Seiko Epson Corporation

Yoshihiro Nakami

Naoki Kuwata

Akira Hiroshige

Kenji Fukasawa

Takashi Nitta

Masatoshi Matsuhira

Makoto Fujino

Ikuo Hayaishi

Yasumasa Nakajima

Toshie Imai

Isao Edatsune

Satoru Nishio

A method for image processing image data having a plurality of picture elements. While scanning the image data, a scanned picture element is determined to be sampled or not according to a plurality of sampling methods until the scanned picture element is displaced to a next picture element (to be scanned) of the image data.

Image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a medium on which an image processing control program is recorded, an image evaluation device, an image evaluation method and a medium on which an image evaluation program is recorded

A computer calculates an edginess, which is an image variation from a differential value of data for adjacent picture elements, and determines object picture elements by selecting only images with a large variation. As optimum parameters for contrast correction and lightness compensation are calculated from image data for object picture elements, image processing indicators based on object picture elements are determined, and optimum imago processing can be performed automatically. After summing a luminance Distribution for each area of the image, which is a feature amount, while uniformly selecting picture elements, a reevaluation is performed by a weighting determined for each area, and a luminance distribution, strongly influenced by the luminance distribution of the photographed object is thus obtained with uniform sampling. After determining the intensity of this luminance distribution, the image data is converted, and image processing can therefore be performed with optimum intensity while reducing the processing amount.

In image processing according to the prior art, the important part of photographic image data (referred to herein as the object) could not be determined and therefore required human participation. A computerwhich is the core of image processing calculates an edginess which is an image variation from a differential value of data for adjacent picture elements in a step SA, and determines object picture elements by selecting only images with a large variation in steps SA, SA. As optimum parameters for contrast correction and lightness compensation are calculated from image data for object picture elements in steps SA-SA, image processing indicators based on object picture elements are determined, and optimum image processing can be performed automatically. After summing a luminance distribution for each area of the image, which is a feature amount, while uniformly selecting picture elements in a step SB, a reevaluation is performed by a weighting determined for each area in a step SB, and a luminance distribution strongly influenced by the luminance distribution of the photographed object is thus obtained with uniform sampling. After determining the intensity of this luminance distribution insteps SB-SB, the image data is converted in a step SB, and image processing can therefore be performed with optimum intensity while reducing the processing amount.

When a memory card is inserted into a slot, the control circuit of a color printer obtains image output control information from a memory card and analyzes it. When auto light source is not set as the light source, the CPU references the reference values and coefficients for the characteristics parameters except for color balance and performs correction, and then adjusts the image data image quality to reflect the post-correction characteristics parameters. As a result, it is possible to automatically adjust the image quality of image data without losing the selectively set output conditions.

Adjustment for output image of image data

An image processing method of processing an image data uses an image file. The image file includes the image data and image processing control information being used for processing the image data. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining a degree of auto adjustment for adjusting lightness and contrast of the image data according to lightness of a whole image expressed by the image data, based on the image processing control information; and (b) performing the auto adjustment based on the determination.

A CPU divides an image into plural regions and for each of the regions, generates a histogram and calculates an average brightness Y ave. The CPU determines a focus location on the image by using focus location information, sets a region at the determined location as an emphasis region, and sets the average brightness Y ave of the emphasis region as a brightness criterion Y std. The CPU uses the brightness criterion Y std to determine non-usable regions. By using the regions not excluded as non-usable regions, the CPU calculates an image quality adjustment average brightness Y' ave, i.e. the average brightness of the entire image, with a weighting W in accordance with the locations of the regions reflected thereto, and executes a bright value correction by using the calculated image quality adjustment average brightness Y&#x2032; ave.

Image processing based on object information

If a memory card MC is inserted in a slot, a control circuitof a color printeracquires image output control information GI from the memory card MC and analyzes this information. A CPUmodifies a brightness standard value Bstd corresponding to a brightness parameter by taking account of a preset exposure bias value when an exposure bias value other than zero is set. The CPUdetermines the brightness correction level Brev by correcting the brightness representative value Brep so as to bring it closer to the brightness standard value Bstd that has been modified, and adjusts the image quality of image data by taking account of the brightness correction level Brev. As a result, the image quality of image data can be automatically adjusted without degrading output conditions that have been set arbitrarily.

A CPUreads out an image file GF from a memory card MC and stores the read out image file GF temporarily in an RAM. The CPUacquires shooting information EI from the read out image file GF and determines the noise reduction level according to the ISO speed. When the ISO speed or the shutter speed exceeds a predetermined value, the CPUincreases the noise reduction level and executes noise reduction process.

Image noise reduction device and image noise reduction method

A CPUcalculates modified brightness correction amount tCurve_Y with consideration of exposure correction amount (or exposure value) EV if photography information PI (or Exif IFD) is included in image data GF. Specifically, the modified brightness correction amount tCurve_Y is calculated by dividing original brightness correction amount tCurve_Yorg by 2. Therefore, it decreases in geometrical progression as the exposure correction amount increases. The CPUapplies the obtained modified brightness correction amount tCurve_Y to a tone curve to adjust image quality including brightness. More specifically, it uses the modified brightness correction amount tCurve_Y to modify the characteristics of the tone curve, and then uses the modified tone curve to adjust the image quality of the image data.

Output image adjustment of image data

A color printerallocates all of the image processing memory resources for image processing on image data GD lined up in the main scanning direction of a print head IH, secures an amount of memory resources for each of the lined up image data GD, and releases the memory resources as the image processing completes. A CPUsecures image processing memory resources for an image datumin the storage area of a RAM, and releases the secured memory resources when the image processing on the image datumis complete. The CPUrepeatedly implements this processing on each image datum contained in one print job.

Device for carrying out image processing using image data and image processing control information

The present invention is an image processing apparatus for processing an image data using an image file which includes the image data and image processing control information to be used for processing the image data. The apparatus comprises an automatic picture quality adjuster configured to automatically regulate lightness of the image data according to lightness of a whole image expressed by the image data and an adjustment degree determiner configured to determine a degree of the auto adjustment based on the image processing control information.

Electronic data output from CCD is separated into a brightness component Y and color difference components Cb and Cr and an edge is extracted for each of the components. The edge amounts are calculated from the extracted edges and the component having the maximum edge amount is selected. Edge information (for example, edge gradient direction) is calculated based on the selected component having the maximum edge amount, a filter is selected based on the calculated edge information about the component having the maximum edge amount, and smoothing processing is performed for the electronic data output from the CCD based on the filter. The electronic data subjected to the smoothing processing is written into flash memory.

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Nagano-ken, Japan

Yoshihiro Nakami