CN100389590C - Image editing device and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

When producing albums for events such as wedding ceremonies, in order to be able to consistently produce albums of the same quality. The photographer walks with the bride and groom on the day of the wedding ceremony to take pictures. Read the image from the developed film and store it in the file server. Album editing such as selection of images to be inserted into the album is performed by referring to an editing screen (30) including a list display area (31) for displaying image data in a list and a template display area (33) for displaying templates. In the template image insertion area of the template display area (33), a sample image having a structure of an image that should be inserted therein is inserted as a guide image. Accordingly, the operator can easily select an image to be inserted into the image insertion area by referring to the guide image.

Description

Image editing device and method thereof

technical field

The present invention relates to an image editing device for selecting an image to be inserted into an image insertion area of a template, a method thereof, and a program for causing a computer to execute the image editing method.

Background technique

As described in Patent Document 1, there is proposed a method of reading images from a photographed film by scanning, arbitrarily paginating selected images, printing out a single photo, and creating a photo album.

In addition, it is also proposed to print out only the required images as printed photos, and form a concave gap in which the printed size of the printed photos matches the page layout of the album on the backing paper of the album, and insert the printed photos. A method of making an album into the formed concave notch (refer to Patent Document 2).

On the other hand, in order to create a photo album of the wedding ceremony, the photographer should follow the bride and groom on the day of the wedding ceremony, and take pictures in front of the wedding church and commemorative sites, as well as the ongoing wedding ceremony and wedding banquet, etc. , so it is necessary to take a large number of images and make a photo album on the day of the wedding ceremony. Since this kind of photo album is made into a photo album that follows the activities of the bride and groom on the day of the wedding ceremony, it can become a photo album with plots that can be enjoyed later.

But, the process of making an album as above is exactly: the photographer and the photo studio operator (hereinafter represented by the operator) who provide the album production service store many images taken in the image server, and at the workstation for making the album, the A list image of many images stored in the image server, and a template with an image insertion area for creating an album, and an image to be inserted in the image insertion area are selected from the image list. At this time, in order to insert the selected image into the image insertion area more beautifully, the operator needs to perform the following image editing processing: image blurring processing, processing to change image quality such as enhancing clarity, image rotation, and size change and image processing such as trimming; at the same time, red-eye removal processing, image repair processing such as blemish removal, etc. are also performed, so that the selected image can be beautifully inserted into the image insertion area.

And, print out the edited image and paste it on the backing paper to make an album. In addition, as described in Patent Document 1, it is also possible to combine the edited image and the template by inserting the edited image into the image insertion area of the template, and print out the album in the state pasted on the backing paper. , making an album.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-214868

Patent Document 2: JP-A-2003-182260

However, image editing often depends on the operator's skills, and the selection criteria for images used in albums differs depending on the operator, and the degree of resizing or trimming also differs accordingly. Therefore, although the albums produced by skilled operators are very beautiful, the albums produced by unskilled operators may not be beautiful even though they pay the same fee. In addition, there are cases where albums produced in different periods are different even though they are operated by the same staff.

Contents of the invention

In view of the above circumstances, especially in the case of producing an album of events such as the above-mentioned wedding ceremony, the object of the present invention is to enable the production of an album of the same quality at all times.

The image editing device of the present invention is characterized in that it includes:

display device;

an image display control device for displaying a list of multiple images in the display device;

a template display control means for displaying, in said display means, a template to be an album mount including at least one image insertion area for inserting an image together with said plurality of image at-a-glance;

guide image display control means for displaying, in said display means, a guide image for guiding an image to be inserted into each of said image insertion regions; and

Image selection means for accepting selection of an image to be inserted into each of the image insertion regions from the plurality of image lists.

The "guidance image" means an image capable of notifying the operator who performs the editing work whether or not an image of which composition can be inserted into each image insertion area. Here, photography for creating an event album is performed at the same place and under the same conditions regardless of the user who commissioned the album production. For example, as mentioned above, photography of the bride and groom at the wedding ceremony is carried out in a hotel, a church, or a studio, etc. Executed under specified conditions such as scenarios. For this reason, by inserting each image inserted into the template into the image in the area, all users who have selected the same template have the same composition, thereby making the quality of the album as constant as possible. Therefore, as a "guide image", a sample image or the like obtained by performing photography in an actual location or situation using an illustration, a line, or a block representing a configuration diagram that should be inserted into the image insertion area can be used.

Past images that are actually inserted into each image insertion area of the template are stored and used as guide images. A selected past image obtained at the same or type of shooting location as the image inserted into the image insertion area, which should actually be inserted into the image insertion area of the same template, may be saved as a guide image. As the past image, among the selected past images to be inserted in the image insertion area of the template, an image used for editing the current album (hereinafter referred to as the previous image) is preferable.

Here, the type of shooting location means that although the shooting locations are different, the background buildings and the like in the locations are similar, and therefore the shooting locations are regarded as things that are photographed at the same location.

In the image editing apparatus according to the present invention, the guide image display control means may be used as means for displaying the guide image in each image insertion area of the template displayed on the display means.

It is also possible to display guide images outside of each image insertion area. In this case, when there are a plurality of past images in one image insertion area, the plurality of past images may be displayed as guide images outside the image insertion area, thereby allowing the operator to After selecting a desired guide image, a guide image selected by the operator is displayed in the image insertion area. In this way, by inserting the actually used past image into the image insertion area as the guide image, it is possible to easily check whether the album is good or bad.

According to the image editing method of the present invention, it is characterized in that comprising the following steps:

displaying a list of multiple images in the display device;

displaying, on the display device, a template serving as an album mount including at least one image insertion area for inserting an image together with the plurality of image overviews;

displaying, on the display device, images to be inserted into the respective image insertion regions; and

Selecting an image to be inserted into each image insertion area from the list of the plurality of images is accepted.

The image editing method according to the present invention can also be provided as a program for a computer to execute.

According to the present invention, a list of a plurality of images and a template are displayed on the display device, and at the same time, a guide image for guiding images to be inserted into the image insertion area is also displayed. Therefore, the operator performing the editing work can easily select the image of the composition to be inserted into the image insertion area from the image list just by looking at the display device. Therefore, it is possible to create an album with the same quality all the time because the composition of the selected images does not vary depending on the operator or at different times even if the operator is the same.

By displaying the guide image in the image insertion area of the template, the operator can recognize which composition of the image should be inserted in the image insertion area just by looking at the template, and therefore, it is possible to more easily select from the image list where the image should be inserted. The image of the composition within the image insertion area.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an image editing system equipped with an image editing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an album editing PC.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an editing screen.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of guidance image information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing layout information.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing another example of an editing screen.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a database used in the second embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an editing screen in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a database used in the third embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a diagram (Part 1) showing an example of an editing screen in the third embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a diagram (Part 2) showing an example of an editing screen in the third embodiment.

Detailed ways

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an image editing system equipped with an image editing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image editing system according to the first embodiment is equipped with an album editing PC (personal computer) 1 having the function of the image editing device described in the first embodiment; a plurality of (here, two) minilabs (minilabs) 3A, 3B, and a scanner 3C for acquiring image data representing images recorded in film, and printers for printing out image data; The file server 5 of large-capacity hard disk; With the process management PC 7 of the process management of carrying out album production operation, these parts are all connected by network.

In this embodiment, the wedding ceremony is regarded as an event, and the photographer accepts the commission of the bride and groom as the user, follows the bride and groom to shoot the wedding ceremony of the day, and makes the obtained images into an album with a plot. Note, but the event is not limited to a marriage ceremony.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the album editing PC 1. As shown in FIG. 2 , the album editing PC is provided with a CPU 11 (image display control means, template display control means, guide image display control means) that executes the overall control of the album editing PC 1; Network transceiver device 13 for sending and receiving information; display device 15 for displaying various information such as images or templates; I/O 19, which is read by the operator who operates the album editing PC 1 through the input device 17 (image selection device) Input various information, and transmit it to CPU 11, or output display instructions to display device 15 according to instructions from CPU 11; It is executed by recording programs or various constants that make CPU 11 act and as constituent CPU 11. A memory 21 consisting of a RAM of a recording device in the work area during processing; a recording device 23 such as a hard disk for recording various information such as image data.

The CPU 11 in the album editing PC 1 and various peripheral circuits including the transceiver device 13, I/O 19, memory 21, and recording device 23 are connected by the bus 25, and the CPU 11 can control each peripheral circuit. That is, the CPU 11 can receive information such as image data or template data described later from the file server 5 by controlling the transceiver device 13, the display device 15, the memory 21, and the recording device 23, and record the received image data in the recording device 23. At the same time, the list of image data and the template are displayed on the display device 15, and according to the instruction input by the operator from the input device 17, the image to be inserted into the image insertion area of the template is selected, and the editing information of the image is generated and sent to the file. The server 5 sends image editing information.

Here, the album editing PC 1 accepts input of album editing information consisting of a template type and a user ID specified by a user requesting to create an album when an operator executes an album editing operation, and transmits the album editing information to the file server 5. After that, the file server 5 receives the transmitted template data, image data, and guide image data inserted into the image insertion area of the template. Afterwards, the image data is reduced to generate a list of images represented by the image data, and at the same time, the guide image represented by the corresponding guide image data is inserted into each image insertion area of the template represented by the template data, and the inserted guide image The template and the editing screen including the image list are displayed on the display device 15 .

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an editing screen. As shown in FIG. 3 , the editing screen 30 includes a list display area 31 for displaying a list of images, a template display area 33 for displaying a template in which a guide image is inserted, and a tool box 35 .

In the list display area 31, a scroll bar 31A is displayed, and by moving it left and right, images that cannot be displayed on one screen can be displayed.

Here, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the template displayed in the template display area 33 includes four image insertion areas 1-a, 1-b, 1-c, 2-a in which guide images are displayed respectively.

The guide image is an image capable of notifying the operator who performs the album editing work which composition image is to be inserted into each image insertion area 1-a, 1-b, 1-c, and 2-a. Here, shooting for creating an event album is performed at the same place and under the same conditions regardless of the user who commissioned the production of the album. For example, as mentioned above, the shooting of the bride and groom on the day of the wedding ceremony is performed in a certain place such as a hotel, church or studio, and the scene of exchanging rings in the wedding ceremony or the scene of cutting the cake in the wedding banquet is performed under certain conditions.

Therefore, by setting the images inserted into the image insertion areas 1-a, 1-b, 1-c, and 2-a of the template to have the same composition for all users who select the same template, the quality of the album can be kept as constant as possible. Therefore, as a guide image, a sample image or the like obtained by performing photography in an actual place or situation using an illustration, a line, or a block indicating a composition that should be inserted into the image insertion area can be used. Alternatively, a selected past image that should actually be inserted into the image insertion area of the template designated by the user may be stored in the file server 5 and used as a guide image. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a sample image using a module is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the template data, in its head area, it is recorded that the image of the template T1 represented by the template data is inserted into the areas 1-a, 1-b, 1-c, 2-a, and inserted into the image. The guide image information corresponding to the file names (sample001.jpg, sample002.jpg, sample00.jpg, sample004.jpg) of the guide image data in 1-a, 1-b, 1-c, and 2-a in the insertion area is inserted. The album editing PC 1 refers to the guide image information recorded in the header of the template data, and inserts the guide image data into the image insertion area of the template.

In addition, in the template display area 33 , arrow buttons 33A and 33B for switching the template pages displayed in the template display area 33 when the template has a plurality of pages are displayed. The operator can switch the pages of templates displayed on the editing screen 30 by clicking the arrow buttons 33A and 33B.

In the tool box 35, buttons for processing image data such as blurring, sharpening, and brushing to change the quality of the image, buttons for processing image data such as red-eye removal or blemish removal, and image processing such as rotating and resizing are displayed. A button for performing processing to edit an image, and an OK button for ending the processing.

The operator executes the editing work by executing an editing instruction of the album while looking at the editing screen 30 . Specifically, an image whose composition matches the guide image inserted into the image insertion area is selected from the image list, and the selected image is dragged and dropped using the input device 17 to insert the selected image into the image insertion area. After insertion, by selecting the image insertion area and clicking the button of the toolbox 35, the image inserted in the selected image insertion area can be edited. For example, the image can be rotated 90 degrees to the right by clicking the rotate button. In addition, the image size can be changed by clicking the size change button. The quality of the image can be changed by clicking Blur, Clarity and Brush. Also, fix the image by clicking the Remove Red Eye or Remove Blemishes buttons.

Then, after selecting images to be inserted into all the image insertion areas of the template and finishing editing the selected images, the operator clicks the OK button to finish editing the album composed of the template. In addition, the operator clicks the OK button to generate image editing information including the file name of the image data selected by the album editing PC 1, each image insertion area of the template, and the file name of the image data inserted into each image insertion area. information, information indicating the type of processing to be performed on each image data such as blurring, zooming in and out, and red-eye removal, information indicating the range of the trimmed area when trimming is performed, information on the magnification rate in the case of zooming in and out, etc., and send it to the file server 5.

In the document server 5, in the microprocessors 3A, 3B and the scanner 3C, image data obtained by reading images recorded in developed film are stored. The image data is stored in a folder created by a user organization that commissions an album. Also, in the file server 5, a plurality of template data representing templates for album production are stored. In addition, guide data indicating a guide image to be inserted into the image insertion area of the template is also stored.

In addition, the file server 5 refers to the album editing information transmitted from the album editing PC 1, and stores template data indicating the type of template selected by the user, image data stored in a folder corresponding to the user ID, and information indicating insertion into the template. The guide image data of the guide image in the image insertion area is sent to the album editing PC 1.

On the other hand, when the image editing information is sent from the album editing PC 1, the file server 5 refers to the file name of the image data representing the selected image included in the image editing information, and performs adjustment processing and editing processing on the selected image data. , to generate the processed image data. In addition, the adjustment processing includes at least one of brightness compensation processing, color compensation processing, and gradation compensation processing for the selected image data. In addition, in the editing process, the process of changing the quality of image data, such as specifying blurring, clearing, and brushing, etc. specified by the image editing information, and specifying trimming and zooming in and out of the image data, such as image processing and trimming, zooming in and out, etc., are included. processing, and specifying image processing such as blurring or red-eye removal, processing of the image data to restore the image.

Also, the file server 5 generates album layout information based on information that associates each image insertion area of the template included in the image editing information with the file name of the image data inserted in each image insertion area. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of layout information. As shown in FIG. 5, the layout information includes the image insertion areas 1-a, 1-b, 1-c, and 2-a of the used template T1 and the file names (DSCF0012.jpg, DSCF0012. DSCF0020.jpg, DSCF0023.jpg) correspond. In addition, the layout information is sent to one of the microprinters 3A, 3B together with the processed image data.

The process management PC 7 accepts inputs from the operator to complete each process such as completion of album editing, completion of printing, and album inspection in order to manage the production process of comments made by the operator for one album. Finally, the operator checks the quality of the completed album, and if the check result is acceptable, the input is accepted, and the process management for one album is ended. In addition, when the inspection result is unacceptable, an instruction input to recreate an album is accepted for the comment on the album creation.

Next, the processing executed in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the first embodiment. In addition, in the file server 5 , image data obtained by reading an image from a developed film on which an image is captured and recorded by the user on the day of the wedding ceremony is stored.

The process starts when the operator instructs album editing from the album editing PC 1. First, the album editing PC 1 sends album editing information consisting of a user ID and template type information designated by the user to the file server 5 (step S1).

The file server 5 receives the album editing information, and stores the image data stored in the folder corresponding to the user ID, the template data representing the template of the kind specified by the user, and the guide image representing the guide image inserted into the image insertion area of the template The data is sent to the album editing PC 1 (step S2).

The album editing PC 1 receives the image data, template data, and guide image data, and displays the editing screen 30 on the display device 15 (step S3). In the image insertion area of the template displayed in the template display area 33 on the edit screen 30, a guide image represented by guide image data is inserted.

Thereafter, the album editing PC 1 accepts an instruction from the operator to edit the album by referring to the editing screen 30 (step S4). Next, it is judged whether or not the OK button is clicked (step S5). If yes in step S5, the album editing PC 1 generates image editing information and sends it to the file server 5 (step S6). If step S5 is denied, return to step S4 and accept the editing instruction from the operator.

The file server 5 receives the image editing information, refers to the file name of the selected image data included in the image editing information, and executes image editing processing (step S7). After that, the processed image data generated by the image editing processing and the layout information generated from the image editing information are output to one of the microprinters 3A, 3B (step S8), and then the processing ends.

After receiving the processed image data and layout information, the microprinters 3A and 3B print out the processed image data to generate a printed page of the processed image data. An operator (or an operator specialized in album processing) refers to layout information while pasting printed sheets in a printed sheet insertion area in a mount corresponding to a template, and performs copying operations, etc. to create an album.

The produced album is inspected by an operator who performs quality control, and if it passes the inspection, it is delivered to the user. In addition, when the inspection fails, the process management PC 7 executes an instruction to create an album again in the comment on the album creation.

In this way, in this embodiment, in order to display a guide image for guiding an image to be inserted in the template image insertion area of the template display area 33 on the edit screen 30, the operator performing the editing work can only use the By looking at the editing screen 30 of the display device 15, an image to be inserted into the image insertion area can be easily selected from the image list. Therefore, there is no phenomenon that the composition of the selected images varies depending on the operator or even if the operator is the same over time, and therefore it is possible to create an album with always the same quality.

Since a guide image is displayed in the image insertion area of the template, it is possible to recognize what composition of the image should be inserted in the image insertion area just by looking at the template, so it is possible to more easily select which image should be inserted from the image list. to the image of the structure within the image insertion area.

In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the guide image is inserted into the image insertion area of the template on the editing screen 30, however, as shown in FIG. The image insertion area of the template is selected, so that on the editing screen 30 (here, the tool box 35 ), a guide image corresponding to the selected image insertion area is displayed. In addition, FIG. 7 shows a state where the image insertion area 2-a is clicked.

In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the photography of the bride and groom on the wedding day is carried out in a certain place such as a hotel, a church, or a studio. In addition, the scene of exchanging rings in the wedding ceremony and the scene of cutting the cake in the wedding banquet are often used. Assuming that it is executed in a certain state, as a guide image, a sample image obtained by photographing an actual location or situation using an illustration, a line, or a block indicating a composition to be inserted into the image insertion area is used. However, even when the same template is used, the settings in the studio, the background of the bride and groom when shooting outdoors, and the angles at the time of shooting may be different. There are also cases where the state of the buildings and plants in the background are different depending on the season and the surrounding environment. In addition, depending on the budget for producing an album or the scale of the wedding ceremony, the shooting plan may vary in setting the number of shots to be taken, the shooting location, and the like. When an album is actually produced, there may be cases where desired images are not captured due to omissions in photography, or the arrangement of insertion images used in the album may be changed depending on user preference. Therefore, it may not be possible to support album production by preparing only one guide image for one image insertion area.

Thus, for each template, the file name of the selected image data to be inserted into the image insertion area is stored in association with the shooting location, and when an album editing operation using a certain template is executed, the A selected past image obtained in the same or similar photographic location as the image inserted into the image insertion area, which should actually be inserted into the image insertion area of the same template, is used as a guide image. Hereinafter, this will be described as a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, as for the template used, the creation of the album using the subject images in various shooting locations has been completed, and as shown in FIG. The file server 5 stores the information of the image shooting location used, the database DB1 corresponding to the file name of the image data (guidance image data) showing the image insertion area and the image inserted in the image insertion area. The file name of the guide image data registered in the database DB1, in the case of creating an album using a template recently, is the selected image that should actually be inserted into the image insertion area of the template (hereinafter referred to as the previous image) The filename of the image data.

The process is started by an instruction from the operator to execute album editing from the album editing PC1. First, the album editing PC1 inputs the comment number, user information, shooting location name, shooting location (hotel name, studio name, church name, etc.) input by the operator. , shooting time and date, specific wedding ceremony information (marriage ceremony ID) and specific shooting plan information (shooting plan ID) at least one of the information to accept order information is sent to the file server (step S11). The file server 5 registers order acceptance information (step S12). The album editing PC 1 transmits editing information including the type information (template ID) of the template designated by the user to the file server 5 (step S13).

The file server 5 receives the album editing information, and transmits the image data stored in the folder corresponding to the user ID, the template data showing the template of the type specified by the user, and the guide image data showing the guide image inserted in the image insertion area of the template to The album is edited in PC1 (step S14).

Here, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the guide image data transmitted from the file server 5 to the album editing PC is in the same or similar shooting location as the image inserted into the image insertion area of the template of the type designated by the user. The obtained image data showing the selected past image should actually be inserted into the image insertion area of the same template. For example, when there is an annotation for creating an album using a template whose template ID is 001234, and the input shooting location is Hotel A, the file server 5 refers to the database DB1, and stores DSCF001.jpg, DSCF0322.jpg, DSCF0724.jpg, DSCF2324 Image data with a file name of .jpg is transmitted as guide image data.

The album editing PC 1 receives the image data, template data, and guide image data, and displays the editing screen 30 on the display device 15 (step S15). In the image insertion area of the template displayed in the template display area 33' on the edit screen 30, a guide image represented by guide image data is inserted.

Thereafter, the album editing PC 1 accepts an instruction to edit an album from the operator instructing to refer to the editing screen 30 (step S16 ). In the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in the editing screen 30' of FIG. After step S16, the album editor PC1 judges whether the guide registration button is clicked by the operator (step S17), and if step S17 is affirmative, the file name of the image data inserted into the image insertion area is sent as guide image update information. to the file server 5 (step S18).

The file server 5 refers to the database DB1, and updates the file name of the guide image data transmitted to the album PC1 with the file name of the image data transmitted from the album editing PC1 (step S19).

Album editing PC1, under the situation of being denied in step S17 and after step S18, judges whether to have clicked confirmation button (step S20), if step S20 is affirmative then generates image editing information, and it is sent to file server 5 (step S20). S21). If step S20 is denied, then return to step S16, and accept the editing instructions of subsequent operations.

The file server 5 receives the image editing information, refers to the file name of the selected image data included in the image editing information, and executes image editing processing (step S22). After that, the layout information generated based on the processed image data generated by the image editing process and the image editing information is output to any one of the microprinters 3A, 3B (step S23 ), and the process ends thereafter.

In the second embodiment, when the guide registration button is clicked in step S17, the album editing PC 1 transmits the guide image update information to the file server 5, however, when the confirm button is clicked in step S20, it may be The file name of the selected image data to be inserted into the image insertion area is automatically sent to the file server 5 as guide image update information. In this case, in the process shown in FIG. 8 , the album editing PC 1 does not execute the judgment of step S17, and after step S20, it is judged whether it is set to the mode in which the album editing PC 1 automatically executes transmission, and if it is set , to send the guide image update information to the file server 5 . The file server 5 updates the file name of the guide image based on the guide image update information.

In the second embodiment, as described above, the previous image is used as the guide image, but as shown in FIG. Correspondingly, it is stored in the database DB2, and a plurality of guide images composed of a plurality of past images corresponding to the selected image insertion area are displayed on the editing screen by clicking the image insertion area of the template or the like to select. Hereinafter, display of a plurality of guide images will be described as a third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the guide image transmitted with reference to the database DB2 is referred to as a history guide image.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, in terms of templates used, the production of albums using images captured in various shooting locations has already been completed, and as shown in FIG. (Template ID), information showing the location where the image is taken, and a database DB2 that associates the image insertion area with the image data to be inserted into the image insertion area.

The process starts when the operator executes an album editing instruction from the album editing PC 1 , and first, the album editing PC 1 transmits order acceptance information input by the operator to the file server 5 (step S31 ). The file server 5 registers acceptance order information (step S32). The album editing PC 1 transmits the album editing information to the file server 5 (step S33).

The file server 5 receives the album editing information, and transmits to the album image data stored in a folder corresponding to the user ID, a template showing a category specified by the user, and a guide image showing a guide image inserted into the image insertion area of the template. Edit PC1 (step S34). Here, the guide image data to be transmitted is, like the above-mentioned first embodiment, graphic data representing the actual place or situation by using an illustration, a line, or a block showing a composition that should be inserted into the image insertion area. The resulting sampled images and the like are captured.

The album editing PC 1 receives the image data, template data, and guide image data, and displays the editing screen 30 on the display device 15 (step S35). FIG. 13 shows an initial screen of an editing screen in the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, in the image insertion area of the template displayed in the template display area 33 in the editing screen 30", a guide image displayed by the guide image data is inserted. In the tool box 35, a guide registration button is displayed. and the History Reference button.

Album editing PC1, after the operator designates the image insertion area of the template, judges whether the history reference button has been clicked (step ST36), if step ST36 is affirmative, then sends the transmission request of the history guide image to the file server 5 (step ST37) .

The file server 5 refers to the database DB2, and transmits guide image data representing historical guide images to the album editor PC1 (step ST38).

Here, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the guide image data sent from the file server 5 to the album editing PC is in the same or similar shooting location as the image inserted into the image insertion area of the template of the type designated by the user. The obtained image data showing the selected past image should actually be inserted into the image insertion area of the same template. For example, when there is an annotation for album production using a template whose template ID is 001234, the input shooting location is hotel A, and the designated image insertion area is 2-a, the file server 5 stores DSCF2324.jpg, DSCF2622 Image data with file names of .jpg, DSCF2777.jpg, and DSCF2888.jpg are sent to the album editor PC1 as guide image data.

The album editing PC 1 generates a thumbnail image of the history guide image corresponding to the image insertion area designated by the user, and displays it in the editing screen 30" (step ST39).

FIG. 14 illustrates an editing screen displaying a thumbnail of a history guide image. As shown in FIG. 14 , a sample display area 37 for displaying thumbnail information of a history guidance image corresponding to an image insertion area (for example, 2-a) designated by the user is displayed in the toolbox 35 of the editing screen 30". After the operator clicks a desired history guide image among the four history guide images displayed in the sample display area 37, the album editor PC1 displays the history guide image in the image insertion area designated by the user. Thus, the operator can refer to the actual The images used to confirm the quality of the album.

The operator designates each image insertion area, and then clicks the history display button to insert the selected history guide image into the image insertion area by referring to the history guide image corresponding to the designated image insertion area.

Thereafter, the editing work can be executed by executing the processing after step S16 in the second embodiment.

In the above-mentioned second and third embodiments, images actually used are used as guide images. For this reason, it is necessary to keep the secret, provide a mosaic to the person portion of the guide image, or partially encrypt the guide image, or provide text, symbols, etc. indicating that the guide image is an image actually used.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the microprinting machines 3A, 3B print out the processed image data representing the image data of the image selected by the operator, paste the print on the backing paper corresponding to the template, and create an album. The processed image data and template data may be synthesized at the file server 5 to generate synthesized image data representing an image (that is, an album image) in which an image selected by the operator is inserted into the image insertion area of the template, and the synthesized image data may be output. To the microprocessor 3A, 3B.

As a result, an album can be produced only by printing the image of the original album by printing out the synthesized image data on the microprinters 3A, 3B, without having to stick the printed image to a mount.

Also, in the above-described embodiments, an album is created using image data obtained by reading images recorded on a film, but an album may be created using image data acquired by a digital camera as it is. At this time, the file server 5 is provided with a media drive for reading image data from a medium such as a memory card in which image data obtained by shooting is recorded, and the image data read from the medium using the media drive is stored in the file server 5 .

In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, after the album editing PC 1 selects an image for an album, only the image data representing the image selected by the file server 5 is subjected to adjustment processing, Or, when the scanner 3C transmits image data to the file server 5 , it performs adjustment processing on all the image data and stores it in the file server 5 . In addition, the album editing PC 1 may perform adjustment processing on all image data sent from the file server 5 or image data selected for use in an album.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the album editing PC 1 or the file server 5 may generate data (album data) in which the user's image is inserted into the template based on the layout information, and transmit it to a server accessible to the user, etc. Save in . Thereby, the user can check whether the album is completed or not before creating the album. In addition, at this time, the user can also choose to use the album data to create an album, or to edit it immediately.

Claims (6)

1. image editing apparatus is characterized in that it comprises:

Display unit;

Image display control apparatus is used for a plurality of image general charts are presented in the described display unit;

The template for displaying control device is used for inserting the template zone, that become the photograph album lining paper and being presented in the described display unit with described a plurality of image general charts comprising at least one image that is used to insert image;

The navigational figure display control unit shows to be used to guide in described display unit and should insert the navigational figure that each described image inserts the image in the zone; And

Image-selecting device is used for accepting to select to be inserted into each described image from described a plurality of image general charts and inserts the interior image in zone.

2. image editing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that:

Described navigational figure is that actual each described image that is inserted into inserts the image in the past in the zone.

3. image editing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that:

Described navigational figure be with insert each described image insert obtain in the identical or place of similarly photographing of image in the zone, the actual image that should be inserted into described template inserts the image in the selected past in regional.

4. as any described image editing apparatus in the claim 1 to 3, it is characterized in that:

Each image that described navigational figure display control unit is presented at described navigational figure the described template that shows in the described display unit inserts in the zone.

5. as any described image editing apparatus in the claim 1 to 3, it is characterized in that:

Exist under a plurality of situations at described navigational figure, described navigational figure display control unit is to show that selectively these a plurality of navigational figures, a navigational figure also will selecting from these a plurality of navigational figures are presented at each described image and insert the interior device in zone.

6. an image edit method is characterized in that comprising the steps:

In display unit, show a plurality of image general charts;

To comprise at least one image insertion template zone, that become the photograph album lining paper of inserting image is presented in the described display unit with described a plurality of image general charts;

In described display unit, show to be used to guide and to insert the navigational figure that each described image inserts the image in the zone; And

Acceptance is selected to be inserted into each described image and is inserted the interior image in zone from described a plurality of image general charts.

Images