JP3319623B2 - Gray balance correction method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gray balance correction method for correcting the gray balance of an image recorded on a negative film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Images recorded on a color negative film are B
(Blue), G (green), and R (red) are transmitted.
It is empirically known that the transmission rates of these three colors of light are generally substantially equal or constant (Evans's theory). For this reason, most photographic printers determine the exposure conditions based on the following basic formula called an integral neutral system.

LogEj = Kj + Aj · Dj (1) where logEj is a logarithm of an exposure amount, Kj is a photosensitive material,
A constant determined by a photographic printer, etc., Dj is the integrated transmission density (LATD) of the image, Aj is a correction coefficient, j is R, G,
B represents any color light. According to the above equation (1), for example, for an image in which the amount of transmitted R light is small (the integrated transmission density of R is high), the exposure amount of R is increased.
When printing on photographic paper is performed based on the exposure amount determined above, the total light amounts of the R, G, and B exposure lights that pass through the negative film and irradiate the photographic paper match. Therefore, the integrated value of the density values of R, G, and B of the image printed on the photographic paper becomes constant, and a gray balance can be obtained for the entire image.

By the way, in the case of a negative film, the density of each of the R, G, and B colors when the exposure amount at the time of photographing is changed theoretically changes with a certain density difference as shown in FIG. . In the integral neutral method, the integrated transmission density is, for example, R
_{In the case of 0} , G ₀ , and B ₀ , the exposure amount is determined so that they match, so that the exposure amount can be theoretically determined so that the characteristics of the density change of each color match. Gray balance should be achieved from the lowest density to the highest density in the printed image.

However, in reality, the gradient of the density change characteristic of the negative film differs for each color under the influence of processing conditions such as development (see FIG. 19B). If the gradient of the density change characteristic is different for each color, even if the exposure amount is determined so that the integrated transmission densities of the respective colors match each other by the integral neutral method, an area where the density is higher than the integrated transmission density by a predetermined value or more (for example, In the area A) of FIG. 19C and the area where the density is lower than the predetermined value (for example, the area B of FIG. 19C), the gray balance is shifted because the density change characteristics of the respective colors are shifted, and printing on photographic paper is performed. There is a disadvantage that the color of the portion corresponding to the region of the captured image differs from the color of the subject at the time of shooting.

In an image in which the background area of the main subject is large and the density of the background portion is extremely high or low, the integrated transmission density is significantly different from the density of the main subject. This is called density feria, and when the image is printed on photographic paper with the exposure determined by applying the integral neutral method, the main subject portion of the image printed on photographic paper is exposed to the influence of density feria. Shortage or overexposure.

Further, in an image in which the area of the background portion of the main subject is large and the color of the background portion is a specific color (for example, green on the lawn, blue on the sea, etc.) significantly different from the color of the main subject, The integrated transmission density of the specific color is high, and the color balance of the entire screen is largely deviated from the color balance of the main subject. This is called color feria, and when the image is printed on photographic paper with the exposure determined by applying the integral neutral method, the color of the main subject in the image printed on photographic paper is affected by the color feria. Imbalance. These problems also occur when the average density of the entire screen is used instead of the integrated transmission density of the equation (1).

On the other hand, in a conventional photographic printer, the occurrence of the above-mentioned density feria and color feria is prevented by so-called lower correction in which the correction amount of the exposure amount is reduced. However, in this loaded correction, the ability to correct the color balance for an image captured by a different light source other than sunlight (for example, a fluorescent lamp, a tungsten lamp, or the like) is reduced, and an appropriate print result cannot be obtained.

Also, a method of determining the exposure amount by removing the data of a portion which is predicted to have high saturation in the image and obtaining the integrated transmission density (or average density) of the entire image (Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-29847)
JP-A-59-298) and a method of determining the exposure amount after converting high-saturation photometric data into an achromatic color.
No. 47) has been proposed, but it is difficult to accurately determine whether the image is actually high in saturation or an image taken with a different light source, and it is necessary to perform complicated processing. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and has a gray balance capable of eliminating the influence of feria without deteriorating the ability to correct the color balance with respect to an image photographed by a different light source. The aim is to obtain a correction method.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a gray balance correction method according to the present invention divides an image recorded on a negative film into a number of areas and densities of three colors for each area. Each value is measured, a maximum reference value and a minimum reference value are obtained for each color based on the measured value of the density value, the converted values of the maximum reference value of each color are matched with each other, and the converted values of the minimum reference value are converted. A conversion relationship for matching the values is determined, the measured values of the three colors are converted using the obtained conversion relationship, and the maximum standard after the conversion is determined based on the distribution on the color coordinates of the density data obtained by the conversion. The average value of the density data in a predetermined area including the value and the line passing through the minimum reference value after conversion is obtained, and the conversion relationship of each color is calculated according to the maximum density value after conversion, the minimum density value after conversion, and a curve passing through the average value. And use the corrected conversion relationship. To correct the gray balance by performing the conversion again Te.

[0012]

In photography, most subjects include white or a portion close to white. This is because not only the color of the subject is white, but also the part reflecting the light from the light source looks white. Since white is the color with the highest lightness, in an image of a subject photographed and formed on a negative film, an area corresponding to white or a portion close to white of the subject has a density value of three colors in the image. This is the highest area. When photographing is performed using different types of light sources, the color slightly deviates from white, reflecting the color of light from the light sources. For example, when shooting with a fluorescent light as a light source, a slight green component is added to the color of the subject as a whole, and a slight magenta component is added to the color of a predetermined area in the image of the negative film corresponding to the part where the subject reflects light. That is, there is a very high probability that the predetermined region is a portion where the density values of the three colors are highest in the image.

For this reason, in the present invention, the image recorded on the negative film is divided into a number of areas, and the density values of three colors are measured for each area, and for each color based on the measured density value. Determine the maximum and minimum reference values. As the maximum reference value and the minimum reference value, for example, the maximum value or the minimum value of the measurement value of each color can be used as it is, or as a reference value approximating the maximum value or the minimum value, the image is divided into a predetermined number of areas, and The maximum value or the minimum value of the density value is obtained for each area, the weighted average value of the maximum value for each area calculated using a predetermined weight for each area is used as the maximum reference value, and the minimum value for each area is calculated. A weighted average of the values can be used as the minimum reference value.

Further, as the maximum reference value and the minimum reference value,
For example, use the average value of the measured values of the upper specified or lower specified items in the descending order of the measured values, use the density value of the specified rank close to the maximum value or the minimum value, or use the density value of the maximum value or the minimum value. The average value of the measured values in the near predetermined range can also be used. Further, the base density of the negative film may be used as the minimum reference value.

Next, in the present invention, a conversion relationship for matching the converted values of the maximum reference value of each color and matching the converted values of the minimum reference value is determined, and this conversion relationship is used. Convert the three color measurements. This is done so that the two points of the maximum reference value of each color corresponding to white and the minimum reference value of each color corresponding to black coincide, that is, as an example in FIG.
FIG. 1B shows the density change characteristics of each color as shown in FIG.
As each match at two points of a predetermined value D _{ma x} and a predetermined value D _min as shown in, it is to correct the color balance,
Even in an image taken with a different light source, the color of the region corresponding to the white or near-white portion of the subject is white, and the color of the region corresponding to the black or near-black portion included in most subjects is Density data corrected to be black is obtained.

Further, the magnitudes of the maximum reference value and the minimum reference value change under the influence of these factors even if the area occupied by the background portion in the image is large and the density or color is significantly different from that of the main subject. I will not do it. Therefore, even if an image has density feria or color feria,
Concentration data in which these effects are eliminated can be obtained. It should be noted that even in an image obtained by photographing a subject having no white or near-white portion at all, the maximum value of the density value of each color in the image is almost equal to the density value of the white or near-white portion. Is known. Therefore, if the correction is performed based on the maximum reference value and the minimum reference value, it is possible to correct the image so that the color balance is appropriate even in the image of the subject.

By the way, for example, the color of the light source in the portion having the maximum density in the image, the color of the light source in the intermediate density portion,
For example, if the gray balance is corrected so that the two points of the maximum reference value and the minimum reference value match as described above, the gray balance is lost in the intermediate density portion. is there. For example, in an image photographed using a strobe with backlight, the light source of the portion having the maximum density is sunlight and the light source of the intermediate density portion is the strobe, and the colors of the light sources are different from each other.

The above correction corrects the gray balance with reference to the portion of the object having the maximum density, that is, the portion that reflects sunlight and is white or close to white. In some cases, the gray balance may be lost in the intermediate density portion. Also, as shown in FIG. 1A, since the density change characteristics of each color of the negative film are not linear changes, the maximum reference density and the minimum reference density match as shown in FIG. 1B. With such correction, a slight shift occurs in the gray balance at the intermediate density.

Therefore, according to the present invention, based on the distribution of the density data obtained by the conversion on the color coordinates, a predetermined area including a line passing through the converted maximum reference value and the converted minimum reference value is included. Obtain the average value of the density data, correct the conversion relationship of each color according to a curve passing through the maximum density value after conversion, the minimum density value after conversion and the average value, and perform conversion again using the corrected conversion relationship. Correct gray balance. In a general image, density data is distributed on or near a line passing through a maximum reference value after conversion and a minimum reference value after conversion on color coordinates. However, for example, in an image in which color feria occurs, a distribution also occurs in a portion far away from the line. This distribution corresponds to the high chroma portion of the image, and can be determined to be a distribution representing the background portion.

For this reason, the average value of the density data in the predetermined area represents the gray balance of an intermediate density portion between the converted maximum reference value and the minimum reference value, excluding the influence of color feria and the like. A curve passing through the converted maximum density value, the converted minimum density value, and the average value serves as an index indicating an appropriate balance between the conversion relationships of the respective colors. Therefore, if the conversion relationship of each color is corrected according to the curve and the conversion is performed again using the corrected conversion relationship, for example, the color of the light source of the portion having the maximum density and the color of the light source of the intermediate density portion are different. Also, for an image such as a dark image, the color of the light source in the intermediate density portion is corrected to be gray, and a gray balance is obtained overall from the maximum density to the minimum density.

As described above, according to the present invention, even for images photographed by a plurality of types of light sources, the ability to correct color balance does not decrease, and the influence of color feria can be eliminated.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a photographic processing system 10 according to the present embodiment. A large number of negative films 12 having a predetermined number of images taken by a camera (not shown) are brought into the photographic processing system 10. A large number of the negative films 12 brought in are connected by a splicing tape or the like, wound up in layers, and then set on a film processor 14 of the photographic processing system 10.

The film processor 14 includes a color developing tank 20, a bleaching tank 22, a bleach-fixing tank 24, a washing tank 26,
28, a stabilizing tank 30 are arranged in order, and a predetermined processing liquid is stored in each of these processing tanks. The negative film 12 set in the film processor 14 is sequentially fed into each processing tank, immersed in each processing solution, and subjected to color development, bleaching, bleach-fixing, washing, and stabilization. Thereby, the negative image recorded as a latent image on the negative film 12 is visualized.

A drying section 32 is provided downstream of the stabilizing tank 30.
Is arranged. The drying unit 32 is provided with a fan and a heater (not shown). The air flow generated by the fan is heated by a heater to generate hot air, and the hot air is supplied to the negative film 12 so that moisture adhering to the surface of the negative film 12 is removed. Is to be dried. The negative film 12 processed by the film processor 14 is once wound into a layer and then set on a film image reading device 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the film image reading device 16, a prescan unit 36 and a fine scan unit 38 are sequentially arranged along a film transport path. Each of the scanning units 36 and 38 scans and reads an image recorded on the negative film 12 as described later. An insertion detection sensor 40 is provided upstream of the film transport path. The insertion detection sensor 40 includes a light emitting element 40
The pair of A and the light receiving element 40B are configured to be opposed to each other with the film transport path interposed therebetween. The light receiving element 40B is connected to the control circuit 42. The control circuit 42 includes the light receiving element 4
It is determined whether or not the negative film 12 has been inserted into the film transport path of the film image reading device 16 based on the change in the level of the signal output from 0B.

Insertion detection sensor 40 and pre-scan unit 36
And a pair of rollers 44 for nipping and transporting the negative film 12, a reading head 46, a frame number detection sensor 48,
The screen detection sensors 50 are sequentially arranged. Read head 46, frame number detection sensor 48, and screen detection sensor 50
Are connected to the control circuit 42, respectively. The negative film 12 set in the film image reading device 16 includes
A transparent magnetic material is applied to the back surface to form a magnetic layer,
Information such as a frame number, a film type, and a DX code may be magnetically recorded on the magnetic layer. The read head 46 is arranged at a position where the information magnetically recorded on the magnetic layer can be read, and reads the information and outputs it to the control circuit 42.

The frame number detecting sensor 48 and the screen detecting sensor 50 are formed of a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element as in the case of the insertion detecting sensor 40 described above. Negative film 1
In some of the information 2, information such as a frame number is optically recorded (for example, by a bar code or the like). The frame number detection sensor 48 is arranged at a position where the information such as the optically recorded frame number can be detected, and outputs the detected information such as the frame number to the control circuit 42.

The screen detection sensor 50 is arranged at a position corresponding to the center of the negative film 12 in the width direction.
Since the density of the non-image portion between the images recorded on the negative film 12 is the density of the base of the negative film 12, the amount of transmitted light is larger than that of the portion where the image is recorded. The control circuit 42 monitors the level of the signal output from the light receiving element of the screen detection sensor 50, and when the level increases to a predetermined level corresponding to the base density, and when the level decreases from the level corresponding to the base density. Then, it is determined that the edge of the image recorded on the negative film 12 corresponds to the screen detection sensor 50, and the position (and size) of the screen recorded on the negative film 12 is determined based on the edge detection timing. .

On the other hand, the prescan section 36 includes a lamp 52 arranged to emit light toward the negative film 12 passing through the prescan section 36. The lamp 52 is connected to the control circuit 42 via a driver 54, and the magnitude of the voltage supplied from the driver 54 is controlled by the control circuit 42 so that the amount of emitted light becomes a predetermined value. You. On the light emission side of the lamp 52, there are three of C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow).
A CC filter group 56 composed of a single CC filter and a light diffusion box 58 are arranged in this order. Further, an imaging lens 60 and a CCD line sensor 62 sandwiching a film transport path.
Are arranged in order.

Each CC filter of the CC filter group 56 is
The amount of insertion into the optical path is adjusted in advance in order to correct variations in the sensitivity of the R, G, and B colors in the CCD line sensor 62. Light sequentially transmitted through the CC filter group 56, the light diffusion box 58, the negative film 12, and the imaging lens 60 is applied to the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 62. The CCD line sensor 62 includes a sensor for detecting the light amount of R light, a sensor for detecting the light amount of G light and a sensor unit for detecting the light amount of B light adjacent to each other. Are arranged at predetermined intervals along the width direction.

Accordingly, the CCD line sensor 62 divides an image into a number of pixels each having an interval between the sensor units of one side, and detects the amount of transmitted light for each pixel.
In the CCD line sensor 62, the area of each of the plurality of divided pixels is 200 μm or less. The image forming lens 60 intersects with the optical axis of the light emitted from the lamp 52 among the light transmitted through the negative film 12, and extends along one pixel row along the width direction of the negative film 12. Position is called the reading position)
An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the D line sensor 62.

On the output side of the CCD line sensor 62, an amplifier 64, a LOG converter 66, and an A / D converter 68 are sequentially connected. The signal output from the CCD line sensor 62 is amplified by the amplifier 64, logarithmically converted (converted to a level corresponding to the density value) by the LOG converter 66, and corresponding to the signal level by the A / D converter 68. The value is converted to digital data. The A / D converter 68 is connected to the control circuit 42, and the converted digital data is input to the control circuit 42 as density value data. The control circuit 42 has an image buffer 70 capable of holding density data of several images, and stores the input density value data in the image buffer 70. The control circuit 4
2 is connected to a CRT display 72, which performs processing using the input density value data and displays a positive image on the display 72.

Further, between the pre-scan unit 36 and the fine scan unit 38, a roller group including a pair of transport rollers 74 and a driven roller 76, and driven rollers 78A and 78
B and 78C are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other. A loop of the negative film 12 is formed between the two roller groups. By this loop, the transport speed of the negative film 12 in the prescan unit 36,
The difference between the transport speed of the negative film 12 in the fine scan unit 38 and the speed is absorbed. A pulse motor 80 is connected to the transport roller pair 74. Pulse motor 80
Is connected to the control circuit 42 via the driver 82. The control circuit 42 conveys the negative film 12 by driving the pulse motor 80 via the driver 82.

On the other hand, the fine scan section 38 has substantially the same configuration as the pre-scan section 36. That is,
The fine scan unit 38 includes a lamp 84 that emits light toward the negative film 12. The lamp 84 is connected to the control circuit 42 via a driver 86, and the control circuit 42 controls the magnitude of the voltage supplied from the driver 86 so that the emitted light has a predetermined light amount. On the light exit side of the lamp 84, a C comprising three CC filters
A C filter group 88 and a light diffusion box 90 are sequentially arranged.
2. CCD line sensors 94 are sequentially arranged.

Each CC filter of the CC filter group 88 is also
The amount of insertion into the optical path is adjusted in advance in order to correct variations in the sensitivity of the R, G, and B colors in the CCD line sensor 94. The imaging lens 92 includes the CC filter group 8
8. Of the light transmitted through the light diffusion box 90 and the negative film 12, the light transmitted through the pixel row located at the reading position is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 94. CC
The D line sensor 94 has the same configuration as the CCD line sensor 62, but the interval between the sensor units is smaller than that of the CCD line sensor 62. Therefore, CC
The D line sensor 94 divides an image into finer and more pixels as compared with the CCD line sensor 62,
The transmitted light amount is detected for each pixel.

On the output side of the CCD line sensor 94, an amplifier 96, a LOG converter 98, and an A / D converter 100 are sequentially connected. The signal output from the CCD line sensor 94 is amplified by an amplifier 96 and is output to a LOG converter 98.
Is converted to a level corresponding to the density value, and then converted to digital data by the A / D converter 100. A /
The D converter 100 is connected to the control circuit 42 and converts the converted digital data as density value data to the control circuit 4.
2 is input.

The input density value data is stored in the image buffer 70 in the same manner as described above. Further, the control circuit 42 calculates the exposure amounts of the three colors R, G and B on the photographic paper based on the density value data. The control circuit 42 is connected to a printer unit 110 of the printer processor 18 described later,
The data representing the calculated exposure amount is transferred to the control circuit 122. A transport roller pair 102 is disposed downstream of the fine scan unit 38. Transport roller pair 10
2, a pulse motor 104 is also connected. The pulse motor 104 is connected to the control circuit 42 via a driver 106. The control circuit 42 conveys the negative film 12 by driving the pulse motor 104 via the driver 106.

On the other hand, the printer processor 18 is set with a magazine 114 for accommodating the photographic paper 112 wound up in layers. The printing paper 112 is pulled out of the magazine 114 and is sent to the printer unit 110 via the cutter unit 116.
Sent to When the exposure amount data is transferred from the control circuit 42 of the film image reading device 16, the printer unit 110 exposes the image to the photographic paper 112 based on the exposure amount data.

As shown in FIG. 4, the printer unit 110
Semiconductor laser 118R that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of
It has. A collimator lens 124R and an acousto-optic device (AO
M) A dichroic mirror 134G that reflects only light of the 133R and G wavelengths, a dichroic mirror 134B that reflects only light of the B wavelength, and a polygon mirror 126 are arranged in this order.

The AOM 133 is provided with an acousto-optic medium. On the opposing surface of the acousto-optic element, a transducer for outputting an ultrasonic wave in accordance with an input high-frequency signal and an ultrasonic wave passing through the acousto-optic medium are absorbed. And a sound absorber to be attached. The AOM133R transducer is connected to the AOM driver 120R,
When a high-frequency signal is input from the M driver 120R, one laser beam is diffracted from the incident laser beam, and this laser beam is emitted as a recording laser beam. This recording laser beam is incident on the polygon mirror 126 via the dichroic mirrors 134G and 134B.

The AOM driver 120R includes a control circuit 122
It is connected to the. The control circuit 122 outputs to the AOM driver 120R an exposure control signal corresponding to the R exposure data among the input exposure data. This exposure amount control signal is a pulse signal having a period t ₀ as shown in FIG. 9, and the pulse width d is changed according to the exposure amount for each pixel of the R exposure amount data. The AOM driver 120R is
When the level of the input exposure control signal is high, a high-frequency signal is output to the AOM 133R, and a recording laser beam is emitted from the AOM 133R.
Accordingly, the light amount of the laser beam of the R wavelength applied to the photographic paper 112 is changed every cycle t ₀ based on the R exposure amount data.

The printer unit 110 has semiconductor lasers 118G and 118 for emitting a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength.
B is provided. A wavelength conversion element 124G and a collimator lens 124 are provided on the beam emission side of the semiconductor laser 118G.
G, AOM 133G, and total reflection mirror 136G are arranged in this order. AOM133G is AOM driver 120G
Is connected to the control circuit 122 via the. Control circuit 1
Reference numeral 22 outputs an exposure control signal corresponding to the G exposure data to the AOM driver 120G. AOM driver 120
G outputs a high-frequency signal when the exposure control signal is at a high level, similarly to the AOM driver 120R.

As a result, the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 118G is converted into a wavelength of G by the wavelength conversion element 124G and is incident on the AOM 133G, where
When a high frequency signal is input from the M driver 120G, a recording laser beam is emitted from the AOM 133G, reflected by the total reflection mirror 136G, reflected by the dichroic mirror 134G, and combined with the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 118R. Is done.

The wavelength conversion element 124B and the collimator lens 12 are also provided on the beam emission side of the semiconductor laser 118B.
4B, the AOM 133B, and the total reflection mirror 136B are arranged in this order. AOM133B also AOM driver 120
It is connected to the control circuit 122 via B. The control circuit 122 outputs an exposure control signal corresponding to the exposure data of B to the AOM driver 120B. Semiconductor laser 118
The laser beam emitted from B is converted to a wavelength conversion element 124.
The recording laser beam, which is converted into the wavelength of B by B and is incident on the AOM 133B and is input from the AOM driver 120G when a high frequency signal is input, is reflected by the total reflection mirror 136B and reflected by the dichroic mirror 134B. The semiconductor laser 11
Laser beam emitted from 8R and semiconductor laser 11
It is multiplexed with the laser beam emitted from 8G.

Dichroic mirrors 134G, 134B
The laser beam multiplexed by the above is incident on the polygon mirror 126. The polygon mirror 126 is connected to the control circuit 122 via a polygon mirror driver 128. The polygon mirror 126 is driven to rotate by the polygon mirror driver 128, and the rotation speed is controlled. Polygon mirror 1
The laser beam incident on the polygon mirror 12
The emission direction is sequentially changed by the rotation of No. 6, and scanning is performed in the horizontal direction in FIG. A mirror 130 is arranged on the laser beam emission side of the polygon mirror 126. The laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror 126 is reflected by the mirror 130 downward in FIG.

On the laser beam emitting side of the mirror 130,
The scanning lens 138 and the mirror 140 are arranged in order. The laser beam reflected by the mirror 130 passes through the scanning lens 138 and is reflected by the mirror 140. The photographic paper 112 is arranged on the laser beam emitting side of the mirror 140 such that the longitudinal direction coincides with the vertical direction in FIG. 4, and the laser beam reflected by the mirror 140 is
12 is irradiated. Further, a transport roller pair 142 for nipping and transporting the photographic paper 112 is disposed below the laser beam irradiation position on the photographic paper 112 transport path. A pulse motor 144 is connected to the transport roller pair 142.
The pulse motor 144 is connected to the control circuit 122 via the driver 146. The control circuit 122 is a driver 1
By driving the pulse motor 144 via 46, the printing paper 112 is transported downward in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the photographic paper 112 that has passed through the printer unit 110 is sent to the reservoir unit 150. The reservoir 150 is provided with a pair of rollers 1 at a predetermined interval.
The photographic paper 112 has a loop formed between the pair of rollers 152. This loop absorbs the difference in transport speed between the printer unit 110 and the downstream processor unit 154. The processor unit 154 includes:
A color developing tank 156, a bleach-fix tank 158, a washing tank 160,
162 and 164 are arranged in order. A predetermined processing liquid is stored in each of these processing tanks. Photographic paper 11
2 is sequentially fed into each processing tank, and is immersed in each processing solution to be processed.

The drying section 1 is located downstream of the processor section 154.
66 are provided. The drying unit 166 supplies hot air generated by a fan and a heater (not shown) to the printing paper 112. Thereby, the moisture adhering to the surface of the printing paper 112 is dried. The printing paper 112 that has passed through the drying unit 166
Is cut out for each print by the cutter unit 168 and then discharged out of the printer processor 18.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The negative film 12 set in the film processor 14 is sent to the drying section 32 after being sent into each processing tank,
Each process of color development, bleaching, bleach-fixing, washing with water, stabilization, and drying is performed. Thereby, the latent image recorded by the camera is visualized. The negative film 12 processed by the film processor 14 is set on a film image reading device 16.

Next, referring to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6, the pre-scan unit 36 of the film image reading device 16 will be described.
The operation of will be described. In step 200, it is determined whether or not the negative film 12 has been inserted into the film image reading device 16 based on a signal input from the insertion detection sensor 40. Negative film 1 in film image reading device 16
When it is determined that No. 2 has been inserted, the determination in step 200 is affirmed, and in step 202, the transport of the negative film 12 is started.

In the next step 204, the negative film 12
It is determined whether or not information such as the frame number of the image recorded in the printer can be read. For example, when the information is optically recorded (for example, a barcode or the like) on the edge portion of the negative film 12, the determination in step 204 is affirmative when the recorded portion corresponds to the frame number detection sensor 48. If the information is magnetically recorded on the transparent magnetic layer formed on the back side of the negative film, the determination in step 204 is affirmative when the magnetically recorded portion of the information corresponds to the read head 46. Is done.

If the determination in step 204 is negative, the process proceeds to step 206, where it is determined whether or not the image corresponds to the screen detection position corresponding to the location where the screen detection sensor 50 is provided. If the determination in step 206 is also negative, the process proceeds to step 208, where it is determined whether or not the image has reached the image reading position, more specifically, whether or not the first pixel row of the image has reached the reading position. If the determination in step 208 is also negative, the process returns to step 202 and the negative film 1
Steps 204, 206, and 20 while continuing the transfer of No. 2
8 is repeated.

If the determination in step 204 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 210, where the frame number detection sensor 48
Alternatively, information such as a frame number is read by the reading head 46, and the read frame number is stored. If the determination in step 206 is affirmative, step 212
Then, the screen position and the screen size are detected based on the output signal from the screen detection sensor 50, and in the next step 214, the screen position and the size are stored in association with the frame numbers. If the determination in step 208 is affirmative, scanning and reading processing of an image (described later) is performed in step 216, and in the next step 218, it is determined whether or not the negative film 12 has ended. If the determination in step 218 is negative, the process returns to step 202, and the above processing is repeated.

As described above, the pre-scan unit 36 sequentially performs the processes of reading the frame number, detecting the screen position and size, and scanning and reading the image for a single image frame.
In addition, the above processes for each image frame are performed in parallel.

Next, details of the scanning reading process in the pre-scanning section 36 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When this process is executed, the first pixel row of the image is located at the reading position, and the light emitted from the lamp 52 and transmitted through the CC filter group 56, the light diffusion box 58, and the negative film 12 is the same as the above. The light transmitted through the pixel row is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 62 by the imaging lens 60, and the signal output from the CCD line sensor 62 is amplified by the amplifier 64, and the density is output by the LOG converter 66. The data is converted to a level corresponding to the value, converted to digital data by the A / D converter 68, and held.

In step 250, density value data for one pixel row is fetched from the A / D converter 68. Step 25
In step 2, the acquired density value data is corrected according to the variation in the sensitivity of each of a large number of sensor units arranged along the width direction of the negative film 12, and stored in the image buffer 70. In step 254, the pulse motor 80 is driven via the driver 82, and the negative film 12 is transported by a predetermined amount corresponding to the interval between the image rows.

In the next step 256, it is determined whether or not reading of an image for one screen has been completed. Step 256
Is negative, the process returns to step 250, and the processes of steps 250 to 256 are repeated until the determination of step 256 is affirmed. Accordingly, when the determination at step 256 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 258, the entire image is scanned, and a single image is converted into three colors (R,
G and B) are stored in the image buffer 70 as data representing the density of each pixel of the image (hereinafter referred to as R image data, G image data and B image data, respectively).

In step 258, the density of the base portion (see FIG. 11) of the negative film 12 is measured for each of R, G, and B colors and stored. In step 260, the data of the pixel having the lowest density is extracted from the image data of each color stored in the image buffer 70. In step 262, the optimum light amount of the lamp 84 of the fine scan unit 38 for the read image is calculated and stored based on the extracted data. This is because when the minimum value of the density value data is very small, the fine scan unit 3
This is because there is a possibility that the level of the output signal from the CCD line sensor 94 will be saturated when reading the image in FIG.

At step 264, a correction is made to subtract the base density of the negative film 12 measured at step 258 from the density value of each pixel of each image data stored in the image buffer 70. In the next step 266, each image data stored in the image buffer 70 is averaged. In this averaging process, for example, the density value of a predetermined pixel is compared with the density values of surrounding pixels for each of the R, G, and B image data. This can be realized by performing the process of replacing the average value with the pixel density value for all the pixels. Thereby, even when dust adheres to the surface of the negative film 12 or the surface of the negative film 12 is scratched, the influence of these can be reduced.

In step 268, the R, G, and B image data are converted into C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) dye densities to correspond to C image data corresponding to the C image and M image. M image data and Y image data corresponding to the Y image are obtained. In the next step 270,
As shown also in FIG. 11, by excluding the data of the pixels corresponding to the vicinity of the edge of the image from each of the C, M, and Y image data, the region surrounded by the imaginary line in FIG. 11 is cut out. In step 272, the screen is divided into a predetermined number n of areas, for example, n = 5 × 5 = 25 areas as indicated by broken lines in FIG.

At step 274, for each divided area
Is the maximum value C of the density values of a plurality of pixels belonging to the same area.
_max(i), M_max(i), Y_max(i) and the minimum value C of the density value
_min(i), M _min(i), Y_min(i) (where i is
Code that has a value of 1 to n)
You. In step 276, the C concentration is calculated according to the following equation (2).
Maximum reference value C_maxAs the maximum value C of the C concentration for each area
_max(i) is calculated, and the C concentration is calculated.
Minimum reference value C_minAs the minimum value C of the C concentration for each area
_minCalculate the weighted average of (i).

[0062]

(Equation 1)

Where K (i) is the weight of the area i. Similarly, the maximum value M of the M density for each area is calculated in the same manner as described above.
_max(i) and minimum value M _minMaximum of M concentration based on (i)
Reference value M_maxAnd the minimum reference value M_minCalculated for each area
Maximum value Y of Y density_max(i) and minimum value Y_min(i)
The maximum reference value Y of the Y density_maxAnd the minimum reference value Y_min
Is calculated. The weight of each area is, for example,
Area corresponding to the central part of the screen where the probability that the object exists is high
The weight of the area can be determined to be high. Also,
The amount of light emitted from the lamp 52 peaks at the optical axis position
The distribution gradually decreases as it goes to the surroundings
However, the weight is determined considering the influence of this distribution.
You may do so.

In step 278, the maximum reference values C _max , M _max , and Y of the respective colors obtained above are calculated according to the following equation (3).
average value D _max, the minimum reference value C _min of _max, M _min, Y
It calculates an average value D _min of _min.

D _max = (C _max + M _max + Y _max ) ÷ 3 D _min = (C _min + M _min + Y _min ) ÷ 3 (3) In the next step 280, the following simultaneous equation (4) is satisfied. A coefficient A _C and a constant B _C for the C image conversion to be performed are obtained.

D _max = A _C · C _max + B _C D _min = A _C · C _min + B _C (4) Similarly, the M image conversion coefficient A _M , the constant B _M, and the Y image conversion coefficient A _Y , And the constant _BY , the following (5),
It is determined according to the simultaneous equations shown in equation (6).

D _max = A _M · M _max + B _M D _min = A _M · M _min + B _M (5) D _max = A _Y · Y _max + B _Y D _min = A _Y · Y _min + B _Y (6) In the next step 282, using the coefficient A _C and constant B _C of the C image conversion obtained above, sequentially substitute a value in the range of 0.0 to 2.0 as the C density into the conversion equation shown in the following equation (7). , A lookup table LUTc for converting the C density into the C ′ density to obtain the C ′ image is created and stored.

C ′ = A _C · C + B _C (7) Also, for M and Y, as shown in the equations (8) and (9), the coefficient A _M , the constant B _M and the coefficient A _Y , and the constant B _Y By successively substituting values in the same range into the conversion formula using
A look-up table LUTm for converting the density to M 'density and obtaining an M' image, and a LUTY for converting the Y density to Y 'density and obtaining a Y' image are generated and stored.

M ′ = A_M・ M + B_M ... (8) Y '= A_Y・ Y + B_Y … (9) By referring to this look-up table, the C concentration
C 'density, M density to M' density, Y density to Y 'density
The conversion is performed using the above equations (7) to (9).
It is equivalent to Coefficient A of each of the above equations_C, A_M, A_YPassing
And constant B_C, B _M, B_Y(4) to (6) for finding
As described above, the expressions have the same value on the left side (D_maxOr
D_min). Therefore, the equations (7) to (9) are used.
12A to 12C as an example.
C as shown_max, M_max, Y _maxValue and C_min,
M_min, Y_minEven if the values of
_{ma x}, M_max, Y_maxC ′ density, M ′ density,
Y 'density is average value D_maxAnd C_min, M_min, Y
_minThe converted C ′ density, M ′ density and Y ′ density are average values D
_minConversion (correction of density value) to match
equal.

In step 284, as an operation for displaying an image on the display 72, C 'image data, M' image data, and Y 'image data are converted from C image data, M image data, and Y image data in accordance with each look-up table. Ask for. In step 286, the positive image data (R ′ image, R ′ image,
A data representing an image obtained by superimposing the G ′ image and the B ′ image) is obtained, and a positive image is displayed on the display 72 using this data. By referring to this display image, for example, the operator can also instruct correction of the color, density, and the like with respect to the exposure amount.

Next, an image reading process in the fine scan section 38 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step 300, the negative film 12 is transported. In step 302, it is determined whether or not the first pixel row of the image has reached the reading position. If the determination in step 302 is denied, the process returns to step 300, and steps 300 and 30 are repeated until the determination in step 302 is affirmed.
Step 2 is repeated, and the transport of the negative film 12 is continued.

If the determination in step 302 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 304, in which the optimum amount of light of the lamp 84 obtained in advance by the prescan unit 36 is acquired, and the voltage supplied to the lamp 84 is set to a value corresponding to the amount of light. Control so that After performing the process of step 304, the process proceeds to step 306 after waiting for a while until the light amount of the lamp is stabilized.
In steps 306 to 312, an image reading process is performed.

That is, in step 306, density value data for one pixel row is fetched from the A / D converter 100. In step 308, the acquired density value data is corrected according to the variation in the sensitivity of each of the many sensor units of the CCD line sensor 94, and the corrected data is stored in the image buffer 70.
To memorize. In step 310, the pulse motor 104 is driven via the driver 106, and the negative film 12 is transported by a predetermined amount corresponding to the interval between image rows. The transport amount corresponds to the interval between the sensor units, and is smaller than the transport amount in the pre-scan unit 36. Accordingly, the fine scan unit 38 divides the image into a number of pixels more finely and measures the amount of transmitted light of each pixel.

In the next step 312, it is determined whether or not reading of an image for one screen has been completed. Step 312
If the determination in step 312 is negative, the process returns to step 306, and the processing in steps 306 to 312 is repeated until the determination in step 312 is affirmative. Thus, the image buffer 70 stores R image data, G image data, and B image data of a single image. Next step 3
At 14, shading correction is performed. This is lamp 8
This is because the light amount of the light emitted from the light source 4 also has a distribution in which the light axis position is peaked and gradually attenuates toward the periphery. In the present step 314, the image data stored in the image buffer 70 is corrected according to the distribution of the light quantity measured in advance.

In step 316, correction is performed to subtract the base density of the negative film 12 measured by the prescan unit 36 from the density value for each pixel of each image data stored in the image buffer 70. In step 318, R, G, B
Are converted into C, M, and Y for each image data to obtain C image data, M image data, and Y image data.

The prescan unit 36 and the fine scan unit 38 have different image reading conditions. For example, as described above, the intervals between the sensor units of the CCD line sensor are different between the pre-scan unit 36 and the fine scan unit 38, and the transport pitch at the time of image reading is also different. Therefore, the image data obtained by the pre-scan unit 36 and the image data obtained by the fine scan unit 38 have different pixel areas. There may also be differences in the sensitivity of the CCD line sensor. For this reason, in the next step 320, the image data obtained in step 318 is corrected according to differences in various conditions such as a difference in pixel area.

In the next step 322, gray balance correction processing is performed. The details of the gray balance correction processing will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. First, in step 370, the look-up tables LUTc, LUTm, LUty created by the prescan unit 36
Take in. In the next step 372, the C image data, the M image data, and the Y image data obtained by the fine scan unit 38 are converted into C 'image data, M' image data, and Y 'image data with reference to each of the fetched look-up tables. Convert to

Note that the lookup table is C,
This is for obtaining C ′, M ′, and Y ′ image data at high speed from M and Y image data, and the present invention is not limited to using a look-up table. For example, by substituting the data for each pixel constituting the C, M, and Y image data into any of the above equations (7), (8), and (9), the images of C ′, M ′, and Y ′ are obtained. Data may be obtained.

In the next step 374, the above obtained
The image data of C ', M', and Y 'are printed on color coordinates for each pixel.
Lot. In the following, the horizontal axis represents M 'concentration, and the vertical axis represents
The following describes an example of color coordinates of C ′ density and Y ′ density,
The present invention is not limited to this.
Can be used, for example, based on a color other than M
Color coordinates may be used. As a result, FIG.
A color coordinate diagram as shown in FIG. Step 37
In FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. _max
And D_minA predetermined area S including a straight line L connecting
In this embodiment, the boundary of the predetermined area S is defined by the aforementioned straight line L.
Straight line L translated quantitatively₁, L_TwoAnd

The setting of the predetermined area S is not limited to the above. For example, as a predetermined color coordinate,
When the horizontal axis uses M ′ density and the vertical axis uses C ′ / M ′ and Y ′ / M ′, the color coordinates of C ′ / M ′ and Y ′ / M ′ at _Dmax and _Dmin are used. The value becomes 1.0, and the aforementioned straight line L becomes a straight line parallel to the horizontal axis. In this case, the predetermined area S may be set so that the values of C ′ / M ′ and Y ′ / M ′ include the straight line L and fall within a range of 1.0 ± the predetermined value α.

As described above, the image data of C ′, M ′, and Y ′ have the same densities of C ′, M ′, and Y ′ at _Dmax and _Dmin . A straight line L connecting these two points represents an appropriate gray balance criterion assumed at the time of conversion into C ′ image data, M ′ image data, and Y ′ image data. It is distributed on the straight line L or in the vicinity of the straight line L. However, for example, in an image in which color feria is generated, a distribution also occurs in a portion far away from the straight line L. This distribution corresponds to the high chroma portion of the image, and can be determined to be a distribution representing the background portion. When the distribution of points in the region corresponding to the intermediate density slightly deviates from the straight line L as a whole, C ′, M ′,
It can be determined that the gray balance at the intermediate density of each image of Y ′ is slightly shifted.

In step 378, the C ′ for M ′ is determined using only the data located in the predetermined area S without using the data of the points plotted out of the predetermined area S on the color coordinate diagram. And the average value of the Y ′ point with respect to M ′ is calculated, and the corresponding points are plotted on the color coordinate diagram as shown in FIG. 13C as an example. As described above, by calculating the average value without using the data at the position deviating from the predetermined area S, it is possible to eliminate the influence of the color feria. It can be used as a balance criterion.

For this reason, in step 380, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 13 (C), D_maxAnd D_minPass through
Quadratic curve P passing through the average of C 'points for one M'
_CAnd D _maxAnd D_minAnd Y 'to M'
Quadratic curve P passing through the average value of points_YAnd are respectively derived. This
Like D_max, D_minAnd the point of C 'with respect to M'
Between the average or the average of the Y 'points relative to M'
Quadratic curve P_C, P_YAnd the connection is smooth, so the quadratic curve P
_C, P_YIs D_max, D_minThe right gravure between
The probability of representing a lance is very high. The above two
Derivation of the next curve is a process of estimating and interpolating a change between three points.
This is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

In step 382, _C based on the conversion relationship of M density (see FIG. 12B) is determined based on the quadratic curve PC.
The conversion relationship of the density (see FIG. 12A) is represented by the quadratic curve P _C
Lookup table LU so that the relationship represented by
To modify the T _C. As a result, FIG.
A look-up table LUT _C for converting to the C ″ density is obtained by the conversion relationship shown in FIG. 12A. Further, based on the quadratic curve P _Y , the conversion relationship of the Y density to the conversion density of the M density (see FIG. ) Is modified so that the look-up table LUT _Y has a relationship represented by a quadratic curve P _Y. As a result, the Y density is converted into the Y ″ density in the conversion relationship shown in FIG. Lookup table L to be converted
UT _Y is obtained. Look-up table LUT _M
Is not corrected as shown in FIG.

In step 384, the processes shown in FIGS.
Look-up table LU representing the conversion relationship shown in (C)
Referring to T _C , LUT _M , and LUT _Y , C ”image data, M” image data, and Y ”are obtained from each of the C, M, and Y image data.
Find image data. By using the above-described lookup table, the maximum reference value and the minimum reference value of each color are converted so as to match each other, and the balance of C and Y with respect to M at the intermediate density is based on the secondary curves P _C and P _Y. Is corrected.

Note that this processing is not limited to the use of the look-up table.
By substituting the data for each pixel constituting the M and Y image data into the relational expressions representing the quadratic curves P _C and P _Y , C ″, M ″ and Y ″ image data are obtained. After performing the process of step 384, the process proceeds to step 324 of the flowchart of FIG.

In step 324, each of the C ″, M ″, and Y ″ image data representing the C ″ image, the M ″ image, and the Y ″ image is converted into the positive R, G, and B ″ images. The image data is converted into R ″, G ″, and B ″ image data. In addition,
This conversion is performed so that the difference (density width) between the maximum value and the minimum value of the density values of the converted positive image corresponds to the sensitivity width of the photographic paper 112.

As described above, the C "image data, the M" image data, and the Y "image data have the same maximum reference value and the minimum reference value for each color, that is, the maximum value and the minimum value of the density substantially match. The color balance has been corrected as described above.
Therefore, in an image obtained by superimposing the R ″ image, the G ″ image, and the B ″ image, gray balance can be obtained in a region corresponding to a white or near-white portion of the subject and a region corresponding to a black or near-black portion of the subject. ing.

Further, even in an image in which density feria or color feria occurs, the maximum reference value, the minimum reference value, the average value of the C ′ point with respect to M ′, and the Y ′ value with respect to M ′. Since the magnitude of the average value of the points hardly changes, each image of C ″, M ″, Y ″ and R ″,
The influence of feria is eliminated from each of the G ″ and B ″ images.
Further, since the reference of the gray balance of the intermediate density portion is corrected by the secondary curves P _C and P _Y based on the distribution of the image data of C ′, M ′ and Y ′ on the color coordinates, the light source in the intermediate density portion is corrected. Even if the color of the image is different from the color of the light source in the maximum density portion, the gray balance is prevented from being lost in the intermediate density portion.

In step 324, R ″,
Exponential conversion is performed on the density value of each pixel of each of the image data of G ″ and B ″ to obtain exposure data representing the exposure of R, G, and B for each pixel. As described above, the distribution of the light amount represented by the exposure amount data assumes that an ideal image in which the C ″, M ″, and Y ″ images are superimposed on the negative film 12 is recorded, When irradiating a large amount of light, the light distribution becomes equal to the distribution of light transmitted through the image.

At step 326, the exposure amount data calculated as described above is transferred to the control circuit 122 of the printer unit 110. In step 328, it is determined whether or not the exposure amounts have been obtained for all the images recorded on the negative film 12. When the determination at step 328 is denied, the process returns to step 300, and the processing of steps 300 to 328 is repeated. If the determination in step 328 is affirmative, the process ends.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The exposure control process in the printer unit 110 will be described. In step 350, the rotation of the polygon mirror 126 is started. In step 352, the pulse motor 144
The photographic paper 112 is conveyed through the, and the unexposed portion of the photographic paper 112 is positioned at the exposure position. In step 354,
The exposure data corresponding to the image to be exposed is captured. From the next step 356, the image is exposed on the photographic paper. That is, in step 356, of the acquired exposure amount data, an exposure amount control signal corresponding to the R exposure amount data corresponding to the first one line is transmitted to the AOM driver 120R.
AOM sends an exposure control signal corresponding to the G exposure data
An exposure control signal corresponding to the exposure data of B is output to the AOM driver 120B to the driver 120G.

The AOM drivers 120R, 120G, 120B output high-frequency signals to the AOMs 133R, 133G, 133B when the level of the input exposure control signal is high. Thus, the recording laser beams are emitted from the AOMs 133R, G, and B for a time corresponding to the pulse width d at each pulse period t ₀ of the exposure control signal, and are combined by the dichroic mirrors 134G and 134B. The light enters the polygon mirror 126.

The irradiation position of the laser beam on the printing paper 112 is sequentially moved by the rotation of the polygon mirror 126. The pulse period t ₀ of the exposure amount control signal is the same as the irradiation position of the laser beam in the pulse period t ₀ . The movement amount is determined so as to correspond to the pixel interval of the image recorded on the photographic paper 112. Accordingly, since the irradiation time of the laser beam for each pixel differs depending on the pulse width d, the exposure amount is changed for each pixel in accordance with the exposure amount data. The laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror 126 is reflected by the mirrors 130 and 140 to irradiate the photographic paper 112, and one scan of the laser beam by the polygon mirror 126 corresponds to one pixel row (one line) on the photographic paper 112. Is performed.

When exposure for one line is performed, step 3 is performed.
58, the pulse motor 144 drives the photographic paper 112 by a predetermined amount corresponding to one line interval until the rotation angle of the polygon mirror 126 becomes the rotation angle at which the incident laser beam is reflected to the scanning start position. Is transported. In the next step 360, it is determined whether or not exposure for one image has been completed. If the determination in step 360 is negative, the process returns to step 356, and the AOM driver 120 sends an exposure control signal corresponding to the exposure data corresponding to the next one line.
The signals are output to R, G, and B, respectively, and exposure of the next one line is performed in the same manner as described above.

By repeating the processing of steps 356 to 360 a predetermined number of times, an image is exposed according to the exposure data. When the exposure processing for one image is completed, the determination in step 360 is affirmed, and step 36 is performed.
Move to 2. In step 362, it is determined whether or not the exposure for all the transferred exposure data has been completed. If the determination in step 362 is negative, step 352
Then, the exposure processing for the next image is performed in the same manner as described above. If the determination in step 362 is affirmative, the rotation of the polygon mirror 126 is stopped in step 364, and the main exposure control processing ends.

The printing paper 112 that has been subjected to the exposure control processing is
The unexposed portion is cut by the cutter unit 116 and rewound into the magazine 114, and the exposed portion of the image is sent into each processing tank of the processor unit 154, and then sent to the drying unit 166, where color development, The bleach-fixing, washing, and drying processes are performed, and the image exposed by the printer unit 110 is visualized. Printing paper 112 that has been dried
Is cut for each image frame and discharged outside the body of the printer processor 18.

[Explanation of Experimental Result] Next, an example of the result of an experiment for comparing the conventional integral neutral method with the gray balance correction method according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 16 shows the result of scanning and reading of a negative image in which R feria is generated.
FIG. 5 is a diagram in which the B concentration with respect to the G concentration is plotted for each pixel with the vertical axis taken. In FIG. 16, in the distribution of points “*” representing the R density with respect to the G density, a group largely deviated toward the vertical axis represents pixels in a red background portion occupying a large area in the image.

FIG. 17 shows a print result when the exposure amount is determined based on the integrated transmission density by applying the integral neutral method to the negative image and printed on photographic paper. In FIG. 17, the group of points “*” greatly deviated to the vertical axis in FIG. 16 has moved to a position near the straight line having a slope “1” through the origin, and with this movement, Many points “*” are distributed at positions deviated toward the horizontal axis. Thus, it can be understood that the color balance of the main subject has been lost due to the influence of the color (red) of the background portion.

On the other hand, in FIG. 18, which shows the printing result when the same negative image is printed on photographic paper after determining the exposure amount by applying the gray balance correction method of the present invention, FIG. It is divided into a group with a gray balance near the straight line and a group composed of "*" points and having a color ratio greatly approaching R, and the color balance of the main subject is not lost, and It can be seen that the red at the time of shooting also reproduces the color of the background portion. As described above, when the gray balance correction method of the present invention is applied, an image (for example, an image in which feria is generated) in which an appropriate print result cannot be obtained conventionally can be obtained.
It is possible to obtain an appropriate print result.

In the above description, D _max is an average value of the maximum reference values C _max , M _max , and Y _max of each color, and D _min is an average value of the minimum reference values C _min , M _min , and Y _min of each color. , _Dmax and _Dmin are merely criteria for matching the density values of each color, and are not limited to the above.
For example, a predetermined constant value may be used without changing the value for each image, or any one of the above C _max , M _max , and Y _max and any one of C _min , M _min , and Y _min may be used. You may.

In the above embodiment, each of the scanning units 36 and 38 of the film image reading device 16
Although the image was configured to be scanned and read using the D-line sensor, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the photometric sensors are arranged in a matrix. By using a CCD area sensor 170, the amount of light transmitted through each pixel of the image may be detected at one time.

The pre-scan unit 36 shown in FIG.
The photometric sensor of the D area sensor 170 has sensitivity to each of the R, G, and B wavelengths, and the imaging lens 60 and the CCD
A spectral filter group 172 composed of three spectral filters that transmit only light of R, G, or B wavelength is disposed between the area sensor 170 and one of the spectral filters by a filter driving device 174. Are inserted into the optical path to sequentially measure the amount of transmitted light of each color.

Note that, as in the case of the CCD line sensors 62 and 94, a sensor unit including a sensor for detecting the light amount of R light, a sensor for detecting the light amount of G light, and a sensor for detecting the light amount of B light, If the area sensors are arranged in a matrix, the spectral filter group 172 and the filter driving device 174 can be omitted.

Further, in the above, the exposure amount is determined for each pixel,
The case where scanning exposure is performed for each pixel in the printer unit 110 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the case where an image is exposed by surface exposure as used in many general printers is described. It is also possible to apply to.

[0106]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image is divided into a large number of regions, and a maximum reference value is determined for each color based on the density values of three colors corresponding to the pigment density of the film measured for each region. A value and a minimum reference value are determined, a conversion relationship for matching the converted values of the maximum reference value of each color and the converted values of the minimum reference value are determined, and 3 is determined using the determined conversion relationship. Converts the measured color values and averages the density data in a predetermined area including a line passing through the converted maximum reference value and the converted minimum reference value based on the distribution of the density data obtained by the conversion on the color coordinates. Find the maximum density value after conversion,
The conversion relationship of each color is corrected according to a curve passing through the minimum density value after conversion and the average value, and the conversion is performed again using the corrected conversion relationship. An excellent effect is obtained that the correction ability does not decrease and the influence of feria can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the density change characteristic of each color before correction, and FIG. 1B showing the density change characteristic corrected so that a maximum reference value and a minimum reference value coincide with each other.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photographic processing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a film image reading device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine of a pre-scan unit of the film image reading device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a scan reading process of a pre-scan unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a reading process in a fine scan unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating details of a gray balance correction process in a fine scan unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an exposure process in a printer unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a waveform of an exposure amount control signal output to an AOM driver.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the negative film, illustrating a process of cutting out a screen of the negative film and dividing the area, and showing a base density measurement area.

FIGS. 12A to 12C are diagrams showing conversion relationships when converting C, M, and Y densities into C ′, M ′, and Y ′ densities.

13A is a diagram showing data plotted on color coordinates, FIG. 13B is a diagram showing a predetermined area S, and FIG. 13C is a diagram showing quadratic curves P _C and P _Y passing through an average value. is there.

FIGS. 14A to 14C are diagrams illustrating a process of converting C density, M density, and Y density into C ″ density, M ″ density, and Y ″ density.

FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of the configuration of the scanning unit.

FIG. 16 is a color coordinate diagram showing a color balance for each pixel of a negative image in which R fear occurs as an explanation of the experimental result.

FIG. 17 is a color coordinate diagram showing a result of printing the negative image of FIG. 15 by applying the integral neutral method as an explanation of an experimental result.

18 is a color coordinate diagram showing a result of printing by applying the present invention to the negative image of FIG. 15 as an explanation of an experimental result.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams for explaining a conventional problem, wherein FIG. 19A shows ideal density change characteristics of each color of a negative image, FIG. 19B shows actual density change characteristics, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing density change characteristics corrected as described above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 16 film image reading device 36 pre-scan unit 38 fine scan unit 42 control circuit 62 CCD line sensor 94 CCD line sensor

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image recorded on a negative film is divided into a number of areas, and the density values of three colors corresponding to the dye density of the film are measured for each area, and based on the measured density values, Calculating a maximum reference value and a minimum reference value for each color; determining a conversion relationship for matching the converted values of the maximum reference value of the respective colors and matching the converted values of the minimum reference value; The measured values of the three colors are converted using the conversion relationship, and based on the distribution of the density data obtained by the conversion on the color coordinates, a predetermined value including a line passing through the converted maximum reference value and the converted minimum reference value The average value of the density data in the area is obtained, the conversion relationship of each color is corrected according to a curve passing through the maximum density value after conversion, the minimum density value after conversion and the average value, and the conversion is performed again using the corrected conversion relationship. To correct the gray balance, Gray balance correction method.