JPS63178222A - Copying exposure quantity determining device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute an exposure control with high accuracy by extracting automatically the area of a principal image is a prescribed deciding area by designating a part of the principal image, and calculating the exposure quantity in accordance with the feature quantity of the principal image in the principal image area. CONSTITUTION:When a part 55a of a principal image 55 is designated with a light pen by observing a color monitor 50 and deciding the kind of the principal image 55, the designated part 55a is detected by a position detecting part 51, and inputted to a microcomputer. Subsequently, when the size of the principal image is inputted, the size of a decided area 56 shown with a dotted line is determined in accordance with the designated size, and its center coincides with the designated part 55a. Next, whether a similar range 57 which is similar to density of the designated part 55a in accordance with the density of the principal image, and shows a range recognized as a picture element for constituting the principal image enters into a similar range shown in the figure or not is decided, and the prescribed area 59 of the periphery of a screen except the principal image area becomes a background image area. In this state, from an image feature quantity of the background image area, a fundamental exposure quantity of control the color and density is calculated, and from the image feature quantity of the principal image area, a corrected exposure quantity is calculated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is applicable to optical copying devices, such as photoprinting devices, CR
Used in T printers, copiers, laser printers, etc.
The present invention relates to a device for determining copying exposure when copying a color original onto a recording medium.

[Conventional technology]

Optical copying equipment records copies of images that are faithful to the color original, and the red and green colors are reproduced from the color original.

Image feature amounts of blue are extracted, and copying exposure amounts of red, green, and blue are controlled according to these image feature amounts. For example, in a color photographic printer, the average density of red and green of the entire screen of a color negative.

It is widely known to calculate the average density of each blue color and calculate the red exposure amount, green exposure amount, and blue exposure amount according to these averages l)1 degree.

Furthermore, since the quality of a copied image depends on the finish of the main image, a method is also known in which the amount of exposure is determined so that the main image is finished well. One method is to divide the original image into multiple regions, specify the region where the main image exists, and use the main image features obtained from this region and the image features obtained from the entire screen. (Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-2941). Another method is to automatically extract a skin-colored part in a positive image from a color original image, and control the exposure amount of each color so that this part has a predetermined density in the positive image (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52 -156625, 54-68632).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the methods described above for controlling the exposure amount by focusing on the main image, the same calculation formula is used regardless of the type of scene, such as the type of main image, its size, and density, so the exposure amount cannot be determined with high precision, and as a result, a copied image with appropriate density and good color balance cannot be reproduced.

Furthermore, in a system that automatically detects skin-colored portions to determine the main image area, images similar to skin-colored areas, such as walls and furniture, may be mistakenly recognized. Furthermore, the skin color recorded on the color original image changes due to the influence of illumination light (morning, evening, fluorescent light, etc.) and changes in film characteristics. It was difficult to detect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a copying exposure amount determination device that can accurately determine the exposure amount in order to reproduce good copied images.

[Means for solving problems]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a means for inputting the content of the main image of a color original, a means for indicating the position of a part of the main image, and a means for inputting the content of the main image of a color original, a means for indicating the position of a part of the main image, and a color similar to the color or color density of the indicated position. means for extracting pixels to determine a main image region;
A means for calculating image feature amounts from this main image area and at least multiple exposure amount calculation formulas using the main image feature amounts are prepared, and exposure is performed by selecting the exposure amount calculation formula according to the content of the main image. and a means for calculating the amount.

Another invention provides means for inputting the type of main image of a color original, means for inputting the size of the main image, means for inputting the density level of the main image, and means for indicating the position of a part of the main image. and means for setting a determination area of the main image according to the designated position of the main image and the size of the main image;
means for setting a similar range recognized as a main image based on the density of the indicated position and the type of the main image; and means for determining whether each pixel in the determination area is included in the similar range 1 A means for determining the image area, a means for calculating the main image feature from the main image area, and an exposure calculation formula for each type of main image are provided, and at least the main image feature is used to calculate the corrected exposure. means for calculating a background image feature amount from the background image area, all or a part of which excludes the main image area;
Means for calculating the basic exposure amount using this background image feature amount, and the type and size of the main image? The apparatus is provided with means for calculating a corrected exposure amount based on a combination of a degree levels, and means for calculating an exposure amount by adding the basic exposure amount, the corrected exposure amount, and the corrected exposure amount.

In the present invention, the contents of the main image, such as the type and the position of a part of the main image, are input by observing the monitor.

The position of a part of the main image is indicated using a light pen, touch panel sensor, cursor, etc. In addition, the content of the main image can be specified by displaying a menu on the monitor and instructing it with a light pen or cursor, or by operating a key that represents the content of the main image on the keyboard. be able to.

When a part of the main image is specified, pixels constituting the main image are extracted from the color or color density of this specified part. This extraction is performed by determining whether each pixel within a predetermined determination area is the same or similar to the color or color density of the designated portion. thus,
A main image region is determined from pixels that are the same as or similar to the designated portion, and a main image feature amount is calculated from this region. From a plurality of exposure calculation formulas prepared for each type of main image, one corresponding to the specified type of main image is selected, and the exposure amount is calculated using the main image feature amount.

In another invention, the main image type, size, density level,
Enter the position of part of the main image. A determination area is determined based on the type and size of the main image, with the position of this part of the main image as the center. Further, a similar range that is recognized as a main image is determined based on the type of main image and the color or color density of the indicated position. The main image area is determined by determining whether each pixel within the determination area is included in this similar range. The area formed by the extracted pixels is defined as the main image area. The image feature amount is extracted from this main image area and substituted into an exposure calculation formula prepared for each type of main image to calculate a corrected exposure amount.

The entire area excluding the main image area, the entire area excluding the 2 determination area, or a specific area, for example, the peripheral area of the color original image, is taken as the background image area, and the amount of background image is calculated from this area. A basic exposure amount is calculated using this background image feature amount. Further, the corrected exposure amount is calculated according to the combination of the type, size, and density level of the main image. This corrected exposure amount can be calculated for each color original image, or a predetermined value can be stored in a memory. These basic exposure amounts, corrected exposure amounts,
The exposure amount is calculated by adding the corrected exposure amount.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a photographic printer will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment) Fig. 1 shows an example of a photoprinting apparatus embodying the present invention.White light emitted from a light source 10 is transmitted through a diffusion box 1.
1 and a negative carrier 12, it reaches a color original image, for example, a color negative film 13, set at a printing position, and is illuminated from below.

Between the diffusion box 11 and the light source 10, a cyan filter 16 for adjusting the red component of illumination light, a magenta filter 17 for adjusting the green component, and a yellow filter 18 for adjusting the blue component are provided. and are arranged. The filter adjustment unit 19 adjusts the insertion amount of each of the color filters 16 to 18 into the optical path 20, depending on the calculation result of an exposure calculation formula described later. For example, cyan filter 1
If the amount of insertion of '6 is increased, the red component of the illumination light will be reduced, and the amount of red exposure will be reduced. The color negative film 13 is pressed down from above by a mask 21 operated by a solenoid (not shown) during photographic printing.

A lens 24 is arranged above the color negative film 13, and a color negative image is formed on a color photographic paper 26 while the shutter 25 is open. The shutter drive unit 27 opens the shutter 25 for a certain period of time to provide a standard exposure time. Further, when printing of one frame of the color photographic paper 26 is completed, the exposed portion is wound onto the take-up reel 28, and at the same time, the unexposed portion is pulled out from the supply reel 29.

A half mirror 32 is arranged obliquely in the optical path 20, and the light reflected by this half mirror 32 is reflected by a lens 33.
After passing through, you will reach Half Mirror 34. The light transmitted through this half mirror 34 is incident on a color scanner 35, and the light reflected downward is incident on a color TV camera 36. The color scanner 35 is composed of an image area sensor and outputs three color signals (red, green, blue) of each pixel of a color negative image. This three-color signal is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 37,
Next, it is converted into a concentration signal by a logarithmic converter 41, and then I1
The data is taken into the microcomputer 43 via the 0 port 42. Incidentally, in order to effectively utilize the amount of light from the light source 10, the half mirror 32 is preferably retracted from the optical path 20 during photo printing.

As is well known, the microcomputer 43 has an I1
0 boats 42. CPU44. It is composed of a RAM 45° and a ROM 46, and performs exposure amount calculation and control of various parts, which will be described later. The RAM 45 separates and stores the captured color density signals for each color.

The keyboard 47 includes keys for inputting the type and size of the main image, the -a degree, and keys for controlling each part.

The color TV camera 36 captures a color negative image and outputs a video signal. This video signal is converted into a positive image video signal by a negative/positive converter 48, and then
It is sent to the controller 49. This controller 49 displays a positive image on the display surface 50a of the color monitor 50 and sends position information created from the synchronization signal to the position detection section 51. This positive image is observed, and a part of the image that is recognized to be the main image is indicated with a position specifying means, for example, a light pen 52.The light pen 52 detects the position when the specified point lights up on the color monitor 50. is photoelectrically converted and sent to the position detecting section 51. When the signal from the light pen 52 is generated, this position detecting section 51 converts the signal to the color monitor 5.
The coordinate position on 0 is sent to the microcomputer 43.

In this embodiment, the color scanner 35 is used to measure the density of each pixel, but instead of this, a video signal output from the TV camera 36 may be used to create the density signal. In this way, the color scanner 35 can be omitted, so costs can be reduced. In addition to the light pen 52, a touch panel sensor, joystick, digitizer, trackball, XY cursor, etc. can be used as the position specifying means.

FIG. 2 shows the procedure of exposure control. With reference to this, the operation of the photographic printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be briefly explained. The frames of the color negative film 13 to be printed are positioned on the negative carrier 12. The filter adjustment unit 19 connects the tips of the color filters 16 to 18 to the optical path 2.
Since it is kept inserted in the standard position within 0,
A portion of the white light emitted from the light source 10 in a dimmed state passes through the color filters 16 to 18 and then passes through the diffusion box 11.
After being sufficiently diffused, it reaches the color negative film 13. The light transmitted through the color negative film 13 is transmitted through the lens 24. After passing through each half mirror 32° lens 33, the light enters a half mirror 34. The light transmitted through this half mirror 34 enters the color scanner 35, and the light reflected by the half mirror 34 enters the color TV.
The light enters the camera 36.

The color scanner 35 scans the color negative image, measures the three color components of each pixel, and outputs a color signal of each pixel. This color signal is A/D converted and logarithmically converted and then stored in the RAM 45 of the microcomputer 43 in a separated state for each color. Further, the video signal output from the color TV camera 36 is subjected to negative/positive conversion and then sent to the color monitor 5 via the controller 49.
0, and a positive image is displayed on the display surface 50a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the color monitor 50 is observed, the main image is determined, and the determined main image 5 is
Type 5 is input using the keyboard 47. In this embodiment, since the main image is a person, the key displayed as "skin" or "person" is operated. Next, a portion 55a of this main image 55 is indicated with the light pen 52. The portion 55a indicated by the light pen 52 is detected by the position detection section 51, and the position information is input to the microcomputer 43.

After specifying the position of the main image 55, the user operates the keyboard 47 to input the size of the main image. There are two types of sizes: "large J" and "small", and the size of the determination area 56 shown by the dotted line is determined according to the specified size. For example, if it is recognized that the size of the main image 55 is small, the "small" key is operated. In this case, a smaller determination area is selected from two types of determination areas with different sizes. This determination area 55 has a rectangular shape, and the center thereof is located at the designated portion 55a. Note that the shape of the determination area may be a circle, an ellipse, a diamond, or the like in addition to a rectangle.

Next, "Dark", depending on the darkness of the main image.

One of the three levels "average" and "thin" is selected and inputted using the keyboard 47. The density level of the main image may be input according to the density expected from the characteristics of the main image, or may be input according to the density of the displayed image.

In FIG. 4, a similar range 57 determined according to the type of main image is indicated by hatching. This similar range 57 indicates a range that is similar to the density of the designated portion 55 and is recognized to be pixels constituting the main image, so it is necessary to set the width depending on the type of the main image. It is. Therefore, similar ranges 57 are prepared in advance for each type of main image. FIG. 4 shows chromaticity coordinates with the difference between two colors as the coordinate axis, and a point 58 is the chromaticity of a designated point 55a. A rectangular similarity range 57 is determined with this point 58 as the center. Here, the numerical values α and β indicating the width of the range are predetermined according to the type of main image. For example, when inputting something other than "skin" or "person", the numerical values α, The value of β is the thickest (if "skin" or "person 4" is input, the values of α and β are the smallest.

Although FIG. 4 shows an example in which the similar range is determined based on color, it is also possible to determine the similar range in another way, for example, based on density.

After determining the similar range, the color densities of the pixels within the determination area are sequentially read out, and it is determined whether these fall within the similar range shown in FIG. Pixels that fall within this similar range are pixels that constitute the main image, and this determination result is RA
It is written to the image area memory of M45. Then, the remaining area excluding the main image area, the remaining area excluding the determination area, or a certain area 59 around the screen as shown in FIG. 5 is set as the background image area.

After determining the main image area and the background image area, the image quality trace amount of each image area is calculated for each color. From the obtained image time amount of the background image area, the basic exposure 1tEft (i is red) is used to control the color and density.

The corrected exposure amount Ec1 for the basic exposure amount Ef is calculated from the image quality trace amount of the main image area. In addition, depending on the combination of main image type, size, and density level, the corrected exposure amount E
Calculate a1. This basic exposure amount Ef and the corrected exposure amount E
Exposure [E] is determined by adding c and the corrected exposure amount Ea.

The calculated exposure amount E is sent to the filter adjustment section 19, and a color filter of a complementary color to the corresponding color is extracted stepwise from the standard position or further inserted toward the center of the optical path 20. As a result, the amount of insertion of the color filters 16 to 18 into the optical path 20 is adjusted in stages, and the three-color light components of the printing light are adjusted. The amount that cannot be corrected by the color filters 16 to 18 is sent to the shutter control section 27, which appropriately increases or decreases the exposure time of the shutter 25.

By operating the print key on the keyboard 47, the light source 10
becomes fully emissive, then the shutter operates and prints. After printing, color negative film 1
3 and color photographic paper 26 are fed by one frame. Along with this, the filter adjustment section 19 adjusts the color filters 16 to
18 is returned to its standard position in the optical path 20, and the light source 10 is again in a dimmed state.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. 1. Main image type input means 62. Main image density level input means 63. The main image size input means 64 is provided on the keyboard 47.

Depending on the type and size of the main image, the area size memory 6
The area size stored in 6 is read out and sent to the determination area determination section 67. The determination area determination unit 67 determines the determination page area so that the designated point 55a from the main image position detection unit 51 coincides with the center of the area size.

Numerical values α and β are read out from the judgment level memory 68 depending on the type of main image. The similar range determination unit 69 reads out the color density of the designated point 55a from the memory 70, and uses the numerical values α and β to determine a similar range 57 as shown in FIG.

The determining unit 71 reads out the color density of each pixel from the memory 70 and determines whether it falls within the color density range determined by the similar range determining unit 69. Then, only the determination results of pixels falling in the determination area 56 determined by the determination area determination unit 67 are written into the image area memory 72. Therefore, data indicating whether the image area is the main image area is written into the image area memory 72.

The image feature calculation unit 73 refers to the image area memory 72, reads out the color density of pixels constituting the main image from the memory 70, and calculates the main image feature, for example, the average density. Similarly, the color density of pixels constituting the background image area is stored in the memory 7.
It reads out from 0 and calculates the background image feature quantity, for example, the average density.

The calculation unit 74 calculates an exposure amount calculation formula according to the type of main image,
That is, a basic exposure calculation formula and a corrected exposure calculation formula are prepared in advance and are selected depending on the type of main image.

In addition to the main image feature ff1iH and the background image time r& amount obtained by the image feature amount calculation section 73, this exposure amount calculation formula includes the characteristic amount 1'Ii obtained from the feature amount calculation section 75, such as maximum density, minimum Using density, contrast, histogram, etc.
Calculate the basic exposure amount E [Todoroki] and the corrected exposure IEct.

Note that the basic exposure amount Ef may be calculated using a common exposure calculation formula regardless of the type of main image.

The corrected exposure amount memory 76 stores the type of main image.

Modified exposure amount Eat according to the combination of density level and size
is memorized. Note that when there is no main image, a modified exposure amount Eal corresponding to the density level is read out.

The basic exposure amount Ef calculated by the calculation unit 74 and the corrected exposure amount E
ci is sent to the calculation section 77. This calculation section 74 includes
Modified exposure IEai read from modified exposure amount memory 76
are sent, so these are added to calculate the exposure amount E. The filter adjustment section 19 is controlled according to this exposure IEi.

FIG. 7 shows the procedure for determining the corrected exposure amount. - Even if the main image on a ship is skin, the preferred skin density will differ depending on gender, whether sunburn is present, race, lighting conditions, etc. In addition to skin, the concentration differs depending on white buildings, black buildings, snowy landscapes, the sea, autumn leaves, etc. Since print quality deteriorates at a density level other than the average density level, it is necessary to apply a correction amount depending on the density. At this time, if the size of the main image is large, a large correction exposure amount is often applied. Therefore, it is desirable to determine the corrective exposure amount according to the size of the main image and its density level.

Color images in which the presence of a main image can be recognized are classified into "skin" and "non-skin" images. When the main image is skin, it is divided into six different combinations of size and density level, and if the density level is other than the average, the correction exposure amount is determined according to the density level. In this case, exposure calculation formulas are prepared to correspond to the types of main images, and each formula is created on the condition that the density level is average. Similarly, when the main image is other than skin, it is classified into 6 ways, and when there is no main image, it is classified into 3 ways. Note that when there is no main image, the density level of the entire screen is used, and the correction exposure amount is determined for dark and light density levels.

In FIG. 7, ten modified exposure amounts are predetermined according to the content of the main image, but these may be calculated for each color original image using an arithmetic expression. For example, the corrected exposure amount may be calculated using a functional formula that includes the areas of the highlight portion and the shadow portion, and their average density.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, an example of the exposure calculation formula when the main images are classified into three types will be explained.

First, if the main image is skin, the image-related trace amount is
For example, the average red density, green average density, and blue average density within the area are used.

This average color density is calculated by adding the color density of each pixel for each color.
A value obtained by dividing this by the number of pixels, or a value between the maximum color density and the minimum color density is used.

If the average red density of the main image area is R', the average green density is CP, and the average blue density is B', the corrected exposure amount Ec1 can be determined from the following equation.

Ecl = e(' +fl° R'+gi'
Gp+h,'BP+ ΣK i j V i j・
-(1) Here, the symbols e, ``, fi'1gi'', and hi'' are coefficients. (2) is an image quality trace amount such as the average density, maximum value, minimum value, etc. of the entire screen or partial screen, and the number of terms is 50 or less. K is a coefficient determined for each color.

If the average red density of the background image area is R3, the average green density is Gs, and the average blue density is Bs, the basic exposure l
Ef can be obtained from the following equation.

Eft = ai +b, (R"-R,")+cl
(G'-G,') +dH(Bs Bo') ・ ・ 12)
Here, the symbols a, , J, and C4+d are coefficients determined for each color. Also, R, S, G,'s.

Bo3 is a constant, which is the average red density and green average density of the background image area of a standard color negative image.

This is the average density of blue color.

The exposure amount E is calculated from the corrected exposure amount Ect and the basic exposure 1iEf obtained from the arithmetic expressions (1) and (2), respectively, and the corrected exposure amount Eaz obtained by the procedure shown in FIG.

E(=EfL×Ect+Eat−(3) When the main image is other than skin, different coefficients of equations (1) and (2) are used.

If there is no image that can be recognized as the main image, use the full-screen image time @ amount to set the basic exposure, lEf.

and the corrected exposure amount Eci, and this and the corrected exposure amount Eai
The exposure amount E is determined by adding the following.

In the above embodiment, the contents (type, size, density) of the main image are input using the keyboard 47, but this input can be performed by selecting a menu displayed on the color monitor. FIGS. 8 and 9 show this embodiment. In FIG. 8, a positive color image 8 is displayed on a display surface 80 of a color monitor (indicated by reference numeral 50 in FIG. 1).
1, a selection menu display 82, and an instruction mark 83 are displayed. The color image 81 is observed and the instruction mark 83 is indicated with the light pen 52 according to the content of the main image.

FIG. 9 shows the procedure for displaying the selection menu. On the display surface 80, "main image is present" first.

"No main image" is displayed. When you select "With main image" with the light pen 52, the selection menu will be "Skin", "
It changes to something other than the skin. Selecting one of these will result in
``Large'' and ``Small'' are displayed, and once you have selected them, ``
"Dark", "Average".

"Thin" is displayed.

Furthermore, when "No main image" is selected, "Dark", "Average", and "Light" are displayed next, and one of them is selected depending on the density of the entire screen.

In this example, the size of the main image is "large".

``Although there are two levels of small size, it is also possible to add ``medium'' to three levels, or even divide the size types into four levels. Similarly, the concentration level is also three levels, but it may also be two levels or four levels.

Further, in this embodiment, there are three types of main images: "skin", "other than skin", and "no main image", but the present invention is not limited to these classifications; for example, "skin" , “
It may be categorized into only two categories, ``Other'', or ``Skin'',
It may be classified into many types, such as "building", "landscape", "plant", "night view J", "photographing light source", and "no main image". Note that for this "photographing light source", the user may select the type of light source and the color and density desired to be reproduced. To simplify the input operation, when proceeding to the next operation step without specifying the main image, it is preferable to process it as if "no main image" or "other" had been specified.

In the above embodiment, the basic exposure amount calculation formula and the corrected exposure amount calculation formula are determined based on the type of main image, but the exposure amount is calculated based on other contents of the main image, such as the density level and the combination of the main image size. You may choose a formula.

In the above embodiment, by extracting the same or similar pixels within a predetermined determination area using the color or color density of the indicated point,
Although the main image area is determined, a standard color or color density may be determined for each main image instead. In this case, the color or color density that is most similar to the indicated point A standard color or color density is selected, and a similar range shown in FIG. 4 is set around this standard color or color density. Alternatively, a predetermined standard color or color density is selected based on the type of input main image, pixels similar to the standard color or color density are extracted around the indicated point, and the main image is A region may also be determined.

Although the above embodiment is a color photographic printing device, the present invention can be applied to all copying devices that need to optimally reproduce main images, such as color negative verification machines, color copying machines, laser color printers, and CRT color printers. It is something that can be done.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the copying exposure determining device of the present invention, by inputting the contents of the main image and specifying a part of the main image, the main image area is automatically extracted within a predetermined judgment area, and from this main image area. Since the exposure amount is calculated according to the content of the main image using the obtained main image feature amount, highly accurate exposure control can be performed. In addition, because only a portion of the main image is specified, erroneous recognition occurs as in conventional automatic skin color detection.

There is no risk of

In addition, the main image contents include type and size.

Since the density level is input, the exposure amount can be determined according to the characteristics of each main image, even if the main images are of the same type.For example, in conventional skin color detection, it is possible to determine the exposure amount depending on the characteristics of each main image. Although a copied image is reproduced with the same density regardless of the illumination condition, the present invention can reproduce the density with the same density depending on these characteristics.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a photographic printing apparatus embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of exposure control. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the display surface of a color monitor. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a similar range. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a background image area. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure for determining the corrected exposure amount. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the display screen of a color monitor showing an example of a method for inputting the contents of the main image. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing display contents displayed on a color monitor. 10..Light source 13..Color negative film 16..Cyan filter 17..Magenta filter 18..Yellow filter 26..Color photographic paper 32.34..Half mirror 35..Color scanner 36..Color TV camera 47. - Keyboard 50 - Color monitor 52 - Light pen 55 - Main image area 55a - Point indicated by light pen 56 - Judgment area 57 - Similar range 58 - Chromaticity of indicated point 59 - Background image area 80...Display surface 81...Color image 82...Selection menu. Figure 3 Figure 4 (R-G) Figure 5

Claims (12)

[Claims] (1) A copy exposure amount determination device that is equipped with a monitor that displays the color original image and a scanner that performs three-color separation photometry for each pixel of the color original image, and that determines the copy exposure amount of each color when copying the color original image onto a recording medium. The apparatus includes a means for inputting the contents of the main image of the color original image, a means for indicating the position of a part of the main image, and a means for extracting pixels similar in color or color density at the indicated position to extract the main image area. A means for determining, a means for calculating an image feature amount from the main image area, and a plurality of exposure amount calculation formulas using at least the main image feature amounts, and an exposure amount calculation formula corresponding to the content of the main image. 1. A copying exposure amount determination device, comprising means for selecting and calculating an exposure amount. (2) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content of the main image is the type of the main image. (3) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the types of the main image include at least two types: "person's skin" and "others". (4) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content of the main image is classified by the type of main image and its size. (5) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the types of the main image include at least two types: "person's skin" and "others". (6) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the size of the main image includes at least two types: "large size" and "small size". (7) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content of the main image is classified by main image type and density level. (8) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the density level of the main image includes at least two types: "dark" and "light". (9) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the types of the main image include at least two types: "person's skin" and "others". (10) comprising a monitor for displaying the color original image and a measuring means for measuring the three-color density of each pixel of the color original image,
A copying exposure determining device that determines the copying exposure of each color when copying a color original onto a recording medium, which includes a means for inputting the type of main image of the color original, a means for inputting the size of the main image, and a means for inputting the size of the main image; means for inputting a density level of the main image, means for specifying the position of a part of the main image, means for setting a determination area of the main image according to the specified position of the main image and the size of the main image, and the specified position means for setting a similar range in which pixels are recognized as being in the main image area based on the density of the image and the type of the main image, and whether the color or color density of each pixel included in the determination area is included within the similar range. means for determining the main image area by determining the main image area, means for calculating the main image feature quantity from the pixels included in the main image area, and an exposure calculation formula for each type of main image. means for calculating a corrected exposure amount using the feature amount; means for calculating a background image feature amount from this region by setting all or a part of the main image area except for the main image region as a background image region; and using the background image feature amount. means for calculating a basic exposure amount based on a combination of the type, size, and density level of the main image; and means for calculating a corrected exposure amount based on a combination of the type, size, and density level of the main image; and exposure by adding the basic exposure amount, correction exposure amount, and correction exposure amount. 1. A copying exposure amount determination device comprising means for calculating the amount of exposure. (11) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the types of the main image include at least two types: "person's skin" and "others". (12) The copying exposure amount determining apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the corrected exposure amount is a value determined according to the combination and stored in a memory.