JPS62222235A - Synthetic image printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the quality of a synthesized image by removing an unnecessary part of a photographic image and an unnecessary part of a CRT image by mechanical masking and electrical masking, respectively, when the CRT image and the photographic image are to be printed out on printing paper to form a synthesized image. CONSTITUTION:At the time of monitoring of a synthesized image, light from a white light source 10 is transmitted through a color negative film 13, reflected on a half mirror 21 and projected on a screen 31. On the other hand, an image on a CRT25 is transmitted through the half mirror 21 and projected on the screen 31 to synthesize the photographic image with the CRT image. The synthesized image is adjusted at its color and the CRT image and the negative film of the photographic image are adjusted by the electrical mask and the mechanical mask 18 respectively so that the synthesized image is not superposed to the original images. At the time of succeeding printing, the half mirror 21 is receded from the optical path and the image from the negative film 13 is printed out on image printing paper 3. On the other hand, a mirror 34 is arranged on the optical path and the image on the CRT25 is reflected by the mirror 34 and multiplexedly exposed to the printing paper 3 to print out the image. Since the superposition of respective images is removed, the printing of the synthesized image can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a composite image printing method used for creating printed photographs such as postcards.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, postcards using printed photographs, in which a photographic image and text are printed on photographic paper, have become widely used. In this way, when creating a printed photograph that contains both a photographic image and text, a CRT printing device is used. For example, a video signal input from a TV camera and characters input from a keyboard are combined on a computer, This composite image is printed on photographic paper.

The CRT printing apparatus described above has the following disadvantages because it performs image synthesis electrically and prints the synthesized image onto photographic paper via the CRT. For example, for photographic images recorded on negative film, positive film, printed photographs, etc., images are taken with a TV camera, etc., and transferred to a CRT.
When displayed, the gradation level 1 color tone, Yanagi image power, etc. are considerably reduced.

By the way, in the field of photography, photo printing devices that print photographic images recorded on film onto photographic paper are widely used, and it is also possible to synthesize images using this device. However, in this case, there is a problem in that it is time-consuming because it is necessary to take a photograph of the composite image. Furthermore, when combining characters, computer graphics images (CG images), etc. with photographic images, it is easier to input them electrically and display them on a CRT than to take a photograph. In particular, in the case of C0 image data, the image quality is better if it is printed directly onto photographic paper using a CRT.

In order to solve these problems, the present inventor developed a CRT
We proposed a composite image printing method that uses an exposure system and a photographic image exposure system to sequentially print an image displayed on a CRT and a photographic image onto photographic paper to create a composite image (Japanese Patent Application No. 61-259).
No. 29).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

If the CRT image and the photographic image are directly exposed overlappingly, the two images will overlap, and depending on the types and conditions of these images, the quality of the composite image will be considerably degraded.

An object of the present invention is to provide a composite image printing method that is devised so that the image quality of the composite image is not degraded when carrying out the above method.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention applies an electric mask to unnecessary portions of the CRT image when sequentially exposing a CRT image and a photographic image to photographic paper to create a composite image print. By mechanically masking unnecessary parts of the photographic paper, the CRT image and the photographic image are prevented from being exposed at the same position on the photographic paper.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 schematically shows an apparatus in which the present invention is implemented. A magazine 2 is removably set in the upper left part of the main body 1, and color photographic paper 3 is stored in a rolled form in the magazine 2. The color photographic paper 3 is intermittently pulled out by a pull-out roller 4, enters an exposure chamber 5, and is sent to an exposure position located between an easel mask 6 and a pressure plate 7. The exposure chamber 5 houses a photographic image exposure system and a CRT exposure system, respectively. This photographic image exposure system uses color negative film and color positive film.

This is for printing a photographic image recorded in a printed photograph onto color photographic paper 3. The CRT exposure system is for printing character images such as texts and addresses, and CG images onto the color photographic paper 3 via the CRT.

White light emitted from a white light source 10 passes through a diffusion tube 11 and a negative carrier 12, reaches a color original image, for example, a color negative film 13 set at a printing position, and illuminates it from below. The diffusion tube 11 is composed of a rectangular tube whose inner surface is formed into a mirror surface, and diffuser plates attached to both open ends of the rectangular tube.

Between the diffusion tube 11 and the white light source 10, there are provided a cyan filter 14 for adjusting the red component of illumination light, a magenta filter 15 for adjusting the green component, and a yellow filter for adjusting the blue component. 16 are arranged. The filter adjustment unit 17 controls the insertion amount of each of the color filters 14 to 16 into the optical path, and adjusts the quality of the illumination light according to the negative image of the color negative film 13. The color negative film 13 is pressed down with a mask 17 from above. Note that when printing a positive image recorded on a reversal film or a printed photograph, reversal color photographic paper is used, and the positive image is also displayed on a CRT.

In this case, exposure control may be performed in the opposite manner to that for negative film. In addition, in printed photographs, a white light source is placed above and illuminated from above.

A zoom lens 20 is arranged above the negative carrier 12, and a photographic image is printed onto the color photographic paper 3 while the half mirror 21 and shutter 22 are retracted from the optical path. This zoom lens 20 is for enlarging or reducing a photographic image to a desired size, and the focal length can be changed manually, but instead it can be changed automatically using a magnification position control circuit and a motor. It is a good idea to do it accordingly. Note that instead of the zoom lens 200, a turret to which a plurality of lenses with different focal lengths are attached can be used.

The opening and closing of the shutter 22 is controlled by a shutter control section 23. When printing a photographic image using a photographic image exposure system, the shutter 22 is opened once for a time corresponding to the sensitivity of the photographic paper, and then the shutter is opened once for a time corresponding to the sensitivity of the photographic paper. When printing an image, open and close it three times, once for each color. This is because black and white CRTs are used in CRT exposure systems to increase resolution. Therefore, if a color CRT is used, a CRT image can be printed on the color photographic paper 3 in one go. It should be noted that the present invention can also be utilized when black and white photographic paper is used to print a black and white image on it.

On the right side of the half mirror 21, a black and white CRT (hereinafter simply referred to as CRT) 25, which constitutes a CRT exposure system, is arranged, and displays a color image as a black and white (brightness) negative image when monitoring, and displays a negative image when printing. The black and white image, which represents the red image, green image, and blue image in terms of brightness, is approximately 1
Displays sequentially in seconds. This CRT 25 uses a high brightness CRT in order to shorten the exposure time as much as possible.
Further, a mixture of P45 and P22 in a ratio of 1:3 to 1:5, preferably 1:4 is used as a phosphor.

CRTs using this phosphor have high luminance in the red wavelength region and low luminance in the blue wavelength region, so color photographic paper 3 has low spectral sensitivity in the red wavelength region. Increase the luminance brightness and reduce the red exposure time by about 1
It can be shortened to seconds. Furthermore, since the luminance of the light emitted in the blue wavelength range, to which the color photographic paper 3 is quite sensitive, is reduced, the blue exposure time takes approximately the same time as the red exposure, and the color balance is improved.

The CRT 25 is a red negative image when printing.

A black and white image in which green and blue images are expressed by brightness is displayed, but in order to convert this black and white image into a monochrome image of red, green and blue, a red filter 27. Green filter 2 days, blue filter 29 days
are arranged, and are selectively inserted into the optical path of the lens 26 by the filter switching section 30.

The half mirror 21 is inserted into the optical path during monitoring,
A photographic image and a CRT image are optically combined, and this combined image is displayed on a transmissive screen 31.

The operator can observe this screen 31 to check whether image composition is being performed correctly. If the image composition is incorrect, the keyboard 5
1, it is possible to change the position and size of the CRT image, change the position and size of the electric mask, and further adjust the density and color of the CRT image. Also,
For a photographic image exposure system, the negative carrier 12 can be moved while the color negative film 13 is set, or the position and size of the mask 18 can be changed.

Generally, it is better for the luminance of the CRT 25 to be high in order to shorten the exposure time, but it is sufficient to be able to check the composite state of images when monitoring. Therefore, in order to extend the life of the CRT 25, it is better to lower the luminance to a level that does not interfere with observation.

If this is done, the photographic image will be extremely bright compared to the CRT image when being monitored, making it difficult to observe, so the white light source 10 is dimmed in accordance with the luminance of the CRT 25 so that both images have approximately the same brightness. It's good to do that.

If the half mirror 21 is fixed on the optical path, the amount of printing light will be reduced, so it is moved out of the optical path by a drive device 32 such as a solenoid during printing as shown by the two-dot chain line. Further, when printing a CRT image, a mirror 34 is inserted into the optical path by a drive device 33. Note that these half mirrors 21 and mirrors 34 may be attached to a turret.

A developing processing chamber 38 is formed on the right side of the main body 1, and a color developing tank 39. Bleach-fix tank 40, washing tank 4
1. Drying drum 42. A cutter 43 is provided,
Further, a large number of rollers 44 for transporting the color photographic paper 3 are appropriately arranged between these rollers. This development processing chamber 3
Inside 8, the exposed color photographic paper 3 undergoes color development, bleach-fixing, washing, and drying processes in order to form a positive image on each frame.Finally, it is cut one frame at a time by a cutter 43 and discharged onto a tray 45. be done. Note that instead of the drying drum 42, a dryer that blows warm air may be used.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit of a CRT exposure system.

As the graphic image input device 49, a digitizer is used, for example, and a CG image can be input to the control circuit 50. Furthermore, characters such as the address 1 and name can be input from the keyboard 51. This keyboard 51 is also used to operate each part. Furthermore, CG images written on the floppy disk 52 or the magnetic tape 53 can be input to the control circuit 50 via the storage medium drive circuit 54.

The control circuit 50 can electrically synthesize images by adding characters input using the keyboard 51 and a CG image input from the graphic image input device 49.

The image input to the control circuit 50 is subjected to logarithmic conversion and color correction, and then stored in the frame memory 55 in a separated state for each color. The color signal stored in the frame memory 55 is read out during monitoring or printing and is sent to the mask processing circuit 56. This mask processing circuit 56 applies an electric mask to remove signals of an image portion unnecessary for inset synthesis, and prevents a portion of the CRT 25 corresponding to this image portion from emitting light.

The size and position of this electric mask can be adjusted using the keyboard 51. Further, the position of the CRT image is changed by operating the keyboard 51 to change the writing position in the frame memory 55. The color signal electrically masked by the mask processing circuit 56 is sent to an image magnification conversion circuit 57, where the size of the CRT image is enlarged or reduced, and then sent to a look-up table 58.

This lookup table 58 performs gradation correction according to the gradation of the color photographic paper 3 and positive/negative inversion. Note that when using reversal color photographic paper, positive/negative reversal is not performed.

The output signal of the lookup table 58 is converted into an analog signal by a D/A converter 59 and then sent to a switching circuit 6.
Sent to 0. This switching circuit 60, when monitoring,
The three color signals of the negative image are sent to the matrix circuit 61, and the three color signals of the negative image are sent to the selection circuit 62 during printing. The matrix circuit 61 calculates the three color signals and outputs a brightness signal, which is sent to the CRT drive circuit 63. Further, the selection circuit 62 extracts any one of the three color signals and sends it to the CRT drive circuit 63.

The CRT drive circuit 63 displays a black and white image on the display surface of the CRT 25, but when monitoring and printing, the raster direction is reversed so that one is a mirror image. That is, when monitoring, the left and right sides of the photographic image are reversed by the half mirror 21, and when printing, the left and right sides of the CRT image are reversed by the mirror 34, so that the left and right sides of the two images do not match. Therefore, when monitoring, the rasters are moved, for example, from right to left, and when printing, the rasters are moved from left to right.

Furthermore, in addition to changing the direction of the beam, the left and right sides of the CRT image can be reversed by reading out the color signals from the frame memory 55 from the opposite direction.

The control circuit (CPU) 50 not only controls each circuit of the CRT exposure system, but also controls a photographic image exposure system, a photographic developing device, and the like. For CG images and large characters, it is convenient to display them on the CRT 25 and print them on photographic paper, but for small characters, you can photograph them on a lithographic negative, then overlay them on the display surface of the CRT 25 and print them together with the CRT image. When printed on paper, these letters become clearer.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a negative carrier.

The negative carrier 12 is composed of a movable base plate 65 and a negative plate 66 movable on the base plate 65.
6 slides, the color negative film 13
Move in two dimensions while holding . The base plate 65 is screwed into a threaded rod 68 that is rotated by a knob 67, and when the threaded rod 68 is rotated, the guide rod 6
9 in a straight line. This base plate 6
5 is made of an opaque material, and has an opening 65a formed approximately in the center thereof for passing illumination light.

The negative plate 66 is screwed onto a threaded rod 71 that is rotated by a knob 70, and when this threaded rod 71 is rotated,
It moves in a linear direction along the guide rod 72. This negative plate 66 is made of an opaque material, and has an opening 66a formed approximately in the center thereof through which illumination light passes.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged example of a variable mask.

This mask 18 is composed of four opaque movable plates 77 to 80 that move linearly independently through combinations of elongated holes 75 and pins 76, so that the position and size of the mask can be changed freely. It has become. Note that the pin 76 is implanted on the negative plate 66.

Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be explained.

C0 image input from the graphic image input device 49.

Characters input from the keyboard 51, ↑, a, images input via the medium drive circuit 54 are combined as necessary, and then separated into colors and stored in the frame memory 55. Further, a color negative film 13 on which images of people, scenery, etc. are photographed is set on a negative carrier 12 of a photographic image exposure system.

In the photographic image exposure system, color filters 14 to 16 are inserted at standard positions, and the illumination light emitted from the white light source 10 in a dimmed state is adjusted to standard light quality. Since the half mirror 21 is inserted into the optical path during monitoring, a portion of the light passing through the zoom lens 20 is reflected and reaches the screen 31, onto which the photographic image of the color negative film 13 is projected.

On the other hand, in the CRT exposure system, the output system of the switching circuit 60 is switched to the matrix circuit 61 side during monitoring. In order to monitor the image composition, each color signal of a positive image is read out from the frame memory 55, and this color signal is inverted between positive and negative in a look-up table 58, and converted into an analog signal by a D/A converter 59. After that, it is sent to the matrix circuit 61. This matrix circuit 61 is
A brightness signal is calculated from the three color signals of the negative image, and this brightness signal is sent to the CRT drive circuit 63. Therefore, C.R.
At T25, a CRT image representing a negative image in black and white is displayed. This CRT has a lower luminance compared to when printing, and projects a CRT image on the screen 31 with the left and right sides reversed compared to when printing.

Since the photographic image and the CRT image are optically combined and displayed on the screen 31, the user directly looks at this combined image to confirm whether or not the combination has been performed correctly.

If the combination of both is not performed well, operate the keyboard 51 to move the position of the CRT image in two-dimensional direction, or adjust the size and position of the electrical mask by the mask processing circuit 56. do. Further, the image size of the CRT image can be adjusted by the image magnification conversion circuit 57. Note that it is also possible to adjust the magnification of the CRT image using the lens 26.

On the other hand, if the position of the photographic image is not appropriate, turn knob 67.
70 to move the negative carrier 12 in two-dimensional direction. This negative carrier 12 is a color negative film 13
Since the camera moves while holding the image, the photographic image can be laid out in the desired position. Furthermore, if trimming is not appropriate, the position and size of the mask 18 can be adjusted by moving the movable plates 77 to 80. Furthermore, if the image magnification is not appropriate, it can be adjusted by operating the zoom lens 20.

After the above-mentioned monitoring, photo printing is started by operating the keyboard 51, and the CRT image and the photographic image are printed on the color photographic paper 3 by multiple exposure to create a printed photograph of a composite image. This multiple exposure may be performed first using either the CRT exposure system or the photographic image exposure system, but in this embodiment, printing is started from the photographic image exposure system.

The filter adjustment section 17 adjusts the insertion amount of the color filters 14 to 16 into the optical path according to the color density of the photographic image. After this adjustment, the white light source 10 emits full light, and the drive unit 32 retracts the half mirror 21 from the optical path. Immediately thereafter, the shutter 22 is opened for a predetermined period of time, so that the photographic image on the color negative film 13 is printed onto the color photographic paper 3 by the zoom lens 20. When the printing of this photographic image is completed, the color filters 14 to 16 are returned to their standard positions, and during printing by the CRTi optical system, the white light source 10
goes out.

Next, the CRT exposure system is activated and printing of the CRT image is started. In this case, the CRT 25 emits full light, the driving section 33 inserts the mirror 34 into the optical path, and the switching circuit 60 is switched to the selection circuit 62 side. This selection circuit 62 first extracts the red signal and sends it to the CRT drive circuit 63, and outputs an image corresponding to the brightness of the red image to the CRT drive circuit 63.
25. Here, in order to reverse the horizontal scanning direction of the electron beam from that during monitoring, the CRT drive circuit 63
An image that is left and right reversed with respect to the monitor image is displayed on the CRT 25.

When a red image is displayed in black and white on the CRT 25, a red filter 27 is inserted into the optical path of the lens 26,
The black and white image displayed on the RT 25 is converted into a red image. In this state, the shutter 22 is opened for an exposure time, for example, about one second, which is determined according to the red sensitivity of the color photographic paper 3, and a red image is printed on the color photographic paper 3 during this time.

After exposure of the red image, the shutter 22 is closed, during which the red filter 27 is retracted and replaced by the green filter 2.
8 is inserted. At the same time, the CRT exposure system displays the green image in black and white. Immediately after this, the shutter 22
In order for the CRT to open again for a predetermined period of time, for example about 1 second,
The black and white image displayed at 25 is converted into a green image by a green filter 27 and exposed onto color photographic paper 3. Similarly, a blue image is exposed to color photographic paper 3 for about 1 second. When a CRT image is printed on the color photographic paper 3 by this three-color plane sequential exposure method, the color photographic paper 3 is moved by one frame, and the unexposed portion is set at the exposure position.

The above procedure is repeated to expose a color composite image of a plurality of frames onto the color photographic paper 3. When the pre-specified number of sheets have been printed, the rear end of the color photographic paper 3 is automatically canted, and the color photographic paper 3 is transferred to the color developing tank 39 by the roller 44. Bleach-fix tank 40. Washing tank 41. Photographic development processing is performed through the drying drum 42 one after another, and a positive image is formed on each frame. Finally, each frame is cut by a cutter 43 to form one composite print photograph.

FIG. 5 shows inset synthesis. Depending on the scene of the photographic image, it may become difficult to see if the image produced by the CRT exposure system is superimposed, so the photographic image exposure system and CRT
Using a mask for the exposure system, necessary portions are trimmed and composited by fitting. color negative film 13
The hatched area is canted by the mask 18 shown in FIG. In accordance with this photographic image, the CR7 image 91 is covered with an electrical mask as shown by hatching. Note that it is convenient if this electric mask can be automatically changed in conjunction with the operation of the mask 18. Alternatively, masks having rectangular or circular openings formed therein may be prepared for different opening sizes, and a mask of a desired size may be selected from among the masks and placed on the color negative film 13.

In this way, by applying an electric mask to the CRT and a mechanical mask to the color negative film and then performing multiple exposure, it is possible to create a printed photograph 92 in which a photographic image and a CRT image are embedded and combined. Note that the dotted line indicates the boundary between the photo-printed image and the CRT-printed image, and does not actually exist.

In the above embodiment, both the negative images of the photographic image and the CRT image are combined and printed on color photographic paper, but when using reversal film, a positive image is displayed on the CRT, and two
The two positive images are combined and projected onto a screen, and the two positive images are sequentially printed onto reversal color photographic paper. In addition, when there is no problem in completely overlapping exposure of a photographic image and a CRT image, or when partially overlappingly exposing a CRT image such as characters on a photographic image, the mechanical mask 18 is removed. It will be done.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when a photographic image and a CRT image are sequentially exposed and image synthesized, a mechanical mask is applied to the photographic image, and an electrical mask is applied to the CRT. Because we applied a mask and eliminated the light emission from unnecessary parts,
Photo image and CRTii! There is no partial overlap between the two images and the J image, thereby making it possible to create a printed photograph with correct image composition.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus implementing the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a CRT exposure system. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a negative carrier. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing an example of a variable mask. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the creation of a composite print photograph by combining a CG image and a photographic image using mask work. 3... Color photographic paper 5... Exposure chamber 12... Negative carrier 13... Color negative film 18... Mask 20... Zoom lens 21... Half mirror 22... Shutter 25... CRT 31... Screen 34.・Mira-38...Development processing chamber 65...Base plate 66...Negative plate 67.70...Knobs 77-80...Movable plate 91...CRT image 92...Synthetic print photo.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) When a CRT image and a photographic image are sequentially printed onto photographic paper using a CRT exposure system and a photographic image exposure system to create a composite image, unnecessary parts of the CRT image are electrically masked and the photographic image is A composite image printing method characterized in that a mechanical mask is applied to the image so that a CRT image and a photographic image are not overlapped and exposed at the same position on photographic paper. (2) The composition according to claim 1, wherein the CRT exposure system prints characters or computer graphic images on photographic paper, and the photographic image exposure system prints a human image recorded on a photographic film. Image printing method.