Apparatus and method for adjusting output image from image data

Abstract

When memory card MC is inserted into slot 34, control circuit 30 of color printer 20 obtains image output control information GI from memory card MC and analyzes it. When auto light source is not set as the light source, CPU 31 references the reference values and coefficients for the characteristics parameters except for color balance and then 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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An output device that outputs image data using image data and image output control data which includes at least light source information at the time of image data generation and that is associated with the image data, said output device comprising: 
 image quality adjustment means that adjusts the color balance of said image data based on said light source information that is contained in said image output control information; and    image data output means that outputs image data for which said image quality has been adjusted.    
     
     
         2 . An output device in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising: 
 light source information determination means which analyzes said image output control information and determines whether said light source information is set automatically; and  
 image quality adjustment control means that prohibits adjustment of said color balance by said image quality adjustment means when it is determined that said light source information was not set automatically.  
 
     
     
         3 . An output device in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising: 
 light source information determination means which analyzes said image output control information and determines whether said light source information is set automatically; and  
 image quality adjustment control means that reduces the level of said color balance adjustment by said image quality adjustment means when it is determined that said light source information was not set automatically.  
 
     
     
         4 . An output device in accordance with any of claims  1  through  3 , wherein said image quality adjustment means includes an image quality parameter value obtaining means that analyzes said image data and obtains the values of image quality parameters that indicate the characteristics of said image data, and adjusts the image quality of said image data based on said obtained image quality parameter values and on reference image quality parameter values that were set in advance.  
     
     
         5 . An output device in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said image adjustment means calculates the image quality adjustment volume from said reference image quality parameter values and said image quality parameter values, modifies said image quality adjustment volume to reflect said light source information, and adjusts the image quality of said image data using said modified image quality adjustment volume.  
     
     
         6 . An output device in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said image adjustment means reflects said light source information and adjusts the image quality of said image data so that the difference between said reference image quality parameter values and said image parameter values is reduced or eliminated.  
     
     
         7 . An output device in accordance with  claim 4  further comprising: 
 reference image quality parameter value modification means that analyzes said image output control information and modifies the reference image quality parameter values in relation to said image quality parameter values; and  
 said image quality adjustment means adjusts the image quality of said image data based on said modified reference image quality parameter values and said obtained image quality parameter values.  
 
     
     
         8 . An output device in accordance with any of claims  1  through  7 , wherein said light source information is white balance information used when generating said image data.  
     
     
         9 . An image data processing device that processes image data using image data and image output control data which includes at least light source information at the time of image data generation and that is associated with the image data, said image data processing device comprising: 
 acquiring means that acquires said image data and said image output control information;    image parameter value obtaining means that analyzes said image data and obtains the values of the image quality parameters that show the characteristics of said image data; and    image quality adjustment means that adjusts the color balance of said image data based on reference image quality parameter values that were predetermined, said light source information that is included in said image output control information, and said obtained image quality parameter values.    
     
     
         10 . An image data processing device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said image quality adjustment means calculates the image quality adjustment volume from said reference image quality parameter values and said image quality parameter values, modifies said image quality adjustment volume to reflect said light source information, and adjusts the image quality of said image data using said modified image quality adjustment volume.  
     
     
         11 . An image data processing device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said image quality adjustment means reflects said light source information and adjusts the image quality of said image data so that the difference between said reference image quality parameter values and said image parameter values is reduced or eliminated.  
     
     
         12 . An image data processing device in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising: 
 reference image quality parameter value modification means that analyzes said image output control information and modifies the reference image quality parameter values in relation to said image quality parameter values, and  
 said image quality adjustment means adjusts the image quality of said image data based on said modified reference image quality parameter values and said obtained image quality parameter values.  
 
     
     
         13 . An image data processing device in accordance with any of claims  9  through  12  further comprising: 
 light source information determination means which analyzes said image output control information and determines whether said light source information is set automatically; and  
 image quality adjustment control means that prohibits the adjustment of said color balance by said image quality adjustment means when it is determined that said light source information was not set automatically.  
 
     
     
         14 . An image data processing device in accordance with any of claims  9  through  12  further comprising: 
 light source information determination means which analyzes said image output control information and determines whether said light source information is set automatically; and  
 image quality adjustment control means that reduces the adjustment of said color balance by said image quality adjustment means when it is determined that said light source information was not set automatically.  
 
     
     
         15 . An image data image quality adjustment method comprising: 
 obtaining image data and image output control data that includes at least light source information at the time of image data generation and that is associated with the image data;    analyzing said image output control information and determines whether said light source information was set automatically; and    adjusting the image quality of said obtained image data excluding adjustment of color balance when it is determined that said light source information was not set automatically.    
     
     
         16 . An image quality adjustment method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said image quality adjustment is implemented by 
 analyzing said image data and obtains the values of the image quality parameters that show the characteristics of said image data, and    adjusting the image quality of said image data based on said obtained image quality parameter values and predetermined reference image quality parameters.    
     
     
         17 . An image quality adjustment method in accordance with  claim 15  or  16 , wherein the image quality of said image data is adjusted based on said obtained image quality parameter values and the predetermined reference image quality parameter values, including color balance, when it is determined that said light source information was automatically set.  
     
     
         18 . A computer readable medium that stores a program for adjusting the image quality of the image data, wherein said program instructs a computer to execute functions of: 
 obtaining image data and image output control information that includes at least light source information at the time of image data generation and that is associated with the image data, and    adjusting the image quality of said image data including color balance based on said light source information that is contained in said image output control information.    
     
     
         19 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said program further instructs a computer to execute functions of: 
 analyzing said image output control information and determining whether said light source information was automatically set, and    adjusting the image quality of said obtained image data except for adjustment of the color balance when it is determined that said light source information was not automatically set.    
     
     
         20 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said program further instructs a computer to execute functions of: 
 analyzing said image output control information and determining whether said light source information was automatically set, and    adjusting the image quality of said obtained image data while reducing the level of color balance adjustment when it is determined that said light source information was not automatically set.    
     
     
         21 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 18  or  20 , wherein said adjusting image quality function includes functions of: 
 analyzing said obtained image data and obtaining the values of image quality parameters that show the characteristics of said image data, and  
 adjusting the image quality of said image data based on said obtained image quality parameter values and predetermined reference image quality parameter values.  
 
     
     
         22 . A computer readable medium in accordance with any of claims  18  through  21 , wherein the image quality of said image data is adjusted based on said obtained image quality parameter values and the predetermined reference image quality parameter values, including color balance, when it is determined that said light source information was automatically set.  
     
     
         23 . An image data generating device that generates image data that is associated with image processing conditions of the image data for an output device, said image data generating device comprising: 
 image data generating means that generates image data;    light source information obtaining means that obtains light source information;    image quality parameter value obtaining means that analyzes said generated image data and obtains the values of image quality parameters that show the characteristics at least relating to color balance of said image data;    image processing condition generating means that generates said image processing conditions based on predetermined reference image quality parameters, said obtained image quality parameters, and said light source information; and    output means that correlates and outputs said generated image processing conditions and image data.    
     
     
         24 . An image data generating device in accordance with  claim 23  further comprising: 
 light source information determination means that determines whether said obtained light source information was automatically set; and  
 wherein said image processing condition generating means generates said image processing conditions that prohibit adjustment of color balance when it is determined that said light source information was not automatically set.  
 
     
     
         25 . An image data generating device in accordance with  claim 23  further comprising: 
 light source information determination means that determines whether said obtained light source information was automatically set; and  
 wherein said image processing condition generating means generates said image processing conditions that reduce the level of adjustment of color balance when it is determined that said light source information was not automatically set.  
 
     
     
         26 . An image data generating device in accordance with any of claims  23  through  25 , wherein said light source information is the white balance information used when generating said image data.  
     
     
         27 . An image data generating device in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein said image data is the image data that is stored in the same file as said image processing conditions and output.