Apparatus and method for determining image correction values for printing an image acquired with a digital camera and device for printing an image on printing material

• US 6,956,604 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agfaphoto GmbH (Agfaphoto Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Agfaphoto GmbH (Agfaphoto Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Keupp, Wolfgang, Fürsich, Manfred, Findeis, Günter
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/509,316
• Time in Patent Office: 2,527 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.2, 348/231.99, 348/207.1, 348/207.99, 358/1.9, 358/523, 347/2, 382/166, 382/274
• US Class Current: 348/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6052 Matching two or more picture signal generators or two or more picture reproducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6094 depending on characteristics of the input medium, e.g. film type, newspaper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes

Abstract

A device (PR) and a method is proposed for determining image correction values for printing on printing material an image acquired with a digital camera. The type (KT1, . . . , KTn) of the digital camera, which acquired the image to be printed, is identified. The image correction values for printing the image are determined as a function of the identified type (KT1, . . . , KTn) of the digital camera.

Claims

1. A method for correcting digital images produced by a digital camera, comprising the steps of:

identifying the camera type used to produce the digital images from image data provided by the camera;

correlating said camera type with correction values specific to the camera type to correct flaws common to images captured with said camera type; and

adjusting all of the images produced by the camera according to said correction values.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein information identifying the camera type is hidden in the image data provided by the camera using a steganographic method.

3. A device for determining correction values for digital images produced by a camera, comprising:

identification means responsive to digital image data produced by the camera for detecting the camera type that captured the digital image; and

control means for determining camera type specific image correction values as a function of the identified camera type; and

means responsive to said control means for correcting the digital images produced by the camera, whereby all of the images produced by the camera are corrected according to said correction values.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein information identifying the camera type is hidden in the image data provided by the camera using a steganographic method.