Abstract:
A method and a device for producing separation images which are essentially orthogonally screened for reproducing an original multicolor image. In one embodiment, the original image is mounted on a drum which is rotated in a Y direction. A sensor is moved in an X direction, essentially orthogonal to the Y direction, axially of the drum adjacent the drum&#39;s surface, and senses the several colors of the original image on a point by point basis. The distances in the X and Y directions between the scanned points on the original image are changed for each separation image according to trigonometric relationships. Thus, separation images are produced which have equal screen ruling and different screen angles relative to a Y direction. The method and apparatus produce signals which are applied to some form of device or devices which actually generate the separations for use in multicolor printing or the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a method of producing color separation images which are essentially orthogonally screened, one for each primary or basic color, suitable for reproduction of an original image, from an original image having at least two primary colors. The separation images so produced appear to have equal screen rulings and each separation image is rotated a certain angle relative to the Y direction. These separation images may be in the form of film negatives or printing plates. 
     In the art of color reproduction such as by printing, it is common practice to prevent the occurrence of Moire effects in the finished product by using different screen angles relative to a reference direction or pattern for the color separation images produced from an original image, screen ruling of the separation images being equal. The colors used for the separation images generally are yellow, magenta, cyan and black. The different angles with the reference direction or pattern are formed by lines connecting the dots in the several separation images. 
     It is also known in producing such separation images to scan the original image optically with a constant screen ruling for every primary color and to convert the light intensity of every scanned point to an electric signal which is a function of the color intensity of the scanned point. The electric signal may then be used for directing equipment to produce the respective screened separation images. 
     Rotation of the separation images to form the different angles may be obtained by rotating the original image to the desired angle for each color or by choosing a different scanning direction for each color. Both methods are complicated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, the original image is scanned point by point by an optical sensor once for each separation image to be produced. One separation image is produced for each desired color. Scanning of the original image for all of the separation images is performed by moving a scanning head in two essentially orthogonal directions relative to the original image, with a separate scanning pattern being performed for each separation image. The separate scanning patterns are obtained by altering the distances between scanned points the scanning head travels in each direction according to trigonometric relationships. The information concerning color density at each scanned point then is associated with information concerning the respective distances the scanning head has traveled in both of the two directions. This associated information then is used to control and operate a device producing separation images to form on each separation image information related to the sensed color density of the original image at respective locations corresponding to the locations at which the color density information was sensed on the original image. The separation images produced in this way are effectively orthogonally screened, have equal screen ruling and are rotated over screen angles relative to a reference direction, all according to the trigonometric relationships. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a block and schematic diagram which illustrates a device for effecting the method of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a chart or layout illustrating the screen pattern used for printing a yellow separation image; 
     FIG. 3 is the same as FIG. 2 but for printing a magenta separation image; 
     FIG. 4 is the same as FIG. 2 but for printing a cyan separation image; and 
     FIG. 5 is the same as FIG. 2 but for printing a black separation image. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention provides a method for producing orthogonally screened separation images whose screen angles are rotated relative to a reference direction over any arbitrary but previously chosen angle α between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, 0 degrees and 90 degrees included, as described hereinabove, and wherein it is not necessary to change either the orientation of the original image or the scanning direction to produce a screen rotation. 
     The method according to the invention is performed by optically scanning the original image, point by point, once for each color separation image to be produced, in two essentially perpendicular directions starting from an origin which is formed by the intersection of the X-axis and Y-axis. The first direction or Y-axis is essentially perpendicular to a base line, with a first distance, l 1 , between scanned points on lines running in the first direction. The second direction or X-axis is essentially parallel to the base line with a second distance, l 2 , between the lines running in the first direction. The distance l 1  and l 2  governed by the tangent of the previously chosen angle (α) are in principle different for each separation image to be produced. The original image to be reproduced may be mounted around the circumference of a rotatable cylinder. The cylinder is rotated about its longitudinal axis and a scanning head is moved adjacent the original image parallel to the cylinder axis. 
     Scanning of the original image begins at the origin with rotation of the cylinder being in the first direction and movement of the scanning head being in the second direction. After the first revolution of the cylinder, the next point past the base line to be scanned is situated on a line running in the first direction, which line is a distance l 2  to the right of the origin and which point is at a distance l 3  from the base line. Scanning points after the first scanning point on any scanning line running in the first direction have equal distances l 1  between them. Simple trigoniometric relationships exist between α, l 1 , l 2 , l 3  and the screen ruling or the spacing (a) of the separation images. The trigonometric relationships between α, l 1 , l 2 , l 3  and a are: 
     A. tanα=u/v 
     with the conditions: 
     0≦α≦90° 
     u≧0 and integer 
     v≧0 and integer 
     |u-v| is minimum 
     B. l 1  =a√u 2  +v 2   
     C. l 2  = ##EQU1## 
     D. 
     
         l.sub.3 =βl.sub.1                                     (1) 
    
     with 
     
         β={m-integer(m)}                                      (2) 
    
     and 
     
         m=np/(u.sup.2 +v.sup.2)                                    (3) 
    
     and 
     
         p=su+tv                                                    (4) 
    
     and 
     
         t=(sv+1)/u                                                 (5) 
    
     with the conditions: 
     p≧0 and integer 
     s≧0 and integer 
     t≧0 and integer 
     |s-t| is minimum 
     0≦n≦u 2  +v 2  and integer 
     Starting with equation (5) t is determined by taking s=0, 1, 2, 3, . . . considering the conditions. Scanning starts in the origin (O) along a line in the first direction, of which line the order of scanning n equals zero, which line is identical with the Y-axis and the pattern is repeated when the order of scanning n equals u 2  +v 2 , since from equation (3) it appears that 
     
         l.sub.3 (n=0)=l.sub.3 (n=u.sup.2 +v.sup.2)=0 
    
     These trigonometric relationships are valid for every angle α between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, 0 degrees and 90 degrees included, of which the tangent can be written as u/v. 
     The signals which are obtained from the scanning and which represent the respective color densities in the scanned points, are used to control a device for producing the screened separation images which are suitable for reproduction of the original image in the color concerned. 
     When acting according to the described method, effective orthogonally screened separation images are obtained which have evenly spaced screened dots with equal spacing (a), and in which the lines connecting the dots in the respective screens form the different angles with the Y-axis. In this way, the intended effect--screen rotation--is obtained. Obviously, no actual screens are used in the process. 
     As described hereinabove, the method may be performed with the original image to be produced mounted on a rotatable cylinder and a scanning head moving parallel to the central axis of the cylinder. 
     The scanning head may be stepped parallel to the cylinder along the base line a distance l 2  to the right after one revolution of the cylinder. The distance between the scanning points on lines perpendicular to the base line is the first distance l 1 . The distance l 3  between the base line and the first point scanned after one revolution of the cylinder is smaller than the first distance l 1 . 
     Alternatively, the scanning head may be synchronously driven with the cylinder rotation so that after each complete revolution of the cylinder, the scanning head is moved axially the second distance l 2  so that the scanning head describes a helix over the surface of the original image. 
     In color printing, there are standard screen rotations for the several basic colors. In a typical combination the screen of the color yellow is not rotated with respect to the Y-axis, whereas the separation images for the colors magenta, cyan and black are rotated approximately 15,75 and 45 degrees respectively to the right of the Y-axis. 
     The value of the tangent of α is chosen, to obtain screen rotations comparable to the standard rotations and with an equal spacing (a) for the produced separation images, as follows: 
     For Yellow: ##EQU2## 
     For magneta: ##EQU3## 
     For cyan: ##EQU4## 
     For black: ##EQU5## 
     It is known that the signals obtained from the scanning head or device may be used to direct the action of another device which operates in a pattern corresponding to the scanning pattern to form the separation image. This device may be an intensity modulated source of electromagnetic radiation which exposes a charged photoconductive surface as is well known as xerography, but the device may also be a source of radiation or a radiation device with which surface parts may be selectively removed or applied. 
     The claimed invention also includes a device for performing the hereinbefore described method. Such a device comprises a carrier on which the original image to be reproduced is mounted, and a color selective optical scanning device which moves relative to the carrier and which produces electrical output signals which are a function of the scanned color density of the original image. Driving means including steering devices provide for movement of the carrier and scanning device relative to each other in two essentially perpendicular directions. The original image is scanned optically, once for each color, starting from an origin. Scanning is performed along a line in a first direction or Y-axis perpendicular to a base line, the base line coinciding with the X-axis, with a first distance l 1  between scanned points lying on lines running in the first direction and with a second distance l 2  between successive lines running in the first direction. For the respective color separation images, first distance l 1  and/or the second distance l 2  generally differ from each other and are related to the spacing (a) according the formula: 
     
         l.sub.1 ×l.sub.2 =a.sup.2. 
    
     Starting from the last scanning point on a line before the base line, the next scanning point on the next neighboring line is situated such that the distance l 3  from the next scanning point to the base line is smaller than the first distance l 1 . The signals obtained from scanning represent the respective color densities of the scanned points and are fed as control signals to a device capable of producing screened separation images in the desired colors, which images are suitable for a production of the original image in the considered colors. 
     Such a described device may consist of a known installation which is used for scanning original images to produce suitable screened separation images, which installation is directed by a predetermined program in accordance with the invention herein. 
     FIG. 1 schematically shows a device with which the method of the invention may be executed. 
     This installation consists of a drum 1 which may be rotated on its axles 2 and 3 which are supported respectively on a bearing 4 and on the bearings of a stepping motor 5. A position indicator disc 6 is mounted on axle 2 and cooperates with a detector 7, such as an optical detector, which is mounted adjacent disc 6 and which senses marks applied on the disc. Disc 6 and detector 7 cooperate to provide information concerning the angular position of the axle and the drum. An optical scanner 8 is mounted for movement parallel to the drum axis and is driven by a spindle 9 which in turn is driven by a drive mechanism 10. The optical scanner 8 comprises a light source 11 from which collimated light is directed onto the surface of an original image 12 which is mounted on drum 1 and which is to be scanned. The light from source 11 which is reflected from the original image 12 passes through a color filter 13 to a photoelectric detector 14 which produces electric signals which are representative of the color density in a scanned point of the original image. Such devices are known in the art. 
     Signals produced by the photoelectric detector 14 may be used for example, for the control of a tool. For instance, a cutting tool may be controlled to act on the surface of a printing drum on which the printing screen is to be formed and where the extent of machining of the surface such as the depth of the cutting of the surface for each basic color is governed by the detector output signals. According to the invention, scanning of the original image 12 is performed in a well defined pattern. 
     Scanning is governed by a numerical drive control device 15 which controls movement of optical scanner 8 in a direction parallel to the axis of cylinder 1, as shown by double arrow 17, through drive mechanism 10 via line 16. Control device 15 also controls the stepped angular rotation of drum 1 in the direction of arrow 19 through drive mechanism 5 via line 18. Information concerning the position of the optical scanner 8 and angular position of drum 1 is fed by control device 15 to the memory unit 20 via line 21. 
     The output signal of detector 14 is fed to analog/digital converter 23 via line 22 and converted digital information representing the color density in a scanned point is fed to memory 20 via line 24. The digital color density information is combined in memory 20 with information concerning the axial position of optical scanner 8 and with information concerning the angular position of drum 1, the angular position information being obtained from detector 7 via line 25. 
     The information which is stored in memory 20 in this manner may be recalled at any desired moment and may be used for controlling a printing plate surface machining device or imager 27 which is known and which is not shown here. The whole assembly is controlled by a central processing unit 26. 
     A color original image is scanned in steps, point by point, with a photoelectric converter which is equipped with a suitable filter to provide electric signals which are a function of the color intensity in each of the scanned points. The color scanned is governed by the type of filter used and scanning for the different colors is carried out in mutually exclusive patterns. 
     FIG. 2 shows the pattern in which the original image is scanned for the color yellow. This scanning pattern has two mutually perpendicular scanning directions, the X direction and the Y direction, respectively and scanning begins from an origin, O. The X direction is parallel to the line which was previously described as the base line, with the Y direction being perpendicular to the base line; the X-axis being equivalent to the base line. As described hereinabove, the original image may be mounted on a surface of a drum or cylinder which is rotatably driven while the scanning device is moved parallel to the cylinder axis, the drum rotation being in the Y-direction and the scanning device movement being in the X-direction. Point to point scanning is performed in the Y-direction, starting from a base line, with equal distances of l 1y  between the scanning points, until the base line is reached again. The scanning device then is displaced a certain distance l 2y  in the X-direction and scanning in the Y-direction is continued. 
     A. For the color yellow the tangent of the angle α y  is chosen to be zero: 
     
         tan α.sub.y =0, 
    
     so 
     
         u=0 
    
     and 
     
         v=1 
    
     B. According to the trigonometric relationship ##EQU6## 
     C. According to the trigonometric relationship ##EQU7## 
     D. The condition 0≦n≦u 2  +v 2  requires that n=0 or n=1. Accordingly equations (1), (2) and (3) holds for n=0, m=0 and β=0 so l 3y  (n=0)=0 and for n=1, m=p and β=(p-p)=0, so l 3y  (n=1)=0. It appears that after one revolution of the cylinder the distance l 3m  equals zero, so the first scanned point is situated again on the base line and this point may be considered the origin. Scanning is continued for the entire original image following this procedure. 
     FIG. 3 shows the pattern in which the original image is scanned for the color magenta. 
     A. For the color magenta the tangent of the angle α m  is chosen 1/4: 
     
         tan α.sub.m =1/4, 
    
     so 
     
         u=1 
    
     and 
     
         v=4 
    
     B. According to the trigonometrical relationship ##EQU8## 
     C. According to the trigonometrical relationship ##EQU9## 
     D. Accordingly equation (5) holds: 
     
         t=4s+1, 
    
     so 
     
         s=0 
    
     and 
     
         t=1 
    
     Accordingly equation (4) holds: 
     
         p=4, 
    
     and accordingly equation (3) holds: 
     
         m=4/17n 
    
     Accordingly equation (2) holds: ##EQU10## 
     Example: For the scanning line with n=16 holds: ##EQU11## It appears that after 17 revolutions of the cylinder l 3m  equals zero, so the first scanned point is situated again on the base line and this point may be considered the origin. Scanning is continued for the entire original image following this procedure. In this way, an essentially orthogonal screen pattern is obtained in which the spacing, as in the case of the color yellow pattern, equals a, but in which the screen pattern relative to the Y-axis is rotated to the right over an angle α m , equal to approximately 15 degrees, around the origin O. 
     FIG. 4 shows the pattern in which the original image is scanned for the color cyan. 
     A. For the color cyan the tangent of the angle α c  is chosen 4: 
     
         tan α.sub.c =4, 
    
     so 
     
         u=4 
    
     and 
     
         v=1 
    
     B. According to the trigonometrical relationship ##EQU12## 
     C. According to the trigonometrical relationship ##EQU13## 
     D. Accordingly equation (5) holds: 
     
         t=(s+1)/4 
    
     so 
     
         s=3 
    
     and 
     
         t=1 
    
     Accordingly equation (4) holds: 
     
         p=13 
    
     and accordingly equation (3) holds: 
     
         m=13/17n 
    
     Accordingly equation (2) holds: ##EQU14## 
     Example: For the scanning line with n=10 holds: ##EQU15## It appears that after 17 revolutions of the cylinder l 3c  equals zero, so the first scanned point is situated again on the base line and this point may be considered the origin. Scanning is continued for the entire original image following this procedure. 
     In this manner of scanning an essentially orthogonally screened separation image is obtained in which the spacing, as in the case of the separation images for the colors yellow and magenta, is equal to a, but in which the screen pattern relative to the Y-axis is rotated to the right around the origin O, an angle α c  equal to approximately 75 degrees. 
     The screen pattern for the color black, finally, is formed as shown in FIG. 5. 
     A. Here the tangent of the angle α b  is chosen 1: 
     
         tan α.sub.b =1, 
    
     so 
     
         u=1 
    
     and 
     
         v=1 
    
     B. According to the trigonometrical relationship ##EQU16## 
     C. According to the trigonometrical relationship ##EQU17## 
     D. Accordingly equation (5) holds: 
     
         t=s+1, 
    
     so 
     
         s=0 
    
     and 
     
         t=1 
    
     Accordingly equation (4) holds: 
     
         p=1 
    
     and accordingly equation (3) holds 
     
         m=1/2n 
    
     Accordingly to equation (2) holds 
     
         β={1/2n-integer(1/2n)} 
    
     For the scanning line with n=1 holds: ##EQU18## It appears that after 2 revolutions of the cylinder l 3b  equals zero, so the first scanned point is situated again on the base line and this point may be considered the origin. Scanning is continued for the entire original image following this procedure. The resulting screened black separation image has a spacing (a) equal to the spacing of the other colors and is rotated to the right with respect to the Y-axis an angle α b  equal to 45 degrees. 
     In the foregoing description, it is assumed that the Y-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis. 
     If the drive mechanism 10 continuously advances the optical scanner 8 instead of stepping optical scanner 8, while the drum is continuously rotated, a helix is described across the surface of the original image. The angle between the X-axis and Y-axis then is not exactly 90 degrees but is a very minute and negligible deviation from this value. To measure this deviation, we may assume the case of a cylinder circumference of 50 centimeters and a spacing of 1/50 centimeters. Using the scanning pattern for the color yellow, where the gratest deviation will occur, we obtain an angular deviation of which the tangent is 1/2,500. This results in an angular deviation of 0.023 degrees, or less than 1 minute, 30 seconds. 
     It is seen that the invention achieves a method and apparatus for making color separations for printing especially. The invention may be employed to make negatives from which the printing plates are processed or it may be used with certain known techniques to make the plates directly. The invention achieves its ends without the use of actual screens but when the separations are made the same effects are apparent. 
     Modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appending claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.