Eastman-kodak Company

Patrick Andre Cosgrove

Heemin Kwon

Robert M Goodwin

Michael T Wolf

Richard J Backus

Anthony Scalise

A photofinishing image processing operator detects failures in the performance of a scene balance mechanism on a digitized image and enables a photofinisher to interactively correct for such failures before the failed image has been processed and an unacceptable output image printed. Whenever a failed image is identified, one or more reasonably low resolution versions of the image as processed by the scene balance mechanism are displayed to the photofinishing operator, together with a request for image adjustment information that is used to modify or correct the color balance of the image. In response to this user input information, the image processor adjusts color balance parameters of the scene balance mechanism, so that the digitized image processed by the modified scene balance mechanism will yield a print of acceptable color balance quality. This interaction of the photofinishing operator with the image processing system may be accomplished by way of several modes, including displaying differently processed versions of the image, or a single version of the image processed by the scene balance mechanism, together with a question regarding the type of image. The failure detection mechanism preferably employs a non-linear discriminator, such as a neural network.

User-interactive reduction of scene balance failures

A plurality of color photographic images that have been captured on a continuous color photographic film strip are pre-scanned at low resolution and then rescanned at high resolutin by an opto-electronic scanning device and processed for storage as a plurality of digitized images in a digital imagery data base. The film strip contains notches to spatially locate pre-scan frame data during rescan. During pre-scan the film strip is translated past an opto-electronic scanner in a first direction to obtain a plurality of first digitally encoded images. During high resolution rescan, the film strip is translated in the reverse direction. The high resolution imagery data is mapped into image storage memory on the basis of the contents of respective first digitally encoded images. During the rescan the mapping process is calibrated on the basis of information contained on the film strip other than the notches, such as detected interframe gaps and a correlation of low resolution and high resolution frame `fingerprints`.

Use of pre-scanned low resolution imagery data for synchronizing

A method is provided for determining the exposure of a photographic negative to be printed in a cropped, enlarged format. The method is performed by defining a region of the negative to be printed, measuring selected density characteristics of the negative in only that region, and determining the exposure based on those measured density characteristics. The method is implemented in an enlarging photographic printer including means for defining the region of the negative to be printed, and means for measuring the selected density characteristics of the negative only in that region. Means are provided for using the selected density characteristics to calculate an exposure for the negative region, and for exposing the negative region onto photographic paper in accordance with the calculated exposure.

Method and apparatus for measuring characteristics of photographic

A photographic control device for scanner and exposure control system calibration in a photographic printer includes a carrier disk to present an open scan aperture in the scan gate for normal printer operation, and selectively a plurality of control patches in the scan gate for calibration of the scanner at startup. The disk is driven by a stepping motor and timing belt, the disk position being controlled by a position sensor tied in with the drive motor. The disk is mounted by three rotatable bearings spaced around its periphery.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Patrick Andre Cosgrove