JP2000069277A - Image processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To revise the intensity of soft focus when generating a soft focus image. SOLUTION: An image data processing section 214 consists of a peripheral light quantity correction section 222, a blurred image generating section 232, a combining section 234 and an addition ratio setting section 236. The blurred image generating section 232 generates blurred image data based on fine scan data obtd. by applying various correction processing and adjustments by the peripheral light quantity correction section 222 or the like. The addition ratio setting section 236 sets an addition ratio in the case of synthesizing the fine scan data and the fogged image data based on desired soft focus strength. The combining section 234 combines the fine scan data and the fogged image data at the set addition ratio. The sot focus image based on output image data outputted through the processing is outputted with desired soft focus intensity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus which performs predetermined image processing on image data obtained by photoelectrically reading an original image to obtain output image data. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a frame image recorded on a photographic film is photoelectrically read by a reading sensor such as a CCD, and image processing such as enlargement / reduction and various corrections is performed on digital image data obtained by the reading. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a technique of executing an image and forming an image on a recording material using a laser beam modulated based on image-processed digital image data.

As described above, in the technique of digitally reading a frame image using a reading sensor such as a CCD or the like, a frame image is preliminarily read (so-called pre-scan) and the frame image is read in order to realize accurate reading of the image. Reading conditions according to the density etc.
, And the frame image is read again under the determined reading conditions (so-called fine scan).

Here, there is a case where an original image data (fine scan data) obtained by executing a fine scan is subjected to image processing to create a soft focus image.

In this case, first, a high frequency component and a medium frequency component are removed from original image data obtained by executing a fine scan using a filter, and only original image data of a low frequency component is extracted. Generate blur image data. That is, blurred image data representing a blurred image with reduced sharpness of the original image is generated. Subsequently, the blurred image data and the original image data (fine scan data) are combined to generate reproduction image data used for reproducing an image. By reproducing an image based on the image data for reproduction generated in this way, a soft focus image can be created (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-172600).

[0006]

However, as described above, when generating blurred image data and original image data to generate output image data and creating a soft focus image, blurred image data and Addition ratio when combining the original image data (the ratio of the weight when combining the blurred image data and the original image data) and the blurring degree of the blurred image in which the sharpness of the original image represented by the original image data is reduced Is always constant.

Accordingly, the soft focus intensity of the soft focus image reproduced based on the reproduction image data generated by combining the blurred image data and the original image data is always constant and cannot be changed. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus capable of changing the soft focus intensity when a soft focus image is created.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is based on original image data.
Blurred image data generating means for generating blurred image data representing a blurred image in which the sharpness of the original image represented by the original image data has been reduced, blurred image data generated by the blurred image data generating means, and the original image data Addition ratio setting means for setting an addition ratio when combining the image data, and based on the addition ratio set by the addition ratio setting means, the blurred image data and the original image data are combined to output image data. Image data synthesizing means for generating.

[0010] The image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided with a blurred image data generating means for generating blurred image data representing a blurred image in which the sharpness of the original image represented by the original image data has been reduced. I have. The blurred image data generating means can generate the blurred image data by, for example, removing a high frequency component and a medium frequency component constituting the original image data through a filter and extracting a low frequency component.

Further, the image processing apparatus is provided with an addition ratio setting means for setting an addition ratio when the blurred image data and the original image data are combined. The addition ratio is a ratio of weight when combining blurred image data and image data. The addition ratio setting means can set the addition ratio by performing an arithmetic process based on the blurred image data and the original image data so that the soft focus intensity of the soft focus image to be created has a desired value.

The image processing apparatus further includes image data synthesizing means for synthesizing the blurred image data and the original image data based on the addition ratio set by the addition ratio setting means to generate output image data. Have been. By outputting an image using output image data generated by the image data synthesizing means, a soft focus image can be created. The soft focus intensity of the soft focus image is considered in advance when setting the addition ratio when combining the blurred image data and the original image data. That is, the addition ratio is set according to the desired soft focus intensity. For example, when the soft focus intensity is increased, it can be realized by setting a high addition ratio of the blurred image data when combining the blurred image data and the original image data. On the other hand, the soft focus intensity can be reduced by setting the addition ratio of the blurred image data low.

Accordingly, the addition ratio when combining the blurred image data and the original image data can be set according to the desired soft focus intensity, so that the soft focus intensity of the soft focus image can be changed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a blur degree changing means for changing the degree of blur of the blur image data generated by the blur image generating means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to change the degree of blurring in the blurred image data alone to be synthesized with the original image data. Can be expanded.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a face for extracting an area corresponding to a person's face in the original image based on the original image data. A region extraction unit; and a determination unit that determines a size of a region corresponding to the face extracted by the face region extraction unit. The addition ratio setting unit corresponds to the face determined by the determination unit. An addition ratio for combining the blurred image data and the original image data is set based on the size of the region to be blurred.

Despite the fact that the area corresponding to the face of a person in the original image is small, if a soft focus image is created with a high soft focus intensity, the face of the person may not be able to be specified. Therefore, in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the blurred image data generating means, the adding ratio setting means, and the image data synthesizing means, a face area for extracting an area corresponding to a human face in the original image is provided. There are provided extraction means and determination means for determining the size of an area corresponding to the extracted face. As the face area extracting means, for example, the original image data is converted into hue and saturation values for each pixel,
An area corresponding to a person's face can be extracted based on the distribution information. Further, the determination means can determine the size of the area corresponding to the face by counting the number of pixels in the area corresponding to the extracted face, for example.

The addition ratio setting means provided in the image processing apparatus having such a configuration sets the addition ratio based on the size of the area corresponding to the extracted face. That is, when the area corresponding to the face in the original image is small, the addition ratio is set so that the soft focus intensity becomes weak. Therefore, when the area corresponding to the face of the person in the original image is small, the soft focus intensity at the time of creating the soft focus image is limited. Therefore, it is necessary to reliably identify the person in the created soft focus image. Can be.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein an output based on the output image data generated by the image data synthesizing means is output. Means, and an addition ratio input means for inputting information for instructing correction of the addition ratio set by the addition ratio setting means, further comprising: an addition ratio setting means via the addition ratio input means. When information for instructing the correction of the addition ratio is input, the addition ratio is corrected according to the input information.

The image processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention further includes an output unit that outputs an image based on the output image data. As the output means, for example, a recording material, a CRT, or the like is used, and a soft focus image is output. Further, the image processing apparatus is also provided with an addition ratio input unit for inputting information for instructing the correction of the addition ratio when combining the blurred image data and the original image data. As the addition ratio input means, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like is used, and information for instructing correction of the addition ratio can be input by an operator's operation.

In the image processing apparatus having such a configuration,
When the operator views the soft focus image output to the output unit, the operator may recognize that the soft focus intensity needs to be corrected. For example, there is a case where the face of the person in the soft focus image cannot be specified. In this case, the operator inputs information for instructing the correction of the addition ratio by the addition ratio input means. Therefore, the addition ratio setting means calculates again and corrects the addition ratio when combining the blurred image data and the original image data based on the input information. Thus, a soft focus image having a desired soft focus intensity can be created.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the output means is a monitor for displaying an image based on the output image data. The image after the correction is sequentially displayed based on the correction instruction information input by the addition ratio input means or the change information changed by the blur degree changing means.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the corrected image based on the correction instruction information or the change information is sequentially displayed on the monitor, so that the corrected image can be confirmed in real time, and an appropriate A soft focus image can be obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the addition ratio input means substantially designates a size of a person's face in the image displayed on the monitor. It is characterized in that an addition ratio or a degree of blurring of blurred image data suitable for a substantially designated face size is set.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the strength of the soft focus mostly depends on the size of the face of the person in the image. Since the face size can be set while looking at the monitor, the face extraction accuracy is high. If the accuracy of the face extraction is improved, the addition ratio of the blurred image can be made appropriate. Note that erroneous extraction can be reduced as compared with the case where face extraction is performed automatically.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect, an image is displayed on the monitor based on low-resolution image data created from the output image data. That is, at least one of the addition ratio and the degree of blur of the blurred image data is reset so that the display result of the image based on the low-resolution data is equivalent to the degree of blur of the actually output image. Features.

According to the invention described in claim 7, when an image is displayed on a monitor, if high-resolution data is used, it takes time to display the image and the amount of memory becomes enormous. The low-resolution data is used to reduce the display access time, reduce the amount of memory, and match the degree of blur between the display with the low-resolution data and the actual output image. Disappears.

In the present invention, low-resolution data for monitor display may be newly created. However, when an image is read, first, a pre-scan is performed at a relatively low resolution in order to check the state of the image. In the case where the reading light amount is adjusted based on the pre-scan data and applied to an image reading apparatus that performs fine scanning again at a relatively high resolution, the pre-scan data can be used for a monitor image.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the sixth aspect of the present invention, based on the original image data, the sharpness of the original image represented by the original image data is changed according to a preset degree of blur. Blur image data generating means for generating blur image data representing a reduced blur image, and blur degree setting means for setting the degree of blur for the original image of the blur image represented by the blur image data generated by the blur image data generating means And image data combining means for combining the blurred image data generated by the blurred image data generating means with the original image data to generate output image data.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention generates blurred image data representing a blurred image in which the sharpness of the original image represented by the original image data is reduced in accordance with a preset blurring degree. A blurred image data generating means is provided. The blur degree is the degree of occurrence of blur with respect to the original image of the blur image represented by the blur image data, and is set by the blur degree setting means. This blur degree setting means can set the degree of blur based on the soft focus intensity of the soft focus image to be created. For example, when the soft focus intensity is increased, it can be realized by setting a large degree of blur of the blur image represented by the blur image data with respect to the original image. On the other hand, when the soft focus intensity is weakened, it can be realized by setting the degree of blur to be small. Further, the image processing apparatus is provided with image data synthesizing means for synthesizing the blurred image data and the image data to generate output image data, and uses the output image data generated by the image data synthesizing means. By outputting an image, a soft focus image can be created.

Therefore, the degree of blurring of the blurred image represented by the blurred image data with respect to the original image can be set according to the desired soft focus intensity, so that the soft focus intensity of the soft focus image can be changed.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a face area extracting means for extracting an area corresponding to a face of a person in the original image based on the original image data. Determining means for determining the size of the area corresponding to the face extracted by the face area extracting means, wherein the blur degree setting means determines the size of the area corresponding to the face determined by the determining means. On the basis of this, the degree of blurring of the blurred image represented by the blurred image data with respect to the original image is set.

If a soft focus image is created by setting a strong soft focus intensity in spite of the fact that the area corresponding to the face of the person in the original image is small, the face of the person may not be able to be specified. That is, in a soft focus image created by setting a large degree of blur, a human face may not be specified. Therefore, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the degree-of-blur setting means determines the size of the area corresponding to the face of the person in the original image extracted by the face area extracting means and determined by the determining means. The degree of blur is set based on the degree. For example, when the area corresponding to the extracted face is small, the degree of blur is set to be small so that the soft focus intensity is weak. As a result, the person can be reliably specified even in the soft focus image created when the area corresponding to the face of the person in the original image is small.

[0034] The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 8.
Alternatively, in the invention according to claim 9, output means for outputting an image based on the output image data generated by the image data synthesizing means, and information for instructing correction of the degree of blur set by the degree of blur setting means Further, the blur degree input means for inputting, the blur degree setting means, when the information indicating the correction of the blur degree input via the blur degree input means, is input,
The method is characterized in that the degree of blur is corrected according to the input information.

According to the image processing apparatus of the tenth aspect, the operator may determine that the soft focus intensity needs to be corrected by visually observing the soft focus image output to the output means. In this case, for example, information for instructing correction of the degree of blur is input by a blur degree input means such as a keyboard or a mouse. When the information instructing the correction of the degree of blur is thus input, the degree-of-blur setting means determines, based on the input information,
The degree of blurring of the blurred image represented by the blurred image data with respect to the original image is corrected. Thus, a soft focus image having a desired soft focus intensity can be created.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the image data synthesizing means creates a blur image of each color of the original image RGB,
The blurred image is synthesized for each color of the original image RGB.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since there is a color that is easily noticeable or inconspicuous for human eyes depending on each color of the original image RGB, a blurred image is generated for each color and synthesized. I do. The generation of the blurred image is an orthodox method, and by doing so, it is not necessary to add another color to obtain a soft focus image.

The twelfth aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
10. The invention according to claim 9, wherein the image data synthesizing means creates a blurred image for the Y signal, and synthesizes the blurred image with each of the original image RGB colors.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, by using the Y signal to which each color of the original image RGB is distributed, the blur image data can be reduced to one and the processing can be simplified.

Original image RGB for generating this Y signal
Examples of the ratio of each color are as follows. Y = 0.3R + 0.6G + 0.1B Y = 0.33R + 0.33G + 0.33B

[0041]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a digital laboratory system according to the first embodiment will be described.

(Schematic Configuration of Entire System) FIGS. 1 and 2
1 shows a schematic configuration of a digital laboratory system 10 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital lab system 10 includes a line CCD scanner 14, an image processing unit 16, a laser printer unit 18, and a processor unit 20. The processing unit 16 is integrated as the input unit 26 shown in FIG.
Are integrated as an output unit 28 shown in FIG.

The line CCD scanner 14 is for reading a frame image recorded on a photographic film such as a negative film or a reversal film.
5 size photographic film, 110 size photographic film, and photographic film with a transparent magnetic layer (24
0 size photographic film: so-called APS film), 12
Frame images of photographic film of size 0 and size 220 (Brownie size) can be read. The line CCD scanner 14 reads the frame image to be read by the line CCD 30, A / D converts it in the A / D converter 32, and outputs the image data to the image processor 16.

In the first embodiment, a digital lab system 10 in which a 240-size photographic film (APS film) 68 is used will be described.

The image processing section 16 stores image data (scanned image data) output from the line CCD scanner 14.
Is input, and image data obtained by photographing with the digital camera 34 or the like, a document (for example, a reflection document, etc.)
Data obtained by reading the image data with a scanner 36 (flat bed type), image data generated by another computer and recorded in a floppy disk drive 38, MO drive or CD drive 40, and received via a modem 42 The communication image data and the like (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as file image data) can be input from the outside.

The image processing section 16 stores the input image data in the image memory 44, and performs a color gradation processing section 46, a hypertone processing section 48, and a hyper sharpness processing section 50.
Image processing such as various corrections and the like, and outputs the image data to the laser printer unit 18 as recording image data. Further, the image processing unit 16 outputs the image data subjected to the image processing to an external device as an image file (for example, outputs the image data to a storage medium such as an FD, an MO, a CD, or to another information processing device via a communication line). Transmission, etc.).

The laser printer unit 18 includes R, G, and B laser light sources 52, and controls a laser driver 54 to record image data (temporarily stored in the image memory 56) input from the image processing unit 16. Is irradiated onto the photographic paper, and an image is printed on the photographic paper 62 by scanning exposure (in the first embodiment, an optical system mainly using the polygon mirror 58 and the fθ lens 60). Record. Further, the processor unit 20 includes the laser printer unit 1.
At step 8, the photographic paper 62 on which the image has been recorded by the scanning exposure is subjected to color development, bleach-fixing, washing, and drying.
Thus, an image is formed on the printing paper.

(Configuration of Line CCD Scanner) Next, the configuration of the line CCD scanner 14 will be described. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an optical system of the line CCD scanner 14. This optical system includes a light source 66 for irradiating a photographic film 68 with light.
A light diffusing plate 72 for diffusing light irradiated on the photographic film 68 is provided.

The photographic film 68 is formed by a film carrier 74 disposed on the side where the light diffusion plate 72 is disposed.
The frame image is conveyed so that the screen is perpendicular to the optical axis.

On the opposite side of the photographic film 68 from the light source 66, a lens unit 76 for forming light transmitted through the frame image and the line CCD 30 are sequentially arranged along the optical axis. Although only a single lens is shown as the lens unit 76, the lens unit 76 is actually a zoom lens including a plurality of lenses. Note that a selfoc lens may be used as the lens unit 76. In this case, it is preferable that both end surfaces of the SELFOC lens be as close to the photographic film 68 and the line CCD 30 as possible.

The line CCDs 30 are arranged in a line along the width direction of the photographic film 68 conveyed by a plurality of CCD cells, and three sensing lines provided with an electronic shutter mechanism are provided in parallel with each other at intervals. Each of the R, G, and B color separation filters is mounted on the light incident side of each sensing unit (a so-called three-line color CCD). The line CCD 30 is arranged so that the light receiving surface of each sensing unit coincides with the imaging point position of the lens unit 76.

Although not shown, the line CCD 3
A shutter is provided between the lens unit 0 and the lens unit 76.

(Configuration of Control System of Image Processing Unit 16) FIG. 3 shows the main components of the image processing unit 16 shown in FIG.
8, a detailed control block diagram for executing each processing of the hyper sharpness processing unit 50 is shown.

Each of the RGB digital signals output from the line CCD scanner 14 is subjected to predetermined data processing such as darkness correction, defective pixel correction, and shading correction in a data processing unit 200, and then a Log converter 202. The pre-scan data is stored in the pre-scan memory 204, and the fine scan data is stored in the fine scan memory 206.

The pre-scan data stored in the pre-scan memory 204 is transmitted to the pre-scan processing unit 2 comprising an image data processing unit 208 and an image data conversion unit 210.
12 is sent. On the other hand, the fine scan memory 20
The fine scan data stored in No. 6 is sent to a fine scan processing unit 218 composed of an image data processing unit 214 and an image data conversion unit 216.

The pre-scan processing unit 212 and the fine scan processing unit 218 execute correction based on the lens characteristics at the time of photographing an image and the strobe light distribution characteristics at the time of photographing using a strobe. In addition, the fine scan processing unit 218 performs a process for generating output image data for generating a soft focus image.

The image data processing units 208 and 216 perform color balance adjustment, contrast adjustment (color gradation processing),
Brightness correction, saturation correction (hypertone processing), hypersharpness processing, etc.
X) It is executed by a known method such as an operation.

The image data processing units 208 and 218 are provided with peripheral light amount correction units 220 and 222 for correcting the light amount at the periphery (background) of the image before the above-described adjustment, correction, and the like. The peripheral light amount correction units 220 and 222 correct the peripheral (background) light amount drop with respect to the main subject (person, etc.) based on the lens characteristics.

The image data processing unit 218 of the fine scan processing unit 218 includes the peripheral light amount correction unit 222 described above,
It is configured to include a blurred image creating unit 232, a combining unit 234, and an addition ratio setting unit 236.

The blurred image creating section 232 is connected to the peripheral light amount correcting section 222. The blurred image creating unit 232 includes a filter (IIR filter) (not shown), and removes high frequency components and medium frequency components of the fine scan data adjusted and corrected by the peripheral light amount correcting unit 222 and the like. . Thereby, the blurred image creating unit 23
2 outputs fine scan data of only low frequency components. The fine scan data of only the low frequency component is blur image data representing a blur image in which the sharpness of the frame image represented by the fine scan data not passing through the filter is reduced. That is, the blur image creation unit 232
Generates and outputs blurred image data representing a blurred image. The degree of decrease in the sharpness (degree of blur) is normally executed by a predetermined default value, but can be changed by a manual operation of the operator. When a face extraction described later is performed, a default value or a manual operation value may be automatically adjusted based on the face extraction area.

The synthesizing unit 234 is connected to the peripheral light amount correcting unit 222 and the blurred image creating unit 232. Therefore, the fine scan data adjusted and corrected by the peripheral light amount correction unit 222 and the like and the blurred image data generated by the blurred image creation unit 232 are input to the combining unit 234. The synthesizing unit 234 generates synthesized image data by synthesizing the fine scan data and the blurred image data, and converts the synthesized image data to the image data conversion unit 2.
16 is output.

The combining unit 234 includes an addition ratio setting unit 236
Is connected. The addition ratio setting unit 236 sets an addition ratio when the fine scan data and the blurred image data are combined. The addition ratio is a weight ratio when the fine scan data and the blurred image data are combined, and is set according to the soft focus intensity of the soft focus image output by the laser printer unit 18. Therefore, the synthesizing unit 234 sets the addition ratio setting unit 2
Fine scan data and blurred image data (for example, a default value) are synthesized based on the addition ratio set in 36, and the synthesized image data is output.

Image data converter 210 on prescan side
In, the image data processed by the image data processing unit 208 is converted into display image data to be displayed on the monitor 16M based on the 3D-LUT. On the other hand, in the image data conversion unit 216 on the fine scan side, the image data processed by the image data processing unit 214, that is, the synthesized image data output from the synthesis unit 234, is printed by the laser printer unit 18 based on the 3D-LUT. Is converted to image data for use. The display image data and the print image data have different color systems, but they are matched by correction.

The pre-scan processing section 212 and the fine scan processing section 218 are connected to a condition setting section 224 composed of a setup section 226, a key correction section 228, and a parameter integration section 230.

The setup unit 226 includes a CP (not shown).
The microcomputer includes a microcomputer including a U, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output port, and stores a soft focus intensity changing routine shown in FIG. 4 in advance. The setup unit 226 sets reading conditions at the time of executing the fine scan using the pre-scan data, and supplies the read conditions to the line CCD scanner 14. Further, the pre-scan processing unit 212 and the fine scan processing unit 21
8 is calculated and supplied to the parameter integration unit 230.

The key correction unit 228 is used to adjust image processing conditions in accordance with keys set on the keyboard 16K for adjusting density, color, contrast, sharpness, saturation, etc., and various instructions input with a mouse. Is calculated and supplied to the parameter integration unit 230.

The parameter integration section 230 sends the image processing conditions received from the setup section 226 and the key correction section 228 to the image data processing sections 208 and 214 on the prescan side and the fine scan side, and corrects or regenerates the image processing conditions. To be set.

The condition setting section 224 is connected to a film property storage section 232, which stores various film properties. The film characteristic is a gradation characteristic (γ characteristic), and is generally represented by a curve whose density changes three-dimensionally according to the amount of exposure. Since this point is a well-known technique, detailed description will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the film type is specified by recording information indicating the film type in the magnetic recording layer of the APS film.
4 can be read by a magnetic head when transported by the carrier 74. In the case of a 135-size film, the determination may be made based on its shape (perforations are provided at relatively short pitches at both ends in the width direction) or the like, or an operator may make a key input.

Further, a lens characteristic data supply unit 234 is connected to the condition setting unit 224. The lens characteristic data supply unit 234 acquires information for identifying the camera that has photographed the film, and obtains the lens characteristic corresponding to the photographing camera corresponding to the acquired identification information, using the peripheral light amount correction unit 220,
222.

That is, the lens characteristic data supply unit 234
Has a memory (table). This memory includes lenses (for example, lenses applied to LF, strobes and interchangeable lenses mounted on general cameras) corresponding to various camera types. In the first embodiment, mainly L
The lens for F is used as a correction target. ) Are stored. The light distribution characteristics vary depending on the shooting distance, and a plurality of light distribution characteristics corresponding to the shooting distance are stored for each strobe.

When the peripheral light amount is corrected based on the lens characteristics, it is possible to reduce a change in light amount between the person as the main subject and the background.

In the lens characteristic data supply unit 234, the acquired lens characteristic data (for example, the lens characteristic of a film with a lens, the light reduction amount Δlo
gE is increasing (negative trend). ), The light distribution characteristics are read out and supplied to the peripheral light amount correction units 220 and 222. The shooting distance is APS
If it is a film, it may be recorded on the magnetic recording layer.
If the film is a 135 size film or the like, it may be optically recorded or a separate recording medium may be used.

(Operation of First Embodiment) Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The operator inserts the photographic film 68 into the film carrier 74 and operates the keyboard 1 of the image processing section 16.
When the start of frame image reading is instructed by 6K, the transport of the photographic film 22 is started in the film carrier 74.
By this transport, a pre-scan is performed. That is, while the photographic film 68 is transported at a relatively high speed, the line CCD scanner 14 reads not only the frame image but also various data outside the image recording area of the photographic film 68. Accordingly, information on the film type of the photographic film 68 recorded on the magnetic recording layer 70 and information on the photographing lens provided in the camera are simultaneously read. Note that the size of the frame image recorded on the photographic film 68 is recognized. For example, in the case of a panorama-size frame image, light-through portions unique to the panorama-size image (both ends in the width direction of the photographic film) are shielded. And read.

When the prescan data is stored in the prescan memory 204, the prescan data processing unit 21
In step 2, various adjustments such as color balance adjustment and contrast adjustment, and various corrections such as brightness correction and saturation correction are performed.
The peripheral light amount correction unit 220 reads the pre-scan data and performs peripheral light amount correction. An image based on the display image data obtained by correcting the pre-scan data is displayed on the monitor 16M.

When the pre-scan is completed, the reading conditions at the time of executing the fine scan are set for each frame image based on the pre-scan result of each frame image, and the reading conditions at the time of executing the fine scan are set based on the pre-scan result. Conditions are set for each frame image.

When the setting of the reading conditions at the time of executing the fine scan for all the frame images is completed, the photographic film 68 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the prescan, and the fine scan of each frame image is executed.

At this time, since the photographic film 68 is being conveyed in the direction opposite to that in the pre-scan, the fine scan is executed sequentially from the last frame to the first frame.
In the fine scan, the transport speed is set slower than in the pre-scan, and the reading resolution is accordingly increased. In addition, at the time of pre-scanning, the image state (for example, captured image aspect ratio, under, normal, over,
Since the shooting state such as super-over and the presence / absence of flash shooting are recognized, it is possible to read under appropriate reading conditions.

The fine scan is performed in substantially the same manner as the pre-scan, and the output signal from the line CCD 30 is A
The signal is converted into a digital signal by the / D converter 32,
The data is processed by the data processing unit 200, and is converted into fine scan data by the Log converter 202 and sent to the fine scan memory 206.

When the fine scan data is sent to the fine scan memory 206, it is read out by the fine scan processing unit 218 and
At 18, each processing including image processing similar to the processing in the prescan processing unit 212 is performed. As one of them, there is a process of changing the soft focus intensity of a soft focus image to be created. This processing will be described with reference to a soft focus intensity changing routine shown in FIG. The soft focus intensity changing routine shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the setup unit 226 in advance, and is executed when the sensor (not shown) detects that the fine scan has ended.

When the execution of the fine scan is completed, first, in step 100, the fine scan memory 2
The fine scan data stored in 06 is read. In the next step 102, various adjustments such as light amount correction, color balance adjustment, contrast adjustment, and various corrections such as brightness correction and saturation correction are performed on the fine scan data by the peripheral light amount correction unit 222, and the process proceeds to step 104. I do.

In step 104, the blurred image creating section 232
Generates blurred image data. This is done by passing the fine scan data, which has been subjected to various adjustments and corrections, through a filter (not shown), removing the high frequency component and the middle frequency component from the components that make up the fine scan data, and converting the low frequency component into fine scan data. Generated by That is, fine scan data of only low frequency components corresponds to blurred image data.

In the next step 106, an addition ratio for synthesizing the fine scan data and the blurred image data is set. The setting of the addition ratio is performed by the addition ratio setting unit 236. For example, if the operator
When a desired soft focus intensity is input by operating K, the addition ratio setting unit 236 sets the addition ratio based on the fine scan data and the blurred image data so that the soft focus intensity becomes a desired value (input value). Calculate and set.

After setting the addition ratio, in step 108, the fine scan data and the blurred image data are combined based on the set addition ratio to generate combined image data, and this routine ends.

The composite image data generated by the image data processing section 214 is output to the image data conversion section 216.
The image data conversion unit 216 converts the synthesized image data into color system image data (image data for printing) suitable for the laser printer unit 18 and outputs the image data.

The laser printer section 18 outputs an image on a recording material based on image data for printing. Thus, a soft focus image having a desired soft focus intensity is recorded on the recording material.

As described above, the addition ratio when synthesizing the fine scan data and the blurred image data can be set according to the desired soft focus intensity.
The soft focus intensity of the soft focus image can be changed.

If the soft focus strength is set high when the area corresponding to the face of the person in the frame image recorded on the photographic film is small, the face of the person cannot be specified in the created soft focus image. Sometimes. For this reason, it is good also as a structure which can extract the area | region corresponding to the person's face in a frame image previously, and can change soft focus intensity based on the magnitude | size of the area | region corresponding to the extracted face. That is, the addition ratio when combining the fine scan data and the blurred image data may be set based on the size of the area corresponding to the extracted face. At this time, if the extracted face area is small, the addition ratio is set so that the soft focus intensity becomes weak. As a result, the face of the person can be reliably specified even in the soft focus image created when the area corresponding to the face of the person in the frame image is small.

The operator operates the laser printer unit 18.
When the soft focus image output by the above is visually observed, it may be determined that the soft focus intensity needs to be corrected, that is, the addition ratio when combining the fine scan data and the blurred image data needs to be corrected. In this case, information for instructing the correction of the addition ratio is input by input means such as a keyboard or a mouse, and the addition ratio setting unit calculates the addition ratio again based on the input information, the fine scan data, and the blurred image data. And fix it.
By combining the fine scan data and the blurred image data with the corrected addition ratio to generate composite image data and outputting an image based on the print image data converted by the image data conversion unit, a desired soft focus An intense soft focus image can be output.

In the first embodiment, the blurred image data generated by the blurred image creating unit is always the same, and the addition ratio when combining the fine scan data and the blurred image data is set to the soft focus intensity. Although the configuration in which the soft focus intensity of the soft focus image can be changed by setting according to the above has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by setting the addition ratio when synthesizing the fine scan data and the blurred image data to a predetermined (constant) value, and setting the blurred image data generated by the blurred image creating unit according to the soft focus intensity. A configuration in which the soft focus intensity of the soft focus image can be changed may be adopted. This will be described below.

The blurred image data is data representing a blurred image in which the sharpness of the frame image represented by the fine scan data is reduced. This is generated based on fine scan data obtained by reading a frame image. At this time, the degree of blur of the blur image represented by the blur image data with respect to the frame image is set according to the desired soft focus intensity, and blur image data is generated. The blurred image data and fine scan data thus generated are combined at a predetermined addition ratio to generate combined image data, and an image is output based on the print image data converted by the image data conversion unit. By doing
A soft focus image with a desired soft focus intensity can be output. That is, even when the degree of blur of the blurred image with respect to the frame image is set according to the soft focus intensity, the soft focus intensity of the soft focus image is set in the same manner as when the above-described addition ratio is set according to the soft focus intensity. Can be changed.

Further, both the addition ratio when combining the fine scan data and the blurred image data and the degree of blurring of the blurred image represented by the blurred image data with respect to the frame image are set in accordance with the soft focus intensity. A configuration in which the soft focus intensity of an image can be changed may be adopted.

Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the intensity of the soft focus image can be arbitrarily changed and the addition ratio or the degree of blur is set in accordance with the case has been described as an example. It is not limited. For example, the intensity of the soft focus image is determined in advance in several steps (for example, weak, slightly weak, medium, slightly strong, strong, etc.)
The addition ratio or the degree of blur along this may be stored in advance, and the predetermined addition ratio or the degree of blur may be read and set in accordance with the soft focus intensity to be changed. However, the method of determining the intensity of the soft focus image in several steps is to extract a region corresponding to the face of the person in the frame image in advance as described above, and to perform soft extraction based on the size of the region corresponding to the extracted face. This is effective except when changing the focus intensity. (Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, since the configuration of the entire system is the same as that of the first embodiment, FIGS. 1 to 3 are diverted, and the description of the configuration is omitted and the same as necessary. Each part is indicated by a reference numeral.

The feature of the second embodiment is that, when a soft focus image is obtained, the monitor 1 of the image processing unit 16
6M (see FIG. 1) to set an appropriate addition ratio while viewing the image displayed on the monitor 16M.

Here, in the second embodiment, a table (LUT) in which a blurred image addition ratio with respect to the face size is registered in advance in applying the monitor 16M. On the monitor 16M, a frame whose size and aspect ratio can be appropriately changed by operating the keyboard 16K or the mouse is displayed so as to overlap the image, and a minimum frame including a person's face in the image is set. Is available. An optimum image addition ratio is set from the LUT according to the size of this frame. Also,
The blurring degree of the blurred image to be synthesized with the original image with reduced sharpness is generated by a default value or an arbitrary change value by an operator, but is automatically or manually changed (re-changed) according to the size of the frame. Setting).

The image displayed on the monitor 16M is
The image is displayed based on the low resolution data at the time of the prescan.

The soft focus images synthesized according to the set image addition ratio are sequentially displayed on the monitor 16M.

Here, since the image displayed on the monitor 16M is based on the low resolution data, and the image data actually output is the high resolution data, the difference between the soft focus images caused by the different data is as follows. The correction value is determined in advance so that there is no difference in color tone between the image displayed on the monitor 16M and the actual output image.

The operation of the soft focus intensity change control according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the execution of the fine scan is completed, first, at step 300, the fine scan memory 2
The fine scan data stored in 06 is read. In the next step 302, various adjustments such as light amount correction, color balance adjustment, contrast adjustment, and various corrections such as brightness correction and saturation correction are performed on the fine scan data by the peripheral light amount correction unit 222, and the process proceeds to step 304. I do.

In step 304, the blurred image creating unit 232
Generates blurred image data. This is done by passing the fine scan data, which has been subjected to various adjustments and corrections, through a filter (not shown), removing the high frequency component and the middle frequency component from the components that make up the fine scan data, and converting the low frequency component into fine scan data. Generated by That is, fine scan data of only low frequency components corresponds to blurred image data.

In the next step 306, the pre-scan data is read, and then in step 308, an image based on the pre-scan data is displayed on the monitor 16M. By using the display on the monitor 16M as pre-scan data, the access speed becomes faster than using fine scan data, and quick processing becomes possible. Also, the amount of memory is small.

In the next step 310, the middle face frame is displayed so as to overlap the image displayed on the monitor 16M. The size and aspect ratio of the face extraction frame can be changed by operating the keyboard 16K or the mouse.

In the next step 312, the keyboard 16K is adjusted to match this face extraction frame with the face of a person in the image.
Alternatively, operate the mouse to enlarge and reduce and move the frame. In the next step 314, it is determined whether or not the position of the frame has been determined, that is, whether or not the frame has been fitted to the face.
Continue moving.

If it is determined in step 314 that the relative position between the face position and the frame position has been determined, the process proceeds to step 316.

In step 316, an addition ratio when prescan data and blurred image data are combined is set. The setting of the addition ratio is performed by the addition ratio setting unit 236. That is, the addition ratio is read and set based on the LUT as the face size-addition ratio characteristic.

After setting the addition ratio, in step 318, the prescan data and the blurred image data are combined based on the set addition ratio to generate combined image data, and the flow advances to step 320.

In step 320, the generated composite image data (soft focus image data) is
Display on 6M.

In the next step 322, it is determined whether or not the displayed soft focus image is appropriate for the operator, and if it is determined that the image is inappropriate (NG), the process proceeds to step 312, and Face extraction (frame scaling, movement)
Start over. If this improperness is slight, the adjustment may be performed with a preset number of stages by operating the keyboard 16K or the mouse. For example, fine adjustment of + correction and − correction may be performed by displaying a slider bar at the corner of the monitor 16M and dragging and sliding a pointer knob portion with a pointer by a mouse operation.

If it is determined in step 322 that the data is appropriate (OK), the process proceeds to step 324, where the addition ratio is reflected on the fine scan data, and the process ends.

As described above, since the addition ratio can be set using the monitor 16M while viewing the generated soft focus image, an appropriate soft focus image can be obtained quickly.

Since the face is extracted by the frame and the relationship between the area of the face (frame size) and the addition ratio is stored in advance as an LUT, it is possible to extract the face automatically and set the addition ratio. Good accuracy.

In the present embodiment, the type of blurred image data is not particularly mentioned. In general, blurred image data for each color is created for image data of each color of RGB. , For each color.

Soft Focus Image (R) = R Original Image + R Blurred Image Soft Focus Image (G) = G Original Image + G Blurred Image Soft Focus Image (B) = B Original Image + B Blurred Image As a common Y
There is also a simple method of generating signals and adding the respective Y signals of each color.

Soft focus image (R) = R original image + Y blur image Soft focus image (G) = G original image + Y blur image Soft focus image (B) = B original image + Y blur image In this case, generation of the Y signal is as follows. , RGB are combined at a predetermined ratio. For example, Y = 0.3R + 0.6G + 0.1B may be set. Further, the respective colors may be uniformly combined such as Y = 0.33R + 0.33G + 0.33B.

In the second embodiment, the image displayed on the monitor 16M is low-resolution data. However, high-resolution data as print data may be used as it is. The use of the high-resolution data imposes a burden on a memory or the like, but on the other hand, it is possible to determine the suitability of an image faithfully to a printed image.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the case where the laser printer section 18 outputs a soft focus image based on the print image data by recording it on a recording material is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a monitor is connected to an image data conversion unit provided in the fine scan processing unit, and a soft focus image is displayed on the monitor and output.

[0120]

As described above, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the addition ratio when combining the image data and the blurred image data is set according to the soft focus intensity. There is an excellent effect that the soft focus intensity can be changed when creating a focus image.

According to the third to fifth aspects of the present invention, a soft focus image in which image data and blurred image data are combined at a predetermined addition ratio can be sequentially displayed on a monitor, so that a finished image can be displayed. Can be visually determined. In addition, the face can be easily extracted.

According to the seventh to ninth aspects of the present invention, when performing the blur mask processing, processing conditions including at least the degree of blurring of the image are set in accordance with the soft focus intensity. It has an excellent effect that the soft focus intensity can be changed when it is created.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital laboratory system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a digital laboratory system.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of an image processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a soft focus intensity changing routine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a soft focus intensity changing routine according to a second embodiment. Reference Signs List 10 digital lab system 14 line CCD scanner 16 image processing unit 206 fine scan memory 214 image data processing unit 218 fine scan processing unit 232 blurred image creation unit 234 synthesis unit 236 addition ratio setting unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A blurred image data generating means for generating blurred image data representing a blurred image in which the sharpness of an original image represented by the original image data is reduced, based on the original image data, and the blurred image data generating means Addition ratio setting means for setting an addition ratio when the blurred image data generated by the above and the original image data are combined; based on the addition ratio set by the addition ratio setting means, An image data synthesizing unit that generates image data for output by synthesizing the image data with the image data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a blur degree changing unit that changes a blur degree of the blur image data generated by the blur image generating unit. 3. A face area extracting means for extracting an area corresponding to a person's face in the original image based on the original image data, and a size of an area corresponding to the face extracted by the face area extracting means. And an addition ratio setting unit that combines the blurred image data and the original image data based on a size of an area corresponding to a face determined by the determination unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an addition ratio at the time of setting is set. 4. An output unit for outputting an image based on the output image data generated by the image data synthesizing unit, and information for inputting information for instructing correction of the addition ratio set by the addition ratio setting unit. Further comprising:
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the addition ratio is corrected according to the input information. 5. The output means is a monitor for displaying an image based on the image data for output, and the monitor has a correction instruction information input by the addition ratio input means or a change by the blur degree changing means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image after the correction is sequentially displayed based on the changed information. 6. The addition ratio input means, by substantially designating the size of a person's face in the image displayed on the monitor, to obtain an addition ratio or blurring of blurred image data suitable for the roughly designated face size. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a degree is set. 7. An image is displayed on the monitor based on low-resolution image data created from the output image data, and a display result of the image based on the low-resolution data is a degree of blur of an image that is actually output. So that is equivalent to
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the addition ratio and the degree of blur of the blurred image data is reset. 8. Blurred image data generation for generating blurred image data representing a blurred image based on the original image data, wherein the sharpness of the original image represented by the original image data is reduced according to a preset blurring degree Means, blur degree setting means for setting a degree of blur for the original image of the blur image represented by the blur image data generated by the blur image data generating means, and blur image data generated by the blur image data generating means; An image data synthesizing unit that synthesizes original image data to generate output image data. 9. A face area extracting means for extracting an area corresponding to a person's face in the original image based on the original image data, and a size of an area corresponding to the face extracted by the face area extracting means. Determination means for determining the degree of blur, wherein the degree-of-blur setting means determines the degree of blur of the original image of the blur image represented by the blur image data based on the size of the area corresponding to the face determined by the determination means. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a degree of blur is set. 10. An output unit for outputting an image based on the output image data generated by the image data synthesizing unit, and inputting information for instructing correction of the degree of blur set by the degree of blur setting unit. A blur degree input unit; wherein the blur degree setting unit is configured to, when information indicating a correction of the blur degree input through the blur degree input unit is input, perform the blur according to the input information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the degree is corrected. 11. The image data synthesizing means according to claim 1, wherein
A blur image of each color of GB is created, and the blur image is
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing is performed for each of the GB colors. 12. The image data synthesizing means creates a blurred image corresponding to a Y signal, and converts the blurred image into an original image RGB.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus synthesizes each of the colors.