A color image forming method and an apparatus to be used for executing the method are provided which are capable of effecting more faithful color reproduction with respect to a target color, and also, a color correction factor determining method to be used in the above method and apparatus. The color image forming apparatus to which the color image forming method is applied is arranged to subject three primary color luminance signals (R, G, B) to linear matrix calculation by a luminance matrix device for conversion into second luminance signals (R', G', B') to correct deviation of wavelength of the spectral absorbing characteristic of the ink, and to subject each color of the second luminance signals (R', G', B') to complementary color conversion into three primary color density signals (D.sub.R, D.sub.G, D.sub.B) by a complementary color converting device, and further, to subject the three primary color density signals (D.sub.R, D.sub.G, D.sub.B) to color correcting calculation by a color correcting device for conversion into ink density signals (C, M, Y), so as to correct color turbidity due to the unnecessary component of the ink. Additionally, the correction factor determining method determines the luminance matrix factor used for the luminance matrix calculation and the color correction factor used for the color correcting calculation by minimizing conditions of a color difference to be perceived by man.

There is disclosed an electronic image printing apparatus which generates and prints images onto successive ones of a plurality of film units which are processed in the apparatus. The apparatus includes mechanisms for synchronously operating components involved in the printing operation.

A linear color CCD for an image sensor and a method of driving the same. The linear color CCD comprises a photodiode array section for performing a photoelectric conversion operation to produce signal charges corresponding to red, green and blue color signals, the photodiode array section having a first photodiode array for producing the signal charges corresponding to the green color signal, a second photodiode array disposed over the first photodiode array for producing the signal charges corresponding to the red color signal and a third photodiode array disposed under the first photodiode array for producing the signal charges corresponding to the blue color signal, a horizontal CCD analog shift register section having a first horizontal CCD analog shift register disposed between the first and second photodiode arrays to shift the signal charges from the first and second photodiodes horizontally and a second horizontal CCD analog shift register disposed between the first and third photodiode arrays to shift the signal charges from the first and third photodiodes horizontally, and a shift gate section for shifting the signal charges from the photodiode array section to the horizontal CCD analog shift register section upon being turned on.

A CCD pixel pattern for receiving an image to be recorded by a rotary head printer as a series of record track scans each having a predetermined curve geometry. The pixels are arranged in rows having a curvature proportional to the record track scan geometry so that the physical location of incident image light seen by each pixel will correspond directly to the physical location of the printed image increment originating with each pixel, respectively.

Improved digital image processing circuitry for sharpening edges and details of a recorded image digitally while minimizing the amplification of noise in the input recorded image provides an output recorded image which is the sum of chrominance signals processed by color processing circuitry and luminance signals processed by color processing circuitry and sharpness circuitry. Input recorded images are provided for concurrent parallel processing by both the color processing circuitry and the sharpening circuitry in a manner whereby the color processing circuitry generates low spatial frequency luminance signals and the sharpness circuitry generates high spatial frequency luminance signals both of which are subsequently combined to provide an output signal in which the amplitude of the high spatial frequency noise component associated therewith is minimized.