Method and apparatus for color conversion of an original image

• US 5,311,334 A
• Filed: 07/19/1989
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sugiura, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Kim Yen
• Application Number:
  US07/381,847
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 358/75, 358/78, 358/80, 358/27, 358/28, 358/453, 358/452, 358/518, 358/521, 358/531, 358/532, 358/537, 358/538, 382/22
• US Class Current: 358/537
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/62 Retouching, i.e. modification of isolated colours only or in isolated picture areas only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/622 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer

Abstract

An image processing apparatus comprises a device for designating a desired color; a device for discriminating a desired color in an objective color image; and a device for color converting portions other than the desired color in the objective color image which was discriminated by the discriminating device, wherein the color converting device color converts the portions other than the desired color which was discriminated by the discriminating device.

Claims

1. A full color image processing apparatus comprising:

designating means for designating a target color;

discriminating means for discriminating said target color in an original color image; and

converting means for converting a color in the original color image, other than said target color, which was discriminated by said discriminating means, into a desired color without color converting said target color, said desired color being different from said target color, wherein said desired color is colorless whereby the color other than the target color in the original color image is converted into a blank image.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the target color by comparing each of a plurality of color component signals with a predetermined value.

3. A full color image processing apparatus comprising:

designating means for designating a target color;

discriminating means for discriminating said target color in an original color image;

converting means for converting a color in the original color image, other than said target color, which was discriminated by said discriminating means, into a desired color without color converting said target color, said desired color being different from said target color; and

third designating means for designating a color range which is discriminated with said target color by said discriminating means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said third designating means widely or narrowly designates said color range.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the target color by comparing each of a plurality of color component signals with a predetermined value.

6. A full color image processing method comprising the steps of:

designating a target color;

discriminating the target color in an original color image;

converting a color in the original color image, other than the target color, which was discriminated in said

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the color range can be widely or narrowly designated in said designating step.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein in said discriminating step the target color is discriminated by comparing each of a plurality of color component signals with a predetermined value.

9. A full color image processing method comprising the steps of:

reading an original color image;

converting the original color image into a plurality of color component signals;

designating an area in the original color image;

designated a target color;

discriminating the plurality of color component signals converted in said converting step, the designated target color being discriminated in the designated area;

converting the color of areas in the original color image having colors other than the target color, which was discriminated in said discriminating step, into a desired color without color conversion of the target color, the desired color being different from the target color; and

designating a color range to be discriminated with said target color in said discriminating step.

10. A full color image processing apparatus comprising:

image converting means for reading an original color image and converting said original color image into a plurality of color component signals;

first designating means for designating an area in said original color image;

second designating means for designating a target color;

discriminating means for discriminating said plurality of color component signals converted by said converting means, said discriminating means discriminating the target color designated by said second designating means in said area designated by said first designating means; and

color converting means for converting the color of areas in said original color image having colors other than said target color, which was discriminated by said discriminating means, into a desired color, without color conversion of said target color, said desired color being different from said target color.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second designating means designates said target color by designating a color in said original color image.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said desired color is colorless whereby the color other than the target color in the original color image is converted into a blank image.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

third designating means for manually designating said desired color.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

fourth designating means for designating a color range which is discriminated with said target color by said discriminating means.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

reproducing means for reproducing the image converted by said color converting means as a visible image.

16. A full color image processing method comprising the steps of:

designating a target color;

discriminating the target color in an original color image; and

converting a color in the original color image, other than the target color, which was discriminated in said discriminating step, into a desired color, without color converting the target color, the desired color being different from the target color, wherein the desired color is colorless and in said converting step the color other than the target color in the original color image is converted into a blank image.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein in said discriminating step the target is discriminated by comparing each of a plurality of color component signals with a predetermined value.

18. A full color image processing method comprising the steps of:

reading an original color image;

converting the original color image into a plurality of color component signals;

designating an area in the original color image;

designated a target color;

discriminating the plurality of color component signals converted in said converting step, the designated target color being discriminated in the designated area; and

converting the color of areas in the original color image having colors other than the target color, which was discriminated in said discriminating step, into a desired color without color conversion of the target color, the desired color being different from the target color, wherein the desired color is colorless and in said converting step the color other than the target color in the original color image is converted into a blank image.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein in said discriminating means the target color is discriminated by comparing each of the plurality of color component signals with a predetermined value.