JPH07101283B2 - Photo printer with simulator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a photographic printer with a simulator, and more particularly to a photographic printer with a simulator for displaying DX data read from a negative film on a color monitor.

[Conventional technology]

With a photographic printer, observe the negative image set at the print position, and if the automatic exposure control is not expected to produce the proper density and color balance, operate the density key or color key to adjust the correction amount. You are typing.
With this type of photographic printer, a skilled operator is required because it is not possible to confirm in advance the finished state of the printed photograph or the correction result by the correction key. Recently, in order to allow even an inexperienced operator to take good print photographs, a photo printer with a simulator that simulates a finished state and displays it on a color monitor has been proposed.

Most of the negative films currently on the market are recorded with a DX code indicating a negative type (film maker, film sensitivity) and the like. This DX code is read by the photo sensor when the negative film is set in the photographic printer, and a correction value that is predetermined for this DX code is input to the exposure amount calculation unit as a negative balance value.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Since the color or density of the simulator image slightly changes depending on the negative type, it is preferable to adjust the color monitor according to the negative type in order to perform a high-accuracy negative test. However, the conventional photo printer with a simulator could not know the DX data representing the negative kind obtained by decoding the DX code.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic printer with a simulator that makes it possible to easily know DX data.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the photo printer with a simulator of the present invention displays a sensor for reading a DX code recorded on a negative film and DX data decoded from the read DX code on a color monitor together with a simulated image. And means for doing so.

[Action]

The sensor reads the DX code recorded on the negative film and sends this read signal to the decoder. The DX data output from this decoder is combined with a simulated image and then sent to a color monitor to be displayed on the display surface together with the simulated image.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a photo printer with a simulator. A cyan filter 12, a magenta filter 13, and a yellow filter 14 are arranged between the light source 10 and the mirror box 11, and the amount of insertion into the printing optical path 16 is adjusted by the filter adjusting unit 15. The printing light transmitted through a part of these color filters 12 to 14 is sufficiently diffused in the L-shaped mirror box 11 and illuminates the negative film 18 arranged therebelow. The negative film 18 is placed on the base plate 19 and is pressed from above by a negative mask 20 during photo printing.

As shown in FIG. 2, a DX code 22 representing a negative type (maker, film sensitivity) and the like is recorded on one side of the negative film 18 at a constant pitch. The DX code 22 is optically recorded when the negative film 18 is manufactured, and becomes a visible image by development. Note that reference numeral 18a is a negative image taken by a photographic camera.

At the time of printing a photograph, after the mirror 25 moves to the position shown by the dotted line, the shutter 26 opens for a certain period of time, during which the negative image 18a recorded on the negative film 18 is passed through the printing lens 27 and behind the paper mask 28. Then, the color paper 29 arranged at is printed and exposed. At the time of monitoring, the printing light transmitted through the negative film 18 is reflected laterally by the mirror 25,
It is incident on the color image sensor 33 via the zoom lens 32. The zoom lens 32 is adjusted in magnification according to the negative size so that the monitor image has the same size even if the size of the negative film 18 is different.

The time series signals read from the color image sensor 33 are image-processed by the signal processing unit 34 and then sent to the color monitor 35. On the display surface of this color monitor 35, a color positive image simulating a finished print photograph is displayed.
36 is displayed. Further, the color monitor 35 is a DX showing the manufacturer name and the type of film (product name, film sensitivity).
Data 37 is also displayed at the same time.

In order to display the DX data 37 on the color monitor 35, a DX sensor 40 including a light projecting section and a light receiving section is used for the negative film 18
It is located in the passage. The DX sensor 40 optically reads the DX code 22 and writes a read signal in the buffer 41. The read signal read from the buffer 41 is sent to the decoder 42 and converted into DX data. this
The DX data is sent to the signal processing circuit 34 and the exposure amount calculation unit 43.

A lens 45 and a light receiver 46 are provided to measure the negative image 18a. The light receiver 46 photoelectrically converts a part of the printing light transmitted through the negative image, performs average photometry for the red, green, and blue of the negative image, and sends the obtained photometric value of each color to the exposure amount calculation unit 43. . As is well known, the exposure amount calculation unit 43 calculates the exposure amount of each color from the DX data and the photometric value. The calculated exposure amount is sent to the filter adjusting unit 15, and the insertion positions of the filters 12 to 14 for the respective colors are adjusted according to the exposure amount.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the simulator. The keyboard 47 is a correction key for inputting the density and color correction amount.
50 and operation keys 5 for inputting data and operation instructions
1, a print key 52 is provided to send the input data to the controller 48.

As the color image sensor 33, for example, a CCD type color image area sensor is used, and a red pixel 33a having a red filter in its photosensitive portion,
Pixels for green 33b having a green filter and pixels for blue 33c having a blue filter are arranged in a matrix in a predetermined pattern. This color image sensor 33
Is driven by the driver 55, reads out the signal charges photoelectrically converted in each pixel, and inputs the signal charges into the amplifier 57. The time series signal amplified by the amplifier 57 is sent to the negative / positive conversion circuit 58, and the negative / positive conversion and the γ correction are simultaneously performed. The negative-positive converted time series signal is sent to the color signal separation circuit 59, where the red signal, green signal,
Separated into a blue signal. The separated color signals are sent to the matrix calculation circuit 60, and the following formula is calculated in order to simulate the characteristics of the color paper 29.

Here, the coefficients a _{11 to} c ₃₃ are experimentally determined according to the characteristics of the color paper, and a coefficient according to the type of color paper is selected.

The DX data output from the decoder 42 is sent to the character generator 62. The character generator 62 is controlled by a synchronization signal from the controller 48 and outputs a character signal. This character signal has the color specified by the keyboard 47,
The color encoder 63 converts the three-color signals, and the three-color signals are sent to the image synthesizing circuit 64, and the simulated image and DX data are image-synthesized.

The controller 48 controls the character generator 62, the image synthesizing circuit 64, and the color monitor 35 according to the synchronization signal from the driver 55. Further, the controller 48 writes the table data read from the memory 65 into the negative / positive conversion circuit 58 and the matrix operation circuit 60, respectively.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. Negative film
When you set 18 in the photo printer and perform frame advance,
The first negative image is set at the print position formed by the negative mask 20. When the negative film 18 is transferred, the DX code 22 is read by the DX sensor 40. this
The read data output from the DX sensor 40 is stored in the buffer.
It is sent via 41 to the decoder 42 where it is converted to DX data. The DX data is converted into a character signal by the signal character generator 62, and then sent to the image combining circuit 64 via the color encoder 63.

At the time of monitoring, first, the color filters 12 to 14 are set at predetermined photometric positions. The printing light emitted from the light source 10 passes through a part of the color filters 12 to 14 and then enters the mirror box 11, and is repeatedly reflected by the mirror surface inside the mixing box, whereby the printing light is mixed. The printing light that has passed through the mirror box 11 illuminates the negative film 18 arranged below this. A part of the printing light transmitted through the negative film 18 enters the light receiver 46 via the lens 45, and the averaged photometry is performed on the red, green and blue components of the negative image. After this photometry, the exposure amount calculation unit 43 calculates the photometric value of each color and
The exposure amount is calculated for each color from the DX data and the filter adjustment unit
The amount of the color filters 12 to 14 is adjusted via 15 so that the light quality of the printing light is automatically adjusted so that the color balance and density of the printed photograph are proper.

Further, at the time of monitoring, since the mirror 25 is inserted into the printing optical path 16, a negative image is picked up by the color image sensor 33 via this mirror 25. The color image sensor 33 is driven by the driver 55 and reads out time series signals at a predetermined cycle. This time series signal is sent to the image synthesizing circuit 64 after being subjected to amplification, negative / positive conversion, color signal separation, and simulation calculation. This image synthesis circuit
64 synthesizes the simulated image 36 and the DX data 37, and then sends the signal of this synthesized image to the color monitor 35. This color monitor 35 is, for example, DX data 37 on the top of the display surface.
And a simulated image 36 below it.

The operator reads the DX data displayed on the color monitor 35, and operates the color adjustment knob 66, for example, to adjust the color according to the negative type. Next, the simulator image 36 is observed to confirm the finish. If the color or density is inappropriate, the correction key 50 is operated to input the color or density correction amount. When the correction key 50 is operated, the controller 48 sends the input correction amount to the exposure amount calculation unit 43. The exposure amount calculation unit 43 corrects the exposure amount and adjusts the insertion amount of the color filters 12 to 14 according to the new exposure amount. By changing the dimming state, the exposure correction amount is optically simulated, and the color or density of the simulated image is corrected.

If it is recognized that the finish is good, as is well known, by operating the print key 52, the mirror 25 retracts to the position shown by the dotted line, and immediately after that, the shutter 26 opens for a certain time, The negative image is printed and exposed on the color paper 29 through the printing lens 27.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, the negative film can be changed to the DX.
Since the DX data obtained by reading the code and decoding this is displayed on the monitor, it is easy to know the type of negative film being printed, and there is no need to provide special display means, which is cost effective. Is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a photographic printer equipped with a simulator. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the negative film. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the simulator. 18 …… Negative film 33 …… Color image sensor 35 …… Color monitor 36 …… Simulated image 37 …… DX data 40 …… DX sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photographic printer with a simulator for picking up a negative image of a negative film and displaying a simulated image simulating the print finish on a color monitor, for reading a DX code recorded on the negative film. It was obtained by decoding the sensor and the read DX code.
A photographic printer with a simulator provided with means for displaying DX data on a color monitor together with a simulated image.