JP2000115686A - Photographing auxiliary system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing auxiliary system capable of performing photographing by a suitable condition, corresponding to the preference of a customer and various photographing scenes and preparing a print reproducing an image which corresponds to the preference of the customer and the scene. SOLUTION: A recording medium provided with a photographed image recording area and an information recording area is used, and prior to image photographing to the photographed image recording area, photographing auxiliary information is recorded in the information recording area. Then, at photographing, the photographing auxiliary information is read from the information recording area by an information read means 24 mounted to a camera 22 and at least one of the control of photographing by the camera 22 and the reproduction of the photographing auxiliary information is performed, corresponding to the read photographing auxiliary information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of image photographing by a camera, and more specifically, uses a storage medium such as an IC memory or a floppy disk to provide a high-quality image according to a customer's preference and a photographing scene. The present invention relates to a photographing assistance system that can output a print in which an image is reproduced.

[0002]

[Prior art] To commemorate and record trips and various events,
2. Description of the Related Art Prints that reproduce images captured by a camera using a photographic film, a digital camera, or the like are used. The taste of the image reproduced in the print is various for each person. Further, the image reproduced in the print is also affected by the photographing technique of the photographer. Further, the preferred image differs depending on the shooting scene such as a person and a landscape. However, it is extremely difficult at present to output a print in which a suitable image is reproduced in accordance with the preferences of all customers (print production requesters) and various shooting scenes.

On the other hand, an IC card or the like is used, and preferable photographing conditions corresponding to a photographing scene or the like are stored in the IC card. At the time of photographing, the photographing conditions are read out from the IC card or the like, and the aperture, shutter speed and the like are set. Controlling cameras are also known. However, these cameras can shoot only under fixed conditions provided by a camera maker, and cannot respond to individual customers or the like in detail. Further, there is a limit to the amount of information that can be recorded on an IC card or the like, and it is difficult to set suitable photographing conditions according to various photographing scenes.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an IC
By using a storage medium such as a memory or a floppy disk, shooting can be performed under suitable conditions according to customer's preferences and various shooting scenes, whereby images according to customer's preferences and scenes can be obtained. The reproduced print is
An object of the present invention is to provide a shooting assistance system that can be created stably.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording medium having a photographed image recording area and an information recording area, wherein the information is recorded on the photographed image recording area prior to photographing an image. The photographing auxiliary information is recorded in the recording area, and at the time of photographing, the photographing auxiliary information is read from the information recording area by the information reading means attached to the camera, and the photographing auxiliary information is read out by the camera in accordance with the read photographing auxiliary information. A photographing assistance system is provided which performs at least one of control and reproduction of the photographing assistance information.

Further, the recording medium is a film cartridge in which an IC memory as an information recording area is mounted on a case for storing a photographic film as a photographed image recording area, or an image data recording area of a photographed image and information recording. It is preferable that the storage medium is a storage medium that has an area and is added with information for recognizing the address of each area by the camera and / or the information recording means, or has fixed information for recognizing the address of each area. The shooting auxiliary information is information on shooting conditions by the camera, which is set in accordance with at least one of shooting information and correction information of a photographic image accumulated for each customer, and shooting scene classification. preferable.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photographing assistance system according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the concept of a printing system using the photographing assistance system of the present invention. The illustrated print system 10 uses a film cartridge 12 (hereinafter, referred to as a cartridge 12) in which an IC memory 14 is mounted in a case 12a for accommodating a film. (A photo shop) 16 includes a recording / reading unit 18 of the IC memory 14 and a camera 22 having a recording / reading unit 24 of the IC memory 14. Note that reference numeral 20 in the figure denotes a photo printer 20 of the print trader 16.

The recording and reading means 18 of the printing company 16
The necessary information is read from the database 19 and recorded in the IC memory 14 of the cartridge 12, and the information recorded in the IC memory 14 of the cartridge 12 is read.
The necessary information is supplied to the database 19.

Various kinds of information are recorded in the IC memory 14. In this embodiment, various kinds of photographing information, such as photographing magnification, focal length, photographing distance, etc., are taken every time a frame of the cartridge 12 (film) is photographed. The luminance and the like are recorded. The photographing information is read by the recording and reading means 18 when a print creation of the cartridge 12 is requested, and is stored and accumulated in the database 19 for each customer. In the database 19, information of an image correction instruction when a customer requests reprinting (recreating a print) in the past,
In particular, information on an image density-related correction instruction is also recorded and accumulated for each customer. That is, the database 19 stores and records the preferences of individual customers.

The photographing information and the correction information (customer preference information) are analyzed in the database 19, and photographing auxiliary conditions enabling photographing of an image according to each customer's preference are set. It is memorized.

For example, in a two-dimensional space based on photographing magnification data and luminance (preferably, by area division) data for each customer, the tendency of image correction by the customer is analyzed, and the weather and photographing location ( Under various conditions such as indoor / outdoor, and whether or not strobe light is emitted, a camera 2 that can take an image under an optimal condition for obtaining an image according to a customer's preference.
2, a control correction program, for example, an aperture and shutter speed at the time of shooting, that is, a program of automatic exposure control (hereinafter, referred to as AE) is set for each customer, and a database 1
9 is stored. Note that, instead of the control program, a correction program or a correction condition for correcting a control program such as an AE set by default in the camera 22 may be used.

Further, such analysis and setting of the photographing auxiliary condition may be performed for each scene classification, and the scene classification may be performed according to the specification of the customer.

In the present invention, prior to photographing the cartridge 12 on the film, if the customer desires, the photographing auxiliary conditions corresponding to the customer are read out from the database 19, and the recording / reading means 18 reads the photographing auxiliary information as photographing auxiliary information. The data is recorded in the IC memory 14 of the cartridge 12 (see arrow a). The database 19 is not limited to the printer 16 but may be a so-called center system in which information is obtained by accessing a database of the manufacturer of the cartridge 12 by computer communication or the like.

The customer receives the cartridge 12 in which the photographing auxiliary information is recorded in the IC memory 14 from the printing company 16 and loads the cartridge 12 into the camera 22 (see arrow b). The camera 22 reads information recorded in the IC memory 14 and stores necessary information in the IC memory 1 in addition to a photographing unit 26 for photographing an image on a film accommodated in the cartridge 12.
4 has a recording / reading unit 24 for controlling the photographing unit 26, and a reproducing unit 30 for reproducing various information.

When the switch of the camera 22 is turned on, the recording / reading means 24 reads various information stored in the IC memory 14 and supplies photographing auxiliary information to the photographing control unit 28. The photographing control unit 28 sets the supplied photographing auxiliary information, for example, the above-described AE control program, and uses the program to set the photographing unit 26 such as the aperture and shutter speed at the time of photographing.
Control the operation of. Alternatively, the photographing control unit 28 reproduces the optimal photographing conditions by the reproducing unit 30 and notifies the photographer of the optimal photographing conditions. When a photograph is taken, photographing information such as the photographing distance and luminance of the frame is stored in the IC memory 1 by the recording and reading means 24.
4 recorded.

Therefore, according to this aspect, the camera control characteristics reflecting the customer's preference can be realized in both AE photography and manual photography, and an image according to the preference is reproduced according to each customer. Prints can be created.
In particular, by setting the shooting assistance conditions for each scene classification, it is possible to more appropriately reflect customer preferences.

After the photographing is completed, the cartridge 12 is carried into a printing company 16, the film is developed by the printer 20, the image is printed on a photosensitive material (photographic paper), and the photosensitive material is subjected to a developing process. The reproduced image is output as a reproduced print. Also,
The photographing information for each frame recorded in the IC memory 14 of the cartridge 12 is read by the recording and reading means 18, recorded and stored in the database 18, and the photographing information and the correction information are re-analyzed as necessary, Is set.

In the above example, in the camera 22, the automatic control of the photographing section 26 by the photographing control section 28 and the reproduction means 3
One of the playback of the shooting conditions by 0 was performed,
The present invention is not limited to this, and both may be performed.
The camera 22 includes a photographing control unit 28 and a reproducing unit 3.
It is not limited to those having both 0. The reproducing means 30 may be a display means such as a liquid crystal display for displaying images or characters, a means for reproducing information by voice, or both.

In the above embodiment, the photographing auxiliary information corresponding to each customer's preference is stored in the IC memory 14 of the cartridge 12.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and auxiliary information related to a scene to be photographed may be recorded in the IC memory 14 to control the photographing unit 26 and the like.

In this embodiment, various photographing scenes are classified in advance, and photographing auxiliary conditions corresponding to the respective scenes are set and stored in the database 19. Examples of the shooting scene classification include a person, a flower, a landscape, a night view, a celestial body, and a monitoring object. Examples of the shooting assistance conditions according to the shooting scene classification include an AE program, an automatic focus adjustment (hereinafter, referred to as AF) program, shooting advice information, and the like.

The photographing assisting conditions in this embodiment are not particularly limited. For example, if the photographing scene classification is a night scene mode, the conditions under which the exposure time is extended to obtain an image in which bright and dark portions are sharpened are obtained. In the case of landscape mode, the conditions for increasing the aperture value to increase the depth of the subject and making the scene in focus from a near point to a far point are:
In the case of the flower mode, the condition that reverses the landscape mode is set. In the case of the person mode, in the case of a camera with a CCD sensor, a face extraction algorithm is executed to optimize the exposure and the optimal face area. Conditions under which strobe control is performed are exemplified.

In this embodiment, prior to photographing the cartridge 12 on the film, the print contractor 16 asks the customer what kind of scene he wants to photograph, and if the customer desires, the photographer according to the photographed scene classification. The photographing auxiliary conditions are read from the database 19 and are recorded as photographing auxiliary information in the IC memory 14 of the cartridge 12 by using the recording and reading means 18.

As in the above embodiment, the customer loads the cartridge 12 in which the photographing auxiliary information is recorded in the IC memory 14 into the camera 22. When the switch of the camera 22 is turned on, the recording / reading unit 24 reads various information stored in the IC memory 14, and stores shooting auxiliary information, for example, an AE or AF program corresponding to the above-described shooting scene classification in the shooting control unit. 28. The photographing control unit 28 sets the supplied photographing auxiliary conditions, and controls the operation of the photographing unit 26 according to the conditions. Alternatively, at the time of manual shooting without performing AE or AF, the shooting control unit 28 plays back shooting advice information and a warning by the playback unit 30 in accordance with the shooting brightness, the distance to the subject, and the like, and notifies the photographer.

Therefore, according to this aspect, it is possible to provide an optimal photographing technique for each scene classification and perform photographing under the latest AE or AF.

In this embodiment, the AE program and the AF
The shooting assistance conditions such as programs may be edited and recorded by the customer himself. Also, both AE and AF and reproduction of the photographing advice information and the like by the reproduction means 30 may be performed.

It is to be noted that the cartridge 1
The shooting auxiliary information stored in the second IC memory 14 is not limited to one, and shooting auxiliary information corresponding to a plurality of scene classifications is recorded in the IC memory 14 and, at the time of shooting, the shooting auxiliary information corresponding to the shooting scene is stored. The photographer may select the auxiliary information to control the photographing. In this case, the camera 22
An image sensor, such as a CCD sensor, is installed in the camera.
It is also possible to automatically select shooting auxiliary information according to the information and control shooting, playback of shooting advice, and the like.

In the above example, the print system of the present invention is used for producing a print (photo print) using the (film) cartridge 12 having the IC memory 14. The print system of the present invention In addition, the present invention can be suitably used for printing an image photographed using a camera (imaging device) such as a digital camera or a digital video camera.

In this example, a storage medium for recording image data of an image photographed by an imaging device such as a digital camera is divided into a storage area for image data and an information storage area. Use the same as 14. The storage area of the image data and the information storage area in the storage medium may be added with information for recognizing the address of each area by an image pickup device such as a digital camera or the recording and reading means 18 of the printing company 16. May be fixedly provided with information for recognizing the address.

The storage means is not particularly limited, and may be a floppy disk, a magnetic recording medium such as a removable hard disk such as Zip or Jaz, or an MD (mini disk).
Various known types such as a magneto-optical recording medium such as an optical disc and an MO, and a card memory such as an IC card and a smart media can be used.

Although the photographing assistance system of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[0032]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to set shooting assistance conditions according to customer's preference and shooting scene, and perform shooting under optimum conditions. Accordingly, it is possible to stably create a print in which a suitable image is reproduced according to the customer's preference and the shooting scene.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the concept of a printing system using a photographing assistance system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 print system 12 (film) cartridge 14 IC memory 16 print trader 18, 24 record / read means 19 database 20 photo printer 22 camera 26 shooting unit 28 shooting control unit 30 playback unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photographing auxiliary information is recorded in the information recording area before photographing an image in the photographed image recording area, using a recording medium having a photographed image recording area and an information recording area. Reading auxiliary shooting information from the information recording area by an information reading unit attached to the camera, and performing at least one of control of shooting by the camera and reproduction of the shooting auxiliary information in accordance with the read shooting auxiliary information. A shooting assistance system. 2. A film cartridge in which an IC memory as an information recording area is mounted in a case where the recording medium stores a photographic film as a photographed image recording area, or an image data recording area of a photographed image and information recording. Information having an area for recognizing an address of each area by the camera and / or the information recording means,
2. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the print system is a storage medium having information for recognizing an address of each area fixedly. 3. The photographing auxiliary information is related to photographing conditions of the camera, which are set according to at least one of photographing information and correction information of a photograph image stored for each customer and a photographing scene classification. The photographing assistance system according to claim 1, which is information.