WO2000038405A1

WO2000038405A1 - Method for close digital photography of objects

Info

Publication number: WO2000038405A1
Application number: PCT/BE1999/000169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger Pierlot
Original assignee: Roger Pierlot
Priority date: 1998-12-21
Filing date: 1999-12-21
Publication date: 2000-06-29
Also published as: AU1851000A

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for digital photography, in colour or black and white, of three-dimensional opaque or planar and translucent or transparent objects arranged on a flat-bed scanner light area illuminated by a very intense cold light, at a very high colour temperature, produced by electroluminescence of rare gas tubes, with added appropriate vaporizable elements such as mercury, acting jointly with the phosphorescent elements lining the internal walls of the discharge tube, the image being electronically stored and reproduced by electronic printing means in particular with a printer on a certain scale and capable of being electronically transmitted.

Description

Method for close-up digital photography of objects

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method of close-up digital photography of objects and more particularly of three-dimensional opaque objects, in particular.

State of the art

We know that we can, without difficulty, digitally photograph opaque planar objects, such as images, photographs, using a flat scanner, also known as a flat-bed scanner, the lid of which is folded over them. We could even, if necessary, photograph very thin objects, the scanner cover being folded over the object to be photographed, if this is possible given the thickness of the object, even small.

Objects can also be covered with a sheet, a canvas or a white solid plate respectively, the whole being protected from light.

However, the latter two cases have the serious drawback that a neat and clear photographic background is not obtained. In addition, there are often traces of scanning which spoil the result obtained.

It is true that we can digitally photograph rather thick objects housed in an enclosure creating the conditions of darkroom. However, even in the best cases, an uneven background, darkened and heterogeneously colored, is obtained. This is particularly striking in the case of objects with an irregular perimeter. The images obtained are unclear and require considerable retouching which is costly.

Regarding flat translucent objects, such as films, slides, negatives and x-rays in particular, their digital photography can only be done using special and very expensive devices that are not within everyone's reach.

The lessons of Belgian patent application 09800478 are to be incorporated into this application.

The document WO 92 09937 by Cooper John Laurence relates to the reproduction by xerographic route with a cover situated less than 1 mm from the objects to be photographed. The cover is fixed and is not adjustable. In addition, the lessons of this document do not allow the photography of three-dimensional objects.

The document EP 0 762 720 relates to the reading of flat documents only and does not allow either the implementation for three-dimensional objects, the cover also being irremovable.

Purpose of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome all these drawbacks while maintaining a low cost level, and by opening up new avenues in the field of digital iconography.

Statement of the invention

Thus, there is provided according to the present invention a method as defined in the main claim. The scanner cover being removed, the flat or opaque or translucent object (s) and / or three-dimensional objects, being deposited on the scanning glass, are illuminated before digital photography proper, by a very bright cold light, at very high color temperature by electroluminescence of so-called rare gases.

Thus, the present invention relates to a method of close-up digital photography giving the illusion of relief, preferably in color, of three-dimensional objects, on the one hand, deposited on the surface of a flatbed scanner just above of the latter with removable cover adjustable in height which is photogenic by electroluminescence of rare gases, with additions of various elements vaporizing, the all creating a bright light called cold illuminating objects in a substantially uniform manner.

The so-called cold electroluminescence of rare gases, called inert, with the addition of various elements transformed into vapor, among which mercury in the first place, is used in this process of close-up digital photography. This makes it possible to obtain a white, or clear, photographic background, without any trace of scanning.

According to a first preferred mode of the process, argon is added in various elements, the vapors of which, which undergo discharge together with phosphorescent powders, create a photographic background of the images which is uniform, sharp and of pure white.

According to other preferred modes of the process according to the invention, krypton, xenon, or respectively a combination of the aforementioned gases is added in various elements.

This has the advantage of specially highlighting the images taken, the invisible UV radiation produced being transformed into visible light by these phosphorescent powders lining the interior of the tube.

The reference standard DIN 5035 classifies white lights into three classes: the first class, called warm white color, has a color temperature below 3300 ° Kelvin (K), the second class called neutral white color is characterized by a degree K between 3600 and 5000, while the third class, known as the color of the cold day, exceeds 5000 K.

The light source, which is preferably used here has a color temperature of 6500 K, which makes it a very cold light source with a very high -IRC- color index, and therefore provides excellent color rendering. . It will be described further.

The photogenic assembly, composed of one or more tubes, is housed in a box translucent clear, opal, which spreads the induced light more or less equally over the surface of the scanner, like a ceiling light made of glass or clear plastic acting as a cover. This light can jointly be lateral.

The photographic background can see its light shade modified by the use, between the range of the scanner and the light source, of various colored filters, such as glass, plastic films, cellophane, thin papers and the like. It is also possible, jointly or not, to use colored luminescent tubes of various gaseous compositions.

The photogenic cover is placed at a certain distance from the scanning range of the scanner, depending on the strength of the overlying illumination, which depends on the combined power of the light-emitting tubes. The illumination, here of the scanner range, decreases as the square of the distance from the latter to the light source.

Conveniently, the scanner is placed in an enclosure or a support whose height corresponds at least to the greatest thickness of the object photographed. However, it can frankly exceed this limit, by several centimeters, without any difficulty. There is above the photogenic cover.

It is also possible, to adjust the distances, to raise the scanner by wedges underlying it, and / or by any other means of spacing.

The simplest method is to place the cover on a fairly high support, for example between 30 and 40 cm, and to adjust the light power according to this data, and if necessary to raise the scanner on a particular support, measuring the nature of the desired light effects.

It is also possible, according to another embodiment, to hang the cover photogenic at adjustable heights above the scanner range.

Thus, thanks to the process according to the invention, more particularly in the case of digital photography of three-dimensional objects, a very detailed color or black and white image is obtained, on a very pure white background which detaches the image. of the support very clearly, with a very surprising impression of relief.

However, in a more specific embodiment according to the invention, it is possible to obtain backgrounds of different colors, by interposing between the object (s) suitable colored filters, in particular glass, cellophane, translucent papers, and the like. .

In addition, the use of phosphorescent powders makes it possible to obtain multiple special effects and different colors. To this is added that the remarkable use of very cold light produced as above appears of major interest by producing the very particular effect of a strong impression of relief as for the object reproduced by the photography process. digital close according to the invention.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the digital reproduction of planar, opaque or translucent objects is done in a similar manner with the use of very bright light at very high color temperature, produced by gas electroluminescence inert doped with various elements, coldly illuminating the objects placed on the surface of a so-called flat scanner, also called "flat bed scanner", so as to obtain an image of these, giving the illusion of relief, on a particularly bright white background. Thus, the present invention relates to a process for close-up digital photography of translucent or transparent planar objects, lit with very bright and cold light.

While the primary embodiment described above essentially relates to clearly perceptible three-dimensional objects, while being able to be applied to opaque white objects, the present embodiment aims to create images of transparent planar objects -translucent, like films various, in particular in 35 mm format, slides, x-rays, negatives which can by color inversion be transformed into positives.

Each of the images created at 1/1 scale, in both cases - both in the photography of opaque three-dimensional objects, as that of translucent planar objects - can be enlarged or reduced by l use of adequate software.

The images can moreover be printed on various chosen supports, such as differently colored or composed papers, by known printing methods, such as offset, flexography, serigraphy, rotogravure, xerography or any electronic process, such as inkjet or laser in particular. Said images thus obtained being digital, they can also be disseminated instantly anywhere in the world by electronic means. They can even be saved on CD-rom or other means of data storage.

The device for implementing the method according to the invention consists in that the cover of a flatbed scanner is removable, adjustable in height above the range of a scanner, and that it is photogenic, and illuminates objects placed on it, to photograph them digitally, uniformly, with bright light, by electroluminescence of rare gases, such as argon or krypton in particular, or any other luminescence which is not dangerously circulating.

The light source is placed on the scanner range - cover removed - or at a short distance from it, so as to obtain a very intense cold light whose force increases as an inverse function of the square of the distance separating the translucent flat objects / light source transparencies. The opaline light box containing four mercury vapor tubes, such as those manufactured by the company PHILIPS ("TL" D18W./865), each at 1300 lumens and a color temperature of 6500 K, used for digital photography of three-dimensional objects, can also be used here. However, it is not necessary to have such a lighting power. A box of smaller dimensions to the size of the scanner and placed on it can give the expected results also. This innovative way of photographing directly and digitally the objects mentioned above according to the invention, can profoundly modify current photographic practices. In fact, slides, like films, negatives or x-rays placed on the scanner range can be easily transformed into quality positives, just like in the aforementioned system of digital photography of opaque, thick or flat objects. Thus there would no longer be an imperative need for special, very expensive reproduction apparatus. Thanks to our invention, common devices are sufficient, namely a flatbed scanner, a very bright cold light source and a printer. The quality of the documents reproduced will vary according to the resolution capacity of the scanner, that of the printer, and the quality of the printing paper essentially.

As regards the implementation of the method, the photogenic assembly composed of suitable tubes is housed in a clear, opaline translucent box, which spreads the light evenly over the scanning range. The intensity of the illumination thereof decreases by the square of the distance from the light source.

There are many applications. It consists primarily of archiving slides circulating around the world, in museums, scientific collections or other. These, while being stored electronically, would at the same time be available in iconographic registers. The scientific researcher, particularly the naturalist, sometimes has thousands of slides that he could thus archive on paper, with the added bonus of the dimension of the relief.

Another application is the printing of slides made during holidays, or at various events, such as weddings or various celebrations.

In cinematographic art, various films could be partially printed at the option of each.

Photographic negatives can be reproduced, and by the color inversion game provided by suitable software, be reproduced in positive after simple electronic correction.

Radiographs around the world could be electronically archived and printed with or without color inversion.

In addition, all these supports, films, slides, negatives, x-rays can be enlarged as desired, with a precision which will depend on the degree of resolution of the means used.

The method according to the invention can also be used for the photography of transparent, translucent planar objects, such as slides, film films, negatives, radiographs, produced on land, underground or in the seas, either at from aircraft or satellites, so as to obtain a positive image.

Other features and properties of the process according to the present invention are defined in the appended sub-claims.

Other advantages and details of the invention will appear from the description given below of an exemplary reading mode of the present invention which is illustrated with the aid of the appended drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a device for implementing the method according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a close-up digital photography arrangement as such which can be incorporated into the device illustrated according to Figure 1.

Description

FIG. 1 shows a close-up digital photography device comprising a scanner 1, deposited on adjustable heights 2, a support or an enclosure 3, a luminescent box, arranged on the support or enclosure 4. In the process of photographing three-dimensional objects or also, where appropriate, transparent, translucent planes, such as slides, film films, the objects are placed on the surface of a flatbed scanner and illuminated by a close light called cold, at very high color temperature. Light is produced by electroluminescence of inert gases, called rare gases, added with various elements such as mercury, sodium, phosphorus, and also elements lining the walls of the discharge tube. The image of the object is stored electronically, has its color characteristics reversed or modified as desired, to be printed, enlarged, reduced or not, to be printed with the appropriate current software.

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement of close-up digital photography comprising a scanner 1, an enclosure or support 2 'arranged thereon and a photogenic cover 3' covering the enclosure.

The process is easily achievable by the very bright light released for example by tubes with mercury, of 18W, for example between 2 and 4 tubes housed in the appropriate translucent box. The tubes can be straight and mutually parallel. However, an arrangement of circular and concentric tubes can advantageously impart uniformly diffuse light.

A light opal box, 62 x 62 cm, sufficient to illuminate A4 or A3 size areas, containing 4 mercury vapor tubes such as those manufactured by the company PHILIPS (Model "TLD") each has 1300 lumens and a temperature of very high color of 6500 K, is thus successfully used for the creation of a photographic background of pure white. The housing is placed at a distance of 20-30-40-50 cm from the scanning range.

The same box, even placed at a very short distance from the scanning range, or even deposited thereon, also gives very good images of flat objects. It goes without saying that a box measuring the dimensions of the scanner is sufficient in the latter case. In practice, in the case of thick objects, the box is placed on an appropriate support, or else suspended above the scanning range at the desired height. The scanner can also be placed on variable thicknesses to be placed at the desired height of the light source. It is important that this is arranged symmetrically at the intersection of the diagonals of the scanning surface.

The method of imaging thick objects, as described above, is remarkably applicable to editing and graphics above all, since it is possible, thanks to the use of it, to avoid electronic retouching. expensive by eliminating the problem of the sharpness of the photographic background. In addition, said electronic alterations to transfer and manipulate digital photographs take quite a long time.

However, it is still possible to carry out any electronic correction of the image, to correct it, to modify it and to transfer it as desired.

The process nevertheless also presents a major advantage in terms of photocopying thick objects. There is also the possibility of immediately printing the images obtained and of sending them all over the world.

The process also allows an exceptional definition of the details of the photographed objects, and above all, those whose structure is discontinuous. In addition, the image created gives an illusion of remarkable relief. These qualities are verified as well in color mode as in black and white mode. To this is added that the lighting atmosphere creates notable artistic effects.

The process can be used successfully in the field of advertising since it is possible to create relief images with a striking effect. In this application the images can be edited in posters, in lighted panels, and / or in various catalogs. In the field of illustrated publishing, images of remarkable quality can be obtained. Furthermore, in this application, they can even be juxtaposed in composite assemblies.

As for the scientific field, the prospects are immense for the collections of museums or scientific institutions. This is the case for the creation for example, or the quite remarkable creation of a digital color herbarium representing the flora of many countries, including the most remote regions of the globe, of an archaeological imagery, imagery in various natural sciences, or medical imagery, and the like.

Also in the industrial field, the method according to the invention can be usefully applied for the creation of images of various prototypes, of tools. In addition, the method can be used for printing wallpapers, fabrics, etc.

The possibilities are therefore very numerous and varied and are further widened by the possibility that, with the aid of current software, it is possible to increase or reduce the dimensions of the image. Thus in botany for example, an enlargement of five to six times makes it possible to obtain a vision which one could not obtain except with a magnifying glass. In the latter case, however, the magnifying glass only gives an ephemeral result, unlike the invention which makes it possible to obtain a lasting and permanent result.

With the aforementioned process, the digital image can be stored, reproduced, and sent immediately on the spot all over the world, which is of capital interest in scientific matter in particular or even in judicial matter for the representation of pieces to conviction.

The aforementioned method therefore also applies to digital photography of translucent images, such as slides, various films, negatives, x-rays, and the like, which are reproduced as such, or which can be modified by means of current software. to be thereby enlarged, reduced, colored, darkened or lightened, if necessary with color inversion, and the like. This is a very important application at the moment given the new means available recently, in terms of electronic mail such as e-mail in particular.

The advantage is considerable, if one takes into account in particular the very high cost of the existing special apparatuses necessary to achieve the same ends. Indeed, we can now, by simply having a flatbed scanner, a printer and a cold light source at high K, reproduce at home translucent planar objects, such as the slides of notable events that one wishes to reproduce digitally to preserve intact a precious memory.

In terms of archiving, the aforementioned process allows easy digitization of the slides stored in museums, scientific institutions, or even personal collections. X-rays can likewise be electronically archived and reproduced.

In cinematography, the images of selected films can be transcribed as well. Photographic negatives can be reproduced by the color inversion set provided by the appropriate software and subsequently amended.

Claims

1 ° Process for digital photography, in color or in black and white, of three-dimensional opaque objects placed on the surface of a flatbed scanner and lit by very intense cold light, at very high color temperature, produced by electroluminescence of rare gas tubes, added with suitable vaporizable elements such as mercury, acting jointly with the phosphorescent elements lining the internal walls of the discharge tube, the image being stored electronically, and reproduced by an electronic printing means in particular of printer type on a certain scale and can be transmitted electronically.

2 ° Method of digital photography, in color or in black and white, of translucent flat type objects, such as films, slides, x-rays, negatives arranged on the surface of a flat scanner and illuminated by a very intense cold light, at very high color temperature, produced by electroluminescence of rare gas tubes, added with suitable vaporizable elements such as mercury, acting in conjunction with the phosphorescent elements lining the internal walls of the discharge tube, the image being stored electronically, and reproduced by an electronic printing means in particular of the printer type on a certain scale and which can be transmitted electronically.

3 ° A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image of the object is stored electronically and reproduced on a printer, enlarged, reduced or not, by the use of associated software.

4 ° Method according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the light is produced by a photogenic assembly without thermogenic danger, while producing a homogeneous background, preferably a white background, par excellence a pure white and making the colors almost identical.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the photogenic assembly comprises one or more tubes and is housed in a clear, translucent, opaline box, diffusing the cold light induced in a substantially homogeneous manner over the range of the scanner.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the white photographic background is subjected to a change in color by the interposition between the scanner surface and the light source of colored filters, in particular glass, cellophane , plastic and / or thin papers and / or by the use of variously colored tubes.

7. Method according to one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the photogenic box is arranged on a support or an enclosure whose height is adjustable above the object or objects to be photographed, if necessary in conjunction with a possible displacement of the scanner. himself.

8 The method of claim 4 to 6 wherein the photogenic box is suspended at an adjustable height above the scanner.

9 Method according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the object or objects are suspended just above the range of the scanner.

10 Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light box substantially matches the shape of the scanner on which it is deposited.

11 Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the objects are fixed to a window deposited on the beach.

12 Method according to one of the preceding claims wherein the light is produced in low pressure mercury vapor tubes.

13 Method according to one of the preceding claims, allowing printing on various supports, by printing methods, such as offset, flexography, serigraphy, rotogravure, xerography and any electronic process, by inkjet or laser in particular.

14 Method according to one of claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the object photographed is a slide.

The method of claim 14, wherein the object photographed is a film film.

The method of claim 14, wherein the object the object being photographed is a photographic negative.

17 The method of claim 16, wherein the negative results from an aerial photograph taken by aircraft, satellites or spacecraft.

18 The method of claim 2, wherein the object photographed is an x-ray.

19 The method of claim 2, wherein the image to be photographed has been produced microscopically.