Image analysis – Image transformation or preprocessing – Changing the image coordinates
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2003-11-25
Mehta, Bhavesh M. (Department: 2625)
Image analysis
Image transformation or preprocessing
Changing the image coordinates
C382S300000, C358S001200, C358S532000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06654510
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing system.
Conventionally, for example, in a photofinishing laboratory so called as “Mini-Labo”, a work to produce a regular print is conducted with an operation by an operator in accordance with a request of a customer and the thus produced print is instantly handed to the customer. Further, recently, there is a well-known apparatus in which a print is produced based on image data obtained by photoelectrically reading an original, based on image data inputted directly by CD-ROM or a communication line, or based on image data read from a card having a memory in which plural frame image data photographed by a digital camera are stored.
Incidentally, in the apparatus to produce a print based on the above image data, since it is possible to process the image data by various types of image processing methods, in addition to the production of the regular print, the request of a customer includes, for example, the production of a large size print, the production of a lay-out print in which an image is rotated or rearranged, a process to print by dodging or to add a burn-in effect, or the production of a processed print applied with a special effect by a sharpness conversion process. Accordingly, inputting means to input various kinds of image information, outputting means to output image data and an image processing in accordance with various service menus are needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of above points and the object of the present invention is to provide an image processing method and an image processing system capable of always obtaining a high quality image by conducting an image processing in accordance with various conditions such as characteristics of an image, an input condition and an output condition.
In order to solve the above problems and to attain the above object, the present invention is made as follows.
An image processing system, is provided with:
a input device to input first image data;
a processor to apply an image processing onto the first image data inputted by the input device so as to obtain second image data and to output the second image data to an output device;
the output device to output an image on an image recording medium based on the second image data; and
the processor applying the image processing onto the first image data in accordance with at least one of a condition of a sharpness enhancing process, a condition of an noise eliminating process, a sequential order in the image processing and a number of times of the image processing which are determined based on at least one of an input condition of the first image data inputted by the input device, a photographing condition of the first image data, a type of film on which an image corresponding to the first image data are recorded, a density of the image on the film corresponding to the first image data, a S/N characteristics of the first image data, an enlarging or reducing ratio of an enlarging or reducing process applied to the first image data, an image output format by the output device, and an output condition of the output device.
An image processing system is provided with:
a input device to input first image data;
a processor to apply an image processing including an enlarging or reducing process and a process corresponding to an output format of the output device onto the first image data inputted by the input device so as to obtain second image data and to output the second image data to an output device;
the output device to output an image on an image recording medium based on the second image data; and
the processor applying an enlarging or reducing process onto the first image data in accordance with an interpolating algorithm in the enlarging or reducing process which is determined in accordance with an output format of the output device.
An image processing system is provided with:
a input device to input first image data;
a processor to apply an image processing including an enlarging or reducing process onto the first image data inputted by the input device so as to obtain second image data and to output the second image data to an output device;
the output device to output an image on an image recording medium based on the second image data; and
the processor applying an enlarging or reducing process onto the first image data in accordance with an interpolating algorithm in the enlarging or reducing process which is determined in accordance with an enlarging or reducing ratio in the enlarging or reducing process.
An image processing method has steps of:
inputting first image data;
determining at least one of a condition of a sharpness enhancing process, a condition of an noise eliminating process, a sequential order in the image processing and a number of times of the image processing based on at least one of an input condition of the first image data inputted by the input device, a photographing condition of the first image data, a type of film on which an image corresponding to the first image data are recorded, a density of the image on the film corresponding to the first image data, a S/N characteristics of the first image data, an enlarging or reducing ratio of an enlarging or reducing process applied to the first image data, an image output format by the output device, and an output condition of the output device;
applying an image processing onto the first image data inputted by the input device in accordance with the determined processing condition so as to obtain second image data; and outputting the second image data to an output device.
An image processing method has steps of:
inputting first image data;
determining an interpolating algorithm in an enlarging or reducing process in accordance with an output format of the output device;
applying an image processing including an enlarging or reducing process in accordance with the determined interpolating algorithm in the enlarging or reducing process so as to obtain second image data; and
outputting the second image data to an output device.
An image processing method has steps of:
inputting first image data;
determining an interpolating algorithm in an enlarging or reducing process in accordance with an enlarging or reducing ratio of the enlarging or reducing process applied to the first image data;
applying an image processing including an enlarging or reducing process in accordance with the determined interpolating algorithm in the enlarging or reducing process so as to obtain second image data; and
outputting the second image data to an output device.
Further, the above object can be attained by the following preferable method and system.
(1) In an image processing method in which an image processing including a sharpness enhancing process is conducted at least once for image information inputted by an inputting means for inputting image information and image data subjected to the image processing are outputted to an outputting means, a condition of the sharpness enhancing process is changed interlockingly with the inputting means.
With the technique of (1), for example, in the case of an input means in which only image information having low S/N is obtained due to the difference of noise inclusion to the image by the input means such as different types of scanners, different types of media, and the like, images having high sharpness are not obtained because noise becomes distinct even under a certain degree of sharpness enhancing process. However, in the case of the input means in which image information having high S/N is obtained, the above-mentioned restriction is not applied and additional sharpness enhancing process may be applied. As a result, it is possible to output high quality images having higher sharpness by varying conditions for the sharpness enhancing process in response to the input means.
(2) In an image processing method in which an image processing including a sharpness enhancing process is conducted at least once for image information i
Frishauf Holtz Goodman & Chick P.C.
Konica Corporation
Mehta Bhavesh M.
Patel Kanji
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