Image processing apparatus and method

• US 6,473,535 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1999
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takaoka, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, TOMMY D
• Application Number:
  US09/286,907
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 382/274, 382/254, 358/443, 358/448, 358/453, 358/455, 358/458, 358/468, 358/527, 358/530, 358/538
• US Class Current: 382/274
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6011 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer H04N1/622 takes precedence; matching two or more picture reproducers H04N1/6052

Abstract

An image processing apparatus and method in which proper image processing conditions can be realized by simple operation, even in cases in which it is difficult to automatically obtain proper image processing conditions. A film image recorded on a photographic film is read, and is analyzed based on the image data obtained by reading. Processing conditions for various types of image processings for the image data are calculated. In a process of verifying the calculated processing conditions, if an operator designates correction of density or color balance, the image data is corrected in accordance with the designated correction, the image is reanalyzed based on corrected image data, and processing conditions for image processing, e.g., hyper gradation processing, are recalculated automatically.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

calculating means for analyzing an image and for, based on the results of analysis, calculating processing conditions for plural types of image processings for image data representing the analyzed image;

image processing means for performing each of the plural types of image processings on inputted input image data in accordance with the processing conditions calculated by said calculating means; and

input means for inputting information designating a change in at least one processing condition of the specific image processing among the processing conditions calculated by said calculating means,

wherein in a case in which the information designating a change in the at least one processing condition of the specific image processing is input through said input means, said calculating means changes the at least one processing condition of the specific image processing, analyzes the image again in such a manner as to reflect a designation of the change in the at least one processing condition of the specific image, and recalculates at least one processing condition of at least one image processing other than the specific image processing on the basis of the results of analysis.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

display means for displaying an image; and

display control means for performing the plural types of image processings on image data representing the image in accordance with the processing conditions calculated by said calculating means, and displaying on said display means the image represented by the processed image data.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the plural types of image processings include density conversion processing for converting the density of the image represented by the image data in accordance with density conversion condition, and hyper gradation processing for compressing the gradation of low-frequency component of the image in accordance with gradation compression condition, and

wherein in a case in which information, which designates a change in said density conversion conditions in such a manner that the density of the image represented by the image data which has been subjected to the density conversion processing changes by a predetermined amount, is input through said input means, said calculating means changes the density by a predetermined amount for the image data representing the image to be processed, reanalyzes the image to be processed, and recalculates the gradation compression condition for hyper gradation processing based on the results of analysis.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting an important part area of an image,

wherein said image processing means performs the plural types of image processings including density conversion processing for converting the density of the image represented by the image data in accordance with density conversion condition, and gradation change processing for changing the gradation of the image in accordance with gradation change condition, and

wherein in a case in which information, which designates a change in the density conversion conditions in such a manner that the density of the image corresponding to the image data which has been subjected to the density conversion processing changes by a predetermined amount, is input to said calculating means through said input means, said calculating means changes the density conversion condition for the density conversion processing and recalculates the gradation change condition for the gradation change processing in such a manner that the density of the important part area of the image corresponding to the image data which has been subjected at least to the density conversion processing and the gradation change processing changes by said predetermined amount.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said calculating means changes the density conversion condition in accordance with the designation for changing the density conversion condition, reanalyzes the image processed by the density conversion processing so as to change the density by a predetermined amount for the image data representing the image to be processed, and recalculates the gradation change condition for the gradation change processing based on the results of analysis, and thereafter, said calculating means determines the density of the important part area of the image corresponding to the image data subjected to the density conversion processing and the gradation change processing, and, until the density change amount of the important part area substantially coincides with said predetermined amount, said calculating means repeats the processes of changing the density conversion condition, analyzing the image to be processed, and recalculating the gradation change condition, in order for the density change amount of the important part area to substantially coincide with said predetermined amount.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detection means detects the important part area of the image by analyzing the image and estimating the important part area of the image, or detects as the important part area of the image an area which is designated through said input means.

7. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

analyzing an image and, on the basis of the results of analysis, calculating processing conditions for plural types of image processings for image data representing the analyzed image;

carrying out the plural types of image processings on inputted image data in accordance with the calculated processing conditions; and

upon receipt of information designating a change in the calculated processing condition for a specific image processing, changing the processing conditions for said specific image processing, reanalyzing the image in such a manner as to reflect the designation to change the processing conditions, and on the basis of the results of analysis, recalculating the processing conditions for at least one image processing other than said specific image processing.