Radiation imagery chemistry: process – composition – or product th – Including control feature responsive to a test or measurement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-08-14
Le, Hoa Van (Department: 1752)
Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product th
Including control feature responsive to a test or measurement
C430S401000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06274283
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing device in which an image recorded on a photographic photosensitive material is read and image processing is carried out on the image data obtained by reading.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, digital laboratory systems have been proposed in which an image recorded on a photographic photosensitive material (hereinafter simply referred to as “photographic film”) such as a photographic film is read photoelectrically, various types of image processing are carried out on the image data obtained by reading, laser light is modulated on the basis of the image-processed image data, a photosensitive material such as a color paper is scanned and exposed, and a finished print is formed.
In this digital laboratory system, images recorded on photographic films having different photographic film characteristics (exposure amount-color forming density characteristics) are read. In order to obtain a proper image corresponding to the characteristics of the photographic film and the device which outputs the image, various types of corrections must be carried out by effecting image processing. (Examples of correction are gray gradation balance correction for correcting the balance of the three colors of R, G, B of the gray gradation in a normal exposure region, and photographic film non-linearity correction for correcting the non-linear portion in an underexposure region or overexposure region in a photographic film characteristic).
In the conventional digital laboratory system, various methods are employed for correcting the photographic film characteristics and determining the proper image processing conditions. For example, there is a method of carrying out image processing in which image processing conditions are determined from image data of a single image. In another method of carrying out image processing, the photographic film characteristics are estimated from image data of a plurality of images recorded on a single photographic film, and the image processing conditions are determined. In yet another method of carrying out image processing, the photographic film characteristics are estimated from image data of a large number of images recorded on plural photographic films of the same film type, and the image processing conditions are determined.
However, in the above-described conventionally-proposed image processings, in the method of determining image processing conditions from image data of a single image, the image processing conditions are very dependent on the photographed scene, and there is the possibly that density failure or color failure will occur. Further, the method in which the image processing conditions are determined from image data of one film is more accurate since there is a larger number of data, but the image processing conditions are still dependent on the photographed scenes. In the method in which the image processing conditions are determined from image data of plural films of the same film type, the image processing conditions are not dependent on the photographed scenes since there is such a large amount of data. However, photographic films, which have different photographic film characteristics due to different periods of time having passed since manufacturing of the film or development of the film or due to differences in development caused by different developing conditions, are treated as having the same characteristics. Thus, correction cannot be carried out which reflects the differences between the respective photographic films. Further, even in a method in which the photographic film characteristics themselves are stored and used in correction, correction cannot be carried out which reflects the aforementioned differences due to development and differences due to the passage of time.
Further, when reprinting is to be carried out (e.g., when additional prints are to be printed), there is the possibility that processing will be carried out under image processing conditions which are different than those at the time the initial prints were formed (e.g., at the time of simultaneous printing). Thus, the finished images will greatly differ between the prints formed initially and the prints formed at the time of reprinting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned, an object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks, and to provide an image processing method and an image processing device in which appropriate image processing can always be carried out without being affected by differences due to developing or differences due to the passage of time.
In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is an image processing method comprising the steps of: exposing a predetermined region of a photographic photosensitive material at a predetermined exposure amount; reading the predetermined region of the photographic photosensitive material after the photographic photosensitive material has been developed; on the basis of read data obtained by the step of reading, determining a processing condition for image processing for converting, in accordance with a characteristic of the photographic photosensitive material, image data obtained by reading an image recorded in an image recording region of the photographic photosensitive material; and storing the determined processing condition together with a photographic photosensitive material ID which is applied to the photographic photosensitive material.
In accordance with the first aspect, a predetermined region of a photographic photosensitive material such as a photographic film is exposed at a predetermined exposure amount and developed. The predetermined region is read. On the basis of the read data obtained by reading (e.g., data expressing the density of the predetermined region), a processing condition for image processing for converting, in accordance with a characteristic of the photographic photosensitive material, the image data obtained by reading the image recorded in the image recording region, is determined. (The image processing may be, for example, image processing for converting, in accordance with a characteristic of the photographic photosensitive material, gradation of the image expressed by the image data, such as gray gradation balance correction for correcting the balance of the three colors of R, G, B of the gray gradation in a normal exposure region of the image, or non-linearity correction of the photographic photosensitive material for correcting the non-linear portions in the characteristic of the photographic photosensitive material (the exposure amount-color formed density characteristic)).
The density after development of the predetermined region exposed at the predetermined amount of exposure is a value in which are reflected variations in the characteristic (exposure amount-color formed density characteristic) of the photographic photosensitive material which accompany variations over time or variations in the developing conditions of the photographic photosensitive material. Therefore, on the basis of the read data, the actual characteristic of the photographic photosensitive material can be estimated with higher accuracy from the density of the predetermined region determined from the exposure amount onto the predetermined region (the predetermined exposure amount) and the read data. In the first aspect of the present invention, the processing condition of the image processing for converting the image data in accordance with the characteristic of the photographic photosensitive material is determined on the basis of the read data. Thus, variations in the characteristic of the photographic photosensitive material are reflected in the processing condition, and processing conditions can be obtained which always enable appropriate image processing without being affected by the type of the photographic photosensitive material, or changes over time, or the developing conditions.
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Le Hoa Van
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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