Image processing method

• US 6,563,531 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Matama, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Philippe, Gims S.
• Application Number:
  US09/266,937
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5253, H04/N.336, G01/J.340, 348/96, 348/97, 348/98, 348/103, 348/577, 396/173, 396/6, 396/175, 356/404, 355/35, 430/396, 382/274, 382/260, 382/169, 252/67
• US Class Current: 348/96
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/407 Control or modification of tonal gradation or of extreme levels, e.g. background level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6094 depending on characteristics of the input medium, e.g. film type, newspaper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/11 Scanning of colour motion picture films, e.g. for telecine

Abstract

The image processing method of the invention for subjecting image data which is obtained by reading an image on a film photoelectrically to specified image processing, which comprises the step of: acquiring film characteristic of said film; and correcting the image data in accordance with the acquired film characteristic. According to this method, the characteristic change, particularly, gradation characteristic change of the film can be suitably corrected and as a result, a high-quality print having a high-quality image can be constantly and stably obtained.

Claims

1. An image processing method for subjecting image data obtained by reading an image on a film photoelectrically in a digital photoprinter to specified image processing, comprising the steps of:

acquiring film characteristic of said film; and

correcting the image data in the digital photoprinter in accordance with the acquired film characteristic, wherein said film characteristic is corrected by difference data between standard development conditions and adopted development conditions.

2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said film characteristic is gradation characteristic of said film.

3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said film is for a one-time use camera.

4. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said correction step is a step of correction corresponding to deterioration of said film characteristic.

5. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said correction corresponding to the deterioration of said film characteristic is correction mainly in an over-exposed range of the film, and wherein said correction step is a step of correction corresponding to deterioration of said film characteristic.

6. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said acquiring step is at least one of a process of storing film characteristics of plural kinds of the film in a storing means and thereafter reading out a corresponding film characteristic from the storing means by detecting a kind of the film, a process of reading film characteristic information recorded on the film optically, a process of reading the film characteristic information recorded on the film magnetically and a process of inputting the film characteristic by an operator.

7. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said acquiring step is at least one of a process of storing film characteristics of plural kinds of the film in a storing means and thereafter reading out a corresponding film characteristic from the storing means by detecting a kind of the film, a process of reading film characteristic information recorded on the film optically, a process of reading the film characteristic information recorded on the film magnetically and a process of inputting the film characteristic by an operator, wherein said film kind is detected from the film by using at least one of an optical process and a magnetic process.

8. An image processing method for subjecting image data obtained by reading an image on a film photoelectrically in a digital photoprinter to specified image processing, comprising the steps of:

acquiring film characteristic of said film; and

correcting in the digital photoprinter a balance of gradation of said image based on a correction information of the acquired film characteristic.

9. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said film characteristic is expressed in a function manner.

10. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said film characteristic is gradation characteristic of said film.

11. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said film is for a one-time use camera.

12. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said correction step is a step of correction corresponding to deterioration of said film characteristic.

13. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said correction step is a step of correction corresponding to deterioration of said film characteristic, wherein said correction corresponding to the deterioration of said film characteristic is correction mainly in an over-exposed range of the film.

14. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said acquiring step is at least one of a process of storing film characteristics of plural kinds of the film in a storing means and thereafter reading out a corresponding film characteristic from the storing means by detecting a kind of the film, a process of reading film characteristic information recorded on the film optically, a process of reading the film characteristic information recorded on the film magnetically and a process of inputting the film characteristic by an operator.

15. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said acquiring step is at least one of a process of storing film characteristics of plural kinds of the film in a storing means and thereafter reading out a corresponding film characteristic from the storing means by detecting a kind of the film, a process of reading film characteristic information recorded on the film optically, a process of reading the film characteristic information recorded on the film magnetically and a process of inputting the film characteristic by an operator, wherein said film kind is detected from the film by using at least one of an optical process and a magnetic process.

16. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said film characteristic is corrected by difference data between standard development conditions and adopted development conditions.