System and method for performing intermediate image processing

• US 7,034,966 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kubo, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): Worku, Negussie
• Application Number:
  US09/179,446
• Time in Patent Office: 2,737 Days
• Field of Search: 358/474, 358/451, 358/449, 358/475, 358/468, 358/482, 358/509, 358/505, 358/518, 358/448, 358/447, 358/494, 358/523, 382/162, 382/167
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/603 controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6086 by scene illuminant, i.e. conditions at the time of picture capture, e.g. flash, optical filter used, evening, cloud, daylight, artificial lighting, white point measurement, colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6088 by viewing conditions, i.e. conditions at picture output

Abstract

An image processing system includes: a scanner for inputting an original image on an input recording media after reading the original image, or a digital camera inputting an image of a subject after picking-up the image; and a first setting-up portion for converting image data being input by the scanner or digital camera into intermediate image data of color signals being irrespective of types of the input recording media and the input device, and for recording the intermediate image data being converted by the first setting-up portion onto a portable recording media.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

image inputting means for either inputting an original image on an input recording media after reading the image, or inputting an image of a subject after picking-up the image;

first setting-up means for correcting the image data for spectral characteristics and linearity and converting image data being input by the image inputting means into intermediate image data of color signals based on predetermined spectral sensitivity characteristics;

outputting means for recording the intermediate image data being converted by the first setting-up means on a portable recording media;

inputting means for inputting the intermediate image data being recorded on the portable recording media;

second setting-up means for providing tone correction of the intermediate image data, converting either the intermediate image data being converted by the first setting-up means or the intermediate image data being input by the inputting means into visible light exposure according to characteristics of an output recording media for digital exposure, and converting the visible light exposure into second intermediate image data which is output to the output recording media, said visible light exposure being corrected based on a user'"'"'s perception in case of a need; and

third setting-up means for either outputting the second intermediate image data being converted by the second setting-up means to the output recording media, or converting the second intermediate image data into output image data of color signals which depend upon a type of an image outputting means to display an output.

2. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the color signals which are irrespective of types of the input recording media and the image inputting means are color signals which are formed based on luminance information contained in actual scenes.

3. An image processing system according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate image data are of color signals which can mate with a user'"'"'s perception.

4. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the second intermediate image data are of color signals which can mate with a user'"'"'s perception.

5. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first setting-up means determines status data indicating a source of the original image and converts the image data provided by the image inputting means to the intermediate image data based on the source of the image data.

6. The image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the first setting up means provides the intermediate image data of color signals based on table look up parameters which depend on the source of the original image, said table look up parameters comprising a first look up table that takes into account an apparatus category and an apparatus type as the image source, and a second look up table that takes into account a medium as the image source.

7. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first setting-up means determines status data indicating a source of the original image and converts the image data provided by the image inputting means to the intermediate image data of color signals based on the source of the image data.

8. The image processing system according to claim 7, wherein the first setting up means provides the intermediate image data of color signals based on table look up parameters which depend on the source of the original image, said table look up parameters comprising a first look up table that takes into account an apparatus category and an apparatus type as the image source, and a second look up table that takes into account a medium as the image source.

9. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein said input recording media comprises at least one of a positive film and a negative film.

10. An image processing system comprising:

a first image processing system;

a portable recording media; and

a second processing system;

wherein the first image processing system includes at least,

image inputting means for inputting an original image on an input recording media after reading it, or inputting an image of a subject after picking-up it,

first setting-up means for correcting the image data for spectral characteristics and linearity and converting image data being input by the image inputting means into intermediate image data being composed of color signals being irrespective of types of the input recording media and the image inputting means, and

outputting means for recording the intermediate image data being converted by the first setting-up means on a portable recording media, and

the second processing system includes at least,

inputting means for inputting the intermediate image data being recorded on the portable recording media,

second setting-up means for providing tone correction of the intermediate image data, converting the intermediate image data being converted by the first setting-up means or the intermediate image data being input by the inputting means into visible light exposure according to characteristics of an output recording media for digital exposure, and converting the visible light exposure into second intermediate image data which is output to the output recording media; and

third setting-up means for outputting the second intermediate image data being converted by the second setting-up means to the output recording media, or converting the second intermediate image data into output image data composed of color signals which depend upon a type of an image outputting means to display an output.

11. An image processing system according to claim 10, wherein the color signals which are irrespective of types of the input recording media and the image inputting means are color signals which are formed based on luminance information contained in actual scenes.

12. An image processing system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the second intermediate image data are of color signals which can mate with user'"'"'s sensation.

13. The image processing system according to claim 10, wherein the first setting-up means determines status data indicating a source of the original image and converts the image data provided by the image inputting means to the intermediate image data of color signals based on the source of the image data.

14. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

inputting an original image on an input recording media after reading it, or inputting an image of a subject after picking-up it;

converting image data being input by the image inputting means into intermediate image data being composed of color signals being irrespective of types of the input recording media and the image inputting means and corrected for spectral characteristics and non-linearity;

recording the intermediate image data being converted by the first setting-up means on a portable recording media;

inputting the intermediate image data being recorded on the portable recording media;

converting either the intermediate image data being converted by the first setting-up means or the intermediate image data being input by the inputting means into visible light exposure according to characteristics of an output recording media for digital exposure, correcting tone of the intermediate image data and converting the visible light exposure into second intermediate image data which is output to the output recording media; and

outputting the second intermediate image data being converted by the second setting-up means to the output recording media, or converting the second intermediate image data into output image data of color signals which depend upon a type of an image outputting means to display an output.

15. An image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the color signals which are irrespective of types of the input recording media and the image inputting means are color signals which are formed based on luminance information contained in actual scenes.

16. An image processing method according to claim 15, wherein the second intermediate image data are of color signals which can mate with user'"'"'s sensation.

17. An image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the second intermediate image data are of color signals which can mate with user'"'"'s sensation.

18. A computer-readable recording medium for storing the image processing method set forth in any one of claims 14 to 17 as a program which causes a computer to execute the image processing method.

19. An image processing system comprising:

an image input interface receiving image data from at least one of;

an image scanner and a digital camera;

a first converter which receives the image data from the image input interface to provide intermediate color signals which are independent of a source of the image data and, said first converter using conversion parameters selected according to the source of the image data to provide the intermediate color signals and to provide correction for spectral characteristics and linearity of the image data; and

output device for recording the intermediate color signals converted by the first converter onto a portable recording media.

20. An image processing system comprising:

an image input interface receiving image data from at least one of;

an image scanner and a digital camera;

a first converter which receives the image data from the image input interface to provide intermediate color signals which are independent of a source of the image data, said first converter using conversion parameters selected according to the source of the image data to provide the intermediate color signals and to provide correction for spectral characteristics and linearity of the image data;

output device for recording the intermediate color signals converted by the first converter onto a portable recording media;

second converter receiving the intermediate color signals from either the first converter or the portable recording media to convert the intermediate color signals into visible light exposure according to characteristics of an output recording media for digital exposure, correcting tone of the intermediate color signals, and converting the visible light exposure into second intermediate image data which is output to the output recording media, said second converter using conversion parameters based on characteristics of the output recording media; and

third converter for either outputting the second intermediate image data converted by the second converter to the output recording media, or converting the second intermediate image data into output image data of color signals which depend upon a type of an image outputting means to display an output.

21. The image processing system of claim 20, wherein the intermediate color signals which are independent of the source of the image data are independent of the input medium and input apparatus and comprise one of RGB data signals and CMYK density.

22. An image processing system comprising:

an image input interface receiving image data from at least one of;

an image scanner and a digital camera;

a first converter which receives the image data from the image input interface to provide intermediate color signals which are independent of a source of the image data and, said first converter using conversion parameters selected according to the source of the image data to provide the intermediate color signals and to provide correction for spectral characteristics and linearity of the image data; and

output device for recording the intermediate color signals converted by the first converter onto a portable recording media,

wherein the intermediate color signals which are independent of the source of the image data are independent of the input medium and input apparatus and comprise one of RGB data signals and CMYK density.

23. An image processing system comprising:

an image input interface receiving image data from at least one of;

an image scanner and a digital camera;

a first converter which receives the image data from the image input interface to provide intermediate color signals which are independent of a source of the image data and, said first converter using conversion parameters selected according to the source of the image data to provide the intermediate color signals and to provide correction for spectral characteristics and linearity of the image data; and

output device for recording the intermediate color signals converted by the first converter onto a portable recording media,

wherein the interface operably receives image data from said scanner and said digital camera, and wherein the first converter selects the conversion parameters based on whether the interface receives image data from said scanner or said digital camera.