JPS62222231A - Testing method for photographic printing condition - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select an optimum printing condition by providing different printing conditions to a color negative image, simulating printed images and displaying color positive imaged on plural CRTs. CONSTITUTION:White light radiated from a white light source 35 is irradiated to a negative film 11 and made incident upon a three-color decomposing system 49. The incident light is decomposed into red, green and blue colors and respective monochromatic images are formed on image sensors 55, 57, 56. These images are A/D converted by an A/D converter 61 and inputted to a frame memory 63. The image data of respective colors are corrected by color correcting parts 66a-66e in accordance with the spectral sensitivity of color paper and the density of positive images to be displayed on the CRTs 21-25 is corrected by look-up table memories 67a-67e. The image data in the memories 67a-67e are D/A converted by D/A converters 68a-68e and displayed as positive images on displays 21-25. If the positive images are not compete, the positive images are corrected in the positive or negative direction by operating a keyboard 27. Since the simulated color positive images are simultaneously displayed, the optimum printing condition can be easily selected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention simulates and displays a finished print image from a color negative image recorded on a color negative film, and observes this finished print image to determine the printing conditions. The present invention relates to a method for determining photographic printing conditions.

[Conventional technology]

Automatic photo printing equipment has a built-in automatic correction device that measures the overall screen density (LATD) of a color negative image and adjusts the red light according to this LATD value.

The exposure amount of green light and blue light is automatically controlled. Therefore, even if the main subject of a color negative image has an appropriate density, if the background density is high or light, the exposure amount will be controlled depending on the background density, so the main subject of a color negative image will be Printed photos may not be reproduced correctly. As described above, depending on the contents and conditions of the color negative image, the automatic photographic printer may malfunction, and this malfunction is called "subject failure." For color negative images in which subject feria occurs, a photographic printing condition verification device (
It is necessary to perform color negative verification using a negative verification device) before photo printing, and to determine the photographic printing conditions based on the operator's experience.

A conventional photographic printing condition verification device captures a color negative image with a color TV camera and sends the obtained image data to LA.
After performing correction using the TD method and negative/positive conversion processing, it is sent to a single CRT and displays a color positive image that simulates a finished printed photograph given standard printing conditions (automatic correction using LATD values). It has been known. This photo printing condition verification device can simulate a photo printed by an automatic photo printing device and display it on a CRT, thereby eliminating the occurrence of defective prints and improving yield. The operator observes the color and density of the color positive image displayed on the CRT, and if the operator determines that the finish is insufficient under standard printing conditions, adjusts the amount of correction by operating the color correction key, density correction key, etc. input. Once this correction amount is input, the simulation is performed again under these printing conditions, and the corrected color positive image is transferred to the CRT.
to be displayed.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The conventional photo printing condition verification device described above displays only a color positive image that simulates the finished print image given the standard printing conditions, so if it is determined that the finish is insufficient, a new There is a problem in that it takes time to determine the baking conditions.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention reads a color negative image on a color negative film, and generates N pieces of images that simulate the finished print images when different printing conditions are applied to each color negative image. Color positive images are simultaneously displayed on one or N display devices, such as CRTs, and from among these color positive images, one with optimal printing conditions is selected.

Of the N color positive images, one of them is a simulated finished printed photograph when standard printing conditions are applied, and the rest are images of a certain number of steps in the positive and negative directions due to this printing condition. This is a simulation of the finished print photo when the printing conditions are shifted to each other. At the time of negative inspection, N color positive images are observed, one of which is predicted to have a good finish is selected, and this selection is instructed using, for example, a keyboard. If it is determined that none of the N color positive images has a good finish, the color positive images under standard printing conditions are observed and the amount of correction is determined empirically. When this correction amount is input from the keyboard, N color positive images with different printing conditions are displayed at the same time, so it is only necessary to select the one that provides the best finish from among these.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1 showing the external appearance of a photographic printing condition verification apparatus embodying the present invention, a color negative film 11 is wound on a supply reel 10 in the form of a roll, and a guide roller 1
2.13 and is transported toward the take-up reel 14. This take-up reel 14 is rotated by a motor and winds up the color negative film 11 frame by frame.

The supply reel 10 and the take-up reel 14 are connected to the device main body 1.
5 is interchangeably loaded. The color negative film 1
1, an arc-shaped notch is preliminarily attached to the side edge of the frame to be printed.

An illumination section 17 and an image reading section 18 are arranged between the guide rollers 12 and 13 with the color negative film 11 in between, and a reading position is formed between them. In the color negative film 11, when a frame with a notch is detected, the frame advance stops, so this frame with a notch is correctly positioned at the reading position, and the color negative image reflected in this frame is read by the image reading section 18. It will be done.

Five CRTs 21 to 25 are installed horizontally in a line above the device main body 15, and when different printing conditions are applied to a single frame color negative image read from the color negative film 11. Each finished print image is displayed as a color positive image. That is, each CRT
The color positive images displayed at 21 to 25 are simulated from color negative images so that they have colors and densities similar to those of printed photographs produced under each printing condition.

CR located in the center among the five CRTs 21 to 25
T23 displays a color positive image that simulates the print photo that would be created under the printing conditions (standard printing conditions) that are automatically set in LATD's photo printing device, i.e., the basic exposure amount. . Further, on the CRT 22, 21 disposed on the left side of the CRT 22, a color positive image that has been sequentially corrected by a predetermined number of steps in the negative direction with respect to the standard printing conditions is displayed. CRT24 placed on the right side
．． 25 displays a color positive image that has been sequentially corrected by a predetermined number of steps in the positive direction with respect to the standard printing conditions. In this embodiment, a color positive image that is sequentially corrected one step at a time using a density key is displayed on each CRT.

The user observes the color positive images displayed on each of the CRTs 21 to 25, selects one with a good finish, and inputs the selection result using the keyboard 27.

If it is recognized that none of the five color positive images displayed on each of the CRTs 21 to 25 has a good finish, the amount of correction for the color positive image displayed on the CRT 23 is input using the keyboard 27. When this correction amount is input, a color positive image that has been corrected by the input correction amount with respect to the original color positive image is displayed on each CRT 21.
~25 will be displayed.

The number of CRTs is desirably determined from the viewpoint of ease of negative verification and cost, and five is usually sufficient. In addition, the CRTs 21 to 25 may be arranged in a column, or the CRT 23 may be used to display a color positive image under standard printing conditions.
may be placed at a different position from other CRTs.

The keyboard 27 is mounted on the table 15a of the device main body 15.
It is placed on top of the computer and is connected via a cable 28 to a computer provided within the main body 15 of the device. The device body 15 is also provided with a door 29 that can be opened and closed, and a system floppy or the like for controlling the computer is loaded therein.

A puncher 31 is provided on the right side of the apparatus main body 15, and data representing the printing conditions of the selected color positive image, that is, the correction amount for correcting the basic correction amount, is stored in the form of a punching code. Record on tape 30. This puncher 31 is activated by a command from the keyboard 27 when the verification of one roll of color negative film 11 wound on the supply reel 10 is completed, and the puncher 31 is operated by a replaceable supply IJ.
The correction data for each frame is recorded on the paper tape 30 pulled out from the corrector 32. In addition, instead of puncher 31,
A magnetic recording device may be provided to write the correction data onto a magnetic floppy disk or the like.

The paper tape 30 is set in an automatic photo printing device during photo printing of the color negative film 11, and the correction data recorded thereon is read and calculated with the automatically calculated basic exposure amount to determine the control exposure amount. Ru. Therefore, the correction data recorded on the tape 30 needs to have different values depending on the exposure control mode of the automatic photoprinting apparatus. In general, there are many types that control exposure based on the LATD value, so in this example, the LAT
Data for determining the exposure amount to be added or subtracted from the basic exposure amount determined by the D value is recorded on the paper checker 130.

FIG. 2 shows the electrical configuration of the present invention.

The white light emitted from the white light source 35 is diffused by the diffusion tube 36 and then illuminates the color negative film 11 set on the negative carrier 37.

This color negative film 11 is held down by a mask 38 having an opening corresponding to the screen, thereby ensuring the flatness of the frame stopped at the reading position. The white light source 3
A plurality of ND filters are arranged between the ND filter 5 and the diffusion tube 36, and by inserting one or more ND filters into the optical path 43, the intensity of the illumination light is adjusted in fixed steps. In the drawing, two ND filters 39 and 40 are shown, each being driven by a filter driver 41 and 42 to direct the optical path 43.
inserted into. The take-up reel 14 is driven and rotated by a motor 44 to advance the color negative film 11 frame by frame. During this frame-by-frame advance, a barcode reading unit 45 consisting of a plurality of photosensors reads a barcode representing the negative type recorded on the side of the color negative film 11.

An imaging lens 48 and a three-color separation optical system 49 are arranged above the mask 38. This three-color separation optical system 4
Reference numeral 9 indicates three joined prisms 50 to 52, a red dichroic mirror 53 deposited on the prism 50, and a blue dichroic mirror 54 deposited on the prism 51.
It is composed of. The red dichroic mirror 53 reflects only the red light of the incident light toward the red image sensor 55. The blue guichroic mirror 54 reflects only the blue light of the incident light toward the blue image sensor 56. The green light passes through the red dichroic mirror 53 and the blue dichroic mirror 56 and enters the green image sensor 57. These dichroic ink mirrors 53, 54 have color separation characteristics that approximate the spectral sensitivity of color paper used in automatic photoprinting equipment. Note that although an image area sensor is used in this embodiment, a line sensor may be used instead. Alternatively, a stripe filter or the like may be formed in front of the image area sensor, and a color negative image may be read with one image area sensor. Furthermore, a color video signal outputted from a color TV camera may be input into a color signal separation circuit to separate it into three color signals (Ro, Go, Bo) and take them out.

The image sensors 55 to 57 are CCD type,
A MOS type is used, and a three-color separation optical system 4 is installed on the light receiving surface.
The monochromatic images separated by color at step 9 are respectively formed. These image sensors 55 to 57 are driven by a driver 60 to photoelectrically convert each pixel of the incident monochrome image into red, R, green, and G colors.

Generates blue B time series signals (Ro, Go, Bo). This three-color signal (Ro, Go, B
o) is digitally converted by an A/D converter 6I provided for each color. Obtained image data (R1, ct, B
l ) is converted into a density signal (
R2°G2. B2) and then sent to the frame memory 63 and color correction circuit 64, respectively. Further, the driver 60 sends a sampling signal synchronized with the readout of the image sensors 55 to 56 to the A/D converter 61, and also sends a synchronization signal for specifying the position of the pixel to the frame memory 63.

Reading and writing of this frame memory 63 is controlled by a control circuit 65 consisting of a computer.

The image data of each color read from the frame memory 63 is sent to five color correction sections 663-66e provided corresponding to each CRT 21-25, where the following calculation is performed.

This color correction is to correct the difference between the spectral sensitivity of the color paper and the spectral transmittance of the color separation optical system 49, and as described above, when this is corrected by the dichroic ink mirrors 53 and 54, can be omitted. Note that the color correction units 66a to 66e have coefficients a, b,
It is composed of a lookup table memory storing the value c and an adder, and the coefficients of this lookup table memory are written by the control circuit 65.

The color-corrected image data (R:l, G3,
B3) is negative/positive conversion and each CRT21-25
The image data is sent to a look-up table unit 67 for performing specific density correction in sequence for each color positive image displayed. This look-up table section 67 consists of five look-up table memories 67a-67e, and table data determined for each CRT is written for each color in each look-up table memory 67a-67e.

By referring to this table data, the image data (R:+, as, Bff) is converted into a signal, and the color and density of the color positive image displayed on each CRT 21 to 25 are sequentially changed step by step using the density key. It becomes something out of place.

The image data (R4, G, , B4) whose color and density have been corrected in each lookup table memory 67a to 67e are
The signals are sent to D/A converters 68a to 68e, respectively, where they are converted into analog signals.

The obtained analog signals of each color positive image are sent to CRT drive circuits 69a to 69e, which drive the CRTs 21 to 25, respectively, to display a color positive image.

The keyboard 27 includes a color and density correction key 73, a correction key 74 . Function key 75. A key containing one color paper 76, a start key 77, a negative verification end key 78. Print key 79. Baking condition selection key 8
0 is provided. The color and density correction key 73 is a red correction key.

It consists of a green correction key, a blue correction key, and a density correction key, and is operated when it is recognized that none of the color positive images displayed on the CRTs 21 to 25 are finished well. When this correction key 73 is operated, each of the five color positive images is corrected by the same amount in the positive or negative direction. Here, the number of steps in rNJ is zero, and no correction is performed. Also, for rDJ, the number of steps is "-4"
, and four steps of correction are performed in the negative direction.

In addition, in a color negative verification device that looks directly at the color negative film, the cyan correction key, magenta correction key,
A yellow correction key is used, but in the present invention, in order to display a positive image on a CRT, a correction key having a display of red, green, 9 blue is used.

The correction keys 74 consist of a high correction key H, a normal correction key N, and a low word correction key L, and are operated in place of the color correction key. The high correction key H is operated on a test frame photographed under a different type of light source, for example tungsten light, and in this case, the difference between the average value of the LATD values of the three colors (gray LATD value) and the LATD value of each color. Color correction is performed so that the value becomes larger. In addition, the lower word collection key L is
Because a specific color occupies a large area, it is operated on a test frame that may cause color feria,
In this case, the gray LATD value and the LATD of each color
Color correction is performed to reduce the difference in values. Note that the normal correction key N does not correct the LATD values of the three colors.

The function key 75 is intended to simplify the input operation for color correction, and is prepared for scenes that appear frequently, and when it is operated, the same color as when multiple color correction keys are operated. Corrections can be made.

The color paper type key 76 is provided corresponding to the color paper used in the automatic photo printing device, and the coefficients of the calculation formula calculated by the color correction section 66 are calculated based on the color paper type information inputted from the color paper type key 76. is selected from those prepared in advance.

The start key 77 is operated at the start of the negative verification to start the operation of the control circuit 65, and the negative verification end key 78 is operated every time the verification of one frame is completed. When this negative verification end key 78 is operated, the color negative film 11 is transferred and the next frame is placed in the reading position. The print key 79 is operated when the negative verification of one roll of color negative film 11 is completed. When the print key 79 is operated, the puncher 31 is activated and the correction data for each frame is recorded on the tape 30.

The printing condition selection key 80 is used to select one of the color positive images displayed on each of the CRTs 21 to 25 that is expected to have a good finish. Here, the code attached to the burning condition selection key 80 is
For example, if it is determined that the color positive image displayed on the CRT 21 has a good finish, the leftmost key with the number "1" is pressed. In addition,
If the negative verification end key 78 is operated without operating the printing condition selection key 80, it is assumed that the printing condition for the color positive image displayed on the CRT 23 has been selected.

FIG. 3 shows the functions of the color correction circuit 64 shown in FIG. 2, and this color correction circuit 64 is composed of a microcomputer. Image data (Rz, G2) output from the logarithmic converter 62.

B,), the arithmetic mean is calculated for each color in the calculation unit 85,
Three colors L A T D (a A (D P
1. DC,, DB,) are calculated.

The automatic density correction circuit 86 performs the same correction as the automatic density correction circuit used in the automatic photo printing apparatus used. Image data (Rz, Gt, Bz) is input to this automatic density correction circuit 86, and from this, density correction values are calculated using characteristic values of density, such as the maximum value and minimum value (the same value for all three colors). ) is calculated. The addition circuit 87 first calculates the average value (
The gray LATD value) is calculated, and the density correction value D1 is added thereto to calculate the gray density value DW. Note that this addition is performed because the gray LATD value is a logarithm, and if it is an antilog, it is a multiplication. The following explanation is also the same.

The gray density value DW is the reference negative gray L which is sent to the ND filter selection section 8 and stored in the memory 89.
A T D (!(D W z) is compared, and an ND filter that matches or approximates the two is selected, and this filter selection signal is sent to the control circuit 65.

At the same time, the density value D2 of the selected ND filter is output and sent to the addition circuit 90. In addition, the control circuit 6
5 operates one of the filter drive units 41 and 42 to insert a suitable ND filter into the optical path 43. The memory 89 stores data corresponding to each negative type, and three-color LATD values B (DRz, DGz,
DBz ) and its average value, gray L A T D
4fi D W 2 is read.

The three-color LATD value A (D
RI, DG,, DBI) are sent to the correction control unit 92, and the correction coefficients corresponding to the correction specified by the correction key 74 of the keyboard 27 are the three-color LATD values A (DPI.

DC,,DBI) are respectively multiplied, and the three color density values C
(DR3, DC3, DB3).

The obtained three-color density values C (DR3, DGz, DB3) are sent to the slope control section 93.

The collection keys 74 include a high collection key H, a normal collection key N, and a low correction key L, and the high collection key H is ON.
, the difference between the gray LATD value and the LATD value of each color is corrected so that it becomes thicker, and when the lower word correction key L is ONL, the difference is corrected so that it becomes smaller. Normal collection key N
When is ON, the correction coefficient is zero.

The slope control section 93 is for automatically correcting an underexposed or overexposed color negative image to an appropriate density. Three-color density value C (DPI, DC3
, DB3) to the reference negative three-color LATD (!EB
(DRz, DGz, DBz) is subtracted for each color,
The difference (DR4, DC4, DB4) is calculated. It is classified into a plurality of groups according to this difference (DR4, DC4, DB4), and is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient for each group to obtain the three-color density value E (DRs, DGs
, D Bs , ) are calculated. For example, if the red density difference DRa is positive, DR, is multiplied by rl, IJ, and if DR4 is negative, DR4 is multiplied by rO,9J. Three color density values E (DR9, DC5, D
Bs) is sent to the adder circuit 90. Note that the collection control section 92. The slope control section 93 is functionally the same as that built in the conventional LATD automatic photo printing apparatus.

The addition circuit 90 calculates the three color density values E (DR, .

DC,, DBS), density correction value D++, and filter density value D2 are added for each color to obtain the three-color density value F (DRb
, DC6, DB & ).

DR6= DRs +D+ +DzDC,=D
Cr, +[), +])2DBS = DB, +p
, +l)2... (2) This three-color density value F is sent to the step number conversion table 94, where it is converted into the number of gradation step knobs for shifting the table data of the look amplifier table memory. , the signal N1 (NRI, NGI, NBI) representing the number of steps is sent to the adder circuit 95.
sent to. For example, when the density difference is ro, 3J, the number of steps is shifted by "50" in the gradation step number, so the density difference is ro, 3J.
By dividing by and multiplying by "50", the step number signal N1 is obtained.

When the density correction key of the keyboard 27 is operated, a signal n indicating the number of steps is converted to a step number conversion table 96;
The signals are sent to an adder circuit 97, respectively.

Also, when a color correction key is operated, the number of steps of the key of the operated color is changed to the step number conversion table 96 and the inversion circuit 98.
sent to. Since the function key 75 is operated in place of the three types of color keys, it is converted by the conversion table 99 into a signal representing the number of steps of the color correction key, and then sent to the step number conversion table 96 and the inversion circuit 98, respectively. Sent.

The step number conversion table 96 includes a signal N2 corresponding to the number n of the operated density correction keys, and a signal N3 (NR3,
NG, NB3) are output, and these are added to the adder circuit 9.
Send to 5. For example, if the number of steps per density correction key is "16", the density correction key "
When "3" is operated, the step number conversion table 96 outputs a signal N2 representing the number of steps "48".

Also, the number of steps per color correction key is set to 8.
'', the operated red correction key is rNJ, the green correction key is rAJ, and the blue correction key is "2", then the signal N becomes (0, -8, 16). . In addition,
The number of steps per stage is determined experimentally.

The adder circuit 95 performs the following calculation to determine the number of steps N.
(NR, NO, NB) is calculated and sent to the data shift circuit 100.

N R” N R+ + Nz + N R3N G
” N G l + N 2 + N G 3N B
= NB I+ N 2 + NB 3...
(3) For example, N is (0, 15, -30) and NZ
is "96" and N3 is (0, -8, 16), then
The number of steps N (NR, NG, NB) is (96, 10
3,82).

As shown in FIG.
is shifted by the number of gradations N, and this table data 103
is written into the lookup table 67c. For example, red table data is shifted by "96", green table data is shifted by "rl O3", and blue is shifted by "82". Note that by writing reference table data into each of the lookup table memories 67a to 67e (at the same time, providing a shift circuit on the input side and shifting the input signal by the number of gradations N, the lookup table memory can be easily written. Since no changes are required, color correction processing can be performed at high speed.

The CRT 23 contains a color positive image simulating a finished print image automatically corrected by an automatic photo printing device, or a finished print corrected by the sum of the automatic correction amount and the manual correction amount specified on the keyboard 27. A color positive image that simulates the image is displayed. The subtraction circuit 10 is used to set the printing conditions that are sequentially shifted one step at a time using the density key with respect to the standard printing conditions.
5.106 and adder circuits 107 and 108 are provided, respectively. Here, the subtraction circuit 105 subtracts the number of steps 2M per two steps of the density key from the number N of steps of the standard printing condition. Similarly, the subtraction circuit 106 subtracts the number of steps IM per density key from the number of steps N under the standard printing conditions. On the other hand, the addition circuit 107 adds the number M of steps per density key to the number N of steps of the standard printing condition. Further, the addition circuit 108 adds the number of steps 2M per 12 stages of the density key to the number N of steps of the standard printing condition.

The subtraction circuits 105 and 106 and the addition circuits 107 and 10
The number of steps calculated in step 8 is sent to data shift circuits 109 to 112, respectively, which shift the reference table data of each color read from memory 101 by the number of steps calculated, and transfer this table data to each look amplifier. Tables 67a, 67b, 67d, 6
7e respectively.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram for calculating correction data. The inversion circuit 98 inverts the sign of the color correction key inputted from the keyboard 27 and converts it into the number of stages of a cyan correction key, a magenta correction key, and a yellow correction key. If the operated red correction key is "N", the green correction key is "A", and the blue correction key is "2", color correction ff1 (number of steps of cyan correction key, number of steps of magenta correction key, yellow The number of stages of the correction key) is (N, 1
゜B).

When the density correction value D1 is output from the automatic density correction circuit 86, this density correction value is the same.

is sent to the key stage number conversion table 113, where it is converted to the key stage number n2. In the above example, the density correction value is r
o, 3J is the number of gradations of "5o", which is the number of key steps of about "3", so when the density correction values are ro, lj, n2 becomes "1". This key stage number n2 is sent to the addition circuit 97 and is added to the density correction key stage number n to calculate the density key stage number n3.

The addition circuit 97 calculates the amount of density correction for the color positive image displayed on the CRT 23 based on the number of density keys n3. Therefore, in order to calculate the number of density keys for a color positive image displayed on another CRT, the subtraction circuit 1
15, 116 and adder circuits 117, 118 are provided. The addition circuit 115 subtracts the number of stages of the density key "2" from the number of stages n3 calculated by the addition circuit 97, and the subtraction circuit 116 subtracts the number of stages of the density key "1".

On the other hand, the addition circuit 117 adds the number of stages of the density key "1" to the number of stages n3 calculated by the addition circuit 97, and the addition circuit 118 adds the number of stages of the density key "2". The five density keys thus obtained are sent to the selection circuit 119, where one of them is selected by the printing condition selection key 80, and the selected one is sent to the storage device as density correction data.

The storage device stores correction data for each frame (the number of cyan correction keys, the number of magenta correction keys, the number of yellow correction keys, the number of density correction keys, and the type of correction key).
is temporarily stored, and when the print key 79 is operated, the correction data of each frame is read out, sent to the puncher 31, and the correction data of each frame is converted into a punching code and output to the Gion tape 30. do. For example, inverting circuit 98
The output of the adder circuit 97 is (N, 1.B), and the output of the adder circuit 97 is "4.
”, and the high correction key H is ON, the correction data for the verification frame is (N, 1.B, 4.H).
) is recorded on the tape 30.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained. First, the supply reel 10 winds up one roll of color negative film 11.
is loaded into the main body 15 of the apparatus. When you turn on the device,
The control circuit 65 shown in FIG. 2 clears the data in the frame memory 631, color correction section 66, and lookup table section 67, and operates each section. keyboard 27
Enter the type of color paper to be used in the automatic photo printing device by operating the one-bar insertion key. Control circuit 6
5 is a calculation formula (
1) is selected and written into the color correction unit 66.

When the start key 77 is operated, the control circuit 65 drives the motor 44 to rotate the take-up reel 14, and stops the motor 44 when the notched frame reaches the reading position. Since the image sensors 55 to 57 start reading at a predetermined cycle from when the power is turned on, when the verification frame is set at the reading position, the three-color separation photometry of this frame is performed.

That is, the color negative image reflected in the test frame is separated into a red image, a green image, and a blue image by a three-color separation optical system 49, and each monochrome image is input to image sensors 55 to 57. These image sensors 55 to 57 photoelectrically convert each pixel of an incident monochromatic image and output a time-series signal. Red signal R0, green signal CO, blue signal B output from image sensors 55 to 57. are converted into digital signals by the A/D converter 61, and then converted into image data (Rz, Gz, Bz) by the logarithmic converter 62.
is converted to

The image data (R2, Gz, B2) is the third
The signal is sent to the calculation section 85 of the color correction circuit 64 shown in the figure, where the LATD value A of each color is calculated. In addition, image data (
Rz, G2, B2) is the automatic density correction circuit 8
A feature value is extracted in step 6, and a density correction value is output based on this feature value. This density correction value and LATD (
From iA, gray density DW.

is calculated and sent to the ND filter selection section 88. In addition, a barcode reading section 45 is provided in front of the reading position.
is arranged to read the barcode recorded on the side of the color negative film 11.

The control circuit 65 decodes the barcode, outputs negative type information, and sends this to the memory 89. This memory 89
outputs the three-color LATD value B of the reference negative and the gray LATD value B and the gray LATD (ii D W z) according to the negative type information. An ND filter is selected to approximate DW2, and the filter selection signal is sent to the control circuit 65.The control circuit 65 operates a filter driver, for example 41, corresponding to the selected ND filter to
A filter 39 is inserted into the optical path 43. This ND filter 39 adjusts the amount of light incident on each of the image sensors 55 to 57.

The light amount is adjusted based on the image data obtained in the pre-scan described above, and then the main scan is started.

In this main scan, the control circuit 65 controls writing to the frame memory 63 at a timing synchronized with reading by the driver 60.

The three-color LATD value A obtained by the pre-scan is sent to the correction control section 92 and corrected according to the correction mode specified by the correction key 74 of the keyboard 27. The three-color density value C obtained by this correction is corrected to a three-color density value E by the slope control section 93 and sent to the addition circuit 90. This addition circuit 90
The three-color density value F is obtained by adding the density value D2 of the ND filter 39, the density correction value D1 output from the automatic density correction circuit 86, and the three-color density value E output from the slope control section 93. Output.

The three color density values F are determined by the step number conversion table 94,
The reference table data is converted into the number of shifting steps N1 and then sent to the adder circuit 95. Normally, since no correction is performed using the keyboard 27, the step number N output from the step number conversion table 94 is sent to the data shift circuit 100, and the reference table data for each color stored in the memory 101 is N1 (
This step number N1 is different for each color), and the obtained table data for each color is written into the lookup table memory 67C. Therefore, this look-up table memory 67c stores a gradation curve 102 (different depending on the color) representing the gradation of the color vapor by shifting the number of gradations by N.
03 will be written for each color.

In order to display four types of color positive images that are changed by one step using the density key with respect to the color positive image displayed on the CRT 23, the number of steps N is subtracted by subtraction circuits 105 and 106;
The data are sent to adder circuits 107 and 108, respectively, and the obtained step numbers are sent to data shift circuits 109 to 112, respectively. These data shift circuits 109 to 112, like the data shift circuit 100 described above, shift the reference table data of each color by a predetermined number of steps, and store the obtained table data of each color in lookup table memories 67a and 67b. , 67d, and 67e, respectively.

The image data (R2, Gz, Bz) written separately for each color in the frame memory 63 is processed by the color correction section 66 based on the spectral sensitivity of the color paper and the three-color separation optical system 49.
After the difference in spectral transmittance is corrected, the data is distributed to the lookup table memories 67a to 67e. The lookup table memories 67a to 67e perform color correction, density correction, and negative/positive inversion. The image data (
R4, G4. B4) are respectively converted into analog signals by D/A converters 68a to 68e, and then sent to each CRT drive circuit 703 to 70e. This CRT drive circuit 7
0a to 70e are color positive images simulated under standard printing conditions by driving each of the CRTs 21 to 25, and 4 images in which the density key is changed by one step in the positive and negative directions relative to the standard printing conditions. Displays a color positive image.

Each of the CRTs 21 to 25 displays five color positive images whose density is changed one step at a time using the density key, and by observing these, one selects one with a satisfactory finish. For example, C
If the color positive image displayed on the RT 22 is deemed to be good, press the code “2” on the printing condition selection key 80.
Operate the key marked with . In this case, the selection circuit 11
9 selects the subtraction circuit 116, and extracts the printing condition obtained by shifting the standard printing condition by one step in the negative direction using the density key.

If the finish of any of the five color positive images displayed on each CRT 21 to 25 is found to be unsatisfactory, the correction key (correction key) on the keyboard 27
Density correction key, color correction key.

function keys). Collection key 7
4 is operated, the three-color density value C changes, so the step number Nl of the step number conversion table 94 changes. Further, when the density correction key is operated, the step number N2 corresponding to the number of steps of the pressed key is displayed in the step number conversion table 96.
is output from.

Further, when the color correction keys provided for red, green, and blue are operated, the step number conversion table 96 changes to the step number N.
Outputs 3. Furthermore, when the function key 75 is operated, the conversion table 99 converts it to a predetermined number of color correction key steps, and then sends it to the step number conversion table 96.

As mentioned above, when the density correction amount and color correction amount are manually specified by operating the correction key, the addition circuit 9
In step 5, the above-mentioned arithmetic expression (3) is calculated, and the number of gradation steps N is calculated. The reference table data is shifted in accordance with the changed number of gradation steps N, and the shifted table data is written into the lookup table memory 67C. At the same time, table data that is changed one step at a time by the density key with respect to the lookup table memory 67c is written in the lookup table memories 67a, 67b, 67d, and 67e, respectively.

Based on this updated table data, a color positive image whose density or color has been corrected is displayed on each CR'r21 to 25, respectively. The user observes the five corrected color positive images, finds one that is recognized as having a good finish, and operates the printing condition selection key 80 to designate it. Note that if there is no one with a good finish, the keyboard 27 can be operated again to make corrections.

After operating the baking condition selection key 80 to select one with a good finish, the verification end key 78 is operated. When the verification end key 78 is operated, correction data representing one color density and correction mode is stored in the storage device. That is, the density correction value outputted from the automatic density correction circuit 86 is converted to the number of density keys 02 in the key number conversion table 113, and is added to the number of steps n inputted by operating the density correction key. sent to storage. Also,
The number of steps of the red correction key, green correction key, and blue correction key input by operating the color correction key or function key 75 is converted into the number of steps of the cyan correction key, magenta correction key, and yellow correction key by the inversion circuit 98. , sent to storage. Note that the collection mode is sent to the storage device as is.

Further, when the verification end key 78 is operated, the motor 44 rotates again, sets the next verification frame at the reading position, and starts reading the image. This read color negative image is also subjected to image processing as described above, and each CRT 21 to
25 respectively. And these CRT2
Select one with a good finish from among the color positive images displayed in Nos. 1 to 25, or correct it manually and then select it. Thereafter, the burning conditions for each frame are determined in the same manner.

When the negative verification of all the frames wound on the supply reel 10 has been completed, the print key 79 is operated. When the print key 79 is operated, the correction data for each frame stored in the storage device is sent to the puncher 31 and recorded on the tape 30 using a punching code. This paper tape 30 is set in an automatic photo printing device when printing a certified color negative film onto color paper. This automatic photo printing is done using a device with Gio Tape 30
Red and green depending on the correction data read from and the LATD value read by the photometer.

By controlling the amount of blue light exposure, an image that is almost the same as the color image displayed on the verification CRT 23 is printed as a latent image onto color paper.

In the embodiment described above, a plurality of CRTs are used, but instead, one CRT having a large display area may be used, and five color positive images may be displayed on the cover at the same time. Also,
The present invention may be applied to an automatic photo printing apparatus to perform negative inspection immediately before printing the photo.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, a plurality of color positive images simulated under different printing conditions are displayed simultaneously, and one of them that is considered to have a good finish is selected. Therefore, verification work can be performed extremely efficiently.

In addition, even when setting the baking conditions manually, small changes to the baking conditions are displayed at the same time, which greatly reduces the number of changes to the baking conditions, and allows for accurate setting of the baking conditions. There is no need to do so. For this reason, even non-experts can perform negative verification with high accuracy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a photographic printing condition verification device embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the photo printing condition verification device. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a color correction circuit. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing changes in table data. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a correction data calculation circuit. 11...Color negative film 21-15...CRT 27...Keyboard 31...Puncher 39.40 ND filter 49...Three color separation optical system 55...Red image sensor 56...Green image sensor 57... Blue image sensor 73... Correction key 74... Correction key 75... Function key 80... Burning condition selection key.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) Read a color negative image on a color negative film, and display one or N color positive images that simulate the finished print image when different printing conditions are applied to each color negative image. A method for verifying photographic printing conditions, characterized in that the photographic printing conditions are verified by simultaneously displaying them on a device, and selecting the one with the optimum printing conditions from among the N color positive images. (2) The photographic printing condition testing method according to claim 1, wherein the N color positive images are respectively displayed on N CRTs. (3) Of the N color positive images, one of them is a simulation of the finished printed photograph when standard printing conditions are given, and the rest are images taken by a certain number of steps in the positive direction and the other under these printing conditions. 3. The photographic printing condition verification method according to claim 1, wherein the method simulates a finished printed photograph when printing conditions are respectively shifted in the negative direction. (4) The photographic printing condition verification method according to claim 3, wherein the number of steps is a value corresponding to one step in a density key. (5) Claims 3 or 4, characterized in that a simulated finished print photograph obtained when the standard printing conditions are applied is located at the center of the N color positive images. Photo printing condition verification method described.