Abstract: The technique of the present invention enables even an unskilled operator in the field of image processing to give a high-quality image. An image processing parameter inferring unit 106 specifies an image processing parameter P based on image characteristic information d1 representing characteristics of an image of an original, a subject keyword d2, and a finishing keyword d3. When the operator instructs a change of the specified image processing parameter P in a dialog box, a parameter correction value inferring unit 108 infers a correction value of the image processing parameter P based on fine adjustment data d4 representing a quantity of fine adjustment corresponding to the instructed change and the keywords d1 and d2. The quantity of fine adjustment and the inferred correction value may depend upon the type of a subject on the original.

Abstract: A photosensitive material which has been exposed by an exposure device is fed into a processor, which is an automatic developing device, by a delivery section and processed. Within the exposure device, negative pressure is generated for holding the photosensitive material by suction. A gas outflow preventing device provided at the delivery section includes a chamber disposed in an upper vicinity of guides of a transport device. A nozzle that protrudes from this chamber is provided opposing an exposed photosensitive material insertion slot of the processor. The gas outflow preventing device blows air, which is fed into the chamber by operation of a blower fan, from an ejecting slit formed in the nozzle toward the photosensitive material insertion slot. This blowing of air, without interfering with output of the photosensitive material to the processor, prevents air in the processor flowing out through the photosensitive material insertion slot to the exposure device side.

Abstract: An image processing control information obtaining unit obtains input characteristic information of an image input unit and output characteristic information of an image output unit. The image processing control information obtaining unit further analyzes the state of an image input from the image input unit (that is, a target image to be processed) and obtains image analysis information. The image processing control information obtaining unit also obtains a requirement of an operator with respect to an image output from the image output unit as intentional information. An image processing parameter approximate reasoning unit approximately reasons at least one image processing parameter with respect to a predetermined image processing operation, based on the various pieces of image processing control information thus obtained.

Abstract: Overall actual image data is divided into tiles, spatial frequency distribution states of respective tiles are analyzed, and three extracted images including an image (95A) having the maximum number of high frequency components, an image (95C) having the minimum number of high frequency components and an image (95B) including the intermediate number of high frequency components are displayed on an extracted image display screen (91B). When a user inputs candidate values for contour enhancement processing parameters as to the three extracted images, contour enhancement processing is performed on the respective extracted images in response to this. When the candidate values for the parameters are ascertained, contour enhancement processing is performed on the overall actual image in response to this, and the image is displayed on a display box (51). Thus, an image processor having a short contour enhancement processing time with excellent sharpness tuning efficiency is provided.

Abstract: Density signals (S.sub.y, S.sub.M, S.sub.C, S.sub.K) representing yellow, magenta, cyan and black densities on an original color image are inputted and are subject to color computations in a color computation circuit (202). The corrected density signals (S.sub.Y1, S.sub.M1, S.sub.C1 S.sub.K1) are converted into halftone dot singals (S.sub.DY, S.sub.DM, S.sub.DC, S.sub.DK), respectively. The halftone dot signal for black is combined with the other three halftone dot signals individually in combining circuits (204.sub.y, 204.sub.m, 204.sub.c) and are employed for recording a color proof image on a color photosensitive film (PF).

Abstract: Printable color image data (Y, M, C and K) is subjected, in a first processor (S.sub.1), to a first correction procedure to compensate the same for a first additivity failure which results from the mixing of primary chromatic components (Y, M, and C). The color image data is thereafter subjected, in a second processor (S.sub.2), to a second correction procedure involving compensation for a second additivity failure caused by mixture of primary chromatic components (Y, M and C) with an achromatic component (K). Thereby, color image data (Y.sub.5, M.sub.5 and C.sub.5) is obtained from which a color film approximating the colors that will appear in an ink-based printed reproduction of an original image is obtained. Conversion functions for providing the necessary compensation for the two additivity failures are defined/obtained on the basis of actual densities of a printed version of the color image data and a color film version thereof.