
The high frequency components R _MH , G _MH , and B _MH are converted to YIQ bases for gain processing. However, there is no need to convert them to YIQ bases, and intermediate and high frequency components R _MH , G _MH , and B _{MH are used.}
May be decomposed into intermediate frequency components R _M , G _M , and B _M and high frequency components R _H , G _H , and B _H , and each component may be subjected to gain processing without conversion to a YIQ basis. . However, if the gain processing is performed based only on the luminance component after the conversion to the YIQ basis, the roughness caused by the film graininess can be largely suppressed.

[0314]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Example 1 Preparation of Multilayer Color Photosensitive Material Each layer having the following composition was applied to prepare Sample 101 as a multilayer color photographic material.

(Composition of photosensitive layer) The main materials used for each layer are classified as follows: ExC: cyan coupler UV: ultraviolet absorber ExM: magenta coupler HBS: high boiling point organic solvent ExY: yellow coupler H: Gelatin hardener ExS: Sensitizing dye The number corresponding to each component indicates the coating amount in g / m ² , and the silver halide indicates the coating amount in terms of silver. However, as for the sensitizing dye, the coating amount is shown in mol unit with respect to 1 mol of silver halide in the same layer.

(Sample 101) First Layer (Antihalation Layer) Black Colloidal Silver Silver 0.18 Gelatin 1.60 ExM-1 0.11 ExF-1 3.4 × 10 ^-3 ExF-2 (Solid Disperse Dye) 0.03 ExF-3 (Solid Disperse Dye) 0.04 HBS-1 0.16 Second layer (intermediate layer) ExC-2 0.055 UV-1 0.011 UV-2 0.030 UV-3 0.053 HBS-1 0.05 HBS-2 0.02 Polyethyl acrylate latex 8.1 × 10 ^-2 Gelatin 1.75 Third Layer (low sensitivity red-sensitive emulsion layer) Silver iodobromide emulsion A Silver 0.43 ExS-1 5.0 × 10 ^-4 ExS-2 1.8 × 10 ^-5 ExS-3 5.0 × 10 ^-4 ExC-1 0.16 ExC-3 0.045 ExC -5 0.0050 ExC-7 0.001 ExC-8 0.010 Cpd-2 0.005 HBS-1 0.090 Gelatin 0.87 Fourth layer (Medium-speed red-sensitive emulsion layer) Silver iodobromide emulsion D Silver 0.68 ExS-1 3.0 × 10 ^-4 ExS- 2 1.2 × 10 ^-5 ExS-3 4.0 × 10 ^-4 ExC-1 0.22 ExC-2 0.055 ExC-5 0.007 ExC-8 0.009 Cpd-2 0.036 HBS-1 0.11 Gelatin 0.70 Fifth layer (high-sensitivity red-sensitive emulsion layer) Silver iodobromide emulsion E silver 1.57 ExS-1 2.0 × 10 ^-4 ExS -2 1.0 × 10 ^-5 ExS-3 3.0 × 10 ^-4 ExC-1 0.133 ExC-3 0.040 ExC-6 0.040 ExC-8 0.014 Cpd-2 0.050 HBS-1 0.22 HBS-2 0.10 Gelatin 0.85 6th layer (middle Layer) Cpd-1 0.07 ExF-4 0.03 HBS-1 0.04 Polyethyl acrylate latex 0.19 Gelatin 2.30 7th layer (Low sensitivity green-sensitive emulsion layer) Silver iodobromide emulsion A Silver 0.24 Silver iodobromide emulsion B Silver 0.10 Iodine odor Silver halide emulsion C Silver 0.14 ExS-4 4.0 × 10 ^-5 ExS-5 1.8 × 10 ^-4 ExS-6 6.5 × 10 ^-4 ExM-1 0.005 ExM-2 0.30 ExM-3 0.09 ExY-1 0.015 HBS-1 0.26 HBS-3 0.006 Gelatin 0.80 8th layer (Medium speed green-sensitive emulsion layer) Silver iodobromide emulsion Silver 0.91 ExS-4 2.0 × 10 ^-5 ExS-5 1.4 × 10 ^-4 ExS-6 5.4 × 10 ^-4 ExM-2 0.16 ExM-3 0.045 ExY-1 0.008 ExY-5 0.030 HBS- 1 0.14 HBS-3 8.0 × 10 ^-3 gelatin 0.90 Ninth layer (high-sensitivity green-sensitive emulsion layer) Silver iodobromide emulsion E Silver 1.32 ExS-4 3.7 × 10 ^-5 ExS-5 8.1 × 10 ^-5 ExS-6 3.2 × 10 ^-4 ExC-4 0.011 ExM-1 0.016 ExM-4 0.046 ExM-5 0.023 Cpd-3 0.050 HBS-1 0.20 HBS-2 0.08 Polyethyl acrylate latex 0.26 Gelatin 0.82 Layer 10 (yellow filter layer) Yellow colloid Silver Silver 0.010 Cpd-1 0.10 ExF-5 (solid disperse dye) 0.06 ExF-6 (solid disperse dye) 0.06 ExF-7 (oil-soluble dye) 0.005 HBS-1 0.055 gelatin 0.70 11th layer (low sensitivity) Blue-sensitive emulsion layer) Silver iodobromide emulsion A silver 0.25 iodobromide Emulsion C silver 0.25 Silver iodobromide emulsion D silver ^{0.10 ExS-7 8.0 × 10 -4} ExY-1 0.010 ExY-2 0.70 ExY-3 0.055 ExY-4 0.006 ExY-6 0.075 ExC-7 0.040 HBS-1 0.25 Gelatin 1.60 12th layer (high-sensitivity blue-sensitive emulsion layer) Silver iodobromide emulsion F silver 1.27 ExS-7 3.0 × 10 ^-4 ExY-2 0.15 ExY-3 0.06 HBS-1 0.070 Gelatin 1.13 13th layer (first protective layer) UV-2 0.08 UV-3 0.11 UV-4 0.26 HBS-1 0.09 Gelatin 1.20 14th layer (2nd protective layer) Silver iodobromide emulsion G Silver 0.10 H-1 0.30 B-1 (1.7 μm diameter) 5.0 × 10 ^-2 B-2 (diameter 1.7 μm) 0.10 B-3 0.10 S-1 0.20 gelatin 1.75 Furthermore, storability, processability, pressure resistance, mold and bactericidal properties, antistatic properties and coating are applied to each layer as appropriate. To improve sex, W
-1 to W-3, B-4 to B-6, F-1 to F-17, and iron salts, lead salts, gold salts, platinum salts, iridium salts, palladium salts, and rhodium salts.

[0318]

[Table 2]

In Table 2, (1) Emulsions A to F were prepared according to the examples in JP-A-2-19938.
Reduction sensitization was performed using thiourea dioxide and thiosulfonic acid during the preparation of the particles.

(2) Emulsions A to F were subjected to gold sensitization, sulfur sensitization and selenium sensitization in the presence of the spectral sensitizing dye described in each photosensitive layer and sodium thiocyanate according to the examples of JP-A-3-237450. A feeling is given.

(3) Preparation of tabular grains is described in
According to the example of No. 26, low molecular weight gelatin is used.

(4) Dislocation lines as described in JP-A-3-237450 were observed in the tabular grains using a high-pressure electron microscope.

Preparation of Dispersion of Organic Solid Disperse Dye
xF-2 was dispersed by the following method. That is, 21.7 ml of water and 3 ml of a 5% aqueous solution of sodium p-octylphenoxyethoxyethanesulfonate and a 5% aqueous solution of p-octylphenoxypolyoxyethylene ether (degree of polymerization 1)
0) 0.5 g was placed in a 700 ml pot mill,
5.0 g xF-2 and zirconium oxide beads (diameter 1)
mm) was added and the contents were dispersed for 2 hours. For this dispersion, a BO type vibration boat mill manufactured by Chuo Koki was used. After the dispersion, the contents were taken out, added to 8 g of a 12.5% aqueous gelatin solution, and the beads were removed by filtration to obtain a gelatin dispersion of the dye. The average particle size of the dye particles is 0.44μ
m.

Similarly, solid dispersions of ExF-3, ExF-4 and ExF-6 were obtained. The average particle size of the fine dye particles is 0.24 μm, 0.45 μm, and 0.52 μm, respectively.
m. ExF-5 is published in European Patent Application (EP)
The particles were dispersed by a microprecipitation dispersion method described in Example 1 of Japanese Patent No. 0,549,489A. The average particle size was 0.06 μm.

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After exposing the color photographic light-sensitive material as described above, a negative processor F manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
Using P-350, processing was carried out in the following manner (until the cumulative replenishment amount of the solution became three times the mother liquor tank capacity).

(Processing method) Step Processing time Processing temperature Replenishment amount Color development 3 minutes 30 seconds 40 ° C. 45 ml Bleaching 1 minute 00 seconds 38 ° C. 20 ml Bleach overflow overflows into bleach-fixer tank Bleach-fix 3 minutes 15 seconds 38 ° C 30 ml Rinse (1) 40 seconds 35 ° C Countercurrent piping system from (2) to (1) Rinse (2) 1 minute 00 seconds 35 ° C 30 ml Stabilized 40 seconds 38 ° C 20 ml Dry 1 Minutes 15 seconds 55 ° C * Replenishment rate is 35mm width 1.1m length (corresponding to one 24Ex.) Next, the composition of the processing solution is described.

(Color developing solution) Tank solution (g) Replenisher (g) Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid 1.0 1.1 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid 2.0 2.0 Sodium sulfite 4.0 4.4 Potassium carbonate 30.0 37.0 Potassium bromide 1.4 3.3 Iodine Potassium iodide 1.5 mg-disodium N, N-bis (sulfonatoethyl) hydroxylamine 8.0 9.3 4- [N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) amino] -2-methylaniline (P-5) Sulfate 4.5 5.5
1.0 liter with water 1.0 liter pH (adjusted with potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid) 10.05 10.10 (Bleaching solution) Common to tank solution and replenisher (unit: g) Ferric ammonium ethylenediaminetetraacetate dihydrate 120.0 Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid sodium salt 10.0 ammonium bromide 100.0 ammonium nitrate 10.0 bleaching accelerator 0.005 mole _{(CH 3) 2 N-CH} 2 -CH 2 -SS-CH 2 -CH 2 -N (CH 3) 2 · 2HCl aqueous ammonia (27%) 15.0 Milliliter Add water 1.0 liter pH (adjusted with aqueous ammonia and nitric acid) 6.3 (Bleaching / fixing solution) Tank solution (g) Replenisher (g) Ferric ammonium ethylenediaminetetraacetate dihydrate 50.0-Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate Salt 5.0 2.0 Sodium sulfite 12.0 20.0 Ammonium thiosulfate aqueous solution (700g / L) 240.0 mL 400.0 mL Ammonia water (27%) 6.0 mL Tol-1.0 liter with water 1.0 liter pH (adjusted with ammonia water and acetic acid) 7.2 7.3 (Washing solution) Common for tank liquid and replenisher Tap water is replaced with H-type strongly acidic cation exchange resin (Amberlite manufactured by Rohm and Haas Co.) Water is passed through a mixed-bed column filled with IR-120B and an OH-type anion exchange resin (Amberlite IR-400) to reduce the calcium and magnesium ion concentrations to 3 mg / L or less, followed by isocyanuric dichloride 20 mg / l of sodium acid and 0.15 g / l of sodium sulphate were added, the pH of this solution being in the range 6.5-7.5.

(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 Salt 0.05 1,2,4-triazole 1.3 1,4-bis (1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl) piperazine 0.75 1.0 liter with addition of water pH 8.5 Of the running processing solution obtained in step 151
And Next, the same color developing solution was prepared except that the color developing agent P-5 sulfate in the color developing solution was changed to an equimolar amount for comparison and the compound of the present invention, and the same continuous processing was performed. Each running treatment liquid (treatment 152 to 17
0) was obtained. The promptness of the treatment was evaluated as follows. First, 24 samples of 135 size were taken and processed in the form of a patrone.
I shot a person and a Macbeth color checker chart at the same time with standard exposure in IV. These exposed samples were processed with the processing liquids 151 to 170 while changing the developing time, and the negative density after the processing was measured. In the case of processing with each processing solution, the negative (visual) density of the white portion of the Macbeth color checker chart was 195 with the processing solution 151.
The processing time which was almost equivalent to the second processing was obtained. Further, the fog density of the unexposed portion at that time was also measured.

With respect to the processed negative having a processing time substantially matching the density, normal printing was performed on Fuji FA color paper with a Fuji Printer FAP-3500 (non-digital processing).

Also, using the same processed negative, the third embodiment described above, that is, the entire system from image reading to output is shown in FIG. 12, and the granularity suppression sharpness enhancement processing 13 in FIG. The algorithm was implemented using the following algorithm. Digital printing was performed using Fuji Color Laser Paper as the output photosensitive material (digital processing).

The thus obtained prints were visually evaluated by a subject 10 selected at random. Evaluation,
The granularity and sharpness were evaluated on a scale of 10 (the larger the number, the better), and the average of 10 persons was determined.

The results are shown in Table 3.

Comparative color developing agent

[0353]

Embedded image

[0354]

[Table 3]

From Table 3, it can be seen that, after color development with the developing agent of the present invention, the obtained negative image is more granular and sharper in the digitally printed image of the present invention than in the non-digitally processed or the print using the comparative compound. Obviously, it is excellent in terms of gender.

Example 2 After the sample 101 in Example 1 was exposed, development processing was performed by the following processing method using the exemplified compound (D-18) of the present invention as a color developing agent in a color developing solution. However, the desired gradation can be obtained while the color development time is as short as 60 seconds, and the fog density is low. Using the negative thus obtained, a print was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, and the same results as in Example 1 were obtained. In addition, instead of the exemplary compound (D-18), the exemplary compound (D-3)
0), (D-39), (D-78), (D-93) or (D-107), similar results could be obtained.

Development process and processing solution composition Processing time Temperature Time Color development 45 ° C. 60 seconds Bleaching and fixing 45 ° C. 60 seconds Rinse with water (1) 40 ° C. 15 seconds Rinse with water (2) 40 ° C. 15 seconds Rinse with water (3) 40 ° C. 15 seconds Stability 40 ° C 15 seconds Drying 80 ° C 30 seconds (Washing was performed in a three-tank countercurrent system from (3) to (1).) Liquid composition (color developing solution) Tank solution (g) Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid 4.0 1 -Hydroxyethylidene-1,1 diphosphonic acid 3.0 Sodium sulfite 4.0 Potassium carbonate 50.0 Potassium bromide 4.0 mg Potassium iodide 1.3 mg Hydroxylamine sulfate 4.0 The above-mentioned main ingredient 18.0 Add water and add 1.0 liter pH (with potassium hydroxide and (Prepared with sulfuric acid) 10.05 (Bleach-fixing solution) (Unit mol) Chelating agent represented by formula A 0.17 Ferric nitrate nonahydrate 0.15 Ammonium thiosulfate 1.25 Ammonium sulfite 0.10 Metacarboxybenzene sulfinic acid 0.05 1.0 liter with water pH (prepared with acetic acid and ammonia) 5.8

[0358]

Embedded image

(Washing water) Tap water was replaced with H-type strongly acidic cation exchange resin (Amberlite IR- manufactured by Rohm and Haas Company).
120B) and water through a mixed-bed column filled with an OH-type anion exchange resin (Amberlite IR-400) to treat the calcium and magnesium ion concentrations to 3 mg / l or less, followed by isocyanuric dichloride 20 mg / liter of sodium and 0.15 g / liter of sodium sulfate were added. The pH of this solution was in the range of 6.5 to 7.5.

(Stable liquid) Tank liquid (g) 1,2-benzoisothiazolin-3-one 0.1 polyoxyethylene-p-monononyl 0.2 phenyl ether (average degree of polymerization: 10) Water was added to 1.0 liter pH [ammonia water, 8.50 Example 3 After exposing the sample 101 in Example 1, the exemplified compound (D-18) of the present invention was used as a color developing agent in a color developing solution by the method described below to obtain (Until the cumulative replenishment volume is three times its stock tank volume).

(Processing step) Process Processing time Processing temperature Replenishment amount * Tank capacity Color development 1 minute 30 seconds 45.0 ° C 200 ml 2.0 liter Bleaching 30 seconds 45.0 ° C 130 ml 0.7 liters Fixing (1) 30 seconds 45.0 ° C 100 ml 0.7 liter settling (2) 30 seconds 45.0 ℃ 70ml 0.7 liter water washing (1) 15 seconds 45.0 ℃-0.4 liter water rinsing (2) 15 seconds 45.0 ℃-0.4 liter water rinsing (3) 15 seconds 45.0 ℃ 400ml 0.4 liters drying 20 sec 80 ° C. * the replenishing amount is 2 tank from the photosensitive material 1 m ² per (rinsing (3) fixing (2) to the fourth tank countercurrent multistage cascade) (fixing (2) to the fixing (1) The composition of the processing liquid is shown below. (Color developer) Tank solution (g) Replenisher (g) Diethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 4.0 4.0 Sodium 4,5-dihydroxybenzene-1,3-disulfonate 0.5 0.5 Sodium sulfite 3.9 6.5 Potassium carbonate 37.5 39.0 Potassium bromide 2.7- Potassium iodide 1.3 mg-N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride 4.5 5.5 Main ingredient 8.0 12.0 Add water and add 1.0 liter 1.0 liter pH (prepared with potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid) 10.05 10.25 (Bleaching solution) Tank solution (mol) Replenisher (mol) 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid ferric salt ammonium monohydrate 0.33 0.50 ferric nitrate nonahydrate 0.30 4.5 ammonium bromide 0.80 1.20 ammonium nitrate 0.20 0.30 acetic acid 0.67 1.0 1.0 liter with water 1.0 liter pH [prepared with aqueous ammonia] 4.5 4.0 (Fixer) Common to tank solution and replenisher (g) Ammonium sulfite 28 Thio Aqueous ammonium acid solution (700 g / L) 280 mL Imidazole 15 Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 15 Add water and add 1.0 L pH [prepared with ammonia water and acetic acid] 5.8 (Washing water) Tank solution and replenisher Common tap water is H-type strongly acidic cation Water through a mixed-bed column filled with an exchange resin (Amberlite IR-120B manufactured by Rohm and Haas Co.) and an OH-type anion exchange resin (Amberlite IR-400) to reduce the calcium and magnesium ion concentrations to 3 mg / liter. The following treatment was carried out, followed by addition of 20 mg / l of sodium dichloride isocyanurate and 0.15 g / l of sodium sulfate. The pH of this solution was in the range of 6.5 to 7.5.

(Stabilizing solution) Common to tank liquid and replenisher 1,2-benzoisothiazolin-3-one 0.1 polyoxyethylene-p-monononyl 0.2 phenyl ether (average degree of polymerization: 10) 1.0 liter by adding water, pH [ammonia water] 8.50 Using this running processing solution, the sample 101 was exposed and processed. When the sample 101 was exposed and processed, a desired gradation could be obtained with a short color development time of 1 minute and 30 seconds, and the fog density was low. Was. Using the negatives obtained in this way,
Prints were made in the same manner as in Example 1, and the same results as in Example 1 were obtained. In addition, instead of the exemplary compound (D-18), the exemplary compounds (D-30), (D-39), and (D-7)
8), (D-93) or (D-107)
Similar results could be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a color image signal output method and apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system including a color image signal output of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an overview of an image forming system in which an image output device is combined with a color image signal output device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an image reading apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a part of the configuration of the image processing device 5 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another part of the configuration of the image processing apparatus 5 shown in FIG. 1 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. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a laser beam irradiation unit of the image output device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a print pattern for calibration in the image output device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a system to which the image processing device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the distribution of low, middle, and high frequency components.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram for explaining details of a specific color extraction gain calculation unit;

FIG. 17 is a graph showing frequency characteristics of a Y component, an I component, and a Q component.

FIG. 18 is a graph showing a QI plane.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing weights of gains M and H.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a graph for explaining a correlation.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining a correlation between a flat portion and an edge portion;

FIG. 23 is a view for explaining a case where the correlation value is negative.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram for explaining details of processing performed by a correlation value calculating unit;

FIG. 25 is a graph showing a gain according to a correlation value.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing local variances of flat portions, textures, and edge portions.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a change in local variance of a flat portion according to a type of a film.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a distribution of correlation values of a flat portion, a texture, and an edge portion.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a change in distribution of correlation values in a flat portion according to a type of a film.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a change in distribution of correlation values in a flat portion depending on the size of m.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus in which a gain H is changed according to a correlation value in a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Description of reference numerals in FIGS. 1 to 11 F film P color print 1 image reading device 5 image processing device 8 image output device 10 transmission type image reading device 11 light source 12 light quantity 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 30 Reflective image reader 31 Light source 32 Mirror 33 Color balance filter 34 Light intensity adjustment unit 35 CCD area sensor 36 lens 37 amplifier 38 A / D converter 39 CCD correction unit 40 log converter 41 interface 46 CPU 48 interface 49 averaging operation unit 50a first la In-buffer 50b Second line buffer 51 First frame memory unit 51R R data memory 51G G data memory 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 Reference numeral 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 9 CPU 80 Image data memory 81 D / A converter 82 Laser light irradiation means 83 Modulator driving means 84a, 84b, 84c Semiconductor laser light source 85, 86 Wavelength conversion means 87R, 87G, 87B Light modulators 88R, 88G, 88B Reflection Mirror 89 Polygon mirror 90 Color paper 91 Magazine 92 Perforating means 93 fθ lens 94 Color developing tank 95 Bleaching and fixing tank 96 Washing tank 97 Drying section 98 Cutter 99 Sorter 100 Color density gradation converting means 101 Saturation converting means 102 Digital magnification converting means 103 Frequency processing means 104 Dynamic range conversion means Explanation of reference numerals in FIGS. 12 to 31 1 Reading means 2 Image processing device 3 Reproduction means 4 Color image 5 CCD array 6 Condensing lens 7 A / D conversion means 8 CCD correction means 9 Logarithmic conversion means 0 Auto setup calculation unit 11 CRT 12 Monitor display and user interface 13 Processing means 14 Color / gradation processing means 15 Printer 16 Recording medium 20, 22, 35 Low-pass filter 21 Gain processing means 23 Specific color extraction gain calculation means 30 Correlation value calculation Means 31, 32 Look-up table 33 Flat part 34 Edge part 36 Table 51 Dispersion of flat part 52 Dispersion of texture 53 Dispersion of edge part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/46 H04N 1/46 Z

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image-exposed silver halide color photographic material is developed with a processing solution containing at least one color developing agent represented by the following general formula (D), and is obtained by the color development processing. A color image signal output method for reading an image obtained by an image pickup device, performing digital image processing on the image signal obtained by reading the image, and obtaining an output color image signal. General formula (D) (Wherein R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , and R ₆ may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that R ₁ and R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ And a group consisting of each combination of R ₅ and R ₆ , at least one of which is a substituent, R ₇ represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, R ₈ represents a substituent, and m Represents an integer of 0 to 3.) 2. The transmission maximum wavelengths of blue, green and red filters used for reading an image obtained by the color development processing are 450 to 470 nm and 55, respectively.
2. The color image signal output method according to claim 1, wherein the color image signal is within a range of 0 to 580 nm and 660 to 700 nm. 3. An image signal obtained by reading is decomposed into a low-frequency component, an intermediate-frequency component, and a high-frequency component, and a frequency emphasis suppression process for emphasizing the high-frequency component and suppressing the intermediate frequency is performed. 2. The color image signal output method according to claim 1, wherein the output color image signal is obtained by synthesizing the intermediate frequency component, the high frequency component, and the low frequency component after the frequency emphasis suppression processing. 4. A color developing means for developing an image-exposed silver halide color photographic material with a processing solution containing at least one color developing agent represented by the following general formula (D): A color image comprising: an imaging device that reads an image developed by a development processing device; and an image processing device that performs digital image processing on an image signal read by the imaging device and outputs a color image signal. Signal output device. General formula (D) (Wherein R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , and R ₆ may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that R ₁ and R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ And a group consisting of each combination of R ₅ and R ₆ , at least one of which is a substituent, R ₇ represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, R ₈ represents a substituent, and m Represents an integer of 0 to 3.) 5. The imaging device uses blue, green and red filters, and the transmission maximum wavelengths of the blue, green and red filters are 450 to 4 respectively.
70 nm, 550-580 nm and 660-700 n
2. The color image signal output device according to claim 1, wherein the color image signal output device is in a range of m. 6. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit decomposes the image signal obtained by reading into a low frequency component, an intermediate frequency component, and a high frequency component, emphasizes the high frequency component, and suppresses the intermediate frequency. 2. The color image according to claim 1, wherein an emphasis suppression process is performed, and image processing is performed to synthesize the intermediate frequency component, the high frequency component, and the low frequency component after the frequency emphasis suppression process. Signal output device.