JP2001211315A - Output image area adjusting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an output image area adjusting method, which can obtain proper output image data including a main subject, but including neither a finger vignetting image nor a fogging area automatically or semiautomatically through easy operation and then can automatically output an output image and efficiently perform a processing for obtaining output image from the original image. SOLUTION: An image area of the original image is extracted and an extracted area is obtained by extracting one of the main subject, finger vignetting photography, and a fogging area; and the output image area is automatically adjusted according to the extracted area and the output image data is obtained from the image data in the adjusted output image area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output image area adjustment method for automatically or semi-automatically adjusting an output image area for obtaining an output image from an original image. When performing image processing on the original image and displaying a processed image for verification as an output image, or alternatively, printing the output image subjected to image processing in accordance with the verification result, outputting the image as an image data recording medium, Or, it belongs to the technical field of an output image area adjustment method used when distributing via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image photographed on a photographic film (hereinafter, referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film is printed on a photosensitive material (photographic paper) by using a printing apparatus utilizing digital exposure. After reading the image recorded on the film photoelectrically and converting the read image into a digital signal, the image is subjected to various image processing to form recording image data, and the photosensitive material is modulated by recording light modulated according to the image data. 2. Description of the Related Art Digital photo printers that record images (latent images) by scanning and exposing and print the images (finished) have been put to practical use.

[0003] In a digital photo printer, the exposure condition at the time of printing can be determined by image data processing using an image as digital image data. Therefore, image skipping and blurring caused by backlight, strobe photography, and the like, and sharpness ( Sharpening) processing, correction of color feria and density feria, correction of underexposure and overexposure, correction of decrease in peripheral light amount, etc. can be performed appropriately to obtain high-quality prints that could not be obtained by conventional direct exposure. it can. In addition, synthesis of a plurality of images, image division, and synthesis of characters can be performed by image data processing, and prints that have been freely edited / processed according to the intended use can be output. In addition, according to the digital photo printer, a print can be created from an image (image data) photographed by a digital still camera or the like. Further, not only is the image output as a print (photo), but also the image data is output to a computer. Or the like, or can be stored in an image data recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, so that the image data can be used for various purposes other than photography.

[0004] Such a digital photo printer basically includes a scanner (image reading device) for photoelectrically reading an image recorded on a film, and an image processing for processing the read image into image data for recording. Equipment, and
The printer comprises a printer (image recording apparatus) that scans and exposes the photosensitive material in accordance with the image data, performs development processing, and prints.

In a scanner, reading light emitted from a light source is incident on a film to obtain projection light carrying an image photographed on the film via an aperture mask, and the projection light is transmitted to a CCD by an optical imaging lens. An image is read by forming an image on an image sensor such as a sensor and performing photoelectric conversion,
After performing various types of image processing as necessary, the image data is sent to the image processing apparatus as image data (image data signal) of the film. The image processing apparatus sets image processing conditions from image data read by a scanner, performs image processing according to the set conditions on the image data, and outputs the image data to a printer as output image data (exposure conditions) for image recording. send. In a printer, for example, if the apparatus uses light beam scanning exposure, the light beam is modulated according to image data sent from the image processing apparatus, and the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed (printed). A latent image is formed, and then subjected to a predetermined developing process or the like, to obtain a reproduced print (photograph) of the image photographed on the film.

By the way, such a digital photo printer is designed so that, when an original image photographed on a film or the like is output to an image display device or a printer, an unphotographed area, that is, an image lack is present. An image area to be printed out for the image size of the shooting area of the original image,
That is, the image size of the print output image area is set small, and the set position (cutout position) is fixed so that the margins at the left and right ends and the upper and lower ends of the print output image area are equal. For example, the size of the shooting area of the original image of the 135-size film is 36.4 mm (± 0.4 mm) × 24.4 mm on the film.
(± 0.4 mm) (horizontal × vertical)
The size of the print output image area (cutout area) printed in L size is 32.07 mm x 2 on the film.
It is 2.47 mm (horizontal direction × vertical direction), which is set and fixed so as to be about 2.2 mm narrower in the left-right direction and about 1.0 mm in the up-down direction as compared with the shooting area of the original image. The image data in such a fixed print output image area is subjected to electronic scaling processing at a predetermined scaling ratio so as to conform to a desired print size, for example, L size, to be output image data. ing.

[0007]

However, as described above, since the printout image area on the film is cut out so as to be narrower than the photographing area of the original image, there is no lack of image. Some or all of the main subject photographed at the end of the photographing area may be missing on the image display screen or the print output image. In such a case, the operator who operates the digital photo printer needs the main subject to be included in the print output image.
The print output image area must be moved and adjusted while maintaining the image size of the print output image area. For this reason, when a large number (many) of original images are printed, there is a problem that the processing efficiency is significantly reduced.

[0008] The original image to be printed or the like includes
There is also a so-called finger image in which the photographer's finger appears at the end of the image together with the main subject. In this case, the print output or the like is performed while the finger is shown, or the operator adjusts the movement of the print output image area fixedly set with respect to the shooting area of the original image so that the area of the finger image is reduced. And print output. Therefore, there is a problem that an operator who performs a large amount of print processing requires more complicated work, and processing efficiency is significantly reduced.

Also, in the case of a so-called fogged original image in which a part of the film is exposed and affects the image density in the original image, the print output is performed while the fogged image is generated as in the case of the finger image. Or an operator moves and adjusts the print output image area to perform print output and the like. As a result, there is a problem that the processing efficiency is significantly reduced.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present invention adjusts an output image area for obtaining an output image from among the image areas of an original image and adapts the output image area to a predetermined output image size. When obtaining the output image data, it is possible to automatically or semi-automatically obtain appropriate output image data that includes the main subject from the original image and does not include finger shots and fog areas, and as a result, Another object of the present invention is to provide an output image area adjustment method capable of automatically outputting an output image and efficiently performing a process of obtaining output image data from an original image.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an output image area for obtaining an output image is selected from an image area of an original image. Adjusting within, an output image area adjusting method for obtaining output image data adapted to a predetermined output image size, extracting the image area of the original image, for the image area of the extracted original image, At least one of main subject extraction, finger image extraction and fog region extraction is performed to obtain an extraction region, and the output image region is automatically adjusted according to the extracted extraction region. Another object of the present invention is to provide an output image area adjusting method, wherein the output image data is obtained from image data in the output image area.

Here, when the main subject is extracted from the image area of the original image, the main image extracted by the main subject extraction is adjusted in the output image area by adjusting the output image area. It is preferable to include
At this time, it is preferable that the main subject extraction is a face extraction. When the finger image extraction or the fog region extraction is performed on the image region of the original image, the extraction image extracted by the finger image extraction or the fog region extraction is adjusted by adjusting the output image region. Preferably, an area is minimized within said output image area.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an output image area for obtaining an output image from an image area of an original image is adjusted within the image area of the original image to a predetermined output image size. An output image area adjustment method for obtaining suitable output image data, comprising extracting an image area of an original image, and extracting a main subject, a finger image, and a fog area from the extracted image area of the original image. Performing at least one area extraction, and, if it is determined that the output image area needs to be adjusted based on the result of the extracted area, information that prompts adjustment of the output image area is issued. An object of the present invention is to provide an output image area adjusting method.

Here, the information prompting the adjustment of the output image area is information indicating that the main subject extraction is not included in the output image area, and the extraction area extracted by the finger image extraction is the output image area. It is preferable that at least one of the information indicating that the image is included in the area and the information indicating that the extraction area extracted by the fog area extraction is included in the output image area. Alternatively, the information prompting adjustment of the output image area is displayed on an image display device so as to select one of the output image areas, and one or more output images adjusted according to the result of the extracted extraction area are displayed. Preferably, it is an area frame.

[0015] Preferably, the automatic adjustment of the output image area or the generation of information prompting the adjustment of the output image area is performed based on first auxiliary information input or set in advance. In addition, the first auxiliary information is an image of an original image in which at least two of a main subject extracted by the main subject extraction, a finger image extracted by the finger image extraction, and fog extracted by the fog region extraction are the same. It is preferable to include priority order information indicating which of the regions is prioritized when extracted. Further, it is preferable that the first auxiliary information includes priority order information indicating which of the main subject extraction, the finger image extraction and the fog region extraction is prioritized.

That is, when the main subject extraction, the finger image extraction, or the fog region extraction is performed on the image region of the original image, the main subject extraction, the fuzzy region extraction, and the fog region extraction are performed to adjust the output image region. It is preferable that a priority order can be set in advance as to which of the finger image extraction and the fog area extraction should be given priority. In addition, in order to adjust the output image area with respect to the image area of the original image, priority is given to which of the extraction processing of the main subject extraction, the finger image extraction and the fogging area extraction and the extraction result is prioritized. Preferably, the order can be set in advance.

[0017] The at least one region extraction may include:
Preferably, it is performed based on the second auxiliary information of the operator. Preferably, the second auxiliary information is information given by designating a position in at least one of a main subject area, a finger image area, and a fog area.

The adjustment of the output image area according to the extraction area may be performed by changing the output image area cut out from the image area of the original image without changing the image size of the output image area cut out from the image area of the original image. Preferably, this is done by changing the position of the image area. Or at least the adjustment of the output image area according to the extraction area,
Changing the image size of the output image area cut out from the image area of the original image, changing the magnification of the electronic magnification processing according to the changed image size, or outputting the changed image size It is preferable that the image in the image area is read photoelectrically while changing the optical magnification. At this time, it is preferable that the aspect ratio of the image size of the changed output image area is the same as the aspect ratio of the output image area before the image size is changed.

The original image is a digital image obtained by photoelectrically reading an image recorded on a photographic film, a digital image obtained by photographing with a digital still camera, or a digital image obtained via a network. Preferably, the output image data is output to an image display device, or a print output device,
Alternatively, it is preferably recorded on an image data recording medium or distributed via a network.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An output image area adjusting method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital photo printer for implementing an example of the output image area adjusting method of the present invention. A digital photo printer (hereinafter, referred to as a photo printer) 10 shown in FIG. 1 basically includes a scanner (image reading device) 12 that photoelectrically reads an image captured on a film F, and read image data ( An image processing device 14 that performs image processing of image information and the entire operation and control of the photo printer 10, and images a photosensitive material (photographic paper) with a light beam modulated according to image data output from the image processing device 14. A printer 16 that exposes, develops, and outputs (finished) prints. The image processing apparatus 14 has a keyboard 18a and a mouse 18 for inputting and setting various conditions, selecting and instructing processing, and instructing color / density correction.
b, a display 20 for displaying images read by the scanner 12, various operation instructions, condition setting / registration screens, and the like, and memories for MO, FD, CD-R, and digital still cameras. Image data recording medium 1
A driver 19b for reading or recording image data from 9a or to the image data recording medium 19a is connected to a transmitting / receiving device 21 for transmitting / receiving via a network such as the Internet.

The scanner 12 is a device for photoelectrically reading an image photographed on a film F or the like one frame at a time.
A variable aperture 24, a diffusion box 28 for making the reading light incident on the film F uniform in the surface direction of the film F, an imaging lens unit 32, R (red), G (green), and B
An image sensor 34 having a line CCD sensor corresponding to each image reading of (blue), an amplifier 36,
An A / D (analog / digital) converter 38.

In the photo printer 10, the type and size of a film such as a new photographic system (Advanced Photo System) or a 135-size negative (or reversal) film, the form of a film such as strips and slides, etc., are selected. A dedicated carrier 30 that can be mounted on the main body of the scanner 12 is prepared. By replacing the carrier 30, various types of films and processes can be handled. An image (frame) photographed on the film F and provided for printing is conveyed to a predetermined reading position by this carrier. In such a scanner 12,
When reading an image captured on the film F, the light source 2
The projection light carrying the image photographed on the film F by being incident on the film F positioned at a predetermined reading position by the carrier and transmitting therethrough, the reading light emitted from the lens 2 and adjusted in light amount by the variable aperture 24. Get light.

The carrier 30 regulates the position of the film F at a predetermined reading position while controlling the line C of the image sensor 34.
The film F is conveyed with the longitudinal direction of the film F aligned with the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the extending direction (main scanning direction) of the CD sensor.
A pair of transport rollers (not shown) arranged so as to sandwich the reading position in the sub-scanning direction, and extend in the main scanning direction positioned corresponding to the reading position to regulate the projection light of the film F into a predetermined slit shape. A mask (not shown) having a slit. The film F is positioned at the reading position by the carrier 30 and is transported in the sub-scanning direction.
A reading light is incident. Thereby, as a result, the film F
Is two-dimensionally slit-scanned by a slit extending in the main scanning direction, and an image of each frame captured on the film F is read.

As described above, the reading light is transmitted through the film F held by the carrier 30 and becomes projection light for carrying an image. The projection light is transmitted to the light receiving surface of the image sensor 34 by the imaging lens unit 32. It is imaged. The image sensor 34 includes a line CCD sensor 34R for reading an R image, a line CCD sensor 34G for reading a G image, and a line CCD sensor for reading a B image.
A so-called three-line color CC having the sensor 34B
In the D sensor, each line CCD sensor extends in the main scanning direction as described above. The projection light of the film F is separated into three primary colors of R, G and B by the image sensor 34 and read photoelectrically. Image sensor 3
The output signal of No. 4 is amplified by the amplifier 36, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 38, and sent to the image processing device 14.

The scanner 12 reads an image photographed on the film F by two image reading operations: a prescan for reading at a low resolution and a fine scan for obtaining image data of an output image. The pre-scan is performed under pre-scan reading conditions set in advance so that the image of all the films targeted by the scanner 12 can be read without saturation of the image sensor 34. On the other hand, the fine scan is performed under the fine scan reading conditions set for each frame from the pre-scan data so that the image sensor 34 is saturated at a density slightly lower than the minimum density of the image (frame). The output signals of the prescan and the fine scan are basically the same data except that the resolution and the output level are different.

In the digital photo printer 10, the scanner 12 is not limited to the one based on the slit scanning reading, and uses a surface reading in which the reading light is irradiated onto the entire surface of one frame image and read at a time. Is also good. In this case, for example, using an area CCD sensor, providing means for inserting R, G, and B color filters between the light source and the film F, inserting a color filter, and reading an image with the area CCD sensor. Are sequentially performed by the R, G, and B color filters, and the image captured on the film F is separated into three primary colors and sequentially read. The reading area read by the area CCD sensor is set wider than the shooting area of the original image. As described above, the digital image signal output from the scanner 12 is output to an image processing device (hereinafter, referred to as a processing device) 14. The object of the image processing performed in the present embodiment is a digital image signal obtained by reading the film F by the scanner 12 and A / D converting the digital image signal. It may be a digital image signal read from the data recording medium 19a or an image digital signal of a captured image obtained via various networks.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the processing device 14. The processing device 14 includes a data processing unit 40, a Log converter 42, a prescan (frame) memory 44, a fine scan (frame) memory 46, a prescan processing unit 48, a fine scan processing unit 50, and a condition setting unit 60. . FIG. 2 mainly shows image processing-related parts. The processing device 14 includes a CPU that controls and manages the entire photo printer 10 including the processing device 14, a photo printer, and the like. A memory or the like for storing information necessary for the operation or the like of the device 10 is arranged, and the operation system 18 and the display 20 are connected to each part via the CPU or the like (CPU bus).

The R, G, and B digital signals output from the scanner 12 are subjected to predetermined data processing such as darkness correction, defective pixel correction, and shading correction in a data processing unit 40, and then are Log-converted. Is converted into digital image data (density data) by the
The pre-scan data is stored in the pre-scan memory 44, the fine scan data is stored in the fine scan memory 46,
Each is stored (stored). Prescan memory 44
The pre-scan data stored in the fine scan memory 46 is stored in the pre-scan processing unit 48 having an image data processing unit 52 and an image data conversion unit 54, while the fine scan data stored in the fine scan memory 46 is stored in the image data processing unit 5.
The image data is read out and processed by the fine scan processing unit 50 having the image data conversion unit 6 and the image data conversion unit 58.

Here, the press scan data is obtained by prescanning at least a plurality of original images, for example, all original images of the frames photographed on the film F without a break between the frames by the line CCD sensor at a stretch. In addition to the image data of the original image of each frame, a base (non-image) region of the film F, which is a non-shooting region between frames, is read as image data.

The image data processing section 52 of the pre-scan processing section 48 performs image processing of the original image detected by the setup section 62 of the condition setting section 60, which will be described later, before the image processing described below is performed. Region G ₀ (FIG. 4
(See (a) and (b)). Image data processing unit 52, based on the positional information, reads out the prescanned (image) data in the image area G ₀ of the original image from the prescan memory 44, performs predetermined image processing.
On the other hand, the image data processing unit 52 of the fine scan processing unit 50 detects the image region G ₀ print output image area set from P of the original image in the output image area setting unit 68 of the condition setting section 60 (see FIG. 4 (b) ), And based on the obtained position information, the fine scan memory 4
Then, the fine scan (image) data in the print output image area P is read from 6 and predetermined image processing is performed.

The image data processing section 52 of the pre-scan processing section 48 and the image data processing section 56 of the fine scan processing section 50 perform processing on the detected image area G ₀ in accordance with processing conditions set by a condition setting section 60 described later. Image (image data)
In addition, a part to be subjected to predetermined image processing, and basically performs the same processing except that the resolution is different. The image processing by the two image data processing units 52 and 56 includes at least an electronic scaling process for adjusting to the image size of the output image, but other than that, there is no particular limitation, and various known image processes are exemplified. Is done. For example, gray balance adjustment, gradation correction, and density (brightness) adjustment using an LUT (look-up table), matrix (MTX)
, Correction of image light source type, saturation adjustment (color adjustment) of an image, graininess suppression processing, sharpness enhancement processing, dodging processing (compression / expansion of density dynamic range), and the like.

The image data conversion unit 54 thins out the image data processed by the image data processing unit 52 as necessary, and responds to the display on the display 20 using, for example, a 3D (three-dimensional) -LUT. The image data is supplied to the display 20. The image data conversion unit 58 similarly converts the image data processed by the image data processing unit 56 into output image data corresponding to image recording by the printer 16 using a 3D-LUT or the like, and Supply.

The condition setting section 60 performs an image detection process for detecting the detected image area G ₀ of the original image, and performs a pre-scan processing section 48 and a fine scan processing section 50.
Has a setup section 62 for setting various processing conditions and fine scan reading conditions, a key correction section 64, a parameter integration section 66, and an output image area setting section 68 for automatically adjusting the print output image area P. . Here, the print output image area (hereinafter, referred to as an output image area) P set by the output image area setting unit 68 is such that an image in the output image area P is printed out at a desired print size. Image area G _{0 of} original image
This is an image area provided inside.

The setup section 62 first performs an image detection process to obtain an image area G ₀ of the original image (see FIG. 4A).
To obtain a detected image area G ₀ (see FIG. 4B). As described above, the image detection processing is performed in the pre-scan data in addition to the image data of the image area G ₀ of the original image read as the pre-scan and the base area of the film F between frames of each original image. Because the image data of
Because need to extract the image data in the image area G ₀ of the original image to apply image processing to be described later, from the pre-scan data exists. The image is detected in the image area G of the original image based on the image density value from the pre-scan data.
The left and right edges of ₀ and the upper and lower edges are determined. For example, in the case of the left and right edges, the position where the image density value in the long axis direction of the film F uniformly changes in the width direction orthogonal to the long direction of the film F is defined as one edge of the image frame of the original image. determination and, further, from the detected edges, examined the image density value of the lateral width of distant vicinity of the position of the image area G ₀ of the film long direction of the original image obtained from the film type which has been obtained in advance, the image density value Is determined as the other edge of the image frame of the original image. The obtained position information of the detected image area G ₀ is stored in the parameter integrating section 66 and the output image area setting section 6.
8 etc. Note that the image detection processing may be performed in the image data processing unit 52 of the prescan processing unit 48 and sent to the setup unit 62 of the condition setting unit 60.

The setup unit 62 further reads out pre-scan data from the pre-scan memory 44 based on the detected image area G ₀ of the original image obtained by the image detection processing, and creates a density histogram from the pre-scan data. Calculates image characteristics such as image density, average density, highlight (lowest density), shadow (highest density), and determines scanning conditions for fine scan. Various image processing conditions in the pre-scan processing unit 48 and the fine scan processing unit 50, such as creation of an LUT for performing gray balance adjustment, gradation correction and density adjustment, and creation of an MTX arithmetic expression, according to an instruction from the operator. Set.

The key correction section 64 includes a density (brightness), a color,
The amount of adjustment of the image processing condition is calculated in accordance with various instructions input from the keyboard 18a or the mouse 18b for adjusting contrast, sharpness, saturation, and the like, and is supplied to the parameter integration unit 66. Parameter integration unit 6
6 receives the image processing conditions for performing the position information of the detected image area G ₀ of the original image setup unit 62 is set or pre-scan image data, and sends the prescan processing section 48, an output image area setting unit 68 Automatically set,
The position information of the output image area P determined by the operator's test via the key correction unit 64 and the information prompting the adjustment of the output image area P generated by the output image area setting unit 68 as necessary. The information of the P image size is received from the output image area setting unit 68 via the setup unit 62, and the fine scan image set by the setup unit 62 and confirmed by the operator's test via the key correction unit 64 as necessary. A part that receives processing conditions such as image processing applied to data, integrates information on the output image area P and processing conditions such as image processing applied to fine scan image data, and sets the integrated information in the image data processing unit 56 of the fine scan processing unit 50 It is.

The output image area setting section 68 is a feature of the present invention. The output image area setting section 68 outputs the output image area based on the position information of the detected image area G ₀ of the original image supplied from the setup section 62 and the prescan image data. It is a portion that determines that it is necessary to automatically adjust the area P or adjust the output image area P, and displays the information on the display 20 or the like, for example, to generate information that prompts the operator to adjust the output image area P. . First, the first embodiment of the output image area setting section 68 includes a main subject extracting section 68a and an output image area adjusting section 68b as shown in FIG. The main subject extraction unit 68a shown in FIG. 6 is a part for extracting a face of a person who is a main subject, and the face extraction method executed in the present invention is not particularly limited. Face extraction, face extraction by face contour / circle shape extraction, face extraction by torso / circle shape extraction, face extraction by eye (internal face structure) / circle shape extraction, face extraction by head hair extraction / circle shape extraction, etc. Can be These extraction methods are described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-184925 and the like.

For example, in the skin color / circular shape extraction, a face region is extracted by performing skin color extraction and circular shape extraction.
That is, the hue and saturation of each pixel are found from pre-scan data (thinning can be performed if necessary), and a pixel area (skin color area) that can be estimated as a skin color of human skin is extracted. Is generally an elliptical shape, an (elliptical) circular shape presumed to be a human face is extracted from the extracted skin color region, and this is used as a face region candidate.

In the face outline / circle shape extraction, a face area candidate is extracted by performing face outline extraction and circular shape extraction by edge extraction. Similarly, torso / circular shape extraction is torso contour extraction and circular shape extraction by edge extraction, eye / circle shape extraction is human eye extraction and circular shape extraction, and hair / circle shape extraction is edge extraction The extraction of a human hair and the extraction of a circular shape are performed to extract face area candidates, and a common face area candidate is extracted as a face area from the face area candidates by each extraction method.

In the present invention, for example,
-346332, 4-346333, 4-34
No. 6334, No. 5-100328, No. 5-15816
No. 4, 5-165119, 5-165120,
Nos. 6-67320, 6-160992, 6-1
No. 60993, No. 6-160994, No. 6-1609
No. 95, No. 8-122944, No. 9-80652,
9-101579, 9-138470, 9-
Various known main part extraction methods disclosed in respective publications such as 138471 can also be used. Further, the main subject extracting unit 68a is not limited to the face extraction, and may extract an animal or a specific subject having a specific shape. Such extraction is performed by the operator in advance by the keyboard 18a or the mouse 18
The specific subject may be input from the key correction unit 64 via b.

In addition to the face extraction, FIG.
As shown in (c), instead of the main subject extracting unit 68a and the output image area adjusting unit 68b, the finger image extracting unit 6
8c, a fog area extraction unit 68e, and an output image area adjustment unit 68d. Further, as shown in FIG. 3D, the main subject extracting unit 68a and the finger image extracting unit 68
One output image area adjustment unit 68f may be provided for the three extraction units c and the fog area extraction unit 68e. Note that extraction of a finger reflection region performed by the finger reflection extraction unit 68c, extraction of a fog region performed by the fog region extraction unit 68e, and adjustment of the output image region P performed by the output image region adjustment units 68d and 68f are described below. It will be described later.

The output image area adjusting section 68b converts the obtained main object into an output image area P within a predetermined original image area based on the result of the extraction area extracted by the main object extracting section 68a. It is determined whether the main subject is included in the output image area P without changing the image size of the output image area P if it is determined that the main subject is not included in the output image area P. In order to automatically adjust the position of the output image area P, or to emit the information to the outside, information that prompts the operator to adjust the output image area P is generated. The information of the automatically adjusted output image area P or the information prompting the adjustment of the output image area P is transmitted to the parameter integration section 66 via the setup section 62.
Is sent to the display 20 together with the image data of the shooting area of the original image processed by the image data processing unit 52. The display 20 displays a frame of the output image area P that is automatically adjusted, and is used for the operator's verification or a frame of the output image area P to be adjusted together with information prompting the operator to adjust the output image area P. Are displayed to assist and assist the operator in making adjustments.

Here, the information that prompts the operator to adjust the output image area P includes “character display” that prompts the operator to select one or more candidates for the frame of the output image area P displayed on the display 20 or a voice output device. In addition to the audio output (not shown), a warning display that warns that the output image area P needs to be adjusted, a warning audio output, and the like can be given. May be used as information prompting the adjustment of the output image area P. By the way, in the present invention, the information of the automatic adjustment output image area P generated by the output image area setting section 68 or the information prompting the adjustment of the output image area P (hereinafter, also referred to as adjustment promotion information) is transmitted to the setup section 62 or the It may be sent directly to the display 20 without passing through the parameter integration unit 66.

Next, the output image area adjusting method of the present invention will be described based on the above-described scanner 12 and processing device 14. The operator requested to make a print of the sleeve-shaped film F loads the carrier 30 corresponding to the film F into the scanner 12, sets the film F (cartridge) at a predetermined position of the carrier 30, and determines the print size to be formed. After inputting the necessary instruction for the processing content to be executed, the user instructs the start of print creation.
Thereby, the aperture value of the variable aperture 24 of the scanner 12 and the accumulation time of the image sensor (line CCD sensor) 34 are set according to the pre-scanning reading conditions. Thereafter, the carrier 30 pulls out the film F from the cartridge and presses the film F. The film F is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction at a speed corresponding to the can, and the pre-scan is started. At a predetermined reading position, the film F is slit-scanned, and the projection light is focused on the image sensor 34 as described above. An image captured at F is separated into R, G, and B and photoelectrically read.

In the prescan, all the frames of the film F are continuously read without a break, but the prescan may be continuously performed for a plurality of predetermined frames.

The output signal of the image sensor 34 by the pre-scan is amplified by the amplifier 36 and is output from the A / D converter 3.
8 and converted into a digital signal. The digital signal is
The data is sent to the processing device 14, subjected to predetermined data processing by the data processing unit 40, converted into digital image data by the Log converter 42, and stored in the prescan memory 44.

When the pre-scan data is stored in the pre-scan memory 44, it is read by the condition setting section 60 and supplied to the setup section 62. Setup unit 62
Performs an image detection process using the supplied pre-scan data to detect a detection image area G ₀ of the original image, and generates a density histogram, average density, and the like from the pre-scan data in the detection image area G ₀ . Calculation of image feature amounts such as LATD (large area transmission density), highlight (lowest density), shadow (highest density), and the like, and in addition to instructions from the key correction unit 64 by the operator performed as necessary. According to the gray balance adjustment table (LU
T) and image processing conditions such as creation of a matrix operation (MTX) for performing saturation correction are determined. The predetermined image processing to be performed and the obtained image processing conditions are supplied to the parameter integration unit 66.

The predetermined type of image processing and integrated image processing conditions are sent to the image data processing unit 52 of the prescan processing section 48, predetermined image processing in the prescan data within the detected image area G ₀ is the This is performed according to the image processing conditions. The obtained processed image data is sent to the image data conversion unit 5.
4, the image is converted into image data for display suitable for the display 20, sent to the display 20, and displayed as a processed image.

On the other hand, pre-scan image data of the detected image area G ₀ which is 62 image detection processing by the setup unit is supplied to the output image area setting unit 68, the main subject extracted in the main subject extracting section 68a, for example, the aforementioned By the face extraction, a face area of the photographing subject is extracted. In the output image area adjusting unit 68b, when the extracted face area is at the end of the shooting area of the original image, the image size is not changed so that all the face areas extracted from the output image area P are included. , The position of the output image area P is automatically adjusted. The information of the automatically adjusted output image area P is sent to the pre-scan processing unit 48 via the setup unit 62 and the parameter integration unit 66, and is synthesized with the image-processed image data by the image data processing unit 52, and the image data is converted. Executive 54
Is converted into display data on the display 20, and the frame of the output image area P is displayed on the display 20 together with the processed image subjected to the image processing.

For example, in the case where the face portion of one photographed person among the two main subjects as shown in FIG. 4A is the original image of the film F located at the right end of the photographing area of the original image, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), a conventional print output image area P (indicated by a broken line in the figure) fixed within a detected image area G ₀ (indicated by a solid line in the figure) detected as a photographing area of the original image. 4), the face of the photographing person is partially missing, but in the present invention, as shown in FIG.
The output image area P is included in the output image area P by adjusting the position. 4A to 4C will be described as an example.
It detects all the vertical or horizontal pixel positions of the extraction region of the main subject that is out of the output image region P arranged in the center of the preset original image, and includes all the detected pixel positions. Then, the output image area P is moved in the vertical direction and / or the horizontal direction, and the position of the output image area P is automatically adjusted. In this case, the output image area P
Will not be located beyond the test image region G ₀ is adjusted.

The output image area P automatically adjusted in this way is displayed on the display 20 together with the processed image obtained by the pre-scan on which the image processing has been performed, and is subjected to an operator's test. The operator looks at the image displayed on the display 20 and the frame display of the automatically adjusted output image area P, and if inappropriate, adjusts the image processing conditions and the position adjustment of the output image area P via the key correction unit 64. Adjust manually. Adjusted image and print output image area P
Is displayed on the display 20, and if the operator determines that the image is appropriate, the process proceeds to the verification of the image of the next frame. When the operator performs test, the original image the main subject is photographed in the end, there the conventional detection image area output image area P which is fixed in the middle of G ₀ is necessary to work the operator to adjust the position manually However, as in the present embodiment, the main subject is extracted and the print output image area P is moved and adjusted so that the main subject is automatically included in the output image area P. The frequency of manual adjustment of P is reduced, and the processing efficiency of print output is improved.

When the output image area adjusting section 68b of the output image area setting section 68 does not automatically adjust the output image area P but generates information prompting the adjustment of the output image area P, This adjustment promotion information may be displayed on the display 20 or may be emitted as sound. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), and displays the the detected image area G ₀ and the original image of them on the display screen 20a of the display 20, the output image area of the unregulated main subject is not included all a frame P ₀ contains the main subject is simultaneously display the output image area frame P ₁ and P ₂ of the adjusted adjustment method is different as candidates for the output image area P, further, the adjustment of the output image area P operator In order to prompt, the output image area frame P ₁ , including the unadjusted frame P ₀ that is not adjusted,
In order to select one of P ₂ and P ₀ , the adjustment promotion information Q of “Please select” is displayed on the display screen 20a.
It is preferable to display the message in the speaker or output the sound.

The method for issuing information urging the operator to adjust the output image area P is not limited to the above-described method.
Any method may be used as long as it can call attention to the operator. For example, in the detected image area G ₀ of the display screen 20a, merely displays the output image area frame P ₀ unregulated indicating that the main object is not included entirely to blink output image area frame P ₀ Or display with high brightness so as to be conspicuous is displayed as the adjustment promotion information, or as the adjustment promotion information, a warning such as “Please adjust” or “The main subject is cut off” is displayed on the display screen 20a, May be output. In this manner, the operator can be prompted to adjust or set the output image area frame P using the keyboard 18a, the mouse 18b, the correction key, and the like. As a result, when the operator performs verification, manual adjustment of the output image area P by the operator can be extremely facilitated, the burden of verification by the operator can be reduced, and the processing efficiency of print creation can be improved.

When the operator's verification is completed for all pre-scanned images, fine scan is started. The image processing conditions and the position information of the output image area P for each frame are sent to the fine scan processing unit 50.

In the fine scan and the subsequent image processing, unlike the pre-scan, the original image is read at a high resolution by the scanner 12, and the fine scan processing unit 50 performs image processing under the image processing conditions determined by the pre-scan image. This is a step of acquiring image data in the adjusted output image area P as output image data. First, when the pre-scan is completed, the film F has been pulled out of the film cartridge or the like up to the last frame of the image. In the fine scan, the frame of the image is read using the rewinding of the film F from that state. Will be The R, G and B output signals output from the scanner 12 are A / D
(Analog / Digital) conversion, Log conversion, DC offset correction, darkness correction, shading correction, and the like are performed to obtain digital input image data, and the fine scan data is stored (stored) in the fine scan memory 46.

The fine scan data stored in the fine scan memory 46 is sent to the image processing unit 56,
Based on image processing conditions, a table (LUT) such as gray balance adjustment and a matrix operation (M
Various image processing by TX) and aberration correction caused by the photographing lens are performed, and then electronic scaling processing is performed so as to conform to a desired print size. Further, sharpness processing, dodging processing, etc. are performed as necessary, and thereafter,
The image data is sent to the image data conversion unit 58 as output image data. Here, as the output image data, only the fine scan data included in the output image area P is extracted.

The image data converter 58 converts the image into print output data suitable for the printer, and sends the image data in the print output image area P to the printer 16 as output image data. The image data conversion unit 58 may convert the image data into output image data suitable for recording on the image data recording medium 19a, output the converted image data to the driver 19b, and record the image data on the image data recording medium 19a. It is needless to say that the data may be converted into a format that can be distributed and distributed from the transmitting / receiving device 21 via the network.

The printer 16 exposes a photosensitive material (printing paper) in accordance with the supplied image data to record a latent image, and performs a predetermined process on the photosensitive material as an exposure material. Processor (developing device) to output as print
It is composed of The recording device cuts the photosensitive material into a predetermined length corresponding to the print, and then outputs three types of beams, R exposure, G exposure, and B exposure, according to the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the photosensitive material. The light beam is modulated in accordance with the data and deflected in the main scanning direction, and the photosensitive material is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. And supply it to the processor. The processor that has received the photosensitive material performs a predetermined wet developing process such as color development, bleach-fixing, and washing with water, and then dries and sorts the prints into predetermined units such as one film to accumulate.

The output image area adjusting method based on the scanner 12 and the processing device 14 is basically described as above. The output image area adjustment of the above embodiment is performed by extracting the photographed main subject in the output image area setting unit 68 and automatically adjusting the output image area P according to the area of the main subject, or the output image area P 3B, and generates and emits the adjustment promotion information. As shown in FIG. 3B, the finger reflection extraction unit 68c and the output image area adjustment unit 6
8d, a finger reflection region may be extracted, and the output image region P may be automatically adjusted so that the extracted region is not included as much as possible in the output image region P.
Alternatively, adjustment promotion information for the output image area P may be generated and issued. Hereinafter, the automatic adjustment of the output image area P will be described as a representative example.

In this case, for example, in the original image including the finger image area R ₀ shown in FIG. 5A, the output image area P is not changed in image size, and the finger image area R included in the output image area P is not changed. _The position of the output image area P is adjusted by moving the output image area P so that ₀ is minimized, and the frame of the output image area P whose position has been adjusted is displayed on the display 20 together with the prescanned image subjected to the image processing. Here, the extraction of the finger reflection region and the adjustment of the output image region P are performed by the finger reflection extraction unit 68c.
This is performed by the output image area adjusting unit 68d, and is performed by the following method.

[0062] First, a known method a region continuous toward the image area inside the original image from the edge of the detected image area G ₀ which is detected as an image area of the original image by the cluster splits, for example using a K-means algorithm Extract. For example, a three-dimensional feature space having coordinates of image densities of R, G, and B pixels is obtained, and is divided into clusters using a K-means algorithm. Area of the finger in the finger-through image, because it is continuous from the edge of the detected image area G ₀ region, among the extracted cluster, choose a cluster area from the edge of the detected image area G ₀ is extending continuously Extract the region. Alternatively, an area where the image density value is within a predetermined value range between adjacent pixels and extends continuously from the edge of the image frame is extracted. Further, with respect to the clusters obtained by the above-described cluster division, a cluster whose image density value is within a predetermined value range between adjacent pixels may be selected to extract a region. The prescan data used in these methods is preferably image data processed by a low-pass filter.

Next, it is determined whether or not the average value of the hues of the plurality of extracted regions is within a predetermined range, that is, within the range of the hue of the skin color portion of the finger, and the extracted regions are narrowed down.
The hue is obtained by converting the RGB space to the L ^* a ^* b ^* color space and calculating the hue angle tan ^-1 (b ^* / a ^* ). Further, it is determined whether or not the average density value of the narrowed area is equal to or more than a predetermined value in the case of stroboscopic photography, and whether the average density value is equal to or less than the predetermined value in the case of non-flash photography. For example, when the film F is a negative film, it is determined whether or not the density value on the negative film is 2.0 or more in strobe shooting, and if not, the density value on the negative film is 0.3 or less. Next, it is determined whether the difference between the average density of the narrowed area and the average density of the other image areas is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the area is further narrowed. For example, when the film F is a negative film,
In the case of flash photography, the density value on the negative film is 1.0 or more, and in the case of not flash photography, the density value on the negative film is 0.3 or more. Next, it is determined whether the variance of the image density value of the narrowed area is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and the area is narrowed down to the area that matches the determination. Finally, in the narrowed area,
It is determined by performing shape analysis whether the edge shape is similar to the shape of the finger, and an area that matches the determination is determined as a finger area. The shape analysis is performed using the face contour /
This is performed by a method similar to the shape analysis in the edge direction performed by the circular shape extraction method or the like.

As described above, the extraction of the finger image region in the finger image extraction is performed by narrowing the region from the plurality of regions in each of the above steps. Note that the finger image extraction in the present invention is not limited to the above steps,
The determination method in each step may be appropriately added or changed.

The information of the finger image area extracted by the finger image extracting section 68c in this manner is output to the output image area adjusting section 68b.
And the position of the output image area P is adjusted. That is, of the extracted finger through area R _0, the output image area image vertical or horizontal direction of the pixel position of the finger-through area R ₀ is located to detect in the P, the detected pixel position the output image area P In the output image area P
In the vertical or horizontal direction or both directions of the image, the output image area P is set so that the finger reflection area R ₀ included in the image is minimized.
To adjust the position of the output image area P. In this case, the output image area P is never located beyond the test image region G ₀ is adjusted.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, a finger image region R ₀ is extracted at the right end of the original image, and the finger included in the output image region P arranged in the center of the preset original image. The reflection area _R0 is detected. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5B, since the output image area P is fixed in the middle of the detection image area G ₀ , the finger image area R ₀ is relatively large near the right end in the output image area P. included. However, in the present invention,
As shown in FIG. 5C, the position of the output image region P that minimizes the finger image region _R0 included in the output image region P is automatically obtained and adjusted.

As described above, the position of the output image area P is automatically adjusted with respect to the original image in which the finger image is caused so that the finger image area in the output image area P to be printed is minimized. Therefore, the frequency of manual adjustment of the output image area P by the operator is reduced, and the processing efficiency of print output is improved. Further, since the finger image area is minimized in the output image area P, the influence of the finger image of the original image can be reduced, and the added value of the print or the reproduced image can be improved.

In the output image area adjustment of the above embodiment, the finger image extraction area 68c extracts the finger image area, and the output image area adjustment section 68d automatically adjusts the output image area P according to the extracted area. Although the adjustment promotion information of the output image area P is issued, as shown in FIG. 3C, the fog area can be extracted by using the fog area extraction unit 68e instead of the finger image extraction unit 68c. Good.

In this case, the fog area extraction performed by the fog area extraction unit 68e is performed by the following method. First, a known method a region continuous toward the image area inside the original image from the edge of the detected image area G ₀ which is detected as an image area of the original image by the cluster splits, for example extracted using K-means algorithm. For example, a three-dimensional feature space having the image density of each pixel of R, G and B as coordinates is obtained, and K
Cluster division is performed using an averaging algorithm. Fog area, because it is continuous from the edge of the detected image area G ₀ region, among the clusters are extracted, extracts an area to select the cluster area from the edge of the detected image area G ₀ is extending continuously. Alternatively, an area where the image density value is within a predetermined value range between adjacent pixels and extends continuously from the edge of the image frame is extracted. Alternatively, a cluster whose image density value is within a predetermined value range between adjacent pixels may be selected from the clusters obtained by the above-described cluster division to extract the cluster. The pre-scan data used in these methods is preferably image data processed by a low-pass filter.

Next, it is determined whether or not the average density value of the plurality of extracted areas is equal to or more than a predetermined value, for example, when the film F is a negative film, the density value on the negative film is 2.0 or more. From a plurality of areas that match the judgment. Next, it is determined whether the difference between the average density of the narrowed area and the average density of the other image areas is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the area is further narrowed. For example, when the film F is a negative film, it is determined whether the density value on the negative film is 1.0 or more. Subsequently, it is determined whether the variance of the image density value of the narrowed area is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the area is narrowed down to the area that matches the determination. Finally, a predetermined value with respect to non-shooting located in a region (region outside of the film base of the detected image area G _0), the average density value of the area where the image density value is throttled above the narrowed area near It is determined whether the area occupied by the pixels within the predetermined range is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, and a region that matches the determination is determined as a fog region. As described above, the fog area extraction is performed by narrowing the area in each of the above steps. Note that the fog region extraction in the present invention is not limited to the above steps, and a judgment method in each step is appropriately added.
May be changed.

The extracted fog area is subjected to the image size adjustment of the output image area P in the output image area adjusting section 68d so that the fog area included in the output image area P is minimized, similarly to the finger image area _R0. Is maintained, the output image area P is automatically adjusted by moving its position, or adjustment promotion information of the output image area P is generated. The data of the adjusted frame of the output image area P is created, and the position promotion information of the output image area P or the adjustment promotion information of the output image area P is converted into data. Then, it is sent to the display 20, and the frame of the output image area P and the adjustment promotion information are displayed or output as audio.

The area extraction processing of the main subject extraction, finger image extraction and fog area extraction in the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various automatic extraction processings can be applied. Semi-automatic region extraction processing may be applied. For example, a position in each area such as a main subject area, a finger image area, and a fog area is designated by the keyboard 18a or the mouse 18b as auxiliary information of the operator, and the image data of the designated position is used to specify the main subject area or the position. Each region such as a finger image region and a fog region may be automatically extracted. In particular, a reproduction image of the original image displayed on the test screen,
The detection image area G ₀ , the adjustment promotion information of the output image area P, and the frames P ₁ , P displayed as candidates for the output image area P
_When semi-automatic adjustment of the output image area P or verification of a reproduced image is performed using ₂ and P _0, etc., it is easy to specify a position in each area such as a main subject area, a finger image area, and a fog area. It is preferred. By doing so, it is possible to greatly improve the accuracy of each area extraction of the main subject extraction, finger image extraction, and fog area extraction.

The output image area P is automatically adjusted according to the area extracted by extracting the main subject, extracting the finger image, or extracting the fog area, or generates adjustment promotion information for semi-automatic adjustment. However, a plurality of extractions of main subject extraction, finger reflection extraction, and fog area extraction may be performed, and the output image area P may be adjusted according to the result. In this case, the order of extraction and adjustment of the output image area P may be adjusted. In this case, it is preferable that the priority can be input or set by the operator in advance as auxiliary information of the operator. For example, as shown in FIG. 3D, the output image area setting section 68 includes a main subject extracting section 68a, a finger image extracting section 68c, a fog area extracting section 68e, and an output image area adjusting section 68f connected thereto. May be provided. Here, the main subject extracting section 68a, the finger image extracting section 68c, and the fogging area extracting section 68e respectively perform the above-described extracting processing, and it is preferable that the respective extracting processing be a parallel (pipeline) processing. , May be performed in a preset priority order. It is preferable that the priority can be input or set in advance by the operator as auxiliary information of the operator.

The output image area adjusting section 68f automatically adjusts the results of the main subject extraction, finger image extraction and fog area extraction according to a priority set in advance by the operator, or the output image according to the set priority. It is preferable that the frame of the area P and the adjustment promotion information be displayed or output as audio. The output image area adjustment unit 68f
Similarly to the above-described output image area adjustment units 68b and 68d, the output image area P is automatically adjusted based on the results of main subject extraction, finger image extraction, and fog area extraction, or adjustment for semi-automatic adjustment. Generate promotional information. Further, the configuration of the output image area setting section 68 in the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D described above, and the three types of output shown in FIGS. The image area setting sections 68 may be connected in series in a predetermined order (cascade connection) or may be connected in parallel.

The output image area adjusting sections 68b and 68d
And 68f automatically adjust the position of the output image area P without changing the image size of the output image area P.
Alternatively, it generates the adjustment promotion information for semi-automatic adjustment.
8c and the corrected print output image area (hereinafter referred to as a corrected output image area) P 'obtained by changing the image size of the print output image area P while adjusting the position according to the area extracted by the fog extraction unit 68e. May be determined. In this case, it is preferable that the aspect ratio of the corrected output image area P ′ is the same as the aspect ratio of the output image area P. In order to obtain a print image of the same image size, the modified output image area P ′
It is necessary to electronically scale the image data with an electronic scaling factor (magnification) different from that of the output image area P. However, if the aspect ratio of the corrected output image area P ′ is different from the aspect ratio of the output image area P, , A part of the corrected output image area P 'must be cut off and printed out, and the corrected output image area P'
This is because it becomes impossible to print out the entirety. The corrected output image area P ′ whose position has been adjusted and the image size has been changed has an amount corresponding to the change in the image size as compared with the predetermined electronic scaling process performed on the image data of the output image area P in which the image size does not change. Then, the magnification is changed and the electronic magnification processing is performed.

[0076] Although an example of which is shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and (b), as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the finger-through area in the output image area P that is previously set in the middle of the detected image area G ₀ R _When a part of ₀ is included, as shown in FIG. 6B, the finger image region R ₀ included in the output image region P is minimized.
By adjusting the position of the output image area P within the range of the detection image area G ₀ and further changing the image size of the output image area P without changing the aspect ratio of the image, the finger image area R ₀ can be completely removed. A corrected output image area P ′ is created so as not to be included. Since the corrected output image area P ′ has a different image size from the output image area P, after the verification, the information of this image size is
The information is sent to the fine scan processing section 50 via the setup section 62 and the parameter integration section 66 together with the position information of the corrected output image area P '. In this way, the image data processing unit 56 performs the electronic scaling process with the changed scaling ratio according to the desired print output size.

When extremely high image quality is required or when the output print size is large, FIG.
As shown in the example shown in FIG. 7, the magnification of the electronic magnification processing is changed, that is, the corrected output image area P ′ and the output image area P
(See FIG. 6B.) A slight decrease in image quality caused by increasing the ratio by the ratio may also be a problem. In such a case, without changing the magnification of the electronic magnification processing,
The optical magnification of the imaging lens unit 32 of the scanner 12 is changed (increased), and the image is formed on the image sensor 34 so that the image centered on the corrected output image area P 'becomes the size of the output image area P. And do a fine scan,
The image of the corrected output image area P 'may be read photoelectrically. By doing so, it is possible to obtain a high-quality image without any deterioration in image quality without changing the image processing of the image processing device 14 after the fine scan, in particular, the image processing by the fine scan processing unit 50.

While the method of automatically adjusting the print output image area P in the output image area setting section 68 has been described above, in the output image area adjustment method of the present invention, the output image area is not necessarily a print for obtaining a print output image. For example, the display 2 is not limited to the output image area P.
It may be a display output image area for displaying an image at 0, or a reproduced image area for recording on the image data recording medium 19a or distributing via a network. In this case, for example, the display 20
The upper image display is the display of the image in the display output image area that has been automatically adjusted.

Further, the image processing apparatus 14 sets the print output image area P based on the pre-scan data before image processing that has been read at a low resolution. The output image area P may be set based on the processed pre-scan data that has been processed. Further, without performing pre-scanning, image processing conditions and output image areas P are set based on image data obtained by performing thinning-out or the like from fine scan data read at a high resolution for print output. May be displayed as an image and used for operator verification.

Although the output image area adjusting method of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various improvements and changes are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course it is good.

[0081]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, at least one of main subject extraction, finger image extraction, and fog region extraction is performed, and automatic extraction is performed in accordance with the extracted extraction region. Or automatically adjust the output image area according to the adjustment promotion information according to the extraction area,
The frequency of manual adjustment of the output image area by the operator is reduced, or the manual adjustment of the output image area by the operator becomes extremely easy, so that the burden on the operator for verification is reduced and the processing efficiency is improved. Also,
According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a print output image that includes a main subject as much as possible and does not include a finger image area, a fogging area, and the like as much as possible, so that the added value of printing can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a digital photo printer that performs an output image area adjustment method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the digital photo printer illustrated in FIG.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are block diagrams each showing a main part of an embodiment of an image processing apparatus that performs an output image area adjusting method according to the present invention;

FIGS. 4 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are explanatory views each explaining an example of the output image area adjusting method of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are explanatory diagrams illustrating another example of the output image area adjustment method of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams illustrating another example of the output image area adjustment method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital photo printer 12 Scanner 14 Image processing device 16 Printer 18 Operation system 19a Image data recording medium 19b Driver 20 Display 20a Display screen 21 Transmission / reception device 22 Light source 40 Data processing unit 42 Log converter 44 Prescan memory 46 Fine scan memory 48 Press Can processing section 50 Fine scan processing section 52, 56 Image data processing section 54, 58 Image data conversion section 60 Condition setting section 62 Setup section 64 Key correction section 66 Parameter integration section 68 Output image area setting section 68a Main subject extraction section 68b, 68d, 68f output image area adjustment unit 68c finger-through extraction unit 68e fogged area extracting unit G ₀ (detection) image region P, P ₀ (printed) output image area P _1, P ₂ output image area frame P 'corrected (flop Cement) the output image area Q adjustment promotional information R ₀ fingers through area

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 G // H04N 101: 00 101: 00

Claims (17)

[Claims] An output image for obtaining an output image data adapted to a predetermined output image size by adjusting an output image area for obtaining an output image from an image area of an original image within the image area of the original image. An area adjustment method, wherein an image area of the original image is extracted, and at least one area extraction of main subject extraction, finger image extraction, and fog area extraction is performed on the extracted image area of the original image. An output image is obtained by automatically adjusting the output image area according to the extracted extraction area, and obtaining the output image data from the image data in the adjusted output image area. Area adjustment method. 2. When the main subject is extracted from the image area of the original image, the main image extracted by the main subject extraction is adjusted in the output image area by adjusting the output image area. The output image area adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the output image area adjusting method is included. 3. The output image area adjusting method according to claim 2, wherein said main subject extraction is face extraction. 4. When the finger image extraction or the fog area extraction is performed on the image area of the original image, the finger image extraction or the fog area extraction is performed by adjusting the output image area. 2. The output image area adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the extracted area is minimized in the output image area. 5. An output image in which an output image area for obtaining an output image from an image area of an original image is adjusted within the image area of the original image to obtain output image data adapted to a predetermined output image size. An area adjustment method, wherein an image area of an original image is extracted, and at least one of main object extraction, finger image extraction and fog area extraction is performed on the extracted image area of the original image, An output image area adjusting method, wherein, when it is determined that the output image area needs to be adjusted based on the result of the extracted extraction area, information prompting the adjustment of the output image area is issued. 6. The information prompting the adjustment of the output image area includes information indicating that the main subject extraction is not included in the output image area, and information indicating that the extraction area extracted by the finger image extraction is the output image area. 6. The output image area adjustment according to claim 5, wherein the output image area adjustment includes at least one of information indicating that the image is included in the output image area and information indicating that the extracted area extracted by the fog area extraction is included in the output image area. Method. 7. The information prompting the user to adjust the output image area is displayed on an image display device so as to select one of the information, and one or more information adjusted according to the result of the extracted extraction area. 6. The output image area adjusting method according to claim 5, wherein the output image area frame is an image frame. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic adjustment of the output image area or the generation of information prompting the adjustment of the output image area is performed based on first auxiliary information input or set in advance. 3. The output image area adjusting method according to 1. 9. The first auxiliary information includes a source image in which at least two of a main subject extracted by the main subject extraction, a finger image extracted by the finger image extraction and a fog extracted by the fog region extraction are the same. 9. The output image area adjusting method according to claim 8, further comprising information on a priority order to prioritize when the image is extracted in an image area of the image. 10. The output image area according to claim 8, wherein the first auxiliary information includes priority information indicating which of the main subject extraction, the finger image extraction and the fogging area extraction should be prioritized. Adjustment method. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one region extraction is performed based on second auxiliary information of an operator.
0. The output image area adjustment method according to any one of 0. 12. The second auxiliary information includes a main subject area,
The output image area adjusting method according to claim 11, wherein the information is information provided by designating a position in at least one of the finger image area and the fog area. 13. Adjustment of the output image area according to the extraction area is performed by cutting the output image area of the original image without changing the image size of the output image area cut from the image area of the original image. The output image area adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the output image area adjusting method is performed by changing a position of the image area. 14. Adjusting the output image area according to the extraction area at least changes the image size of the output image area cut out from the image area of the original image, and adjusts the electronic size according to the changed image size. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnification is changed by changing the magnification, or the image in the output image area having the changed image size is read photoelectrically while changing the optical magnification. Output image area adjustment method. 15. The aspect ratio of the changed output image area is:
15. The output image area adjusting method according to claim 14, wherein an aspect ratio of the output image area before changing the image size is the same. 16. The original image may be a digital image obtained by photoelectrically reading an image recorded on a photographic film, a digital image obtained by photographing with a digital still camera, or a digital image obtained via a network. The output image area adjusting method according to claim 1. 17. An image display device, comprising:
17. The output image area adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the output image area is output to a print output device, recorded on an image data recording medium, or distributed via a network.