Image processing method and apparatus and recording medium

• US 6,853,747 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Osamu, Makita, Takeshi, Matsuura, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/317,844
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• Field of Search: 382/167, 382/162, 382/266, 358518-523, 358/1.9, 358/527, 345/600, 345/601, 345/156
• US Class Current: 382/167
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/603 controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6097 depending on the characteristics of the output medium, e.g. glossy paper, matt paper, transparency or fabrics

Abstract

Disclosed is an image processing method.

According to the present invention, an image processing method comprises the steps of retaining on file a profile for an input device and a profile for an output target film, employing the profiles for the input device and for the output target film to prepare a color reproduction table to facilitate the input of image data that is near that of the output target film, and correcting the colors of the input image data in accordance with the table that is prepared.

Claims

1. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

holding a profile corresponding to a kind of input device and a profile corresponding to a kind of output target film, each profile including color data according to plural gray patches;

inputting input image data depending on the input device;

selecting the profile corresponding to the kind of input device and the profile corresponding to the kind of output target film;

generating plural tables respectively corresponding to the plural color components of the input image data, based on the selected profile corresponding to the kind of input device and the selected profile corresponding to the kind of output target film; and

correcting a color of the input image data using the generated table,

wherein said table is used to convert first color data in the selected profile corresponding to the kind of input device into second color data, corresponding to a gray patch that is the same as the first color data, in the selected profile corresponding to the kind of output target film.

2. An image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

emphasizing an edge in a highlighted portion of the color-corrected image data.

3. An image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

performing a white balance correction using a look up table prepared on the basis of a highlighted point and a shadow point of the input image data; and

performing the color correction for the image data obtained by the white balance correction.

4. An image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

judging a type of an input device type according to an input image; and

determining, in accordance with a result obtained in said judging step, whether the color correction is to be performed.

5. An image processing method according to claim 4, wherein the type of the input device is described as an ID, within header information for the input image.

6. An image processing method according to claim 4, wherein the type of the input device is the name of a digital camera, a film scanner or a flat bed scanner.

7. An image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the color correction is performed when the type of the input device is a digital camera.

8. An image processing method according to claim 7, where, when the input device type is a digital camera, the profile for the input device is automatically selected in accordance with the name of the device.

9. An image processing apparatus comprising:

holding means for holding a profile corresponding to a kind of input device and a profile corresponding to a kind of output target film, each profile including color data according to plural gray patches;

input means for inputting input image data depending on the input device;

selection means for selecting the profile corresponding to the kind of input device and the kind of profile corresponding to the kind of output target film;

generating means for generating plural tables respectively corresponding to plural color components of the input image data, based on the selected profile corresponding to the kind of input device and the selected profile corresponding to the kind of output target film; and

color correction means for correcting the color of the input image data using the generated table;

wherein said table is used to convert first color data in the selected profile corresponding to the kind of input device into second color data, corresponding to a gray patch that is the same as the first color data, in the selected profile corresponding to the kind of output target film.

10. A recording medium on which an image processing program is stored, said program comprising the steps of:

holding a profile corresponding to a kind of input device and a profile corresponding to a kind of output target film, each profile including color data according to plural gray patches;

inputting input image data depending of the input device;

selecting the profile corresponding to the kind of input device and the profile corresponding to the kind of output target film;

generating plural tables respectively corresponding to plural color components of the input image data, based on the selected profile corresponding to the kind of input device and the selected profile corresponding to the kind of output target film; and

correcting the color of the input image data using the generated table,

wherein said table is used to convert first color data in the selected profile corresponding to the kind of input device into second color data, corresponding to a gray patch that is the same as the first color data, in the selected profile corresponding to the kind of output target film.