JP4133573B2 - Image recording apparatus and image recording method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and an image recording method for capturing a three-dimensional image using binocular parallax and recording it on a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, digital cameras that can easily shoot high-quality image data by providing a so-called megapixel CCD having a resolution of 1 million pixels or more have become widespread. As a result, it is possible to print image data recorded as digital data with the same quality as a silver salt film camera, and print services that provide high-quality image prints from image data are becoming widespread.
[0003]
On the other hand, it is known that a photographed subject can be viewed three-dimensionally by separately viewing images of a plurality of viewpoints having parallax with respect to the subject with the left and right eyes (hereinafter, such an image is referred to as such an image). This is called a stereo image, and the images of the viewpoints that make up the stereo image are called viewpoint images). As a means for capturing a stereo image, a method of capturing a plurality of images with parallax on one screen by attaching a stereo adapter that forms a plurality of subject images with different viewpoints to a general monocular camera, A plurality of images with parallax are photographed by photographing subjects from different viewpoints using the above cameras.
[0004]
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a captured image when the stereo adapter is attached. FIG. 10A shows an image taken without a stereo adapter attached, and FIG. 10B shows an image taken with a stereo adapter of a type whose angle of view is halved. c) shows an image taken with a stereo adapter of a type in which the angle of view does not change and the shootable range becomes narrower. When a stereo adapter is attached, a left eye image is generally projected on the left side and a right eye image is projected on the right side, and the screen size is the same as before the stereo adapter is attached.
[0005]
Images shot in this way can be viewed stereoscopically by viewing the left eye image with only the left eye and the right eye image with only the right eye. A parallax barrier method has been proposed as one of the typical methods for realizing stereoscopic viewing using binocular parallax. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the parallax barrier method. FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating the principle of generating parallax. FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a display format of a screen displayed by the parallax barrier method, and the left eye image and the right eye image are arranged alternately every other pixel in the horizontal direction.
[0006]
In FIG. 11A, an image as shown in FIG. 11B is displayed on the image display panel 701, and the parallax barrier 702 having slits at intervals smaller than the interval between pixels of the same viewpoint is displayed on the image display panel 701. By placing in front, the left eye image is observed only by the left eye 703 and the right eye image is observed only by the right eye 704, and stereoscopic viewing can be performed.
[0007]
By the way, without using such a special stereoscopic device, it is also possible to perform stereoscopic viewing by printing images adjacent to the left and right and observing the left and right images with separate eyes.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional print service, a monocular image is optimally printed, and a case of printing a stereo image is not considered. Therefore, since the size of the print paper is limited, there is a problem that only a part of the image data is printed depending on the form of the stereo image. For example, when two images obtained by photographing a subject using two cameras have the same size as the image shown in FIG. 10A, the image in which the left and right images are adjacent to each other is shown in FIG. As shown, the horizontal size is doubled. When this image data is printed with the same paper size as a monocular image, only a part of the image is printed as shown in FIG. If the user intends to print a stereo image, a result far from the intended image can be obtained, resulting in unnecessary costs. It is possible to print the entire image data by selecting the paper or printing the image at a reduced size, but the correspondence varies depending on the print service provider, or the user of the print service specifies for each image data It must be complicated.
[0009]
In addition, when the number of viewpoints is large, or when each viewpoint image of a stereo image is edited such as rotation for each viewpoint image (hereinafter referred to as rotation for each viewpoint image), special stereoscopic viewing is performed. If the apparatus for use is not used, printing is performed in a state in which stereoscopic viewing cannot be performed, resulting in unnecessary cost.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and enables image data that can be appropriately viewed stereoscopically in an existing printer or print service, and other image data is contrary to the user's intention. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus and an image recording method capable of recording image data so as not to be printed.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides image data including images corresponding to N (N is a natural number) viewpoints.Encode an image file with an extensionRecordWith recording meansIn an image recording apparatus, based on a parameter indicating the structure of the image data,The image dataWhether or not can be printed in a form that allows stereoscopic viewing with the naked eyeForm discriminating means for discriminatingAnd the recording means includesDiscrimination result of the form discrimination meansHowever, if it cannot be printed stereoscopically, an extension that is not associated with the image file is added and recorded as an image file.The above-mentioned purpose is achieved.
[0012]
  More preferably, when the discrimination result of the form discrimination means is determined to be capable of being printed stereoscopically, the ratio of the horizontal size and the vertical size of the image data is a predetermined condition for the image data. An image size determining unit that determines whether or not the image size is satisfied, and the recording unit sets the image data to satisfy the predetermined condition when the determination result of the image size determining unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition. It is changed and recorded as an image file.
[0013]
  More preferably, the recording means multiplexes the image data and the parameters in a predetermined format and records them as an image file.
[0015]
  The present invention also provides image data including images corresponding to N (N is a natural number) viewpoints.Encode an image file with an extensionRecordHave a recording stepIn the image recording method, based on a parameter indicating the structure of the image data,The image dataWhether or not can be printed in a form that allows stereoscopic viewing with the naked eyeThe form discrimination step to discriminateAnd the recording step comprisesDiscrimination result of the form discrimination stepHowever, if it cannot be printed stereoscopically, an extension that is not associated with the image file is added and recorded as an image file.The above-mentioned purpose is achieved.
[0016]
  More preferably, when the determination result of the form determination step is determined that printing can be performed stereoscopically, the ratio of the horizontal size of the image data to the vertical size of the image data is a predetermined condition. An image size determining step for determining whether or not the image data satisfies the condition, and the recording step sets the image data to satisfy the predetermined condition when the determination result of the image size determining step does not satisfy the predetermined condition. Change and record as an image fileIt is characterized by that.
[0017]
  More preferably, in the recording step, the image data and the parameters are multiplexed in a predetermined format and recorded as an image file.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an image recording apparatus for generating recording data by inputting image data and parameters associated therewith and recording the recording data on a recording medium.
[0020]
The image data input here differs depending on the input system, such as when a stereo adapter is attached to a monocular camera or when a plurality of cameras are used. In either case, the image data is shown in FIGS. c) As shown in FIG. 12A, it is assumed that image data in a state where the viewpoint images are adjacent to each other is input in a digital format. Parameters are information necessary for three-dimensional display of image data, and include image size (represented by the number of pixels in the horizontal direction and the number of lines in the horizontal direction), the number of viewpoints in the horizontal and vertical directions, and viewpoints. Image reduction ratio, image layout (shows how to arrange each viewpoint image, horizontal layout adjacent in the horizontal direction, vertical layout adjacent in the vertical direction, and grid layout adjacent to the grid) Information on the structure of There is a one-to-one correspondence between image data and parameters. If the input system for image data is changed, the parameters are basically changed.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, an image recording apparatus 100 includes an image change unit 101, an image storage unit 102 that stores input image data, an image form determination unit 103, and encodes image data by a predetermined method. An encoding unit 104 for outputting, an encoded data storage unit 105 for temporarily storing the encoded data, and a data recording unit 106 for recording the encoded data are included.
[0022]
The image form determination unit 103 determines, based on the input parameters, whether one of the following forms A, B, or C applies when image data is printed.
[0023]
Form A: The whole is printed in the input state and can be stereoscopically viewed without using a special stereoscopic device
Form B: The entire image is not always printed, but in principle, stereoscopic viewing is possible without using a special stereoscopic device.
Form C: In principle, stereoscopic viewing is impossible unless a special stereoscopic device is used.
[0024]
The encoding unit 104 encodes image data using a predetermined encoding method. Here, it is assumed that a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) system, which is an international standard for encoding still images, is used.
[0025]
The recording unit 106 records recording data as a file on a recording medium using a file system such as FAT (File Allocation Table).
[0026]
The operation of the image recording apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0027]
Image recording apparatus 100 accepts input of image data and parameters (ST100). The input image data is stored in the image storage unit 102, and the parameters are input to the image form determination unit 103.
[0028]
The image form determination unit 103 performs the following two determinations based on the input parameters. First, when the input image data is printed, it is determined whether or not stereoscopic vision with the naked eye is possible in principle without using glasses or the like for stereoscopic vision (ST101). Here, when the number of viewpoints is 2, the viewpoint images are adjacent in the horizontal direction, and the viewpoint data is not edited such as rotation for each viewpoint image, stereoscopic viewing with the naked eye is possible. Printing is allowed, otherwise printing is not possible. That is, among the input parameters, it is determined that printing is possible when the number of viewpoints in the horizontal direction is 2, the number of viewpoints in the vertical direction is 1, and the image combination is horizontally arranged, and printing is not possible in other cases (in the form C Determined). The determination result is output to the storage unit 106 as print permission / inhibition information.
[0029]
If printing is possible, the next step ST103 is executed. If printing is not possible, step ST106 is executed (ST102). In step ST103, the image form determination unit 103 calculates the aspect ratio of the size of the image data. Here, aspect ratio = number of pixels per line / number of lines.
[0030]
Next, the aspect ratio is compared with a predetermined threshold value to determine whether or not an image change is necessary (ST104). If the aspect ratio is smaller than the predetermined threshold value in step ST104, a stereo image can be printed within the conventional monocular print range (form A, necessity of image change = unnecessary). move on. When the aspect ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, stereoscopic viewing with the naked eye is possible in principle as shown in FIG. 12 (a). However, with the conventional printing system, the entire image is printed. Not limited (form B, necessity of image change = required). Accordingly, the image data is changed in the next step ST105. Here, since the size ratio (horizontal: vertical) of the printing paper used as standard is approximately 4: 3, 1.4 is used as the threshold value. However, this value should be changed according to the size ratio of the paper that is generally distributed, and the present invention does not limit this value. In addition, the condition for determining whether or not to change the image may be other than the above. When the aspect ratio is larger than a predetermined threshold, the mode A may be used. When the aspect ratio matches a predetermined reference value Form A may be used, and form A may be used when the difference between the reference value and the aspect ratio is within a predetermined range.
Whether the image change is necessary is output to the image change unit 101.
[0031]
In step ST105, the image changing unit 101 reads the image data from the image storage unit 102 when it is necessary to change the image input from the image form determining unit 103, and determines the mode A based on the above determination conditions. The image data is changed. Here, in order not to affect the original image data, predetermined image data is added to the image. Hereinafter, the added image is referred to as an additional image, and the data is referred to as additional image data. Here, the additional image may be filled with a predetermined color or a specific pattern, or may be any other image.
[0032]
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the change at this time. Reference numeral 301 denotes input image data whose size is 1280 pixels × 480 lines (aspect ratio≈2.67). Images indicated by 302 and 303 are added to the top and bottom of the image data 301, respectively, so that the overall image size is 1280 pixels × 960 lines (aspect ratio≈1.33). Since the aspect ratio is smaller than the threshold value, the entire image data is printed by a conventional printing system or the like. The changed image data is stored in the image data storage unit 102 again. In this example, the additional image is added to the top and bottom of the image, but it may be only above the image or only below the image.
[0033]
Note that the image changing method may be other methods as long as it is determined to be form A based on the above determination conditions. For example, the image may be reduced in the horizontal direction (for example, 1280 pixels × 480 lines). Change to 640 pixels × 480 lines).
[0034]
In addition, the image changing method may be as follows. That is, the divided images obtained by dividing the viewpoint image into two equal parts are rearranged, and the divided image to be printed is arranged at the center of the image. The change result at this time is shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows an image before the change, 401 is a left half obtained by dividing the left eye image into two equal parts, 402 is also the right half, 403 is a left half obtained by dividing the right eye image into two equal parts, and 403 is also the same. The right half. Images obtained by rearranging these divided images are shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C. FIG. 4B shows an example in which the divided images are arranged so that the left eye images (401 and 402) are in the center, and the purpose is to mainly obtain the left eye image portion when printed. . FIG. 4C shows an example in which the right half 402 of the left-eye image and the right half 404 of the right-eye image are arranged in the center. The objective is to enable stereoscopic viewing with 402 and 404 when printed.
[0035]
Note that there are two methods of stereoscopic viewing: a crossing method and a parallel method. In the crossing method, a right eye image is printed on the left side and a left eye image is not printed on the right side. . On the other hand, in the parallel method, the left eye image is printed on the left side and the right eye image is not printed on the right side in the cross method. In order to indicate by which method the printed image can be stereoscopically viewed, information indicating the viewpoint in the image data (for example, an additional image in or around the viewpoint image) (for example, L character for the left-eye image) The letter R may be added to the right eye image.
[0036]
2, the encoding unit 104 reads out image data from the image data storage unit 102, encodes the image data, and outputs the encoded data to the encoded data storage unit 105.
[0037]
The recording unit 106 determines an extension to be added to the file name in accordance with the print availability information input from the image form determination unit 103 (ST107). The extension is generally used to indicate the type of file. For example, an extension “JPG” is used for a file that records image data encoded by the JPEG method. In an existing print service or the like, a file having an extension indicating an image file can be selected. Therefore, when printing is possible, an extension “JPG” is added as in the conventional case. On the other hand, a new extension that is not associated with a conventional image file is attached to a file that cannot be printed.
Next, recording section 106 reads the encoded data from encoded data storage section 105 and records it in a file (ST108).
[0038]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an image file management structure based on the DCF (Design Rule for Camera Filesystem) standard. Reference numeral 500 denotes a root directory, reference numeral 501 denotes a DCF image root directory (DCIM directory), and reference numeral 502 denotes a DCF directory, which are hierarchically configured as shown in FIG. A file in which image data is recorded immediately below the DCF directory 502 exists. Files with the extension “JPG” (503, 504, and 507) are treated as DCF basic files and recognized as image files by the conventional print service. On the other hand, a file with the extension “TDJ” is handled as a DCF extension file, and is not recognized as an image file by an existing print service, and therefore is not printed.
[0039]
Note that the recording unit 106 determines the extension based on the print permission / inhibition information, but the directory for recording the image data may be changed. The same effect can be obtained by creating a directory different from the DCIM directory 501 under the root directory 500 and recording a file under the directory.
[0040]
Alternatively, if the printability information is not printable, the image data may be divided into image data for each viewpoint and recorded in separate files. In the case of the DCF standard, the extension of one viewpoint image data is “JPG”, the other viewpoint image data is an extension other than “JPG”, and each viewpoint image data is in accordance with the file name naming convention. The correspondence relationship is indicated by a file number. An example at this time is shown below. In FIG. 6, a file 610 and a file 611 are a pair of stereo images having a total number of viewpoints of 2, the file 610 is a DCF basic file with an extension “JPG”, and the file 611 has an extension “TDJ”. The DCF extension file is a DCF object.
[0041]
In the case of a stereo image having a total number of viewpoints of 3 or more, like a file 612, a file 613, and a file 614, one file is a DCF basic file with an extension “JPG”, and the other file is an extension “ It may be a DCF extension file of “TDJ”, and the correspondence between viewpoint images may be represented by the file name. Alternatively, an extension may be used to represent the correspondence between the viewpoint images. For example, in the case of three viewpoints, the extension of the DCF basic file may be “JPG”, and the extensions of the remaining viewpoint image files may be “JP2”, “JP3”, and the like.
[0042]
Further, the image form determination unit 103 may not allow printing when the total number of viewpoints of the image data is 2 or more. In the above example, in the case of a stereo image, the extension “TDJ” is used instead of the extension “JPG”.
[0043]
In the above embodiment, if it is smaller than the predetermined threshold value in step ST104 of FIG. 2, it is determined that the image change is unnecessary. However, if the aspect ratio is smaller than 1, depending on the printing system, the entire stereo image is rotated 90 ° during printing, and the print result in this case is the same as that shown in FIG. Some may not be printed.
[0044]
Therefore, the determination condition for necessity of image change in step ST104 may be changed as follows. That is, when the aspect ratio is smaller than the first threshold and larger than the second threshold, the process proceeds to step ST106 as form A (necessity of image change = unnecessary), and otherwise, form B ( As the necessity of image change = necessary), the process proceeds to step ST105. Here, the first threshold is set to 1.4, and the second threshold is set to 0.7. However, this value should be changed according to the size ratio of the paper that is generally distributed, and the present invention does not limit this value.
[0045]
At this time, in step ST105, the image change unit 101 reads the image data from the image storage unit 102 as described above if it is necessary to change the image input from the image form determination unit 103, and stores the image data. Alternatively, a predetermined additional image is added to the bottom, top, bottom, top, left, right, or left and right, and the image data is changed so that the mode A is determined based on the above determination conditions.
[0046]
Further, the condition for determining whether or not to change the image may be other than the above, and the aspect ratio may be compared with one or more predetermined reference values so that when there is an identical value, the mode A is set. In addition, when there is a reference value in which the difference in aspect ratio is within a predetermined range, the mode A may be used.
[0047]
Alternatively, the aspect ratio may be input by user specification, and the input image data may be changed so that the specified aspect ratio is obtained. In this case, the determination condition for necessity of image change in step ST104 may be changed as follows. That is, when the aspect ratio calculated in ST103 matches the aspect ratio specified by the user, the process proceeds to step ST106 as Form A (necessity of image change = unnecessary), and the calculated aspect ratio is determined by the user-specified aspect ratio. When the aspect ratio is different from the aspect ratio, the mode B (necessity of image change = necessary) is set to proceed to step ST105. In step ST105, the image change unit 101 reads the image data from the image storage unit 102 as described above if the image change input from the image form determination unit 103 is necessary. The image data is changed so that the aspect ratio becomes equal to the aspect ratio specified by the user by adding a predetermined additional image to the bottom, top, bottom, left, right, or left and right. Also, a plurality of user-specified aspect ratios may be specified. For example, when the image has a horizontally long size (the calculated aspect ratio is greater than 1), and when the image has a vertically long size. (The calculated aspect ratio is smaller than 1), the image is a square size (the calculated aspect ratio is 1), and the aspect ratio used in each case may be properly used. Good.
[0048]
Further, although the above embodiment is applied to a stereo image, it can also be applied to a normal monocular image. In this case, although it is not determined as the form C, it is determined as the form B depending on the aspect ratio of the image such as a panoramic image, and is changed by the image changing unit 101 in the same manner as the stereo image.
[0049]
As described above, image data that can be stereoscopically viewed with the naked eye is recorded so that it can be printed by an existing print service, and other image data is recorded so that it cannot be printed. It is possible to eliminate the need for a service user to designate a print sheet for each image data, and to avoid wasteful costs of printing a stereo image in a state where stereoscopic viewing is not possible.
[0050]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. A difference from FIG. 1 is that a multiplexing unit 107 that multiplexes parameters and encoded data into a predetermined format is provided.
[0051]
FIG. 8 shows an example of the format at this time. In FIG. 8, it is assumed that the recording data is recorded in the order from the top to the bottom of the figure. As shown in FIG. 8, the parameters are recorded as a part of the existing header part using a mechanism for extending the header part prepared in the conventional file format. Here, the extended header is called an extension header. For example, when the encoding method is JPEG, the file header points to an application data segment, defines a new application data segment, and records parameters.
[0052]
When displaying image data as a three-dimensional image, information related to the form of the image data is obtained by referring to the parameters recorded in the extension header so that it can be adapted to a specific display method such as the above-mentioned parallax barrier method. The image data can be processed. Therefore, it is possible to give the recorded image versatility while maintaining compatibility of the image data with the existing file format.
[0053]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing still another configuration example of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. The difference from FIG. 1 is that a multiplexing unit 108 and a recording unit 109 are provided for multiplexing parameters and encoded data in a predetermined format.
[0054]
In FIG. 9, the multiplexing unit 108 multiplexes encoded data to prevent printing with an existing printing system when the print availability information input from the image form determination unit 103 indicates that printing is not possible. The reversible conversion is performed on the encoded data. The conversion method used here may be, for example, a data compression method, or data rearrangement or replacement. Further, in addition to the parameters, print propriety information (information that cannot be printed) is recorded in the extension header of the file. The recording unit 109 does not perform the extension determination process as in step ST107 in FIG. 2 (that is, the extension is not changed from the existing one), and records the recording data output from the multiplexing unit 108 on the recording medium. Although the image file is recognized by the conventional print service, it cannot be reproduced and cannot be printed, so that the above-mentioned problems can be solved.
[0055]
Also in this configuration example, as shown in FIG. 1, the printability information may be input to the recording unit 109, and the extension may be changed when printing is not possible. Alternatively, the image form determination unit 103 may make printing impossible when the total number of viewpoints of the image data is 2 or more. In this case, when the image data is a stereo image, the encoded data is converted.
[0056]
In the above embodiment, the case where the image data is a still image has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to the case of recording a moving image. When recording a moving image, for example, MPEG-4, which is an international standard for image encoding, is used as an encoding method. In this case, the file header in FIG. 8 indicates Visual Object Sequence or / and Video Object Layer, and parameters are recorded as user data in these. Although not shown in FIG. 7, when recording voice or music, those data are also multiplexed by the multiplexing unit 107.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, an image that can be stereoscopically viewed without using a special device for stereoscopic viewing by discriminating the form of image data and performing processing according to the form. Data can be recorded so that it can be printed by an existing print service, and other image data can be recorded so as not to be printed. This eliminates the complication that the user of the print service has to designate print paper for each image data, and generates a wasteful cost by printing a stereo image without being stereoscopically viewed. The advantageous effect that it can be prevented is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of processing of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of image change processing;
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of image change processing;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a recording example of a file.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a file recording example.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording format of image data in a file according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a shooting screen when a stereo adapter is attached.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the principle of a parallax barrier method;
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a print result of a captured image by a twin-lens camera.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Image recording apparatus
101 Image change part
102 Image storage unit
103 Image shape discrimination unit
104 Coding unit
105 Encoded data storage unit
106, 109 Recording unit
107, 108 Multiplexer

Claims (6)

In an image recording apparatus comprising recording means for encoding image data including images corresponding to N (N is a natural number) viewpoints, and recording an image file with an extension .
Form determining means for determining whether the image data can be printed in a form that can be stereoscopically viewed by the naked eye , based on a parameter indicating the structure of the image data ,
The recording unit adds an extension that is not associated with an image file and records the image file as an image file when the determination result of the form determination unit cannot be printed stereoscopically. Recording device. Whether or not the ratio of the size in the horizontal direction to the size in the vertical direction of the image data satisfies a predetermined condition for the image data when the discrimination result of the form discrimination means is determined to be printable in a stereoscopic manner An image size determining means for determining whether or not
2. The recording unit according to claim 1, wherein if the determination result of the image size determination unit does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the recording unit changes the image data to satisfy a predetermined condition and records the image data as an image file. The image recording apparatus described in 1. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit multiplexes the image data and the parameters in a predetermined format and records them as an image file. In an image recording method having a recording step of encoding image data including images corresponding to N (N is a natural number) viewpoints and recording an image file with an extension ,
Based on the parameters of the structure of the image data has a form determining step of the image data to determine whether printable stereoscopic vision can form by the naked eye,
The recording step adds an extension that is not associated with an image file and records the image file as an image file when the determination result of the form determination step cannot be printed stereoscopically. Recording method. If the discrimination result of the form discrimination step determines that printing is possible in a stereoscopic manner, whether the ratio of the horizontal size to the vertical size of the image data satisfies a predetermined condition for the image data An image size determining step for determining whether or not
5. The recording step according to claim 4, wherein if the determination result of the image size determination step does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the image data is changed to satisfy a predetermined condition and is recorded as an image file. The image recording method described in 1. 6. The image recording method according to claim 4, wherein the recording step multiplexes the image data and the parameters in a predetermined format and records them as an image file.

Images