Image processing method and image processing apparatus

• US 6,891,888 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hara, Yuji, Enomoto, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/815,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20010033370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N00.5/253, H04/N00.7/12, 348/96, 348/97, 348/104, 348/102, 348/107, 348/110, 348/112, 348/390.1, 313/901, 375/240.01
• US Class Current: 375/240.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0096 Simultaneous or quasi-simultaneous functioning of a plurality of operations H04N1/32545 takes precedence; multiprogramming arrangements of computers G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32502 in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40 Picture signal circuits H04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data

Abstract

The image processing method and apparatus read photoelectrically an original image to obtain input image data and subject the input image data to image processing to obtain output image data. The method and apparatus perform first conversion for outputting an image file and second conversion for outputting a print as the image processing on the input image data obtained by a single image reading operation and output first image data for outputting the image file and second image data for outputting the print. The method and apparatus make it possible to output both of the photographic print and the image file, which have a good image quality, by a simple operation and with a high operation efficiency.

Claims

1. An image processing method in which an original image is read photoelectrically to obtain input image data, and the thus obtained input image data is subjected to image processing to obtain output image data, comprising the steps of:

performing first conversion for outputting an image file and second conversion for outputting a print as said image processing on the input image data obtained by a single image reading operation; and

outputting first image data for outputting the image file and second image data for outputting the print, wherein said single image reading operation is performed with a resolution corresponding to a larger number of pixels required for outputting the image file or the print in accordance with the sizes of the image file and the print to be output.

2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the resolution of said single image reading operation is set in accordance with output information of the print and the image file.

3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said single image reading operation is performed with the resolution corresponding to one of sizes of the image file and the print to be output.

4. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first conversion for outputting the image file and said second conversion for outputting the print includes an output color conversion, or the output color conversion and an image format conversion as said image processing.

5. The image processing method according to claim 4, wherein said image format conversion selects presence or absence of an image compression, and wherein, when said image compression is performed, said image format conversion also selects presence or absence of a change of compression ratios.

6. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said first conversion for outputting the image file and said second conversion for outputting the print comprise respective sharpness processing as said image processing, and wherein at least one of a method and an intensity of said sharpness processing is changed in accordance with said first conversion for outputting the image file and said second conversion for outputting the print.

7. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein same processing to be conducted in said first conversion for outputting the image file and said second conversion for outputting the print as said image processing is conducted in common as common processing in both of said first and second conversions.

8. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the single image reading operation is a fine scan.

9. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the first conversion and the second conversion are carried out in parallel.

10. An image processing apparatus that reads an original image photoelectrically to obtain an input image data which is then subjected to image processing to obtain output image data, comprising:

a file converting unit for converting said input image data to first image data for outputting an image file;

a print converting unit for converting said input image data to second image data for outputting a print; and

a switching unit for performing switching operations among a first conversion of the input image data only by said file converting unit wherein said input image data is obtained by a single image reading operation, a second conversion of the input image data only by said print converting unit wherein said input image data is obtained by the single image reading operation, and both of said first and second conversion of the input image data by both of said file converting unit and said print converting unit wherein the image data is obtained by the single image reading operation, wherein said single image reading operation is performed with a resolution corresponding to a larger number of pixels required for outputting the image file or the print in accordance with the sizes of the image file and the print to be output.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the resolution of said single image reading operation is set in accordance with output information of the print and the image file.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said single image reading operation is performed with the resolution corresponding to one of sizes of the file and the print to be output.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said file converting unit and said print converting unit includes an output color converting unit, or both the output color conversion and an image format converting unit.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said image format converting unit selects presence or absence of an image compression, and wherein, when said image compression is performed, said image format converting unit also selects a change of compression ratios.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said file converting unit and said print converting unit perform respective sharpness processing in which at least one of a sharpness processing method and a sharpness intensity is different in accordance with said file converting unit and said print converting unit.

16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said file converting unit and said print converting unit have in common a common processing unit which performs same processing.

17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the single image reading operation is a fine scan.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the input image data converted at the file converting unit is a fine scanned image.

19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein if both of said first and second conversions of the input image data by both of said file converting unit and said print converting unit are performed, both of the first and second conversions are performed in parallel.

20. An image processing method in which input image data obtained from an original image is subjected to image processing to obtain output image data, comprising the steps of:

converting the input image data obtained by a single image reading operation to obtain two or more types of output image data which have different data formats from each other; and

outputting the thus obtained two or more types of output image data as said output image data, wherein said single image reading operation is performed with a resolution corresponding to a larger number of pixels required for outputting the image file or the print in accordance with the sizes of the image file and the print to be output.

21. The image processing method according to claim 20, wherein said two or more types of output image data are two types including first output image data and second output image data.

22. The image processing method according to claim 21, wherein said first output image data is for outputting a print and said second output image data for outputting an image file.

23. The image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the single image reading operation is a fine scan.

24. The image processing method according to claim 20, wherein the two or of output image data which have different data formats from each other are obtained.

25. An image processing apparatus in which input image data obtained by photoelectrically reading an original image is subjected to image processing to obtain output image data, comprising:

a converting section for converting the input image data obtained by a single image reading operation to two or more types of output image data having different data formats from each other; and

a switching unit for performing switching operations to select a conversion process to be used in said converting section in accordance with at least one type of output image data in the two or more types of output image data having different data formats from each other which are outputted from the converting section, wherein said single image reading operation is performed with a resolution corresponding to a larder number of pixels required for outputting the image file or the print in accordance with the sizes of the image file and the print to be output.

26. The image processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said converting section includes:

a first converting unit for converting said input image data to first output image data; and

a second converting unit for converting said input image data to second output image data which has a different data format from said first output image data; and

wherein switching operations are performed in said switching unit among a first conversion of the input image data obtained by a single image reading operation only with said first converting unit, a second conversion of said input image data only with said second converting unit, and a third conversion of said input image data with both of said first and second converting units.

27. The image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said first converting unit is a converting unit for a print and said first output image data is for outputting the print, and wherein said second converting unit is a converting unit for an image file and said second output image data is for outputting the image file.

28. The image processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the single ing operation is a fine scan.

29. The image processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the section converts the input image data obtained by the single image reading operation ore types of output image data in parallel.