JPH09139840A - Image correction processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a color and a gradation of an image displayed on a display device easily in matching with those printed by a printer. SOLUTION: An image information reader 26 of the processing unit reads a print result printed by a full color printer 15 from a prescribed test pattern and a display pattern displayed by a full color display device 14. An image information correction circuit 27 based on the difference from the colors obtains a correction amount of the image information to make the color of the print result in matching with a color displayed on the display screen. The correction amount is stored and in the case of printing, the image information after the correction by an image information correction circuit 27 is fed to a full color printer. Since the color as the result of print is made in matching with the color of the display screen, the print result in the same color as the correction result on the display screen is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image correction processing apparatus provided with a display for displaying image information, a printing apparatus, and an editing apparatus for correcting color information of image information, and more particularly to an image correction processing apparatus. The present invention relates to an image correction processing apparatus in which an operator corrects colors and gradations while viewing an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A display and a printing apparatus perform display and printing based on image information having color information and gradation information. The color information included in the image information is represented by the three primary colors of red, green, and blue, and various colors are expressed by combining these. A display such as a CRT displays a color image using red (R), green (G), and blue (B). On the other hand, in a printing device, usually, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K).
The color image is reproduced by. For this reason,
The color information of the image information represented by "R", "G", and "B" is converted into yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) and supplied to the printing apparatus. .

Since there is a deviation between the color displayed on the display and the color represented by the image information, it is necessary to correct the color information of the image information in order to reproduce an accurate color. Similarly, since there is a difference between the color reproduced by the printing apparatus and the color represented by the image information, the color information is corrected in addition to the conversion of the color components described above.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-13472 discloses a technique for correcting the color of image information according to the color characteristics of a printing device. In this apparatus, a color image is displayed on the monitor based on the image information, and the operator corrects the color based on this. Then, when printing the image information in which the color information is corrected, the color information of the image information is corrected according to the color characteristics of the printing apparatus and then supplied to the printing apparatus.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-195777 discloses a technique for appropriately correcting the color information contained in image information according to the color characteristics of the printing apparatus. In the printing device,
Generally, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C)
A color image is formed by sequentially superposing black and black (K) toner. In this way, the color in which the toners are sequentially superposed differs from the color represented by the original image information. Therefore, the undercolor removal process of reducing the density of the toner other than black and increasing the density of black is performed until the density of at least one color of the toner other than black becomes “0”, and the printed color is It is designed to approach the color of image information.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-110682 discloses that
An apparatus for correcting color information given to a color monitor is disclosed so that a color represented by image information is displayed faithfully on the color monitor. In this device, a predetermined color pattern is displayed on a color monitor, and this is read by a color sensor to obtain the correction amount of color information.

In these techniques, color correction between the image information and the printing apparatus and color correction between the image information and the color monitor are independently performed. However, in the device that corrects the color of the image information while viewing the image displayed on the color monitor and prints it on the printing device, the color displayed on the color monitor matches the color printed by the printing device. Need to let. Therefore, there has been proposed an image correction processing device that performs both color correction for a color monitor and color correction for a printing device.

FIG. 9 shows an outline of the configuration of a conventionally used image correction processing apparatus. This device inputs an image information storage device 201 that stores image information, a full-color display device 202 that inputs the stored image information and displays in color, and an image information that is stored in the image information storage device 201. And a full-color printing device 203 that prints on a full-color printer. Further, it has an image information editing device 204 that edits image information stored in the image information storage device 201 and performs color correction. The image information editing apparatus 204 is connected with a keyboard 205 for inputting instructions from an operator and a mouse 206 as a pointing device.

The image information editing device 204 instructs the operator to edit or correct the image information represented by red (R), green (G) and blue (B) stored in the image information storage device 201. The image information editing circuit 207 is provided based on the above. The display device color correction circuit 208 is a circuit that performs color correction of the edited and color-corrected image information into image information suitable for the color reproduction range and color balance characteristics of the full-color display device 202. The color information of the three primary colors after being corrected by the display-device color correction circuit 208 is represented by “r”, “g”,
It will be represented by "b".

The color correction circuit 209 for the printing apparatus is "R",
The image information represented by “G” and “B” is represented by yellow (Y),
It is a circuit that performs a color correction according to the function of performing conversion to represent magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and the color reproduction range and color balance characteristics of the full-color printing device 203. The corrected yellow is represented by “y”, magenta by “m”, cyan by “c”, and black by “k”.

The image information stored in the image information storage device 201 is subjected to color correction and editing based on the operator's instruction input from the keyboard 205 and the mouse 206. When an image corresponding to the image information is displayed on the full-color display device 202, the display device color correction circuit 208 is used.
Thus, the color correction of the image information is performed. This allows
The original color information "R", "G", "B" is "r",
It is converted into “g” and “b” and sent to the display device 202. On the other hand, when the image corresponding to the image information is printed by the full-color printing device 203, the printing device color correction circuit 209
The original color information is converted into yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B). Further, depending on the color characteristics of the printing device 203, “y”,
It is corrected to “m”, “c”, and “k”.

The operator has a full-color display device 202.
Adjust the color while looking at the display screen of. The corrected color information of "R", "G", and "B" is written and stored in the image information storage device 201. The image information whose color has been corrected by the operator is corrected by the display device color correction circuit 208 according to the color reproduction range and the color balance characteristics of the full-color display device 202, and full-color display is performed based on the corrected color information. The image is displayed on the device 202. On the other hand, the printing apparatus color correction circuit 204 outputs the image information color-corrected by the operator to yellow (Y),
It is converted into magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (B), and color correction is performed according to the color reproduction range and color balance characteristics of the full-color printing device. Full color printer 2
03 performs full-color printing based on the corrected image information.

The color reproducibility and color balance characteristics of the full-color printing device 203 and the full-color display device 202 have individual differences among the devices. Also, it varies depending on the deterioration of the device over time and the ambient temperature. Therefore, the operator visually adjusts the color displayed on the screen or the color of the printed matter to adjust the color correction amount in the display color correction circuit or the printing device color correction circuit.

[0014]

Since the operator adjusts the correction amount by visually observing the color of the display screen or the printed matter, the correction amount is adjusted to an appropriate value unless printing or display is repeated many times. I can't. Therefore, there is a problem that the work of setting the correction amount is complicated. In addition, since the correction amount is visually adjusted, variations occur depending on individual differences among operators. Furthermore, when the adjustment of the correction amount for the display device and the adjustment of the correction amount for the printing device are performed separately, it is difficult to match the color on the display device with the color of the printed matter. It is often not possible to obtain printed matter of the same color. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the color of the image information while checking the color of the printed matter,
There is a problem that the work efficiency is poor. In the case of a monochrome image, the same problem occurs as a difference in gradation.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image correction processing device which can easily match the color and gradation of an image displayed on a display device with the color and gradation printed by a printing device. It is in.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided image information storage means for storing image information having gradation information, and image information stored in the image information storage means. Display means for displaying a multi-gradation image and instructions for modifying the gradation information of the image information stored in the image information storage means based on the multi-gradation image displayed on the display means An input means for inputting, a correction means for correcting the gradation information of the image information stored in the image information storage means in accordance with an instruction input from the input means, and a multi-tone printed matter corresponding to the image information. Printing means for printing, display image reading means for reading an image displayed on the display means, print image reading means for reading an image of a printed matter printed by the printing means, and an image read by the print image reading means And the gradation required to match the gradation of the image printed by the printing means with the gradation of the image displayed on the display means based on the difference between the gradations of the images read by the display image reading means. A correction amount calculating means for obtaining a correction amount of information, and image information for supplying the image information stored in the image information storing means with the correction amount obtained by the correction amount calculating means to the printing means. The image correction processing device is equipped with a correction means.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, the image displayed on the display means is read by the display image reading means. Also, the image printed by the printing unit is read by the print image reading unit. Based on the difference in gradation of these read images,
The correction amount of the image information required to match the printed gradation with the displayed gradation is obtained, and the corrected image information is supplied to the printing apparatus. Thus, if the gradation is corrected based on the displayed image, the image with the intended gradation can be obtained as a printed matter.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, image information storage means for storing image information having color information, and a display for displaying a color image corresponding to the image information stored in the image information storage means. Means, input means for inputting an instruction for correcting the color information of the image information stored in the image information storage means based on the color image displayed on the display means, and input from this input means A correction unit that corrects the color information of the image information stored in the image information storage unit according to the instruction, a printing unit that prints a color printed matter corresponding to the image information, and an image displayed on the display unit. Display image reading means, print image reading means for reading the image of the printed matter printed by the printing means, image read by the print image reading means, and the display image reading hand Correction amount calculation means for obtaining a correction amount of color information necessary to match the color of the image printed by the printing means with the color of the image displayed on the display means based on the color difference between the images read by And an image information correction unit that supplies image information stored in the image information storage unit with the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit to the printing unit in the image correction processing apparatus. I am letting you.

That is, according to the second aspect of the invention, the image displayed on the display means is read by the display image reading means. Also, the image printed by the printing unit is read by the print image reading unit. Based on the color difference between the read images, the correction amount of the image information required to match the printed color with the displayed color is obtained, and the corrected image information is supplied to the printing apparatus. Thus, if the color is corrected based on the displayed image, the image of the intended color can be obtained as a printed matter.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the correction amount calculation means uses the ratio of the gradation of the image read by the display image reading means and the gradation of the image read by the print image reading means as the correction amount to store the image information. The image information correction means includes a means for obtaining each gradation and a storage means for storing the obtained ratio value, and the image information correction means selects a ratio corresponding to the gradation of the image information from the ratios stored in the storage means. And a multiplication means for multiplying the image information by the ratio selected by the ratio selection means.

That is, according to the third aspect of the invention, the ratio of the gradation of the displayed image to the gradation of the printed image is obtained for each gradation of the image information. When printing is performed, the image is corrected by multiplying the ratio corresponding to the gradation of the image information. In the case of a color image, for example, the gradation ratio is obtained for each of the three primary colors.

According to another aspect of the invention, the print image reading means includes a light source for irradiating the printed matter with light and a color sensor for receiving the light reflected by the printed matter and outputting color image information. There is.

That is, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the image of the printed matter is read by the reflected light.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the print image reading means includes a light source that emits light from the back surface of the transparent printed matter and a color sensor that receives the light transmitted through the printed matter and outputs color image information. It has.

That is, in the fifth aspect of the invention, light is emitted from the back surface of the transparent printed matter, and the image is read by the light transmitted through the printed matter.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an outline of the configuration of an image correction processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This apparatus is an image information editing system 11 for editing, storing, displaying and printing full color image information.
And a color correction device 12 that reads the displayed image and the printed image, respectively, and corrects the color of the image information supplied to the printing device according to the color difference between them. The image information editing system 11 includes an image information storage device 13 for storing image information, a full-color display device 14 for inputting the stored image information to display in color, and image information stored in the image information storage device 13. And a full-color printing device 15 for printing on a full-color printer. Further, it has an image information editing device 16 for editing the image information stored in the image information storage device 13 and correcting the color. A keyboard 17 and a mouse 18 for inputting an instruction from an operator are connected to the image information editing device 16.

The image information editing device 16 includes red (R), green (G), and blue (B) stored in the image information storage device 13.
The image information editing circuit 21 is provided for editing the image information and the color correction represented by the above, based on the operator's instruction.
The display device color correction circuit 22 is a circuit that performs color correction of the edited and color-corrected image information into image information suitable for the color reproduction range and color balance characteristics of the full-color display device 202. 3 after being corrected by the display device color correction circuit 208
The color information of the primary colors will be represented by "r", "g", and "b".

The color correction circuit 23 for the printing apparatus is "R",
The image information represented by “G” and “B” is represented by yellow (Y),
It is a circuit that performs color correction according to the function of converting into magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and the color reproduction range and color balance characteristics of the full-color printing device 203. The corrected yellow is represented by “y”, magenta by “m”, cyan by “c”, and black by “k”.

The image information storage device 13 stores digital image information which is taken in by a scanner or an electronic digital camera and whose color information is represented by "R", "G", "B". Further, image information of a test pattern in which each of these three primary colors is represented by each gradation is stored.

The color correction device 12 is a full-color printing device 1.
An image information reading device 26 for reading the printed matter 24 output from the printer 5 and the image 25 displayed on the screen of the full-color display device 14 is provided. The color difference between the read images is calculated and input to the image information correction circuit 27 that corrects the color of the image information supplied from the printer color correction circuit 23 so that the color of the printed matter matches the color of the display screen. To be done. The color information of the image corrected by the image information correcting circuit ^{27 "y -", "m} -", "c -", "k -" it will be expressed as. The image information corrected by the image information correction circuit 27 is input to the full-color printing device 15. In addition,
The image information correction circuit 27 corrects the image information and outputs it, a through mode in which the image information input from the printer color correction circuit 23 is output as it is, and a correction in which a test pattern is read and a correction amount is calculated. It has three quantity setting modes.

The image information stored in the image information storage device 13 is subjected to color correction and editing based on the operator's instructions input from the keyboard 17 and the mouse 18.
When displaying an image according to the stored image information on the full-color display device 14, the color correction circuit 22 for the display device is used.
Thus, the color correction of the image information is performed. This allows
The original color information "R", "G", "B" is "r",
It is converted into “g” and “b” and sent to the display device. On the other hand, when printing an image according to the image information in the full-color printing device 15, the printing device color correction circuit 23
The original color information is converted into yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (B). Further, it is corrected to “y”, “m”, “c”, “k” according to the color characteristics of the printing apparatus.

The operator adjusts the color while looking at the display screen of the full-color display device 14. "R" after correction,
The color information of “G” and “B” is written and accumulated in the image information storage device 13. The image information color-adjusted by the operator is corrected by the display device color correction circuit 22 according to the color reproduction range and color balance characteristics of the full-color display device 202, and the full-color display device is based on the corrected color information. 14 is displayed. On the other hand, the printing apparatus color correction circuit 23 converts the image information that has been color-adjusted by the operator into yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B), and is also used in the full-color printing apparatus. Color correction is performed according to the color gamut and color balance characteristics. The image information correction circuit 27 is set to the through mode when printing the test pattern. Therefore, the image information from the printing color correction circuit 23 is input to the full-color printing device 15 without being subjected to color correction.

On the other hand, when printing image information other than the test pattern, the image information correction circuit 27 is set to the correction mode. As a result, the color of the image information is corrected so that the color of the printed matter output from the full-color printing device 15 matches the color of the image displayed on the full-color display device 14 and is supplied to the full-color printing device 15. In the correction amount setting mode, the image information reading device 26 reads the image of the test pattern printed in the through mode and the image of the test pattern displayed on the full-color display device 14, and the correction is performed according to the color difference between these images. Image information correction circuit 2
Calculated as 7. The obtained correction amount is the image information correction circuit 2
7 is stored in a memory (not shown). In correction mode,
The input image information is corrected by the correction amount stored in the memory, and converted into color information of “y ⁻ ”, “m ⁻ ”, “c ⁻ ”, and “k ⁻ ”, and the full color printing device 15 is obtained. Supply.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of the configuration of the image information reading device. The image information reading device 26 displays “R”, which is the three primary colors of light, on the printed test pattern 31.
Light 32 that sufficiently contains three wavelength components of "G" and "B"
It is provided with an illuminator 33 for applying a light and a switch 34 for turning the illuminator 33 “on” and “off”. The color sensor 35 is a color photoelectric converter that receives the reflected light from the printed test pattern 31 and outputs an electric signal 36 indicating the intensity of the light of each of the three primary colors.
An illuminator 33 is provided between the color sensor 35 and the illuminator 33.
Plate 37 that prevents the light from reaching the color sensor directly
Is arranged. In addition, the color sensor 36 uses the test pattern 3 displayed on the screen of the full-color display device 14.
By receiving the light 39 from the light source 8, the displayed image can be read.

An electric signal 36 output from the color sensor 35
Are input to the analog-digital conversion circuit 41. The analog-digital conversion circuit 41 converts the analog electric signal 36 output from the color sensor 35 into a digital signal 42. The digital signal 42 output from the analog-digital conversion circuit 41 is input to the image information correction circuit 27 via the output buffer 43 which is an electric buffer.

When the image of the test pattern 31 printed without being corrected by the image information correction circuit 27 is read, the switch 26 is turned on, and the test pattern 31 is irradiated with light from the illuminator 32. Test pattern 3
The light reflected by 1 is received by the color sensor 35 and 3
The electrical signal 36 corresponding to the intensity of the primary color light is output. The image information correction circuit 27 inputs the digital signal 42 converted by the analog-digital conversion circuit 41 via the output buffer 43. Full color display device 1
When reading the test pattern 38 displayed in 4,
The switch 26 is turned "off". Full color display device 1
The light from the screen of No. 4 is received by the color sensor 35, converted into an electric signal, and then input to the image information correction circuit 27.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of the circuit configuration of the image information correction circuit. The image information correction circuit 27 stores a first input buffer 51 which is an input circuit of an image signal from the image information reading device 26, a parameter calculation circuit 52 for obtaining a correction parameter indicating a correction amount, and a correction parameter of the calculation result. A non-volatile RAM (random access memory) 53 is provided. Non-volatile RAM 53
Is a memory that can retain the stored contents even when the power of the device is turned "off". The image information from the printer color correction circuit 23 is input to the image information correction circuit 27 via the second input buffer 54. The faithful color correction circuit 55 is a circuit that corrects the image information from the printing device color correction circuit 23 based on the correction parameters stored in the nonvolatile RAM 53.

The image information from the second input buffer 54 is input via the switching circuit 56 to either the faithful color correction circuit 55 or the output buffer 57 for outputting the image information to the full color printer 15. It The selection switch 58 switches the output destination of the switching circuit 56. Further, one of the switching circuit 56 and the faithful color correction circuit 55 is selected as the input source of the output buffer. Further, it has a function of selecting the operations of the faithful color correction circuit 55 and the parameter calculation circuit 52. That is, the selection switch 5
8 has a function of switching between the through mode, the correction amount setting mode, and the correction mode.

When the through mode is selected, the output buffer 57 is selected as the output destination of the switching circuit 56. When selecting the correction amount setting mode, only the operation of the parameter calculation circuit 52 is enabled and the faithful color correction circuit 55 is activated.
Etc. are stopped. When the correction mode is selected, the faithful color correction circuit 55 is selected as the output destination of the switching circuit 56. In addition, only the faithful color correction circuit 55 is activated,
The parameter calculation circuit 52 and the like are stopped.

When the through mode is set, the image information input from the second input buffer 54 is supplied to the full-color printing device 15 via the switching circuit 56 and the output badder 57. As a result, the image information from the printing device color correction circuit 23 is input to the full-color printing device without being corrected by the faithful color correction circuit 55. The through mode is selected when printing the test pattern.

When the image of the printed test pattern and the test pattern displayed on the full-color display device 14 is read by the image information reading device 26 and the correction amount is obtained, the correction amount setting mode is selected. At this time, the image signal taken in via the first input buffer 51 is input to the parameter calculation circuit 52. Parameter calculation circuit 52
First writes the image signal from the first input buffer 51 to the non-volatile RAM 53 and stores it. Thereafter, the correction parameters are calculated while reading the stored image signal from the nonvolatile RAM 53, and the calculation result is stored in the nonvolatile RAM 53.
Write 53. The details of the calculation will be described later in detail.

When the correction mode is selected, the switching circuit 56 inputs the image information input from the second input buffer 54 to the faithful color correction circuit 55. The faithful color correction circuit 55 inputs the correction parameter read from the non-volatile RAM 53, and corrects the image information based on the correction parameter. The corrected image information is input to the full-color printing device 15 via the output buffer 57.

FIG. 4 shows a signal waveform in each part of the image correction processing apparatus shown in FIG. The image signal representing the test pattern (a in the figure) is composed of signal periods of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). Signal 61 of red (R) is a period of time T ₁₁ through T _12, signal 62 of green (G), the period up to time T ₁₂ through T _13, signal 63 and blue (B), the time T ₁₃ ~ T ₁₄ period. The image signal is an 8-bit digital signal for representing each color with 256 gradations. In each color period, the density gradually increases from 0 to 255 gradations at equal intervals. When the color reproduction characteristics of the full-color display device 14 and the full-color printing device 15 are ideal and faithful to the image signal, a signal waveform obtained by reading the display image or the printed image with the image information reading device 26 (FIG. 8B). Becomes a straight line rising upward in each color period, and has a waveform linearly corresponding to the gradation interval.

However, in reality, the color gamut and the color balance characteristics change due to deterioration over time, and there are individual differences among the devices, so the waveforms are not ideal. The test pattern displayed on the full-color display device 14 having no ideal color reproducibility is displayed on the image information reading device 2.
The waveform (c in the same figure) read in No. 6 is not linear in each color period. Similarly, the waveform when the test pattern printed by the full-color printing device 15 that does not have ideal color reproducibility is read by the image information reading device 26 (FIG. 7D) is also a non-linear waveform having a different shape from FIG. It has become. Even if these waveforms are not linear, as long as the waveforms are the same, the full-color display device 14
The color displayed in and the printed color match. If the colors reproduced by both devices are the same, the color correction is performed based on the image displayed on the display device, so that the printed matter with the intended corrected color can be obtained.

Therefore, the characteristics of the full-color display device 14 side are not corrected, but only the color of the image information sent to the full-color printing device 15 side is corrected, and the color displayed on the full-color display device 14 and the printed color are corrected. To match. The correction parameter (e in the figure) is obtained for each gradation of each color. That is, the correction parameter in the period of the red (R) signal 61 represents the correction amount for each gradation of red (R). Similarly, the value of the correction parameter between the signals 62 is the correction amount corresponding to each gradation of green (G), and the value of the correction parameter between the signals 63 is the correction amount corresponding to each gradation of blue (B). Respectively. The correction parameter is represented by an 8-bit digital signal which is the same as the color information of the image signal.

FIG. 5 shows in more detail the signal waveform in each part of the image correction processing device for the red (R) signal period shown in FIG. The image signal of the test pattern (a in the figure) represents the gradation “0” of red (R) during the period 71 from time T _{0 to} T ₁ . Time T ₁ ~
During the period 72 up to T ₂ , the red (R) gradation “1” is displayed. Similarly, in each period until time T ₂₅₅ , red (R) image information up to the gradation “255” is sequentially displayed. In the case of having an ideal color reproducibility, the level of the signal (b in the same figure) output from the image information reading device 26 sequentially increases by a certain level from “0”.

However, since the color reproducibility is not linear, in the output signal (c in the figure) when the screen of the full color display device 14 is read by the image information reading device 26, the difference in signal level for each gradation is constant. do not become. In this case, the difference in signal level between the gradations gradually increases as the gradation of the image information approaches “255”. For example, the signal level difference 83 between the signal level 81 (MR0) of gradation "0" and the signal level 82 (MR1) of gradation "1" is relatively small. On the other hand, gradation "254"
The signal level difference 86 between the signal level 84 (MR254) of No. 2 and the signal level 85 of the gradation "255" is relatively large.

On the other hand, in the output signal (d in the figure) when the output image of the full-color printing device 15 is read by the image reading device 26, when the gradation of the image information is near "0" and "255", each gradation is The difference in signal level between the gray levels is small, and in the middle thereof, the difference in signal level between the gray levels is large.
For example, the signal level difference 89 between the signal level 87 (PR0) of the gradation “0” and the signal level 88 (PR1) of the gradation “1” and the signal level 91 (PR of the gradation “254”).
254) and the signal level difference 93 between the gray level “255” signal level 92 are both relatively small. However, the difference in signal level between the gradation “2” and the gradation “253” is 9
4 is larger than the corresponding signal level difference 95 in the full-color display device 14.

The value of the correction parameter for each gradation is expressed by the following equation. HP _N = (M _N ) / (P _N ) (1) Here, HP represents the value of the correction parameter corresponding to the gradation N of the image information. Further, _MN represents an output level when an image of gradation N displayed on the screen of the full-color display device 14 is read by the image information reading device. Also P _N
Represents the output level when the image printed by the full-color printing device 15 is read by the image information reading device. The correction parameter is calculated by the equation (1) for each color of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). For example, the correction parameter for the image information of red (R) gradation 12 is calculated by (MR ₁₂ ) / (PR ₁₂ ). Here, the letter "R" next to "M" indicates that the color is red.

Image information for printing device input through the switching circuit 56 is multiplied by a correction parameter corresponding to the color and gradation, and the image information is subjected to color correction (FIG. 5e).
Is supplied to the full-color printing device 15.

First Modification

FIG. 6 shows the outline of the configuration of the image information reading device of the image correction processing device in the first modification. The configuration of the other parts is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and therefore its explanation is omitted. Moreover, the same parts as those of the image information reading apparatus shown in FIG. The image information reading device 101 includes an illuminator module 102 in which an illuminator 33 and a control switch 26 thereof are housed. The illumination module device 102 is detachable. The printed matter 103 read by the image information reading apparatus 101 is transparent like an OHP film. Therefore, the printed matter 10
The light 104 of the illuminator 33 is emitted from the back surface of No. 3.
Then, the transmitted light 105 transmitted through the printed matter 103 is received by the color sensor 35.

With the illuminator module 102 removed,
The display screen of the full-color display device 14 has a color sensor 35.
Can be read with. Further, the illuminator module 102 may be moved to a position other than the front of the color sensor by rotation or the like.

Second modification

FIG. 7 shows an outline of the configuration of the image information reading device of the image correction processing device in the second modification. The image correction processing device in the second modification is
It handles monochrome images. Therefore, the image information reading device is designed to read the light and shade of a monochrome image. The same parts as those of the image information reading apparatus shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. Here, the color sensor 3
Instead of 5, a monochrome sensor 111 that reads the contrast of a monochrome image is used. Printed test pattern 112 and test pattern 11 displayed on the display screen
Reference numerals 3 are Nomokuro, respectively, which represent the shades of black and white with various gradations. The configuration of the image correction processing device is such that the circuit portion corresponding to color of the image correction processing device shown in FIG. When only a monochrome image is edited in this way, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced by using a monochrome circuit and sensor.

Third Modified Example

FIG. 8 shows an outline of the configuration of the image information reading device of the image correction processing device in the third modification. This device reads a monochrome print that transmits light. The same parts as those shown in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals. Illuminator 24 and switch 3
Numeral 4 is a removable illuminator module 121. When reading the light transmission type printed matter 122 such as an OHP film, the light 123 from the illuminator 24 is emitted from the back surface of the printed matter 122. The transmitted light 124 that has passed through the printed matter 122 is received by the monochrome sensor 111.

In the case of processing a monochrome image in this way, the light of the illuminator does not need to sufficiently contain the light of the wavelengths of the three primary colors, and may be the light of a single wavelength. Further, the monochrome sensor may have the wavelength of the illuminator in the light receiving wavelength band. The correction parameter is given by the ratio of Expression (1), and the gradation is corrected by multiplying this ratio.

In the embodiment and the modified examples described above, the display device color correction circuit and the printing device color correction circuit are provided and a certain amount of correction is performed in advance. However, image information correction is performed without performing these corrections. The correction may be performed only by the circuit. However, by providing a color correction circuit for the display device or the like, a color close to the image information is displayed or printed, so that the amount of correction of the image information by the operator can be reduced.

[0060]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the image displayed on the display means and the image printed by the printing means are read, and based on the difference in gradation between these images, Image information corrected so that the printed gradation matches the displayed gradation is supplied to the printing apparatus.
As a result, if the gradation is corrected based on the displayed image, the image with the intended gradation can be obtained as a printed matter, and the efficiency of the gradation correction can be improved. Further, the correction amount can be easily set.
Furthermore, there is no variation in the correction amount due to individual differences among operators.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the color image displayed on the display means and the color image printed by the printing means are read, and the color to be printed is based on the color difference between these images. The image information that has been corrected to match the displayed color is supplied to the printing apparatus. This allows
If the color is corrected based on the displayed image, the image of the intended color can be obtained as a printed matter. Further, the color correction amount can be easily set, and there is no variation in the correction amount due to individual differences among operators.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, the ratio of the gradation of the displayed image and the gradation of the printed image is obtained for each gradation of the image information, and the gradation of the image information is obtained when printing is performed. Since the image is corrected by multiplying the ratio corresponding to the key, appropriate correction can be easily performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the image of the printed matter is read by the reflected light, the image printed on the recording paper or the like can be read appropriately.

Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 5, the image is read by irradiating light from the back surface of the transparent printed matter and the light transmitted through the printed matter is read. Can be read.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an image correction processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an image information reading device used in the image correction processing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of a configuration of an image information correction circuit used in the image correction processing apparatus shown in FIG.

4A to 4C are various waveform charts showing signal waveforms in respective parts of the image correction processing apparatus shown in FIG.

5A to 5C are various waveform charts showing in more detail the signal waveforms in the respective units of the image correction processing device for the red (R) signal period shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an image information reading device in a first modified example.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an image information reading device in a second modified example.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an image information reading device in a third modified example.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an image correction processing device that has been conventionally used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Image Information Editing System 12 Color Correction Device 13 Image Information Storage Device 14 Full Color Display Device 15 Full Color Printing Device 16 Image Information Editing Device 17 Keyboard 18 Mouse 21 Image Information Editing Circuit 22 Display Device Color Correction Circuit 23 Printing Device Color Correction Circuit 24 Printed matter printed by full-color printing device 25 Display screen of full-color display device 26 Image information reading layer 27 Image information correction circuit 31, 38, 112, 113 Test pattern 33 Illuminator 35 Color sensor 37 Light-shielding plate 52 Parameter calculation circuit 53 Non-volatile RAM 55 Faithful color correction circuit 56 Switching circuit 58 Selection switch 103 Light-transmissive printed matter 111 Monochrome sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/60 H04N 1/40 D 1/46 1/46 Z

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image information storage unit for storing image information having gradation information, and a display unit for displaying a multi-gradation image corresponding to the image information stored in the image information storage unit. Input means for inputting an instruction to correct the gradation information of the image information stored in the image information storage means based on the multi-gradation image displayed on the display means, and input from this input means A correction unit that corrects gradation information of the image information stored in the image information storage unit according to the instruction, a printing unit that prints a multi-tone printed matter corresponding to the image information, and a display unit that displays the display unit. A display image reading means for reading the printed image, a print image reading means for reading the image of the printed matter printed by the printing means, an image read by the print image reading means, and the display image reading hand. The correction amount of the gradation information necessary to match the gradation of the image printed by the printing unit with the gradation of the image displayed on the display unit is obtained based on the difference in gradation of the image read by A correction amount calculation unit; and an image information correction unit that supplies the image information stored in the image information storage unit with image information obtained by correcting the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit to the printing unit. An image correction processing device characterized by: 2. An image information storage means for storing image information having color information, a display means for displaying a color image corresponding to the image information stored in the image information storage means, and this display means. Input means for inputting an instruction to correct the color information of the image information stored in the image information storage means based on the color image displayed on the image, and the image according to the instruction input from the input means. Correction means for correcting the color information of the image information stored in the information storage means, printing means for printing a color printed matter corresponding to the image information, and display image reading means for reading the image displayed on the display means A print image reading means for reading an image of a printed matter printed by the printing means, and an image read by the print image reading means and a display image reading means. Correction amount calculation means for obtaining a correction amount of color information necessary to match the color of the image printed by the printing means with the color of the image displayed on the display means based on the difference in the colors of the taken images; An image information correction unit that supplies image information stored in the image information storage unit to the printing unit, the image information being corrected by the correction amount obtained by the correction amount calculation unit. Image correction processing device. 3. The correction amount calculation means obtains the ratio of the gradation of the image read by the display image reading means to the gradation of the image read by the print image reading means as the correction amount for each gradation of the image information. Means and a storage means for storing the obtained ratio value, and the image information correction means selects a ratio corresponding to the gradation of the image information from the ratios stored in the storage means. 3. The image correction processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a multiplication unit that multiplies the image information by the ratio selected by the ratio selection unit. 4. The print image reading means comprises a light source for irradiating the printed matter with light, and a color sensor for receiving the light reflected by the printed matter and outputting color image information. The image correction processing device according to claim 1 or 2. 5. The printed image reading means comprises a light source for irradiating light from the back surface of a transparent printed material, and a color sensor for receiving light transmitted through the printed material and outputting color image information. The image correction processing device according to claim 1 or 2.