JP4902365B2 - Image composition apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image composition apparatus and program , and more particularly to an image composition apparatus and program that synthesize image data obtained by bracketing photography.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some cameras have a bracketing photographing function for photographing a plurality of times while changing photographing conditions. In this bracketing shooting function, for example, an exposure value is used as a shooting condition, and a photographer can compare a plurality of images obtained by shooting by shooting a plurality of times with different exposure values. . As described above, the bracketing photographing function has one purpose to provide the photographer with an image that the photographer seems to be appropriate.

  Regarding such a bracketing shooting function, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying only a representative image, which is an image to which a representative signal is given, among a plurality of shot images. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for selecting partial areas of a plurality of images obtained by photographing under different exposure conditions and combining them.

Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a technique that allows a plurality of continuously shot images to be combined into a composite image by simple processing so that the images can be confirmed immediately after shooting.
JP 2001-28579 A JP-A-10-150620 JP 2002-112103 A

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 displays only a representative image, and it is difficult to say that the representative image is an appropriate image. Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, although images are synthesized, the synthesis is limited to a partial region, so that it is difficult to say that the synthesized image is an appropriate image. Furthermore, since the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 is simple synthesis, it is difficult to say that the synthesized image is an appropriate image.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image synthesizing apparatus and program capable of obtaining an appropriate image from a plurality of images obtained by bracketing photography.

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the invention, synthesizes an image acquisition unit, the plurality of captured images acquired by the image acquiring means for acquiring a plurality of images captured by different imaging conditions the combination ratio of the time, each time elapses a preset time, within a range set in advance, and the combination ratio setting means for setting stepwise changed at a predetermined change rate, the combination ratio setting the combination ratio is set Rugoto by means, combining means for generating a composite image of the plurality of captured images in response to the combination ratio that has been set, each time the composite image is generated by the synthesizing means Display control means for displaying the composite image on the display means .

The invention of claim 1, picture image pick resulting unit acquires the image (image data) indicating the object obtained by photographing an object at a predetermined imaging condition, combination ratio setting means in each different imaging conditions obtained by photographing the subject, to set the respective combination ratio of the multiple images at the time of combining the images obtained by the image obtaining means, synthesis means, is set by the combination ratio setting means was synthesized according to the combination ratio, the display means displays an image synthesized by the synthesis unit (image corresponding to the synthesized image data). At this time, every time a preset time elapses, the composition ratio setting means changes the composition ratio step by step, and the display control means displays a composite image corresponding to the changed image ratio on the display means. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image composition device that can obtain an appropriate image from a plurality of images obtained by bracketing photography.

The invention of claim 2 includes accepting means for accepting a designation of the change rate at the time of setting the combination ratio in the combination ratio setting means, wherein the combination ratio setting means, the change received by the receiving unit The synthesis ratio is changed stepwise based on the ratio.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can arbitrarily set the change rate when the synthesis rate is changed stepwise .

Further, the invention of claim 3, wherein the display control unit, each time the composite image in which the combination ratio is changed is generated, switch to composite image the generated is displayed on the display means.
Furthermore, in the invention of claim 4, the plurality of photographed images obtained by the image obtaining means are a series of photographed images obtained by photographing at least one of the photographing conditions in a stepwise manner.

According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to perform cross-fade display.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the present invention is applied to an image taken by bracketing.

The invention of claim 5 includes a recording instruction means for receiving an instruction to record the image data of the synthesized image displayed on the display unit in the recording means, when the recording instruction unit receives an instruction for recording the image data of the synthesized image displayed on the display means, including a recording control means for recording in the recording means.

According to the invention of claim 5 , it is possible to record the image data of the composite image on the recording means .

In the present invention, taken to be Utsushitai in Jo Tokoro imaging conditions, further comprising an imaging means for generating image data representing the subject, it is generated by being captured multiple times by shooting means obtaining a plurality of image data, and displays the synthesized image indicated by the synthesized image data by synthesis means. Immediately after imaging by the shadow means shooting display at a lower than normal resolution resolution, when the record instructing means has received an instruction to record the image data, the recording means the image data of the composite image displayed on the display means You may make it record on.

At this time, since the image displayed immediately after shooting is displayed at a lower resolution than the normal resolution, it can be recorded even at a lower resolution, so that the synthesized image data can be recorded immediately after shooting.

In the present invention, when three or more images obtained by the image obtaining means, among the acquired images, further comprising a selection means for selecting two images, synthesis means, selecting may be also of a combining two image data selected by the unit.

Thereby , two image data can be selected from three or more image data.

In the present invention, shooting conditions, the degree is the same kind of conditions is variable, different photographing conditions, extent may be another different conditions.

To achieve the above object, the invention of claim 6, a computer provided in the image synthesizing apparatus, an image image pick obtained means for acquiring a plurality of images captured by different imaging conditions by the image acquisition unit the combination ratio in the synthesis of the acquired plurality of captured images are, each time elapses a preset time, within a range set in advance, and is changed stepwise at a predetermined rate of change set and combination ratio setting means for, each time the combination ratio in the combination ratio setting means is set, a synthesizing means for generating a composite image of the plurality of captured images in response to the combination ratio that has been set, the synthetic every time said composite image by means produced, and a display control means for displaying the composite image on the display means, thereby to function.

Since the invention of claim 6 operates in the same manner as the invention of claim 1, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained.

The invention of claim 7 is a computer provided in the image synthesizing apparatus, an image acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of images captured by different imaging conditions, the combination ratio when combining the plurality of captured images An accepting means for accepting a change ratio to be changed, and a composition ratio at the time of compositing the plurality of photographed images acquired by the image acquiring means within a preset range every time a preset time elapses. And a composition ratio setting means that changes and sets stepwise with the change ratio received by the acceptance means, and each time a composition ratio is set by the composition ratio setting means, the composition ratio is set at the set composition ratio. synthesizing means for generating a synthesized composite image a plurality of captured images, each time the composite image is generated by the synthesizing means, display control means for displaying the composite image on the display means, To function Te.

Since the invention of claim 7 operates in the same manner as the invention of claim 2, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 2 can be obtained.

The invention of claim 8, wherein the display control means, every time the composite image in which the combination ratio is changed is generated, switches the combined image the generated so as to display on the display means.

Since the invention of claim 8 operates in the same manner as the invention of claim 3, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 3 can be obtained.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording instruction means for receiving an instruction to record the image data of the composite image displayed on the display means on the recording means ;
And a recording control unit that records the image data of the composite image displayed on the display unit when the recording instruction unit receives a recording instruction.

Since the invention of claim 9 operates in the same manner as the invention of claim 5 , the same effect as that of the invention of claim 4 can be obtained.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image synthesizing apparatus and a program that can obtain an appropriate image from a plurality of images such as an image obtained by bracketing shooting.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, an external configuration of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In front of the digital camera 10, a lens 21 that is an optical member for forming a subject image, a strobe 44 that emits light to irradiate the subject as necessary during photographing, and a composition of the subject to be photographed are determined. And a finder 20 used in the above. Further, on the upper surface of the digital camera 10, a release button (so-called shutter button) 56A that is pressed when performing shooting and a power switch 56B are provided.

  Note that the release button 56A of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment is pressed down to an intermediate position (hereinafter referred to as “half-pressed state”) and to a final pressed position beyond the intermediate position. A two-stage pressing operation of a state (hereinafter referred to as a “fully pressed state”) can be detected.

  In the digital camera 10, the release button 56A is pressed halfway to activate the AE (Automatic Exposure) function to set the exposure state (shutter speed and aperture state), and then AF (Auto Focus (automatic focus) function works to control the focus, and then exposure (photographing) is performed when it is fully pressed. In the case of bracketing shooting in which the exposure value is changed, a predetermined exposure value is set without using the AE function.

  On the other hand, on the back of the digital camera 10, an eyepiece of the above-described finder 20, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 38 for displaying a photographed subject image, a menu screen, and the like are photographed. A mode changeover switch 56C that is slid to operate in any one of a shooting mode that is a mode to be performed and a playback mode that is a mode in which a subject image obtained by shooting is played back and displayed on the LCD 38. .

  Further, on the back surface of the digital camera 10, a cross cursor button 56D and a forced light emission switch 56E that is pressed when setting the forced light emission mode, which is a mode for forcibly causing the flash 44 to emit light during photographing, are further provided. It has been.

  The cross-cursor button 56D includes four arrow keys that indicate four moving directions of up, down, left, and right in the display area of the LCD 38, and a determination key that exists in the center of the arrow keys. ing.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the configuration of the main part of the electrical system of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The digital camera 10 includes an optical unit 22 that includes the lens 21 described above, a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 24 that is an imaging device disposed behind the optical axis of the lens 21, and And an analog signal processing unit 26 that performs various analog signal processing on the input analog signal. A CMOS image sensor may be used as the image sensor.

  In addition, the digital camera 10 includes an analog / digital (AD) converter (hereinafter referred to as “ADC”) 28 that converts an input analog signal into digital data, and various digital signals for the input digital data. And a digital signal processing unit 30 that performs processing.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 has a built-in line buffer having a predetermined capacity, and also performs control to directly store the input digital data in a predetermined area of the memory 48 described later.

  The output terminal of the CCD 24 is connected to the input terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26, the output terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26 is connected to the input terminal of the ADC 28, and the output terminal of the ADC 28 is connected to the input terminal of the digital signal processing unit 30. . Accordingly, the analog signal indicating the subject image output from the CCD 24 is subjected to predetermined analog signal processing by the analog signal processing unit 26, converted into digital image data by the ADC 28, and then input to the digital signal processing unit 30.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 10 generates a signal for displaying a subject image, a menu screen or the like on the LCD 38 and supplies the signal to the LCD 38, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 40 that controls the operation of the entire digital camera 10. A memory 48 for storing digital image data obtained by photographing, and a memory interface 46 for controlling access to the memory 48 are included.

  Further, the digital camera 10 includes an external memory interface 50 for enabling the portable memory card 52 to be accessed by the digital camera 10, and a compression / decompression processing circuit 54 for performing compression processing and decompression processing on the digital image data. It is configured to include.

  In the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, a VRAM (Video RAM) is used as the memory 48 and a smart media (Smart Media (registered trademark)) is used as the memory card 52.

  The digital signal processing unit 30, the LCD interface 36, the CPU 40, the memory interface 46, the external memory interface 50, and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 are connected to each other via a system bus BUS. Accordingly, the CPU 40 controls the operation of the digital signal processing unit 30 and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54, displays various information via the LCD interface 36 to the LCD 38, the memory interface 46 to the memory 48 and the memory card 52, and the external memory interface. 50 can be accessed each.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 10 includes a timing generator 32 that mainly generates a timing signal for driving the CCD 24 and supplies the timing signal to the CCD 24, and the driving of the CCD 24 is controlled by the CPU 40 via the timing generator 32.

  Further, the digital camera 10 is provided with a motor drive unit 34, and driving of a focus adjustment motor, a zoom motor, and an aperture drive motor (not shown) provided in the optical unit 22 is also controlled by the CPU 40 via the motor drive unit 34. The

  In other words, the lens 21 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of lenses, is configured as a zoom lens that can change (magnify) the focal length, and includes a lens driving mechanism (not shown). The lens drive mechanism includes the focus adjustment motor, the zoom motor, and the aperture drive motor. These motors are each driven by a drive signal supplied from the motor drive unit 34 under the control of the CPU 40.

  Further, the release button 56A, the power switch 56B, the mode changeover switch 56C, the cross cursor button 56D, and the forced light emission switch 56E (generally referred to as “operation unit 56” in the figure) are connected to the CPU 40, and the CPU 40. Can always grasp the operation state of the operation unit 56.

  In addition, the digital camera 10 includes a charging unit 42 that is interposed between the strobe 44 and the CPU 40 and charges power for causing the strobe 44 to emit light under the control of the CPU 40. Further, the strobe 44 is also connected to the CPU 40, and the light emission of the strobe 44 is controlled by the CPU 40.

  Next, an overall operation at the time of shooting of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be briefly described.

  First, the CCD 24 performs imaging through the optical unit 22 and sequentially outputs analog signals for R (red), G (green), and B (blue) indicating the subject image to the analog signal processing unit 26. The analog signal processing unit 26 performs analog signal processing such as correlated double sampling processing on the analog signal input from the CCD 24 and sequentially outputs the analog signal to the ADC 28.

  The ADC 28 converts the R, G, and B analog signals input from the analog signal processing unit 26 into 12-bit R, G, and B signals (digital image data) and sequentially outputs them to the digital signal processing unit 30. To do. The digital signal processing unit 30 accumulates digital image data sequentially input from the ADC 28 in a built-in line buffer and temporarily stores the digital image data directly in a predetermined area of the memory 48.

  Digital image data stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48 is read out by the digital signal processing unit 30 under the control of the CPU 40, and a white balance is adjusted by applying a digital gain according to a predetermined physical quantity. Processing and sharpness processing are performed to generate digital image data of predetermined bits, for example, 8 bits.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 performs YC signal processing on the generated digital image data of predetermined bits to generate a luminance signal Y and chroma signals Cr and Cb (hereinafter referred to as “YC signal”), and a YC signal. Are stored in an area different from the predetermined area of the memory 48. As described above, the digital signal processing unit 30 derives the luminance based on the rectangular subject image indicated by the digital image data.

  The LCD 38 is configured to display a moving image (through image) obtained by continuous imaging by the CCD 24 and can be used as a finder. When the LCD 38 is used as a finder, the LCD 38 is generated. The YC signals thus output are sequentially output to the LCD 38 via the LCD interface 36. As a result, a through image is displayed on the LCD 38.

  Here, when the release button 56A is half-pressed by the user, after the AE function is activated and the exposure state is set as described above, the AF function is activated and focus control is performed, and then the fully-pressed state is continued. In this case, the YC signal stored in the memory 48 at this time is compressed in a predetermined compression format (for example, JPEG format) by the compression / expansion processing circuit 54 and then the memory card 52 via the external memory interface 50. To record. Composite image data to be described later is recorded in the memory card 52.

  The above is the configuration and operation of the digital camera 10 in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the image data composition processing according to the present embodiment will be described. The composition in the present embodiment refers to composition of a plurality of image data acquired by photographing a subject under different photographing conditions. Specifically, for example, when an exposure value is used as a shooting condition, as shown in FIG. 3, image data acquired by shooting in an overexposed state and an underexposed state ( Image data captured with an appropriate exposure value can be obtained by appropriately combining and combining image data acquired by capturing under).

  More specifically, when two image data are combined, first, the pixel value at the position (x, y) in each image is set to P0 (x, y) for the first image. The second image is P1 (x, y), and further the composition ratio is 1-R: R (R is a value between 0 and 1), and the pixel at the position (x, y) in the synthesized image. The value Q (x, y) of the value is (1−R) × P0 (x, y) + R × P1 (x, y).

  In the present embodiment, the processing is executed with respect to the pixel values of the entire image according to the above formula, but it may be applied only to a partial region of the image.

  In addition, the shooting conditions in the present embodiment are the same type of conditions whose degree is variable, and different shooting conditions are conditions having different degrees. Specifically, examples of the shooting conditions include, but are not limited to, exposure value, aperture value, shutter speed value, contrast value, hue, and use of strobe light.

  Further, the conditions having different degrees mean conditions of different degrees of exposure, that is, different exposure values if the exposure value is the above. In the case of the strobe, the light emission amount of the strobe is about.

  Hereinafter, processing relating to the composition of image data executed by the CPU 40 will be described. First, basic image data composition processing will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step 101, image data is acquired. In the case of this embodiment, this image data is acquired by the CPU 40 via the BUS as digital image data generated by the imaging system (see FIG. 1). In the next step 102, a list of images indicated by the acquired image data is displayed. This list display is displayed on the LCD 38, and a specific display format is a thumbnail format as shown in FIG. In the figure, a flower image displayed as “01”, a mountain image displayed as “05”, and a face image displayed as “06” are not bracketing shots. It was taken one by one. On the other hand, the landscape image displayed as “02 to 04” is a bracketed image and displays one of the three images “02”, “03”, and “04”. ing. “01” and “04” are indexes for managing image data.

  When an image is selected by the user in step 103 from the list displayed in this way, the image selected by the user is enlarged and displayed in step 104. The display here is displayed at a normal resolution. The user's selection operation performed here is performed using the cross cursor button 56D (see FIG. 1). Specifically, the focus for selecting an image is displayed on one image, the focus is moved using four arrow keys, the focus is set on the image to be selected, and the enter key is pressed, thereby pressing the image. Can be selected.

  Since the processing from step 101 to step 103 described so far is also executed in other processing described later, the processing corresponding to the above processing is expressed as preprocessing in the following flowcharts.

  In the next step 105, it is determined whether or not the selected image is a bracketing image. For example, in FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not a landscape image displayed as “02 to 04” is selected. If a negative determination is made in step 105, the process proceeds to step 109. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 105, the composition ratio of each of the plurality of image data is set in step 106. As will be described later, this setting may be a setting of a composition ratio input by a user, or may be a setting of a composition ratio set by default.

  In the next step 107, the image data is synthesized according to the synthesis ratio, and in step 108, the image indicated by the synthesized image data is displayed. In step 109, it is determined whether or not the next image has been selected by the user. The user's operation here is also performed by using, for example, the left and right buttons of the cross cursor button 56D (see FIG. 1).

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 109, the process of step 104 is executed again. If a negative determination is made, the process ends.

  Next, in the basic image data composition process described above, a process when the composition ratio is set by the user will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step 201, preprocessing is executed, and in step 202, the selected image is enlarged and displayed. In the next step 203, it is determined whether or not the selected image is a bracketing image. If a negative determination is made in step 203, the process proceeds to step 208. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 203, the composition ratio is input by the user in step 204. For this input, a ratio is input for each image by using the up and down arrow keys, and when determining the composition ratio for the image, the determination key may be used, or the composition ratio may be set using an indicator as will be described later. The user may input. In step 205, the composition ratio input in this way is set as the composition ratio.

  In the next step 206, the image data is synthesized according to the synthesis ratio, and in step 207, the image indicated by the synthesized image data is displayed. In step 208, it is determined whether or not the next image has been selected by the user.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 208, the process of step 202 is executed again. If a negative determination is made, the process ends.

  Next, a process for recording the synthesized image data will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step 301, pre-processing is executed, and in step 302, the selected image is enlarged and displayed. In the next step 303, it is determined whether or not the selected image is a bracketing image. If a negative determination is made at step 303, the process proceeds to step 310. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 303, the composition ratio is input by the user in step 304. In the next step 305, the composition ratio input by the user is set.

  In the next step 306, the image data is synthesized according to the composition ratio, and in step 307, the image indicated by the synthesized image data is displayed. In step 308, it is determined whether or not recording of image data is instructed by the user. This recording instruction is, for example, an instruction to display “Record” on the LCD 38, focus on it, and press the enter key. If a negative determination is made in step 308, the process of step 304 is executed. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 308, the combined image data being displayed is recorded in step 309.

  In the next step 310, it is determined whether or not the next image has been selected by the user. If an affirmative determination is made, the process of step 302 is executed again. If a negative determination is made, the process ends.

  Next, the crossfade process for changing the composition ratio with the passage of time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, pre-processing is executed in step 401, and the selected image is enlarged and displayed in step 402. In the next step 403, it is determined whether or not the selected image is a bracketing image. If a negative determination is made in step 403, the process proceeds to step 410. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 403, R indicating the composition ratio of the two image data is set to 0 in step 404. Here, R is a value of 0 or more and 1 or less for setting A: B = 1−R: R, where A and B are the composition ratios of the two image data A and B, for example. In this flowchart, since R is initially set to 0, the image data A is displayed step by step until the image data B reaches the 100% composition ratio.

  In step 405, a composition ratio 1-R: R is set. In step 406, image data is synthesized according to the composition ratio. In step 407, an image indicated by the synthesized image data is displayed.

  In the next step 408, it is determined whether or not the cross-fade process is completed. This determination may be, for example, a determination as to whether R = 1 or a determination as to whether a predetermined time has elapsed.

  If a negative determination is made in step 408, 0.1 is added to R in step 409, and the process of step 405 is executed again.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 408, it is determined in step 410 whether or not the next image has been selected by the user. If the determination in step 410 is affirmative, the process of step 402 is executed again. If the determination is negative, the process ends.

  In the flowchart described above, the ratio changes every 10% (step 409). However, the ratio is not limited to 10%, and may be set to an appropriate value by setting by the user.

  Next, a process for recording the image data synthesized in the crossfade process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, preprocessing is executed in step 501, and the selected image is enlarged and displayed in step 502. In the next step 503, it is determined whether or not the selected image is a bracketing image. If a negative determination is made in step 503, the process proceeds to step 511. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 503, R indicating the composition ratio of the two image data is set to 0 in step 504.

  In step 505, a composition ratio 1-R: R is set. In step 506, image data is synthesized in accordance with the composition ratio. In step 507, an image indicated by the synthesized image data is displayed.

  In the next step 508, it is determined whether or not recording of image data is instructed by the user. If a negative determination is made in step 508, 0.1 is added to R in step 509, and the processing in step 505 is executed again.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 508, the combined image data being displayed is recorded in step 510, and in step 511, it is determined whether or not the next image has been selected by the user. If an affirmative determination is made in step 511, the process of step 502 is executed again. If a negative determination is made, the process ends.

  As shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 described above, each process is performed on captured image data. It can also be executed by an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer in which image data obtained by photographing is recorded.

  Next, a process for recording image data synthesized at the time of preview display immediately after shooting will be described. This preview display is a display with a resolution lower than the normal resolution described above. First, in step 601, bracketing shooting is performed to generate a plurality of image data. In step 602, the generated image data is acquired, and in step 603, preview display is performed.

  In the next step 604, the composition ratio is input by the user. In the next step 605, the composition ratio input by the user is set.

  In the next step 606, the image data is synthesized according to the composition ratio, and in step 607, the image indicated by the synthesized image data is displayed as a preview. In step 608, it is determined whether or not the user has instructed recording of image data. If a negative determination is made in step 608, the process of step 604 is executed again. If an affirmative determination is made, the combined image data being displayed in step 609 is recorded, and the process ends.

  Next, a process of selecting two image data out of the acquired image data when three or more image data are acquired will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, this flowchart is in a state where the composition ratio can be set by an indicator described later. In this state, in the first step 701, it is determined whether or not the enter key has been pressed for a long time. Here, the enter key is used, but another direction key may be used. In particular, when a direction key used for an operation described later is used, two images can be selected with only one key.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 701 above, the screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. On this screen, the user can move the indicator up and down with the direction keys.

  In addition, “02”, “03”, “04” described in the bar shown in the figure indicates the index described above, and when the indicator is set between “02”, “03” as shown in FIG. When the image data of “02” and the image data of “03” are combined, and the indicator is at a position slightly close to “03” as shown in the figure, the combined image data has a combination ratio of “03”. Is slightly larger.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart, in step 702, two images at both ends of the indicator designation point are selected from the three images. In FIG. 12, since both ends of the indicator are “02” and “03”, images of “02” and “03” are selected.

  In the next step 703, the composition ratio is set. The setting of the composition ratio is set by the position of the indicator. That is, the composition ratio is higher in an image in which the position of the indicator is closer.

  In the next step 704, the image data is synthesized according to the composition ratio, and the image indicated by the image data synthesized in step 705 is displayed. In the next step 706, it is determined whether or not the display is finished. If a negative determination is made, the process of step 704 is executed again. If an affirmative determination is made, the process is ended.

  As described above, on the screen in FIG. 12 described above, the user can not only select two images but also change the composition ratio by moving the indicator up and down.

  The processing flow of each flowchart described in this embodiment is an example, and the processing order is changed, new steps are added, and unnecessary steps are deleted without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, it can be done.

It is a figure which shows the structure on the external appearance of the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of the electric system of the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that two image data are synthesize | combined. It is a flowchart which shows an image data synthetic | combination process. It is a figure which shows the image displayed in the thumbnail format. It is a flowchart which shows an image data synthetic | combination process in case a user sets a synthetic | combination ratio. It is a flowchart which shows the image data synthetic | combination process in the case of recording the synthesized image data. It is a flowchart which shows the image data synthetic | combination process at the time of crossfading. It is a flowchart which shows the image data synthesis | combination process in the case of recording the image data synthesize | combined during the cross fade. It is a flowchart which shows the image data synthetic | combination process in the case of recording the image data synthesize | combined at the time of a preview display. It is a flowchart which shows the image data synthetic | combination process in case two images are selected and synthesize | combined. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed when a user sets a synthetic | combination ratio.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital camera 38 LCD
40 CPU
48 Memory 52 Memory card 56 Operation unit

Claims (9)

An image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of images captured by different imaging conditions,
The composition ratio when compositing the plurality of captured images acquired by the image acquisition means is stepwise within a preset range and at a predetermined change ratio every time a preset time elapses. A composition ratio setting means for setting by changing to
Synthesizing means the synthesis ratio is set Rugoto in combination ratio setting means, and generates a composite image by combining the plurality of captured images in response to the combination ratio that has been set,
Display control means for displaying the composite image on a display means each time the composite image is generated by the composite means ;
An image synthesizing apparatus. Said include accepting means for accepting a designation of the change rate, the combination ratio setting means, steps the combination ratio based on said change ratio accepted by the accepting means when setting the combination ratio in the combination ratio setting means The image synthesizing device according to claim 1, wherein the image synthesizing device is changed. The display control means, every time the combination ratio is said composite image is changed is generated, switch to composite image the generated is displayed on the display unit, according to claim 1 or claim 2 Image synthesizer. 4. The plurality of captured images acquired by the image acquisition unit is a series of captured images captured by changing at least one of the capturing conditions in a stepwise manner. The image composition device described in 1. A recording instruction means for receiving an instruction to record the image data of the synthesized image displayed on the display unit in the recording means,
A recording control unit that records the image data of the composite image displayed on the display unit when the recording instruction unit receives a recording instruction ;
The image composition device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , comprising: A computer provided in the image composition device,
A picture image pick obtained means for acquiring a plurality of images captured by different imaging conditions,
The composition ratio when compositing the plurality of captured images acquired by the image acquisition means is stepwise within a preset range and at a predetermined change ratio every time a preset time elapses. A composition ratio setting means for setting by changing to
Each time a composition ratio is set by the composition ratio setting means, a composition means for generating a composite image obtained by compositing the plurality of photographed images according to the set composition ratio ,
Display control means for displaying the composite image on a display means each time the composite image is generated by the composite means;
Program to make it function . A computer provided in the image composition device,
Image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of captured images taken under different shooting conditions;
Accepting means for accepting a change rate for changing a composite rate when combining the plurality of captured images;
The composition ratio at the time of compositing the plurality of photographed images acquired by the image acquisition means is within a preset range and received by the reception means every time a preset time elapses. A composition ratio setting means for setting the change ratio step by step,
Each time the composition ratio is set by the composition ratio setting means, a composition means for generating a composite image by compositing the plurality of photographed images at the set composition ratio;
Display control means for displaying the composite image on a display means each time the composite image is generated by the composite means;
Program to make it function . Wherein the display control means, every time the composite image in which the combination ratio is changed is generated, switches the combined image the generated so as to display on the display means, according to claim 5 or claim 6 Program . Recording instruction means for receiving an instruction to record the image data of the composite image displayed on the display means on the recording means;
A recording control unit that records the image data of the composite image displayed on the display unit when the recording instruction unit receives a recording instruction;
The program according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising: