JP2008227673A - Image photographing device and image output method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image photographing device for directly connecting an image output device to output an image without using a personal computer and preventing operation mistakes when a plurality of images are printed. <P>SOLUTION: The image photographing device comprises an imaging means for converting an optical image indicative of an object into electrical signals and a storing means for storing an image data representative of the electrical signals into an information recording medium. The image photographing device also comprises a means for selecting an image data to be outputted, a number of copies specifying means for specifying and storing the number of output copies, and a communication means for transmitting an output instruction signal for the image data to an image output device and receiving an output completion signal in response to the output instruction signal from the image output device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides an image printing apparatus capable of directly outputting an image output apparatus without using a personal computer by directly connecting the image output apparatus, and prevents unnecessary printing when performing a plurality of image printing. The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus and an image output method that can avoid the above-described problem.

  A digital camera, which is an image capturing device, is directly connected to a printer, which is an image output device, via general-purpose communication means (for example, USB), and is stored in the digital camera without using an information processing device such as a personal computer. A direct print function capable of printing existing image data is known.

  The direct print function performs the following signal exchange between the digital camera and the printer. First, when the digital camera detects connection with the printer, the digital camera starts predetermined information acquisition processing for the printer. In this process, the printer notifies the digital camera of information related to the print processing function that can be executed by the printer using a text script file. Next, the digital camera displays available printing functions based on the information described in the received script file, and the user selects a predetermined printing function using this display. Next, the user selects an image file desired to be printed from the image data stored in the digital camera. Next, the digital camera generates instruction information including the selected printing function and the file name of the selected image data, and notifies the printer of the instruction information. The printer can obtain a predetermined print output by executing print processing based on the instruction information.

  The digital camera stores captured images in an external storage means such as an SD memory in a predetermined file format. Recently, the storage capacity of the storage medium used for the external storage means has increased dramatically, and the number of image data that can be stored has become enormous. In order to print only predetermined image data from such a large amount of image data, it is convenient to use image list printing. The image list printing is a method of printing a plurality of compressed images of selected image data on a single printing sheet, and is called index printing.

  In a digital camera having the direct print function as described above, an invention relating to a digital camera that can specify a number of copies of an image file to be printed and obtain a plurality of print outputs at a time is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). reference). In addition, in order to shorten the time required for the printing process, an invention that can perform a printing process preparation process and a process of transmitting an image file to a printer is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3864992 JP 2003-246120 A

  When the digital camera described in the above-mentioned patent document 1 is specified by specifying the number of copies of an image file to be printed, particularly when index printing is performed by specifying the number of copies for each image file, the image file with the specified number of copies is displayed. As many as the number of copies are continuously printed, it is not possible to obtain a print output in a state of being evenly arranged on each printing paper. In addition, when specifying the number of copies for the entire index printing, the difference from the operation for specifying the number of copies for each image file becomes complicated, which causes a user's operation error.

  The digital camera described in Patent Document 2 can perform preparation for printing processing and image file transfer processing in parallel. However, when the number of image files to be printed increases, the transfer time of the image file is the entire printing processing. Since the proportion of time increases, it is difficult to reduce the time required for the entire printing process. Therefore, the present applicant relates to an invention in which a plurality of communication buffers are switched and image data transfer preparation processing and printing processing can be performed in parallel in order to reduce the time required for printing processing. A patent application was filed at -022647.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems that cannot be achieved by the conventional invention as described in Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and the like. A personal computer is connected directly to an image output device. To provide an image photographing apparatus capable of performing an image printing process without using it, and capable of avoiding unnecessary printing by preventing an operation error when performing a plurality of image printing. With the goal.

  According to the present invention, an optical image representing a subject is converted into an electrical signal by an imaging means, image data representing the electrical signal is stored in an information recording medium, and an output instruction signal for the image data is transmitted to the image output apparatus. An image photographing apparatus having a communication means for receiving an output completion signal corresponding to an output instruction signal from the image output apparatus, the means for selecting image data to be output, and the number specification means for specifying and storing the number of copies to be output And a control means for controlling the transmission of the output instruction signal by comparing the designated number of copies with the number of output completion signals received with respect to the output signal of the selected image data.

According to the present invention, in the image photographing apparatus, means for displaying the designated number of copies;
And a means for displaying the number of output completion signals received from the image output device.

  According to the present invention, the number of output image data desired to be printed can be designated for each image data, and further, the number of copies per print request unit can be designated, so that it is not necessary to repeatedly perform operations relating to printing. Thus, it is possible to perform a predetermined printing process while preventing an operation error.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image photographing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a digital camera which is an image photographing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an example of a printer which is an image output apparatus used to implement a direct print function of the image photographing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows.

  In FIG. 1, a digital camera 1 includes an external storage device 11 (an SD memory, a compact flash (registered trademark), etc.) that stores captured images, an imaging device 12 that includes a lens and its drive system, a CCD, an AD converter, and the like. A display device 13 for displaying various types of information necessary for shooting operations and operations related to image output processing described later, and a console 14 used for setting operations related to shooting operations and shooting processing and operations related to image output processing described later. A communication I / F 15 that controls the interface with the printer 2 that is an image output device, a CPU / ROM / RAM / input / output port (I / O port) that controls the entire digital camera 1, and a bus line that connects them. It is comprised by the whole control apparatus 10 which has. The overall control device 10 is constituted by a known microcomputer.

  The communication I / F 15 of the digital camera 1 is an interface for connecting to the printer 2 via the communication unit 3 so as to be communicable. The communication means 3 can be used regardless of wired or wireless, and a specific example of wired is USB (Universal Serial Bus). A specific example of wireless is a short-range wireless communication system that is widely used, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-fi (wireless LAN standard), and IrDA (infrared communication). In general, a form using USB is widespread.

  The ROM is a non-volatile memory that stores processing procedures (programs) performed by the CPU, and the image output method according to the present invention is implemented by the programs stored in the ROM. The RAM also functions as a transmission buffer memory to be described later in addition to a function as a work area used by the CPU when executing the program.

  In FIG. 2, the printer 2 that is an image output device includes an external storage device 21 (such as an SD memory or a compact flash (registered trademark)) that stores information, a printing device 22 that performs printing on paper, and a printing process. A display device 23 that displays various information and set information, a console 24 that is used to perform various settings related to print processing, a communication I / F 25 that controls an interface with the digital camera 1 that is an image photographing device, and a printer 2 is constituted by an overall control device 20 having a CPU / ROM / RAM / input / output port (I / O port) for controlling the whole and a bus line connecting these. The overall control device 20 is constituted by a known microcomputer.

  The ROM is a non-volatile memory that stores processing procedures (programs) performed by the CPU, and the image output method according to the present invention is implemented by the programs stored in the ROM. The RAM also functions as a reception buffer memory, which will be described later, in addition to the function as a work area used by the CPU when executing the program.

  When the digital camera 1 is connected to the printer 2 and a physical connection is established via the communication means 3, the image output program stored in the ROM of the overall control device 10 of the digital camera 1 is activated, and the printer 2 The transmission request processing of the capability value for is performed. Here, the capability value is information representing various printing functions that can be processed by the printer 2, and is a text file described in a predetermined script format. This capability value describes, for example, information indicating the paper size, layout, printing conditions (printing the date, printing the name of the photographic image, etc.) that can be used by the printer 2, and the number of printable images at the time of index printing. The

  After receiving the above capability value, the digital camera 1 displays information on print processing conditions that can be selected based on this capability value on the display device 13. The user designates a desired output size, output format, output target image, and the like from the information displayed on the display device 13. Each piece of information specified by this operation is an operating condition for image printing processing to be executed later.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device 13. In FIG. 3, a screen 401 is an initial setting screen in the printing condition selection operation, and is a screen on which designation of an image file to be printed can be selected as “1 file” or “all files”.

  The above selection operation can be performed by operating the console 14. In a state where the screen 401 is displayed, if the user operates the console 14 to select “all files” and press “OK”, a printing condition setting screen 402 is displayed on the display device 13.

  The print setting screen 402 is a screen for designating the number of copies for the print output target “all files” designated on the screen 401. “1 copy”, “2 copies”... “10 copies” displayed on the screen 402 are the number of copies to be printed. When the user selects a desired number of copies and presses “OK”, The setting of the number of copies is completed.

  In the next screen 403, select “paper size” in the same manner, select “print type” in the next screen 404, and reduce the plurality of image files desired to be printed in the next screen 405. When an index print is specified that is arranged and constitutes one page and the “OK” button is pressed, the print condition setting is completed, and a print process is performed according to the set print condition and the selected image file.

  A flow of image output processing using the image photographing apparatus will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the image output program that the digital camera 1 has. In FIG. 4, each step of the process is represented as (301), (302),. After the output condition is determined by the above selection operation (see FIG. 3), when “OK” is pressed on the screen 405, the image output process is started, and the print condition such as the output format already set is selected first. Print control information to be transmitted to the printer 2 is generated based on information such as the file name of the current image file (Yes in 301).

  The print control information will be described with reference to FIG. In the print control information 40 shown in FIG. 6, “all files” is selected on the screen 401 (FIG. 3), “3 copies” is selected on the screen 402, and the output format is “index” on the screen 405. This is a case where “print” is selected, and there are 18 image files stored in the external storage device 11 of the digital camera 1.

  The print control information 40 includes an information identifier 41 indicating that this file is a print request, a layout identifier 42 indicating that the print processing is “index printing”, and a file identifier 43 indicating an image file to be printed. Do it. The “<index />” indicated by the layout identifier 42 is due to the selection of “index” on the screen 405 (FIG. 3), and the print control information 40 prints a plurality of reduced images on one page. This indicates that the index layout is designated. Similarly, “<number of copies> 003 </ number of copies” ”is obtained by selecting“ 3 copies ”on the screen 402 (FIG. 3), and the print control information 40 is an instruction for printing 3 copies. It shows that there is. “RIMG0001.JPG” indicated by the file identifier 43 is an image file name, and information “<number> 001 </ number>” described subsequently to the image file name is the image file name. It is shown that the number of prints designated for each is one. In this way, the image file names of each of the 18 image files to be printed and the number to be printed are described.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the generated print control information is transmitted to the printer 2 (302), and the image file transfer process (304) is skipped until the image file acquisition request from the printer 2 is received. After the file printing end judgment (305), the process 303 is recursed (NO in 303). When an image file acquisition request is received from the printer 2 (YES in 303), the designated image file is transmitted to the printer 2 (304). Until the print completion notification is received from the printer 2, the above process is repeated by returning to the process 303 (NO in 305). When the print completion notification is received from the printer 2, the printing process ends (YES in 305). The print completion notification is information that the printer 2 transmits to the digital camera when the print processing of all the image files indicated by the file identifier 43 described in the print control information is completed.

  The process flow on the printer 2 side for the image output process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 5, each step of the process is represented as (201), (202),. When print control information, which is a print start request, is received from the digital camera 1 (YES in 201), the printer 2 returns a normal print start response indicating that the print control information has been received normally to the digital camera 1 (202). . Next, an acquisition request for the image file specified by the file identifier 43 included in the received print control information is transmitted to the digital camera 1 (203). The printer 2 receives the requested image file (YES in 204). Since the image file is in the JPEG compression format, it is decompressed and developed as an image in the work memory (RAM of the overall control device 10) in page units (205). As described above, in the print control information 40 used for the output processing, the layout identifier 42 is “index”, and the file identifier 43 describes 18 image file names. For example, if the “index” layout arranges 6 images per page, when 6 image files are received (YES in 206), the printing process is started (207). If printing of all the image files specified in the print control information is completed (YES in 208) and printing for the number of copies specified in the print control information is completed (YES in 209), the process ends. .

  Next, the flow of signals between the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 in the image output process will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. As described above, when the digital camera 1 is connected to the printer 2 and becomes communicable, the digital camera 1 generates print control information 40 based on various information settings related to the image printing process (see FIG. 3), and the printer 2, the printer 2 transmits a print processing start notification indicating that the print control information 40 has been normally received to the digital camera 1 (701). Thereafter, the printer 2 starts a print preparation process (702) based on the received print control information 40. The print preparation process (702) starts an image print program stored in the ROM in the overall control device 20 of the printer 2 and executes a predetermined print process while controlling communication with the digital camera 1. This is processing for initial setting of the printer 2.

  When the printer 2 finishes the print preparation process 702, the printer 2 performs an image file acquisition process 703. The image file acquisition process 703 designates the image file name described in the file identifier 43 included in the received print control information 40 and makes a request to send the image file to the printer 2. Then, the image file request information is transmitted to the digital camera 1. In response to the image file request received from the printer 2, the digital camera 1 reads the corresponding image file (RIMG0001.JPG) from the storage device 11 and transmits it to the printer 2 (704).

  The printer 2 performs an image file editing process (705) using the received image file (RIMG0001.JPG). The image file editing process (705) is a process for expanding the received image file and printing it as an image in a print work memory provided for each page.

  After the image file editing process 705 is completed, the printer 2 designates the next image file name described in the file identifier 43 of the print control information 40 and requests to obtain an image file of the image file (RIMG0002.JPG). Processing is performed (703). In response to the image file request (RIMG0002.JPG) received from the printer 2, the digital camera 1 reads the image file (RIMG0002.JPG) from the storage device 11 and transmits it to the printer 2 (704). As described above, the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 repeatedly perform the transmission / reception process and the image data editing process for the image file name included in the print control information 40 (703, 704, 705), and are included in the print control information 40. When the reception process has been completed for all the image files, determination processing is performed as to whether or not the printing process for the number of copies designated by the layout identifier 42 has been completed (706).

As a result of the determination process, when the printing process for the number of copies specified in the print control information 40 has not been completed, a process of acquiring again the image file name specified in the print control information 40 received earlier is performed. (703). The above processing is continued until the printing process for the number of copies is completed. When it is determined that the printing process for the number of copies has been completed, the printer 2 transmits a print completion notification to the digital camera 1, and the digital camera 1 performs printing. A completion notification reception response is transmitted to the printer 2, and the print output process is terminated.

  An example of print output by the image output process described above is shown in FIG. This is an example of index printing output in which 6 images are arranged per page, and one copy is a total of 3 copies (3 pages in total) of index printing over 3 pages. P1a, P2a, and P3a are output examples of the first image output process in the image output process described above. Similarly, output examples by the second output process are P1b, P2b, P3b, and output examples by the third image output process are P1c, P2c, and P3c. In this way, it is possible to obtain the same number of copies as the same output result.

  As described above, the image capturing apparatus according to the present invention can select a plurality of image files and the number of print copies of the entire selected image file, and does not perform a complicated operation for the print processing of the plurality of copies. Can be done.

  Next, another embodiment of the image output process using the image capturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is an example of a print condition setting operation screen according to the present embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, after the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 are connected via the communication unit 3, the screen 601 in FIG. 9 is displayed when the screen is shifted to the image file list display screen. In the screen 601, the number of output copies of the upper left image is designated as 1, and the number of output copies of the middle lower image is designated as 3. As described above, after specifying the number of output copies for each image file, when the MENU button indicating the end of specification is pressed, the screen 602 is displayed, and the total number of output copies can be specified. Here, it is assumed that “1 copy” is designated on the screen 602. Next, the print condition setting screen of the screen 603 is displayed. When the index print is designated and the OK button is pressed on the screens 604 and 605, the image output process is started. Thus, the number of copies can be specified for each image file.

  When “index” is specified (screen 605) in the setting of each screen in the second embodiment, the number of output copies for each image file set on the screen 601 is forcibly changed to 1, and then the print control information is set. You may make it produce | generate. In this way, it is possible to prevent multiple printing of the same image file per page of print output by specifying the number of copies for each image file and printing the number of copies of the entire specified image file.

  Next, an example of image output processing when the number of output copies is set to “3” for all image files on the screen 601 in the second embodiment and the number of print copies is set to 1 on the screen 602 will be described. To do. The third embodiment can cope with such processing. FIG. 10 is an example of print start control information according to the third embodiment. It is assumed that 18 image files are stored in the external storage device 11 of the digital camera 1. Since the number of copies is set to “001” in the layout identifier 42 and the number of copies for each of the 18 image files is set to “3”, the image file name indicated by the file identifier 43 of the print control information 40a The information indicating the number of times of output described after is “<number> 003 </ number>”. Therefore, it is indicated that three copies of index printing for outputting each image file three times are performed. An output example of the image output process performed using the print control information 40a is shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, in the print control information 40a transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the printer 2 three times, examples output based on the first print control information 40a are P1a, P2a, and P3a. Similarly, output examples by the print control information 40a transmitted the second time are P1b, P2b, and P3b, and the third output is P1c, P2c, and P3c. As shown in FIG. 11, since each image file outputs the designated number of copies (3 copies) and then the next image file, one image file is repeated as many times as the designated number of copies. Will be printed.

  Next, another embodiment of the image printing process using the image photographing apparatus according to the present invention will be shown. FIG. 12 shows an example of the output status display displayed on the display device 13 when executing the image output process. A screen 801 shown in FIG. 12A shows a copy number display 81 for displaying the number of copies currently being processed out of the total number of copies for the print processing, and the number of image files included in one print control information. It has a progress bar 82a divided by. The copy number display 81 indicates that the number of print copies designated in the print process is 11, and the third print process is currently being processed. The progress bar 82a is a bar display divided by the number of image file names described in the print control information, and is the number of image files transmitted in the image file transmission process of process 704 (see FIG. 7). A considerable range is displayed from the left side. Therefore, when the image printing process for one print control information is completed, the progress bar 82a is completely filled. In this embodiment, after the third copy printing process is completed, the print control information is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the printer 2 in order to perform the fourth copy print process. After the transmission, the digital camera updates the copy number display 71 (sets it to 4/11), initializes the display of the progress bar 82a, and makes the whole display white.

  A screen 802 shown in FIG. 12B is a multiplication result of 18 which is the designated number of copies (11 copies) and the total number of images without providing the copy number display 81 for displaying the total number of copies related to the print processing. The progress bar 82b is divided and displayed. Each time one image file is transmitted to the printer 2, the progress bar 82b is painted from the left side, and when the designated image printing process is completed, the progress bar 82b is completely painted.

  Next, a fifth embodiment obtained by modifying the second embodiment will be described. After the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 are connected by the communication means 3, first, a layout setting screen (screen 605 in FIG. 9) is displayed. When the number of print images per page is designated on the screen 605 and the MENU button is pressed, the screen 601 is displayed. In the layout setting screen, when the designated output layout is “index”, control is performed so that the number of print copies of each image file cannot be set on the screen 601 displayed next, and output per image file is performed. The number is fixed at 1.

  In addition, when “one frame” for printing one image per page is selected on the layout setting screen (605 in FIG. 9), the setting for the number of copies of each image file can be specified on the screen 601. When the number of copies for each image file is set, the display is controlled so as to shift to the screen 603 without displaying the screen 602. In this way, by controlling the display of the various setting screens, settings suitable for output printing desired by the user can be supported without displaying unnecessary setting screens.

  A sixth embodiment obtained by modifying the fifth embodiment will be described. After the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 are connected by the communication means 3, a layout setting screen (screen 605 in FIG. 9) is displayed. When the number of print images per page is designated on the screen 605 and the MENU button is pressed, the screen 601 is displayed. In the layout setting screen, when the selected output layout is “index”, if the number of prints for each image file is set to a value other than 1 on the screen 601 to be displayed next, the display device 13 displays “warning: A warning screen saying “Multiple images will be printed on the same page” can be displayed. Here, when the MENU button is pressed, a screen 602 is displayed, and the number of copies can be designated. Since the print layout already set is “index” other than “one frame”, the number of copies to be printed can be set on the screen 602.

  In the above layout setting screen, when the number of print images per page is “one frame”, the number of prints for each image file is designated on the screen 601, and the number of print copies on the screen 602 is other than “1”. Is selected, a warning screen “Warning: When specifying the number of copies, the number of copies specified * printing for the specified number of copies is performed” is displayed. After specifying the number of copies, printing conditions are set on the operation screen display of the screens 603 and 604, and printing is started.

  A seventh embodiment obtained by further modifying the second embodiment will be described. After the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 are connected by the communication means 3, an image file list display screen (screen 601 in FIG. 9) is displayed. After specifying the number of prints for each image file on the screen 601, set the number of copies to “3” on the screen 602, set the output layout to “index” on the layout setting screen (screen 605 in FIG. 9), and select “OK”. When the "" button is pressed, a warning screen such as "Warning: Multiple images are printed on the same page if the number of copies is specified" is displayed. On the above layout setting screen (screen 605 in FIG. 9), when the output layout is set to “1 frame” and the “OK” button is pressed, “Warning: When specifying the number of copies, the number of copies specified * the number of copies specified will be printed” Etc. can be displayed.

  As described above, when the image capturing apparatus is directly connected to the image output apparatus and the image output process is performed, the number of prints for each designated image file, the type of the selected output layout, the designation of printing of a plurality of copies, and the like are performed. In this case, according to the image capturing device and the image output method using the image capturing device according to the present invention, when the number of print output designated for each image file and the layout for printing a plurality of images per page are selected. The user can easily select the setting for obtaining the desired print.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of the digital camera which is an image imaging device which concerns on this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printer that is an image output apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. It is an example of a screen when performing printing condition setting using the image output apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process using the image capturing apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of a printer connected to the image capturing apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is a description example of print control information generated by the image capturing apparatus in the print processing. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of communication in the said printing process. It is an image figure which shows the example of an output by the said printing process. It is another example of the screen at the time of performing the printing condition setting using the image output apparatus. 6 is another description example of print control information generated by the image capturing apparatus in the print processing. It is an image figure which shows another example of the output by the said printing process. 6 is a display example during image output processing using the image capturing apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Printer 3 Communication network 40 Print control information 41 Information identifier 42 Layout identifier 43 File identifier

Claims (10)

An image photographing apparatus having means for converting an optical image representing a subject into an electrical signal by an imaging means and storing image data representing the electrical signal in an information recording medium,
Means for selecting image data to be output;
A copy number designating means for designating and storing the number of output copies;
An image photographing apparatus comprising: communication means for transmitting an output instruction signal for the image data to an image output apparatus and receiving an output completion signal for the output instruction signal from the image output apparatus. Means for displaying the specified number of output copies;
The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying the number of transmission completion signals transmitted to the image output apparatus. Means for multiplying the number of output copies and the number of the selected image data to calculate the total number of outputs;
Means for receiving the output completion signal for each of the selected image data;
2. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a ratio of the number of received output completion signals to the total number of outputs. Means for selecting and storing the output layout;
Image output number designation means for selecting image data to be output and designating the number of outputs for each image data;
The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second control unit that controls whether or not the copy number designation unit and the image output number designation unit are operable based on the output layout. Means for selecting and storing an output layout for arranging the selected image data;
Image output number specifying means for selecting image data to be output and specifying the number of outputs for each image data;
2. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a warning display unit when the copy number designation unit and the image output number designation unit operate based on the selected output layout. An optical image representing a subject is converted into an electrical signal by an imaging means, image data representing the electrical signal is stored in an information recording medium, an output instruction signal of the image data is transmitted to an image output device, and the image output device An image capturing apparatus having communication means for receiving an output completion signal for an output instruction signal from
An image output device having means for receiving an output signal of image data, means for outputting image data, and means for transmitting an output completion signal to the image photographing device in response to the received output signal;
An image output method performed by connecting the image capturing device and the image output device so that they can communicate with each other,
In the above image capturing apparatus,
Selecting image data to be output by button operation;
Designating and storing the number of copies to be output by button operation;
Transmitting an output instruction signal based on the designated number of copies and the selected image data to an image output device;
Receiving an output completion signal from the image output apparatus in response to the output instruction signal. Displaying the specified number of copies;
The image output method according to claim 6, further comprising: displaying the number of output completion signals received from the image output device. Multiplying the specified number of copies by the number of the selected image data to calculate the total number of outputs;
Receiving the output completion signal for each of the selected image data;
7. The image output method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of displaying a ratio of the number of received output completion signals to the total number of outputs. Selecting and storing an output layout by button operation;
Specifying the number to be output for each selected image data by button operation,
The image output method according to claim 6, further comprising: specifying the number of copies based on the output layout; and determining whether to execute the step of specifying the number to be output. Selecting and storing an output layout by button operation;
Specifying the number to be output for each selected image file by button operation,
Displaying a warning by executing the step of specifying the number of copies based on the output layout; and
The image output method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of displaying a warning by executing the step of designating the number to be output based on the output layout.