Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Multicolor picture
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-14
2004-10-05
Rutledge, D. (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Multicolor picture
C355S040000, C355S041000, C355S068000, C355S069000, C355S077000, C396S125000, C396S567000, C382S274000, C348S223100, C348S225100, C358S516000, C358S530000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06801296
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing method, an image processing apparatus and an image recording apparatus.
In recent years, when outputting image signals indicating images photographed by a photographing apparatus (to be concrete, image data generated through photographing by a digital camera or the like, image data obtained by making photographed images to be electronic ones with a film scanner or a flat bed scanner, and data generated when the aforementioned data are processed or converted in terms of format by various application programs) from an output apparatus such as a printing apparatus or a display apparatus, prescribed image processing is generally conducted on the image signals corresponding to output images for giving favorable impression to a person who observes the output images.
For example, as a known technology, there is a white balance adjustment function. The white balance adjustment function is a function to adjust a balance of a color that changes depending on a light source, and when this white balance adjustment function is not used, when a subject that is white under a fluorescent lamp is photographed, the white subject becomes greenish, and when a subject that is white under a tungsten lamp is photographed, the white subject becomes reddish, because of characteristics (color temperature) of light that varies depending on a light source (environment light) such as sunlight, a tungsten lamp and a fluorescent lamp. Therefore, color correction is conducted for adjustment by the white balance adjustment function, so that a white subject may be photographed to be white.
Further, there have been disclosed various technologies for correcting a gap between an impression which was caused by an influence of flashlight in flash photographing, in addition to color temperature according to environment light in the course of photographing, and was given to a photographer in the course of photographing, and an impression which was given by an image obtained through photographing by a photographing apparatus, and for correcting to express an image or a color preference desired by a customer.
For example, TOKKAIHEI No. 7-322274 discloses an image processing method that can reproduce images having an excellent white balance, by conducting gamma correction for R, G and B signals based on color temperature information recorded in each frame on a magnetic recording layer of a developed still photo-film, and thereby by correcting color temperature in photographing, with respect to image signals obtained through scanning of frame images on the developed still photo-film. There is further disclosed simultaneously an image processing method which prevents that a subject turns black by controlling correction and conducting image processing for halftone when conducting gamma correction for RGB signals based on backlight information recorded in each frame on a magnetic recording layer.
Further, in TOKKAI No. 2000-261825, there are disclosed an image processing method and a processing apparatus wherein color conversion is conducted based on specified information wherein color temperature which is desired by a user to be outputted is expressed with sensitive-expression such as “sober” when color temperature owned by images is changed and outputted, and output images with impression according to an image of a person who observes is obtained.
Further, in TOKKAI No. 2001-238177, there are disclosed an image processing method and an image processing apparatus wherein image data of photographing scene of a subject is obtained in a camera, then, camera information obtained or inputted in photographing of a subject is obtained, and further when occasion demands, related information concerning this photographing scene is taken in, and photographing scene is estimated by at least one of camera information and related information or by a combination of this and image data, and prescribed image processing according to the estimated photographing scene is conducted.
Further, in TOKKAI No. 2001-177732, there is disclosed an image processing apparatus wherein environment light information, flash information and an object distance in flash photographing are obtained, and in accordance with information of the aforesaid information, color reproduction condition that differs for each image area is established, and image processing is conducted so that a principal subject and a background may show suitable color preference.
However, when recent diversification of generating means for image signals indicating exposed images, including an inexpensive digital camera for toy use, a lens shutter digital camera, an SLR high-grade digital camera, a film scanner and a flat-bed scanner, diversification of photographing surroundings and photographing scenes which advance following the aforementioned diversification of generating means for image signals, and demands of customers for further high quality are considered, it cannot be said that all of them have sufficient effects.
The technology disclosed in the aforesaid TOKKAIHEI No. 7-322274 is one wherein the proposed image processing is based on color temperature information recorded in each frame on a magnetic recording layer of a developed still photo-film, and an image on a developed still photo-film having no magnetic recording layer and an image photographed by a digital camera are not taken into consideration, which makes the aforesaid technology to be poor in versatility. In addition, information is written is written or no information is written, depending on camera types and performances, which also makes the aforesaid technology to be poor in versatility. Further, the technology cannot be applied to the scene that is controlled, as in flash photographing, by plural light sources such as environment light and flashlight, because a color temperature varies depending on an area in the image.
Further, the technology disclosed in TOKKAI No. 2000-261825 is one in which color conversion is conducted based on specified information wherein color temperature which is desired by a user to be outputted is expressed with sensitive expression such as “sober”, in which one sensitive expression corresponds to one color temperature value. However, an image imagined by a user from the sensitive expression is various and is not univocal, which makes it difficult to say positively that customers are fully satisfied.
The technology disclosed in the aforesaid TOKKAI No. 2001-238177 is one wherein image data of photographing scene of a subject photographed in a camera are obtained, then, camera information obtained or inputted in the course of photographing a subject and related information concerning the photographing scene are obtained, and photographing scene is estimated by the use of the obtained information so that prescribed image processing is conducted in accordance with the estimated photographing scene. This technology, however, does not pay any attention to the scene controlled by plural light sources (namely, fluorescent or tungsten lamp and flashlight) as in flash photographing under a fluorescent lamp or a tungsten lamp (namely, indoors), for example, and the technology cannot cope with the image for which the controlling light source varies depending on an area in the image.
The technology disclosed in the aforesaid TOKKAI No. 2001-177732 is one wherein environment light information, flash information and an object distance are obtained, then, a color reproduction condition that varies depending on each area in the image is established in accordance with the aforesaid information, and image processing is conducted so that a principal subject and a background may show suitable color preference. However, the technology does not pay any attention to the fact that an effective area and an effective light amount of flashlight for the area for a subject to be photographed are dependent greatly not only on the object distance but also on a zoom magnification and ISO speed.
Subjects of the invention are to solve the p
Ikeda Chizuko
Ito Tsukasa
Takano Hiroaki
Cantor & Colburn LLP
Konica Corporation
Rutledge D.
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