Photographic film with recorded information, method of acquiring the information recorded on photographic film, image processing method using the acquired information, and print system using the same

A photographic film, comprising:

• a central image region;
• a sequence of perforations formed at specified intervals outboard of said central image region at opposite sides thereto;
• a first bar code recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a bottom edge of the photographic film and containing a first set of film information;
• and
• a second bar code containing a second set of film information that is mutually exclusive from said first set of information, said second bar code recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a top edge of the photographic film,
• wherein each of said first and second bar codes have a specified bar code pattern that includes a data track, a clock track, an entry pattern indicating a beginning of a bar code sequence and an exit pattern indicating an end of said bar code sequence, said second bar code oriented at said top edge of said photographic film so that a directional orientation of said data and clock tracks of said second bar code, as the second bar code is read, are reversed relative to the directional orientation of the data and clock tracks of said first bar code as the first bar code is read.

A method of sending information recorded in bar codes imprinted on a photographic film to an image processing apparatus, comprising:

• reading a first bar code containing a first set of film information which is recorded as a latent image between a sequence of perforations and a bottom edge of the photographic film;
• reading a second bar code containing a second set of film information that is mutually exclusive from said first set of information, said second bar code recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a top edge of the photographic film,
• wherein each of said first and second bar codes have a specified bar code pattern which includes a data track, a clock track, an entry pattern indicating a beginning of a bar code sequence and an exit pattern indicating an end of said bar code sequence, said second bar code oriented at said top edge of said photographic film so that a directional orientation of said data and clock tracks of said second bar code, when the second bar code is read, are reversed relative to the directional orientation of the data and clock tracks of said first bar code, as the first bar code is read,
• wherein each of said first and second bar codes are read with a single bar code reader having image reading elements arranged in areas therein which correspond to said first bar code and said second bar code;
• and
• acquiring said first set of film information read from said first bar code and said second set of film information read from said second bar code with a controller for directing said acquired information to the image processing apparatus.

A print system, comprising:

• an image reading device reading a first bar code containing a first set of film information which is recorded as a latent image between a sequence of perforations and a bottom edge of a photographic film, and reading a second bar code containing a second set of film information that is mutually exclusive from said first set of information, said second bar code recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a top edge of the photographic film,
• wherein each of said first and second bar codes have a specified bar code pattern which includes a data track, a clock track, an entry pattern indicating a beginning of a bar code sequence and an exit pattern indicating an end of said bar code sequence, said second bar code oriented at said top edge of said photographic film so that a directional orientation of said data and clock tracks of said second bar code, as the second bar code is read, are reversed relative to the directional orientation of the data and clock tracks of said first bar code, as the first bar code is read;
• an image processing apparatus receiving said first set of film information read from said first bar code and said second set of film information read from said second bar code by said image reading device, said image processing apparatus performing specified image processing steps based on said received second set of film information;
• and
• a photoprinter that exposes an image carried on said photographic film in accordance with said specified image processing steps to output a finished print.

A print system, comprising:

• an image reading device reading a first bar code containing a first set of information defined by a first data track and a first clock track, said first set of information recorded as a latent image between a sequence of perforations and a bottom edge of a photographic film, and reading a second bar code containing a second set of information that is mutually exclusive from said first set of information, and which is defined by a second data track and a second clock track, said second set of information recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a top edge of the photographic film,
• wherein said second bar code is arranged so that relative directional orientation of said second data and clock tracks, as the second bar code is read, are re versed as compared to the first data and clock tracks of said first bar code as the first bar code is read;
• an image processor for receiving said first and second sets of information read from said first and second bar codes by said image reading device for performing specified image processing functions based on said received second set of information;
• and
• a photoprinter for exposing an image from said photographic film in accordance with said specified image processing functions to output a finished print.