JP2000099759A - Image processor, image processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the necessity of indivisual processing for remaining images at the time of converting the gradation of one of plural images to which a fixed processing is to be applied based on the attribute information of a header. SOLUTION: A user selects an image of which gradation is to be converted from a table (S1). The gradation of the selected image is converted (S2). The header of the selected image file is read out (S2) and the existence of an image forming a pair is checked (S3). When an image forming a pair exists (S3), the gradation of the pair image is similarly converted (S5). Then, the image changing its gradation is stored and the processing is ended (S6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for handling a plurality of images, and a storage medium for storing program software for executing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for simultaneously synthesizing a plurality of images having common attribute information is known. For example, an apparatus or software that forms a high-definition panoramic image with a wide angle of view by connecting a plurality of images in a two-dimensional direction is known. According to this, it is possible to obtain a high quality image in a wide angle of view range while using a low distortion imaging optical system.

Further, a stereoscopic image can be viewed by stereoscopically viewing two images by utilizing the fact that parallax is generated between images from two viewpoints arranged in parallel on the left and right.
A method of displaying on a direct-view stereoscopic display without glasses,
There is a method of switching and displaying left and right images using liquid crystal shutter glasses. In the former method, for example, it is necessary to alternately arrange two left and right images for each line of a frame on a display using a lenticular lens or the like and synthesize them. In the latter method, the left and right images are displayed on one screen. It is necessary to perform a process of switching to the display.

As described above, a composite image such as a panoramic image or a stereoscopic image needs to simultaneously process a plurality of constituent images.

[0005]

However, no special processing has been performed on the remaining images obtained by processing at least one or more arbitrary images in a set of image groups. For this reason, when it is desired to perform the same processing on the entire composite image such as a panoramic image or a stereoscopic image, it is necessary to select and process each of the images constituting the composite image. Become big. For example, any one of the images constituting the composite image
When tone conversion is performed on a sheet, it is necessary to perform tone conversion for all remaining constituent images.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and method and a storage medium which eliminate such troubles.

[0007] The present invention also provides an image processing apparatus and method for automatically performing processing on an arbitrary one of a group of images handled as one unit on the remaining images. And to present storage media

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information. Selecting means for selecting any one of the image information to perform predetermined processing, and searching for other image information linked to each other from the attribute information of the image information selected by the selecting means It is characterized by comprising search means, and processing means for performing the predetermined processing on the image information selected by the selection means and other image information searched by the search means.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is also an image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information which are linked to each other by predetermined attribute information to form a composite image, and wherein any one of the plurality of pieces of image information is processed. Selecting means for selecting one piece of image information, extracting area specifying means for specifying an extracting range, and detecting detecting image information that conflicts with the extracting area specified by the extracting area specifying means with reference to the attribute information. Means for extracting a portion of an image included in the extraction range from each piece of image information detected by the detection means and combining the extracted image portions.

[0009] An image processing method according to the present invention is an image processing method for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information. A selection step of selecting one image information to be subjected to a predetermined process; a search step of searching for other image information linked to each other from the attribute information of the image information selected by the selection step; A processing step of performing the predetermined processing on the image information selected in the step and the other image information searched in the search step.

[0010] The image processing method according to the present invention is also an image processing method for processing a plurality of pieces of image information that are linked to each other by predetermined attribute information to form a composite image. A selection step of selecting one piece of image information, a extraction range specification step of specifying a extraction range, and a detection of referring to the attribute information and detecting image information that conflicts with the extraction range specified by the extraction range specification step. And a cutout step of cutting out and combining image portions included in the cutout range from each piece of image information detected in the detection step.

In the storage medium according to the present invention, program software for executing the above-described image processing method is stored in an externally readable manner.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, each of a plurality of images forming a composite image is added with attribute information indicating that the image is a component of the composite image. When the gradation of any of the constituent images is corrected, the remaining constituent images are automatically selected, and the gradation is similarly corrected.

The image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment basically comprises a computer. 12, a storage device for storing a plurality of images and various programs and data;
PU, 16 is a memory, 18 is an image processing circuit, 20 is a parallel interface, 22 is a user interface, 24 is a display control circuit, 26 is a VRAM, 28 is a monitor display (hereinafter referred to as a monitor), and 30 is C.
It is a PU bus. Note that an electronic still camera or a video camera may be included. The monitor 28 includes a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal monitor. The CPU 14 controls the storage device 12
And reads the program stored therein, and controls each unit according to the program.

An image stored in the storage device 12 is displayed on the monitor 2.
8 will be described. The image data stored in the storage device 12 is read and transferred to the memory 16 via the CPU bus 30. The image processing circuit 18 performs processing such as left-right difference correction (for stereoscopic viewing) on the memory 16.
The display control circuit 24 converts the image data on the memory 16 into a VR
The data is taken into the AM 26 and displayed on the monitor 28. The user interface 22 is used by a user to input various instructions to the CPU 14. It is also possible to display an image fetched from outside via the parallel interface 16 on the screen of the monitor 26, and the basic operation is the same.

It is assumed that a pair of left and right image data files constituting a stereoscopic image are stored in the storage device 12. This image data may be imaged by a camera, created by computer graphics, or may be a combination of both. Here, it is assumed that the image is captured by a compound-eye camera.

FIG. 2 shows a storage format in the storage device 12, that is, a file name and an attribute. In FIG. 2, the basic file name is "IMAGE1", and "_R" is added to the right image and "_L" is added to the left image to indicate that it is a component of a common stereoscopic image. However, the file name itself is not limited to this. As the extension, a file indicating the image file format (bmp indicating the bitmap format in FIG. 2) is used. The file format is not limited to a bitmap.

Therefore, the image files “IMAGE1_R.bmp” and “IMAGE1_
L. bmp ”is stored. In the present embodiment, the image file“ IMAGE1_R. bmp ”,“ IMAGE1_
L. bmp ”is one image file“ IMAGE1_R.bmp ”to indicate that it is a set of images for stereoscopic viewing.
bmp ”has a paired image file name“ IM ”
AGE1_L. bmp ”and panorama / 3D identifier name P1
_R, and the other image file “IMAGE1_
L. bmp "has a paired image file name"
IMAGE1_R. bmp ”and panorama 3D identifier name P
1_L is stored. The header may include not only the file name of the paired image but also information unique to the image such as the size of the file of the paired image and the update date and time.

For reference, an image file for 2D "
IMAGE2. Fig. 2 shows bmp "and its attribute information. Since the image file is for 2D, both the paired image name and the panorama / 3D identification name are blank in the header.

When three or more images are grouped as in the case of panorama synthesis, it is complicated to include all the file names of the remaining constituent images in the header, and the storage area cannot be secured. Since there is a character string such as a panoramic 3D identifier name, a character string obtained by adding each identification character to a common character string different from the file name (for example, P
1_R, P1_L). As a result, management independent of the file name becomes possible, and the user can identify the same set of images even when the file name is individually changed. If there are three or more image files, “_1”, “_2” and “_3”
What is necessary is just to add a character string like this.

Each image file is added with the creation date and time of the image file. This is recorded in the directory entry of the storage device 12. FIG. 3 shows the structure of the directory entry in the storage device 12. The directory entry includes a file name column, an extension column, an attribute information column, and a top cluster column of a file stored in the storage device 12. Such a structure is well known. In the first cluster column, the first cluster in the FAT of each file is 16
It is illustrated in hexadecimal.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, an image file "IMAGE1" constituting a stereoscopic image is displayed.
_R. bmp "and" IMAGE1_L. An operation of converting the gradation of “bmp” will be described. First, a file for displaying the file name of the viewer software of the present embodiment is displayed.
Start the manager. As a result, the file names of all the files stored in the storage device 12 are displayed, and the user selects any one of the constituent image files to be subjected to gradation conversion by the user interface 22 (S1). For example, assume that the file “IMAGE1_L.bmp” is selected.

The selected image file "IMAGE1_
L. bmp "is subjected to gradation conversion (S2). As an example of gradation conversion, a case in which a gradation having an 8-bit gray scale is binarized by a threshold value of level 128 will be described. It is not limited to such gradation conversion.

The image file IMAGE1_L. bmp image size is m × n pixels, and the brightness level value of each point is L
If (i, j) (where 0 ≦ L (i, j) ≦ 255) and the processed luminance level value is L ′ (i, j), the binarization processing is performed as follows. That is, L ′ (i, j) = 1 (when L (i, j) ≧ 128) = 0 (when L (i, j) <128) (1) Thereby, the image IMAGE1_L. bmp becomes 1-bit data. However, the image IMAGE1_
R. bmp remains 8 bits.

An image obtained by combining two images having different gradation levels in this way is a very unnatural image. Therefore, the image IMAGE1_R. bmp also image IMAG
E1_L. It is necessary to perform the same gradation conversion as in bmp.
Conventionally, the image IMAGE1_R. bm
The same gradation conversion processing was performed on p.

In this embodiment, the image file "IMAGE1_L.bm" selected by the user and subjected to gradation conversion is used.
The header of “p” is read (S3), and the presence or absence of an image to be paired is checked (S4). In the example shown in FIG. 2, the paired image name “IMAGE1_R. bmp ", the image file" IMAGE1_R.
It is checked whether "bmp" exists.

If a pair image exists (S4), the same gradation conversion is applied to the file "IMAGE1_L.bmp" while displaying the pair image name "IMAGE1_R.bmp" (S5). That is, the image file “IM”
AGE1_R. The image size of “bmp” is m ′ × n ′ pixels, and the luminance level value of each point is R (i, j) (where 0 ≦
R (i, j) ≦ 255), and the processed luminance level value is R ′
Assuming (i, j), the binarization process is performed as follows. That is, R ′ (i, j) = 1 (when R (i, j) ≧ 128) = 0 (when R (i, j) <128) (2)

Thus, the image file “IMAGE1”
_L. bmp "and" IMAGE1_R. bmp "both have a 1-bit gray scale, and an image obtained by combining the two becomes a natural image.

The user finally confirms whether or not the gradation conversion can be performed. If it is OK, the two gradation-converted image files "IMAGE"
1_L. bmp "and" IMAGE1_R. bmp ”is overwritten and saved (S6).

The paired image file "IMAGE1_
R. bmp "does not already exist in the storage device 12 (S
4), end as it is.

In this way, when one of the constituent images of the composite image is selected and subjected to gradation conversion, the same processing is automatically performed on the remaining constituent images. Therefore,
It is not necessary to search for each constituent image and individually perform the same processing, thereby greatly reducing the user's labor.

The case of a stereoscopic image composed of two images has been described, but the same applies to a panoramic image composed of two or more images.

The remaining constituent images can be searched using the date and time when the image data was created. Storage device 12
May be removable such as a flash memory card.

Even if the processing to be performed is color conversion, gradation correction, color correction, image enlargement processing, and file format conversion, the processing is the same as that of the gradation conversion except for the processing contents. That is, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, when a certain process is performed on one of a plurality of constituent images forming a composite image, the same process can be performed on the remaining constituent images.

The processing to be performed may be image rotation. In the case of rotation, unlike the above-described processing, it is necessary to include each other's positional information in the attribute information, and the operation will be described in detail below.

Here, a case where a panoramic image is generated by synthesizing four constituent images in two rows and two columns will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 5, four image files “IMAGE1.bmp” and “IMAG
E2. bmp "," IMAGE3. bmp ”and“ IM ”
AGE4. bmp "is stored. The header of each image file describes in the panorama identifier name column that the image is a constituent image of a set of four composite images P1. Are described by a row number and a column number.The four image files “IMAGE1. bm
p "," IMAGE2. bmp "," IMAGE3. b
mp "and" IMAGE4. bmp "is, for example, as shown in FIG.
Assume that the images are synthesized in the arrangement shown in FIG.

In the header, an area for storing a file name as attribute information of an image is newly secured. The format of the image file is not limited to the bitmap format,
Various file formats can be used. Information to be written in the header is not limited to the above example.

Of the four constituent images, "IMAGE
1. bmp "is read out and rotated 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction. Fig. 7 shows an operation flow chart of this operation. The rotation processing software is started up. The file name is displayed and the user can
To select the image file to be rotated (S1
1). For example, assume that the file “IMAGE1.bmp” is selected.

The selected file "IMAGE1.bm"
The header of "p" is read (S12), and an image file having the same panorama identifier name as the panorama identifier name "P1" is searched for (S13) In the example of Fig. 5, the image file "IMAGE2. bmp "," IMAGE3. bm
p "and" IMAGE4. bmp ".

If there is an image file having the same panorama identifier name (S13), all the images having the same panorama identifier name are rotated in a specified direction (S14).
Since the position relative to the panorama composite image changes due to the rotation, the information of the image position in the header of each image file is also updated so as to have a correct positional relationship (S15).

For example, when the panoramic composite image is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, the arrangement of each image in the composite image also changes. That is, if only the images constituting the composite image are rotated and the arrangement information is not changed, the respective constituent images are arranged on the panoramic composite image as shown in FIG. Will not be rotated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the row and column information indicating the arrangement in the composite image is changed at the image position of the header of each constituent image. Since it is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, IMAGE1. bmp: 1 row 1 column → 2 row 1 column IMAGE2. bmp: 1 row, 2 columns → 1 row, 1 column IMAGE3. bmp: 2 rows and 1 column → 2 rows and 2 columns IMAGE4. bmp: Change to 2 rows and 2 columns → 1 row and 2 columns. According to the changed header information, each constituent image is correctly positioned on the panoramic composite image as shown in FIG.

If the user approves the rotation result, all image files “IMAGE1.bmp”, “IMAGE
2. bmp "," IMAGE3. bmp ”and“ IMA ”
GE4. The data after the change of “bmp” is overwritten and saved (S16).

If there is no image file having the same panorama identifier name (S13), only the selected image file is rotated in the designated direction (S17), and if the user approves the rotation result, the rotated data is deleted. Save with the same file name (S16).

As described above, when one of a plurality of constituent images constituting the composite image is rotated, the other constituent images are rotated in the same manner, and the positional relationship on the composite image is defined. Information can be updated correctly. That is, the same processing is performed on each of the constituent images, and furthermore, the trouble of individually changing the information defining the relationship to the composite image can be omitted.

Even if the process to be performed is a reversal process, the process is the same as the case of rotation, except for the content of the process. That is,
According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, when a certain process is performed on one of a plurality of constituent images forming a composite image, the same process can be performed on the remaining constituent images. That is, the same processing is performed on each of the constituent images, and furthermore, the trouble of individually changing the information defining the relationship to the composite image can be omitted.

Next, in a certain image among a plurality of images constituting the composite image, when a specific region defined by a certain reference point is outside the image, a plurality of images partially including the specific region are displayed. The operation of combining and displaying will be described.

A panorama image file consisting of two image files "IM"
AGE1_R. bmp "and" IMAGE1_L. bm
p ". The combined panoramic image and two image files" IMAGE1_R. bmp "and" IMAGE1_L. bmp ”, as shown in FIG. 10, the image file“ IMAGE1_R. bmp "
The right end of the image is the image file "IMAGE1_L.bm
It is assumed that the image is synthesized so as to exactly match the left end of the image of p ". Of course, some may overlap.

Here, the left image (image file “IM”)
AGE1_L. bmp "), a rectangular area starting from a point designated by the user is extracted. The rectangular area is one image (image file" IMAGE1_L.
bmp "or" IMAGE1_R. bmp "), there is no problem, but a rectangular area is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, two images (image file “IMAGE1”
_L. bmp "and" IMAGE1_R. bmp ”), the image file“ IMAGE ”in the rectangular area
1_L. bmp ”is included in the image file“ IMAGE1_L. bmp ".

Image file "IMAGE1_R.bm"
p "and" IMAGE1_L. bmp ”is H × W, and the image“ IMAGE1_L. bmp ”, the coordinates of the starting point are (sh, sw) (0 <sh <H, 0 <s
w <W), the size of the rectangular area to be cut out is (wh, w
w).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of cutting out an image in the designated area. Start the clipping processing software. The file name or the like of the file stored in the storage device 12 is displayed, and the user selects any one image file using the user interface 22 (S21). Here, the image file “IMAGE1”
_L. bmp "is selected.

On the image of the selected image file, the user determines the starting point of the cutout range (S22). It is determined whether or not the cutout area is completely included in the selected image (S23). That is, it is determined whether or not sw + ww> W (3) sh + wh> H (4) When the condition of Expression (3) is satisfied, the cut-out area is set to the selected image file “IM”.
AGE1_L. bmp ”on the right side of the image. When the condition of Expression (4) is satisfied, the cut-out area includes the selected image file“ IMAGE1_L.
bmp "is projected below the image.

The cut-out area is the selected image file.
IMAGE1_L. bmp ”(S23), the selected image file“ IMAGE ”
1_L. It checks whether there is an image file of an image to be positioned on the right side (S25).
In this description example, the image file “IMAGE1_R.b”
m ”is found. If there is an image file of an image to be positioned on the right side but it is not actually stored in the storage device 12 (S25), the selected image file“ IMAGE ”is found.
1_L. The image of the designated range is cut out only from the image of "bmp" (S27).

When an image file including an image of a portion where the cut-out range is protruded is found (S25), the selected image file "IMAGE1_L-bmp" has a size (H-sh) at the starting point (sh, sw). , Ww), and cut out the image file “IMAG” found in S27.
From (E1_R-bmp), a large (sh + sw-H, ww) rectangular area is cut out at the start point (sh, 0), and the cut out images are combined and displayed at the boundary (S26).

The cut-out area is the selected image file.
IMAGE1_L. bmp ”(S23), the selected image file“ IMAGE1 ”
_L. The extraction range portion is extracted from the image of “bmp” and displayed (S27).

In this way, even when a specific region is cut out from one of a plurality of images constituting a composite image and the specific region extends over another image, these images are automatically extracted from these images. Since a necessary image portion is cut out and synthesized, the same image cut out from the synthesized image itself can be cut out from the constituent image and obtained. Since the image quality of a composite image is generally lower than that of its constituent images, an image in a specific range can be cut out with higher image quality as compared with the case of cutting out the composite image itself. This is also more beneficial if the composite image is not stored.

Next, a description will be given of an operation of transferring one of a plurality of images constituting a composite image to the outside when the instruction is made to transfer the remaining images to the outside. For example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that a computer 32 is connected to the parallel interface 20 and that the predetermined image files stored in the storage device 12 are to be transferred to the computer 32 at a time.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of left and right images "IMAGE1" constituting a stereoscopic image are stored in the storage device 12, as shown in FIG.
_R. bmp "and" IMAGE1_L. bmp "is stored.

FIG. 13 shows an operation flowchart. Start the transfer processing software. Thereby, the file names of all the files stored in the storage device 12 are displayed, and the user can use the user interface 22 to
One of the component image files transferred to the outside is selected (S31). For example, the file "IMAGE1_L.b
mp "is selected.

The selected image file "IMAGE1_
L. bmp "is transferred from the parallel interface 22 to the computer 32 (S32), its header is read (S33), and the presence or absence of a pair of images is checked (S34). If there is another constituent image (S34) S
34) Similarly, the image files of all the constituent images found are transferred from the parallel interface 22 to the computer 32 (S35).

In this manner, all the images can be transferred only by instructing the transfer of one of all the images necessary to generate the composite image.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device.

In addition, in order to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is installed in a computer in an apparatus or a system connected to the various devices. The present invention also includes a case in which a program (code) is supplied and a computer (CPU or MPU) of the apparatus or system is operated by operating the various devices according to stored programs.

In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example,
A storage medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) or other operating system running on the computer. Even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software and the like, it goes without saying that such program codes are included in the embodiments of the invention according to the present application.

Further, the supplied program code is
After being stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs one of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing all or part of the processes and executing the processing is also included in the invention according to the present application.

[0067]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, the processing performed by designating one of a plurality of images constituting a composite image is performed on the remaining images. Can be applied automatically. This can save the trouble of repeating the same processing for each image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a file stored in a storage device 12 and an example of attribute information thereof.

FIG. 3 is a directory entry example of the file example shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a gradation changing process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a file name and its attribute information used in the rotation processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement of each image shown in FIG. 5 on a composite image.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a rotation process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an arrangement on a composite image as a result of simply rotating each image.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an arrangement of each image on a composite image after a rotation process in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a cutout range over a plurality of images.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a cutting process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram for explaining an external transfer process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a transfer process according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Image processing device 12: Storage device 14: CPU 16: Memory 18: Image processing circuit 20: Parallel interface 22: User interface 24: Display control circuit 26: VRAM 28: Monitor display 30: CPU bus 32: Computer

Claims (39)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information, wherein any one of the plurality of pieces of image information is Selecting means for selecting the image information selected by the selecting means; searching means for searching other image information linked to each other from the attribute information of the image information selected by the selecting means; image information selected by the selecting means And an image processing apparatus for performing the predetermined processing on the other image information retrieved by the retrieval means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recording means for recording, on a recording medium, the image information on which the predetermined processing has been performed by the processing means. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising attribute information updating means for updating the attribute information of the image information on which the predetermined processing has been performed by the processing means. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is color correction.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is gradation correction. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is color conversion.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is gradation conversion. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is enlargement of an image. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is conversion of a file format. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is image transfer. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is image rotation.
4. The attribute information updating unit updates a position in a composite image as the attribute information of the plurality of image information.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is image inversion,
4. The attribute information updating unit updates a position in a composite image as the attribute information of the plurality of image information.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 13. An image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information that are linked to each other by predetermined attribute information to form a composite image, and selects any one of the plurality of pieces of image information. Selecting means, extracting range specifying means for specifying an extracting range, detecting means for referring to the attribute information and detecting image information which conflicts with the extracting range specified by the extracting range specifying means, and detecting by the detecting means An image processing apparatus, comprising: a cutout unit that cuts out an image portion included in the cutout range from each piece of the obtained image information and combines the cutout image portions. 14. An image processing method for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information, wherein any one of the plurality of pieces of image information is A selection step of selecting to perform the processing of the above, a search step of searching for other image information linked to each other from the attribute information of the image information selected by the selection step, and the image information selected by the selection step And a processing step of performing the predetermined processing on the other image information retrieved by the retrieval step. 15. The image processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a recording step of recording, on a recording medium, the image information subjected to the predetermined processing in the processing step. 16. The image processing method according to claim 14, further comprising an attribute information updating step of updating the attribute information of the image information subjected to the predetermined processing in the processing step. 17. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined processing is color correction. 18. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined processing is gradation correction. 19. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined processing is color conversion. 20. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined processing is gradation conversion. 21. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined processing is enlargement of an image. 22. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined processing is conversion of a file format. 23. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined processing is image transfer. 24. The predetermined processing is rotation of an image,
17. The image processing method according to claim 16, wherein the attribute information updating step updates a position in the composite image as the attribute information of the plurality of pieces of image information. 25. The predetermined process is image inversion,
17. The image processing method according to claim 16, wherein the attribute information updating step updates a position in the composite image as the attribute information of the plurality of pieces of image information. 26. An image processing method for processing a plurality of pieces of image information that are linked to each other by predetermined attribute information to form a composite image, wherein an arbitrary one of the plurality of pieces of image information is selected. A selection step, a cutout range specifying step of specifying a cutout range, a detection step of referring to the attribute information, and detecting image information that conflicts with the cutout range specified by the cutout range specifying step, and a detection step. An image portion included in the extraction range from each piece of the obtained image information, and combining the extracted image portions. 27. A storage medium for externally readable storage of program / software of an image processing method for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information, A processing step of selecting any one of the plurality of pieces of image information to perform a predetermined process, and the attribute information of the image information selected by the selection step, A search step of searching for other image information; and a processing step of performing the predetermined process on the image information selected by the selection step and the other image information searched by the search step. Storage medium. 28. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the image processing method further comprises a recording step of recording the image information on which the predetermined processing has been performed in the processing step on a recording medium. 29. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the image processing method further comprises an attribute information updating step of updating the attribute information of the image information subjected to the predetermined processing in the processing step. 30. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein said predetermined processing is color correction. 31. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein said predetermined processing is gradation correction. 32. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein said predetermined processing is color conversion. 33. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein said predetermined processing is gradation conversion. 34. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein said predetermined processing is enlargement of an image. 35. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined processing is conversion of a file format. 36. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein said predetermined processing is image transfer. 37. The predetermined processing is rotation of an image,
30. The storage medium according to claim 29, wherein the attribute information updating step updates a position in the composite image as the attribute information of the plurality of pieces of image information. 38. The predetermined process is image inversion,
30. The storage medium according to claim 29, wherein the attribute information updating step updates a position in the composite image as the attribute information of the plurality of pieces of image information. 39. A storage medium for externally readable storage of program / software of an image processing method for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked together by predetermined attribute information to form a composite image, the image processing comprising: A method of selecting any one of the plurality of pieces of image information; a step of specifying a cutout range; and a step of specifying the cutout range by referring to the attribute information. A detecting step of detecting image information that conflicts with the extracted area, and an extracting step of extracting and combining an image portion included in the extracted area from each piece of image information detected in the detecting step. Storage medium.