JP2001216124A - Medium recording image processing program, image processing apparatus, and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] When a print image size is smaller than a predetermined size, even if noise is removed or image data interpolation that requires many calculations is performed, it is almost inconspicuous and all possible methods can be assumed. Even if the image processing is performed, the performance from the data input to the printing completion as viewed in total is not always in the state desired by the user. SOLUTION: A high print image quality and a short print time are simultaneously realized by executing image processing in which a user can recognize an image quality improvement effect in a print result of a predetermined print image size. Therefore, when a printing device prints an image desired by a user, an optimum total performance can be realized from the start to the end of printing even if the user does not care.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a medium, an image processing apparatus, and an image processing method in which an image processing program for processing original image data composed of dot matrix pixels is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When printing a photograph image or the like taken by a digital camera, image data such as enlargement / reduction processing, image correction processing, halftone processing, etc. are usually performed on pixel data in a dot matrix form to print image data. Has been generated. When printing such a photographic image, A4
There are various forms such as a screen size and a small seal size similar to a silver halide photograph called a so-called E plate or L plate, an A4 full size (= 4L plate), etc. In many cases, a plurality of photographic images are printed on one sheet of printing paper.

[0003]

The above-described conventional image processing has the following problems. To print a photographic image or the like, a plurality of image processes are performed as described above. For example, specific image processing such as a removal process for digital camera noise or an image data interpolation process suitable for enlarging a natural image is performed. There is a suitable processing method applied to images and sizes.
In other words, when the print image size is smaller than the predetermined size, the noise is hardly noticeable even if noise is removed or image data interpolation requiring many calculations is performed. Therefore,
Even if users perform image processing in all possible ways because they want high image quality, they spend unnecessarily printing time, and they are not necessarily used as a performance when viewed as a whole from data entry to printing completion. Is not what he wants.

[0004] Particularly, when photographic image data or the like is directly input to a printing apparatus without going through a computer and image processing is automatically performed inside the printing apparatus to contribute to a user's convenience request, a small image quality is required. There are many users whose improvement is not important, and it is important to realize the optimal total performance of the printing time and the printing quality without making the user conscious of anything. Further, such a printing apparatus is particularly demanded to reduce the cost, and it is not preferable to mount an advanced processor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a medium, an image processing apparatus, and an image processing method in which an image processing program for realizing printing with optimal total performance without the user being conscious is recorded. With the goal.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium storing an image processing program for performing predetermined image processing on original image data to generate print image data. An original image data acquisition function for acquiring the original image data, a print size acquisition function for acquiring a print image size when the original image is printed,
An image processing execution function for executing image processing for realizing optimum performance based on print time and print image quality when printing with the print image size acquired by the print size acquisition function is realized by the computer.

[0006] In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, image processing for realizing optimum performance at the time of printing is executed based on the print image size. For this purpose, first, the original image data is acquired by the original image data acquisition function, and the print image size at the time of printing the original image is acquired by the print size acquisition function. Then, the image processing execution function executes image processing for realizing the optimum performance by integrating the printing time and the print image quality when printing with the print image size acquired by the print size acquisition function.

That is, since the effect of each image processing depends on the absolute value of the print image size, in the present invention, the print image size is obtained by the print size obtaining function,
Both printing time and printing quality when printing at this print image size are taken into account. Of course, the more image processing that can be assumed to improve the image quality, the higher the quality of the image after the processing is usually. However, since image processing requires many operations, the image processing is When executed, the processing time increases dramatically, resulting in a large printing time. Therefore, if the image processing that is not so effective is not performed for a certain print image size, the optimum performance in which the print time and the print image quality are integrated is realized.

Here, it is sufficient that the size of the print image to be obtained can be used as an index when performing the above-mentioned image processing. If the size to be actually printed on the printing paper is obtained, it is easy for the user to intuitively understand. Preferably, when the original image is enlarged / reduced, the enlargement / reduction is performed in the image processing execution function.
The number of pixels after reduction can also be used. That is, when printing an image, usually, an actual print image size such as the E-plate or A4 full size is specified in a state where the print resolution dpi is specified in advance. here,
The number of pixels of the print image data is determined by the print image size and the dpi.
And the number of pixels can be estimated before generating the print image data. Therefore, the estimated number of pixels of the print image data may be used as an index for image processing.

In the image processing execution function, it suffices if image processing can be executed so as to realize an optimum performance in which printing time and print image quality are integrated at the time of printing, and the invention according to claim 2 is an example of a configuration therefor. In the medium on which the image processing program according to Item 1 is recorded, the image processing execution function is configured to select the execution image processing by setting the print image size as a threshold value.

In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the execution image processing is selected with the print image size as a threshold value. That is, the size of the plurality of image processing algorithms prepared in advance, in which the effect is effectively exhibited, differs depending on the respective image processing algorithms. Therefore, a certain image processing is performed for a certain print image size or more, and another image processing is further performed for another print image size or more.

As described above, even if the processing is selected according to the effect of the image processing, there are various criteria for recognizing the effect of the image processing. 3. A medium on which the image processing program according to claim 2 is recorded, wherein the image processing execution function performs image processing that allows a user to recognize an image quality improvement effect when printing is performed at the print image size. There is a configuration to execute. In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, the image processing is executed so that the user can recognize the image quality improvement effect. Conversely, since the effect of performing the image processing is not performed for the user to be difficult to recognize, the processing time can be reduced without lowering the image quality.
More specifically, when the print image size is equal to or larger than the E plane, digital camera noise removal processing is performed. Normally, image interpolation processing is performed using a bicubic algorithm. Performing an image interpolation process using a cubic algorithm may be considered.

As described above, when only the image processing necessary for performing the image processing of the original image data is selected, the performance at the time of printing the original image data is improved. It is important to improve the performance of the whole process. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium on which the image processing program according to any one of the first to third aspects is recorded, wherein the original image data acquisition function is provided for printing on a single sheet of printing paper. A plurality of original image data is obtained, the print size obtaining function obtains a print image size for each of the plurality of original images, and the image processing execution function executes the image processing for each of the plurality of original image data. It is configured to execute processing.

[0013] In the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, a plurality of image data for printing on one sheet of printing paper in the original image data acquisition function and the print size acquisition function, and printing corresponding to these data. Get the image size. Then, the image processing execution function executes image processing for realizing the overall optimum performance at the time of printing for each image. Therefore, the image printed on one sheet of printing paper is optimized in each case, and is optimized even in the entire printing paper.

Of course, the recording medium described above may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future. Also, the duplication stages of the primary duplicated product, the secondary duplicated product, and the like are equivalent without any question. Although different from the above-described medium, if the supply method is performed using a communication line, the communication line is used as a transmission medium and the present invention is used. Further, even when a part is implemented by software and a part is implemented by hardware, the concept of the present invention is not completely different, and a part is stored on a recording medium and appropriately It may be in a form that can be read.

As described above, the method of performing image processing for realizing the optimum performance at the time of printing based on the print image size is realized by a substantial computer, and in this sense, the present invention relates to a virtual computer including such a computer. It can be easily understood that the present invention can be applied as a certain device. That is, there is no difference that the present invention is effective as a substantial device controlled by a computer. For this reason, also in the invention according to claim 5, basically the same operation is obtained. Of course, the idea of the invention is not limited to this, and may include various aspects, and may be implemented alone or may be implemented together with another method while being incorporated in a certain device. Can be changed as appropriate.

When such an image processing program proceeds in accordance with such control, it is natural that the invention exists in its procedure, and it is also applicable as a method. Easy to understand. For this reason, in the invention according to claim 6, basically the same operation is obtained. In other words, there is no difference that the method is not necessarily limited to a tangible medium or the like and is effective as a method.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image processing for realizing the optimum performance at the time of printing is executed based on the print image size, so that the optimum total performance can be obtained even if the user is not conscious at all. Can be realized. According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily select the image processing that realizes the optimum performance. Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce the printing time while realizing good image quality. Further, according to the invention according to claim 4, printing with optimum total performance can be realized.

Further, according to the invention according to claim 5,
Since the image processing for realizing the optimum performance at the time of printing is executed based on the print image size, printing with the optimum total performance can be realized without the user's awareness. Further, according to the invention of claim 6, since the image processing for realizing the optimum performance at the time of printing is executed based on the print image size, printing with optimum total performance is performed without any user's awareness. Can be realized.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic hardware configuration of a printing apparatus capable of performing image processing according to the present invention and printing based on print data after image processing, and FIG. 2 shows a main configuration of firmware of the printing apparatus. ing.
In FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 10 mainly includes a mechanical controller 20 that controls a print driving mechanism, and a controller 30 that mainly controls image processing, printing start, and the like. The mechanical controller unit 20 and the control unit 30 are a high-speed serial I / O 11
The mechanism controller 20 controls a print head, a paper transport mechanism, and the like in accordance with a print instruction from the control unit 30 to perform predetermined printing.

In the mechanical controller 20, a CPU 21, a RAM 22, and a ROM 23 are connected via a bus line.
And the motor controller 24 are connected, and the CP
The U 21 controls the motor controller 24 based on the program stored in the ROM 23 while using the RAM 22 as a temporary work area.
The motor controller 24 is an interface for driving a motor in accordance with a predetermined control signal output from the CPU 21 via a bus line, and is connected to the head unit 25 and the transport unit 26.

The head unit 25 is composed of a print head or the like (not shown). The print head or the like is moved by the drive control of the motor controller 24 to apply ink to printing paper. The transport section 26 includes a paper feed roller (not shown) and the like.
The printing control is carried out at a predetermined speed in accordance with the printing by the head unit 25. That is, with the above configuration, the mechanical controller 2
0, the CPU 21 executes a control program in accordance with a print instruction and a control instruction input via the high-speed serial I / O 11, controls the motor controller 24, and performs printing in accordance with image data. I have.

In the control unit 30, a CPU 31, a RAM 32, a ROM 33, a switch (SW) 34, an external interface (I / F) 35, and a display unit 36 including LCDs and LEDs (not shown) are connected via a bus line. ing. In this control unit 30, the CPU 31
Is configured to execute a predetermined control program including a plurality of modules stored in the ROM 33 while using the RAM 32 as a temporary work area. Here, the SW 34 is composed of a plurality of push buttons (not shown), and the user uses the SW 34 to start printing, specify a print layout, specify a print image size, and the like.

That is, a predetermined control signal is transmitted to the CPU 31 via the bus line in response to the pressing operation of each SW 34, and the CPU 31 executes a predetermined module in accordance with the control signal to execute the printing device. 10
Implement various functions in. The display unit 36 has an L (not shown).
A CD and LED are provided, and the size of the currently selected print image, print layout, and the like are indicated to the user under the control of the CPU 31.

With this configuration, the user can set a print image of a desired size on a print sheet so as to be printed at a desired position on the print sheet. It is possible to arrange print images and arrange a 2L-size print image at the bottom. The external I / F 35 is an interface capable of inserting a PC card and inputting / outputting data to / from a bus line. The user can use a PC card in which image data from a digital camera is stored in the external I / F 35 To insert these image data.

Of course, a predetermined adapter may be connected to the external I / F 35 to input data from a compact flash, smart media, or the like, or a communication cable may be connected to the external I / F 35 to transfer data from an external computer. You may enter it. In addition, the external I / F 35 can adopt various serial I / Fs, such as a parallel communication I / F and a USB, in addition to the interface with the PC card.

As described above, the plurality of modules stored in the ROM 33 for the CPU 31 to control each hardware function as firmware 40, and the mutual relationship is shown in FIG. In the figure, an image acquisition module 41 acquires photographic image data from a photographic card 35a storing photographic image data to be inserted into the external I / F 35 via the bus line. still,
Here, a case has been described in which photographic image data on which various image processing is performed is targeted as the original image data, but the object image is not limited to a photographic image alone, but may be a picture image or the like.

When the photographic image data is obtained by the image obtaining module 41, the photographic image data is transferred to the image processing module 43 to perform predetermined image processing. That is, the image processing module 43 includes a decoding unit 43a, an image correction processing unit 43b, an enlargement / reduction processing unit 43c, a band processing unit 43d, a halftone processing unit 43e, and an interlace processing unit 43f. Image processing is performed, and print image data used at the time of printing in the mechanical controller unit 20 is generated.

The decoding section 43a decodes the compressed data passed to the image processing module 43, and converts the data into 256-gradation data expressed by three primary colors of RGB in a dot matrix pixel. That is, the photographic image data obtained by the image obtaining module 41 via the external I / F 35 is compressed in the JPEG format due to a reduction in the capacity of the photographic card 35a, and the image data is expanded before the image processing. . When the photographic image data is input to the printing apparatus 10 in a compressed state as described above, the storage capacity of the data is small and suitable, but of course, RGB gradation data is stored for each pixel of the dot matrix. May be provided.

In the image correction processing section 43b, correction processing such as contrast, brightness, and color balance is performed on the image data decoded by the decoding section 43a. That is, in the present embodiment, the image correction processing unit 43b performs correction processing such as contrast, lightness, and color balance with a setting that satisfies a large number of users by default. Perform processing. Of course, it is also possible to perform a correction process based on a setting desired by the user, and execute a predetermined image correction while receiving an instruction from the user via a UI processing module 42 described later.

In the enlargement / reduction processing unit 43c, the above-described S
The image data is enlarged / reduced based on a print image size on print paper which is input via W34 and output by a UI processing module 42 described later. That is, the image data developed by the decoding unit 43a is normally composed of thousands of pixels in a dot matrix, and several thousand pixels in a row, and is not always exactly the same as the print image size. When generating image data, it is necessary to perform enlargement / reduction processing.

For example, image data captured by a digital camera of the class of 2 million pixels is usually 1600 × 1200 pixels, and is E-size (114 pixels) at a printing resolution of 200 dpi.
898 × 7 mm to execute printing of
Since 80 pixels are required, trimming or the like is performed by performing a predetermined reduction process. In order to execute the printing of the E size at the printing resolution of 720 dpi, 3232 × 2806 pixels are required. Therefore, the enlargement process is performed while interpolating the data between the pixels of the original image to perform trimming or the like. Of course, such a situation depends not only on the case where the printing resolution is different, but also on the size of the printing area on the printing paper such as the L and 2L plates.

Here, the image correction processing section 43b and the enlargement / reduction processing section 43c can perform image processing such as image correction processing and image interpolation processing on photographic image data by a plurality of algorithms. According to the print image size to be acquired, the image processing is executed so as to realize the optimal performance in which the print time and the print quality are integrated at the time of printing. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the E and 2L plates in the print image size are used as the thresholds.

In a digital camera, full-color data is generally created by interpolation because a color filter is used, and specific color shift and color unevenness often occur. Since the color shift and the color unevenness become conspicuous when the printing area is large, the image correction processing unit 43b smoothes the color by a process called so-called digital camera noise elimination to make the color unevenness and the like inconspicuous. ing. However, this processing requires a plurality of lines of the original image to perform noise removal for one line, and the amount of calculation is considerably large. Further, in a print image size equal to or smaller than the E plate, noise caused by such a digital camera is inconspicuous. Therefore, when the print image size is equal to or smaller than the E plate, the digital camera noise removal processing is not performed.

In the enlargement / reduction processing section 43c, a bicubic algorithm which refers to four lines around a target pixel is executed as a technique suitable for interpolation in a natural image in which jaggy is less noticeable. However, even if the bicubic algorithm makes the jaggies less noticeable, the jaggies also become noticeable when the print image size becomes larger than 2L. Therefore, while performing image interpolation processing by the above bicubic algorithm, enlargement processing is performed while referring to eight lines around the target pixel and performing smoothing processing for a print image size of 2L or more. It is like that.

Of course, the print image sizes E and 2L used as thresholds here are merely examples, and other thresholds can be adopted. In addition, processing in which the visual effect changes depending on the print image size,
For example, it is also possible to change the setting of the sharpness processing in which the effect is felt relatively stronger as the print image size is smaller, depending on the print image size. Further, it is also possible to compare the original image data and the print image data and select the image processing to be executed based on the enlargement ratio.

After performing the image correction processing and the enlargement / reduction processing as described above, the image processing module 43 generates print data for executing printing in the mechanical controller section 20. That is, the band processing unit 43d divides the generated data into a predetermined band width in the same manner as the processing in the normal printing apparatus, and
In e, processing for halftone color reproduction is performed, and interlacing processing for controlling the head unit 25 is performed in the interlace processing unit 43f to generate final print data. As a result, the mechanical controller 20
The CPU 21 controls each unit to perform printing based on the superimposed image data.

The UI processing module 42 controls the display of the currently selected setting and the current status of the printing apparatus on the display unit 36, and also controls the display of the print image size and the print layout. Has become. Further, the print image specified in response to the pressing operation of the SW 34 is specified, and information for specifying a print image size, a layout, and the like is transmitted to the image processing module 4.
3 and a print start instruction.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the ROM 33 is used as a recording medium, the image acquisition module 41 constitutes the original image data acquisition function, and the UI processing module 42 implements the print size acquisition function. The image processing module 43 constitutes the image processing execution function. Further, the present invention can be regarded as a medium for causing the computer to execute a predetermined process, can be provided as an image processing device incorporated in a printing device, and can also be regarded as an image processing method.

Hereinafter, the printing apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described.
Will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic flow of the printing apparatus 10 when printing an image. In the figure, in step S100, the CPU 31
It is determined whether or not the photo card 35a has been inserted into F35. If it is determined in step S100 that the photo card 35a has been inserted, the UI processing module 4
In step S110, the user controls the display state of the display unit 36 in step S110 to display the photograph number and the like stored in the photograph card 35a to the user, and allows the user to select one to be printed.

Further, the UI processing module 42 controls the display state of the display unit 36 in step S120, and prompts the user to input the information while indicating the image layout and the print image size in the print paper to the user. Step S1
Upon receiving the photographic image to be printed and the print image size in Step 10 and Step S120, the image processing module 43 performs the predetermined image processing in Step S130. When predetermined image processing is performed in step S130, print image data is generated. In step S140, printing is performed in the mechanical controller unit 20 using the print image data.

FIG. 4 shows a flow of processing performed by the image correction processing unit 43b and the enlargement / reduction processing unit 43c of the image processing module 43 in the above step S130. In the figure, in step S200, as described above, the user makes an input via the SW 34 and the UI processing module 42
Receives the information about the print image size output by the. In step S210, it is determined whether or not the print image size received in step S210 is equal to or larger than the E size. If it is determined in step S210 that the print image size is equal to or larger than the E size, the digital camera noise is determined in step S220. Execute the removal process. If it is not determined in step S210 that the size is E or higher, the digital camera noise elimination process is not executed.

In the present embodiment, the digital camera noise elimination processing is performed around the pixel of interest for which image processing is performed.
A median (intermediate value) filter of × 9 pixels is applied. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, first, data of 9 × 9 pixels around the target pixel A is obtained, and the data is converted from RGB to YCrCb (luminance / color difference data) table. Convert to color system. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the color difference signals Cr are rearranged in the order of magnitude, and the median is converted into the color difference signal Cr ′ of the target pixel A. Cb
Also converts the color difference signal of the pixel of interest.

When the image processing is performed in this manner, pixel data such as color misregistration and color unevenness due to a color filter or the like used at the time of imaging of the digital camera or the like is removed, noise is reduced, and image quality is improved. Here, a 9 × 9 median filter is used in the digital camera noise removal processing, but of course the size of the filter can be adjusted.
It is also possible to adopt a mode in which pixels are extracted every other line to reduce the number of reference pixels while securing a large filter application area.

Further, in step S230, the print image size received in step S200 is 2L.
It is determined whether or not the image is equal to or more than the 2L version.
At 250, the image interpolation processing based on the normal bicubic algorithm is executed. If it is determined in step S230 that the size is 2L or more, step S24
At 0, the image interpolation processing by the bicubic algorithm while performing the above-mentioned smoothing is executed.

In the present embodiment, the bicubic algorithm refers to 4 × 4 pixel data around the generated interpolation pixel. More specifically, the bicubic algorithm uses data of a total of 16 grid points surrounding a point Puv to be interpolated, as shown in FIG. The general formula is as follows:

(Equation 1) Distance t along the x and y axes from the interpolation point to each grid point pixel
The contribution degree from each grid point pixel data is determined by the interpolation function f (t) that changes according to.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an interpolation function f (t) in the bicubic algorithm. In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates the position t, and the vertical axis indicates the interpolation function f (t). Grid points exist at positions of t = 0, t = 1, t = 2, and interpolation points are at positions of t = 0 to 1. In the bicubic algorithm, the interpolation function has a positive contribution between two adjacent points (t = 0 to 1) and gradually decreases toward t = 1. Further, the negative contribution is made outside (t = 1 to 2) between the two points.

That is, a certain edge portion is changed so as to have a large difference in height such that no step is formed, and in a photograph, there is a favorable effect that no step is formed while increasing sharpness. Therefore, although the amount of calculation is large as compared with a method of using the nearest pixel as it is, such as a so-called nearest neighbor interpolation method (nearest neighbor method, near-list method), jaggies are less noticeable. The bicubic algorithm is to be used in consideration of the above.

Further, in such a bicubic algorithm, although jaggies become less noticeable, it is also conceivable that jaggies that can be recognized by human eyes are generated in a large image print result. Therefore, as described above, a smoothing process is performed in addition to the bicubic algorithm for a print image of 2L or more. In the smoothing process in the present embodiment,
After detecting an edge pixel using a predetermined addition / subtraction filter, a filter for detecting an edge direction is applied to 8 × 8 pixels, and the pixel of interest is merged with a pixel arranged in the edge direction based on the pixel of interest. Is performed.

More specifically, the detected edge pixel is set as a target pixel Y (j, i), and a filter as shown in FIG. 8 is applied to the pixel. This filter is 45 ° (225
Ii) is for detecting the edge. This filter weights “1” in a region A shown in FIG.
Are weighted by “−1”, and when a filter operation is performed, a difference between the region A and the region B sandwiching the assumed edge is obtained. That is, the operation of D = ΣA-ΣB is executed.

Since an edge is a region where pixels having large differences are continuous, the difference between pixels sandwiching the edge should be large. If the edge exists in the 45 ° direction, it can be said that the difference between the regions existing on both sides along the edge becomes large. Therefore, when the difference between the two is greater than the threshold thres, the 45
It is determined that there is an edge in the ° direction.

The edge is not necessarily limited to 45 °. Therefore, the filter may be configured to detect an edge having another angle. The weight of the filter can be changed as appropriate. For example, a region in a row parallel to the edge may be weighted with “2”, and the other regions may be weighted with “1”. Further, in detecting the direction of the edge, a filter is used in the above-described embodiment, but it is naturally possible to adopt another method.

When the edge direction is obtained in this manner, smoothing can be performed by performing processing for fusing the pixel of interest with pixels arranged in the edge direction.
In the case of an edge in the direction of 5 °, Y (j, i) = (Y (j + 1, i−1) + Y (j−1,
i + 1)) * (1/2) * wline45 + Y (j,
i) An operation of * (1-wline45) is executed. Note that wline45 is a coefficient representing the likelihood of 45 °, and is obtained as wline45 = | ΣA−ΣB | / 2040. If the filter shown in FIG. 8 is assumed, the maximum of | ４０A−ΣB | is 2040 (= 255 * 8) in the case of 256 gradations (0 to 255). As a result of this calculation, the gradation value of each pixel is smoothed along the edge direction, and jaggies become less noticeable.

Therefore, by executing the image enlargement by the above-mentioned bicubic algorithm after performing such smoothing, it becomes difficult for the user to recognize the occurrence of jaggies even in a print image of 2L or more. Of course, wline
Does not necessarily have to be changeable based on such a formula, but can be a constant value, and |
When 良 い A−ΣB | becomes large, a curve that sharply changes greatly may be drawn.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 10 in the above configuration and control flow will be described. When a user prints a photo image, the user first prepares a photo card 35a in which the photo image data is stored. Then, the photo card 35b is inserted into the external I / F 35 of the printing apparatus 10 and the display unit 3
While viewing SW 6, the user operates the SW 34 to specify a desired photograph. After designating the print image, the user operates the SW 34 while visually recognizing the display unit 36 to designate the layout of the print image on the printing paper and the print image size. When a print start instruction is issued by the SW 34, image processing is executed inside the printing apparatus 10 and the image is printed.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show a specific example of the print image size and layout on the A4 print paper. In FIG. 9A, the E-plate size is set to 4 for one print paper. FIG. 2B shows an example in which two sheets of E-size and one sheet of 2L-size are printed on one sheet of printing paper. Note that, in this example, an example is described in which a photographic image taken by a digital camera of a 2 million pixel class is printed at a print resolution of 720 dpi. When the user specifies the layout and print image size in FIG. 9A by operating the switch S34 in the flow of FIG. 3, the image correction processing unit 43b of the image processing module 43 proceeds to step S2.
At 10, it is determined that each print image is equal to or larger than the E-plate.

Therefore, in step S220, digital camera noise removal processing is performed on each image data. Further, the enlargement / reduction processing unit 43c of the image processing module 43 performs image interpolation processing to secure 3,232 × 2,806 pixels for printing 1600 × 1200 pixel image data at a print resolution of 720 dpi. Expanding. At this time, step S
Since it is not determined at 230 that each of the print images is the 2L or more, the normal bicubic algorithm is executed at step S250.

When the user specifies the layout and print image size in FIG. 9B by operating the switch S34 in the flow of FIG. 3, the image correction processing unit 43b of the image processing module 43 proceeds to step S210.
It is determined that each of the print images is equal to or larger than the E plate. Therefore, in step S220, digital camera noise removal processing is performed on each image data.
Further, the enlargement / reduction processing unit 43 of the image processing module 43
In c, since printing is performed at a print resolution of 720 dpi, 3232 × 2 for the two upper E-plate sizes.
806 pixels are secured and the lower 2L size (182
(mm × 131 mm), the image is enlarged by image interpolation processing to secure pixels of 5159 × 3713.

At this time, for the two upper E-plate sizes, it is not determined in step S230 that each of the print images is 2L or larger, so that a normal bicubic algorithm is executed in step S250. For the lower 2L size, the print image is determined to be 2L or more in step S230, so step S24
The bicubic algorithm with the smoothing at 0 is executed.

Here, in the print size larger than the E size, if the noise removal is not performed, the color shift and the color unevenness due to the color filter interpolation processing in the digital camera are likely to be conspicuous. Since noise is removed, color shift and color unevenness become less noticeable.
On the other hand, in a print size equal to or smaller than the E size, color misregistration and color unevenness are less conspicuous, so that high-speed printing can be performed without performing noise removal processing. In addition, when the image interpolation is executed, the jaggy is made less noticeable by using the bicubic algorithm, but the jaggies still appear at the print size of 2L or more. However, in the present invention, since the bicubic algorithm is executed while performing smoothing on the 2L version or more, jaggy becomes less noticeable.

As described above, according to the present invention, both the high print image quality and the short print time are achieved by executing image processing that allows the user to recognize the image quality improvement effect in the print result of the predetermined print image size. At the same time. Therefore,
When an image desired by the user is printed by the printing apparatus, an optimum total performance can be realized from the start to the end of printing even if the user is not aware of the image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic hardware diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a main configuration of firmware of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow at the time of printing an image in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a processing flow of an image processing module.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a median filter.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a target pixel and a reference pixel of the bicubic algorithm.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in an interpolation function of the bicubic algorithm.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a smoothing filter.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a print image size and a layout.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 printing device 11 high-speed serial I / O 20 mechanical controller 30 control unit 31 CPU 32 RAM 33 ROM 34 switch 35 external interface 35a photo card 36 display unit 40 firmware 41 image Acquisition module 42 UI processing module 43 Image processing module 43a Decoding unit 43b Image correction processing unit 43c Enlargement / reduction processing unit 43d Band processing unit 43e Halftone processing unit 43f Interlace processing unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C087 AB05 BA02 BB10 BC05 BD06 CA03 CB03 5B021 AA01 AA02 BB02 CC05 DD12 EE01 KK02 LB07 5C076 AA19 AA21 AA22 AA32 BA05 BA06 CB02 CB04 5C077 LL18 PP19 PP07 MP20 PP47 PP68 PQ08 PQ18 RR19 9A001 HH24 HH31 HZ34 JJ35 KK42

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A medium in which an image processing program for generating print image data by performing predetermined image processing on original image data is recorded, wherein: an original image data acquisition function for acquiring the original image data; A print size acquisition function that acquires the print image size at the time of printing the original image, and an image process that realizes the optimal performance that combines the print time and print image quality when printing with the print image size acquired by the above print size acquisition function A medium storing an image processing program for causing a computer to realize an image processing execution function to be executed. 2. The image processing program according to claim 1, wherein the image processing execution function selects the execution image processing with the print image size as a threshold value. Medium on which processing programs are recorded. 3. A medium on which the image processing program according to claim 1 is recorded, wherein the image processing execution function is provided when a user executes printing with the print image size. A medium storing an image processing program for executing image processing capable of recognizing an image quality improvement effect. 4. A medium on which the image processing program according to claim 1 is recorded, wherein the original image data acquisition function is a plurality of original images for printing on one sheet of printing paper. Data, the print size obtaining function obtains a print image size for each of the plurality of original images, and the image processing execution function executes the image processing on each of the plurality of original image data. A medium having recorded thereon an image processing program. 5. An image processing apparatus for performing predetermined image processing on original image data to generate print image data, comprising: an original image data acquisition unit for acquiring the original image data; Print size obtaining means for obtaining the print image size of the image data, and image processing for executing image processing for realizing optimum performance by integrating print time and print image quality when printing with the print image size obtained by the print size obtainment means. An image processing apparatus comprising: an execution unit. 6. An image processing method for performing predetermined image processing on original image data to generate print image data, comprising: an original image data acquiring step of acquiring the original image data; A print size obtaining step for obtaining the print image size of the image data, and an image processing for executing image processing for realizing optimum performance by integrating the printing time and the print image quality when printing with the print image size obtained in the print size obtaining step. An image processing method comprising: an execution step.