Image processing device and method of image processing

• US 7,768,681 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kuwata, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins; Twyler L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beckley; Jonathan R
• Application Number:
  US10/937,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20050140993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.2, 358/1.9, 358/2.1, 358/3.2, 358/3.22, 358/3.24, 358/518, 358/520, 358/528, 358/1.18, 358/522, 358/448, 358/450, 382/167, 382/165, 382/164, 382/209, 382/217, 382/274, 382/266, 382/286, 382/291, 382/307, 382/166, 382/168, 382/254, 345/581, 345/589, 345/619
• US Class Current: 358/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6027 Correction or control of colour gradation or colour contrast H04N1/6058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6077 Colour balance, e.g. colour cast correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/88 for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control

Abstract

A CPU 200 obtains and analyzes one or multiple image data GD, which are to be laid out on ornamental image data FD. The CPU 200 also obtains and analyzes desired ornamental image data FD to acquire a color distribution characteristic (representative color Fc). The CPU 200 sets an analyzed correction level according to the result of the analysis of the image data GD and modifies the analyzed correction level based on the acquired color distribution characteristic, so as to set a modified color balance correction level. The CPU 200 adjusts the color balance of the image data GD with the modified color balance correction level and pastes the color balance-adjusted image data GD onto the ornamental image data FD according to layout control information LI to generate output image data.

Claims

1. An image processing device that executes image processing of objective image data, which is to be laid out on ornamental image data, said image processing device comprising:

an ornamental image data acquisition module that obtains the ornamental image data;

an objective image data acquisition module that obtains the objective image data, wherein the objective image data is to be laid out on a layout location of the ornamental image data;

a layout control information acquisition module that obtains layout control information, wherein the layout control information is related to the obtained ornamental image data and specifies a layout location and layout dimensions of the objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data and includes a representative color of the ornamental image data;

an ornamental image color distribution characteristic acquisition module that acquires the representative color of the ornamental image data from the layout control information;

an analyzed correction level setting module that analyzes the objective image data, which is to be laid out on the ornamental image data, obtains an analyzed color balance, and sets an analyzed correction level relating to the color balance, wherein the analyzed correction level relating to the color balance is a correction level to decrease or cancel a difference between the analyzed color balance and a predetermined color balance;

a modified color balance correction level setting module that modifies the analyzed correction level based on the acquired representative color so as to enhance a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data, and sets a modified color balance correction level, wherein the modified color balance correction level is determined by specifying a representative color component from one of R, G, B components for the representative color and increasing correction level for the specified representative color component so as to decrease level of the representative color component in the objective image data;

an image quality adjustment module that adjusts a color balance of the objective image data to enhance a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data, based on the modified color balance correction level; and

an output image data generation module that generates output image data from the color balance-adjusted objective image data and the ornamental image data according to the layout control information.

2. An image processing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said ornamental image color distribution characteristic acquisition module analyzes the ornamental image data to acquire the representative color of the ornamental image data.

3. An image processing method that executes image processing of objective image data, which is to be laid out on ornamental image data, said image processing method comprising:

obtaining the ornamental image data;

obtaining the objective image data, wherein the objective image data is to be laid out on a layout location of the ornamental image data;

obtaining layout control information, wherein the layout control information is related to the obtained ornamental image data and specifies a layout location and layout dimensions of the objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data and includes a representative color of the ornamental image data;

acquiring the representative color of the ornamental image data from the layout control information;

analyzing the objective image data, which is to be laid out on the ornamental image data, obtaining an analyzed color balance, and setting an analyzed correction level relating to the color balance, wherein the analyzed correction level relating to the color balance is a correction level to decrease or cancel a difference between the analyzed color balance and a predetermined color balance;

modifying the analyzed correction level based on the acquired representative color so as to enhance a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data, and sets a modified color balance correction level, wherein the modified color balance correction level is determined by specifying a representative color component from one of R, G, B components for the representative color and increasing correction level for the specified representative color component so as to decrease level of the representative color component in the objective image data;

adjusting a color balance of the objective image data to enhance a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data, based on the modified color balance correction level; and

generating output image data from the color balance-adjusted objective image data and the ornamental image data according to the layout control information.

4. An image processing device that executes image processing of objective image data, which is to be laid out on ornamental image data, said image processing device comprising:

an ornamental image data acquisition module that obtains the ornamental image data;

an objective image data acquisition module that obtains the objective image data, wherein the objective image data is to be laid out on a layout location of the ornamental image data;

a layout control information acquisition module that obtains layout control information, wherein the layout control information is related to the obtained ornamental image data and specifies a layout location and layout dimensions of the objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data and includes an average luminance of the ornamental image data;

an ornamental image luminance characteristic acquisition module that acquires the average luminance of the ornamental image data from the layout control information;

an analyzed correction level setting module that analyzes the objective image data, which is to be laid out on the ornamental image data, obtains an analyzed brightness, and sets an analyzed correction level relating to the brightness, wherein the analyzed correction level relating to the brightness is a correction level to decrease or cancel a difference between the analyzed brightness and a predetermined brightness;

a modified brightness correction level setting module that modifies the analyzed correction level based on the acquired average luminance, so as to enhance a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data, and sets a modified brightness correction level, wherein the modified brightness correction level is determined by calculating a luminance difference between the average luminance and a threshold luminance for the ornamental image data and adding the luminance difference to the analyzed correction level;

an image quality adjustment module that adjusts a brightness of the objective image data to enhance a luminance contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data, based on the acquired luminance characteristic; and

an output image data generation module that generates output image data from the brightness-adjusted objective image data and the brightness of the objective image data with the modified brightness correction level.

5. An image processing device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said ornamental image luminance characteristic acquisition module analyzes the ornamental image data to acquire the average luminance of the ornamental image data.

6. An image processing method that executes image processing of objective image data, which is to be laid out on ornamental image data, said image processing method comprising:

obtaining the ornamental image data;

obtaining the objective image data, wherein the objective image data is to be laid out on a layout location of the ornamental image data;

obtaining layout control information, wherein the layout control information is related to the obtained ornamental image data and specifies a layout location and layout dimensions of the objective image data to be laid out on the ornamental image data and includes an average luminance of the ornamental image data;

acquiring the average luminance of the ornamental image data from the layout control information;

analyzing the objective image data, which is to be laid out on the ornamental image data, obtaining an analyzed brightness, and setting an analyzed correction level relating to the brightness, wherein the analyzed correction level relating to the brightness is a correction level to decrease or cancel a difference between the analyzed brightness and a predetermined brightness;

modifying the analyzed correction level based on the acquired average luminance, so as to enhance a color contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data, and setting a modified brightness correction level, wherein the modified brightness correction level is determined by calculating a luminance difference between the average luminance and a threshold luminance for the ornamental image data and adding the luminance difference to the analyzed correction level;

adjusting a brightness of the objective image data to enhance a luminance contrast between the ornamental image data and the objective image data, based on the brightness of the objective image data with the modified brightness correction level; and

generating output image data from the brightness-adjusted objective image data and the ornamental image data according to the layout control information.