JP2001268342A - Method and system for reproducing image with message - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a plurality of persons to write a message in a photographic image, and also improve the entertainment of a photograph. SOLUTION: A written message or a message image prepared by one or more persons is obtained for image data to be reproduced, and the image data are synthesized with the written message or the message image so as to be reproduced as a visible image in this method for reproducing an image with a message.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a system for reproducing an image with a message, in which a message is synthesized when reproducing photographed image data as a visible image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, messages such as balloons and titles have been written or pasted on printed photographs. For example, a method is known in which a title or the like is recorded in advance on a magnetic recording layer of a photographic film, and when printing a photograph, the title information is read out, and the title and the like are combined and printed. However, in such a method, it is necessary to input a title or the like at the time of shooting, and there is a problem that it is difficult to input a title that fits the shot screen.

Therefore, the present applicant has already solved such a problem, and without preparing a print photograph in advance,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260482 proposes a method and system for creating a print with a message which enables a message to be easily added to a photographic film in a handwritten manner. In other words, this means that the print orderer reads the image to be printed on the developed photographic film with a scanner, creates a print reference image based on this, and sends it to the print orderer,
The print orderer records the message in the message and sends it to the print orderer, and the print orderer combines the message with the print target image and prints the synthesized image.

[0004]

However, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-260482, the print orderer (laboratory) deals only with one print orderer (customer). It merely interacts with the print orderer to create a composite print of the message, so that multiple people write messages at the same time on photos taken by multiple people, Since it has no function and the output target is limited to print, there is room for further improvement in order to enhance the enjoyment of photographs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a method and system for reproducing an image with a message, which enables a plurality of people to write a message on a photographic image and enhances the entertainment of the photograph. The task is to provide.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a writing message or a message image created by one or more persons is created for image data to be reproduced. A method for reproducing an image with a message, comprising: acquiring, synthesizing the image data and the writing message or the message image, and reproducing as a visible image.

Further, a reference image to which the writing message or the message image is to be written is created from the image data, and the reference image is transmitted to the one or more persons to which the writing message or the message image is to be written. Based on return data representing a written message or a message image created and returned by one or more persons based on the reference image, the image data is combined with the written message or the message image. Is preferred.

The return data is a reference image in which a write message or a message image is written, and reads out the write message or the message image and its recording position from the returned reference image, and based on the information, Preferably, the writing message or the message image is combined with the image data.

It is preferable that the return data is processing information including a write message or a message image and a synthesis area of the image and the message image.

[0009] Preferably, the write message is audio data.

Preferably, the message image is a moving image.

Further, when the writing message or the message image is combined with the image data, if the writing message or the message image overlaps, the combining area is moved so that these do not overlap. preferable.

[0012] It is preferable that when the writing message or the message image is combined with the image data, a predetermined registered image corresponding to the one or more persons is also combined.

[0013] Similarly, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems,
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for creating a writing message or a reference image to which a message image is to be written from image data, means for transmitting the reference image to one or more persons, and Means for receiving data corresponding to the reference image returned from the one or more persons for synthesizing a written message or a message image by more than one person, and data corresponding to the received reference image Based on the image data,
Means for synthesizing the written message or the message image.

The data for synthesizing the write message or the message image is a reference image on which the write message or the message image is written. Alternatively, it is preferable to include a means for reading the message image and its recording position.

[0015] Further, it is preferable that, when the writing message or the message image is synthesized, when the writing message or the message image overlaps, a means for moving the synthesis area so that they do not overlap is provided. .

Further, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises means for synthesizing a predetermined registered image corresponding to each of the one or more persons with the image data.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a method and system for reproducing an image with a message according to the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of an image reproducing system with a message according to the present invention. The message-attached image reproduction system 10 includes a lab 20, which is an order receiver receiving an image reproduction order, an image transmission device 30 on the customer A side who orders the image reproduction, and a plurality of customers B1, who write a message in the reproduced image.・ ・ 、 B
, Bn-side image transmission device 40. The image transmission devices 30 and 40 are not particularly limited, but include a facsimile (facsimile), a PC
(Personal Computer) or PDA (Personal
Digital Assistant, portable information terminal) and the like.

The lab 20 mainly includes a scanner 21 and a memory 2
2, an image processing device 23, an image transmission device 24, and a printer 25. The scanner 21 photoelectrically reads an image photographed on a film, and a memory 22
Is for storing image data read by the scanner 21. The image processing device 23
Extracts the image of each frame from the image data held in the memory 22 based on the image area, creates a reference image in which a customer side should write a message or the like according to a predetermined format, Based on the data returned from the customer side, extracts the message part from the reference image in which the message is written, combines the message image with the original image data to create a composite image, and performs various image processing It is. The image transmission device 24 is for exchanging image data with a customer.
The printer 25 outputs a photographic print in which the message is combined. Further, the image processing device 23 includes:
The display 2 is used as an auxiliary device for performing various processes.
6, a keyboard 27 and a mouse 28 are connected.

In the image reproduction system with message 10 shown in FIG. 1, a customer A first sends an original image to a laboratory 20. This may be a method in which the customer A sends the film to the lab 20 for development, or if the original image is digital data and the image transmission device 30 is a PC, the image is transmitted through a communication network such as a PC communication. You may.
When the lab 20 receives the original image from the customer A, the lab 20 creates a reference image for writing a message or the like while referring to when the customer writes a message, and in order to have this reference image written by the message, , Bx,..., Bn. At this time, the distribution destination information of the reference image to which the lab 20 sends the reference image to which customer Bx, the distribution destination information is created by specifying the customer Bx that the customer A wants to write the message on the reproduced image, It is sent to the lab 20 together with the original image. When the customer A puts out the film to the lab 20, it is preferable that a sheet for entering distribution destination information is prepared. The lab 20 may also send the reference image to the customer A so that the customer A can also write the message.

The lab 20 has an image processing device 23
A reduced image of the original image is created, and a reference image 50 in which six reduced images are arranged in A4 size, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 in frame units or in an index print style, is created. It is not limited to this.
When the customer A takes out a film, the lab 20 reads the film with the scanner 21 and temporarily stores the read image data in the memory 22.
Creates a reference image 50 using this image data. The lab 20 that has created the reference image 50 transmits the reference image 50 from the image transmission device 24 to the image transmission device 40 of each customer Bx according to the designated distribution destination information. Reference image 5
0 is received by the image transmission device 40 on the customer Bx side. For example, when the image transmission device 40 is a facsimile, the reference image 5
0 is thermally recorded on the recording paper by this FAX.
A message writing sheet 52 as shown in FIG.

A plurality of message writing sheets 52 are output according to the number of photographed photographic films. As shown in FIG. 2, a frame number N and a frame identification bar code B are arranged below each frame F on the message writing paper 52.
The frame identification barcode B is created by combining the reception number and each frame number. The reception number is created for each film when the photographic film is received, whereby the photographic film of each user (customer) is identified. The reception number is printed on a label together with a bar code, and the check label is attached to a reception bag (DP bag) (not shown) and a photographic film. Further, a user ID number 53 and its barcode 54, a reception number 55 and its barcode 56 are recorded on the lower part of the message writing paper 52.

Each customer Bx receiving the reference image 50
A message writing area is set for each of the reference images 50, and a message to be written therein is input and returned to the laboratory 20. There are various ways to write this message as described below,
For example, when the image transmission apparatus 40 receives a reference image 50 as a message writing sheet 52 as shown in FIG. That is, each customer Bx
Sees the reference image 50 on the message writing paper 52 output from the FAX (image transmission device) 40, and
Figure 3 (a), (b),
As shown in part (c), appropriate messages M1 to M3 are handwritten on each frame, respectively. When the message writing is completed, the message is written by each customer Bx, and the message writing sheets 52a, 52b, and 52c shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are displayed.
Are set in the FAX 40 of each customer Bx, and the reference images 50a, 50b, and 50c in which the messages have been written are stored in the lab 2.
It is faxed to 0.

When the image transmission device 40 is a PC, the reference image 50 is transmitted by PC communication. In this case, the reference image 50 is displayed on the display, and a message is input on this display screen. The message is
In addition to the input from the keyboard, handwritten characters may be input using a mouse, a light pen, or the like. Also, instead of using a keyboard or mouse to enter a message,
The reference image 50 may be printed using the printer C, and the printed image may be overwritten with a message. In the case of PC communication, only the message portion may be sent to the laboratory 20. That is, by transmitting only a message or information such as an image as a message and a combination position thereof, the amount of data to be transmitted can be reduced, which is efficient. As described above, the message may be input using a personal digital assistant (PDA) in addition to the facsimile or the PC, or the customer may visit the lab 20 and write the message on the printed reference image. You may make it input by handwriting.

In the lab 20, when the image transmission device 24 receives the return data (the reference images 50a, 50b, and 50c in which the messages have been written) from all the distribution destinations to which the reference image 50 has been distributed, the image processing device 23 transmits the message. Create a composite image. First, each customer B
Check the message written by x. As described above, when only the information of the message is transmitted by the PC or PDA as described above, it may be used as it is.
When an image in which a message is written is transmitted by AX, message information (message writing information such as a message writing area and message content) must be extracted.

The reference images 50a, 50b, and 50 in which the message has been received and received by the image transmission device 24 of the lab 20 are written.
c is sent to the image processing device 23. Image processing device 23
Extracts the contents and writing positions of the handwritten messages M1 to M3 respectively written in the reference images 50a, 50b, 50c. The extraction of the contents and writing positions of the messages M1 to M3 is performed by comparing the received message-containing reference images 50a, 50b, and 50c with the reference image 50 transmitted by the laboratory 20 and extracting the differences. . After this extraction, the image processing device 23
Performs various processes, such as well-known resolution adaptation, noise elimination, smoothing, and conversion to a designated color, necessary for the composition process on the extracted image data as message information. Thereafter, the image processing device 23 combines the original image data with the image data as a message.

When combining the message with the original image data in the image processing device 23, each customer B1,.
The message writing areas of Bn and Bn may overlap as indicated by reference symbol D in FIG. In such a case, one or both message areas are moved so that they are combined without overlapping as shown in FIG. 4B. The movement of the message writing area is performed by automatically avoiding the main subject and moving to a blank area in the background. Also, the composite image is displayed on display 2
6 is displayed on the keyboard 2.
It may be performed manually using the mouse 7 or the mouse 28. When moving the message writing area, if the message is a speech bubble or the like, the position of the start point S is respected so that the start point S of the speech bubble does not face another subject person. To do.

The combined image is sent to the printer 25, and a print containing the message in which the messages M1 to M3 are combined is obtained. At this time, a composite image containing a message may be simulated on the display 26 and printed after the operator confirms the composite image. Alternatively, before printing, the composite image may be distributed again to each of the customers B1 to Bn for confirmation.

When data is transmitted by PC communication, the data is transferred to the laboratory 20 along with the frame line and bar code of each frame of the reference image. Therefore, in this case, it is not necessary for the lab 20 to obtain the difference between the image data for transmission and the image data for reception and extract the message part from the difference, thereby simplifying the message transfer. If the message is overwritten on the reference image printed by the PC printer, the overwritten reference image is read by the scanner connected to the PC, and the data is transferred to the laboratory 20. At this time, the message portion is extracted based on the difference data between the reference image transmitted from the lab 20 and the reference image in which the message is written and returned to the lab 20, as in the case of FAX. .

According to the embodiment described above, a plurality of customers B1 to Bn can simultaneously write a message in one image data, so that a so-called side-by-side print can be easily created. At this time, it is also possible to assign an order to each distribution destination of the reference image, distribute the images sequentially to each distribution destination, and transfer the image obtained by combining the sequential messages to the next distribution destination, in this case, Although there is an advantage that the message writing area does not overlap, the data transmission from the lab and the reply from the customer are repeated many times, which is complicated and time consuming,
As in the above example, it is preferable to distribute the message to all the recipients at once and to write the message at the same time.

Further, in the above example, the messages are all character data, but the write information is not limited to characters. For example, in the case of PC communication, input / output with moving image data or audio data is also possible. If it is voice data, it is converted into character data by voice recognition in a laboratory. Further, image data obtained from an image (picture) as a message written by a customer instead of a character may be used as the message data for composition. In this case, the message image (message image) is simply synthesized.

In this manner, the customer does not input the message image each time, but instead, in advance, the face image or portrait data of each customer to which the reference image is distributed, the character image data, the data of the seal and the signature. Lab 20
May be registered, and the face image or the like may be automatically combined into the writing area of each customer in a small size when combining the images. In this way, the commenter of the message can be recognized at a glance without much consideration of the arrangement of the message area, and a print with added value such as information and amusement of the photograph can be obtained. In the case of reproduction on a PC, moving image output and audio output are also possible. For example, when an image is displayed on the screen of a PC and a person or a face image of the person displayed in a small size is clicked on the screen, a message (character or picture) of the person is displayed.
May be reproduced. At this time, the person's message may be reproduced as a voice, or a window may be displayed. At this time, the image displayed in the window may be a moving image, or audio data may be reproduced.

When each image transmission device 40 is a PC, the image originally distributed from the lab 20 is moving image data, and each customer Bx uses, for example, commercially available moving image software or the like for this moving image data. It is conceivable to write a video message. As described above, the method and system for reproducing an image with a message according to the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, and various modifications and changes are made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Of course it is good.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A plurality of people can write a message on a photographic image, and the image can be reproduced so as to enhance the entertainment of the photographic image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a message-attached image reproducing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a reference image.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state where each customer writes a message to a reference image. FIG.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing a method of eliminating the overlap when message areas of a reference image overlap.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image reproduction system with a message 20 Lab 21 Scanner 22 Memory 23 Image processing device 24 Image transmission device (of lab side) 25 Printer 26 Display 27 Keyboard 28 Mouse 30 and 40 Image transmission device of customer side 50 Reference image 52 Message writing Paper 53 User ID number 54, 56 Barcode 55 Reception number 50a Reference image (where the message is written) 52a Message paper (where the message is written)

Claims (12)

[Claims] An image data to be reproduced is obtained by obtaining a written message or a message image created by one or more persons, and the image data is combined with the written message or the message image to obtain a visible image. A method of reproducing an image with a message, characterized in that the image is reproduced as a message. 2. A reference image to which the writing message or the message image is to be written is created from the image data, and the reference image is transmitted to the one or more persons to which the writing message or the message image is to be written, Based on return data representing a written message or a message image created and returned by one or more persons based on the reference image, the image data is combined with the written message or the message image. The method of reproducing an image with a message according to claim 1. 3. The return data is a reference image in which a write message or a message image is written, reads out the write message or the message image and its recording position from the returned reference image, and based on the information, The method according to claim 2, wherein the writing message or the message image is combined with the image data. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the return data is processing information including a write message or a message image and an area for combining the image with the image data. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the writing message is audio data. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message image is a moving image. 7. When combining the writing message or the message image with the image data, if the writing message or the message image overlaps, the combining area is moved so that these do not overlap. 5. The method for reproducing an image with a message according to any one of 1 to 4. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the writing message or the message image is combined with the image data, a predetermined registered image corresponding to the one or more persons is also combined. Image playback method with message. 9. A means for creating a write message or a reference image to which a message image is to be written from image data, means for transmitting the reference image to one or more persons, and means for transmitting the one or more persons to the image data 1 for synthesizing a written message or message image according to
Means for receiving data corresponding to the reference image returned from more than one person, and combining the writing message or message image with the image data based on the data corresponding to the received reference image. Means, and an image reproducing system with a message. 10. The image reproduction system with a message according to claim 9, wherein the data for synthesizing the written message or the message image is a written image or a reference image on which the message image is written, and Means for reading the written message or the message image and its recording position from the reference image on which the written message or the message image is written, and a means for reading the image with the message. 11. The image reproduction system with a message according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising: when synthesizing the writing message or the message image, when the writing message or the message image overlaps with each other. An image reproduction system with a message, comprising: means for moving the combination area so as not to overlap. 12. The image reproduction system with a message according to claim 9, further comprising: means for combining a predetermined registered image corresponding to each of said one or more persons with said image data. Image playback system with a message.