Photographic printing method
First Claim
1. A photographic printing method for printing a film image of frames of a film onto photographic paper by correcting a print exposure amount determined on the basis of an image density of the film image, comprising the steps of:
- estimating color quantity of a subject illuminant for each of the frames based on information recorded at the time of photographing;
changing, in correspondence with the color quantity estimated, a degree of color correction of the image density for each of the frames in which an improper color balance occurs in color reproduction with a change in the color quantity of the subject illuminant; and
determining the print exposure amount to control the color of a print in correspondence with both a density difference between the image density of the film image to be printed and an average image density and the degree of color correction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photographic printing method for printing a film image onto photographic paper by estimating the color temperature of a subject illuminant, and by changing, in correspondence with the color temperature estimated, a degree of correction of the image density in which an improper color balance occurs in color reproduction with a change in the color temperature of the subject illuminant. By changing the degree of correction in correspondence with the estimated color temperature, it is possible to allow the hues of the subject illuminant to be reflected on the prints. In addition, it is also possible to change the degree of correction in correspondence with the light-source-color information indicative of the photographer'"'"'s intent in expressing the hues of the original scene. Furthermore, the light quality of the subject illuminant can be estimated from data on the date and time of photographing, a photographed district, a light value at the time of photographing, and information indicative of whether or not an electronic flash was used at the time of photographing, and print exposure amount can be determined in correspondence with the light quality estimated. In addition, by estimating the light quality of the subject illuminant and by determining an average image density from image densities of a plurality of frames photographed under a subject illuminant having specific light quality, it is possible to determine print exposure amount by using the average image density as a reference density.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A photographic printing method for printing a film image of frames of a film onto photographic paper by correcting a print exposure amount determined on the basis of an image density of the film image, comprising the steps of:
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estimating color quantity of a subject illuminant for each of the frames based on information recorded at the time of photographing; changing, in correspondence with the color quantity estimated, a degree of color correction of the image density for each of the frames in which an improper color balance occurs in color reproduction with a change in the color quantity of the subject illuminant; and determining the print exposure amount to control the color of a print in correspondence with both a density difference between the image density of the film image to be printed and an average image density and the degree of color correction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A photographic printing method for printing an image on film onto photographic paper by correcting a print exposure amount determined on the basis of an image density of the film image, comprising the steps of:
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determining a photographer'"'"'s picture-taking intent in expressing the hues of an original scene based on information recorded at the time of photographing; changing, in correspondence with the picture-taking intent, a degree of color correction of the image density in which an improper color balance occurs in color reproduction with a change in the color quality of the subject illuminant; and determining the print exposure amount to control the color of a print in correspondence with both a density difference between the image density of the film image to be printed and an average image density and the degree of color correction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A photographic printing method for printing a film image onto photographic paper, comprising the steps of:
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(a) estimating light quality of a subject illuminant on the basis of information recorded at the time of photographing, the information including a date and time of photographing, a light value at the time of photographing, and information indicative of the presence or absence of use of an electronic flash at the time of photographing; and (b) determining a print exposure amount in correspondence with the light quality estimated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 19)
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15. A photographic printing method for printing a film image onto photographic paper, comprising the steps of:
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(a) estimating light quality of a subject illuminant on the basis of information recorded at the time of photographing, the information including at least a time and date of photographing and a photographing district; and (b) determining a print exposure amount in correspondence with the light quality estimated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A photographic printing method for printing a film image onto photographic paper, comprising the steps of:
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(a) estimating light quality of subject illuminant based on information recorded at the time of photographing; (b) determining an average image density from image densities of a plurality of frames photographed under the subject illuminant having a specific light quality; (c) selecting a color correction value in accordance with the light quality estimated; (d) determining a print exposure amount by using the average image density as a reference density; (e) correcting the print exposure amount in accordance with the color correction value to produce a corrected print exposure amount; and (f) printing the film image onto the photographic paper in correspondence with the corrected print exposure amount. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A photographing printing method for printing a film image onto photographic paper, comprising the steps of:
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(a) estimating a light quality of a subject illuminant based on information recorded at the time of photographing; (b) determining the average image density separately for each type of the light quality estimated; (c) selecting a color correction value in accordance with the light quality estimated; (d) determining a print exposure amount by using the average time density as a reference density; (e) correcting the print exposure amount in accordance with the color correction value to produce a corrected print exposure amount; and (f) printing the film image onto the photographic paper in correspondence with the corrected print exposure amount. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification