JPS6053310B2 - How to create a contour image of the original picture - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method for using a limbal line image (generally called a cutout mask, a cut mask, a press mask, a nail mask, etc., and hereinafter referred to as a cutout mask) of an original image in, for example, photolithography work. Regarding how to create.

Usually, cropping masks are used, for example, when creating a composite image using parts of two photographic images, when skipping the background of a photographic image, or when adding partial exposure when taking a photograph, It is used when suppressing.

Conventionally, such cutout masks have been created manually.

In other words, a transparent sheet is fixed on top of the photographic film placed on a light table, and the outline of the subject of the photograph, such as a person or product, is drawn in thin lines according to the shape of the subject. It is created by painting the inside or outside opaquely, and in some cases, lines are drawn directly onto the photographic film to fill it. In addition, in order to save the trouble of filling, a peel-off film (cut-and-peel film) is used instead of the transparent sheet, and the outline is cut with a cutter up to the peel-off layer. It is also practiced to peel off the

In any case, with such manual methods, it is difficult to accurately draw (or cut) the outline, it is time consuming, and it takes a long time to become skilled enough to create an accurate mask. Requires practice.

The present invention aims to provide a novel method that eliminates the drawbacks of conventional manual methods, and optically superimposes an original image and a limbal line image obtained for creating a cutout mask. This method is designed to quickly obtain an accurate cutout mask by correcting the details of the outline while visually comparing the images.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the manner in which the method according to the present invention is carried out, and is carried out as follows.

An original image 1 for which a cutout mask is to be created is fixed to an original image holder (not shown) that can be adjusted horizontally, vertically, and rotated. Project onto screen 3. On the other hand, the reflected light from the half mirror 4 is passed through a converging lens system 5, a color filter 6, and a zoom lens 7 to an image pickup tube 8.
projected on top.

The color filter 6 is arranged as necessary to increase the contrast of the original image projected onto the image pickup tube 8, and the image pickup tube 8 can also be replaced with an area sensor such as a CCD.

The original image projected onto the image pickup tube 8 is sequentially scanned by scanning lines on the tube surface, and a video signal 17 as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, is outputted from the image pickup tube 8. This video signal 1
7 is then sliced at a predetermined level by a threshold value 18 (shown in FIG. 2a) set in the threshold and hold circuit 11, and converted into a rectangular wave signal as shown in FIG. 2b or c. The signal is input to the binary signal conversion circuit 12. The rectangular wave signal input to the binary signal conversion circuit 12 is a clock pulse from the timing control circuit 15 (as shown in FIG. 2d).
It is converted into a binary signal of JlJ or ROJ corresponding to
While the original limbal line image is displayed on the CRT 10, the binary signal is written into the memory device 14 in response to write pulses from the timing control circuit 15.

Furthermore, when the CRTlO is viewed from the arrow A in FIG. The two images are arranged so that they appear as if they are superimposed on each other, and if necessary, the original image holder or the zoom lenses 2 and 7 are used to adjust and register the two images, thereby superimposing both images. It is configured so that it can be done.

Therefore, by using CRTlO, unnecessary parts of the limbal line image,
In addition, it is possible to clearly and accurately identify areas that are necessary but are not displayed.

For areas that require correction, use the Light Pen 10 to correct the areas in the usual manner.
An address designation signal and modification data corresponding to the location are applied from the RT control circuit 13 to the memory device 14, and the data written to the address of the memory device 14 corresponding to the location is modified.

The above correction means are not limited to light pens,
It may be corrected by a light spot cursor method using a digitizing table in which each position on the CRT tube surface corresponds to its coordinates.

In this way, by sequentially reading out the finally corrected data in the memory device and controlling the recording head of an image scanning recording device such as a color scanner, an accurate limbal line corresponding to a predetermined cutout mask can be obtained. Images can be created quickly.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an image pickup tube 8 is used as a scanning means for the original image 1.
A limbal line image signal is obtained using an image scanning means such as a scanner as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2-101975 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 36801/1998), and the limbal line image signal is immediately stored in a memory device. After writing, read out off-line, display the limbal line image on the CRTlO shown in Figure 1, and make necessary corrections to the data in the memory device while comparing it with the optically superimposed original image. Accordingly, the limbal line image signal necessary for the required cutout mask can also be obtained.

Further, the image scanning means disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 101975/1975 obtains a limbal line image of an original image by using a method using a second-order differential operator, but it is It is also possible to use a scanning head section in place of the image pickup tube 8 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and to sequentially pick up image signals and then process them in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

However, in this case as well, since the scanning speed of the scanner and CRT is different, it is necessary to perform the processing offline. As described above, if a color scanner is used as a scanning means for an original image, a color scanner generally has a higher resolution than an image pickup tube, so a limbal line image with high precision can be obtained, and if necessary, the resolution can be increased electronically. You can also display it on a CRT instead.

Further, as described above, when modifying the data of the limbal line image written in the memory device 14, if the data of the portion corresponding to the filled-in portion of the cutout mask is simultaneously written in the memory device, image scanning by a scanner etc. The recording device directly obtains the cutout mask itself. Furthermore, the data necessary for the cutout mask obtained in this way is written in a memory device for a plurality of original images, and this data is read out according to a predetermined layout to control the recording head of the image scanning recording device. By doing so, it is also possible to create a cutout mask in which the plurality of original images are pasted into the predetermined layout.

It is also conceivable to use it in conjunction with a scanner that can output laid-out images. FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the method according to the invention, using a reflective screen 22.

In this case, the original image 20 is projected onto the reflective screen 22 by the zoom lens 21;
A part of the light from the image of the original picture 20 projected on the image 2 is reflected by the half mirror 23, guided to the half mirror 24, and reflected again, and a CR obtained in the same manner as in the first embodiment is obtained.
By superimposing the limbal line image on T25 with the image of the original image projected on the screen and viewing it through the half mirror 24, the operator can see the image of the original image 20 as in the case of the first embodiment. and the limbal line image can be compared and visually recognized.

Furthermore, by directly projecting the original image onto the CRT tube surface, or pasting a semitransparent sheet with an appropriate reflectance/transmittance ratio on the CRT tube surface, and projecting onto the semitransparent sheet, It is also possible to carry out the method according to the invention.

As described above, according to the method of the present invention, by optically superimposing and projecting the original image with the limbal line image of the original image, the original image is always compared with the original image, and visually confirmed. Since the limbal line image can be corrected and can also be compared with the enlarged and projected original image, it has the advantage that an accurate cutout mask can be obtained quickly compared to conventional methods.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the implementation procedure of the method according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the signal waveform in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the method according to the present invention. It is a figure showing the implementation point. 1...Original picture, 2...Zoom lens, 3
...Transmissive screen, 4...Half mirror, 5...Converging optical system, 6...Color filter, 7...Zoom lens , 8...
...Image tube, 9...Half mirror, 10...
・CRT (cathode ray tube), 11...Threshold hole circuit, 12...Binary signal conversion circuit, 13...
CRT control circuit, 14...Memory device, 15.
...Timing control circuit, 16...Light pen, 1
7...Zedeo signal, 18...Threshold value, 20...
...Original picture, 21...Zoom lens, 22...
...Reflective screen, 23,24...Half mirror, 25...CRT.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. While writing the contour line image signal extracted from the original image into a memory device, the original image and the contour line image displayed on the display tube corresponding to the contour line image signal are optically superimposed, and the original image is A method for creating a contour image of an original image, the method comprising: modifying the contour image signal written in the memory device while comparing the contour image with the contour image.