Color film inspection method

Claim 2

A color film inspection method wherein picture images on an elongated or disk type color film are displayed on a displayed unit at the time of printing so that the color and density thereof are evaluated for correction, which comprises the steps of: comparing image densities of two picture images of two frames of said color film; determining a degree of similarity of said two picture images in accordance with said comparison; classifying said picture images into a plurality of groups in accordance with the determined degree of similarity; automatically displaying only a limited number of images, said limited number of images corresponding to representative images from each of said groups which are separated in accordance with their similarity; estimating color/density of a displayed picture image by observing it; and correcting a picture image corresponding to said displayed picture image according to said estimation.

Claim 3

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein picture images from a group which are not displayed are corrected by an amount which is similar to a displayed picture image from the same group.

Claim 4

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 2, wherein an amount of correction which is identical to that of a similar picture image for the previously displayed picture is provided for a non-displayed picture image.

Claim 5

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said similarity determination is performed in respective films.

Claim 6

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises the steps of; obtaining values representing differences in color between frames and values due to picture position information representing differences of picture images in accordance with measured data from two frames consisting of a previously determined frame and a present frame; and comparing results of a determination formula which is a first degree function of said values with predetermined constant values.

Claim 7

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said picture image is displayed when said picture image is not determined to be similar to a previously displayed frame according to the determination formula.

Claim 8

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said previously determined frame has a value representing the color of said previously determined frame and constitution of its picture image.

Claim 9

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said value representing color of said previously determined frame and constitution of its picture image is a mean value of a value representing color and picture constitution of at least two picture images determined to be similar.

Claim 10

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said similarity of picture images is calculated according to the following equation: X=K.sub.1 +K.sub.2 {|ΔRG|+|ΔGB|}+K.sub.3 {|ΔUL|+|66 RL|}+K.sub.4 |ΔCP|+K.sub.5 |ΔDB| wherein K 1 to K 5 =constants. |ΔRG|=|(LATD'.sub.(R) -LATD'.sub.(G))-(LATD.sub.(R)) -LATD.sub.(G))| |ΔGB|=|(LATD'.sub.(G) -LATD'.sub.(B))-(LATD.sub.(G)) -LATD.sub.(B))| |ΔUL|=|(DL'-DU')-(DL-DU)| |ΔRL|=|(DRI'-DLF')-(DRI-DLF)| ##EQU4## and LATD denotes a large area transmittance density for a color; D.sub.MIN and D.sub.MAX denote the minimum and maximum densities for neutral gray, respectively; DC, DG, DU, DL, DRI and DLF denote the mean densities for central, peripheral, upper, lower, right side and left side parts of the image plane, respectively; D.sub.i and D.sub.i+1 respectively denote density values at measurement points i and i+1 on a frame; and primed characteristic values represent those values of a preceding frame.

Claim 11

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a result estimated by said display device to be identical to a frame of a film is fed to a photographic printer.

Claim 12

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when multiple images are determined to be similar by a similarity determination, identical color and density correction to the image displayed on the display device is performed on the picture images determined to be similar.

Claim 13

A color film inspection method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a references image is displayed on a part of said display device for observation of a picture image.