JP2003032618A - Device for producing process control data contained image filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To contrive to decrease a labor hour in producing process control data contained image data by user setting. SOLUTION: Setting information for univocally specifying a process is attached normally to process control data attached to image data, but information for specifying in a polysemic manner is attached thereto. As an attachment form, such a method can be applied that setting information is simply mentioned, a common part between pieces of the setting information is omitted, or variable information for designating a range of variable data is used. Results of a plurality of processes specified are prepared in a lump, and each process is simply evaluated by referring thereto. Results obtained by selecting the setting information are input by use of identification information attached to each process result.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for performing flexible image processing based on control data by using an image file in which image data and control data including information regarding processing of the image data are stored in association with each other. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image data generating devices such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras, and scanners have become widespread. As an image data output device, various image output devices such as a monitor of a general-purpose personal computer and a printer are used. At the time of output, image quality adjustment was sometimes performed using retouching software.

[0003]

However, such image quality adjustment is image processing that requires a high level of technology, and it has been difficult to sufficiently reflect the characteristics of the image data generating device and the intention at the time of generation. Further, it is complicated to perform such processing each time an image is output, and there is a risk that the convenience of a digital still camera or the like may be impaired.

As a method of reducing such a burden and simply performing appropriate image processing, a method of attaching setting information for controlling image processing to the image data at the time of photographing with a digital still camera can be considered. By allowing a user to arbitrarily register control data in a digital camera or the like, image processing according to the user's preference can be easily realized.

However, registering control data is a very laborious task. The user usually makes a number of adjustments by repeating the cycle of adjusting user settings, creating output results, and evaluating them.
This has been a particularly big problem.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and by reducing the setting load of control data according to the user's preference, image processing according to the user's preference can be easily realized. The purpose is to provide the technology.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Actions / Effects In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, the present invention adopts the following configuration. An image file generation device of the present invention is an image file generation device that generates an image file in which image data and control data for controlling the content of image processing performed on the image data are associated and stored. An image data input unit for inputting image data, a control data generation unit having a function for inputting the control data that identifies the image processing in an ambiguous manner, the input image data, and the generated control data An image file generation unit that generates an image file in which
The main point is to provide.

By doing so, the contents of the image processing applied to the image data in one image file can be set in an ambiguous manner. That is, it is possible to obtain an image output that has been subjected to a large number of image processes with one image file. As a result, it is possible to easily compare the effects of image processing.

In the image file generating apparatus of the present invention,
It is desirable that the control data generation unit has a function of generating control data including a plurality of sets of setting information that uniquely specifies the processing content of the image data.

By doing so, it is possible to realize an image file including a plurality of sets of setting information set independently.

In creating the user settings, the user often makes a fine adjustment by repeating the cycle of preparing the user settings, creating the output result, and evaluating them many times. If the image file including a plurality of setting information can be used to obtain the result of the processing based on the plurality of setting information at one time, the labor in the above cycle can be reduced.

In the image file generating apparatus of the present invention,
It is desirable that the control data generation unit has a function of generating control data having common information commonly used for a plurality of image processes and a plurality of selection information set for each of the plurality of image processes.

By doing so, the redundancy of information in the control data can be reduced. The plurality of pieces of setting information to be included are often a collection of setting information having a common part with each other. It is possible to avoid the redundancy that describes the common part multiple times.

For example, when the setting information is a set of parameter values, the control data includes a plurality of values for each of the parameters serving as the selection information. At this time, the setting information corresponding to the number of combinations of the respective parameter values is ambiguously specified.

In the image file generating apparatus of the present invention,
The control data includes a parameter, and the control data generation unit preferably has a function of generating control data including variable information that specifies a certain range for at least some of the parameters.

By doing so, it becomes possible to specify, in the control data, a process within a certain range in which some parameters have values within a certain range.

Here, the variable data is essentially variable data such as numerical data, but is not essentially variable data such as the name of a prefecture, but especially a predetermined integer value or the like. In some cases, can be made variable by assigning. Further, there are cases where even numerical data take only discrete values such as the number, and there are cases where essentially continuous values can be taken like the value of γ correction. In addition, in specifying the range, variable information that specifies two separated ranges of one variable data, such as "0 to 1 and 4 to 6," is also conceivable.

Here, consider variable information "1-2". Various interpretations are possible. For example, using the description method in mathematics, {1, 2}, {real number x | 1 <x <
2}, {real number x | 1 <x ≦ 2}, etc. may be interpreted. The variable information may include information on an interpretation method, in addition to the case of complying with a predetermined agreement.

In the image file generating apparatus of the present invention,
The control data generation unit has a function of setting identification information for each of the plurality of image processings that have been set in an ambiguous manner, and the image file generation device outputs the image file to a user of the identification information. An identification information input unit for inputting a selection result, and a control data storage unit for storing control data corresponding to the selected identification information,
It is preferable that the control data generation unit can apply the stored control data as data associated with the image data.

By using such identification information, the user can easily select from a plurality of setting information. The image file generating device can flexibly respond based on the selected setting information.

Here, the identification information may be the contents of the setting information of the process itself or a predetermined number given to the identification information. The identification information may be explicitly indicated in the control data, or may be made clear from the data structure in the control data. Furthermore, the setting information may be specified by combining a plurality of pieces of identification information. The identification information selected here is not limited to one.

The image file processing device of the present invention performs the image processing on the image data based on the information of the control data included in the image file in which the image data and the predetermined control data are stored in association with each other. In the image file processing device for outputting the image data, the control data is control data that includes the information that identifies the image processing of the image data in an ambiguous manner, and the control data that identifies the processing in an ambiguous manner. An image file input section for inputting, a control data extracting section for extracting the control data from the image file, a processing section for performing a plurality of processes specified on the basis of the control data on the image data, and a plurality of the plurality of processing sections. The gist of the present invention is to include an output unit that outputs each image processing result.

By doing so, it is possible to collectively perform a plurality of image processes specified by the control data set in an ambiguous manner. The user can refer to the results of the plurality of processes and evaluate the setting information.

In the image file processing apparatus of the present invention,
It is desirable that the output unit outputs the identification information for specifying the process together with the result of the process.

By doing so, the setting information can be easily specified based on the identification information. Moreover, the user can relatively easily realize the registration of the setting information and the like by inputting the identification information to another device or the like, particularly the image file generating device of the present invention.

The identification information may be added to the control data for each setting information in the image file generating apparatus. In this case, various modes are possible,
As described above.

The image file editing apparatus of the present invention is an image file editing apparatus for editing control data in an image file in which image data and predetermined control data are stored in association with each other, and the image file is input. An image file input unit, a control data extraction unit that extracts the control data from the input image file, a control data input unit that receives user input based on a user operation in order to edit the control data, and the extraction And a control data editing unit that edits the generated control data, and an image file generation unit that generates an image file that stores the input image data and the generated control data in association with each other. .

By doing so, the control data of the image file can be edited to create an image file containing new control data.

The present invention relates to the above-mentioned image file generating device,
In addition to the configurations as the image file processing device and the image file editing device, the invention can also be configured as an invention of a method of generating, processing, and editing an image file. Further, it is possible to realize in various forms such as a computer program for realizing them, a recording medium recording these programs, and a data signal embodied in a carrier wave containing these programs.

When the present invention is configured as a computer program or a recording medium recording the program, the recording medium may be a flexible disk or a CD-disk.
ROMs, magneto-optical disks, IC cards, ROM cartridges, punched cards, printed materials on which codes such as bar codes are printed, and internal storage devices of computers (RAM and RO
Various computer-readable media such as a memory such as M) and an external storage device can be used.

[0031]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on Examples. A. Configuration of image output system: B. Image file generation device: B1. Overall configuration: B2. Image file: B2. Input of control data: C. Image file processing device: C1. Image processing: C2. Output of multiple processing results: D. Modification:

A. Configuration of Image Output System: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image output system. The image output system of the present embodiment comprises a digital still camera 10 as an image file generation device, an image processing device and a color printer 11 as an image output device.

The digital still camera 10 has a function of setting the print control data PIM in the image file. The print control data PIM is included in the attached data of the Exif format image file and serves as data for controlling print processing including image processing in the color printer 11.
The print control data PIM includes print commands, setting information used for image processing, and other information. The digital still camera 10 shoots (generates image data) and generates an image file that stores the image data and the associated data in association with each other. The generated image file is stored in the memory card MC.

The color printer 11 is a memory card MC
An image file is input via a cable or the like (not shown), and the print control data PIM included in the image file is analyzed. The print control data PIM includes information related to image processing settings. The color printer 11 acquires this, performs image processing on the image data, and then executes printing.

As described above, in the image output system of this embodiment, the printing process of the color printer 11 is controlled from the digital still camera 10 side to perform the printing reflecting the intention of the digital still camera (photographer). You can
Details of the digital still camera, image file, and color printer will be described later.

In the embodiment described below, the digital still camera 10 is used as the image file generating device, but a scanner, a digital video camera or the like can be used in addition to this. When a scanner is used, it may be accompanied by another management computer, or a preset button to which setting information is assigned in advance, a display screen for arbitrary setting, and a setting button are provided in the scanner, and the scanner alone is used. It may be executable. Also,
When using an image file generation device such as a digital video camera having a function of generating moving image data, it is possible to use a format such as MPEG as the format of the image data attached to the image file. Is. By using an image file in which control data is attached to image data that is a moving image, it is possible to control the content of image processing performed at the time of output, for all or some of the frames of the moving image.

Although the image file in the Exif format is taken as an example of the image file, the format of the image file according to the present invention is not limited to this. That is, any image file that can include image data and control data may be used.

B. Image file generation device: B1. Overall Configuration: FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the digital still camera 10. The digital still camera 10 is a camera that acquires an image by forming optical information on a digital device (CCD or photomultiplier tube). The digital still camera 10 includes an optical circuit 30 including a CCD for collecting optical information, and an optical circuit 30.
An image acquisition circuit 31 for controlling the
An image processing circuit 32 for processing the acquired digital image and a control circuit 33 are provided. Control circuit 33
Has a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM.

The digital still camera 10 saves the acquired image as digital data in the memory card MC as a storage device. The JPEG format is generally used as a format for storing image data in the digital still camera 10, but other than this, the PNG format, TIFF format, GIF format are also available.
A storage format such as a format or a BMP format may be used.

The digital still camera 10 has a selection / decision button 34 and a liquid crystal display 35 for previewing a photographed image and displaying various setting screens for use in various settings relating to setting information. Is equipped with. The content of “setting information” is data relating to image output such as contrast, brightness, color balance, etc., and is used for image processing in the color printer 11. In the present embodiment, the setting information, which is the specified setting by the manufacturer of the digital still camera 10, is prepared corresponding to the processing mode.

The digital still camera 10 generates an image file including the print control data PIM and the image data in association with each other. The print control data PIM can be set by the user using the select / set button 34.
The image data can be generated by the optical circuit 30 or the like as described above. It should be noted that the setting information includes γ of the digital still camera 10 in addition to the above-mentioned information.
Values, color space parameters representing the color space used at the time of shooting, and the like are included. In addition to this, the control data also includes shooting conditions such as the exposure time, white balance, aperture, shutter speed, and lens focal length set at the time of shooting.

Here, the color space parameters will be described. In the digital still camera 10, normally, the image data defined in the RGB color space is once obtained from the voltage signal of the CCD. The color space is sRGB depending on the camera model.
Alternatively, a color space called NTSC is used properly. All of the spaces have a common point in that colors are defined by the RGB coordinate system, but NTSC is a coordinate system having a wider color reproduction range than sRGB. The sRGB color space is usually defined in a range of 8 bits (0 to 255), but this range is expanded to a negative value or a value of 256 or more (hereinafter referred to as "extended sRGB space"). May be used. The information on the color space used at the time of shooting is included in the color space parameter and attached to the image data as information indicating the color reproduction characteristic of the digital still camera 10.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchange between the functional blocks of the digital still camera 10 which is an image file generating device.

The control data input section 22 inputs information based on user input of the select / enter button 34. In addition, the information about the control data can be input from an external storage device (a hard disk of the personal computer PC or the server SV) or a recording medium. The image file generation unit 24 generates an image file integrally including the input image data and the control data in which the setting information set or selected by the user and other data are stored in a predetermined format. The control data storage unit 25 will be described later.

B1. Image file: FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the structure of an image file. The image file has a file structure according to the image file format standard (Exif format) for digital still cameras. The specifications of the Exif format image file are defined by the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA).

The image file has an image data storage area 41 for storing image data and an attached information storage area 42 for storing various attached information regarding the stored image data. Image data is stored in the image data storage area 41 in the JPEG format. Attached information storage area 42
The auxiliary information is stored in. The attached information storage area 42
A MakerNote data storage area 43 is provided. MakerNote
The data storage area 43 is an undefined area open to the digital still camera makers. As is well known to those skilled in the art, in Exif format files, tags are used to identify each data.
MakerNote is assigned as a tag name to the data stored in the ote data storage area 43.
It is called a tag.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a detailed hierarchical structure of an image file. FIG. 5A shows the data structure of the MakerNote data storage area 43. The MakerNote data storage area 43 of the image file also has a structure capable of identifying the stored data by the tag, and the tag of Print Matching is assigned to the print control data PIM. MakerNote data storage area 43
Each tag of is designated by an offset value from the top address of the MakerNote data storage area 43. The MakerNote data storage area 43 stores the maker name (6 bytes) at the top address, then the reserved area (2 bytes), the number of local tag entries (2 bytes), and each local tag offset (12 bytes). ing. A terminating code of 0x00 indicating a character terminating string is added after the maker name.

FIG. 5B shows the PrintMatching data storage area 50 defined in the MakerNote data storage area 43. This is roughly divided into PrintMatch
PrintMatchi indicating that the ing parameter is stored
An area such as an ng identifier, a description area of a data structure including the number of recorded setting information, and a recording area 822 for setting information. Further, here, the inside of the recording area 822 relating to the setting information is divided into areas corresponding to a plurality of sets of setting information. Inside the recording area 822,
In order to uniquely specify the image processing content to the processing device, a set of setting information is usually stored. In this embodiment,
For convenience of registering user-specific setting information in the digital still camera 10, a plurality of sets of setting information can be included in the storage area 822.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view conceptually showing an example of the structure of an area for recording a set of setting information. This can be regarded as an example of the internal configuration of the portion in which the setting information 1 to 4 in FIG. 5B is recorded. In FIG. 6, areas for storing the values of parameters such as gamma value, color space, contrast, brightness, color balance, and saturation, which configure the setting information, are arranged. Here, one set of information is configured in such a manner that a tag name, which is a predetermined parameter number, and a parameter value are listed as a set. For example, the parameter number is information stored in the 2-byte area, and the parameter setting value is information stored in the 4-byte area.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an area for recording a set of setting information, and various other methods can be used in implementing the present invention.
For example, it is possible to simply enumerate the parameter values in a predetermined parameter order. In this example, γ
Parameters such as a value, a color space, brightness, and sharpness are used, but which parameter is used for the setting information is an arbitrary matter to be decided and does not limit the present invention. Furthermore, the value of each parameter exemplified in the table of FIG.
This value is merely an example, and the invention according to the present application is not limited by this value. This also applies to the following description.

B2. Input of control data: The digital still camera 10 prepares control data before generating the above-mentioned image file. Although various methods can be considered for this preparation, an example of a method based on the setting of the processing mode will be shown below.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the interface displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 when the processing mode is set. When "OK" is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 7A, the processing mode can be set. The processing modes are, as shown in FIG. 7B, “1. standard” and “2.
A plurality of people such as "person" and "3. landscape" are prepared. Here, it is also possible to select “user setting 1” to “user setting 3”. This is a processing mode previously defined by the user. According to the selection of processing mode here,
At the time of generating the image file, the control data corresponding to the selected mode is prepared and the image file is generated.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing parameters constituting the setting information and the setting contents thereof. 1 as shown
Default settings suitable for one type of shooting scene are prepared in advance. The setting information includes “contrast”, “brightness”, “color balance”, “saturation”, “sharpness”, “memory color”, and “noise removal” as shown in FIG.
It is composed of seven types of parameters. The manufacturer of the digital still camera 10 sets a set of parameter values according to respective default settings as Presets 1 to P in FIG.
It is prepared like the reset 11 and stored in the ROM provided in the digital still camera 10. Note that FIG.
Similar data is stored in the RAM for the “user setting 1” to “user setting 3” shown in (4), and the user can appropriately update these user setting data.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an interface in the case of confirming / editing the parameter value corresponding to each processing mode and selecting the mode.

When “person” → “confirm” is selected on the screen of FIG. 7B, the parameter values stored in the ROM corresponding to “person” of FIG. 8 are displayed as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. The contents are displayed. The user confirms here, and then FIG.
By selecting "determine" in the upper diagram, the processing mode of "person" can be selected.

The lower part of FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the interface when the parameter value is corrected by selecting "Edit" in the upper part. Here, it is possible to edit the parameter value. Here, initially, the parameter setting in the previously selected "person" mode is shown, and changes can be made to each parameter. Further, by selecting "return", all the parameter values can be returned to the values in the initial "person" mode.
Note that in the lower diagram of FIG. 9, the value of the “memory color” parameter is changed to “yellow”. The parameter value is registered in one of the "user settings" by selecting "registration". The setting information registered as one of the “user settings” is stored in the RAM provided in the digital still camera 10.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface for designating a plurality of setting information by sequential selection. The upper part of FIG. 10 is a screen continued when “ambiguous setting” is selected on the upper part of FIG. As in the case of editing in the lower part of FIG. 9, editing is performed based on the setting information of “person”. But here, after editing, "Add"
By selecting, the editing of the second setting information to be additionally specified can be started. In the lower diagram of FIG. 10, the parameter of “γ correction” is changed to “1.1” and new setting information is designated. By selecting "OK" here, the data consisting of the two pieces of setting information designated so far is registered in one of the "user settings".

C. Image file processing device: C1. Image processing: FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of image processing based on the setting information. Here, regarding the processing based on the information of the control data, double lines are added in the drawing.

The CPU of the color printer 11 extracts image data from the read image file (step S
10) The first matrix operation for converting the image data based on the JPEG format YCbCr color space into the image data based on the RGB color space at the time of shooting is executed (step S14). This conversion is performed using the inverse matrix of the matrix used for conversion from the RGB space to the YCbCr space in the digital still camera 10. By this conversion, the image data is converted into the color space at the time of shooting, that is, NTSC
It is converted into either sRGB or extended sRGB. When converted to the extended sRGB color space, at this point,
Negative values and values above 256 will be included.

The CPU executes gamma correction on the image data thus obtained.

When performing gamma correction, the gamma value on the digital still camera 10 side is used. The gamma value is included in the control data as information indicating the characteristics of the digital still camera 10.

When the gamma correction is completed, a process of converting the color space of the image data into the wRGB color space defined by a color reproduction range wider than sRGB is performed next. This is because if the image data shot in the NTSC color space or the extended sRGB color space is processed in the sRGB color space having a narrow color reproduction range, the color of the subject may not be faithfully reproduced. From this point of view, for image data captured in the sRGB space, the process described below may be skipped. In the present embodiment, since the color space information included in the control data does not distinguish between the sRGB space and the extended sRGB space, the image data shot in the sRGB space is also converted into the wRGB space. .
Even in such a case, in the extended sRGB space, since the image data includes a negative value or a value of 256 or more, it is possible to distinguish the extended sRGB space and the sRGB space by the presence or absence of these gradation values.

The conversion processing of the color space into wRGB is performed by matrix calculation. As described above, the image file processing apparatus uses the sRGB color space or the extended sRGB color space.
The image data defined in the color space and the image data defined in the NTSC color space are handled. W from each color space
Although it is possible to define a matrix for direct conversion to the RGB color space, in this embodiment, conversion is performed via the standard XYZ color space.

That is, the image file processing apparatus first reads R
Conversion from the GB color space to the XYZ color space is performed (step S20). This conversion process differs depending on the color space that defines the image data. That is, the conversion matrix TM1 for the sRGB color space or the extended sRGB color space, and the NTS
Two types of conversion matrix TM2 for the C color space are prepared in advance, and by using these two types properly, conversion processing according to the color space at the time of shooting is realized. By this conversion, the image data shot in the individual color spaces is unified into the standard XYZ color space.

When the color space conversion process is completed, the image file processing device performs inverse gamma correction (step S2).
2). The gamma value used here is a value set based on the color reproduction characteristic in the output of the image file processing device.

Further, in order to reflect the intention at the time of photographing, an automatic adjustment process of image quality is executed (step S).
24). In the present embodiment, the control data includes adjustment parameters such as contrast as color correction parameters. The image processing system 100 automatically adjusts the image quality based on this parameter. Since the image quality adjustment method based on each parameter is well known, detailed description will be omitted.

By the above processing, the correction processing of the image data reflecting the color reproduction characteristics of the digital still camera 10 and the intention at the time of photographing is completed. The following is a part showing a flow of conversion into a format that can be output as it is by the output device.

First, color conversion processing according to the model is performed on the RGB image data (step S26). This is a process of converting the RGB color system into the CMYK color system used in the printer. This conversion is performed by referring to a conversion lookup table (LUT) that associates the two colors. In the case of the present embodiment, from the wRGB color space to CMY
The table LUTw for conversion to K will normally be used. However, since the image data defined in the sRGB space can also be handled, the image file processing device has an sR
The conversion table LUTs for the GB color space is also provided, and these tables are used properly according to the color space in which the image data is defined. LUTs is, for example, sRGB
Step S18 for image data captured in space,
The present invention can be applied to the case where the color space conversion processing of S20 is skipped, the image data is output without any processing for adjusting the image quality, and the like.

The image file processing apparatus performs halftone processing on the image data converted into the CMYK tone values in this way (step S28). The halftone process is a process for expressing the gradation value of image data by the density of dots formed by a printer.
It can be performed by a known method such as an error diffusion method or a systematic dither method.

In addition to these processes, the image file processing apparatus sets a resolution conversion process for adapting the resolution of image data to the resolution of the printer, a data array and a sub-scan feed amount for interlaced recording by the printer. Interlaced data generation processing may be performed.

Through the conversion processing described in steps S26 and S28 above, the image data is converted into a print data format that can be immediately output by the printer. The image file processing device executes printing based on the data thus converted.

C2. Image Processing Device: FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing data transfer between the functional blocks of the image file processing device 900. The image file processing device 900 includes an image file input unit, a control data extraction unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. Control data is extracted by the control data extraction unit from the image file input by the image file input unit. The extracted control data includes setting information that specifies image processing. The image data sent from the control data extraction unit is processed based on this setting information, and the processing result is sent to the output unit. At this time, if there are a plurality of specified processes, a plurality of processes are performed and output.

C3. Output of multiple processing results:
It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the result which combined and output the result of having performed several processes based on several setting information with respect to one image data. Here, the display of "output result 1" or the like is a display of a number which is identification information attached to each setting information in the image file. Note that, for convenience of illustration, the contents of the output results 1 to 4 are the same here, but in reality, different results are displayed if different processing is performed.

The identification information is the content of the processing setting information itself, and may be, for example, a list of parameters. Further, the identification information may be explicitly indicated in the control data, or may be made clear from the data structure in the control data. Note that in FIG. 13, all processing results are output on one sheet of paper, but it is also possible to output on multiple sheets of paper.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface for inputting the identification information attached to the output result to the image file generating apparatus. When one number is selected in the “output result No.” column in the upper row, the content of the setting information corresponding to that number is displayed in the lower row. Here, the number which is the identification information corresponds to the number given to each output in the processing result display of FIG. By selecting "OK", the setting information can be registered as one of the user settings.

Here, the identification information to be input is not limited to one, and a plurality of pieces of setting information may be designated by a plurality of inputs. In addition, when the identification information is a list of processing parameters themselves or in other cases, it is necessary to prepare an input interface corresponding to each.

The correspondence between the identification information and the setting information is stored in the control data storage unit 25. Control data storage unit 2
Information regarding the corresponding processing itself is also stored in 5, and is referred to by the control data generation unit 23 (see FIG. 3).

D. Modified Example: FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of an interface for designating a plurality of setting information. Similar to the first example (FIG. 10), this is a screen assuming the case where “person” mode, which is one of the default settings, is set and “ambiguous setting” is selected in the upper screen of FIG. 9. . In this screen, multiple values can be selected for each parameter. As many setting information items as the number of selected combinations of values for all parameters are specified at one time.
Here, as for the parameter “γ correction”, as shown in the specification portion 841 of the value of γ correction, it is an interface that can specify up to four values, and “1.
Three values of "0", "1.1", and "1.2" are selected. As the memory color, “yellow” and “blue” are selected.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view conceptually showing a mode in which the setting information is divided into common information and selection information.
In this case, the PrintMatching data storage area 50 is PrintMa
In addition to recording the tching identifier and the data structure, it has a common information record 832 and a selection information recording area 833 as a direct record of the setting information content. The selection information recording area 833 is further divided into areas corresponding to some categories of setting information, and here, areas for respective categories of “memory color” and “γ correction” are provided respectively. ing.

A plurality of sets of contents of each category included in the selection information are provided. Here, “yellow” and “blue” are replaced by “γ correction” for the “memory color” category.
For the categories "1.0" and "1.1" and "1.
2 ”are provided respectively. These represent the contents of the selection information as many as the combination as a whole. In this example, the contents of the "memory color" category are 2 sets,
Since there are three sets of contents in the “γ correction” category, six sets of selection information contents are represented as a whole. On the other hand, the content of the common information is one type, and the example of FIG. 16 stores 6 sets of setting information as a whole from 6 sets of selection information and 1 set of common information.

The configuration based on the selection information and the common information is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 16, and various modes are conceivable. For example, in FIG. 16, it is possible that the information in which the values of “memory color” and “γ correction” are paired is one category, or the common information is empty.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a case where setting information is recorded ambiguously using variable information. The γ correction parameter was variable data, but in the example of FIG. 15, a storage method for enumerating the values was used. Here, using the variable information that specifies the range of the parameter value of the γ correction,
Consider an example of specifying a set of setting information.

Designated portion 84 of γ correction value in FIG.
1 is changed as illustrated in FIG.
It is possible to specify variable information about the correction parameter. Although only one continuous range is designated here, it is also possible to form a mode in which two or more ranges can be designated by a method such as arranging the interfaces in FIG. 15A. .

FIG. 17B is an explanatory view conceptually showing an example of the mode of recording the setting information including the variable information. This is an example in the case where the γ correction parameter is changed to the variable information of “1.0 to 1.2” while other parameters are specified as in FIG. The variable information is included in the variable information recording area 842. In the case of this example, a method of dividing into common information and selection information is also used. γ
Common information including variable information “1.0 to 1.2” of the correction parameter and two sets of selection information are stored, and two sets of setting information are represented as a whole.

Here, the variable information indicates a fixed number of sampling points in the set of setting information indicated by using the variable information, based on a prior arrangement or other information included in the control data. You can also think of it. For example, a certain step may be set in advance or included in control data and applied to variable information given by a set of upper and lower numerical values.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchange between the functional blocks of the image file editing apparatus. The image file editing device 860 includes an image file input unit, a control data extraction unit, a control data input unit, a control data editing unit, and an image file generation unit.

The image file input section inputs an image file to be edited. Control data is extracted by the control data extraction unit from the input image file. The control data editing unit refers to the extracted control data and the user input information input by the control data input unit,
Create new control data. The image file generation unit generates a new image file from the new control data and the image data left in the control data extraction unit. The new image file stores the input original image file and the edited new control data in association with each other.

By the image file editing device, the information relating to the image processing contained in the control data in the image file can be modified or newly rewritten. Here, it is also possible to configure an image file generation device which is also an image file editing device.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a variation of the image output system. The image output system includes a digital still camera 10 and a color printer 11 shown in FIG.
Besides, a personal computer PC having a built-in image processing function, a server SV, and a monitor display device as an image output device can be included. These are connected by cable CV or wireless communication directly or via a network and exchange data. It is also possible to connect a scanner or a digital video camera as the image file generating device.

According to the present embodiment, if the control data in the image file is used by including the information of the set of setting information, it is possible to reduce the trouble of creating the user setting. The user can easily evaluate the processing results of a plurality of setting information and reflect it in the creation of the user setting. In the conventional technique, the user often makes a fine adjustment by repeating the cycle of adjusting the user setting and creating / evaluating the output result many times, but this effort is particularly small. Based on such effects and the like, the present invention realizes improvement in practicability of a technique for performing flexible image processing, which utilizes the setting of control data attached to image data.

Although the image generation / processing / editing apparatus, image output system, and the like according to the present invention have been described based on the embodiments, the above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image output system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital still camera.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchange between functional blocks of a digital still camera.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing an example of the configuration of an image file.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a detailed hierarchical structure of an image file.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a configuration example of an area for recording a set of setting information.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface for setting a processing mode.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing parameters constituting setting information and setting contents thereof.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface for checking / editing parameter values.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface for designating a plurality of setting information by sequential selection.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of image processing based on setting information.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing data transfer between functional blocks of the image file processing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a result of collectively outputting results of performing a plurality of processes based on a plurality of setting information.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an interface for inputting identification information into an image file.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of an interface for designating a plurality of setting information.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a mode in which setting information is configured by being divided into common information and selection information.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which setting information is recorded ambiguously using variable information.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchange between functional blocks of the image file editing device.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a variation of the image output system.

[Explanation of symbols] 10 ... Digital still camera 11 ... Color printer 21 ... Image data generator 22 ... Control data input section 23 ... Control data generator 24 ... Image file generator 25 ... Control data storage unit 30 ... Optical circuit 31 ... Image acquisition circuit 32 ... Image processing circuit 33 ... Control circuit 34 ... Select / Enter button 35 ... Liquid crystal display 40 ... Image file (Exif file) 41 ... Image data storage area 42 ... Attached information storage area 43 ... MakerNote data storage area 50 ... Print Matching data storage area 822 ... Recording area for setting information 832 ... Recording area for common information 833 ... Recording area for selection information 841 ... Designated portion of γ correction value 842 ... Variable information recording area 850 ... Printed results of multiple processes 860 ... Image file editing device 861 ... Image file input section 862 ... Control data extraction unit 863 ... Control data input section 864 ... Control data editing unit 865 ... Image file generation unit 900 ... Image file processing device 901 ... Image file input section 902 ... Control data extraction unit 903 ... Processing unit 904 ... Output unit

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Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An image file generation device for generating an image file in which image data and control data for controlling contents of image processing performed on the image data are stored in association with each other, wherein the image data is input. An image data input unit, a control data generation unit having a function of inputting the control data that specifies the image processing in an ambiguous manner, and the input image data and the generated control data are stored in association with each other. An image file generation device including: an image file generation unit that generates the generated image file. 2. The image file generation device according to claim 1, wherein the control data generation unit generates control data including a plurality of sets of setting information that uniquely specifies the processing content of the image data. An image file generation device equipped with. 3. The image file generation device according to claim 1, wherein the control data generation unit includes common information commonly used for a plurality of image processes and a plurality of sets of information set for each of the plurality of image processes. An image file generation device having a function of generating control data having selection information. 4. The image file generation device according to claim 1, wherein the control data includes a parameter, and the control data generation unit specifies variable information for specifying a certain range for at least a part of the parameter. An image file generation device having a function of generating control data including the above. 5. The image file generation device according to claim 1, wherein the control data generation unit has a function of setting identification information for each of the plurality of ambiguously set image processes, The file generation device includes an identification information input unit for inputting a user's selection result for the identification information after outputting the image file, and a control data storage unit for storing control data corresponding to the selected identification information. An image file generation device in which the control data generation unit can apply the stored control data as data associated with the image data. 6. An image file processing apparatus for outputting a result of image processing of the image data based on information of the control data included in an image file in which image data and predetermined control data are stored in association with each other. The control data is control data that includes information that identifies the image processing of the image data in an ambiguous manner, the control data that identifies the processing in an ambiguous manner, and an image file input unit that inputs the image file. A control data extraction unit that extracts the control data from the image file; a processing unit that applies a plurality of processes specified on the basis of the control data to the image data; and outputs results of the plurality of image processes. An image file processing device comprising: 7. The image file processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the output unit has a function of outputting identification information for specifying the process together with the result of the process. Processing equipment. 8. A control data editing device for editing control data in an image file in which image data and predetermined control data are stored in association with each other, and an image file input section for inputting the image file, A control data extraction unit that extracts the control data from an input image file, a control data input unit that receives user input based on a user operation to edit the control data, and edits the extracted control data An image file editing device comprising: a control data editing unit; and an image file generating unit that generates an image file that stores the input image data and the generated control data in association with each other. 9. A method of generating an image file in which image data and control data for controlling the content of image processing performed on the image data are stored in association with each other, the step of inputting the image data, A method comprising: inputting the control data that unambiguously specifies the image processing; and generating an image file that stores the input image data and the generated control data in association with each other. 10. A method of outputting a result of performing image processing on the image data based on information of the control data included in an image file in which image data and predetermined control data are stored in association with each other. The control data is control data that includes information that identifies the image processing of the image data in an ambiguous manner, the control data that identifies the processing in an ambiguous manner, and a step of inputting the image file; A method comprising: a step of extracting control data; a step of performing a plurality of processes specified on the basis of the control data on the image data; and a step of outputting results of the plurality of image processes, respectively. 11. A method of editing the control data in an image file in which image data and predetermined control data are stored in association with each other, wherein the step of inputting the image file includes: Extracting the control data, receiving a user input based on a user operation to edit the control data, editing the extracted control data, the input image data and the generation Generating an image file in which the stored control data is stored in association with the generated control data. 12. A computer program for generating an image file in which image data and control data for controlling contents of image processing performed on the image data are stored in association with each other by using the image file generating device. And a function of inputting the image data, a function of inputting the control data that specifies the image processing in an ambiguous manner, and an image file storing the input image data and the generated control data in association with each other. And a computer program for causing the image file generating device to realize the function of generating. 13. A result of performing image processing on the image data based on information of the control data included in an image file in which image data and predetermined control data are stored in association with each other by using the image processing apparatus. Is a computer program for outputting, the control data is control data that includes the information that identifies the image processing of the image data in an ambiguous manner, is control data that identifies the processing in an ambiguous manner, the image file A function of inputting, a function of extracting the control data from the image file, a function of performing a plurality of processes specified on the basis of the control data on the image data, and outputting results of the plurality of image processes, respectively. And a computer program for causing the image processing apparatus to realize the function to perform. 14. A computer program for editing the control data in an image file in which image data and predetermined control data are stored in association with each other by using the image file editing device, wherein the image file is input. A function of extracting the control data from the input image file, a function of receiving a user input based on a user operation to edit the control data, and a function of editing the extracted control data. And a function of generating an image file in which the input image data and the generated control data are associated with each other and stored, and a computer program for causing the image file editing device to realize the function. 15. A computer-readable recording medium in which the computer program according to claim 12 is recorded.