JP2003216356A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide an image processing system capable of reliably performing a customer-specific correction process desired by a customer. An image processing system including an image processing unit (12) that performs correction processing on image data for which a photographic print is to be created so that a photographic print desired by the customer can be obtained. Database 20 in which customer-specific correction information associated with a customer ID is registered
And a database control unit 21 that extracts correction information from the database 20 based on the input customer ID. The image processing unit 12 performs a correction process on image data based on the extracted correction information. It is configured as follows.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system having an image processing unit for performing correction processing on image data for which a photographic print is to be created.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photo shop, when a customer requests the creation of a photographic print, a correction process is performed on the image data in order to obtain the density and hue desired by the customer. This is done as a service of each photo shop to meet the requirements of individual customers. Further, the content of the correction processing differs for each customer, and the operator of the photo shop performs an appropriate correction processing while predicting an image that the customer may desire from past exchanges.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned correction processing is performed by the operator of the photo shop on the basis of past experience and perception, and lacks certainty.
Further, the store clerk who receives an order from a customer is not always the same person at a store, and the store clerk who receives an order and the store clerk who performs print processing may be different persons. In that case, past experience and perception may not be utilized. In addition, the contents of correction processing performed in the past may be forgotten. In such a case, the photographic print with the image quality desired by the customer may not always be obtained.

Further, with the spread of printers capable of digital processing, it is possible to perform various correction processing (image processing) such as sharpness processing and partial image correction on an image reproduced as a photographic print. It is desirable to construct a system that can actively use the functions and provide print services with added value.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing system capable of surely performing a customer-specific correction processing desired by a customer.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image processing system according to the present invention performs correction processing on image data for which a photographic print is to be created so that a photographic print desired by a customer can be obtained. An image processing system including an image processing unit for performing a customer ID and a customer ID
The image processing unit includes a database in which correction information unique to the customer associated with D is registered, and a database control unit that extracts the correction information from the database based on the input customer ID. The image data is corrected on the basis of the corrected information.

Operation of the image processing system with this configuration
The effects are as follows. That is, build a database for customers. Customer ID in this database
(Identification information) and correction information unique to the customer are registered in association with the customer ID. When a customer requests a photo print, when the customer's ID is input, the database control unit searches the database and extracts the correction information of the customer. The extracted correction information is used by the image processing unit and is subjected to correction processing according to the customer's request. This makes it possible to create a photographic print with the image quality desired by the customer.

Since the correction information requested by the customer is registered in the database, it is not necessary to rely on the experience and perception of the operator. Further, the correction information can be immediately retrieved by inputting the customer ID. As a result, it is possible to provide an image processing system capable of surely performing the customer-specific correction processing desired by the customer.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is one in which comment information regarding the correction information is also registered in the database.

The correction information is represented by, for example, numerical data, and it is often difficult to know what kind of image quality the customer specifically requests from the correction information alone. Therefore, if the comment information is also registered, the image quality desired by the customer can be specifically known.

As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the correction information includes at least one of density correction, hue correction, and sharpness correction.

1 of density, hue and sharpness
It is possible to meet the needs of most customers by correcting one or any combination thereof.

As still another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The correction processing may be automatically performed on all the image data requested by the customer.

The correction process depends on the customer's request / preference, and it is considered that the correction process is usually performed on all the photographic prints requested by the customer. Therefore, if the correction process is automatically performed for all the image data requested by the customer, the processing time can be reduced without the operator's trouble.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of an image processing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the image processing system.

<Structure of Image Processing System> The image processing system is roughly divided into an image processor 1, a computer 2, and a printer processor 3. A communication cable (not shown) for performing data communication between these devices is provided.

The image processor 1 can acquire image data from an image forming medium and can perform image processing or the like on the acquired image data. The image input unit 10 can acquire image data from various image forming media. Examples of the image forming medium include a recording medium of the digital camera 5, a disc medium such as the MO disc 6 and a developed photographic film 7. The image input unit 10 includes a known drive device for acquiring image data from these image forming media. A film scanner is also provided for acquiring image data from the photographic film 7. Alternatively, the image data may be acquired via a network such as the Internet.

The image storage unit 11 stores the acquired image data, and is composed of an appropriate storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Image processing unit 12
Has a function of performing image processing on image data.
For example, the correction information input from the data input unit 13,
Image processing can be performed based on the correction information registered in the database 20. The image processing unit 12 can be configured by an image processing program, a DSP, or the like.

The data input unit 13 is composed of a mouse, a keyboard, etc., and can input various data and commands to the system in addition to correction information for image processing. The display control unit 14 displays on the screen of the monitor 15,
The image acquired from the image forming medium is displayed. Further, when the image processing is performed, the image after the image processing is also displayed. This is to check in advance whether or not the print can be expressed with an appropriate color and density before creating the photographic print.

The computer 2 can be composed of a commercially available personal computer. A database 20 for registering customer information is constructed, and this database 2
A database control unit 21 for controlling 0 is also provided. Various data registered in the database 20 are
It is saved on the hard disk. The database control unit 21 is composed of a control program.

An example of the structure of the database 20 is shown in FIG. Customer ID, customer name, correction information, correction comment,
Data such as processing date and time are registered. Here, the correction information is data unique to the customer, and using this information,
Image processing unique to the customer is performed. The correction comment is a comment that explains the correction information in an easy-to-understand manner.
For example, "to make the skin color beautiful".

The printer processor 3 has a function of making a photographic print using image data. The exposure engine 30 scans the photographic light-sensitive material with exposure light,
The image can be printed on a photographic light-sensitive material. A specific example of the exposure engine 30 is a laser engine, C
Examples include RT engine and PLZT engine.

The photographic light-sensitive material P (paper) is pulled out from a paper magazine 31 containing the photographic light-sensitive material in a roll form, and cut into a print size by a paper cutter 32. The photographic light-sensitive material having the image printed by exposure is subjected to known processing in the development processing section 33 and the drying processing section 34, and then discharged as a finished photographic print to the outside of the apparatus.

<Details of Correction Processing> Next, the database 2
The contents of the correction processing (image processing) performed based on the correction information registered in 0 will be described. Some customers requesting photographic prints request their own desired density, hue, and sharpness, and a database of customer data is constructed to meet such requests.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a computer screen for searching customer information from the database. The customer number (customer ID), customer name, correction content (correction information), and comment are shown on the screen. The correction information is set according to the taste of each customer, and yellow “+1” magenta “0” cyan “+” is set as the color correction value.
2 ”is shown, and“ +2 ”is shown as the correction value of sharpness. Further, the comment information specifically describes the correction information.

When newly registering customer information in the database, the same computer screen is used to input the customer information. The same applies when the data is corrected.

<Flowchart showing procedure of photo processing>
Next, the procedure for creating a photographic print will be briefly described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in order to take in image data from the image forming medium, it is set at a predetermined position (# 1). on the other hand,
Enter the customer ID of the customer who requested the photo print (# 2). Image data is sequentially input from the image forming medium, and the captured image data is stored in the image storage unit 11 (# 3). Further, along with the input of the customer ID, the correction information of the customer is extracted from the database 20 (#
4). The extracted data is temporarily stored in an appropriate memory.

Next, the first correction processing is executed by the image processing section 12 based on the correction information (# 5). The specific content of this correction process is as described in FIG. This first correction process is based on the customer's preference, and basically is automatically performed for all the image data requested by the customer. The image resulting from the correction processing is displayed on the monitor (# 6). An example of this display screen is shown in FIG.

On this display screen, a predetermined number of images and the registered contents of the database are shown. The operator
If it is determined that a photographic print with an appropriate image quality is created by looking at this display screen (# 7), the printer processor 3 is instructed to perform a print process by pressing a predetermined key on the keyboard. When it is determined that the image quality is not appropriate, the second correction process is performed (# 8). This second correction process is performed for each individual image. This second
The correction value input in the correction process is also the same as in the first correction process. However, the difference is that it is performed for each individual image. This correction process is also performed by the image processing unit 12.

When the correction process is completed as described above, the exposure engine 30 prints and exposes the image on the photographic light-sensitive material (# 9). The photographic light-sensitive material exposed by printing is subjected to known development / drying treatment (# 10), and is discharged outside the apparatus as a photographic print (# 11).

<Other Embodiments> (1) In order to configure an image processing system, in this embodiment, three devices, an image processor 1, a computer 2 and a printer processor 3, are connected by communication cables. However, it is not limited to this.
For example, the functions of the computer 2 may be incorporated in the image processor 1. The image processor 1 and the printer processor 3 may be configured by one device.
In this way, the device configuration can be modified as appropriate.

(2) As the correction information in the present embodiment, two kinds of correction values of hue correction and sharpness correction are registered, but any one of them may be registered. Further, the density correction value may be registered. Further, another correction value may be registered.

(3) The database can be used not only for correction information but also for general customer management. Depending on the customer, if there is no particular customer-specific request, the correction information and comment information fields may be left blank.

(4) By printing the comment information of the correction information on an index print or a print of another form (for example, a print showing a print charge specification),
The customer will also be able to easily check the contents of the correction information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of an image processing system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a computer screen for registering a database.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a photographic print.

FIG. 4 is a screen configuration example displaying a result of correction processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image processor 2 computers 3 printer processor 10 Image input section 11 Image storage 12 Image processing unit 13 Data input section 20 databases 21 Database control unit

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/91 H04N 1/40 101Z F term (reference) 2C187 AD13 AE01 CC09 CC11 CD12 CD16 GD02 5B021 AA30 BB05 DD17 DD18 5C052 AA12 AA17 CC11 FA02 FA03 FA04 FB05 FD01 FD13 FE01 5C053 FA04 FA07 JA21 KA01 KA05 KA24 LA01 LA03 5C077 LL04 LL19 MP01 MP08 PP03 PP37 PQ22

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image processing system comprising an image processing unit for performing a correction process on image data for which a photographic print is to be created so that a photographic print desired by a customer can be obtained. The image processing unit includes a database in which correction information unique to the customer associated with the customer ID is registered, and a database control unit that extracts the correction information from the database based on the input customer ID. An image processing system, which is configured to perform a correction process of image data based on the extracted correction information. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein comment information regarding the correction information is also registered in the database. 3. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the correction information includes at least one of density correction, hue correction, and sharpness correction. 4. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the correction process is automatically performed on all of the image data requested by the customer.