JPH04263241A - Image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain proper print corresponding to a light source at the time of photographing from a photographic sensitive material photographed with a camera by detecting flash information and correcting exposing conditions. CONSTITUTION:When the photographing is carried out with the camera, information that a flash 2 is used as the photographic sensitive material 1, is recorded 5 outside an image surface 4. The record 5 of the flash is actualized by developing processing by an automatic developing machine. The actualized record 5 is obviously distinguished from the unexposed emulsion part of the circumference. When the photographic sensitive material 1 processed like this, is set to an image deciding device, a sensor 6 detects the light of a light emitting element 7, which passes thorough the record 5. In other words, it is detected that the flash 2 is used for image photographing, to obtain the flash information, it is inputted into the image deciding device or the control circuit of a printer, and the correcting quantity of a programmed exposure or a color is calculated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved image processing method that can be applied to obtain a print appropriate for the light source at the time of photography from a photographic material photographed with a camera.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, before a developed photosensitive material is sent to a printer, a skilled operator judges the image density, color tone, etc., and performs exposure correction and color correction. Whether or not a strobe or flash was used during photographing is determined by visual judgment by an operator during image judgment, and the amount of correction during image exposure is determined.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Photographs are greatly affected by the light source used for photographing, and the resulting image is greatly different from the impression seen by humans. The main reason is that light-sensitive materials for general photography use white light as daylight or natural light, and are designed to produce light with a high color temperature and good color balance. , each emphasizes the color produced by a special light component. Printing photographic paper is corrected by each manufacturer to best match their photographic photosensitive materials and produce good prints, so differences in the light source at the time of photographing remain as they are or are accentuated in the prints. It appears in

[0004] As described above, the quality of the photograph is greatly affected by the light source applied at the time of photographing, so it is necessary to limit the light source for photographing or to rely on a skilled operator to judge the image prior to printing. There wasn't.

[0005] In view of the above, the present invention exposes a photographic material containing a mixture of images photographed using a strobe or flash and images photographed without using such a light at an appropriate exposure amount or color correction amount. The objective is to identify improved image processing methods that can be used to obtain suitable prints.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the method of the present invention. First, when photographing with a camera, a photographic material 1 is
Information indicating that a strobe or flash 2 was used (hereinafter abbreviated as flash information) is recorded. Optical and magnetic methods are used to record flash information. In the case of an optical type, for example, the photographic emulsion on the non-image surface of the photographic light-sensitive material 1 is exposed to light by a light-emitting element 3 that emits light when an electric circuit for operating the flash 2 is turned on. In the case of magnetic method, photographic material 1
A transparent magnetic layer is provided on the back side of the disc to perform magnetic recording.

In the case of magnetic recording, an automatic processor is not involved in the development of flash information, but in the case of optical recording, flash information located outside the image plane 4 of the photographic light-sensitive material 1 is developed by an automatic processor. Visualize record 5. The visualized record 5 is a transparent or translucent area that is clearly distinguishable from the surrounding unexposed emulsion area. When the photosensitive material 1 processed in this manner is set in an image judgment device, the sensor 6 detects the light from the light emitting element 7 passing through the recording 5, and a strobe or flash is used to take the image. That is,
Once the flash information is obtained, this information is input into the control circuit of the image judgment device or printer, and the programmed exposure or color correction amount is calculated. The presence or absence of flash information is preferably also displayed on the CRT screen of the image judgment device, and the present invention also includes a system in which the operator corrects the exposure amount or color based on visual inspection of this display.

Even when the flash information is magnetically recorded, it is almost the same as the optical type, except that the information detection means is different.

On the other hand, in the printer, exposure is performed under optimal exposure conditions corrected by flash information, and the best print 8 can be obtained.

FIG. 2 shows an example of flash information recording means in a camera. That is, with the photographic light-sensitive material 1 in the exposure position and positioned in contact with the back plate 9, the light emitting device such as the LED is placed close to the mask plate 10 so that no light leaks due to the light shielding material 11. Element 3 is arranged. The light emitting element 3 emits light in conjunction with when the electric circuit 12 that operates the flash 2 is turned on.

In the case of magnetic recording, a magnetic head is arranged on a part of the back plate 9 or the mask 10, and the flash 2
When the electric circuit 12 for operating the magnetic disk is turned on, an electric signal flows for a certain period of time, and flash information is recorded on a specific track of the transparent magnetic layer.

[0013] Where in the camera and at what stage the flash information is recorded is not limited to the above embodiment. In other words, flash information does not need to be recorded at the same time as the image is taken; it is sufficient to record for each image frame whether or not the relevant image part was photographed using a flash. It is only necessary that the flash information be recorded in a portion where the corresponding image frame can be identified until the winding is completed. Furthermore, the light emitting element 3 may be incorporated in the take-up spool and recorded as a group of flash information separately from the image frames.

The difficulty in applying the method of the invention is that the camera itself must have a means of recording flash information. Therefore, there is a drawback that this method cannot be applied to a camera that does not have flash information recording means as shown in FIG. Therefore, in such a camera, it is necessary to add a flash information recording means as an option. However, modern cameras are designed to be very compact, and there is almost no extra space. There is a small amount of space available around the periphery of the camera, and light emitting elements such as LEDs can be placed in these areas, for example, by connecting a part of the lead wire from the flash control circuit inside the camera to the hot shoe to the LED. If the camera has enough space to connect wires, it is possible to add a flash information recording means as an option.

The same applies to cameras with a built-in strobe.

[0016] The present invention also includes a method of recording flash information by detecting flash light that is reflected by a subject and enters a camera through a lens.

[0017]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the method of the present invention, flash information is recorded for each image frame, and the flash information can be output by simply setting a developed photographic material in an image judgment device or printer. Therefore, it is possible to automatically add corrections to the determined image density information, etc.
Alternatively, it can be easily performed by an operator's operation, and the printer can perform automatic exposure and development processing under corrected exposure conditions, thus solving the above-mentioned problem.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the method of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing flash information recording means.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Photographic material 2 Strobe, flash 3. Light emitting element 4 Image (frame) 5 Recording flash information 6 Photo receiving element 7 Light emitting element 8 Print 9 Back plate 10 Mask board 11. Light shielding member 12 Electric circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Image processing characterized by recording flash information for each image frame of a photographic light-sensitive material when taking a photograph, detecting the flash information with an image judgment device or printer, and correcting exposure conditions. Method.