JP2001157028A - Image compositing device, method for using the same and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an inserted image from sticking out to the other area on a template, having an area into which a plurality of pictures can be inserted. SOLUTION: A storage means 1 storing a template T, an α-channel storage means 2 storing α-channel data C which regulates the area, into which the image of the template T is inserted and a storage means 3 storing link information L showing the corresponding relation of the template T and the α-channel data C are provided to a laboratory server 11. When the template T is designated in the user terminal 10, the α-channel data C corresponding to the template T is read from the α-channel storage means 2 by referring to link information L. The composited image G of a user image S and the template T is generated in a compositing means 4 on the basis of the α-channel data and is outputted from an output means 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image synthesizing apparatus for synthesizing an image and a template to obtain a synthesized image, a method for using the image synthesizing apparatus, and a program for causing a computer to execute a method for using the image synthesizing apparatus. The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a service for creating a postcard for a New Year's card with a picture using a template consisting of characters and illustrations for the New Year's card and a blank area for inserting a picture has been provided for a long time. In such a post card, for example, a user takes an original image recorded on a negative film or the like into a photo shop, converts the original image into digital image data in a photo shop, and arranges the digital image data with the arrangement of characters and a template. The composite image data is obtained by synthesizing the image data with the template data representing the composite image data, and printing the composite image based on the composite image data.

Here, the template is defined as an image of four channels of RGBα, and after inserting and synthesizing its own image into the template to create a composite image, printing is performed. In this case, when the insertion position of the image is specified in the template, the originality of the own image can be added to the advanced image created by the designer only by replacing the image.

[0004] The α channel is a channel that defines the transparency of the pixel in the image, and the composition ratio of the inserted image and the template is changed according to the value of the α channel. Specifically, the smaller the value of the α channel, the more transparent the image of the template becomes. For example, by reducing the value of the α channel near the boundary between the image to be inserted and the template, the image blends into the template. Are synthesized as if
Therefore, when the transparency is defined by the α channel, the user's image can be melted into the template, and the template and the user's image can be synthesized more naturally.

[0005]

However, in the conventional template, since only one α channel can be defined in one template data, an image is inserted into one template as shown in FIG. 8A, for example. In a case where two areas are close to each other, if an image to be inserted into the template is larger than the area, the image protrudes from one area to another area as shown in FIG. 8B. There's a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image synthesizing apparatus and an image synthesizing method in which an inserted image does not protrude into another area even when a template includes a plurality of areas. An object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute a method of using a synthesizing device and a method of using an image synthesizing device is recorded.

[0007]

An image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention is an image synthesizing apparatus for generating a synthesized image of a template having an insertion area into which a plurality of images can be inserted and a plurality of desired images. Template storage means for storing a plurality of template data representing a template, and area data storage for storing, for each of the insertion areas, area data representing the insertion area for each of the template data stored in the template storage means Means, link information storage means for storing link information between each of the template data and the area data corresponding to each of the template data, and according to selection of a desired template,
Area data for reading link information corresponding to the selected template from the link information storage means, and for reading area data corresponding to the selected template from the area data storage means based on the read link information. And a generating means for generating the composite image by inserting the desired image into each of the insertion areas of the template based on the area data.

[0008] A method of using the image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention is as follows.
Accepting the selection of the desired template, reading the selected template from the template storage means, reading link information corresponding to the selected template from the link information storage means, based on the link information, Reading the area data corresponding to the selected template from the area data storage means, and inserting the desired image into each of the insertion areas of the template based on the area data to generate the composite image. It is a feature.

[0009] As a program for causing a computer to execute the method of using the image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention, the program may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0010]

According to the present invention, since the region data representing a plurality of insertion regions of the template is associated with the template data for each insertion region, an image can be inserted for each insertion region. As a result, the image inserted into one insertion area does not protrude into another insertion area.

[0011]

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 a system including an image synthesizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, an image composition system including an image composition device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of template data T representing a template having a plurality of insertion areas for inserting a plurality of images (hereinafter, the template is also represented by T). Template storage means 1 for storing
Α representing each insertion area of the template corresponding to each template data T stored in the template storage means 1
Α channel storage means 2 for storing channel data C
Link information storage means 3 storing link information L between template data T and α channel data C corresponding to template data T for each template data T
Synthesizing means 4 for synthesizing an image represented by image data S owned by the user with a template T to obtain composite image data G representing a composite image (hereinafter the composite image may be represented by G); Output means 5 for outputting the combined image data G, and a monitor 6 for displaying the combined state of the images and the like.
And an input unit 7 including a keyboard, a mouse, and the like for inputting a user's instruction to the synthesizing unit 4. In this embodiment, the monitor 6 and the input unit 7
Is a user terminal 10, and the synthesizing means 4 is a lab server 11 for performing printing. Then, it is assumed that the user terminal 10 and the lab server 11 are connected via the network 12.

The template storage means 1 stores a plurality of template data T. The template represented by the template data T has an area into which a plurality of images are inserted. Further, the template storage means 1 also stores thumbnail data representing a thumbnail image of a template represented by a plurality of template data T stored here. Note that the thumbnail data also includes link information to each template data T. Then, in response to an instruction from the user terminal 10, the synthesizing unit 4 reads the thumbnail data from the template storage unit 1 and transfers it to the user terminal 10, whereby the thumbnail image of the template is displayed on the monitor 6 of the user terminal 10. When the user selects a desired template (hereinafter, referred to as a template T1 in the first embodiment) from the thumbnail images displayed on the monitor 6, the combining unit 4 combines the selected template T1 with the user image. Done.

FIG. 2 shows a template T according to this embodiment.
FIG. As shown in FIG.
Are triangular areas A1 and A2 into which two images can be inserted.
Having.

The α channel storage means 2 stores α channel data C representing an area of the template T where an image is to be inserted, corresponding to each template T.
Here, since the template T1 has regions A1 and A2 into which two images are inserted as shown in FIG. 2, two α channel data C1 and C2 representing the regions A1 and A2 of the template T1 correspond to the template T1. It is stored in the α channel storage means 2. Here, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the values of the α-channel data C1 and C2 are 1 in the hatched area corresponding to the areas A1 and A2 of the template T1, and the values of the other areas are 1. The data becomes 0.

The link information storage means 3 stores the template T
And link information L for associating with the α channel data C. For example, template T1
The link information L1 corresponding to the template T1 and the α channel data C1, C1 as in “T1: C1, C2”.
C2 indicates that they correspond to each other.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment. First, when the user inputs from the input means 7 that the template T and the user image are to be combined at the user terminal 10 (step S1), the information is transferred to the laboratory server 11 via the network 12, whereby
The thumbnail data stored in the template storage unit 1 is transferred to the user terminal 10, and the thumbnail image represented by the thumbnail data is displayed on the monitor 6 as shown in FIG. 5 (Step S2). Note that the thumbnail data also includes link information to a plurality of templates T stored in the template storage unit 1. The user selects a desired template T1 from the thumbnail images displayed on the monitor 6 and inputs the selection from the input means 7. This input is performed, for example, by clicking a desired thumbnail image of the template T1 with a mouse. When this selection is made (step S
3) Based on the link information of the thumbnail data, the template data T1 representing the selected template is read out from the template storage means 1 and input to the synthesizing means 4 (step S4). The combining means 4 reads out the link information L1 corresponding to the template T1 (step S5), and refers to the link information L1 to read out the α channel data C1 and C2 corresponding to the template T1 from the α channel storage means 2. (Step S
6).

Then, the template data T1 is transferred to the user terminal 10 and displayed on the monitor 6 (step S).
7). Here, the areas A1 and A2 may be left blank, or a predetermined sample image may be inserted. Then, the user observes the template T1 displayed on the monitor 6, and uses the template T1 to be used.
Check if this is all you need. If the template T1 is sufficient, the user inputs that fact from the input means 7 (step S8), and proceeds to the next process. On the other hand, when the user wants to change the template T1, if the effect is input from the input unit 7, step S8 is denied, and the process returns to step S2 to repeat the processing from step S2 to step S8.

If the template T1 to be used is sufficient, an instruction to insert a user image is transferred from the synthesizing means 4 to the user terminal 10, and the monitor 6 displays, for example, "Please select a user image". A command prompting the user to insert a user image is displayed. Then, the user designates two user images to be inserted into the areas A1 and A2 of the template T1, and transfers user image data S1 and S2 representing the user images to the laboratory server 11 (step S9). When the user image data S1 and S2 are stored in the lab server 11, the user need only specify the file names of the user image data S1 and S2. The combining means 4 receives the input of the user image data S1 and S2, and inserts the user images S1 and S2 into the areas A1 and A2 of the template T1 to generate a combined image G1 (step S10). Here, when the user images represented by the user image data S1 and S2 are those shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the composite image G1 obtained in the processing of step S10 is as shown in FIG. . When the composite image G1 is generated in this way, the composite image data G1 representing the composite image is output from the output unit 5 (step S11), and the process ends.

Before outputting the composite image data G1, the composite image data G1 is transferred to the user terminal 10, and
The user may be prompted to confirm the synthesis result.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the α-channel data C1 and C2 are specified in accordance with the number of images to be inserted, corresponding to the template T into which a plurality of images can be inserted. An image can be inserted every time, so that an image inserted in one insertion area does not protrude into another area.

In the above embodiment, the template T1 having two insertion areas has been described.
The template T may have three or more insertion areas as long as it has α channel data for each insertion area.

In the above embodiment, the lab server 11 is provided with the α channel storage means 2 and the link information L
Specifies the α channel data C stored in the α channel storage means 2. However, when the α channel storage means 2 is stored in another database or the like connected to the laboratory server 11 via a network. Indicates that the link information L indicates an address of a database storing the α channel data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image composition system to which an image composition device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a template.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an insertion area defined by α channel data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a thumbnail image displayed on a monitor.

FIG. 6 shows a user image.

FIG. 7 shows a composite image.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a conventional template.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Template storage means 2 α channel storage means 3 Link information storage means 4 Synthesis means 5 Output means 6 Monitor 7 Input means 10 User terminal 11 Lab server 12 Network

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image synthesizing apparatus for generating a composite image of a template having an insertion area into which a plurality of images can be inserted and a plurality of desired images, wherein a template storage storing a plurality of template data representing the template Means, area data storage means for storing, for each of the insertion areas, area data representing the insertion area corresponding to each of the template data stored in the template storage means; and each of the template data and each of the template data Link information storage means for storing link information with area data corresponding to the selected template, and reading link information corresponding to the selected template from the link information storage means in response to selection of a desired template. Area data corresponding to the selected template based on the link information Area data reading means for reading data from the area data storage means; and generating means for inserting the desired image into each of the insertion areas of the template based on the area data to generate the composite image. An image synthesizing device, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the desired template is received, the selected template is read from the template storage means, and a link corresponding to the selected template is read. Information is read from the link information storage means; area data corresponding to the selected template is read from the area data storage means based on the link information; and each insertion area of the template is read based on the area data. And generating the composite image by inserting the desired image into the composite image. 3. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute the method of using the image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: a step of receiving the selection of the desired template; Reading the template from the template storage means, reading the link information corresponding to the selected template from the link information storage means, and reading the link information corresponding to the selected template based on the link information. Reading the area data from the area data storage means, and inserting the desired image into each of the insertion areas of the template based on the area data to generate the composite image. Characteristic computer readable recording medium.