JP2004221630A - Method for applying color processing to monochromatic image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for applying color processing to a monochromatic image capable of decreasing manual works and attaining highly accurate automatic color processing and color print in the case of applying color processing to a monochromatic film or a monochromatic photo and capable of storing and managing color processed data as digital data with an excellent storage life. <P>SOLUTION: In a system wherein a print center 15 receives monochromatic image data transmitted from each user 11 via a network and applies color processing to the image data, a title of the monochromatic image data is included in the monochromatic image data together with gray scale data with an input gray scale of 7 bits or over, preferably 8 bits to 10 bits, and the print center 15 selects a color index table 22 corresponding to the gray scale of each title generated in advance to apply color processing to the monochromatic image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present application relates to a method of processing a monochrome image recorded on a monochrome photograph, a monochrome film, or the like to obtain a colorized and digitized image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Silver halide films have a long history, and in addition black and white photographs printed on photographic paper are scattered all over the world due to their historical background. However, the image quality of the silver halide film and the silver halide photograph is definitely deteriorated due to its aging, and after 30 or 40 years, the deterioration becomes such that it can be clearly distinguished from the initial image. In order to extend the storability of these films and photographs, it depends considerably on the performance of the film itself, the manner of development, etc., but it can be stored in a drying cabinet, sealed in an inert gas, sealed, and refrigerator It is also possible to delay the deterioration by storing the data in a storage device. However, such a method is troublesome, and the formation of scratches and adhesion of stains are inevitable every time the film or the photograph itself is handled.
[0003]
By the way, a digital image is stored in an irreversible compression image format such as JPEG and image quality is deteriorated by repeating image processing. However, in a lossless storage format such as BMP, PICT and TIFF, the image quality is not deteriorated, and the recording medium itself is not changed. Apart from physical degradation, it can be stored almost theoretically forever. At this stage, silver halide films or silver halide photographs can also be read at least at this stage and stored as digital images (current consumer scanners can capture about 10 million pixels at about 30 MBytes). Higher image quality than digital cameras of the class.
[0004]
On the other hand, in developing countries, because of the development of infrastructure, a huge amount of monochrome data is left as it is, and is left to be degraded. In addition, owners of monochrome films and monochrome photographs often request colorization or enlargement to decorate and store images around the image in addition to the thickness and size of the paper. For example, there are many requests to colorize and save black-and-white photographs of deceased ancestors, or from another perspective, to colorize the nostalgic western drama projection monochrome film and bring back the stars of the past. . If films and photographs are black and white, it is human beings that at least they want to keep them in color, apart from evidence photographs for administrative and trial purposes.
[0005]
As one of the methods for coloring such a monochrome image, there is known a method in which dots of three primary colors are added to an image recorded and transferred by an electrophotographic method by an impact method or an ink jet method (see the following Patent Documents). 1). Further, as a related technique, there is a technique of generating flicker light periodically using monochromatic light to perform colored display (see Patent Document 2 below). From the viewpoint of use, the former is, for example, a technique of converting a monochrome image into a color image and printing it, and the latter is a display device utilizing a difference in delay characteristics for each color of human vision.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-4-294379 (Claims, paragraphs [0006] to [0007])
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-5-53079 (Claims)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the technology for converting monochrome films and photographs into color has been processed by various processes, but still requires a high degree of manual work, and has not yet been completely digitized. Had been. At present, image scanners and personal computers (PCs) are owned by many people. However, monochrome image data is colorized with high precision, color printing is performed with high precision, and various quality and thicknesses are obtained. Since there are few dedicated devices for printing on paper having a high quality and for performing various decorations, many people have given up trying to color monochrome films or photographs.
[0008]
The inventors of the present invention have conducted various studies on a method for automatically colorizing a monochrome film or a photograph. As a result, when capturing a conventional monochrome film or a photograph, a gray scale of about 4 bits (16 gradations) and a maximum of 8 bits were used. It has been noticed that coloring is often unnatural because the color index table corresponding to the gray scale (256 gradations) is captured and the gray scale and the corresponding color index table are fixed.
[0009]
That is, since there are many combinations of color indices that provide a predetermined gray scale, it is not possible to determine a single color index corresponding to a given gray scale level simply by giving it. For example, the number of combinations of 8 bits for each color of RGB corresponding to 8-bit gray scale (256 levels) is 28 at gray level 0, 3102 at gray level 10, 110685 at gray level 100, and 59193 at gray level 200. Existing. As a specific example, if a monochrome photographic image of a leaf that is originally green is converted to a color image based on a specific color index table, it may be converted to a leaf of an autumn leaf.
[0010]
The present inventors express a color image with a total of 24 bits (16.67 million colors) of 8 bits for each color of RGB or a total of 32 bits of 8 bits for each color of CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). However, when actually displayed as an image, there is also a color bias, and since the number of display pixels is limited, there is almost no display using all colors at once, Since a color image that looks natural can be obtained if there are at least about 120 colors, the gray scale at the time of capturing a monochrome image is set to a gray scale of 7 bits or more (128 tones or more) and the color index table used is Depending on the subject of the image, if you prepare with 128 colors or more, the number of colors up to about the same as the corresponding gray scale gradation Later, he discovered that it was possible to artificially color the details on the PC screen artificially. Furthermore, these colorization and printing processes were accepted via networks such as the Internet and LAN, and a dedicated color printer was provided. It has been found that if a predetermined colorization process and color printing are performed at a printing center, it is possible to meet the demands of many colorizers of monochrome films and monochrome photographs, and the present invention has been completed. is there.
[0011]
That is, since the image has a color bias, and the bias varies depending on the subject of the image but has a substantially constant pattern, if a color index table corresponding to the subject of the image is prepared in advance, the grayscale image Even if the color index table data corresponding to the image is applied as it is, the colorized image rarely has an unnatural color. For example, when a monochrome image of a person is colored, if at least the face color, hair color, eye color, or race can be specified and a color index table corresponding to the color can be created in advance, the Obviously, even if the color or the background color is slightly different from the real color, unnatural coloring is less likely to occur in the color image of the person.
[0012]
Therefore, for each subject of the image, for example,
(1) If the image is a natural scenery, the colors used in the field images, mountain images, images of each of the four seasons, etc. are statistically processed and the commonly used colors are used to support grayscale gradation. Create a color index table of 128 colors or more
(2) In the case of an image of a person, the color of the face is broadly classified into yellow, white, and brown, and the color of the hair is broadly classified into black, red, white, and blonde. Are also roughly classified into black, brown, and blue. Therefore, statistical processing is similarly performed for each combination to create a color index table of 128 or more colors corresponding to the gray scale gradation. ,
(3) Further, the image of the other material is similarly statistically processed to create a color index table of 128 colors or more corresponding to the gray scale gradation mainly composed of commonly seen colors. Every
If you specify what kind of color index table to use together with the grayscale image when colorizing a monochrome film or photograph, even if the color expression is not 100% accurate, the PC will automatically look natural afterwards. This makes it possible to obtain a digital image of a degree of color.
[0013]
If the number of colors in the color index table to be used is smaller than the number of gray scale gradations, the gray scale gradations may be thinned out so as to be equal to the number of colors in the color index table.
[0014]
Therefore, if the digitized color image obtained in this way is stored in a predetermined digital recording means, it can be understood that the change with time in a conventional film or printed photograph is reduced.
[0015]
That is, the object of the present invention is not to realize 100% accurate color expression when converting a monochrome film or a monochrome photograph into a color, but it is possible to automatically perform colorization and color printing with a reduced number of manual operations. Another object of the present invention is to enable long-term storage and management of the colorized data as digital data having good storability.
[0016]
Another object of the present invention is to transmit a monochrome original image from a remote place to a printing center via a network, convert the monochrome image into a desired color image at the printing center, and obtain a digital image with high sharpness and good storability. An object of the present invention is to convert data into data so that the image can be permanently stored and managed.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configurations.
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a monochrome image colorization method for performing colorization and printing at a print center based on monochrome image data transmitted from a user,
The monochrome image data includes grayscale data obtained by capturing the monochrome original image with an input gradation of 7 bits or more, and the subject of the monochrome original image,
At the printing center, a color index table of a predetermined number of colors is created by statistically processing colors used for each of the subjects in advance, and a predetermined color index table corresponding to the subject of the monochrome original image transmitted from the user is prepared. A mono-image colorizing method is provided, wherein a color index table is selected and applied to the gray scale data for colorization.
[0018]
According to this aspect, even if the monochrome image data captured by the remote user is automatically colored by the print center, unnatural coloring is less likely to occur, so that manual work is reduced and automatic high precision is achieved. Colorization and color printing can be performed, and the colorized data can be stored and managed as digital data having good storability for a long time.
[0019]
In this aspect, it is preferable that the monochrome original image is a monochrome image in which photographing data is fixed on photographic paper or film. According to this aspect, such a monochrome image in which photographing data is fixed on a large number of photographic papers or films existing around the world can be automatically colorized at a print center and stored as electronic data, so that long-term storage is possible. Deterioration does not occur, and management becomes easy.
[0020]
Further, in this aspect, the monochrome image data includes operation instruction data for instructing an additional operation, and the operation designated by the operation instruction data is performed when the monochrome image data is converted into a color image at the print center. It is preferable to do so. According to this aspect, not only can the monochrome image data be automatically colorized, but also various operations can be additionally instructed, so that the application range is expanded.
[0021]
In this aspect, it is preferable that the operation instruction data include at least one of a paper quality, a size, the number of prints, an image quality, a decoration, and an inserted character when a colorized image is printed. According to this aspect, when printing the colorized image data, it is possible not only to automatically select a desired printing paper or to print a desired size or a desired number of sheets, but also to faithfully reproduce the original image. Colorize and output, transform and output the original image like painting style, lithograph style, pencil drawing style, etc., add decorations to get the desired atmosphere, or automatically insert predetermined characters As a result, it is possible to provide a colorized print that meets the user's preference.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present embodiment is merely an embodiment, and is not intended to limit the present invention to this embodiment, and the present invention does not depart from the spirit of the present invention. It also includes applications to
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of a system for carrying out the method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the system, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a system 10 for implementing the method of the present invention includes a terminal 14 to which an image scanner used by each user 11 or an MFP (multifunction peripheral) 12 having an image scanner function is connected. A terminal or server (hereinafter, referred to as a “server”) 16 of the print center 15 is connected to each other via a node or site 18 and an Internet network 20, and the server 16 of the print center 15 corresponds to various materials created in advance. It has various kinds of color index table storage means 22 of 128 colors or more corresponding to the gray scale gradation described above, and is connected to a dedicated color printer 24. In this example, FIG. 1 also shows a color print 28 on which the decoration 26 is printed.
[0024]
The server 16 has a digitizer and a database of various kinds of decorations (both not shown), and can input any decoration data and can cite a layout of a specific decoration from the database. ing. Further, it is desirable that the color printer 24 be capable of printing wide paper, capable of printing large paper such as chrysanthemum, thick paper, and having a high resolution in order to meet a wide range of customer needs.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the above system will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the user 11 firstly uses the image scanner or the image scanner function of the MFP 12 or the like to convert the original image 25 of a monochrome film or monochrome photograph into 7 bits (128 gradations) or more, preferably 8 bits, in step S1. (256 gradations) to 10 bits (1024 gradations) in gray scale. At this time, if the gray level at the time of capture is 6 bits or less, unnaturalness becomes noticeable when colorized, which is not preferable. Further, even if the image is captured with gray gradations exceeding 10 bits, the difference can not be recognized by the general human eyes when colorized, so that it is preferable to capture the image with 8 to 10 bit gray gradations.
[0026]
At this time, the user 11 recognizes in advance what kind of material the original image of the monochrome film or monochrome photograph is, so that the printing center 15 can perform colorization as accurately as possible, and makes a selection at the printing center 15. It is used as an index for selecting a power color index table. For example, in the case of a portrait image, the face color, hair color, pupil color, or the like, or whether the image is of an Oriental or Western descent, or a landscape image is a mountain or a park. Recognize whether it is a beach, a coast, etc., and which of the four seasons it belongs to. Theoretically, it is possible to transfer the data of the color index table storage means 22 recorded in the server 16 of the print center 15 to the terminal 14 of the user 11 and perform the colorization process at this terminal 14. Considering that the data amount of the color index table storage means 22 is enormous, that the user 11 uses the data less frequently, and that the size of the colorized image data also increases, it takes time to transfer the data. In addition, the hardware resources of the user 11 are wasted, which is not practical.
[0027]
Then, the user 11 inputs these data in accordance with a predetermined print request electronic slip in step S2, and transmits additional data to the print center 15 together with the grayscale data and the subject. The print request electronic slip is formed in a predetermined format so that data can be correctly transmitted and received between the user 11 and the print center 15, and an input format is previously set in the print center 15 before the system starts operating. It is created and transmitted to the user 11. If the user 11 inputs sequentially while watching the display on the terminal, predetermined print request electronic voucher data is automatically generated, and includes gray scale data, subject matter, and operation instruction data for instructing additional operations. Print request electronic slip data can be transmitted at the same time.
[0028]
An example of items to be entered in the print request electronic slip is shown below.
1. User ID: A code number for distinguishing the user, and the print center notifies the user of the user ID in advance.
2. Paper quality: Specifies the type of paper to be used when printing a colorized image.
3. Size and number of sheets: Designate the size and number of required color image printing products.
4. Image quality: Specifies whether the original image should be faithfully colorized and output, or whether the original image should be altered and output, such as painting, lithographic, or pencil drawing.
5. Decorating: If you want to enter decorations or characters when printing a colorized image, enter that data. Leave blank if not required.
6. Recording medium type: A medium for recording colorized digital image data, for example, recording and storing on a removable recording medium such as FD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, etc. If necessary, specify on which recording medium to record. If desired, the format of the colorized image data for recording may be specified.
7. Binding option: If you want to put it in a picture frame or put it on a thick backing sheet after color printing, indicate so.
8. Delivery option: Enter the conditions required by the user for delivery, such as the delivery deadline and delivery location.
[0029]
Thereafter, in step S3, the server 16 of the print center 15 receives the grayscale data, the subject, and the print request electronic chit data from the user 11 via appropriate communication means such as the Internet network 20, and in step S4, receives the received grayscale data. A color index table corresponding to the designated image quality information is selected from the color index table storage means 22, combined with the scale data, color-processed, displayed on the display, and in step S5, a dedicated color printer Print processing in a predetermined print format.
[0030]
The details of the colorization process of the grayscale data in step S4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3. First, in step S10, of the plurality of grayscale data received and stored in the server 16 of the print center 15, The predetermined data to be converted is selected, and the data is classified in each step of the gray scale in step S11. Next, in step 12, if the color index table to be adopted in advance is specified by specifying the subject for the grayscale data, automatic colorization can be performed, so the process proceeds to step S13 and the subject designated by the color index table storage unit 22. The color index table corresponding to the above is selected, and in step S14, coloring is performed in accordance with each gray level, necessary decoration data and characters are inserted as required, and the image quality is converted to a designated image quality.
[0031]
On the other hand, if the color index table to be adopted is unknown and the color at the predetermined position can be predicted, the process branches from step S12 to step S15, and the color corresponding to the gray scale at the predetermined position is included. After searching the color palette and selecting a desired color, and reading the data in step S16, in step S14, coloration is performed according to each gray level, and necessary decoration data is inserted as required. Converted to the specified image quality.
[0032]
After that, the image data that has been colorized in step S17 is checked on the display of the server 16, and if there is a strangely colored portion, the process returns to step S15 to correct the color of that portion. In step S18, the image data is recorded and stored in the server, and also recorded on a predetermined removable recording medium, and the colorization process ends.
[0033]
Thereafter, printing is performed by a dedicated color printer based on the above-mentioned colorized image data, and the obtained colorized printed matter is delivered to the user together with a recording medium on which the colorized image data is recorded, if necessary.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when colorizing a monochrome film or monochrome photograph, 100% accurate color expression is not necessarily realized, but colorization and coloration are automatically performed with high precision by reducing manual operations. Color printing can be performed, and the original monochrome image from a remote location can be sent to a printing center via a network and converted to a desired color image at the printing center, and converted to digital data with high sharpness and good storability. Moreover, there is an effect that the colorized data can be stored and managed for a long time as digital data having good storability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the system of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation when performing color printing in a printing center.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 System of the Present Invention 11 User 12 Image Scanner, MFP
14 Terminal 15 Printing center 16 Server 20 Internet network 22 Color index table storage means 24 Color printer 25 Original image 26 Decoration 28 Color print

Claims (4)

In a monochrome image colorization method of performing colorization and printing at a print center based on monochrome image data transmitted from each user,
The monochrome image data includes grayscale data obtained by capturing the monochrome original image with an input gradation of 7 bits or more, and the subject of the monochrome original image,
At the printing center, a color index table of a predetermined number of colors is created by statistically processing colors used for each of the subjects in advance, and a predetermined color index table corresponding to the subject of the monochrome original image transmitted from the user is prepared. A color conversion method for a monochrome image, wherein a color index table is selected and applied to the gray scale data for color conversion. The monochrome image color conversion method according to claim 1, wherein the monochrome original image is a monochrome image in which photographing data is fixed on photographic paper or film. The monochrome image data further includes operation instruction data for instructing an additional operation, and is configured to perform an operation specified by the operation instruction data when the monochrome image data is converted into color at a print center. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein 4. The monochrome image color conversion method according to claim 3, wherein the operation instruction data includes at least one of a paper quality, a size, the number of prints, an image quality, a decoration, and an insertion character when the colorized image is printed. .

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