JP2007005864A - Composite image editing apparatus, composite image editing method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to create a satisfactory page image, even if a template having a photographic image pasted thereon is reversed. <P>SOLUTION: When a composite image is reversed in a horizontal direction, a page template of the composite image is reversed in a horizontal direction by a horizontal reversion routine (S220). After that, the direction of a composite part associated with an arrangement frame LF of the page template Tm is corrected into an angle acquired by subtracting the angle of an inclination of the composite part before reversion from 360° (S250). This configuration can prevent the composite part from being reversed left and right even in the horizontal direction reversion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for editing a composite image by displaying a composite image of a template having a placement area for placing a composite part and a composite part associated with the placement area on a display device.

  A computer can easily organize a large number of image data by using image management software. Some image management software of this type can arrange and output photographic images taken with a digital camera (digital still camera) in the same manner as a paper album. In this image management software, a page can be laid out by preparing a page image corresponding to an album mount and determining the position and size of one or more photographic images for the page image.

  As a layout method, there is a method in which a template with a preset arrangement frame is prepared and a photographic image is pasted into the template arrangement frame (for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-4768

  By the way, since a lot of templates having various designs are prepared, it is convenient to store them in a storage device such as a hard disk. On the other hand, when there are a large number of templates, there is a disadvantage that the resources of the storage device are insufficient. Therefore, a configuration has been proposed in which one template can be reversed in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, or the horizontal direction + the vertical direction (meaning both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction). The operator reads one template from the storage device, and inverts the read template in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, or the horizontal direction + vertical direction to store the inverted template in the storage device. It is possible to easily create page images with different designs.

  However, according to the above technique, when a photographic image is arranged in the arrangement frame, the photographic image is also reversed at the same time as the template is reversed. There is a problem that a bad page image is created by turning upside down.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to make it possible to create a good page image even when a template with a photographic image is reversed.

  As means for solving at least a part of the problems described above, the following configuration is adopted.

The composite image editing apparatus of the present invention is
A composite image editing apparatus for editing a composite image by displaying a composite image of a template having a placement area for placing a composite part and a composite part associated with the placement area on a display device,
A composite image inversion means for inverting the composite image displayed on the display device in a horizontal direction and / or a vertical direction when receiving a predetermined command from an operator;
The composite image reversing means includes
Component direction correction means for correcting the direction of the composite component associated with the placement area when the composite image is reversed is provided.

  According to the composite image editing apparatus having the above-described configuration, the direction of the composite part associated with the arrangement area is corrected by the part direction correcting unit when the composite image is inverted. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the left and right of the composite part from being reversed and the top and bottom from being upside down by the reversal. Therefore, a good composite image can be created even when the composite image is inverted. Further, since it is possible to reuse one template by reversing the composite image, it is possible to save resources of the storage device. That is, it is possible to achieve both saving of resources of the storage device and creation of a good composite image.

  The component direction correction unit obtains the direction of the composite component by subtracting the inclination angle of the composite component before the inversion from 360 degrees when the direction of inversion by the composite image inversion unit is a horizontal direction. It is good also as a structure correct | amended to an angle.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the direction of the composite part after inversion from being reversed from side to side as compared to before the inversion.

  The component direction correcting means subtracts the direction of the composite part from the inclination angle of the composite part before inversion from 360 degrees when the direction of inversion by the composite image inversion means is a vertical direction. It is good also as composition which amends to the obtained angle.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the direction of the composite part after inversion from being upside down compared to before the inversion.

  Further, the component direction correcting means corrects the direction of the composite part to the inclination angle of the composite part before inversion when the direction of reversal by the composite image reversing means is a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. It is good.

  According to this configuration, the direction of the composite part after inversion can be prevented from being reversed left and right or upside down compared to before the inversion.

  The composite image inversion unit includes a template inversion unit that inverts the template in the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction, and the component direction correction unit obtains the direction of the composite part and is inverted by the template inversion unit. Alternatively, the composite part may be attached to the arrangement area of the template in the obtained direction.

  According to this configuration, the template is first inverted, and then the composite part is pasted on the arrangement area of the inverted template. For this reason, the inversion of the composite part can be performed efficiently.

  The composite image reversing unit includes a batch reversing unit that collectively inverts the template and the composite component in the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction, and the component direction correcting unit is reversed by the collective reversing unit. A configuration may be adopted in which the direction of the composite part is corrected by rotating the composite part.

  According to this configuration, the template and the composite part arranged in the template are first reversed together, and then the direction of the composite part is corrected by rotating the reversed composite part.

  The composite part may be a photographic image taken with a digital still camera.

The composite image editing method of the present invention includes:
A composite image editing method for editing a composite image by displaying a composite image of a template having a placement area for placing a composite part and a composite part associated with the placement area on a display device,
A composite image reversing step of reversing the composite image displayed on the display device in a horizontal direction and / or a vertical direction when receiving a predetermined command from an operator;
The composite image reversal process includes:
A component direction correcting step for correcting the direction of the composite component associated with the arrangement area when the composite image is reversed is provided.

The computer program of the present invention is:
A computer program for displaying a composite image of a template having a placement area for placing a composite part and a composite part associated with the placement area on a display device and editing the composite image,
When the computer receives a predetermined command from the operator, the computer realizes a composite image reversal function for reversing the composite image displayed on the display device in the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction,
The composite image inversion function is
A component direction correction function is provided for correcting the direction of the composite component associated with the placement area when the composite image is inverted.

  The composite image editing method and computer program according to the present invention also provide an effect that it is possible to achieve both saving of resources of the storage device and good composite image creation.

  The recording medium of the present invention is characterized by a computer-readable recording medium that records the computer program of the present invention. This recording medium has the same operation and effect as each computer program of the present invention.

  The present invention includes other aspects as follows. The 1st aspect is an aspect as a program supply apparatus which supplies the computer program of this invention via a communication path. In this first aspect, the above-described method and apparatus are realized by placing a computer program on a server or the like on a computer network, downloading a necessary program to a computer via a communication path, and executing the program. Can do.

  In the second aspect, the component direction correcting means maintains the direction of the composite part in the horizontal direction of the composite part before inversion when the direction of inversion by the composite image inversion means is a horizontal direction. It is the structure which correct | amends to the direction to be. According to a third aspect, the component direction correcting means maintains the direction of the composite part in the vertical direction of the composite part before inversion when the direction of inversion by the composite image inversion means is a vertical direction. It is the structure correct | amended to a direction. According to a fourth aspect, the component direction correcting unit determines the direction of the composite component when the reversal direction by the composite image reversing unit is a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, It is the structure correct | amended in the direction in which the up-down direction is maintained.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples. This embodiment will be described in the following order.
A. Device configuration:
B. Page template:
C. Display window configuration:
D. Invert composite image:
D-1. Horizontal inversion processing:
D-2. Vertical inversion processing:
D-3. Horizontal inversion + vertical inversion processing:
E. Action / Effect:
F. Other embodiments:

A. Device configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The computer system of this embodiment mainly includes a personal computer 10 constituting the composite image editing apparatus of the present invention, and includes a display 20, a keyboard 22, and a mouse 24 as peripheral devices. Further, a digital camera (digital still camera) 26, a CD drive 28, and a printer 29 are connected to the personal computer 10. The mouse 24 can be replaced with other pointing devices such as a trackball, a trackpad, and a tablet.

  The personal computer 10 includes a memory 13, a display image memory 14, a hard disk drive 15, an input control unit 16, a display control unit 17, an output control unit 18, and the like that are mutually connected by a bus 12 around a CPU 11 as a central processing unit. Is provided. The memory 13 stores various data and becomes a work area of the CPU 11. The display image memory 14 is a memory that temporarily stores image data of an image to be displayed on the display 20.

  The hard disk drive 15 stores a computer program Pr as software of the composite image editing apparatus. The hard disk drive 15 stores a large number of image data Dp. The image data Dp is a photographic image taken by the digital camera 26 and is stored in a predetermined area (for example, a folder) of the hard disk drive 15. A plurality of types of page templates Tm that define the layout of pages to be described later are also stored. The page template Tm corresponds to the “template” of the present invention.

  The input control unit 16 is a control unit that captures input operations from the keyboard 22 and the mouse 24, captures image data from the digital camera 26, and captures data from the CD drive 28. The display control unit 17 is a control unit that controls signal output to the display 20. The output control unit 18 is a control unit that controls printing on the printer 29.

  The computer program Pr is originally stored in a CD-ROM (not shown) as a recording medium. The computer program Pr can be read from the CD-ROM and installed in the hard disk drive 15 by setting the CD-ROM in the CD drive 28 and starting a predetermined installation program. Various configuration requirements of the composite image editing apparatus of the present invention are realized by the CPU 11 executing this computer program Pr. Note that the page template Tm is also stored in advance on the CD-ROM, and is stored in the hard disk drive 15 at the same time when the computer program Pr is installed.

  In FIG. 1, various constituent requirements of the composite image editing apparatus of the present invention are shown by functional blocks implemented in the CPU 11. That is, the CPU 11 includes a composite image reversing unit 11a and a component direction correcting unit 11b provided in the composite image reversing unit 11a as functions. This computer program Pr is actually an album editing application program that edits photo images taken by the digital camera 26 into an album form, and the functions of the above-described units 11a and 11b are controlled by some of the modules. This is realized in the personal computer 10.

  The computer program Pr is provided as a configuration stored in another portable recording medium (portable recording medium) such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, and an IC card in place of the CD-ROM. It can be. Further, the computer program Pr can be provided via a network from a specific server connected to an external network. The network may be the Internet or a computer program obtained by downloading from a specific homepage. Alternatively, it may be a computer program supplied in the form of an email attachment.

B. Page template:
Next, the page template Tm stored in the hard disk drive 15 will be described. The page template Tm is a template for defining the layout position of the composite part on the page, with an area having a predetermined size as a unit of editing as a page. As composite parts, image data, clip art, and the like are applicable. Here, the image data is taken by the digital camera 26 and stored in the hard disk drive 15. As clip arts, images, pictures, etc. are prepared.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image represented by the page template Tm. As illustrated, the page template Tm includes a page PG as a rectangular area having a predetermined size, and one or a plurality (two in this example) of arrangement frames LF are provided in the page PG. . The arrangement frame LF defines a rectangular area for arranging the above-described composite part, and represents a size and a position on the page PG. The arrangement frame LF corresponds to the “arrangement area” of the present invention. The arrangement frame LF is not necessarily rectangular, and may be another polygon such as a triangle or a pentagon, a circle, an ellipse, or the like. In the page template Tm, the background design BK of the page is represented in a portion excluding the arrangement frame LF. In this embodiment, as illustrated, a photographic image of a fountain pen and an ink bottle is represented as a background design BK in the lower left corner of the page template Tm.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the page template Tm. As shown in the figure, the page template Tm includes a page information field Fa for storing information about the page PG and an arrangement frame information field Fb for storing information about n (n is an arbitrary number of 1 or more) arrangement frames. (1) to Fb (n). The illustrated one represents the page template Tm of the image illustrated in FIG. 2, and n = 2.

  The page information field Fa stores information about the vertical and horizontal sizes of the page and the above-described background design BK of the page. In the arrangement frame information fields Fb (1) to Fb (n), position data, angle data, and rank data are stored in pairs. The position data is data indicating a layout position in the page, and offset X and Y components of each vertex of the arrangement frame are described. The angle data is data indicating the angle at the time when the composite component is arranged as a rotation angle from an upright state. The rank data is a number indicating the order in which the composite parts are arranged.

C. Display window configuration:
Next, the interface with the operator will be described. When the computer program Pr is started and the [New] button is clicked on the top screen, a page editing window (hereinafter referred to as “page editing window”) is displayed.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the page edit window WD. The page editing window WD constitutes a graphical user interface (GUI). As shown in the figure, the page edit window WD is provided with a work field FL1 and a part / template designating field FL2.

  The part / template designation field FL2 is for designating a page template and a composite part. The state shown in the figure is the one when the [Page Template] tab TB1 is clicked (click using the mouse 24, hereinafter the same), and a list of thumbnails Tmt of a plurality of types of page templates Tm is displayed. The operator can select a desired one from a plurality of types of page templates Tm stored in the hard disk drive 15 by double-clicking a desired one from a plurality of thumbnails Tmt. The selected page template Tm is displayed in the work field FL1. In the illustrated example, the page template Tm shown in FIG. 2 is selected and displayed.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the page edit window WD when the [Image] tab TB3 is clicked by the operator. As shown in the drawing, in the part / template designation field FL2, a list of icons (Fm) of films (or folders) storing image data and a list of thumbnails Pt of image data stored in the designated film are displayed. Is done. The operator clicks a desired icon Fm and clicks a desired thumbnail Pt to store a plurality of image data stored in advance in a predetermined recording medium, which is stored in the hard disk drive 15 in this embodiment. Desired image data can be selected and designated from a large number of image data Dp. The film or folder indicates a place where data files are put together.

  As for the clip art, when the [Clip Art] tab TB2 is clicked, a desired one of a plurality of clip arts is selected based on an operation command using the mouse 24 from the operator as in the case of the image data. Can be selected and specified.

  The [arrangement] button BT5 is provided on the toolbar BR of the page editing window WD. The operator clicks the thumbnail Tm of the image data Dp in the part / template designation field FL2, and then clicks the [Place] button BT5, whereby the image data Dp is placed in the layout frame LF laid out in the page template Tm. Can be pasted. As described above, since the order in which the images are arranged is assigned to each arrangement frame LF, first, a series of specifying the thumbnail Tm of the image data Dp and clicking the [Place] button BT5. When the arrangement work is performed, the image data Dp is transferred to the arrangement frame LF numbered “1” (for example, the larger arrangement frame on the right side in the figure). Is performed, the image data Dp is transferred to the arrangement frame LF (for example, the smaller arrangement frame on the left side in the drawing) assigned the number NB of “2”. In this way, each image data Dp is semi-automatically pasted at the position of the arrangement frame LF previously positioned on the page template Tm.

  When the image data Dp is pasted on the arrangement frame LF, if there is a difference between the two sizes, the image size is changed while keeping the aspect ratio (aspect ratio) of the image constant, and the arrangement frame LF The image is circumscribed in either the vertical or horizontal direction. The illustrated example shows a state after the image data Dp is pasted on the layout frame LF of the page template Tm shown in FIG.

  As for the clip art, as described above, after selecting and specifying a desired one from a plurality of clip arts, by clicking the [Place] button BT5, the clip art is pasted into the arrangement frame LF in the same manner as the image data Dp. Can do. In this way, a composite image in which the page template Tm and the composite parts such as the image data Dp and the clip art are combined is generated. The composite image can be stored in accordance with an instruction from the operator. The operator can save the image by clicking the [Save] button BT2 provided on the toolbar BR, and can save the image by clicking the [Open] button BT1 provided on the toolbar BR. The synthesized image thus obtained can be read out, that is, displayed in the work field FL1.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the composite image data Dcm representing the composite image. As shown in the figure, the composite image data Dcm has substantially the same configuration as the page template Tm. The difference is that the component association information Lk is stored in each of the arrangement frame information fields Fb (1) to Fb (n). This is an added point. The part association information Lk indicates which composite part is placed in each placement frame LF, and specifically stores the file name of the composite part. Note that the component association information Lk is in a null state for the arrangement frame LF in which no composite component is arranged.

D. Invert composite image:
The composite image data Dcm of the page template Tm and the composite part can be inverted according to the operator's specification. The inversion here refers to inversion in the horizontal direction (also referred to as the left-right direction), the vertical direction (also referred to as the up-down direction), or the horizontal direction + the vertical direction (meaning both horizontal and vertical directions). The operator operates the mouse 24 to move the mouse cursor to a portion other than the layout frame LF of the page template Tm displayed in the work field FL1, and presses the right button 24a of the mouse 24 to thereby generate a composite image. Data Dcm can be selected. In this state, the operator clicks the [Reverse] button BT4 provided on the toolbar BR to display the [Reverse] dialog box DB on the display.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the [Reverse] dialog box DB together with the page edit window WD. As shown in the figure, the [Reverse] dialog box DB is provided with a check box CB1 for "horizontal direction" and a check box CB2 for "vertical direction". The operator clicks the horizontal check box CB1 when designating that the inversion direction is the horizontal direction, and the vertical check box CB2 when designating that the inversion direction is the vertical direction. When clicking and specifying that the inversion direction is both horizontal and vertical, click both check boxes CB1 and CB2. Thereafter, the operator clicks the [Apply] button BT11. As a result, the reverse direction designated by the operator from the [Reverse] dialog box DB is sent to the personal computer 10.

  The personal computer 10 takes in the inversion direction designated in accordance with the operation by the operator, and performs a process of inverting the composite image data Dcm displayed in the work field FL1 of the page editing window WD in the inversion direction. Since the present invention is characterized by this inversion, this point will be described in detail below.

  The inversion of the composite image data Dcm described above is realized by the CPU 11 executing a composite image inversion routine which is a part of the computer program Pr. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing this composite image inversion routine.

  When the processing is started, the CPU 11 first selects any of “horizontal direction”, “vertical direction”, and “horizontal direction + vertical direction” as the reverse direction designated by the operator using the [Reverse] dialog box DB. (Step S100). Here, when it is determined as “horizontal direction”, the CPU 11 executes a horizontal direction inversion routine (step S200), and when it is determined as “vertical direction”, it executes a vertical direction inversion routine (step S200). If it is determined that “horizontal direction + vertical direction”, the horizontal direction + vertical direction inversion routine is executed (step S400). After executing step S200, S300, or S400, the process returns to “RETURN” to end the composite image inversion routine.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the horizontal inversion routine executed in step S200. When the processing is shifted to the horizontal direction inversion routine, the CPU 11 first stores the composite image data Dcm displayed in the work field FL1 in the respective arrangement frame information fields Fb (1) to Fb (n). The angle data is read and stored as variables θ1 to θn (step S210). Next, the CPU 11 performs a process of inverting the page template portion in the composite image data Dcm in the horizontal direction (step S220). In the horizontal inversion process, the arrangement frame LF and the background design BK defined as the page template Tm are moved in line symmetry with the vertical line passing through the center of the page as the axis of symmetry. In other words, an image obtained by removing only the composite component pasted on each placement frame LF from the composite image is moved in line symmetry with respect to the symmetry axis.

D-1. Horizontal inversion processing:
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the horizontal inversion processing in step S220. The illustrated example shows what happens when only the left half of the composite image data Dcm illustrated in FIG. 5 is inverted in the horizontal direction in step S220. As shown in the figure, the left half before inversion is mirror-inverted with a vertical line VL passing through the center of the page as a mirror surface. At this time, the mirror frame is reversed with the arrangement frame LF and the background design (the lower left pen and ink bottle in the figure) BK defined in the page template Tm, and the image (the bride) pasted on the arrangement frame LF. The image of the wedding figure) Dp is not reversed. The arrangement frame LF was inclined in the clockwise direction from the vertical direction before the inversion, but after the inversion, the left and right sides are inverted and inclined in the counterclockwise direction from the vertical direction. Left and right are reversed after inversion. With the above change of the composite image displayed in the work field FL1, in the composite image data Dcm, the background design BK stored in the page information field Fa is rewritten into a mirror-inverted state, and the arrangement frame information field The position data stored in Fb (1) to Fb (n) is rewritten into a state in which the mirror surface is inverted. At this time, the angle data is not rewritten.

  Returning to FIG. 9, after execution of step S220, the CPU 11 sets an initial value 1 to the variable i (step S230), and subtracts the i-th variable θi read in step S210 from 360 degrees. The answer is set to a variable nθ (step S240). Thereafter, the CPU 11 performs a process of pasting the composite part associated with the placement frame with the inclination determined by the variable nθ into the i-th new placement frame (new placement frame after being reversed in step S220) nLF. This is performed (step S250).

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing how the composite image displayed in the work field FL1 changes due to the processing in steps S240 and S250. As shown in the figure, the inclination of the image Dp arranged in the arrangement frame LF is represented by a clockwise rotation angle θ from the vertical upward direction, and is 10 degrees in the illustrated example. The new arrangement frame nLF moved by mirror reversal in step S220 has a direction of θ to 360 degrees−θ, that is, 350 degrees by the process of step S220. In the processing of steps S240 and S250, the image Dp to be arranged is pasted on the arrangement frame LF with the same 360 degrees −θ (= nθ) as the arrangement frame LF, that is, with an inclination of 350 degrees. The pasting of the image data Dp into the arrangement frame LF here means that the image data Dp is pasted so that the center of the image data coincides with the center of the arrangement frame LF. With the above change of the composite image displayed in the work field FL1, in the composite image data Dcm, the angle data stored in the i-th placement frame information field Fb (i) is calculated in step S240. The changed variable nθ is changed.

  Returning to FIG. 9, after executing step S250, the CPU 11 increments the variable i by the value 1 (step S260), and whether or not the variable i exceeds the number n of the arrangement frames LF provided in the template Tm. Is determined (step S270). If it is determined that the variable i does not exceed the number n, the process returns to step S240, and the processes of steps S240 to S270 are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S270 that the variable i exceeds the number n, the horizontal inversion routine is exited.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the state after executing the horizontal inversion routine in the page edit window WD shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, in the composite image data Dcm displayed in the work field FL1, the arrangement frame LF and the background design BK are inverted in the horizontal direction as compared with FIGS. The image data Dp1, Dp2 arranged in the arrangement frame LF is maintained in the left-right direction without being mirror-inverted. In other words, the image pasted on the larger arrangement frame LF1 is such that the groom is on the left side (right side in the figure) and the bride is on the right side (left side in the figure). In the image pasted in the small arrangement frame LF2, the bride faces the right side in the figure, and the left and right sides are not interchanged.

D-2. Vertical inversion processing:
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing details of the vertical direction inversion routine executed in step S300. This vertical reversal routine differs from the horizontal reversal routine of FIG. 9 only in that the reversal direction executed in step S320 corresponding to step S220 is the vertical direction, and the other steps S310, S330. -S370 are the same as steps S210 and S230-S270 of the horizontal reversal routine.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the vertical inversion processing in step S320. The example shown is for the left half of the composite image illustrated in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the arrangement frame LF is mirror-inverted with a horizontal line HL passing through the center of the page as a mirror surface. At this time, like the horizontal reversal processing, the mirror frame is reversed with the layout frame LF and the background design BK defined in the page template Tm, and the image pasted on the layout frame LF (the bride's wedding ceremony). Image of appearance) Dp2 is not reversed. In the figure, nLF is an arrangement frame after inversion, and nBK is a background design after inversion.

  Next, the process of steps S340 and S350 will be described. In steps S340 and S350, as in steps S240 and S250 of the horizontal direction inversion routine, the direction in which the composite part is pasted on the arrangement frame LF is determined to be 360 degrees −θ (= nθ).

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the reason why the direction in which the composite part is pasted on the arrangement frame LF is determined to be 360 degrees −θ. As shown in FIG. 15A, assuming that the inclination (indicated by the clockwise rotation angle from the vertically upward direction) of the arrangement frame LF before the inversion in the vertical direction is θ, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the inclination is changed to 180 ° −θ by vertical inversion. In this state, the composite part placed in the placement frame LF is turned upside down, so the composite part is rotated 180 degrees further clockwise as shown in FIG. By correcting the angle in this way, the upper and lower sides of the composite part are maintained in the state before the vertical inversion. That is, by performing angle correction to add 180 degrees to the 180 degree-θ inclination after vertical inversion, that is, angle correction to set the inclination of the composite part to 360 degrees-θ, the vertical direction of the composite part is turned upside down. I try not to be.

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a result of executing the reversal process by the vertical reversal routine on the composite image data Dcm illustrated in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the new composite image data nDcm obtained as a result of the inversion is obtained by inverting the arrangement frame LF and the background design BK in the vertical direction as compared with the example of FIG. The image data Dp1 and Dp2 stored in the arrangement frame LF are maintained in the vertical direction without being mirror-inverted.

D-3. Horizontal inversion + vertical inversion processing:
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing details of the horizontal direction + vertical direction inversion routine executed in step S400. As shown in the figure, when the processing is started, the CPU 11 performs the same processing as steps S210 and S220 of the horizontal direction inversion routine (steps S410 and S420). Next, the CPU 11 performs the same process as step S320 of the vertical direction inversion routine (step S430). That is, according to the processing of steps S410 to S430, the inclination of the composite part arranged in the arrangement frame LF is temporarily stored as θ1 to θn, and then the page template portion of the composite image is inverted in the horizontal direction. Subsequently, the page template portion of the composite image is inverted in the vertical direction.

  After executing step S430, the CPU 11 sets an initial value 1 to the variable i (step S440). Next, the CPU 11 determines the composite part associated with the i-th new arrangement frame (new arrangement frame after being inverted in steps S420 and S430) nLF with the variable θi stored in step S410. The pasting process is performed with an inclination (step S450). That is, in this step S450, the direction in which the composite part is pasted on the arrangement frame LF is determined to maintain the inclination of the composite part before inversion in steps S420 and S430.

  FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the reason why the direction in which the composite part is pasted on the arrangement frame LF is determined to maintain the inclination before inversion. As shown in FIG. 18A, when the inclination of the arrangement frame LF (indicated by a clockwise rotation angle from the vertical upward direction) is θ, horizontal inversion is performed as shown in FIG. Is changed to an inclination of 360 degrees -θ. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 18C, the angle is changed to −180 degrees + θ by vertical inversion. In this state, since the composite part arranged in the arrangement frame LF is turned upside down, the composite part is rotated 180 degrees further clockwise as shown in FIG. By correcting the angle in this way, the upper and lower sides of the composite part are maintained in the state before the vertical inversion. That is, by performing angle correction that adds 180 degrees to the inclination of −180 degrees + θ after vertical inversion, that is, angle correction with the inclination of the composite part as θ, The top and bottom are not reversed.

  Returning to FIG. 17, after executing step S450, the CPU 11 increments the variable i by a value 1 (step S460), and whether or not the variable i exceeds the number n of the arrangement frames LF provided in the template Tm. Is determined (step S470). If it is determined that the variable i does not exceed the number n, the process returns to step S450, and the processes of steps S450 to S470 are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S470 that the variable i exceeds the number n, the horizontal direction + straight direction inversion routine is exited.

  FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a result of executing the reversal processing by the horizontal direction + vertical direction reversal routine on the composite image data Dcm shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the new composite image data nDcm obtained as a result of the inversion is obtained by inverting the arrangement frame LF and the background design BK in the vertical direction and the vertical direction, as compared with the example of FIG. The image data Dp1 and Dp2 stored in the arrangement frame LF are maintained in the vertical and horizontal directions without being mirror-inverted.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the toolbar BR is provided with a [Save as template] button BT3. The operator can save the template Tm defined by the composite image data Dcm displayed in the work field FL1 in the hard disk drive 15 or the like by clicking the [Save as Template] button BT3. As described above, the stored template Tm is not associated with the composite part to the arrangement frame LF (the association is made only after becoming the composite image data Dcm). As shown in FIG. 5, the thumbnail Tmt displayed in the part / template designation field FL2 is a reduced image of the composite image data Dcm at the time of saving, that is, a reduced image in which the composite part is arranged in the arrangement frame LF. It is configured.

  In this embodiment, the CPU 11 and the horizontal reversal routine executed by the CPU 11 correspond to the composite image reversing unit 11a (FIG. 1). The processing in step S250 of the horizontal direction inversion routine corresponds to the component direction correction unit 11b (FIG. 1). The CPU 11 and the vertical direction inversion routine executed by the CPU 11 correspond to the composite image inversion unit 11a. The processing in step S350 of the vertical direction inversion routine corresponds to the component direction correction unit 11b. Further, the horizontal direction + vertical direction inversion routine executed by the CPU 11 and the CPU 11 corresponds to the composite image inversion unit 11a. The processing in step S450 of the horizontal direction + vertical direction inversion routine corresponds to the component direction correction unit 11b.

E. Action / Effect:
According to the computer system of the present embodiment configured as described above, the direction of the composite component associated with the layout frame LF of the page template Tm is inverted by the horizontal inversion routine when the composite image is inverted in the horizontal direction. The inclination angle of the previous composite part is corrected to an angle obtained by subtracting it from 360 degrees. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the left and right of the composite part from being reversed by the horizontal reversal. In addition, when the composite image is inverted in the vertical direction by the vertical direction inversion routine, the direction of the composite part associated with the layout frame LF of the page template Tm is obtained by subtracting the inclination angle of the composite part before the inversion from 360 degrees. The obtained angle is corrected. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the composite part from being turned upside down due to the inversion in the vertical direction.

  Further, by the horizontal direction + vertical direction inversion routine, when the composite image is inverted in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the direction of the composite part associated with the layout frame LF of the page template Tm is set to the inclination angle of the composite part before the inversion. It is corrected. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the left and right of the composite part from being reversed and the top and bottom from being reversed by the inversion of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, a good synthesized image can be created even when the synthesized image is inverted in the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction. Further, since it is possible to reuse one template by reversing the composite image, it is possible to save resources of the storage device. That is, it is possible to achieve both saving of resources of the storage device and creation of a good composite image.

F. Other embodiments:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be carried out in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following modifications are possible. is there.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, when the composite image is reversed in the horizontal direction, the direction of the composite part associated with the layout frame LF of the page template Tm is obtained by subtracting the inclination angle of the composite part before inversion from 360 degrees. Although it was configured to be corrected to the obtained angle, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this angle, and the direction of the composite part is the direction in which the left-right direction of the composite part before inversion is maintained. Any other angle can be used as long as the angle is corrected.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, when the composite image is inverted in the vertical direction, the direction of the composite part associated with the layout frame LF of the page template Tm is obtained by subtracting the inclination angle of the composite part before the inversion from 360 degrees. Although it was configured to be corrected to the obtained angle, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this angle, and the direction of the composite part is maintained in the vertical direction of the composite part before inversion. Any other angle can be used as long as the angle is corrected.

(3) In the embodiment, when the composite image is reversed in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the direction of the composite part associated with the layout frame LF of the page template Tm is corrected to the inclination angle of the composite part before the inversion. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this angle, and the direction of the composite part is corrected to the direction in which the left-right direction and the vertical direction of the composite part before inversion are maintained. If so, it can be changed to another angle.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the page template portion of the composite image is first inverted, and then the composite component is pasted at an effective angle with respect to the arrangement frame LF of the inverted page template. However, instead of this, the page template and the composite part are reversed together in the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction, and then the composite part direction is corrected by rotating the inverted composite part. It is good also as composition which performs. Here, the rotation angle is a rotation amount such that the composite part finally becomes the pasting angle in steps S250, S350, and S450 in the embodiment, and the horizontal direction with respect to the pasting angle and / Or the difference in angle after inversion in the vertical direction. Also with this configuration, the same composite image as in the first embodiment can be created.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the image data Dp is a photographic image taken by a digital camera. However, instead of this, image data such as a silver salt photograph or a gravure obtained using a scanner or the like may be used. . Alternatively, a storage device such as the hard disk drive 15 may be prepared in advance. Or what was taken in from the outside via a network may be used.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the computer system to which one Example of this invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the image represented by page template Tm. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of page template Tm. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the page edit window WD. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the page edit window WD when the [image] tab TB3 is clicked by the operator. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the composite image data Dcm showing a composite image. It is explanatory drawing which shows the [reverse] dialog box DB with the page edit window WD. It is a flowchart which shows a composite image inversion routine. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the horizontal direction inversion routine performed by step S200 of a composite image inversion routine. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the inversion process of the horizontal direction by step S220. It is explanatory drawing which shows how the synthetic | combination image displayed on the field for work FL1 changes by the process of step S240 and S250. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state after executing a horizontal direction inversion routine in the page editing window WD shown in FIG. 7. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the vertical direction inversion routine performed by step S300 of a composite image inversion routine. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the inversion process of the vertical direction by step S320. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the reason which determined the direction of the synthetic | combination component affixing to the arrangement | positioning frame LF as 360 degree | times -theta. It is explanatory drawing which shows the result of having performed the inversion process by a vertical direction inversion routine with respect to the synthetic image data Dcm shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the horizontal direction + vertical direction inversion routine performed by step S400 of a composite image inversion routine. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the reason which determined that the direction of the synthetic | combination component affixing to the arrangement | positioning frame LF shall maintain the inclination before inversion. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a result of executing a reversal process by a horizontal direction + vertical direction reversal routine on the composite image data Dcm illustrated in FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Personal computer 11 ... CPU
11a ... Composite image inversion unit 11b ... Component direction correction unit 12 ... Bus 13 ... Memory 14 ... Display image memory 15 ... Hard disk drive 16 ... Input control unit 17 ... Display control unit 18 ... Output control unit 20 ... Display 22 ... Keyboard 24 ... Mouse 26 ... Digital camera 28 ... CD drive 29 ... Printer Pr ... Computer program Dp. ..Image data Dcm ... Composite image data Tm ... Page template LF ... Layout frame BK ... Background design WD ... Page edit window FL1 ... Work field FL2 ... Parts / Template Designation field TB1 ... [Page template] tab TB2 ... [Clip art] tab TB3 ... [Image] tab BT1 ... [Open] button BT2 ... [Save] button BT3 ... [ As a template BT4 ... [Flip] button BT5 ... [Place] button DB ... [Flip] dialog box CB1 ... "Horizontal" checkbox CB2 ... "Vertical" checkbox BT11 ... [Apply] button

Claims (15)

A composite image editing apparatus for editing a composite image by displaying a composite image of a template having a placement area for placing a composite part and a composite part associated with the placement area on a display device,
A composite image inversion means for inverting the composite image displayed on the display device in a horizontal direction and / or a vertical direction when receiving a predetermined command from an operator;
The composite image reversing means includes
A composite image editing apparatus comprising: a component direction correcting unit that corrects the direction of the composite component associated with the arrangement area when the composite image is inverted. The composite image editing apparatus according to claim 1,
The component direction correction unit obtains the direction of the composite component by subtracting the inclination angle of the composite component before the inversion from 360 degrees when the direction of inversion by the composite image inversion unit is a horizontal direction. A composite image editing device that is configured to correct to an angle. The composite image editing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The component direction correcting unit obtains the direction of the composite component by subtracting the inclination angle of the composite component before the inversion from 360 degrees when the direction of reversal by the composite image reversing unit is a vertical direction. A composite image editing device that is configured to correct to an angle. The composite image editing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The component direction correcting means is configured to correct the direction of the composite part to the inclination angle of the composite part before inversion when the direction of inversion by the composite image inversion means is a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. Composite image editing device. The composite image editing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The composite image reversing means includes
Template inverting means for inverting the template in the horizontal direction and / or vertical direction,
The component direction correcting means includes
A composite image editing apparatus that obtains the direction of the composite part and pastes the composite part in the arrangement area of the template reversed by the template reversing unit in the obtained direction. The composite image editing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The composite image reversing means includes
A batch reversing means for collectively reversing the template and the composite part in the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction;
The component direction correcting means includes
A composite image editing apparatus configured to correct the direction of the composite part by rotating the composite part reversed by the collective reversing unit.   The composite image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite part is a photographic image taken by a digital still camera. A composite image editing method for editing a composite image by displaying a composite image of a template having a placement area for placing a composite part and a composite part associated with the placement area on a display device,
A composite image reversing step of reversing the composite image displayed on the display device in a horizontal direction and / or a vertical direction when receiving a predetermined command from an operator;
The composite image reversal process includes:
A composite image editing method comprising: a component direction correcting step of correcting a direction of a composite component associated with the arrangement area when the composite image is inverted. A computer program for displaying a composite image of a template having a placement area for placing a composite part and a composite part associated with the placement area on a display device and editing the composite image,
When the computer receives a predetermined command from the operator, the computer realizes a composite image reversal function for reversing the composite image displayed on the display device in the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction,
The composite image inversion function is
A computer program comprising: a component direction correction function for correcting the direction of a composite component associated with the arrangement area when the composite image is inverted. A computer program according to claim 9,
The component direction correction function is obtained by subtracting the inclination angle of the composite part before inversion from 360 degrees when the direction of inversion by the composite image inversion function is a horizontal direction. A computer program that corrects to an angle. A computer program according to claim 9 or 10,
The component direction correction function is obtained by subtracting the inclination angle of the composite component before inversion from 360 degrees when the direction of inversion by the composite image inversion function is a vertical direction. A computer program that corrects to an angle. A computer program according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The component direction correction function is configured to correct the direction of the composite part to the inclination angle of the composite part before inversion when the direction of inversion by the composite image inversion function is a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. Computer program. A computer program according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
The composite image inversion function is
A template inversion function for inverting the template in the horizontal direction and / or vertical direction;
The component direction correction function is
A computer program having a configuration in which the direction of the composite part is obtained and the composite part is pasted in the arrangement area of the template inverted by the template inversion function in the obtained direction. A computer program according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
The composite image inversion function is
A batch reversing function for collectively reversing the template and the composite part in the horizontal direction and / or the vertical direction,
The component direction correction function is
A computer program having a configuration for correcting the direction of the composite component by rotating the composite component inverted by the collective reversal function.   15. A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 9 is recorded.

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