JPH0467672B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having an airbrush function that is effective in expressing blurred colors such as blush and gloss.

<Prior art> In an image processing device that stores image density information in an image memory and processes it in a microprocessor to create various images, the following has been conventionally used to achieve writing with shading similar to an airbrush. A method like this was used. First, set the color to be written, and then set the density of the pixels to write that color in the 9th step.
As shown in the figure, there is a method in which the density is high in the center and thinner in the periphery, and another method is to weight the color information to be written and the color information of the original image, average them, and write the result into the image memory. If you want to achieve the airbrush effect, you can increase the weight of the color information written in the center, and gradually increase the weight of the color information of the original image in the periphery.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, a problem with these conventional methods is that as a result of producing the airbrush effect, the original data is lost. Also, once you use an airbrush, you cannot change its color. Therefore, it is not suitable for applications in which colors are frequently changed, such as when applying blush to a woman's face using an airbrush effect to simulate what color blush would be good.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to be able to obtain the airbrush effect without losing the original data.
Also, after applying the airbrush effect, it is possible to freely change the color and the density of the airbrush.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the image processing device of the first invention includes: an image airbrush dual-purpose memory that stores density information of each pixel constituting an image and airbrush density information; , a coordinate input means for specifying a predetermined pixel on the image; a color input means for inputting color information representing the color of the airbrush; an airbrush intensity input means for inputting airbrush intensity information representing the intensity of the airbrush; A writing means for writing and erasing airbrush density information having different values from the center to the periphery of the area specified by the coordinate input means in the airbrush dual-purpose memory, and output information of the image airbrush dual-purpose memory are introduced, Based on the density information of the airbrush inputted by the writing means, the color information of the airbrush inputted by the color inputting means, and the intensity information of the airbrush inputted by the airbrush intensity inputting means. , a look-up table memory for changing and outputting the density information of the pixel, and a display means for displaying an image based on the output information of the look-up table memory.

Further, the image processing device of the second invention includes: an image memory that stores density information of each pixel configuring an image; an airbrush memory that stores density information of an airbrush; and a memory that specifies a predetermined pixel on the image. a coordinate input means; a color input means for inputting color information representing the color of the airbrush; an airbrush intensity input means for inputting airbrush intensity information representing the intensity of the airbrush; A writing means for writing and erasing airbrush density information having different values from the center of the area to the periphery, and output information of the image memory and the airbrush memory are simultaneously introduced and input by the writing means. changing the density information of the pixel based on the density information of the airbrush input by the color input means, the color information of the airbrush input by the color input means, and the intensity information of the airbrush input by the airbrush strength input means; The present invention is characterized by comprising: a lookup table memory for outputting information from the lookup table memory; and a display means for displaying an image based on the output information of the lookup table memory.

<Example> Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using specific examples. Figure 1 shows full-color images of R (Red) and G.
2 is a block diagram of an image processing device that separates the color into three components of (green) and B (blue) and stores them. FIG. This image processing apparatus includes an image airbrush memory 15 of 8 bits each for RGB for storing original image density information and airbrush density information. The output of the image airbrush memory 15 is connected to the address of a lookup table memory 16, and the output of the lookup table memory 16 is connected to a D/A converter 18 via a gate circuit 17. In this example, the output of the lookup table memory 16 is
Each bit of RGB (0 to 255).

The lookup table memory 16 is bus 1.
4. Accessed by microprocessor 13 through gate 20. The above microprocessor 13
includes writing means for writing airbrush density information in a predetermined writing pattern.

Further, the output (video analog signal) of the D/A converter 18 is sent to a display 19, where an image is displayed. Above image airbrush memory 1
5 and main memory 12 are accessed by the microprocessor 13 via bus 14.
The coordinate input means 21 is accessed from the microprocessor 13 through the bus 14, and allows input of specific coordinates on the image. Further, the color input means 30 is adapted to input the color of the airbrush. Also,
Numerical input means 31 which is airbrush strength input means
You can now enter the strength of the airbrush numerically.

Next, the processing of the present invention will be explained. first,
An image is input into the image airbrush memory 15 using a scanner, a television (TV) camera, or other means. At this stage, image airbrush memory 1
5 stores 8 bits of information for each of RGB per dot. Next, as an example, the upper 5 bits of the image airbrush memory 15 are used for image information, and the lower 3 bits are used for airbrush density information. FIG. 2 shows the image airbrush memory configured in this way. How many bits are used for image information?
How many bits should be used for airbrush density information?
It may be changed depending on the content of the input image information.
If the settings are made as described above, the information stored in the k component (k=r, g, b) of the RGB image airbrush memory will be the image density information i _k (0≦i _k <2 ⁵ )
and airbrush density information (0≦a<2 ³ ),
The output x _k of the image airbrush memory 15 is x _k =
2 ³ ×i _k +a.

Next, a method of performing airbrush processing using airbrush density information will be described. First, to write the airbrush density information, do the following. Third
As shown in Figure a, a writing pattern is defined in which the density value decreases from the center toward the periphery. This writing pattern is moved on the screen according to the coordinates input by the coordinate input means 21. At this time, the density values of the constituent pixels of the writing pattern are compared with the density information of the airbrush at that point on the original image, and if the value of the airbrush density information of the original image is small, a process of rewriting it with the density value of the writing pattern is performed. For example, if all the density information of the airbrush is initially 0 and the writing pattern shown in FIG. 3a is written once, the result will be as shown in FIG. 4a.
Furthermore, by moving the same writing pattern as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4b, airbrush density information is written as shown in FIG. 4c. What should be noted here is that since the airbrush density information is written into the airbrush density information space in the density airbrush memory 15, the density information of the original image is not lost at all. In addition, if you input the airbrush density information incorrectly, you can define a correction pattern in which the density value increases from the center to the periphery as shown in Figure 3b, and use this to correct the airbrush density information. Modifications can be made without sacrificing the effect of Specifically, in the same way as the method explained above, the correction pattern is input to the coordinate input means 2.
The correction pattern is moved on the screen according to the coordinates input in step 1, and the density values of the constituent pixels of the correction pattern are compared with the density information of the airbrush of the original image.If the value of the density information of the airbrush of the original image is large, the correction pattern is Perform processing to rewrite the density value. For example, the fifth
By moving the correction pattern shown in FIG. 3b in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5b with respect to the airbrush density information shown in FIG. 5a, airbrush density information as shown in FIG. 5c can be obtained.

Next, in order to produce an airbrush effect using the airbrush density information written in the above manner, the lookup table memory 16 may be set as follows. In the following equation, i _k is the density information of the original image of the k component of color, a is the density information of the airbrush, and the output x _k of the image airbrush memory 15 is
There is a relationship of x _k =2 ³ ×i _k +a. I _k (i _k ) is a function that displays the original image as it is. f _k (x _k is the output of the lookup table memory 16 according to the original image density information, airbrush density information, color information, and airbrush intensity information. (Cr), (Cg), and (Cb) are color inputs. This is color information giving the airbrush color input by means 30. [ ] is a Gauss symbol.

f _k (x _k ) = [A×a×C _k + (7−A×a)×I _k (i _k )/7]…
(1) Here, a=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7.0≦A≦1 The meaning of the above equation (1) will be explained. First, A is the airbrush intensity parameter input by the numerical input means 31, and if A=0, then the value of equation (1) is f _k (x _k )=l _k regardless of the airbrush density information a. (i _k ), and the airbrush effect disappears. On the other hand, when A=1 is set, the value of f _k (x _k ) changes according to the airbrush density information a. for example,
When a=7, f _k (x _k )=C _k , and the airbrush color is displayed as is, but when a=0, f _k
(x _k )=l _k (i _k ), and information about the original picture is displayed.
When 0<a<7, a color intermediate between the airbrush color and the original image color is displayed according to the value of a. As a result, an airbrush effect is obtained in which the color gradually fades toward the periphery, centering on the area where airbrush density information a=7. Where and how the color fades is determined by the previously written airbrush density information. Further, when the value of A is between 0 and 1, an intermediate value as described above is output, and the intensity of the airbrush changes as a whole.

Note that in the above equation (1), the numerical value 7 corresponds to the maximum value of density information of the airbrush, and may be set to a different value depending on the information capacity of the airbrush.

In this way, the contents of the lookup table memory are changed using the numerical input means and color input means, which are the airbrush intensity input means, so after applying the airbrush effect, you can change the color or change the airbrush intensity. can be changed freely,
Furthermore, since the operation does not change the contents of the image airbrush memory, but only changes the contents of the lookup table memory, it has the advantage of being very fast.

As an example of setting the lookup table memory 16, if A=0 in FIG. 6 a, b, c, A=1 in FIG. 7 a, b, c, and A=1 in FIG. = 1/2 is shown. The vertical axes are the outputs f _r (x _r ), f _g (x _g ), and the outputs of the lookup table memory 16, respectively.
f _b (x _b ), and the horizontal axis is the inputs x _r , x _g , and x _b . here,
Airbrush color (C _r , C _g , C _b ) is red 255,0,
0).

From this, it can be seen that the airbrush has no effect because the airbrush intensity information is 0 in Fig. 6 a, b, and c, and since the airbrush intensity information A is 1 in Fig. 7 a, b, and c, Lookup table memory 16 according to airbrush density information a
It can be seen that the outputs f _r (x _r ), f _g (x _g ), f _b (x _b ) change, and since the intensity information A is 1/2 in Figure 8 a, b, and c, It can be seen that both airbrush density information and original image density information are taken into consideration.

In the above embodiment, the airbrush density information is set to 3 bits, but the amount of information can be changed depending on the content of the image.

Further, in the above invention, an example is shown in which airbrush density information is stored in a dual-purpose memory, but a separate image memory exclusively for airbrush density information may be provided. The operation in this case is that the above-mentioned dual-purpose memory is divided into two parts: an image memory dedicated to image density information and a memory dedicated to airbrush density information, and the other functions are exactly the same.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above, the present invention includes a lookup table memory that receives output from the image airbrush memory or the image memory while preserving its contents. The airbrush effect, which is very effective in expressing blurred colors, can be expressed without losing the density information of each pixel that makes up the image. Also, write the density information of the airbrush,
Furthermore, since it is provided with writing means for erasing, the density of the airbrush can be changed freely. In addition, it is equipped with a color input means and an airbrush strength input means for changing the contents of the lookup table memory, so you can freely change the color and airbrush strength after applying the airbrush effect. can. Further, since the operation does not change the contents of the image airbrush memory or the image memory, but only changes the contents of the lookup table memory, it has the advantage of being extremely fast.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the contents of the image airbrush dual-purpose memory and the lookup table memory, and FIGS. Figures showing writing patterns, Figure 4 a, b, c, Figure 5
Figures a, b, and c are diagrams explaining how to rewrite airbrush density information, Figures 6 a, b, and c, Figure 7 a,
8a, b, and c are diagrams showing the output of the lookup table memory according to airbrush intensity information, respectively, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing airbrush writing according to the conventional density. 12... Main storage device, 13... Microprocessor, 14... Bus, 15... Image airbrush memory, 16... Lookup table memory, 17...
Gate circuit, 18...D/A converter, 19...Display device, 20...Gate circuit for reading and writing lookup table, 21...Coordinate input means, 30...Color input means, 31...Numeric value input means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image airbrush memory that stores density information of each pixel constituting an image and density information of the airbrush, and specifies a predetermined pixel on the image. a color input means for inputting color information representing the color of the airbrush; an airbrush intensity input means for inputting airbrush intensity information representing the intensity of the airbrush; A writing means for writing and erasing airbrush density information having different values from the center of the area designated by The density information of the pixel is changed based on the airbrush density information, the airbrush color information input by the color input means, and the airbrush intensity information input by the airbrush intensity input means. What is claimed is: 1. An image processing device comprising: a lookup table memory for outputting information from the lookup table memory; and a display means for displaying an image based on output information from the lookup table memory. 2 An image memory that stores the density information of each pixel that makes up the image, an airbrush memory that stores the airbrush density information, and a designated pixel on the image. a color input means for inputting color information representing the color of the airbrush; an airbrush intensity input means for inputting airbrush intensity information representing the intensity of the airbrush; A writing means for writing and erasing airbrush density information having different values from the center to the periphery of a designated area, and the output information of the image memory and airbrush memory are simultaneously introduced, and the writing means The density information of the pixel is determined based on the density information of the airbrush input by the color input means, the color information of the airbrush input by the color input means, and the intensity information of the airbrush input by the airbrush intensity input means. An image processing device comprising: a lookup table memory for changing and outputting information; and a display means for displaying an image based on the output information of the lookup table memory.