JP2502134B2 - Photographic exposure amount determination device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining a photographic printing exposure amount, and particularly to automatically determining appropriate printing exposure conditions for a plurality of film types based on a standard printing exposure condition. The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining a photoprinting exposure amount that can be performed.

[Problems to be Solved by Prior Art and Invention]

The color negative is B (blue), G (green), R for the entire screen.
It is known empirically that the (red) three-color light is transmitted, but the transmission ratios of these three color components are generally substantially equal or constant. Therefore, in the automatic printer, the printing light amount (exposure amount) is determined based on the following formula.

logFj = Kj + Dj (1) where logF is the logarithm of the printing light amount, K is a constant, D is the negative integrated transmission density (LATD) measured by the photometric system, and j is B,
Any color light of G and R.

However, if the amount of printing light is controlled by the automatic printer based on the above formula (1), the print from the underexposed negative has a higher overall density than the print from the proper negative, and the print from the exposure transient negative has a higher density. Will be lower. For this reason, a slope control circuit is provided to
The exposure amount is determined by correcting Dj. on the other hand,
Even in automatic printers equipped with a slope control circuit as described above, negatives that have changed significantly over time, negatives (different types of light source negatives) taken with light sources (fluorescent lamps, tungsten lamps, etc.) that are significantly different from daylight, and color areas With a negative or the like having a defect, defective print with an incorrect color balance is likely to occur. Further, film types (different film types) having different sensitivities from different manufacturers cannot produce good prints under the same printing conditions because the three photosensitive layers have different sensitivities and densities. Therefore, the print conditions are determined by trial and error for each film type to create a print. For this reason, Di of the formula (1) is corrected (color correction), and the exposure amount is determined by changing the slope control value in a different type film.

However, in recent years, a large number of high-sensitivity films have been developed, and the number of types of films has increased to tens. However, as described above, the printing and exposure conditions of each film type do not necessarily match, and the film for condition setting that sets the conditions of the automatic printer for each film type is very limited. Absent. Normal,
The film for this condition setting is a negative in which a portion corresponding to a negative for photographing a yellow-green object is arranged around a portion corresponding to a negative for photographing a gray subject. Only three types of exposure are prepared: proper exposure, under-exposure, and over-exposure, and the conditions for film types having different characteristics from the reference film type are set by experience. Therefore, it is very difficult to set the printing exposure condition for each film type, which requires a long experience and a lot of time. Further, in order to maintain high quality, it is indispensable to control the printing and exposure conditions of each film type, but it is difficult to control if there are many film types. Therefore, 1
The following techniques have been proposed for automatically determining an appropriate printing exposure amount for each film type from one standard printing exposure condition.

First, the amount of correction for each film type is stored in advance in memory for the exposure exposure conditions of the reference film, and the bar code (so-called DX code) recorded on the film to be printed is read to determine the film type. There is a method of determining the exposure amount by reading the correction amount of this film type (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-85235). However, in this technique, since the correction amount of each film type must be obtained in advance, it takes a lot of work and the accuracy becomes insufficient when the number of film types is large as it is now. In addition, a correction amount must be newly set for a new film type.

In addition, the film screen is divided into a large number of parts for photometry, each photometric data (photometric value) is analyzed, and the selected photometric data is used to correct the standard printing exposure conditions and determine the exposure conditions of the film image to be printed. There is a known technique (JP-A-51)
-94927, JP 52-20024, JP 59-22076
No. 1, JP-A-61-198144, etc.). According to this prior art, when the photometric partial photosensitivity distribution of the photometric system of the automatic printer matches the spectral sensitivity distribution of the photosensitizing material with very high accuracy, the characteristics of the characteristics are determined based on the printing exposure conditions of the reference film type. It is possible to print different types of films.

By the way, when the spectral sensitivity distribution of the photometric system and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the exposure system match as described above, the straight line portions of the three R, G, and B curves of the film characteristic curve are the reference film type. When it is substantially parallel to the straight line portions of the three curves of R, G, and B, it is possible to properly print and expose each film type under the printing and exposure conditions of the reference film type. Therefore, the above method has a problem that a good print image cannot be obtained in the exposure region corresponding to the non-linear portion of the characteristic curve. Further, a reference value (for example, neutral color) is required when selecting the photometric data, but it is essential that the reference value is accurate.

In addition, in order to make the above standard values accurate, the film 1
There is a method of determining the above reference value based on the photometric data for this line. However, when a large number of images for one film are images deviated from the average image, an error occurs in the reference value and the selected photometric data is erroneous. Further, when the number of frames in one film is small, the amount of photometric data is small, so that the accuracy of the reference value also deteriorates.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and determines a photographic printing exposure amount by which an accurate printing value can be obtained by automatically determining an accurate reference value from a large number of image densities. The purpose is to provide a device.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention shows a photometric means for dividing a film image of a film to be printed into a large number and measuring the photometric value and outputting a photometric value, and a film type recorded on the film to be printed. A reading means for reading a code, a classifying means for classifying the film to be printed based on the read code for each film type, a storage means for storing the image density obtained from the photometric value for each film type, and a film to be printed. A density value calculation for obtaining a reference value from the image density of the film type to which the image data belongs, defining a specific color area based on the reference value, and calculating image density values of three colors based on the photometric value belonging to the specific color area Means and
The exposure amount determining means determines the exposure amount of the film to be printed on the basis of the pre-stored standard printing exposure conditions and the image density values of the three colors.

In the exposure amount determining means, the image density of the film type corresponding to the pre-stored standard printing exposure condition is compared with the average value of a large number of images of the image density of the film type to which the film to be printed belongs and corrected. The value can be obtained, and the exposure amount of the film to be printed can be determined based on the standard printing exposure condition, the image density values of the three colors, and the correction value.

Further, when a new code is read, setting means for setting a storage area for storing the image density of the new film type as a new film type in which the new code is recorded in the storage means is further provided. be able to.

[Action]

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described. The photometric means divides the film image of the film to be printed into a large number of pieces to perform photometry. As a result, it is possible to obtain photometric values of three colors for each pixel. The reading means reads the code indicating the film name recorded on the film to be printed. Normally, a bar code indicating the film manufacturer name, the film sensitivity, the film product name, etc. is recorded on the film, so that the bar code can be read by the reading means. The classifying unit classifies the film to be printed for each film type based on the code read by the reading unit. The storage means stores the image density obtained from the photometric value measured by the photometric means for each film type. Therefore, a large number of image densities are stored in the storage means for each film type. The density calculating means obtains the reference value of the film type to which the film to be printed belongs from the image density stored in the storage means. As this reference value, an average value of a large number of image densities or a value obtained from the neutral color or flesh color and this average value can be adopted. Further, the density calculating means determines a specific color area based on the reference value and calculates the image density values of the three colors based on the photometric value belonging to the specific color area. As the specific color area, a low chroma color area including a neutral color can be adopted. Further, the image density values of the three colors can be obtained using only the photometric values belonging to this specific color region, but the photometric values other than the specific color region were obtained from the photometric values of this specific color region. You may make it use, after converting into a representative value (an average value of three colors, etc.).

Then, the exposure amount determining means determines the exposure amount of the film to be printed based on the pre-stored standard printing exposure condition and the image density values of the three colors.

At this time, the exposure amount determining means is a film type (reference film type) in which the standard printing exposure condition is stored in advance.
Image density and the average value of the image densities of the film type to which the film to be printed belongs are compared to obtain a correction value, and based on the standard printing exposure condition, the image density value of three colors and this correction value. The exposure amount of the film to be printed may be determined.

Then, when a new code is read, the film in which the new code is recorded is defined as a new film type, and a storage area for storing the image density of this new film type is provided, so that an unknown film can be recorded. Can also respond.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since a large number of image densities can be automatically stored for each film type, it is possible to determine an accurate reference from a large number of image densities by determining the film type of the film to be printed. The effect that the value can be obtained and the appropriate exposure amount can be determined can be obtained.

In addition, since a storage area for storing the image density of a new film type is automatically set for a new film type, there is no need to manually enter data, and thus without knowing the film type. The effect is that an accurate reference value can be automatically set for a new film type.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. First, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a color-adding type automatic color photographic printing apparatus will be described. As shown in FIG.
A lamp house 10 including a mirror box 18 and a halogen lamp is sequentially arranged below the negative film 20 loaded in the negative carrier and conveyed to the printing unit. A rotary disk 14 and an infrared cut filter 12 rotated by a motor 16 are inserted between the mirror box 18 and the lamp house 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary disk 14 is provided with a color separation filter consisting of a G filter 15, a B filter 17 and an R filter 19 near its circumference. These G filter 15, B filter 17 and R filter 19 are shown in FIG. 3 (1).
As shown in FIG. 5, a dielectric multilayer film 25 is formed by arranging white glass 23 coated and colored glass 21 of any one of R, G, and B in parallel. FIG. 4 shows that a colored glass filter (R-64 filter manufactured by Hoya Glass Co., Ltd.) 21 and a dielectric multilayer film 25 form a short wavelength R, and a thermally stable infrared cut filter 12 has a long wavelength R. It shows the state of forming.

The G filter 15, the B filter 17, and the R filter 19 may be formed by coating a dielectric multilayer film 25 on the surface of the colored glass 21 as shown in FIG. 3 (2). The coating surface of the body multilayer film and the white glass may be adhered and adhered by a heat-resistant epoxy adhesive.

Above the negative film 20, a lens 22, a plastic shutter 24, and a color paper 26 are arranged in order, and the infrared cut filter 12, the filter on the rotating disk 14, the mirror box 18, and the negative film 20 are irradiated by the lamp house 10. The light beam transmitted through the lens 22 is configured to be imaged on the color paper 26 by the lens 22.

A two-dimensional image sensor 28 is arranged in a direction inclined with respect to the optical axis of the imaging optical system and at a position where the image density of the negative film 20 can be measured. The two-dimensional image sensor 28 is a storage photoelectric conversion element such as CCD or MOS, an optical system for forming an image of the negative film 20 on the photoelectric conversion element, and a photoelectric conversion element output to process and output as image information. And a signal processing circuit for doing so. This image sensor 28
The photoelectric conversion element of R divides the negative image into a large number of pixels by dividing it into R,
The G and B3 primary colors are measured, and the signal processing circuit converts the output of the photoelectric conversion element into a digital signal and then performs the logarithmic conversion of the reciprocal of the output to output it as a density signal.

The characteristics of the infrared cut filter 12 are as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 5 (3), and the relative spectral transmittance of the three-color photolytic filter for rotary disk is as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 (3). . Further, the relative spectral sensitivity distribution of the two-dimensional image sensor 28 is as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 (2), and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the two-dimensional image sensor 28 in the color addition method is the fifth.
It becomes as shown by the broken line in FIG. The relative spectral sensitivity distribution of color paper is as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 (1), and the spectral sensitivity distribution of color paper in the color addition method is as shown by the broken line in FIG. 5 (1).

The two-dimensional image sensor 28, as shown in FIG.
It is connected to a photometric value memory 30 for storing each density signal of B. The photometric value memory 30 is connected to the photometric value selection means 38 and the photometric value density storage memory 32 for storing the image density for each film type. The film type concentration storage memory 32 includes a management unit 52 and a film type classification unit 3.
4, the bar code reading means 42 is connected in order, and the film type density storage memory 32 is a film characteristic determining means 36.
It is connected to the photometric value selection means 38 via. The photometric value selecting means 38 is connected to the exposure amount determining means 44 via the exposure control value calculating means 40. A print condition input means 46 is connected to the exposure amount determining means 44 via a print condition memory 48. The exposure amount determining means 44 controls the motor 16 to rotate the rotary disk 14 to control the exposure amount.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below while explaining each of the blocks shown in FIG.

The film type classification means 34, based on the bar code (so-called DX code) read by the bar code reading device 42,
The film speed, film film, maker name is determined, and negative film or film type with common photographic characteristics such as tone, base density, photosensitivity, and shape of characteristic curve in addition to maker and sensitivity are regarded as the same film type. The film or the film type is classified according to the film type. The DX code is the film manufacturer name,
Since the information indicating the film type such as film sensitivity and film family is displayed by a bar code, the film type can be detected by using a bar code reading device, and the film to be printed is mainly exposed by printing. Film species with the same or similar conditions (the film type is often one film type and one film type is one film type in many cases, and in the present invention, strictly no distinction is made between the film type and the film species, and there is no need for this). Each can be classified.

The film type concentration storage memory 32 stores and stores the output value from the photometric value memory 30 for each film type classified by the film type classifying means 34. For example, it is described in JP-A-61-267749. The techniques used can be used. That is, for each photometric point or selected photometric value,
The density of each part of the screen or the density of the entire screen can be set to R of one screen,
Obtained for G and B, and as shown in the following table, three primary color image densities a, b, c
・ ・ Remember. Instead of the three-primary-color image densities, a combination value of the three-primary-color image densities, for example, an image density difference between two colors or an image density ratio may be used.

To further explain the above block, the bar code reading device 42 reads the bar code stored on the side edge of the color negative film set in the negative carrier 20. The bar code read by the bar code reading device 42 is input to the film type classifying means 34. The film type classification means 34 is provided with a memory in which a bar code and a film type are associated with each other, and the film type classification means 34
Reference numeral 34 classifies the film type by determining which film type the bar code read by the bar code reading device 42 belongs to. The film type information classified by the film type classification means 34 is input to the management means 52.

Next, the management routine by the management means 52 will be described with reference to FIG. In step 110, it is judged whether the classified film is an unknown type or a known type. When it is judged that it is a known type, in step 112, the concentration accumulation memory for each film type corresponding to the classified film type is stored.
To 32, the photometric value stored in the photometric value memory 30 is converted into image density and stored. The film type density storage memory 32 is provided with a storage area for each film type, and therefore, the image density is stored for each film type. As the image density, in addition to the screen average density, the density selectively obtained from the screen densities, that is, the average density of the high density part of the screen, the average density of the middle density part of the screen, the average density of the low density part of the screen, the screen density A concentration such as the lowest concentration of can be used. In the next step 114, it is determined whether or not a predetermined number of films have been processed, and when it is determined that the predetermined number of films have been processed, in step 116, the image density of each film type of the film type density accumulation memory 32 is set to Dj (however, , J is one of R, G, and B), and the image density stored in the storage area as another film type is set as Dj ′, and it is compared to determine whether the film types are the same or similar. To do. That is, by determining whether or not they are the same or similar by the difference or ratio of the image densities (Dj) and (Dj ') of the two storage areas or the combined values of the image densities of two or more colors, the film type is determined. Determine whether are the same, similar or dissimilar. For example, the comparison of the values obtained by combining the image densities of two or more colors is: | (D _R -D _G ) − (D _R ′ −D _G ′) |
When _{| (D G -D B) -} (D G '-D B') | may be the concentration difference or the like is performed on whether or not less than a predetermined value D _R / D _W and D _G / D _W and D _B / D _W (D _W
= D _R + D _G + D _B ), etc. may be determined based on whether the concentration ratios are similar or not. The image density may be calculated when entering / exiting from the photometric value memory 30 to the film type density accumulating memory 32, and a part or all of the image density may be stored as a combination value of image densities of two or more colors as described above. . When the image density Dj for each film type or the combination value thereof is not similar to each other, a print permission signal is output in step 122. On the other hand, if the image density Dj of each film type or the combination value thereof has the same or similar image density or the combination value thereof, it is judged that these film types are the same type and the image density is determined in step 118. Alternatively, the correspondence between the film type and the bar code of the film type classifying means 34 is changed so that the film types having the same or similar combination value become the same type. As a result, the film belonging to the film type whose image density or combination value is determined to be the same or similar in step 116 comes to belong to either one of the film types. In the next step 120, the data in the area storing the unnecessary image density and film type is erased by using one of the film type density accumulation memories 32 by integrating the film types,
Proceed to step 122. The integration of two film type density accumulation memories erases the data in one area and uses the remaining area to erase the data in two areas by adding the area data. May be.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the film to be printed by the film type classification means 34 is an unknown type film,
In step 124, film type concentration storage memory 3
The address of the unknown type film type is set in 2 and the storage area for storing the image density corresponding to the unknown type film type is set. Then, the photometric value stored in the photometric value memory 30 is converted into the image density and stored in the storage area set in step 126. At the next step 128, the number of stored data is a predetermined value (for example, 100
It is determined whether or not the number is 0 or more, and when it is, the image density of the known type film species and the image density of the unknown type film species stored in the film type density accumulation memory 32 in step 130. Are compared by the method described in step 116 above. On the other hand, if the number of data does not reach the predetermined value, it may be displayed in step 127 that the type is an unknown type film. As a result, the operator can increase the number of data without carrying out printing, by first transporting the negative film and measuring the film image to store the image density in the film type density accumulation memory 32.

If the image density of the unknown type film type is not similar to any of the image density for each film type stored in the film type-specific density storage memory 32, a message is displayed to the operator to set conditions in step 140 or It is also possible to give an instruction by an alarm and output a print inhibition signal in step 142. As a result, printing exposure is prohibited until the condition is set. However, it is preferable to print without setting new conditions based on the printing exposure conditions of the reference film type.

On the other hand, if the image densities of the known type film species and the image densities of the unknown type film species are the same or similar, in step 132 the unknown type film type is determined according to the condition of the known type film species having the same or similar image densities. The operator may be asked whether or not to burn. In this case, the operator manually turns on the burning permission switch or the burning prohibition switch. In step 134, it is determined whether or not the burning permission switch is turned on, and when it is determined that the burning inhibition switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step 140 to request condition setting, and it is determined that the burning permission switch is turned on. Sometimes, in step 136, the film type classification means is arranged so that the film of the unknown type belongs to the film type of the known type whose image density is the same or similar.
The relationship between the film type 34 and the bar code is changed, and a print permission signal is output in step 138. In this case, the image density of the unknown type film type may be merged with the storage area of the image density of the known type film type and then deleted, or may be stored as it is. If the known type image densities are stored as they are, they are merged into the same or similar type image densities in steps 114 to 120. As described above, the condition setting request to the operator and the display for permitting printing are necessary when various films cannot be printed under the same conditions under the printing conditions of the reference film type. The present invention can be applied to such a case.

Furthermore, for film types that have been discontinued, and for film types that are printed very rarely due to different sales areas, etc., the storage area is integrated with the most similar film type, or it is deleted and a display or alarm is displayed to the operator when it is found. It is better to give it. For this purpose, it is necessary to judge by the amount or rate of the total number of films or frames. For that purpose, it is preferable that each film type density storage memory has a memory area for counting the number of films or frames. With this function, it is possible to suppress the storage area that increases one after another.

The film characteristic determining means 36 includes R, G, B stored in the film type density (image density) storage memory 32.
The film characteristics are determined according to the density of the film.
Hereinafter, an example in which the gradient (γ value) of the film characteristic curve is used as the film characteristic will be described. First, R, G, B stored in the film type density storage memory 32
Reference value of film to be printed based on density (eg G density or average density of R, G and B (R + G + B)
/ 3, etc.) and obtains the ratio of the R, G, and B densities stored in the film type-based density accumulation memory 32 with respect to this reference value.
Ask for each B. FIG. 6 (1) shows a characteristic curve of R concentration with respect to G concentration, and FIG. 6 (2) shows (R + G +
9 is a characteristic curve of R concentration with respect to B) / 3 concentration.

To determine the film characteristic from these characteristic curves, for example, the gradient γ _{u of the} underexposed portion and the gradient γ _{o of the} overexposed portion can be used as shown in FIG. 7 (1). Further, the average value of the gradients (γ1 + γ2 + γ3) / 3 as shown in FIG. 7 (2) or the gradients γ1 and γ2 shown in FIG. 7 (3) can be used. In the above, the method for automatically obtaining the film characteristics by using the film type density accumulation memory 32 and the film characteristic determining means 36 has been described, but both means are omitted and the film characteristics are stored in advance (film characteristic memory means). Alternatively, it may be read from the film characteristic memory means by the film type classification means and input to the photometric value selection means 38.

The photometric value selecting means 38 selects the photometric value used for the exposure control density value calculation according to the film characteristic, and the difference R between R and G is determined according to the film characteristic determined by the film characteristic determining means 36. '-G', the difference G'between G and B
A photometric value belonging to a specific color area assumed on a color coordinate centering on -B ', for example, a color area including a neutral color (gray) and a skin color is selected from the photometric value memory. A method of extracting the photometric value corresponding to the specific color area will be described below. First, the curve shown in FIG. 8 is obtained by using the densities R ₀ , G ₀ , B _{0 of} the three colors of the average negative film, and the average densities D ₀ = (R ₀ + G ₀ + B ₀ ) / 3 of the three colors. R ₀ ,
Create for each of G ₀ and B ₀ . Further, in order to extract the data of the area close to the specific color area, the offset amounts d ₁₁ , d ₁₂ , d ₂₁ , d ₂₂ , d ₃₁ , d ₃₂ of the straight line are underexposed, normal exposed, and overexposed, respectively. About,
The area shown by the broken line in FIG. 8 is defined. Then, the average value D = (R + G + B) / 3 of the photometric values R, G, B is calculated, and it is determined whether the photometric value R for the average value D is included in the area shown by the broken line in FIG. . Similarly, it is determined whether or not the photometric values G and B are included in the area within the broken line regarding G and B as shown in FIG. Only when all the three photometric values R, G, B are included in the areas defined as shown in FIG. 8 with respect to the average negative film densities R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ , It is selected and used for density value calculation for exposure control. Of the photometric values R, G, and B, the photometric values not included in the above area are not used for the exposure control density value calculation, or the average value of the photometric values R, G, and B, the broken line in FIG. Converted to an average value of photometric values belonging to the area indicated by, and used commonly for the exposure control density values of the three colors.
Further, the above-described offset amount d ₁₁ to d ₃₂ is changed by the film species or gradient _{R 0 / D 0, G 0} / D 0, B 0 / D 0 is preferable.

The measurement value may be selected as follows. That is, the characteristic curves described with reference to FIG. 8 for the average negative film densities R ₀ , G ₀ and B ₀ are determined as shown in FIG. 9, and the photometric values R, G and B are determined using this characteristic curve. -27352, convert it to D ₀ by the method as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No.
Find G'and B '. By this conversion, the photometric values having the same color balance as the average negative film have the same R ',
It is converted into the density of G'and B '. And this R ',
It is determined whether or not G'and B'are used for the exposure control density value calculation on the chromaticity diagram. Incidentally, in selecting the photometric value used for the density value calculation for exposure control, even if selective weighting of the photometric value described in JP-A-61-198144 and JP-A-61-223731 is performed. Good.

The exposure control value calculation means 40 is a photometric value selection means 38.
The density value for exposure control is calculated using the photometric value selected in 1.
The exposure control density value is calculated from the density values obtained by classifying the photometric values according to the method described in JP-A-223731 and JP-A-61-232442. That is, in the photometric value selection means 38, as shown in FIG.
At 0, the density value of each pixel is normalized by setting the point corresponding to the specific color area as the origin. Next Step 102
In R, R'-G ', G'-B' are calculated using the normalized density values R ', G', B '. Next Step 104
In, a color area as shown in FIG. 11 is determined for each measurement point (each pixel) from the color coordinate table. Then, the color of the closed area on the color coordinate including the neutral color or the flesh color, or the color of the closed area on the color coordinate including the neutral color and the flesh color (for example, 0 (neutral color in FIG. 11), Areas of 1 and 3 (skin color))
A measurement point belonging to the area is selected (the above is performed by the measurement value selection means). And exposure control value calculation means
At 40, the density values of the selected measurement points before normalization are added to obtain the average value of R, G, and B, and this average value is used as the exposure control density value. Since this exposure control density value does not include a density value that causes a color area, it can be used for determining the exposure amount without lowering the degree of color correction.

Print condition input means 46 and print condition memory 48
Is a standard film type, for example, R, G, B print conditions (printing exposure conditions) of Super HR100 (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) are input and stored. At least one of the exposure amount, the exposure time, the filter amount, the light source brightness, the light source voltage, and the slope control value can be used as the printing condition. It should be noted that the condition setting film is used to set the printing exposure conditions.

The exposure amount determining means 44 determines the exposure amount of the film to be printed using the print conditions of the reference film type stored in the print condition memory 48 and the exposure control density value calculated by the exposure control value calculating means 40. The exposure amount is calculated according to the following equation (9).

The calculation formula of the exposure amount will be described. The normal densities (corresponding to the printing and exposure conditions of the reference film type) for setting the printing conditions of the R, G, and B colors of the reference film type are respectively RN and G.
Let N, BN, and the negative values to be printed R, G, and B for each of the three colors for exposure control be DR, DG, and DB, respectively.
The exposure amounts er, eg, and eb of G and B for each of the three colors are expressed as follows.

Here, dR = DR-RN, dG = DG-GN, dB = DB-BN, and X11 to X33 are coefficients represented by the following expressions.

However, SC, SM, and SY are slope control values for R, G, and B respectively, and when dR> 0, dG> 0, and dB> 0, SC = SCO, SM = SMO, SY = SYO (where O is Representing an over rope), dR <0, dG <0, dB <0 SC = SC
U, SM = SMU, SY = SYU (where U represents underslope). A _R , A _G , and A _B (represented by Aj as a general formula) are color correction values (color correction) of R, G, and B, respectively.

Next, expand equation (3) above and substitute equation (4),
By transforming the above equation (3) with (dR + dG + dB) / 3 = dW, the following equation (5) is obtained.

Here, when Aj = 1.0, the normal collection, Aj>
When 1.0, it means high collection, and when Aj <1.0, it means low collection. In this embodiment, this color collection Aj (A _R , A _G , A _B ) is defined as shown in the following formula.

However, when 0 ≦ K11, K12, K13 <1.0, 0.5 <K21, K22, K23 <2.0 and DR <RN, A _R = K21, when DG <GN, A _G = K22, DB <BN
In this case, A _B = K23, and RO, GO, and BO are over-density values for setting conditions of the reference film.

According to the above equation (6), the value of the color correction Aj increases as the density increases from the middle density to the higher density, and the non-linear exposure area of high density is greatly affected to correct the printing exposure condition of the reference film type.

Further, in this embodiment, the gamma balance correction value is used to set the color balance reference of the standard film of the standard film type.
Use Pj. As the correction value Pj, a value corresponding to the reciprocal of the γ value of the reference film type may be used. As shown in FIG. 15, the over density R based on the normal density,
If the average value dWO of G and B three colors is dWO = {(RO-RN) + (GO-GN) + (BO-BN)} / 3 (7), then Pj (P _R , P _G , P _B ) Is Becomes

Therefore, the exposure amounts er, eg, eb are as shown in the following expression (9).

Then, the exposure control values Er, Eg, and Eb can be determined by setting parameters unique to the automatic printer, parameters of the copying material, and the like with respect to the exposure amounts er, eg, and eb in the above equation (9).

Further, by applying RU, GU, and BU to the above RO, GO, and BO, the same can be applied to the low-density portion.

Then, the exposure amount determining means 44 controls the printing exposure amount by controlling the motor 16 based on the exposure control values Er, Eg, Eb obtained as described above.

As a result, since the difference in the color balance of the three colors of the film to be printed with respect to the color balance of the three colors of the reference film is corrected, as shown in FIG. 14, the characteristic curve of one color of the film to be printed is shown. Is relatively high on the high density side with respect to the characteristic curve of the reference film (when the gradation is hard), the exposure amount of this one color is increased over the exposure amounts of the other two colors, and the color balance is improved. Corrected to match. On the contrary, when the characteristic curve of one color is lower than the characteristic curve of the reference film (when the gradation is soft), the exposure amount of this one color is reduced compared to the exposure amounts of the other two colors. Then, the color balance is corrected so that they match, and a good color balance can be obtained.

Next, a white-light reducing type automatic color photographic printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied will be described. In addition, in FIG.
The parts corresponding to those in the figure are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The exposure amount determining unit 50 is the same as in FIG. In this white light reduction type automatic color photoprinting device, a light control filter 60 is provided between the lamp house 10 and the mirror box 18.
And a color light regulation filter 62 are arranged. As is well known, the dimming filter 60 is composed of three filters, a Y (yellow) filter, an M (magenta) filter, and a C (cyan) filter, and is exposed by being controlled by the exposure amount determining unit 50. The amount is controlled. The color light regulation filter 62 includes a BG regulation filter a for regulating the B light long wave and the G light short wave, a GR regulation filter b for regulating the G light long wave and the R light short wave, an ultraviolet cut filter c, and an infrared cut filter d. It consists of four filters. In this color light regulation filter 62, B light is formed by the combination of the ultraviolet cut filter c and the BG regulation filter a, and G light is formed by the combination of the BG regulation filter a and the GR regulation filter b, and the infrared cut filter d is formed. R light is formed in combination with the GR regulation filter b. The transmission characteristics of the color light regulation filter 62 are as shown in FIG. 13 (3).

The following filters are attached to the two-dimensional image sensor 28. That is, a B filter having a transmittance long-wave end in the absorption band of the BG control filter a, a G filter having a transmittance short-wave end in the absorption band of the BG control filter a and a transmittance long-wave end in the absorption band of the GR control filter b. Filter,
An R filter having a transmittance short wave end in the absorption band of the GR regulation filter b is used. The transmittance characteristics of the R, G, and B filters are as shown by the solid line in FIG. 13 (2), and the transmittance distribution when combined with the color light regulation filter 62 is as shown in FIG.
It becomes as shown by the broken line in Fig. 13 (2). The R, G, and B filters are used by arranging the respective colors in a mosaic pattern such as Japanese Patent Application No. 61-22155, a stripe pattern, or a checkered pattern. Further, the spectral sensitivity of the color paper when corrected by the color light regulation filter 62 is as shown in FIG.
The spectral sensitivity (solid line) of the uncorrected color paper is indicated by a broken line, which substantially matches the spectral sensitivity distribution of the photometric system shown in FIG. 13 (2).

Then, after the spectral sensitivity distributions are matched as described above, photometry is performed using the color light regulation filter, and the printing conditions of the reference negative film type are corrected as described above, and printing is performed using the Y, M, and C filters. As a result, film types having different characteristics can be satisfactorily printed by the white light subtraction method. The present invention is naturally applicable even if the photometric system and the exposure system are separately arranged in the white light subtractive color printing method.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since various films can be printed well by correcting the print conditions of the reference film type according to the film characteristics, it is possible to determine the print conditions of the reference film type only by determining the print conditions of the reference film type. Printing from underexposure to overexposure can be performed with high quality. Also, since various films are printed based on the print conditions of the standard film type, even if various characteristics of the negative developing machine, the negative film, the automatic color photographic printing device, etc. are changed, one printing condition is set. That is, since it is sufficient to manage only the print conditions of the reference film type, proper management can be easily performed. In addition, since appropriate conditions are automatically corrected for each film type, appropriate prints can be produced for various films. The photometric method, the exposure control method, and the like in the above embodiments can be variously changed in carrying out the present invention, and are not limited in any way.

The color correction Aj may be defined by a function of Dj and a table value of Aj for image density.
j and Dbj are not limited to the concentrations of RO, RN, GO, etc.,
XO, XN, XU (X = R, G, B, O is over density, N is normal density, U is under density) or a value obtained from a large number of image data , Or may be an appropriate constant. Also, instead of determining Aj
The value of Aj × slope control value or Aj · Pj × slope control value may be determined.

As the image density obtained from the photometric value, in addition to the screen average density, an average density such as a high density portion average density, a medium density portion average density, a low density portion average density of the screen may be selectively used. In the above description, the color deviation is represented by using dW, but the present invention is not limited to this, and dG or another one color may be used in place of dW, or the color ratio of each color may be used. Aj may be a matrix type by adding other correction factors. The exposure function formula is not limited to the above embodiment. The determination of Pj is not limited to the above formula, and for example, instead of dWO, GO-GN or GO, another concentration value may be used instead of GN.

Further, although an example in which R, G, and B3 colors are corrected has been described above, it is also possible to detect a difference in color balance and perform correction with Aj only for colors in which the difference exceeds a predetermined value.

Further, in the above, an example in which one printing exposure condition of the reference film type is stored and the exposure amount is determined has been described, but a plurality of printing exposure conditions is stored for each film type and the exposure amount is determined as the reference printing exposure condition. Good.

Also, a correction value is calculated from the film characteristics of the reference film type and the film characteristics of the film type to be printed, that is, the difference and ratio of the image densities of the two, the difference and ratio of the gradient calculated from the image density, and the standard printing exposure conditions. The exposure amount may be determined from the image density values of the three colors and the correction value.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a color-adding type automatic color photographic printing apparatus to which the present invention is applicable, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rotary disk of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the filter of FIG. Figure 4 shows R
Diagram showing the characteristics of the filter, Fig. 5 (1), (2),
(3) is a diagram showing the color paper in the additive color method, the spectral sensitivity distribution of the two-dimensional image sensor, etc., FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the characteristic curve, and FIGS. 7 (1), (2), ( 3) is a diagram for explaining the film characteristics, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a region for selecting a photometric value, FIG. 9 is a diagram of a curve for converting the photometric value, and FIG. 10 is a density for exposure control. FIG. 11 is a flow chart for obtaining a value, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a color region, FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a white light subtractive automatic color photographic printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, and FIGS. ) And (3) are diagrams showing the color paper in the subtractive color method, the spectral sensitivity distribution of the two-dimensional image sensor, etc., and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the characteristic curve of the paper in which G is biased to the high density side, FIG. Is a diagram for explaining the gamma balance value, and FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a routine in the management means. 12 …… Infrared cut filter, 14 …… Rotating disk, 18…
… Mirror box, 20 …… negative film, 26 …… color paper.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photometric means for dividing a film image of a film to be printed into a plurality of pieces to perform photometry and outputting a photometric value, and a reading means for reading a code indicating a film type recorded on the film to be printed. , A classification means for classifying the film to be printed based on the read code for each film type, a storage means for storing the image density obtained from the photometric value for each film type, and an image of the film type to which the film to be printed belongs Density value calculating means for calculating a reference value from the density, determining a specific color area based on the reference value, and calculating image density values of three colors based on photometric values belonging to the specific color area; Photographic printing dew exposure means for determining the amount of exposure of the film to be printed based on the standard printing exposure conditions and the image density values of the three colors. Amount determining device. 2. The exposure amount determining means determines an image density of the film type corresponding to a standard printing exposure condition stored in advance and an average value of a plurality of images of a film type image density to which a film to be printed belongs. 2. The photographic printing exposure according to claim 1, wherein the exposure value of the film to be printed is determined based on the reference printing exposure condition, the image density values of the three colors and the correction value by comparing Quantity determination device. 3. A setting means for setting a storage area for storing the image density of a new code as a new film type when the new code is read, as a new film type. Claim (1) which further provided
Alternatively, the photographic printing exposure amount determination device according to (2).