JP2001320569A - Device and method for recording image and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera in which data can be embedded in a position intended by a user in an image recorder for picking up and recording an image, particularly a digital still camera in which prescribed data can be embedded in a picked up image. SOLUTION: In this image recorder for picking up a subject on the basis of information from prescribed sensors, such as sensors for detecting luminance, the device decides a position where prescribed data of a photographer, etc., is embedded in image data obtained by picking up on the basis of the luminance distribution information, etc., of each part within a visual field from the sensors and embeds data in the embedding position. The data here is embedded not in a fixed position but in a selected position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for capturing and recording an image, and more particularly to a digital still camera capable of embedding predetermined data in a captured image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional silver halide camera forms an image of a subject on a film surface, and chemically records the image in an analog manner. On the other hand, digital still cameras, which are rapidly spreading in recent years, electrically record digitally an image captured by a CCD sensor or the like on a recording medium such as a memory card.

[0003] Digital data can be easily processed by a computer and can be easily distributed via a network or the like. Therefore, the need for a digital still camera capable of easily obtaining such digital images is expected to increase in the future.

On the other hand, digital data can be easily tampered with such as composition so that no trace is left, so that the reliability as evidence of a photographed digital image may be a problem. Such a problem is unlikely to occur as long as it is a hobby photographing by a general user, but it becomes a serious problem in photographing necessary for business or legal purposes such as a recorded photograph at a construction site.

Another problem is that the rights of the copyright holder of the image are not sufficiently protected because the copying and distribution are extremely easy.

Therefore, there is great expectation for a digital still camera capable of enhancing the evidential ability of a photographed digital image and protecting copyright.

For such a purpose, “watermarking (Watermar
k) "is being studied.

[0008] This technology can embed other information that is not perceived by humans in digital image / audio data, and can extract the embedded information as needed only by persons with valid qualifications and rights. Thereby, it becomes possible to enhance the evidential ability of the image or protect the copyright.

In the following, as to the principle of the digital watermarking technique, one method in the case where digital information is image information is disclosed in
FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the public information of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-150517.
No. Gazette).

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a flow of processing for embedding another information (embedded data) in image information.

First, an original image (digital image data; 401 in FIG. 3) is divided into a plurality of blocks of one block (402 in FIG. 3) of n pixels × m pixels (division processing). Next, discrete cosine transform (DCT transform) is applied to each divided block.
And so on to obtain an n × m frequency component matrix (orthogonal transformation processing).

Prior to embedding the embedding data, an embedding component indicating in which component of the frequency component matrix obtained by the orthogonal transformation process the embedding data is to be embedded is determined by a random number, and the value of the frequency component is changed to what extent. Is determined, and the embedded component and the change amount are obtained and stored as key information.

When embedding the embedding data, it is not necessary to embed all the data in the frequency component matrix for one block, and the embedding data can be embedded across the frequency component matrix of a plurality of blocks. In that case, an appropriate group of blocks in the screen having a contrast strong enough to embed the data is selected. A method of selecting a block group, that is, a method of determining an embedding position will be described with reference to FIG. 9. In the conventional example of FIG. 9A, a block group in which data is to be embedded is changed from a block in a predetermined area 501 in the screen. It is a method of selecting.

FIG. 9 (b) is not limited to the fixed area in the screen, but takes into account the contrast (luminance distribution) of the entire screen.
In this method, a block group suitable for embedding data, such as a block group having a high contrast, such as a mountain ridgeline portion 502 and a tree outline 503 in this image, is selected, and the embedded data is embedded in the block group.

Returning to FIG. 2A, the embedding component can be embedded such that it cannot be perceived by a human, for example, by selecting a low frequency portion of a frequency component matrix. Also, by changing the change amount, the difference from the original value of the frequency component matrix can be changed, so that the deterioration of the image quality can be controlled.

The embedding data is embedded (embedding process) by changing the value of the frequency component matrix of each selected block based on the embedding component as key information and the amount of change. Further, the frequency component matrix of each block in which the embedded data is embedded is subjected to inverse orthogonal transformation to obtain an image of a plurality of blocks of n pixels × m pixels (inverse orthogonal transformation processing). Finally, a plurality of blocks of images obtained by the inverse orthogonal transform processing are connected to obtain a watermark image in which embedded data is embedded (reconstruction processing).

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the flow of processing for extracting embedded data from a watermark image. First, a watermark image is divided into a plurality of blocks each consisting of n pixels × m pixels (division processing). . Next, orthogonal transformation such as discrete cosine transformation (DCT transformation) is performed on each of the divided blocks to obtain an n × m frequency component matrix (orthogonal transformation processing). Further, the embedding component and the amount of change are obtained from the key information used at the time of embedding, and the embedding data is extracted from the frequency component matrix of each block (extraction process).

As described above, the digital watermarking technique is based on (1)
(2) Since the embedded component in the key information is created by random numbers, it is not fixed and it is difficult to decipher the embedded data; (3) (3) There is a feature that the embedded data can be embedded so that humans cannot perceive it by devising the embedded component, and (4) the degree of image quality deterioration can be controlled by changing the change amount.

In the above description, the embedding data is a method of “embedding invisible data” which is not perceived by humans. Conversely, by embedding the copyright information and the like in the original image in a perceptible state, There is also a method called "visible data embedding" that expects the effect of discouraging three parties from illegal use of images. With respect to this digital watermarking technique for visible data, US Pat. No. 5,530,759 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-241)
No. 403).

[0020]

However, in a camera equipped with the function described in the prior art, a camera is provided with a predetermined area in the image data as shown in FIG. As described above, since data is embedded in a portion having a high contrast (change in luminance), there is a problem that it is difficult to embed data at a position in a screen intended by a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide an image recording apparatus and method capable of embedding data at a position intended by a user, and a storage medium. It is in.

[0022]

In order to solve the above problems, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, in an image recording apparatus that captures an image of a subject based on information from a predetermined sensor, a position determination that determines a position where predetermined data is embedded in image data obtained by the imaging based on information from the sensor. Means for embedding the predetermined data in the embedding position.

[0023]

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

[First Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The digital still camera of this embodiment has an optical viewfinder 201, and a rear electronic dial 2 for inputting an up / down signal is provided on the rear of the camera.
02, a color monitor 203 for displaying a captured image and a user interface screen, and various setting buttons 20
4 and so on.

Various settings relating to the digital watermark can be made by using the setting button 20 while viewing the screen displayed on the color monitor 203.
4. Input / change is possible using the rear electronic dial 202.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a display example of the monitor screen 205 displayed when an instruction is made to set each mode of the digital watermark. In the figure, items enclosed by squares indicate the current settings.

In this setting example, the “embed” function is “ON”, the “type” of embedding is “invisible” embedding, the embedding “strength” is “image quality priority”, and the data embedding “position” is “AF”. It is set to be based on information.

The embedding strength corresponds to the above-mentioned change amount. When the image quality is prioritized, the embedding strength is reduced by reducing the change amount, and the image quality is not impaired. Conversely, when the priority is given to the tolerance, the embedding strength is increased by increasing the change amount, and the image quality is reduced instead. There is a trade-off between image quality and tolerance.

When the embedding position is "fixed", FIG.
As described with reference to (a), the setting is such that data is embedded in a preset area. This area may be selected from a plurality of areas prepared in advance using the operation means of the camera, or may be arbitrarily movable.

When "AF", "AE" or "line of sight" is selected, they are used to determine the data embedding position in order to determine the focus detection result (AF: Auto Focus) and AF (Auto Focus), respectively.
The setting is to use the photometric result (AE: Auto Exposure) or the line-of-sight detection result, and the method will be described later.

By operating the setting button, the color monitor 203 is switched to a monitor screen 206 for setting embedded data as shown in FIG. 5B.

In this embodiment, "Heizou Hasegawa" is used as "photographer" data, and "1" is used as "date / time" data.
999.06.09 15:37 "and" 31
415926535 "is set, and these data are embedded in the captured image data during the digital watermark embedding process.

The date / time data is information that the conventional camera also has, and it is sufficient to refer to necessary data from the date / time function.

The camera ID data is a value set in an assembly process in a factory, and is unique between camera models or manufacturers and cannot be changed.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the digital still camera according to the present embodiment.

In the embodiment, the photographing information display liquid crystal 211,
Top electronic dial 2 for inputting up / down signal
12. Various setting buttons 213 for setting the shooting operation of the camera
To 215, a release button 216, and the like.

FIG. 7A is a view showing a display in the finder visual field 221 according to the present embodiment, in which five focus detection marks 222 are arranged as shown.

In the automatic focus adjusting mechanism for a camera having a plurality of focus detection points as shown in this embodiment, an "arbitrary selection mode" and an "automatic selection mode" are prepared as focus detection point selection modes, and a gaze detection function is provided. The camera having the camera is further provided with a “line-of-sight selection mode”.

In the arbitrary selection mode, the user selects one focus detection point in advance, and the camera detects the focus of the subject located on the detection point by pressing the release button, and performs photographing based on the focus state. The focus of the subject is adjusted by driving the lens.

In the automatic selection mode, the camera detects the focus of the object on all five detection points by pressing the release button, and automatically selects one detection point based on those focus states. Focus on the subject on the detection point.

In this case, as a method of selecting a focus detection point, a method of selecting a detection point so that a subject located closest to the nearest side is in focus is generally used.

In the line-of-sight selection mode, a position on the viewfinder where the user is gazing (hereinafter referred to as "line-of-sight coordinates") is detected, and one focus detection point is selected accordingly.

As an eye-gaze detecting device, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 1-241511 by the present applicant, the anterior eye of a user's eye illuminated by an infrared light emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as "IRED") is used. Take an image using an area sensor,
Processing the image signal to detect the rotation angle of the user's eyeball,
Then, there is disclosed a camera which further detects the coordinates of the user's line of sight on a viewfinder and selects one of a plurality of focus detection areas and photometry areas of the camera based on the result.

FIG. 7B is a view showing a photometric area in the finder visual field according to the present embodiment. Nineteen photometric areas 223 are arranged as shown, and the photometric sensor is divided in accordance with this arrangement. The photometric value of each area is output from the photometric sensor.

As for the photometry mode of a camera having a plurality of photometry areas, a "partial photometry mode", a "center-weighted average photometry mode", an "evaluation photometry mode", and the like are prepared similarly to the above-mentioned automatic focus adjustment mode. One or a plurality of photometric values from the sensor are used for the photometric calculation processing in each mode.

FIG. 8 is an electric block diagram of the digital still camera according to the present embodiment.

A camera control microcontroller (hereinafter abbreviated as "MCU") 100 includes a line-of-sight detection area sensor 101, a photometry sensor 110, a focus detection sensor 103, a signal input circuit 104, a liquid crystal drive circuit 105,
The LED drive circuit 106, the IRED drive circuit 107, the shutter control circuit 108, and the motor drive circuit 109 are connected.

Signals are transmitted to a lens-side circuit (not shown) of the photographing lens via a lens communication circuit 102 and a mount contact 112.

In the camera control MCU 100, a ROM for storing a program for executing the camera operation, a RAM for storing variables, and an EEPROM (electrically erasing / writing) for storing the above-described correction data and other parameters. Possible memory) is built-in.

The line-of-sight detection area sensor 101 is a user's eyeball imaged on the sensor surface by a line-of-sight detection optical system (not shown, comprising an eyepiece and a light-receiving lens; see a known example for details). The image is photoelectrically converted, and the electric signal is transmitted to the MCU 100.

MCU 100 converts the transmitted electric signal into A
/ D conversion and sequentially stores the image data in the RAM. Further, the MCU 100 performs signal processing on the image data according to a predetermined algorithm stored in the ROM,
Each feature point (pupil, corneal reflection image) of the eyeball image required for gaze detection is extracted, and then the gaze of the photographer is calculated from information on each feature point.

The signal input circuit 104 is a circuit for transmitting the state of various switches 114 of the camera to the camera. The switch 114 includes the first and second buttons of the release button 216 described above.
There are a switch that is turned on by a stroke, a switch that is linked to various setting buttons 213 to 215 that set the shooting operation of the camera, and the like.

The LED drive circuit 106 is used to illuminate the focus detection mark 222 in the finder 221 described above.
The two LEDs 116 are turned on and off.

The IRED drive circuit 107 includes a 6
Of the IREDs 117 are selectively turned on according to the situation,
Illuminate the user's eyeball for gaze detection.

In accordance with an instruction from the MCU 100, the liquid crystal drive circuit 105 applies an aperture value to the photographing information display liquid crystal 211 disposed outside the camera and a finder liquid crystal 115 (not shown) disposed below the finder. It is possible to display a shutter time, a set photographing mode, or the like.

The camera control MCU 100 includes a signal line 12
0 is connected to the digital MCU 304 and the digital M
The CU 304 controls a digital image capturing operation according to an instruction from the camera control MCU 100.

The digital MCU 304 controls various devices related to imaging according to a program stored in the flash memory 306 in advance.

The image sensor 301 is operated by the release operation.
(Eg, CCD or CMOS area sensor)
A subject image is formed thereon, and the image signal is output to the A / D converter 3
02 is subjected to A / D conversion and subjected to color interpolation processing and filtering processing by the image signal processing IC 303, and then to the data bus 31.
1 is temporarily stored in the DRAM 308.

The digital image data stored in the DRAM 308 is displayed on the color monitor 203 as necessary. The digital image data is embedded with data such as copyright information by a method described later, and then compressed by the JPEG IC 307. Memory card interface (hereinafter referred to as
The data is written to a removable memory card 313 via an I / F 310. Further, the image data can be output to the serial bus 312 via the serial I / F 309, so that the image data can be easily distributed over the network.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the digital camera according to the present embodiment. Below,
The description will be made on the assumption that the focus detection point selection mode is set to the “line-of-sight selection mode” and the photometry mode is set to the “evaluation photometry mode”.

In the flowchart of FIG. 1, when the release button 216 of the camera is turned on, the process proceeds from step S100 to step S101, and the line of sight is detected.

In the next step S102, step S1
An evaluation photometry operation is performed with emphasis on the line-of-sight coordinates obtained in step 01, and a focus detection point close to the line-of-sight coordinates is also selected for focus adjustment, and the focus adjustment on the subject on the detection point is executed.

When the photometry and the focus adjustment are completed, the process proceeds to step S103, where "image storage / readout" for driving the image sensor is executed (including image signal processing and storage in the DRAM during this step).

In step S104, it is determined whether the digital watermark embedding function is turned on. Since the current setting is "on", the data embedding process from step S107 is executed.

If the setting is "OFF", the process immediately proceeds to step S105, and the data is stored in the flash memory without performing the embedding process.

If the embedding function is "ON", the set embedding position is confirmed in step S107. If it is "fixed", the flow proceeds to step S108; otherwise, the flow proceeds to step S110.

In the case of "fixed", in step S108,
The data embedding position is determined from the preset area (see FIG. 9A).

In the case other than "fixed", step S110
Then, what setting is confirmed, "AF (auto focus)"
If so, the process moves to step S111, where "AE (automatic exposure)"
If it is, move to step S112, and if it is "line of sight", move to step S113.

In step S111, the data embedding position is determined based on the selected focus detection point. FIG.
To explain using 0, for example, assuming that the focus detection point 504 is selected as illustrated in the focus detection point selection,
The vicinity of the detection point is searched, and an appropriate data embedding position 505 for embedding data in consideration of contrast is determined. In this example, the contour of the person near the focus detection point 504 is determined as the data embedding position.

In step S112, similarly to the case of "AF", a data embedding position suitable for embedding data in the vicinity of the photometry area which is regarded as most important for photometry calculation among the photometry areas shown in FIG. It is determined.

In S113, as in the case of "AF", a data embedding position appropriate for embedding data near the detected line-of-sight coordinates is determined.

"AF", "AE", and "line of sight" are useful information as photographing information of the camera in any case. Therefore, the data embedding position selected using these information is important for the photographed image. The part will be selected.

Then, in step S109, data embedding processing is executed at the determined embedding position.

Thereafter, the flow shifts to step S105, where the digital image data in which the data is embedded is stored in the flash memory, and the photographing operation ends in step S106.
Although not specified, a JPEG compression operation is performed before storage in the memory.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when determining the data embedding position, the control information of the camera such as the photometric information, the focus information, or the line-of-sight detection information is used, so that the subject, the composition, or the photographing information is obtained. It has become possible to provide a camera that can embed data at a position intended by the user according to the purpose.

[Second Embodiment] The camera according to the first embodiment uses a camera control information such as photometric information, focus information, or line-of-sight detection information to control an area considered to be important in a captured image. However, there is a case where there is no area having a suitable contrast (luminance change) for embedding data in that area.

In the above case, the camera must be embedded in another area that is not related to the information. However, the camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention issues a warning to the user, In addition, a process for notifying that data is embedded in a portion different from the user's intention is performed.

The warning is performed by a method of displaying the image on the rear color monitor 203, the liquid crystal 205 for displaying the upper surface photographing information or the viewfinder 201, or a method of generating a warning sound.

When the type of the digital watermark is “embedded visible data”, contrary to the case of “embedded invisible data”, the visible watermark is avoided by avoiding the area considered to be important in the captured image indicated by the camera control information. Is configured to embed data.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a warning is issued when data cannot be embedded at a position intended by the user, and when the type of digital watermark is “visible data embedding”, It has become possible to provide a camera that can embed data while avoiding important areas.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage medium (or a recording medium) recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments or a program code as appropriate from the outside, and to provide a computer for the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by a program (or CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. When the computer executes the readout program codes, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program codes. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
By using camera control information such as photometric information, focus information, or line-of-sight detection information to determine the data embedding position, data can be embedded at the position intended by the user according to the subject, composition, or shooting purpose. Becomes possible.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention, data can be embedded at a position intended by a user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating processing according to a digital watermark technique.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating block division of image data.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the digital still camera.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example on the rear monitor of the digital still camera.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the digital still camera.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a focus detection area and a photometry area.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the digital still camera.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional data embedding position.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data embedding position according to the present invention.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 5/92 H04N 5/91 L // H04N 101: 00 5/92 H F term (reference) 5B057 BA02 CA08 CB08 CE08 CG07 5C022 AA13 AB02 AB03 AB27 AC31 AC42 AC69 5C053 FA08 GB22 JA30 KA01 5C076 AA14 BA06 CA02 5C077 LL14 MP01 PP19 PP23 PP58 PP66 PQ08 PQ19 RR21 SS07 TT09

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for imaging a subject based on information from a predetermined sensor, wherein a position for embedding predetermined data in image data obtained by the imaging is determined based on information from the sensor. An image recording apparatus, comprising: a position determining unit that performs the operation; and a unit that embeds the predetermined data in the embedding position. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state of each unit in the field of view, wherein the position determination unit determines a position at which the predetermined data is embedded based on a detection result from the focus detection unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A photometric device for detecting a luminance distribution state of each part in the field of view, wherein the position determining device determines a position where the predetermined data is embedded based on a detection result from the photometric device. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a line-of-sight detection unit configured to detect a line of sight of the user, wherein the position determination unit determines a position where the predetermined data is to be embedded based on a detection result from the line-of-sight detection unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The position determining unit determines the predetermined data embedding position based on a detection result from the focus detecting unit and a luminance distribution obtained from the captured image data. Item 3. The image recording device according to Item 2. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position determining unit determines the predetermined data embedding position based on a detection result from the photometric unit and a luminance distribution obtained from the captured image data. 3. The image recording device according to 3. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position determining unit determines the predetermined data embedding position based on a detection result from the line-of-sight detecting unit and a luminance distribution obtained from the captured image data. Item 5. The image recording device according to Item 4. 8. An image recording apparatus which captures an image of a subject based on information from a predetermined sensor, wherein: a focus detecting means for detecting a focus state of each part in the visual field; a photometric means for detecting a luminance distribution state of each part in the visual field; Line-of-sight detection means for detecting the line of sight of the user, based on a detection result from at least one of the focus detection means, the photometry means, and the line-of-sight detection means, the image data obtained by the imaging, An image recording apparatus comprising: a position determining unit that determines a position at which predetermined data is to be embedded; and a unit that embeds the predetermined data at the embedding position. 9. An image recording apparatus for imaging a subject based on information from a predetermined sensor, wherein a first position for determining a position for embedding predetermined data in a predetermined area in image data obtained by the imaging is provided. Determining means, focus detecting means for detecting the focus state of each part in the visual field, photometric means for detecting the luminance distribution state of each part in the visual field, visual line detecting means for detecting the user's visual line, the focus detecting means, A second position determination unit that determines a position where the predetermined data is embedded in the image data obtained by the imaging based on a detection result from at least one of the photometry unit and the line-of-sight detection unit; Selecting means for selecting the embedding position determined by one of the first position determining means and the second position determining means; and the selecting means in the image data obtained by the imaging. The constant has been the embedding position, and means for embedding predetermined data, an image recording apparatus characterized by comprising. 10. An image recording method for imaging a subject based on information from a predetermined sensor, wherein a position at which predetermined data is embedded in image data obtained by the imaging is determined based on information from the sensor. An image recording method, comprising: determining a position to be performed; and embedding the predetermined data in the embedding position. 11. A focus detecting step for detecting a focus state of each part in the visual field, wherein the position determining step includes
11. The image recording method according to claim 10, wherein a position where the predetermined data is embedded is determined based on a detection result from the focus detection step. 12. A photometric step of detecting a luminance distribution state of each part in the visual field, wherein the position determining step includes:
11. The image recording method according to claim 10, wherein a position at which the predetermined data is embedded is determined based on a detection result from the photometry step. 13. A gaze detecting step for detecting a gaze of a user, wherein the position determining step determines a position at which the predetermined data is embedded based on a detection result from the gaze detecting step. The image recording method according to claim 10, wherein 14. The position determining step determines the predetermined data embedding position based on a detection result from the focus detecting step and a luminance distribution obtained from the captured image data. Item 12. The image recording method according to Item 11. 15. The position deciding step, wherein the predetermined data embedding position is decided based on a detection result from the photometry step and a luminance distribution obtained from the captured image data. 13. The image recording method according to item 12. 16. The position deciding step, wherein the predetermined data embedding position is decided based on a detection result from the line-of-sight detecting step and a luminance distribution obtained from the captured image data. Item 14. The image recording method according to Item 13. 17. An image recording method for capturing an image of a subject based on information from a predetermined sensor, comprising: a focus detecting step of detecting a focus state of each part in a field of view; a photometric step of detecting a luminance distribution state of each part of the field of view; A line-of-sight detection step of detecting a line of sight of a user, based on a detection result from at least one of the focus detection step, the photometry step, and the line-of-sight detection step, in the image data obtained by the imaging, An image recording method, comprising: a position determining step of determining a position at which predetermined data is to be embedded; and a step of embedding the predetermined data at the embedding position. 18. An image recording method for imaging a subject based on information from a predetermined sensor, wherein a first position for determining a position for embedding predetermined data in a predetermined area in image data obtained by the imaging is provided. A determining step, a focus detecting step of detecting a focus state of each part in the visual field, a photometric step of detecting a luminance distribution state of each part in the visual field, a visual line detecting step of detecting a user's visual line, the focus detecting step, A second position determination step of determining a position at which the predetermined data is embedded in the image data obtained by the imaging, based on a detection result from at least one of the photometry step and the line-of-sight detection step; A selecting step of selecting the embedding position determined by one of the first position determining step and the second position determining step; In the image data obtained by the image, the embedding position determined by the selection step, an image recording method characterized by the steps of embedding predetermined data comprises. 19. A storage medium for storing a program code functioning as an image recording for imaging a subject based on information from a predetermined sensor, the image data obtained by the imaging based on information from the sensor. A storage medium storing a program code of a position determining step of determining a position at which predetermined data is to be embedded, and a program code of a step of embedding the predetermined data at the embedding position.