Patent ID: 7218378

Claim:
A method of producing a photographic print from a virtual negative image stored in a source of virtual negative images, the virtual negative image comprising a plurality of pixels that are arrayed in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, the method comprising: illuminating a light source included in a mini-lab, thereby directing a light beam along an optical path including therein a spatial light modulator coupled with the source of virtual negative images, said spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of pixels; subdividing the virtual negative image into a plurality of sub-images such that a first sub-image comprises pixels of uneven columns and uneven rows, a second sub-image comprises pixels of even columns and uneven rows, a third sub-image comprises pixels of uneven columns and even rows, and a fourth sub-image comprises pixels of even columns and even rows; forming an image of the plurality of pixels on an exposure target area; rounding-off the image of the plurality of pixels with a pixel rounding-off device in the optical path of the light beam; disposing a light-sensitive medium at said exposure target area; positioning the spatial light modulator in a first position; providing the first sub-image to the spatial light modulator; exposing the exposure target area to the first sub-image using the light beam from the light source; providing a first relative motion between the spatial light modulator and the exposure target, area from the first position to a second position that is distanced less than one pixel from the first position; providing the second sub-image to the spatial light modulator; exposing the exposure target area to the second sub-image by using the light beam from the light source; providing a second relative motion between the spatial light modulator and the exposure target area from the second position to a third position that is distanced less than one pixel from the second position; providing the third sub-image to the spatial light modulator; exposing the exposure target area to the third sub-image by using the light beam from the light source; providing a third relative motion between the spatial light modulator and the exposure target area from the third position to a fourth position that is distanced less than one pixel from the third position; providing the fourth sub-image to the spatial light modulator; and exposing the exposure target area to the fourth sub-image by using the light beam from the light source.