Photocopying – Including fiber optics
Patent
1990-01-05
1991-06-11
Hayes, Monroe H.
Photocopying
Including fiber optics
358200, 355 20, 355 52, 355 81, G03B 2700
Patent
active
050236512
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for re-creating photographic images.
When it is desired to alter a photographic image to create a desired effect it has hitherto been conventional practice to treat the basic artwork (negative or positive) with bleaches and dyes in a process known as re-touching or to use masks during printing in a process known as photo-composition or to use a combination of both these techniques. These are skilled time consuming operations. There are other related fields such a photolithography where it is sometimes desired to alter a photographic image as artwork prior to subsequent processing.
In the graphic arts field it is known to convert original artwork into digital signals representing colour and intensity, to modify these signals and then to recreate an image carried on the artwork with some alteration. Such equipment is relatively costly however and there is a need for a simpler method and apparatus for re-creating images. Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for re-creating a photographic image with selective alterations.
In one aspect the invention provides a method of re-creating a photographic image with selective alterations; said method comprising relatively scanning a first photographic image with light collecting means, transmitting light derived from the collecting means to light emitting means, relatively scanning the light emitting means over a photograhic film to expose the film and create a second photographic image thereon and independently controlling the respective scanning operations to alter the second image in some respect from the first.
The invention also provides apparatus for use in re-creating a photographic image with selective alterations; said apparatus comprising first means for relatively scanning a first photographic image with light collecting means, means for causing light emitting means to emit light derived from the light collecting means, second means for relatively scanning the light emitting means over photographic film to expose the film and create a second photographic image and control means for controlling the scanning operations independently to alter the second image in some respect from the first image.
Usually, the scanning operations would involve moving the collecting and emitting means along a series of linear paths which are side-by-side.
The transmitting means may be a bundle of optical fibres forming a direct optical link between the respective scanning means or heads. The control means would normally permit the scanning operations to run in synchronism over portions of the image which are not to be altered and then interrupt this synchronism when the second image is to be varied. For example, by halting the first scanning means so that the light collecting means remains in one location the second scanning means can be made to scan over regions of the photographic film to impose the same areal image portion on the second image as the small almost punctiform image portion of the first image corresponding to that one location. This is especially useful for backgrounds where additional areas of sky or the like can be imposed on the second image. Alternatively another image can be scanned by the light collecting means to produce in the second image a region or regions corresponding to this other image rather than to the first image.
A convenient way of producing the first image is by back illumination of a photographic transparency. It is also desirable to use occluder means such as a shutter, to control the light used to form the original image. The shutter can then be controlled in association with the scanning operations so as to block light reaching the collecting means at the end limits of the scanning lines.
The control means is best a computer capable of storing information pertaining to the control of the scanning operations. For example, a user may superimpose the artwork carrying the first image or the other image on a digitizer g
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Burch Richard J.
Oxley Brian W.
Gilchrist Studios Group Limited
Hayes Monroe H.
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