JPH11298784A - Electronic camera and its operation control method, and device and method for generating animation gif - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate an animation GIF(graphic interchange format) file from a multi consecutive photographed composite image relatively easily. SOLUTION: A subject is consecutively photographed and multiple composite image data showing a multiple composite image of one frame with consecutively photographed subject images are recorded in an image data recording area of a memory card. Data representing the positions of the subject images, constituting the multiple composite image are also recorded in the image information recording area of the memory card while related to the multiple composite image data. The multiple composite image data and the representing the positions of the subject images are read out of the memory card and the subject images constituting the multiple composite image are cut out. An animation GIF file is generated from the subject images cut.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera (including a still video camera and a movie still video camera. In addition, a solid-state electronic imaging device can capture an image of a subject and record the subject on a photographic film. And an operation control method thereof, and an apparatus and method for generating an animation GIF file from image data obtained by imaging an object using an electronic camera, and an image extraction apparatus and method.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Animation GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is used for WWW (World Wide Web) images.
What is called may be used. This animation GIF (or GIF animation) is a GIF
Images are displayed continuously by frame feed.

An animation GIF is generated from images of a plurality of frames using animation GIF generation software.

On the other hand, various types of digital electronic still cameras have appeared. For example, there are a camera having a continuous shooting mode, a camera that captures images of a plurality of frames of a subject, and generates a multi-composite screen including a plurality of frames of subject images. There is also a camera that generates a multi-composite image of one frame from an image of a plurality of frames obtained by continuously photographing a subject and records multi-composite image data representing the multi-composite image on a recording medium.

When an animation GIF is generated from multi-synthesized image data obtained by a camera capable of recording multi-synthesized image data on a recording medium, a plurality of frames constituting the multi-synthesized image are manually cut out. The extracted images of a plurality of frames are converted using animation GIF generation software to generate an animation GIF.

However, it has been relatively troublesome to manually cut out images of a plurality of frames constituting a multi-composite image.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a case where a subject is imaged in a continuous shooting mode and a plurality of subject images are recorded as multi-composite image data representing a multi-composite image of one frame.
An object of the present invention is to relatively easily generate an animation GIF from the multi-synthesized image data. It is another object of the present invention to relatively easily cut out a subject image forming a multi-composite image.

An electronic camera according to a first aspect of the present invention continuously shoots a subject at regular intervals in accordance with the setting of the continuous shooting mode by the continuous shooting mode setting means and the plurality of continuous shooting modes. Imaging means for outputting multi-synthesized image data (including not only digital image data but also analog video signals) representing one frame of a multi-synthesized image including a subject image of a frame, and a recording medium for storing the multi-synthesized image data output from the imaging means Multi-synthesized image data recording control means for recording the multi-synthesized image and subject image position-related information relating to the positions of the subject images of a plurality of frames constituting the multi-synthesized image.
A position-related information recording control means for recording on the recording medium in association with the corresponding multi-synthesized image data is provided.

[0009] The first invention also provides an operation control method suitable for the camera. That is, the subject is continuously shot at regular intervals in accordance with the setting of the continuous shooting mode, multi-synthesized image data representing one multi-synthesized image including a plurality of subject images obtained by the continuous shooting is obtained, and the obtained multi-synthesized image is obtained. The image data is recorded on a recording medium, and subject image position-related information relating to the positions of a plurality of frames of subject images constituting the multi-synthesized image is recorded on the recording medium in association with the corresponding multi-synthesized image data.

According to the first aspect, when the subject is continuously photographed, multi-composite image data representing one frame of a multi-composite image including a plurality of frames of the subject image is obtained. The multi-composite image data and information on the positions of the subject images of a plurality of frames constituting the multi-composite image are recorded on the recording medium in association with the corresponding multi-composite image data. When the multi-composite image data and the position-related information are recorded on the recording medium in this manner, an animation GIF is generated as follows. The animation GIF generation device is the second invention.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an animation GIF generating apparatus comprising: multi-composite image data representing one multi-composite image including a plurality of frames of a subject image obtained by imaging; Reading means for reading the multi-composite image data and the subject image position-related information from a recording medium in which information relating to the multi-composite image is recorded in association with each other; An object image data extracting means for extracting data representing a subject image of a frame from the multi-synthesized image data, and an animation GIF based on data representing a plurality of subject images extracted by the subject image data extracting means.
An animation GIF file generating means for generating a file is provided.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to the above-mentioned animation GIF.
Methods suitable for the generator are also provided. That is, multi-synthesized image data representing one frame of a multi-synthesized image including a plurality of frames of subject images obtained by imaging, and information on the positions of the plurality of frames of the subject image forming the multi-synthesized image are recorded in association with each other. The multi-composite image data and the subject image position-related information are read from a recording medium, and data representing a plurality of frames of the subject image forming the multi-composite image is read from the multi-composite image data based on the subject image position-related information. An animation GIF file is generated based on extracted data representing a plurality of frames of subject images.

According to the second aspect, the multi-composite image data and the position-related information recorded on the recording medium are read. Data representing a plurality of frames of subject images constituting the multi-synthesized image is extracted from the multi-synthesized image data based on the position-related information. An animation GIF is generated based on the data representing the extracted plurality of frames of the subject image.

Since the position-related information is recorded on the recording medium, a plurality of frames of the subject image constituting the multi-synthesized image represented by the multi-synthesized image data are stored on the basis of the position-related information. Can be extracted from the image. An animation GIF can be generated using the extracted plurality of frames of the subject image.

An animation GIF can be generated from the multi-synthesized image without manually cutting out a plurality of frames of subject images constituting the multi-synthesized image.

[0016] In addition to recording the multi-synthesized image data and the position-related information on the recording medium, information indicating the size of the multi-synthesized image, information indicating the number of continuous shots, and a margin of the multi-synthesized image May be recorded in association with the corresponding multi-synthesized image data.

When information on the imaging interval of the subject is recorded on the recording medium, when generating an animation GIF, the imaging interval information is read in addition to the multi-synthesized image data and the subject position information.
An image switching interval is set for the subject image represented by the data representing the subject image based on the imaging interval.

Since the interval between frame feeds of the animation GIF can be made to coincide with the interval at the time of imaging, a natural display is achieved.

Further, it is possible to set an aspect ratio, and the above-mentioned image pickup process continuously shoots a subject at regular intervals in an image pickup range of the set aspect ratio to obtain the multi-composite image data. Good.

A subject image having a desired aspect ratio can be recorded on a recording medium as a subject image constituting a multi-composite image.

In the above, each subject image forming the multi-synthesized image may be cut out from the multi-synthesized image without generating the animation GIF.

[0022]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a digital electronic still camera according to this embodiment.

The whole operation of the digital electronic still camera is controlled by a system computer 21 included in a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 20.

The digital electronic still camera includes a liquid crystal display 27 for displaying various information.

The digital electronic still camera includes a switch group 30. The signal indicating the depression of various switches constituting this switch group is transmitted to the system
Input to the computer 21. The switch group 30 includes a switching dial 31 for switching between various modes such as a shooting mode between a continuous shooting mode and a single shooting mode, and a mode for setting an aspect ratio selection, and operation buttons for selecting a continuous shooting number setting and an aspect ratio of a shooting range. 33, a power switch 34 and a shutter release button 35 are included.

The digital electronic still according to this embodiment
In the camera, the aspect ratio of the shooting range can be selected by the operation button 33 as described above. When selecting the aspect ratio, images having a plurality of aspect ratios are displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 27 as shown in FIG. Among these images, the image surrounded by the thick line frame is the image having the selected aspect ratio.

Each time the plus button included in the operation button 33 is pressed, the thick line frame moves in the order of the first image, the second image, the third image, and the fourth image.
Each time the minus button included in the operation button 33 is pressed, the frame moves in the opposite direction to the image that moves each time the plus button is pressed.

By exiting the aspect ratio selection mode (turning out of the aspect ratio selection mode by turning the dial 31), the aspect ratio of the shooting range is determined by the aspect ratio of the image surrounded by the thick line frame at that time. When the aspect ratio is determined, it is preferable to display a frame having the determined aspect ratio on a viewfinder (not shown). This allows the user to feel the shooting range having the determined aspect ratio.

The digital electronic still camera includes an imaging lens unit 1. Automatic focusing is performed by controlling the imaging lens unit 1 by the AF control circuit 5. The shutter and iris unit 2 is controlled by the shutter iris driver 4.
, And the control of the iris is performed.

The subject image is formed by an optical low-pass filter 3
To form an image on the light receiving surface of the CCD 6.

The timing generator 7 sets CC
The reading of the video signal from D6 and the operation of the shutter and iris driver 4 are controlled.

A video signal representing a subject image output from the CCD 6 is sent to a CDS (Correlate Double Sampling) circuit 8.
Are divided into blue, red and green video signals. These video signals are input to the white balance adjustment circuit 9. The white balance of the video signal is adjusted in the white balance adjustment circuit 9. The blue, red and green video signals whose white balance has been adjusted are point-sequentially output by the multiplexer circuit 10 and input to the analog / digital conversion circuit 11. The analog / digital conversion circuit 11 converts the analog video signal into RGB digital image data.

The digital image data passes through a process processing circuit 22 to a first RISC (Reduced Instruction Sequence).
t Computer) 23 and temporarily stored. First R
The image data stored in the ISC 23 is read and input to the process processing circuit 22. In the process processing circuit 22, luminance data and color difference data are generated from the RGB image data. The luminance data and the chrominance data are read from the process circuit 22 and are again returned to the first RISC 23.
Is stored.

The luminance data and the chrominance data are input again to the first RISC 23, where the data is compressed. The luminance data and the chrominance data obtained by the data compression
Is recorded on the memory card 35 connected to the.

When continuous shooting is set by the switching dial 31, image data for the number of continuous shots is stored in the first RIS.
The data is input to the C23 and the second RISC 24, temporarily stored, and the above-described luminance data and color difference data generation processing and image data compression processing are performed.

The first RISC 23 and the second RISC
24 and the processing in the process processing circuit 22 are RO
It is executed based on the program stored in M25.

FIG. 3 shows a file format of an image recorded on a memory card mounted on a digital electronic still camera.

The image file recorded on the memory card 35 includes an image information recording area and an image data recording area.

Image data obtained by photographing is recorded in the image data recording area. In this embodiment, multi-composite image data representing a multi-composite image obtained by continuous shooting is recorded in the image data recording area.

In the image information recording area, information on the image data recorded in the image data recording area is recorded. The image information recording area includes a plurality of areas, and in the example of FIG. 3, five tag information recording areas included in one of the areas are shown.

The tag information recording area includes a tag ID recording area for recording a tag ID (a different value is included in each tag ID) indicating the type of tag information, and a data recording area included in the tag information recording area. It includes a type recording area for recording the type of data to be recorded, a count area for recording data indicating the number of data included in the data recording area, and a data recording area for recording data.

In this embodiment, data (640 pixels in this embodiment) representing the width of the multi-synthesized image is recorded in the data recording area included in the first tag information recording area. In the data recording area included in the second tag information recording area, data (480 pixels in this embodiment) representing the height of the multi-synthesized image is recorded. In the data recording area included in the third tag information recording area, data representing the number of continuous shots (four in this embodiment) is recorded. In the data recording area included in the fourth tag information recording area, data representing the upper left and upper right X coordinates of each of a plurality of subject images forming the multi-synthesized image is recorded.
In the data recording area included in the fifth tag information recording area,
Data representing the upper left and lower left Y coordinates of each of a plurality of subject images constituting the multi-synthesized image is recorded.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure up to photographing a subject using a digital electronic still camera. FIG. 5 shows one frame of a multi-composite image including a plurality of subject images obtained by continuously photographing the subject.

First, the user operates the switching dial 31 to select the aspect ratio selection mode (step 41). Thereafter, the operation button 33 is operated by the user as described above, and a desired aspect ratio is selected while watching the display on the liquid crystal display device 27 (step 42).

Next, the continuous shooting mode is set by the switching dial 31 (step 43). Subsequently, the number of continuous shots is set by operating the operation button 33 (step 4).
4). Here, it is assumed that the number of continuous shots is set to 4.

When the aspect ratio and the number of continuous shots are set, the subject is continuously shot for the set number of times to obtain multi-synthesized image data representing one multi-synthesized image shown in FIG. 5 (step 45). ). The multi-synthesized image data representing the obtained multi-synthesized image is stored in the image data recording area of the image file recorded on the memory card 35.

In the image information recording area of the image file recorded on the memory card 35, data indicating the width of the multi-synthesized image, data indicating the height of the multi-synthesized image, and the number of continuous shots as described above. Data, data representing the upper left and upper right X coordinates of each subject image forming the multi-composite image, and data representing the upper left and lower left Y coordinates of each subject image forming the multi-composite image are recorded.

The width and height of the multi-composite image are determined in accordance with the aspect ratio and the number of continuous shots set by the user.
5 is stored in advance. The width and height of the multi-composite image corresponding to the aspect ratio set by the user are read from the table and stored in the image information recording area of the image file recorded on the memory card 35.

The ROM 25 also stores in advance a table indicating the composition position of each subject image forming the multi-composite image according to the aspect ratio and the number of continuous shots. In accordance with the aspect ratio and the number of continuous shots set by the user, data representing the upper left and upper right X coordinates and the upper left and lower left Y coordinates of each subject image forming the multi-composite image are read from this table. The read data is stored in the tag information storage area of the image information recording area corresponding to each of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate.

For example, when the number of continuous shots is set to four as described above, the multi-composite image is composed of four subject images from the first subject image I1 to the fourth subject image I4, as shown in FIG. It is determined to be arranged two by two. In this example,
The width of the image is 640 pixels, and the height of the image is 480 pixels. The upper left coordinate of the first subject image I1 is represented by (9, 3), the upper right coordinate is represented by (311, 3), and the lower left coordinate is represented by (9, 237). The upper left coordinates of the second subject image I2 are represented by (329, 3), and the upper right coordinates are represented by (631, 3). The upper left coordinate of the third subject image I3 is represented by (9, 243), and the lower left coordinate is (9, 243).
477). Data representing these coordinates is stored in the tag information recording area corresponding to the image information recording area as described above.

When the multi-synthesized image data and the image information are recorded in the memory card 35 in association with each other, the memory card 35 is stored in the digital electronic still
It is removed from the camera and attached to the animation GIF generation device to generate an animation GIF file.

FIG. 6 shows the appearance of the animation GIF file generation device, and FIG. 7 shows the outline of the electrical configuration.

The animation GIF file generating device includes a computer 50. Computer 50 has C
RT display (or liquid crystal display panel) 5
1, and input devices (keyboard 53A and mouse 53
B) 53 is connected. An FD (floppy disk) drive 54 and a CD-
A ROM drive 55, an HD (hard disk) unit 56, and a memory card drive 57 are provided. The FD drive 54 writes data to the FD 60 and reads data written to the FD 60. CD-ROM drive 55 is CD-ROM5
9 is read. HD unit 56
Performs writing of data to the hard disk and reading of data from the hard disk. The memory card drive 57 writes data to the memory card 35 and reads data from the memory card 35. The computer 50 further includes an internal memory (such as a semiconductor memory) 58.

FIG. 8 shows the structure of the animation GIF file.

The animation GIF file includes a header recording area, a global color table recording area, an image recording area, and a trailer recording area.

The header recording area is an animation GIF.
This area stores file management information.

The global color table recording area is an area for storing a table for converting a pixel index value into a combination of red, blue, and green.

In the image recording area, data for continuous display is recorded for each frame. A graphic control extension area, a local image descriptor area, and an image data recording area are provided for each frame. In the example shown in FIG.
Image data and the like for frames are recorded in the image recording area.
The graphic control extension area stores a delay time indicating the display time of the frame of the image represented by the image data and other data. The local image descriptor area stores data representing the width, height, and the like of the frame of the image represented by the image data. In the image data storage area, one frame of image data is LZW-compressed and stored. In the animation GIF, image data can be stored in the image data storage area as a block of up to 255 bytes of data. Therefore, the image data is divided into sub-blocks and stored in the image data storage area so that the amount of image data contained in one block does not exceed 255 bytes.

The trailer area is an area for storing data indicating that the animation GIF file ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for generating an animation GIF file.

The process of generating the animation GIF file includes the process of reading a file from the memory card 35,
The process includes a process of cutting out each of a plurality of subject images constituting the multi-synthesized image represented by the image data stored in the read file, an animation GIF conversion process, and a process of saving the generated animation GIF file.

When the memory card 35 on which multi-synthesized image data and image information are recorded is inserted into the memory card drive 57 of the animation GIF file generating apparatus, the image information of the image file recorded on the memory card 35 The image information stored in the recording area and the multi-synthesized image data stored in the image data recording area are read (steps 71 and 72).

Using the read image information, image data representing each subject image constituting the multi-synthesized image represented by the multi-synthesized image data is extracted from the multi-synthesized image data, and each subject image is cut out. (Step 73).

Subsequently, data and other parameters indicating the photographing interval during continuous photographing stored in the image information are stored in the graphic control extension area and the local image descriptor storage area (step 74). Data representing the shooting interval during continuous shooting is not necessarily animation G
There is no need to store it in an IF file. When the data representing the photographing interval at the time of continuous photographing is stored in the animation GIF file, the data representing the photographing interval when the subject is continuously photographed is recorded in the image information recording area of the image file recorded on the memory card 35. It will be.

Further, the image data representing the subject image cut out in step 73 is an LZW (Lempel Ziv Wel
ch) is compressed (step 75). When the LZW-compressed image data is composed of two image data constituting one block,
It is divided into sub-blocks so as not to exceed 55 bytes (step 76). The processing of steps 75 and 76 is performed on all the frames of the subject image cut out from the multi-synthesized image (step 77).

When the above-described LZW compression processing and division into sub-blocks are completed for all the frames constituting the subject image constituting the multi-synthesized image, each cut-out subject image corresponds to the image recording area shown in FIG. Image data and the like are stored in the area, and an animation GIF file is generated. The generated animation GIF file is stored on the hard disk by the HD unit 56. Of course, it is needless to say that the data can be stored in the FD 60 or the memory card 35.

The display of the image represented by the image data stored in the animation GIF file is switched at the shooting interval at the time of continuous shooting stored in the graphic control extended storage area. Since the frame feed time in the animation GIF is determined in synchronization with the continuous shooting interval, the frame feed becomes natural.

In the above embodiment, data representing the coordinates of each subject image forming the multi-synthesized image is stored in the image information storage area of the image file recorded on the memory card 35. Instead of storing the data representing the coordinates of each subject image in the image file recorded on the memory card 35, the data representing the margin of the multi-composite image is stored in the image information of the image file recorded on the memory card 35. You may make it memorize | store in an area | region.

FIG. 10 shows a multi-composite image.
In the multi-composite image shown in FIG. 10, the number of continuous shots is set to four similarly to the multi-composite image shown in FIG. 5, and one multi-composite image is generated from four subject images.

The left end of the multi-composite image and the left ends of the first subject image and the third subject image have a blank space of nine pixels.
The right ends of the first and third subject images and the right ends of the second and fourth subject images have a margin of 17 pixels. Further, the right ends of the second and fourth subject images and the right end of the multi-composite image have a margin of eight pixels.

The data representing these margins is stored as the margin width in the X direction in the fourth tag information storage area of the image information storage area shown in FIG.

The upper end of the multi-composite image and the upper ends of the first subject image and the second subject image have a margin of three pixels. The lower ends of the first and second subject images and the upper ends of the third and fourth subject images are 5
There is a blank space for pixels. Further, there is a margin of two pixels between the lower ends of the second and fourth subject images and the lower end of the multi-composite image.

The data representing these margins is stored as the margin width in the Y direction in the fifth tag information storage area of the image information storage area shown in FIG.

If the data representing these margins is stored in the image information storage area of the image file recorded on the memory card 35, the data representing these margins is used for the multi-composite in the animation GIF file generation processing. The processing of cutting out each subject image constituting the multi-synthesized image from the image (the processing of step 73 in FIG. 9) is performed.

When data representing a margin is recorded in the image information recording area of the image file recorded on the memory card 35 as described above, the width of each subject image cut out from the multi-synthesized image is expressed by the following formula. 1, and the height of each subject image is calculated according to Equation 2.

[0076]

(1) (width of frame image) = {(width of image) − (sum of margin width X)} / √ (number of continuous shots) Expression 1

[0077]

## EQU2 ## (height of frame image) = {(height of image)-(sum of margin width Y)} / {(number of continuous shots) Expression 2

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the width of each subject image is obtained by substituting a numerical value into Expression 1, as shown in Expression 3, and the width is
There are 303 pixels.

[0079]

(3) (width of frame image) = {640− (9 + 17 + 8)} /｝ 4 = 303 Expression 3

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the height of each subject image is obtained by substituting a numerical value into Equation 2, as shown in Equation 4, and the height is 235 pixels.

[0081]

## EQU4 ## (height of frame image) = {480- (3 + 5 + 2)} / {4 = 235 Expression 4

The number of frames in the vertical direction and the number of frames in the horizontal direction of each subject image forming the multi-synthesized image coincide with each other, but the numbers of these frames need not always coincide. For example,
The number of frames in the horizontal direction can be m, and the number of frames in the vertical direction can be n. In this case, the width of each subject image cut out from the multi-composite image is obtained by Expression 5, and the height of each subject image is obtained by Expression 6.

[0083]

(Width of frame image) = {(width of image) − (total of margin width X)} / m Equation 5

[0084]

(Height of frame image) = {(height of image) − (sum total of margin width Y)} / n Expression 6

When calculating the width and height of each subject image in accordance with Equations 5 and 6, the number m of frames in the horizontal direction and the number n of frames in the vertical direction may be recorded in the image information recording area. Alternatively, the number m of frames in the horizontal direction and the number n of frames in the vertical direction may be calculated according to Equations 7 and 8.

[0086]

M = (the number of margin widths X) −1 Equation 7

[0087]

N = (the number of margin widths Y) −1 Equation 8

In the above-described embodiment, the multi-composite image is composed of four subject images. However, the multi-composite image is composed of a subject image having less than four frames or a subject image having more than four frames. Needless to say, this may be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital electronic still camera.

FIG. 2 shows a screen of a liquid crystal display device when an aspect ratio is selected.

FIG. 3 shows a file of an image recorded on a memory card.
The format is shown.

FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure up to shooting by a digital electronic still camera.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a multi-composite image.

FIG. 6 shows an appearance of an animation GIF file generation device.

FIG. 7 shows an outline of an electrical configuration of the animation GIF file generation device.

FIG. 8 shows an animation GIF file format.

FIG. 9 shows a procedure of an animation GIF file generation process.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a multi-composite image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 CCD 20 DSP 21 System computer 22 Process processing circuit 23, 24 RISC 27 Liquid crystal display device 31 Switching dial 33 Operation button 35 Memory card 50 Computer 57 Memory card drive

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A continuous shooting mode setting means, a subject is continuously shot at regular intervals in accordance with the setting of the continuous shooting mode by the continuous shooting mode setting means, and one frame including a plurality of frames of the subject image obtained by the continuous shooting is provided. Imaging means for outputting multi-synthesized image data representing the multi-synthesized image, multi-synthesized image data recording control means for recording the multi-synthesized image data output from the imaging means on a recording medium, and a plurality of frames constituting the multi-synthesized image An electronic camera comprising: position-related information recording control means for recording subject image position-related information relating to the position of a subject image on the recording medium in association with the corresponding multi-synthesized image data. 2. At least one of information indicating the size of the multi-synthesized image, information indicating the number of continuous shots, information indicating a margin of the multi-synthesized image, and information on an imaging interval in continuous shooting of a subject is 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising a multi-synthesized image-related information recording control unit that records the multi-synthesized image-related information on the recording medium in association with the corresponding multi-synthesized image data. 3. An aspect ratio setting means for setting an aspect ratio, wherein the imaging means continuously shoots an object at regular intervals in an imaging range of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setting means, and 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic camera outputs image data. 4. Multi-composite image data representing one frame of a multi-composite image including a plurality of frames of subject images obtained by imaging and information relating to the positions of the plurality of frames of the subject image forming the multi-composite image are recorded in association with each other. Reading means for reading the multi-synthesized image data and the subject image position-related information from the recorded recording medium; and, based on the subject image position-related information, data representing a plurality of frames of the subject image constituting the multi-synthesized image. An animation G based on subject image data extracting means extracted from the multi-composite image data and data representing a plurality of frames of subject images extracted by the subject image data extracting means.
An animation GIF generation device comprising: an animation GIF file generation unit that generates an IF file. 5. The recording medium also records information on an imaging interval of a subject image, and the reading means reads the imaging interval information in addition to the multi-synthesized image data and the subject position information. 5. The animation GIF generation device according to claim 4, further comprising: switching interval setting means for setting a switching interval of an image of the subject image represented by the data representing the subject image based on the imaging interval. 6. Multi-composite image data representing one frame of a multi-composite image including a plurality of frames of subject images obtained by imaging and information relating to positions of the plurality of frames of the subject image forming the multi-composite image are recorded in association with each other. Reading means for reading the multi-synthesized image data and the subject image position-related information from the recording medium, and data representing a plurality of frames of the subject image constituting the multi-synthesized image based on the subject image position-related information. Subject image data extracting means for extracting from the multi-composite image data,
An image cutting device comprising: 7. A multi-composite image data representing a multi-composite image of one frame including a plurality of frames of the subject image obtained by the continuous shooting is obtained by continuously photographing the subject at regular intervals in accordance with the setting of the continuous shooting mode. The multi-composite image data is recorded on a recording medium, and subject image position-related information relating to the positions of a plurality of frames of the subject image forming the multi-composite image is recorded on the recording medium in association with the corresponding multi-composite image data. An operation control method for a digital electronic still camera. 8. At least one of information indicating the size of the multi-synthesized image, information indicating the number of continuous shots, information indicating a margin of the multi-synthesized image, and information on an imaging interval in the continuous shooting of the subject, 8. The operation control method of a digital electronic still camera according to claim 7, wherein the operation is recorded on the recording medium in association with the corresponding multi-composite image data. 9. An aspect ratio can be set, and the imaging processing is to continuously shoot a subject at regular intervals in an imaging range of the set aspect ratio to obtain the multi-synthesized image data. An operation control method for a digital electronic still camera according to claim 7. 10. Multi-composite image data representing one multi-composite image including a plurality of frames of subject images obtained by imaging, and information relating to the positions of the plurality of frames of the subject images constituting the multi-composite image are recorded in association with each other. The multi-composite image data and the subject image position-related information are read from the recorded recording medium, and based on the subject image position-related information, data representing a plurality of frames of the subject image forming the multi-composite image is converted to the multi-composite data. An animation GIF generation method for generating an animation GIF file based on data extracted from image data and representing the extracted plurality of frames of the subject image. 11. The recording medium also records information on the imaging interval of the subject image, and reads the imaging interval information in addition to the multi-synthesized image data and the subject position information. 11. The animation GIF generation method according to claim 10, wherein an image switching interval of the subject image represented by the data representing the image is set based on the imaging interval. 12. Multi-composite image data representing one frame of a multi-composite image including a plurality of frames of subject images obtained by imaging and information relating to the positions of the plurality of frames of the subject image forming the multi-composite image are recorded in association with each other. The multi-composite image data and the subject image position-related information are read from the recorded recording medium, and based on the subject image position-related information, data representing a plurality of frames of the subject image forming the multi-composite image is converted to the multi-composite data. An image extraction method that extracts from image data.