Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-08
2002-11-12
Rogers, Scott (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
C358S003260, C358S003270, C358S532000, C382S264000, C382S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06480300
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and a recording media on which software for executing the image processing is recorded. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and a recording media on which software for executing the image processing is recorded that are capable of creating a frequency-processed image such as a soft-focused image, a sharpness-enhanced image, and the like, when the image processing apparatus is used in a color image reproducing system, which reproduces a color image as a visible image in the following manner. That is, a subject or an image is photoelectrically read, and original image signals, which are obtained by converting the image into digital signals and represent an amount proportional to an optical density or to a logarithmic exposure amount are subjected to image processing.
There have been proposed color image reproducing systems. With the color image reproducing systems, a color image recorded on a negative film, a reversal film, a color print, and the like is photoelectrically read with a photoelectric conversion device such a charge coupled device (CCD) or the like; the color image is converted into digital signals and stored in an image signal storing unit such as a frame memory or the like as original image signals; the color image stored in the image signal storing unit is subjected to image processing; subsequently, the thus processed image signal is reproduced on a recording material such as a color paper or the like, or on a cathode ray tube (CRT).
According to the color image reproducing system, even if a color image is recorded under improper recording conditions such as underexposure, overexposure, and the like and recorded on a negative film, a reversal film, a color print, or the like, the color image reproducing system can reproduce resulting original image signals as a color image having desired colors and gradation by subjecting the original image signals to image processing. In addition, the color image reproducing system can reproduce a color image recorded on a negative film, a reversal film, a color print, and the like as a color image having different colors and gradation, when desired.
In contrast, although a soft-focused image is created by multiple exposure when a photograph is taken or when a photograph is printed, the multiple exposure is a time-consuming technology. Thus, there has been strongly desired to create a soft-focused image, which has the same effect as that created by the multiple exposure, by means of the above color image reproducing system based on a color image recorded on a negative film, a reversal film, a color print, and the like without the execution of the multiple exposure.
To satisfy the desire, the applicant has disclosed an image processing apparatus which can create a soft-focused image by carrying out digital image processing in the above digital color image reproducing system in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-172600. The image processing apparatus, which is disclosed in the publication, is arranged such that a color image is read and subjected to logarithmic (LOG) conversion in the above color image reproducing system; thereafter, original image signals are obtained by subjecting image signals stored in a frame memory to color conversion; subsequently, the original image signals are subjected to unsharp mask processing to thereby obtain unsharp image signals; then, image signals for creating a soft-focused image is created by combining the unsharp image signals with the original image signals at a prescribed rate.
Incidentally, when a photographic image is handled as digital data, it is an ordinary practice that image signals, which have been input or read, that is, image data showing an amount corresponding to or in proportional to subject luminance or intensity of light incident to the subject such as data corresponding to subject illuminance or exposure amount (hereinafter called as exposure amount data) are processed so that they are converted into data representing an amount, which is relatively linear to human eyes and is proportional to an optical density or to a logarithmic exposure amount (hereinafter, referred to as “density data”); then, various kinds of image processing steps are carried out to the converted data.
In the image processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-172600, original image signals (exposure amount data), which have been obtained by reading a color image, are subjected to logarithmic (LOG) conversion and converted into density data; thereafter, unsharp image signals are created; and the unsharp image signals are added to the original image signals at an arbitrary rate. As a result, the image processing apparatus can also create an image having an soft-focusing effect.
It is true that when soft focus processing is carried out using the image signal data converted into the density data as carried out by the above technology, a processed image is finished to have soft feeling. However, the technology has a problem that it cannot produce the loss of definition of light from a bright portion to a dark portion, that is, so-called flare feeling, which can be produced when an image is recorded with an actual camera in a soft-focus mode.
Further, with the technology, the adding rates of the original image and the unsharp image, which are added to each other as density data, are unchanged at any portion of one image. Accordingly, there is also a problem that when the adding rate of the unsharp image is increased to provide an image with soft feeling, the core of the image is made excessively unsharp and the edge of the image, to which human eyes are most sensitive, tends to be felt only unsharp. Whereas, there is an additional problem that when a soft effect is restricted and the adding rate of the original image is increased to emphasize the core of the image, the badness of graininess is made noticeable.
On the other hand, there is a further problem that when sharpness emphasizing processing is carried out using the density data at the time a color image is reproduced on a finished print from a color negative film and a color reversal film, a processed image is made sharp, but the graininess of a human skin is made bad.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of prior art and to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and a recording media on which software for executing the image processing is recorded that are capable of obtaining a soft-focused image having an effect near to flare, which is obtained in the soft-focusing executed in an analog mode when an image is actually recorded with a camera and capable of obtaining a processed image having an optimum frequency processing effect such as a sharpness-enhanced image, in which the sharpness of the image is enhanced while restricting the deterioration of the graininess of a human skin. The image processing apparatus and method are arranged such that when frequency-processed images such as the soft-focused image, the sharpness-enhanced image, and so forth, are to be created by subjecting digital original image signals, which have been obtained, to image processing, frequency processing such as soft-focus processing, sharpness enhancement processing and the like is carried out by changing the digital data of the original image signals, which is represented by a logarithmic scale, a power scale or the like, to image signal data which represents an amount corresponding to or proportional to the amount of the luminance of the subject or of the intensity of incident light, or corresponding to reproduced luminance, for example, the luminance of the subject or the intensity of the incident light before they are subjected to logarithm (LOG) conversion or power conversion, or the reproduced luminance processed to raise an inclination of its gradation by taki
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Rogers Scott
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