JP2001133904A - Method and device for picture output and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output picture data in the photographing order when reading pictures recorded on a film to obtain picture data. SOLUTION: A picture is so photographed that the date of photographing may be included, and plural pictures are recorded on a film 1. Plural pictures recorded on the film 1 are read by a scanner 2 to obtain picture data S. Characters of the dates of photographing are recognized from pictures of the first and last frames on the film 1 to discriminate whether pictures have been photographed in order from the front end or the rear end, and information H as the discrimination result is outputted. An output means 4 gives a file name to picture data S, which represents individual pictures recorded on the film 1, to output pictures on the film 1 to a recording means 5 in order from the leading or trailing picture on the basis of information H. The recording means 5 records picture data S, to which the file name has been given, in a recording medium like a CD-R.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading method and apparatus for reading an image recorded on a film to obtain image data representing the image, and a computer-readable recording program for causing a computer to execute the image reading method. It concerns a possible recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been proposed an image processing system for reproducing digital image data obtained by reading an image recorded on a film as a hard copy such as a print or a soft copy on a display.
In such an image processing system, digital image data is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-R and provided. As described above, when reproducing digital image data, an image is output after performing various image processing such as gradation processing and color conversion processing on the image data.

[0003]

By the way, when image data is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-R or stored in a database, the order in which file names are assigned to each image and the order of output are determined by the film. The order of each recorded image is the same. This is because a normal winding camera that shoots from the leading edge of a film shoots in order from the beginning of the film, so even if image data obtained by reading is given a file name in that order and outputs it, It is based on the idea that it will be the same as However, in a pre-winding camera that shoots from the rear end of the film, the unexposed film is wound up and stored in the film storage room from the patrone in advance, and the frame is shot after shooting in order from the rear end of the film. In the patrone. Therefore, when the image data is read from the film photographed by the pre-winding camera, the file name and the output order of the image data are opposite to the photographing order, so that the management of the image data becomes troublesome.

For this reason, when creating an index image from image data obtained by a digital camera or the like, the arrangement order of each frame of the index image is changed on the basis of information on the shooting date and time given to the image data. Such a method has been proposed (JP-A-9-61).
940). However, in this method, although the order of each frame in the index image can be changed, the file name and output order of the image data itself cannot be changed at all.

In the case where images are recorded on a plurality of films by the same camera, if the order of photographing on each film is unknown, file names are assigned to image data in a different order from the photographing order. In some cases, image data management is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image reading method and apparatus capable of outputting image data in the order of photographing, and a computer readable recording program for causing a computer to execute the image reading method. It is an object to provide a simple recording medium.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading method for reading a plurality of images recorded on a film to obtain image data representing the respective images. The photographing order of each image is determined, and the respective image data are output in the photographing order based on the determination result.

Here, "outputting image data in the order of photographing based on the determination result" means that when photographing is performed using a normal winding camera, the image data is sequentially outputted from the image data representing the image of the leading end of the film. That means. In the case of a pre-winding camera, this means that the image data is sequentially output from the image data representing the image at the rear end of the film. Note that "output" refers to giving a file name to image data in the order of shooting, or sorting and outputting image data in the order of shooting.

[0009] In the first image reading method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the determination of the photographing order is performed based on information on the photographing date and time given to at least two images in the film.

Here, "at least two of the films
The "one image" is preferably an image at the leading end and the trailing end of the film, but may be an image at a position separated from the film by several sheets or an image adjacent to each other.

[0011] The "information relating to the photographing date and time given to the image" may be, when the film is a so-called APS film having a magnetic recording portion capable of recording magnetic information, the photographing date and time recorded in the magnetic recording portion. In the case of a normal film, when shooting is performed by reflecting the shooting date and time, the information indicates the shooting date and time included in the image.

Further, in the first image reading method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the photographing order is determined based on a position of an unexposed area on the film.

Here, when photographing is interrupted in the middle of the film, an area where no image is recorded at the rear end of the film in the case of a normal winding camera, or at the front end of the film in the case of a pre-winding camera. Will occur. Therefore, the “unexposed area in the film” refers to an area where no image is recorded.

In the case where the film is a film having a magnetic recording section capable of recording magnetic information, the determination of the photographing order is made based on the information on the camera or the information on the photographing order recorded on the magnetic recording section. It is preferable to carry out based on this.

A second image reading method according to the present invention is directed to an image reading method for reading images recorded on a plurality of films obtained by photographing with the same camera and obtaining image data representing the images. And determining the photographing order of each of the films, and outputting the respective image data in the photographing order based on the discrimination result.

In the second image reading method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the determination of the photographing order is performed based on information on the photographing date and time given to the image of each film.

In a second image reading method according to the present invention, the photographing order of each image recorded on each of the films is determined, and the respective image data are output in the photographing order based on the determination result. Is preferred.

A first image reading apparatus according to the present invention is an image reading apparatus for reading a plurality of images recorded on a film to obtain image data representing the respective images, the photographing order of each image recorded on the film. Determining means for determining
Output means for outputting the respective image data in the order of photographing based on the determination result.

In the first image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the discriminating means performs the discrimination of the photographing order based on information on photographing date and time given to at least two images in the film. Preferably, there is.

Further, in the first image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the discriminating means is a means for discriminating the photographing order based on a position of an unexposed area on the film.

Further, in the first image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the film is a film having a magnetic recording section capable of recording magnetic information, and the determining means determines the photographing order by the magnetic recording. It is preferable that the means is based on the information on the camera or the information on the shooting order recorded in the section.

A second image reading apparatus according to the present invention is an image reading apparatus for reading images recorded on a plurality of films, obtained by photographing with the same camera, and obtaining image data representing the images. A discriminating means for discriminating the photographing order of each film, and an output means for outputting the respective image data in the photographing order based on the discrimination result.

In the second image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the discriminating means is a means for performing the discrimination of the photographing order based on information relating to the photographing date and time given to the image of each film. Is preferred.

Further, in the second image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the discriminating means is a means for discriminating a photographing order of each image recorded on each of the films, and the output means is adapted to output the discrimination result. It is preferable that the image data is output in the order of photographing based on the above.

The first and second image processing methods according to the present invention may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium as a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

[0026]

According to the first image reading method and apparatus of the present invention, the photographing order of each image recorded on the film is determined, and each image data is output in the photographing order based on the determination result. Therefore, the image data can be output in the order of photographing regardless of the winding method of the camera, so that the image data can be easily managed.

If the photographing order is determined on the basis of the information on the photographing date and time given to at least two images on the film, the photographing can be performed from the images recorded on the film without any special operation at the time of photographing. Information about the date and time can be obtained.

Further, by determining the photographing order based on the position of the unexposed area in the film, the photographing order can be determined only by confirming at which end the unexposed area of the film is located. Can be easily determined.

When the film is a so-called APS film, information on the camera used for photographing and information on the photographing order may be recorded in the magnetic recording section of the film. Here, since the film winding method is determined by the camera, if there is information on the camera, the winding method of the camera can be known. Therefore, the photographing order can be easily determined based on the information on the camera.

According to the second image reading method and apparatus of the present invention, the photographing order of a plurality of films is determined, and each image data is output in the photographing order based on the determination result. Even when shooting is performed using the image data, the image data can be output without erroneous shooting order, thereby easily managing the image data.

Further, in the second image reading method according to the present invention, if the photographing order of the images recorded on each film is determined, and each image data is output in the photographing order based on the determination result, the camera Irrespective of the winding method, the image data can be output in the shooting order, and the management of the image data can be performed more easily.

[0032]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an image output system using an image reading device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image output system according to a first embodiment of the present invention reads images from a film 1 on which a plurality of images are recorded by photographing with a camera (not shown), and represents each image. A scanner 2 for obtaining a plurality of image data (hereinafter, represented by image data S)
Determining means 3 for determining the photographing order of the images on the film 1 based on the image data S to obtain information H on the photographing order; and storing the information in the image data S based on the information H obtained by the discriminating means 3. An output unit 4 for giving a name and outputting the image data, and a recording unit 5 for recording the image data S on a recording medium such as a CD-R or storing the image data S in an image database. Note that it is assumed that the camera has been photographed so that the date is included in a predetermined area of the image. Further, in the present embodiment, the end of the film 1 on the side farthest from the cartridge is the tip,
The frame at the front end will be described as the first frame, the end connected to the patrone will be the rear end, and the frame at the rear end will be described as the last frame.

The discriminating means 3 converts the image data S1 representing the image in the first frame and the image data Sn representing the image in the last frame among the image data S representing a plurality of images recorded on the film 1. Then, the photographing order in the film 1 is determined. Here, film 1
Since the image recorded in the image includes a date in the predetermined area as described above, character recognition is performed on the predetermined area in the image represented by the image data S1 and Sn, and information on the date is obtained. In some cases, the image of the date merges with the background in the predetermined area, making it difficult to read. In such a case, the image is advanced (or returned) until character information can be obtained, and character recognition is performed to obtain the date information.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2A, information relating to the date "99.10.12" is obtained for the image of the first frame, and "99.1.15" is obtained for the image of the last frame. Then, it can be determined that the film 1 has been photographed by a normal winding camera that records an image from the leading end of the film 1. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 2B, assuming that information relating to the date “99.10.15” is obtained in the image of the first frame and “99.10.12” in the image of the last frame, this information is obtained. It can be determined that the film 1 has been photographed by a prewinding camera that records an image from the rear end of the film. Therefore, the information H about the photographing order output from the discriminating means 3 indicates that the image represented by the image data S has been photographed in order from the leading end of the film 1 or has been photographed in order from the trailing end. It is a thing which shows whether it is a thing.

The output unit 4 assigns a file name to the image data S in the shooting order based on the information H obtained by the determination unit 3 and outputs the image data S. For example, if the information H indicates that shooting was performed in order from the front end of the film 1, the image data S1 obtained in the image at the front end of the film 1 to the image data Sn obtained in the image at the rear end of the film 1, for example, " FilmXXX01.jpg, FilmXXX02.jpg,. Conversely, if the information H indicates that the shooting was performed sequentially from the rear end of the film 1,
Image data S obtained from the rear end image of the film 1
n to the image data S1 obtained in the image at the tip, for example, “FilmXXX01.jpg, FilmXXX02.jpg,.
lmXXXn.jpg "and output with a file name.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment. First, a plurality of images recorded on the film 1 are read by the scanner 2, and image data S representing each image is obtained (step S1). The image data S is input to the discriminating means 3, and character recognition is performed in a predetermined area where the date in the first and last images of the film 1 is recorded as described above (step S2), and the film 1 is photographed from the leading end. Or information H indicating whether the photographing was performed from the rear end is output.
3). The information H is input to the output means 4, where a file name is given to the image data S in the order of photographing (step S4) and output to the recording means 5 (step S5). In the recording means 5, the image data S is stored in a CD-ROM.
The information is recorded in R or stored in the image database (step S6), and the process ends.

As described above, in the first embodiment,
The photographing order of each image recorded on the film 1 is determined, and a file name is given to each image data S in the photographing order based on the determination result. Regardless of the method, the image data S can be output in the order of photographing, and thereby the image data S can be easily managed.

In the first embodiment, the shooting order of the images is determined by recognizing the characters of the date included in the first and last images of the film 1. However, the film 1 is a so-called APS. If the film has a magnetic recording portion capable of recording magnetic information like a film,
In some cases, information on the shooting date and time is recorded in this magnetic recording unit. In this case, whether or not the image was taken from the leading end of the film 1 based on the information on the photographing date and time recorded in the magnetic recording unit corresponding to the first and last images of the film 1 by the determination means 3 Information H indicating whether the photographing was performed from the rear end may be obtained.

In some cases, the recording of the image on the film 1 is interrupted in the middle of the recording and the image is developed.
, Unexposed portions occur. For example, when photographing is performed by a normal winding camera, the rear end of the film 1 is an unexposed portion, and when photographing is performed by a pre-winding camera, the front end of the film 1 is an unexposed portion. As described above, the film 1 depends on the position of the unexposed portion.
Therefore, the discriminating means 3 may recognize the position of the unexposed portion of the film 1 and obtain the information H based on the recognition result.

Further, when the film 1 is an APS film, information of a camera used for photographing may be recorded in a magnetic recording unit. Here, whether the camera is a normal winding camera or a pre-winding camera often depends on the model of the camera. Therefore, a table indicating the relationship between the camera model and the winding method is stored in the system in advance, and when information on the camera model is recorded on the film 1,
The winding method can be known based on the information on the camera and the table, and the information H can be obtained by determining the photographing order. Further, when information on the photographing order is recorded in the magnetic recording section of the film 1, this information may be used as it is as the information H.

In the case of the camera used for shooting,
A prewinding mark may be added to the film 1. In this case, the determining means 3 determines whether or not a pre-winding mark has been added to the film 1 and generates the information H according to the presence or absence of the mark.

Further, in the first embodiment,
Although the information on the date is obtained from the images of the first and last frames of the film 1, the shooting date and time may be different between the images adjacent to each other, so that the information about the shooting date and time is obtained from the two images adjacent to each other. Is also good.

Incidentally, by any of the methods described above,
If the photographing order is not known, the output unit 4 may be set in advance so that the file names are given in the photographing order of the camera having the larger number of production units among the normal winding camera and the pre-winding camera.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an image output system using an image reading device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the image output system according to the second embodiment of the present invention reads images from a plurality of films 10 on which a plurality of images are recorded by photographing with a camera (not shown). Scanner 2, determination means 3, output means 4 similar to the first embodiment.
And recording means 5. In the present embodiment, an explanation will be given assuming that an image is read from three films 10A, 10B, 10C to obtain image data SA, SB, SC. It is assumed that shooting is performed so that a date is included in a predetermined area.

In the second embodiment, the discriminating means 3 performs character recognition on a predetermined area including the date of an image in the first frame of each of the films 10A, 10B, and 10C to acquire information on the date. Based on the information, information H1 relating to the photographing order of the films 10A, 10B, 10C is obtained. The output means 4 determines the photographing order of each of the films 10A, 10B, and 10C based on the information H1 obtained by the discriminating means 3, and determines the image data SA obtained from each of the films 10A, 10B, and 10C. About SB and SC, film 10A,
File names are assigned in order from the image data representing the first image of 10B and 10C and output. For example, film 10
When the images are taken in the order of A, 10B, and 10C, the image data SA obtained on the film 10A is from the image data SA1 obtained on the front end of the film 10A to the image data SAn obtained on the rear end of the film 10A. In the order, "FilmXXX01.jpg, FilmXXX02.jpg, ... FilmXXXn.j
pg "and output with a file name. The image data SB obtained at the front end of the film 10B is replaced with the image data SB1 obtained at the rear end of the film 10B.
n to "FilmXXXn + 1.jpg, FilmXXXNn + 2.jpg, ... F"
ilmXXX2n.jpg "and output with a file name. Further, regarding the image data SC obtained in the film 10C, “FilmXXX2n + 1.jpg, FilmXXX2n +” are sequentially arranged from the image data SC1 obtained at the leading end of the film 10C to the image data SCn obtained at the trailing end.
2.jpg, ... FilmXXX3n.jpg " Output image data SA, SB, SC
Is recorded on a CD-R by the recording means 5 or stored in an image database.

As described above, in the second embodiment,
The photographing order of the plurality of films 10A, 10B, and 10C is determined, and each image data SA, S is determined based on the determination result.
Since B and SC are output in the order of photographing, even when photographing is performed using a plurality of films 10A, 10B, and 10C, the image data SA,
It is possible to output SB and SC, thereby easily managing image data.

In the second embodiment, the image data SA, SB and SC obtained by the films 10A, 10B and 10C are determined by the discriminating means 3 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. It is also possible to acquire information H on the photographing order for one film, and give a file name by referring to this information H in the output means 4. For example, if the camera that has taken the photograph is a normal winding camera, the film 10
File names are assigned in order from the image data obtained at the tips of A, 10B, and 10C. On the other hand, when the camera that has taken the image is a pre-winding camera, file names are assigned in order from the image data obtained at the rear ends of the films 10A, 10B, and 10C.

In the second embodiment, the characters of the date contained in the first images of the films 10A, 10B and 10C are recognized by character recognition.
The photographing order of A, 10B, and 10C is determined. If the films 10A, 10B, and 10C have a magnetic recording unit capable of recording magnetic information like a so-called APS film, the photographing date and time are stored in the magnetic recording unit. Information may be recorded. In this case, the film 10A,
Based on the information on the shooting date and time recorded in the magnetic recording unit corresponding to the first image of 10B and 10C, the film 1
Information H1 indicating the order of photographing 0A, 10B, and 10C may be obtained.

Further, in the second embodiment, the films 10A, 10B, 10C
When the information about the photographing order is included in the image data SA, the output unit 4 outputs the image data SA, S based on the information H1.
File names assigned to B and SC may be determined.

In the first and second embodiments, the file names are given to the image data in the shooting order. However, the image data may be arranged in the shooting order and output to an image display means such as a monitor. Good. In this case, the images acquired by the photographing are displayed in the photographing order on the image display means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image output system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image recorded on a film.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image output system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 10A, 10B, 10C film 2 scanner 3 discriminating means 4 output means 5 recording means

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. An image reading method for reading a plurality of images recorded on a film to obtain image data representing the respective images, comprising: judging a photographing order of each image recorded on the film; And outputting the respective image data in the order of photographing. 2. The image reading method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the photographing order is performed based on information on photographing date and time given to at least two images in the film. 3. The image reading method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the photographing order is performed based on a position of an unexposed area on the film. 4. The film is a film having a magnetic recording section capable of recording magnetic information, and the determination of the photographing order is performed based on information on a camera or information on a photographing order recorded on the magnetic recording section. The image reading method according to claim 1, wherein: 5. An image reading method for reading images recorded on a plurality of films and obtaining image data representing the images, obtained by photographing with the same camera, wherein the order of photographing each of the films is determined. And outputting the respective image data in the order of photographing based on the determination result. 6. The image reading method according to claim 5, wherein the determination of the photographing order is performed based on information about a photographing date and time added to the image of each of the films. 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the order of photographing the images recorded on each of the films is determined, and the respective image data are output in the order of photographing based on the determination result. Method. 8. An image reading apparatus for reading a plurality of images recorded on a film to obtain image data representing the respective images, comprising: a judging unit for judging a photographing order of each image recorded on the film; Output means for outputting the respective image data in the order of photographing based on the result. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the determination unit is configured to perform the determination of the photographing order based on information about a photographing date and time assigned to at least two images in the film. Reader. 10. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine the photographing order based on a position of an unexposed area on the film. 11. A film having a magnetic recording section capable of recording magnetic information, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the photographing order with respect to information about a camera recorded in said magnetic recording section or a photographing order. 9. The image reading device according to claim 8, wherein the image reading device performs the operation based on information. 12. An image reading apparatus for reading images recorded on a plurality of films and obtaining image data representing the images, obtained by performing photographing with the same camera, wherein the order of photographing each of the films is determined. An image reading apparatus comprising: a determination unit configured to perform the determination; and an output unit configured to output the respective image data in the shooting order based on the determination result. 13. The image reading apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the determination unit is configured to perform the determination of the photographing order based on information about a photographing date and time added to an image of each of the films. . 14. The discriminating means for discriminating a photographing order of images recorded on each of the films, and the output means outputting the respective image data in the photographing order based on the discrimination result. The image reading device according to claim 12, wherein: 15. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image reading method of reading a plurality of images recorded on a film and obtaining image data representing the images, wherein the program is A computer-readable recording medium, comprising: a step of determining a shooting order of each image recorded on the film; and a step of outputting the respective image data in a shooting order based on the determination result. 16. The procedure for determining the photographing order is as follows:
16. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the determination of the photographing order is performed based on information about a photographing date and time given to at least two images in the film. 17. The procedure for determining the photographing order is as follows:
16. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the determination of the photographing order is performed based on the position of an unexposed area on the film. 18. A film having a magnetic recording section capable of recording magnetic information, wherein the step of discriminating the photographing order includes the step of determining the photographing order by a camera recorded in the magnetic recording section. 16. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the procedure is performed based on information or information on an imaging order. 19. A program for causing a computer to execute an image reading method for reading images recorded on a plurality of films and obtaining image data representing the images, obtained by photographing with the same camera. In a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention, the program comprises: a step of determining a shooting order of each of the films; and a step of outputting each of the image data in the shooting order based on the determination result. A readable recording medium. 20. The procedure for determining the photographing order is as follows:
20. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the determination of the photographing order is performed based on information relating to a photographing date and time given to the image of each of the films. 21. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: determining a shooting order of the images recorded on each of the films; and outputting the respective image data in the shooting order based on the determination result. 1
21. The computer-readable recording medium according to 9 or 20.