JP4581626B2 - Photographic printing apparatus and exposure condition adjusting method for photographic printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides image data conversion means for converting input image data into image information suitable for color development characteristics of a photographic photosensitive material under set conversion conditions so that a desired color development can be obtained on the photographic photosensitive material, An exposure head for exposing and forming an image on a photographic photosensitive material based on image information converted by the image data conversion means, a measuring device for measuring the density or color of the test print, and image data for the test print An exposure management means for making a test print and changing and adjusting the set conversion condition in the image data conversion means based on a deviation between a measured value measured by the measuring device and an adjustment target value; The present invention relates to a photographic printing apparatus and an exposure condition adjusting method for the photographic printing apparatus.

In such a photographic printing apparatus, a plurality of types of photographic photosensitive materials having different color development characteristics are supplied from a plurality of manufacturers by being configured to print using a plurality of types of photographic photosensitive materials having different color development characteristics with respect to the exposure amount. Even under such circumstances, the photographic photosensitive materials can be handled as flexibly as possible.
Even when the color development characteristics of the photographic photosensitive material handled in this way are different, the input image data of the photographic photosensitive material is changed so that the density of the image finally formed on the photographic photosensitive material becomes a desired density. The exposure head is driven after being converted into image information taking color development characteristics into consideration.
Therefore, in order to obtain a desired high-quality print image even if the color development characteristics of the photographic photosensitive material to be handled differ, the photographic printing apparatus uses the above-mentioned image data conversion processing conditions, that is, the set conversion conditions. It is necessary to adjust appropriately for each photosensitive material.
This adjustment work is performed as a setup work as described in Patent Document 1 below.
In this set-up operation, normally, a test print is repeatedly produced while appropriately changing the setting conversion conditions until the density on the test print is sufficiently close to the adjustment target value.
The initial value of the setting conversion conditions when repeatedly producing this test print is conventionally set to a plurality of types assumed to be used so that the adjustment work can proceed stably with a plurality of types of photographic photosensitive materials having different color development characteristics. The average value of the photographic light-sensitive material is set, and an adjustment operation is performed using the average value as a starting point to obtain the optimum setting conversion condition for each photographic light-sensitive material.
JP 2000-267207 A

However, although the above-described conventional configuration can stably perform the setup work for a plurality of types of photographic photosensitive materials that are assumed to be used, the number of test print preparations may increase.
The production of one test print requires the development time of the photographic photosensitive material on which the test print image is formed by exposure. Therefore, a certain amount of time is required and the number of times the test print is repeated is increased. It will take a long time to set up.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable a setup operation to be performed stably and quickly.

  According to a first aspect of the present application, image data for converting input image data into image information suitable for color development characteristics of a photographic photosensitive material under set conversion conditions so that a desired color development can be obtained on the photographic photosensitive material. A conversion means; an exposure head that exposes and forms an image on a photographic photosensitive material based on the image information converted by the image data conversion means; a measurement device for measuring the density or color of the test print; Exposure for changing the set conversion condition in the image data converting means based on the deviation between the measured value measured by the measuring device and the adjustment target value. In the photographic printing apparatus provided with the management means, the exposure management means is configured to change and adjust the setting conversion condition by producing the test print. The adjustment result of the setting conversion condition for a photographic photosensitive material having a color development characteristic similar to that of the photographic photosensitive material to be adjusted is set as an initial value of the setting conversion condition to produce a test print. Yes.

That is, when a test print is prepared for a certain photographic photosensitive material and the setup work is performed, if the setup work has been performed for a photographic photosensitive material having a color development characteristic similar to that of the photographic photosensitive material to be adjusted, Using the adjustment result in the past setup work, the setup work is started as the initial value of the setting conversion condition.
As a result, the setting value at the start of the setting conversion condition in the setup operation becomes closer to the adjustment result.
In the operation of changing the setting conversion condition in the setup operation, the change amount of the setting conversion condition can be obtained from the deviation between the test print density or color measurement value and the adjustment target value. An error is included due to various factors, and the error increases as the deviation between the measured value and the adjustment target value increases.
Therefore, the closer the setting value at the start of the setting conversion condition in the setup operation and the adjustment result are, the smaller the error included in the amount of change in the setting conversion condition is. The number of fabrications can be reduced.

According to a second invention of the present application, in addition to the structure of the first invention, the exposure management means is a state in which a plurality of types of photographic photosensitive materials are grouped in advance for each photographic photosensitive material having similar color development characteristics. In the adjustment operation of changing the setting conversion condition by producing the test print, the adjustment result of the setting conversion condition for the photographic photosensitive material in the same group is set as an initial value of the setting conversion condition. Yes.
Therefore, when performing a setup operation for a certain photographic material, if there is an adjustment result for the setting conversion condition by completing the setup operation in the past with another photographic material belonging to the same group as the photographic material, The setup operation can be started with the adjustment result as an initial value.

According to a third invention of the present application, in addition to the structure of the second invention, the exposure management means is configured to perform the grouping in units of manufacturers of photographic photosensitive materials.
That is, according to the experiment of the inventor of the present invention, if the manufacturer is the same, the color development characteristics tend to be similar even if the type of photographic photosensitive material is different. Conversely, if the manufacturer is different, the color development characteristics are different. It was confirmed that they have a significantly different tendency.
Therefore, the grouping of the similarities of the color development characteristics is simply performed depending on which manufacturer of the photographic photosensitive material is.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present application, the input image data is converted into image information suitable for the color development characteristics of the photographic photosensitive material under the set conversion conditions so that a desired color development can be obtained on the photographic photosensitive material. A test using image data for test printing in a photographic printing apparatus comprising image data converting means and an exposure head for exposing and forming an image on a photographic photosensitive material based on image information converted by the image data converting means In an exposure condition adjustment method for a photographic printing apparatus, in which a print is produced and the setting conversion condition in the image data conversion unit is changed and adjusted based on a deviation between a measured value of density or color of the test print and an adjustment target value A photographic photosensitive material having color development characteristics similar to those of the photographic photosensitive material to be adjusted in the adjustment work for changing the setting conversion condition by producing the test print The adjustment result of setting conversion conditions for, making a test print is set as the initial value of the setting conversion conditions.

  That is, the closer the setting value at the start of the setting conversion condition and the adjustment result in the setup work for adjusting the setting conversion condition to an appropriate value, the smaller the error included in the change amount of the setting conversion condition. Therefore, it is possible to quickly converge to the adjustment target, so that the setup work can be performed as the initial value of the setting conversion condition by using the adjustment result in the setup work for the photographic light-sensitive material having similar color development characteristics to the photographic light-sensitive material to be adjusted. By starting the process, the number of test prints can be reduced.

According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce the number of test print productions in the setup work for adjusting the setting conversion condition to an appropriate value, and the setup work can be performed stably and quickly. .
According to the second aspect of the invention, the setup operation can be quickly performed using the adjustment result for the photographic light-sensitive materials belonging to the same group.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily perform grouping of similarities of color development characteristics of photographic photosensitive materials.
Further, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce the number of test print productions in the setup work for adjusting the setting conversion condition to an appropriate value, and the setup work can be performed stably and quickly. became.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a photo print apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The photographic printing apparatus DP exemplified in the present embodiment constitutes a system called a so-called digital minilab, and captures an image from a photographic film, a memory card or the like as shown in the schematic configuration diagram of FIG. The image input device IR and an image exposure device EP that exposes and forms an image on the photographic paper 2 as the photographic photosensitive material PS based on the image captured by the image input device IR.

[Schematic configuration of image input device IR]
The image input device IR includes a film scanner 3 that reads frame images of photographic film and outputs them as digital image data, a memory card reader / writer, a readable / writable optical drive, and the like, and image data from various recording media. An external input / output device 4 for reading and writing, a color measuring device 5 which is a measuring device for measuring the color or density of a test print produced for setting exposure conditions, and a photographic printing apparatus for controlling these units A main controller 6 that manages the operation of the entire DP is provided. The main controller 6 includes a monitor 6a for displaying a simulated image simulating a finished print, various setting information, and various settings. A console 6b for inputting information is connected.

[Overall configuration of image exposure apparatus EP]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image exposure apparatus EP includes an exposure head 11 that exposes and forms an image on the photographic paper 2, an exposure control apparatus 12 that drives and controls the exposure head 11, and an exposure head 11. The photographic paper 2 drawn out from the development processing device 13 for developing the photographic paper 2 exposed in this manner and the photographic paper magazine 14 for storing the photographic paper 2 in a roll shape is developed via an image forming position by the exposure head 11. A photographic paper transport system PT including a plurality of transport rollers 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d and the like for transport to the processing device 13 is provided, and exposure in the transport path of the photographic paper 2 by the photographic paper transport system PT. On the upstream side of the image forming position of the head 11, a cutter 23 for cutting the long photographic paper 2 to the set print size and the photographic paper 2 cut to the set print size are duplicated. A distributing device 24 for distributing the transport column is arranged.
Although not shown, a sorter is provided outside the housing of the image exposure apparatus EP for temporarily storing the photographic paper 2 developed by the development processing apparatus 13 for each order. The photographic paper 2 developed and dried at 13 is discharged onto a conveyor 25 that conveys the photographic paper 2 to the sorter.

[Configuration of Exposure Head 11]
The exposure head 11 includes independent laser light sources of a plurality of colors (specifically, red, green and blue), and scans the laser beam LB emitted from these laser light sources to form an image on the photographic paper 2. A so-called laser beam exposure method for exposure formation is employed, and a schematic configuration thereof is shown in a block configuration diagram of FIG.
The exposure head 11 intensity-modulates the red laser light source 30r, the green laser light source 30g, and the blue laser light source 30b that respectively emit the red, green, and blue laser beams LB, and the light emitted from the laser light sources 30r, 30g, and 30b. Acousto-optic modulation element 31 (hereinafter abbreviated as “AOM element 31”), mirror 32 for bending the optical path of laser beam LB, spherical lens 33, cylindrical lens 34, polygon mirror 35, and polygon mirror And a lens group 36 having an f-θ characteristic and a surface tilt correction function. The exposure head 11 is arranged so that the scanning direction (main scanning direction) of the laser beam LB is orthogonal to the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of the photographic paper 2.

[Configuration of Exposure Control Device 12]
As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the exposure control device 12 includes an image data memory 42 that stores print image data input from the main control device 6 for each of red, green, and blue colors, and image data. A data converter 41 that converts output data of the memory 42 into data corresponding to the light energy of the laser beam LB, and D / A conversion of the output data of the data converter 41 that is provided for each of red, green, and blue colors D / A converter 43, AOM control circuit 44 that outputs a control signal having an amplitude corresponding to the input signal from D / A converter 43 to AOM element 31, and a signal sent from D / A converter 43 to AOM control circuit 44 And a timing control circuit 45 for controlling the switching timing.

The data conversion device 41 is configured to store and hold a lookup table, and the output data thereof is data corresponding to the light energy of the laser beam LB as described above. Strictly speaking, diffraction in the AOM element 31 is performed. The data conversion device 41 is set to output image data that produces a desired color on the photographic paper 2 with respect to the input image data. Has been.
Therefore, the data conversion device 41 functions as image data conversion means DT that converts the input image data into image information suitable for the color development characteristics of the photographic paper 2 so that a desired color development can be obtained on the photographic paper 2. The lookup table stored and held in the data conversion device 41 is a set conversion condition for the conversion.
The data stored in the data converter 41 (that is, the set conversion condition) needs to be changed to data suitable for the color development characteristics of the photographic paper 2 after the change when the type of the photographic paper 2 to be used is changed. More specifically, even when the photographic paper 2 is the same type, when the production lot is different, or when the state of the development processing liquid in the development processing device 13 changes, exposure is also caused by environmental changes. It is desirable to adjust the data optimally even when the laser beam quantity of the head 11 and the color development characteristics of the photographic paper 2 change.
Therefore, as an actual operation, in addition to when the photographic paper magazine 14 is replaced, a setup operation for optimally adjusting the stored data of the data conversion device 41 is performed not only at the start of daily work.
This setup operation will be described in detail later.

[Overview of print operation]
Next, a printing operation by the photographic printing apparatus DP having the above configuration will be schematically described.
The frame image of the photographic film is read by the film scanner 3 and the read image data is input to the main controller 6 or the image data recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card is the external input / output device 4. Is read and input to the main control unit 6, the main control unit 6 obtains an image, which will be obtained when a photographic print is produced based on the image data, by a simulation operation and obtains it on the monitor 6a. indicate.
The operator observes the simulated image displayed on the monitor 6a, and appropriately performs exposure condition correction input from the console 6b.
When there is a correction input from the console 6b, the main controller 6 corrects the exposure condition based on the instruction, generates exposure image data, and sends the image data to the exposure controller 12.
The exposure control device 12 writes the received image data for exposure into the image data memory 42.
When the timing control circuit 45 instructs to send a signal in conjunction with the conveyance speed of the photographic paper 2 and the scanning speed of the laser beam LB, the data is sent out from the image data memory 42 and converted by the data converter 41. Thereafter, the data is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 43, and further converted into a signal for driving the AOM element 31 by the AOM control circuit 44 and then output to the exposure head 11.
As a result, an image is exposed and formed as a latent image on the photographic paper 2 conveyed at the image forming position of the exposure head 11.
The photographic paper 2 subjected to exposure processing by the exposure head 11 is developed and dried by the development processing device 13 to be finished as a photographic print, and is then discharged onto the conveyor 25 from the discharge port.

[Overview of device adjustment by test print]
Next, a setup operation for optimally adjusting the stored data (the setting conversion condition) of the data converter 41 by producing a test print will be described.
This set-up operation is executed under the control of the main controller 6, and a test print having an achromatic color density gradation pattern of about 20 levels is produced, and the produced test print is measured by the colorimetric device 5. For each density gradation, an operation for obtaining a deviation between the target density value (adjusted target value) and the measured density value and correcting the stored data of the data converter 41 according to the deviation is performed for each density of the test print. Repeat until the measured density value of the gradation is sufficiently close to the target density value.

In the present embodiment, the initial value of the stored data of the data conversion device 41 at the start of the setup operation is changed according to the type of the photographic paper 2 to be adjusted.
Specifically, a plurality of types of photographic papers 2 are grouped in advance for each photographic paper 2 having similar color development characteristics, and stored in the data conversion device 41 when the setup work for the photographic papers 2 in the same group is completed. Data (that is, the adjustment result of the set conversion condition) is set as the initial value of the data stored in the data converter 41.
The grouping of the photographic papers 2 having similar color development characteristics is obtained by measuring the relationship between the exposure amount and the density in detail for each type of the photographic paper 2 assumed to be used, and from the degree of similarity of the measurement results. Although it can be performed by classifying into a plurality of stages, it may be simply grouped in units of manufacturers of the photographic paper 2.

The specific data indicates that it is possible to group the color development characteristics in units of manufacturers of the photographic paper 2.
The relationship between the exposure amount and density of the photographic paper 2 is as illustrated in FIG.
In FIG. 4, the “output gradation” on the X axis indicates the logarithmic value of the output value of the data converter 41, and the “measured value” on the Y axis indicates the density measurement value of the color measuring device 5.
In FIG. 4, the density measurement value of cyan that is a color corresponding to the red laser beam, the density measurement value of magenta that is the color corresponding to the green laser beam, and the density measurement value of yellow that is the color corresponding to the blue laser beam. Only one of the two colors is shown, but the other two colors also exhibit substantially the same characteristics.
FIG. 5 shows the data obtained for the exposure amount of each color when a density of “0.9” is obtained on the photographic paper 2 with the “measured value” (Y-axis) value of FIG. Shown in
In the Y-axis of FIG. 5, with reference to the exposure amount at which a density value of “0.9” is obtained on the “# 1” printing paper 2 of the manufacturer “C company” of the printing paper 2, the reference exposure amount As the ratio, the exposure amount at which a density value of “0.9” is obtained is shown for each exposure color. The X axis in FIG. 5 is the type of photographic paper 2 and is distinguished as “# 1”, “# 2”, etc. within the same manufacturer.
As is clear from FIG. 5, there is a clear difference in color development characteristics among the manufacturers “Company A”, “Company B”, and “Company C”, while similar color development characteristics are within one manufacturer. Is shown.
Thereby, as described above, the similarity of the coloring characteristics can be easily grouped by the manufacturer of the photographic paper 2.

Next, the setup operation will be described step by step based on the flowchart of FIG. 3 executed by the main controller 6.
First, an identification code indicating the type of the photographic paper 2 to be adjusted, which is recorded and held in the photographic paper magazine 14 in a barcode or other format, is read (step # 1), and the printing to be adjusted is performed by the above-described grouping of the coloring characteristics. The setup work was performed in the past among the types of photographic paper 2 belonging to the same group as the paper 2 and the adjustment result (the data stored in the data conversion device 41 when the setup is completed) is stored in the hard disk device or the like of the main control device 6 It is checked whether or not there is something stored and saved (step # 2).
If there is adjustment result data for the photographic paper 2 in the same group, the data is set in the data converter 41 (step # 3). At this time, if there is adjustment result data for the same type of photographic paper 2, it is used with priority.
On the other hand, when there is no adjustment result data for the photographic paper 2 in the same group, default data preset as data to be used in such a case is set in the data converter 41 (step # 4). This default data is set as data that matches the average color development characteristics of various types of photographic paper 2 that are assumed to be used.

Next, the test print image data is input to the data conversion device 41, and the exposure head 11 is caused to perform a print operation to produce a test print (step # 5).
When the operator sets the prepared test print in the color measurement device 5, the color measurement of the test print is automatically performed.
The color measuring device 5 measures a cyan density measurement value corresponding to a red laser beam, a magenta density measurement value corresponding to a green laser beam, and a yellow density corresponding to a blue laser beam. The measured value is output to the main controller 6 for each density gradation step.

When the color measurement result of the test print is input from the color measurement device 5 to the main control device 6 (step # 6), the main control device 6 sets the measured density value and the adjustment target value for each density gradation stage. A deviation is obtained, and it is determined whether or not all the deviations are within an allowable range (step # 7).
When the value is not within the allowable range, the main control device 6 obtains the characteristics illustrated in FIG. 4 from the measurement values sent from the color measurement device 5, and corrects the deviation between the measured density value and the adjustment target value. The stored amount of data stored in the data conversion device 41 is corrected by obtaining the correction amount of the exposure amount necessary for this (step # 8).
Thereafter, a message indicating that the test print is to be prepared again is displayed on the monitor 6a (step # 9), and the test print preparation operation is repeated (steps # 5 to # 7).

When the deviation between the measured density value and the adjustment target value for each density gradation step is all within the allowable range by repeating the above operation (step # 7), the type of the photographic paper 2 to be adjusted is the same type. When the adjustment result data for the photographic paper 2 is not stored and saved (step # 10), the stored data of the data converter 41 at that time is stored and saved in the hard disk device or the like of the main controller 6 (step # 11). ) The fact that the setup work has been completed is displayed on the monitor 6a (step # 12), and the process is terminated.
From the above, the main control device 6 functions as the exposure management means EM that changes and adjusts the setting conversion conditions (lookup table) of the data conversion device 41 that is the image data conversion means DT.

[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be listed.
(1) In the above embodiment, the case where the image data conversion means DT for converting the input image data into image information suitable for the color development characteristics of the photographic photosensitive material PS is constituted by only the data conversion device 41 is exemplified. For example, it includes an attenuator or amplifier that attenuates or amplifies the output signal of the D / A converter 43 in the above embodiment, and adjusts the attenuation factor or amplification factor of the attenuator or amplifier by external control. By changing and adjusting the stored data of the data conversion device 41 in the form of the above, it may be configured to adjust to obtain a desired color on the photographic photosensitive material PS.
In this case, the attenuator or amplifier and the data conversion device 41 function as the image data conversion means DT, and the attenuation factor or amplification factor of the attenuator or amplifier and the data stored in the data conversion device 41 are the set conversion conditions. The image data conversion means DT outputs an analog image signal as converted image information.

(2) In the above embodiment, a case where the data conversion device 41 using a lookup table is employed as the image data conversion means DT and the input image data is converted at high speed is exemplified. The image data may be converted by software processing using a high-speed processor.
(3) In the above embodiment, a plurality of types of photographic photosensitive materials PS are grouped for each photographic photosensitive material PS having similar color development characteristics, and whether the adjustment result of the setting conversion condition depends on whether or not they belong to the same group. The case where it is possible to determine whether or not it is possible to be used is illustrated, but the order conversion is performed in advance from the closest color development characteristics by ordering in advance according to the degree of similar color development characteristics among a plurality of types of photographic photosensitive materials PS. It may be determined whether or not condition adjustment result data exists, and the first adjustment result data may be set as an initial value of the setting conversion condition in the setup operation.
(4) In the above embodiment, the case where the exposure head 11 is configured as a laser beam exposure type is exemplified, but an exposure head of another exposure type such as a PLZT light shutter method, a fluorescent tube exposure method, or an LED exposure method. The present invention can also be applied when using.
(5) In the above embodiment, the photographic paper 2 is exemplified as the photographic photosensitive material PS, but the present invention can be applied to exposure of various photographic photosensitive materials PS such as a photosensitive film.

Main part block block diagram concerning embodiment of this invention 1 is a schematic block diagram of a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart concerning embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the color development characteristic of the photographic paper concerning embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the comparison of the coloring characteristic of the various photographic paper concerning embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

5 Measuring Device 11 Exposure Head DT Image Data Conversion Unit EM Exposure Management Unit PS Photosensitive Material

Claims (4)

Image data conversion means for converting the input image data into image information suitable for the color development characteristics of the photographic photosensitive material under set conversion conditions so that a desired color development can be obtained on the photographic photosensitive material;
An exposure head for exposing and forming an image on a photographic photosensitive material based on the image information converted by the image data conversion means;
A measuring device for measuring the density or color of the test print;
A test print is produced with the image data for test print, and the setting conversion condition in the image data conversion means is changed based on a deviation between the measured value measured by the measuring device and the adjustment target value. A photo printing apparatus provided with an exposure management means for adjustment,
The exposure management means includes the adjustment result of the setting conversion condition for the photographic photosensitive material having a color development characteristic similar to that of the photographic photosensitive material to be adjusted in the change adjustment operation of the setting conversion condition by producing the test print, A photographic printing apparatus configured to produce a test print by setting as an initial value of setting conversion conditions.   The exposure management means includes a plurality of types of photographic light-sensitive materials grouped in advance for each photographic light-sensitive material having similar color development characteristics. 2. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an adjustment result of the setting conversion condition for the photographic photosensitive material is set as an initial value of the setting conversion condition.   3. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the exposure management means is configured to perform the grouping on a photographic photosensitive material manufacturer basis. Image data conversion means for converting input image data into image information suitable for the color development characteristics of the photographic photosensitive material under set conversion conditions so that a desired color development can be obtained on the photographic photosensitive material, and the image data conversion means In the photographic printing apparatus provided with an exposure head for exposing and forming an image on a photographic photosensitive material based on the image information converted in step (b), a test print is produced with image data for test printing, and the density of the test print is determined. Or an exposure condition adjustment method for a photographic printing apparatus that changes and adjusts the set conversion condition in the image data conversion means based on a deviation between a measured value of color and an adjustment target value,
In the adjustment operation for changing the setting conversion condition by producing the test print, the adjustment result of the setting conversion condition for the photographic photosensitive material having a color development characteristic similar to that of the photographic photosensitive material to be adjusted is the initial value of the setting conversion condition. A method for adjusting exposure conditions for a photographic printing apparatus for producing a test print by setting as

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