JP2001359045A - Image forming device and image data storage method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device that can prevent falsification of an image and erroneous image processing by a customer. SOLUTION: The image forming device is provided with a certificate photograph generating mode where a captured image is synthesized with a template that has a predetermined frame size, a predetermined number of frames, and a predetermined layout of the frames to generate image data for a certificate photograph print. Image data for a certificate photograph print subjected to the synthesis processing are outputted to a printer and also stored in a storage medium such as a floppy (R) disk (FD) for the provision to a requester. In the case of storing the processed image data to an FD, a read protect is applied to the FD. Thus, processing or falsification of the image data read from the FD by the requester can be prevented. In the case of receiving a reprint request, the image forming device releases the read protect, reads the image data in the FD and prints out the data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of storing image data subjected to image processing and a method of storing image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Using an image forming system including an input device such as a reflection original scanner or an electronic still camera (digital camera), a personal computer, and a digital printer, synthesizes and enlarges an image captured from the input device. 2. Description of the Related Art It is known that various image processing such as processing and image quality correction processing is performed, and a processed image is printed on recording paper by a digital printer. As the digital printer, a silver halide photographic type, a photothermographic material type, a thermal recording type, an ink jet type, or the like is used.

In order to create an ID photo, for example, a target image to be synthesized such as a print photo or digital camera data brought in from a client is taken in by a reflection original scanner or a card reader. The captured image is combined with a desired template having a predetermined frame size and layout, and the combined image is printed to create an ID photo print.

[0004]

In the employment season and the examination season, there are many requests for re-ordering of photo ID prints. In order to respond to this re-order request promptly, processed image-processed It is desirable to save image data. Therefore, the processed image data is, for example,
It is considered that the data is recorded as a data file on a storage medium such as a floppy disk (FD) and provided to the client together with the ID photo print. According to this, at the time of reordering, it is not necessary to take in the image to be combined or perform various image processing again, and it is only necessary to read and print the processed image data from the FD brought in by the client, so that reprinting We can respond quickly to requests.

[0005] However, if the processed image data is provided as a data file, the client can read the image data without permission and can arbitrarily process the image data.
The processed image data may be falsified, or the image quality may be degraded due to incorrect image processing. If the processed image data is processed or falsified, a reprint request must be made to perform image synthesis and various image processing again, and a problem arises in that it is not possible to quickly respond to the reprint request. .

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus and an image data storage method according to the present invention have an object to prevent falsification of processed image data provided to a client and erroneous image processing.

Another object of the present invention is to enable quick response to a reprint request by enabling image data read from a storage medium to be used for printing.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for performing image processing on image data read from an input unit and outputting the processed image data to an output unit. A means for applying a read protection to the processed image data that can be read only by a person having a read permission key, and a means for writing the read protected image data to a storage medium. Is what you do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, one of a plurality of read permission keys having different ranges of owners of the read permission key is selected and read protection is performed. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the processed image data includes at least one image in a template in which a frame size, a frame number, and a frame layout are set in advance.
It is characterized in that the type of image is image data for ID photo printing that has been synthesized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data storing method, wherein image data subjected to image processing is read protected and stored in a storage medium so that only a person having a read permission key can read the image data. It is a feature.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming system 10 shown in FIG.
Are image input devices such as a card reader 13, a reflection document scanner 14, and a film scanner 16, a personal computer 12 for performing various image processing on images captured from each image input device, and a recording paper as an image output device. And a printer 18 for recording. As an image output device, a monitor 11 for displaying a captured image or a processed image is provided. The card reader 13, the reflection original scanner 14, and the film scanner 16 are SCS
It is cascaded to the personal computer 12 using the I interface.

The card reader 13 reads image data from a loaded IC memory, for example, a smart media. For example, image data captured by an electronic still camera is written in the smart media.

The reflection original scanner 14 irradiates light to an original such as a printed matter, an instant film, or a photographic print, reads the light reflected by the original with a line sensor, and outputs an obtained image signal to the personal computer 12.

As the printer 18, for example, a photothermographic material type is used. After exposing the photosensitive material with three laser beams, the image receiving material is overlaid on the photosensitive material, and heat is applied to the image receiving material. Transfer a positive image. Finally, a photographic print is obtained by separating the image receiving material as the recording paper from the photosensitive material.

The personal computer 12 has a CPU 21 and a ROM 2
2, RAM 23, hard disk drive (HDD) 2
4, an image correction unit 26, an image synthesis unit 27, an image data conversion unit 28, a protection processing unit 29, and a floppy disk drive 33.

The floppy disk drive 33 takes in an image data file from a floppy disk (FD), which is a recording medium on which image data is recorded, and writes processed image data to the FD. Also, HD
D24 is also used as an image output device that outputs processed image data.

The protection processing unit 29 converts the image data into F
When the image data is stored in the HDD or the HDD, a protection process of setting a read permission key (read password) for the image data is performed. At the time of reading, the protected image data cannot be read unless a reading password is input.

The personal computer 12 is connected to a LAN (Local Ar
ea Network) or the Internet 34
And image data is input and output via a communication line.

The image synthesizing unit 27 performs a magnification conversion process for enlarging or reducing the image corrected by the image correcting unit 26, and a plurality of read images to record a plurality of images on one recording sheet. Is synthesized.

The image data converter 28 converts image data taken into the personal computer 12 from each image input device.
Γ conversion considering the spectral characteristics of electronic still cameras, YM
A color conversion process (masking process) to C is performed. The converted image data is written to the RAM 23.

The film scanner 16 executes a prescan for setting scan conditions and the like and a main scan for printing. In the pre-scan for coarse reading, the image data conversion unit 28 performs γ conversion. However, in the main scan for fine reading, the parameters corrected based on the pre-scanned image are transferred to the image data conversion unit in the film scanner 16. Since processing such as γ conversion is performed on the film scanner 16 side based on these parameters, the image data during the main scan is sent to the RAM 23 bypassing the image data conversion unit 28.

The image correction unit 26 performs color correction processing for correcting the color balance of the three colors B, G, and R of the image data with respect to the image data taken into the personal computer 12 from each image input device. A gradation correction process for correcting the density, a contrast process for correcting the lightness and darkness of the image, and a process for increasing the output of the high frequency portion of the spatial frequency of the image to enhance the high frequency portion to enhance the sharpness of the image. Sharpness processing, soft focus processing that emphasizes the low-frequency portion of the image's spatial frequency to blur the entire image, moiré processing that reduces the moiré that occurs when reading an image from a reflective original scanner, etc. Is corrected.

Image processing software for performing image processing and image synthesis is installed in the personal computer 12, and the image processing unit 26 and the image synthesis unit 27 operate by activating the image processing software. The image processing software includes various image processing modes such as “digital camera index mode”, “digital camera simultaneous print mode”,
“Mounting mode”, “Certificate photo creation mode”,
There is a “large stretching mode” and the like, and these various modes can be selected as a service menu. In these modes, the template (print format)
Are performed, and the image is enlarged or reduced.

In the "digital camera index mode", an index print in which thumbnail images written on the smart media set in the card reader 13 are read out and arranged in a matrix is created.
Multiple templates with different number of frames are prepared,
An image is synthesized by selecting this template.

In the "simultaneous digital camera print mode", each image read from the smart media is subjected to necessary image processing and then printed in a normal size. This includes a template containing 4 frames for A4 size recording paper and 2 templates for A5 size recording paper.
A template with frames is used.

The "backing sheet pasting mode" is for creating a print photograph in a form in which a plurality of images are pasted on the backing of an album, for example, and the printed recording sheet is spelled to form the album as it is. . Several templates are prepared, such as four images of the same size, one large-size image and two small-size images (three in total), and two large-size images on one sheet of recording paper. ing.

In the "large enlargement mode", for example, an image composed of pictures and characters is read from an A5 size original by a reflection original scanner, and the read image is subjected to a magnification conversion process to be enlarged to an A4 size. Print on recording paper.

Further, as another service menu,
"Reprint mode" is provided. “Reprint mode” is a mode in which the image processing is performed and the FD
And a mode in which processed image data stored in the HDD 24 is read from these storage media and printed.

A keyboard 31 and a mouse 32 are connected to the personal computer 12. As shown in FIG. 2, when the image processing software is activated, an operation screen 35 of the image processing software is displayed on the monitor 11. The operator operates various operation buttons and operation bars in the operation screen 35 using the mouse 32 and the keyboard 31 to give instructions to the personal computer 12 to operate the image forming system 10.

The operation screen 35 is displayed on the operation screen 3 with the mouse 32.
A graphical user interface (GUI) that can give an instruction to the personal computer 12 by moving the pointer 47 to each operation unit in 5 and operating each operation unit is adopted. The operation screen 35 is a fixed multi-window type that is divided into a plurality of areas having fixed positions and sizes,
The display is divided into an image display area 41 for displaying a read image and a print image, and an operation section display area 42 for displaying an operation section for giving various instructions to the personal computer 12. The image display area 41 includes a main display area 41a, a first sub display area 4
1b and the second sub-display area 41c. Reference numeral 43 denotes a message display area for displaying input commands and various messages from the personal computer 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the ID photo creation mode is selected, first, the main display area 41a displays
A template selection screen for selecting various pre-registered templates such as a driver's license and a resume is displayed. In the main display area 41a, for example, four templates 48a to 48d are simultaneously displayed. If the user wants to see another template, the user can check the other template by operating the scroll button with the display of the next item and the previous item with the mouse 32.

Selection of these templates is performed by using the pointer 4
7 is clicked on a desired template. For example, when one type of four-frame template 48b for printing one type of image in four frames is selected, the selected template 48b is displayed as the confirmation template 49 in the first sub-display area 41b.

The main display area 41a enlarges the selected image among the read images and enlarges the enlarged image 44.
(See FIG. 2). Image processing operations such as image correction, image quality correction, and image synthesis are performed while viewing the enlarged image 44. In the main display area 41a, a trimming frame 46 for specifying a synthesis range of the enlarged image 44 is displayed so as to overlap the enlarged image 44. This trimming frame 46
Is scaled and moved by a drag operation of moving the mouse 32 with the pointer 47 placed on the trimming frame 46 and clicking the button of the mouse 32.

The first sub-display area 41b is a preview display area for displaying the confirmation template 49 in a state where a thumbnail image is synthesized at a predetermined frame position. Before the images are combined, the confirmation template 49
Is the frame where the image is to be pasted, for example,
Displayed in gray. Thereby, the operator can confirm the frame to be pasted.

In the second sub-display area 41c, when a plurality of image data are read, for example, three frames of "NO. 1" to "NO. 3" of the read images 51 are arranged vertically. Area to be displayed. When there are three or more frames of the read image 51, a scroll button 52 for sliding up and down is displayed below the display of the read image 51. When the scroll button 52 is clicked with the mouse 32, a plurality of scroll buttons 52 are displayed. Can be read continuously.

In order to select an image to be synthesized from the read images 51, the pointer 47 is positioned on a desired image with the mouse 32 and clicked at that position. An image is selected by this operation, and the selected read image 51 is displayed as the enlarged image 44 in the main display area 41a. Before selecting a read image, a template selection screen is displayed in the main display area 41a, and the selection operation causes a transition from the template selection screen to a screen for displaying an enlarged image.

However, when there is only one read image, such as when the reflection original scanner 14 is selected as the input device, the operation of selecting the read image becomes unnecessary.
When the second sub display area 41c is not used and the image is read, the read image is immediately displayed in the main display area 41c.
a is enlarged and displayed.

The operation section display area 42 includes a basic operation area 42
a, image quality adjustment area 42b, main operation command area 42
c, a special operation area 42d. The basic operation area 42a includes a menu selection button 6
2, input selection button 63, input size designation button 64,
A print size designation button 65, a zoom button 66, and a print quantity designation button 67 are displayed.

The menu selection button 62 is a button for selecting various service menus provided by the image forming software. The input selection button 63 is a button for selecting an input source of an image such as a document on which digital camera data or an image is recorded. For example, when the digital camera data is designated with the input selection button 63, the card reader 13 is used as an image input device.
Is selected. Originals are classified into types such as "printed material", "instant film", and "photo print". When these are designated by the input selection button 63, the reflection original scanner 14 is selected as an image input device.

The input size designation button 64 is used to designate the size of the document, and the print size designation button 65
Designates the size of the recording paper. The zoom button 66 is for designating the magnification of the read image, and the print number designation button 67 is for designating the number of prints.

The input size designation button 64 cannot be designated when an input source other than the original, for example, digital camera data, is selected. When one of the prepared templates is selected for printing, such as when the ID photo creation mode is selected, the print size of the selected template is automatically set simultaneously with the selection of the template. The size designation button 65 is in a state where designation is impossible.

Each of these buttons 63 to 67 is
Clicking on displays a pull-down menu that shows the items that can be selected. The selection of an item is performed by moving the pointer 47 to the position of the item to be selected from the displayed pull-down menu and further clicking the item. Each button 63-67 displays the function of each button 63-67 in the lower part, and displays the item selected by each button 63-67 in the upper part. By confirming this display, the currently selected item can be identified.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image adjustment unit 42b
Density adjusting section 81, color adjusting section 82, contrast adjusting section 8
3. A sharpness adjustment unit 84 and a soft focus adjustment unit 86 are displayed. Each of the adjustment units 81 to 87 is configured to display an adjustment knob that is movable in the “+” direction and the “−” direction, and by pointing and moving (drag) the knob with the mouse 32, Each adjustment unit 81-8
The set value of 7 is adjusted.

In a special operation area 42d disposed below the image adjustment area 42b, an image quality adjustment reset button 91 for invalidating the settings of the respective adjustment units 81 to 86 in the image adjustment area 42b and returning them to the initial values, A registration button 92 for registering the values set by 81 to 86 as setting conditions, a setting condition call button 93 for calling the registered setting conditions, and an image for rotating the enlarged image 44 displayed in the main display area 41a by 90 °. Rotation button 94, inversion button 9 for inverting the left and right of enlarged image 44 to make a mirror image
6, a frame rotation button 97 for rotating the trimming frame 46 by 90 °, a reset button 98 for disabling the operations of these buttons 94 to 97 and returning to the initial settings, and the like are displayed. The free button 99 is a button for enabling the mouse 32 to perform an operation of scaling or moving the trimming frame 46. Each of these buttons 94-98
It is operated by clicking the mouse 32.

In the main operation command area 42c, a paste button 76 for giving a paste instruction for combining the selected read image 51 with a template, an output button 77 for giving an output such as print output or file output,
A selection button 78 for selecting an image to be synthesized from the read images 51 is displayed. These buttons 76, 7
7, 78 are also operated by the mouse 32.

When an image is read, the selection button 78 is displayed as “selection” indicating selection of an image.
Before reading, "Read" is displayed and the card reader 1
3. Used as a read button for giving an instruction to read an image from an input unit such as the reflection document scanner 14 and the film scanner 15.

Also, as shown in FIG.
A black triangle mark is displayed at the end of, and when this triangle mark is clicked, in addition to the printer, FD and HD
A first pull-down menu 77a displaying the output destination of the image data such as D24 is displayed. For example, when outputting a processed image to the FD as an image data file, the FD is designated from this pull-down menu.

As described above, in the image forming system 10,
In addition to printing out the processed image data, the image data can be stored in a storage medium as a data file. As a result, if the requester desires, the processed image data is stored in the FD and provided.

By storing and providing the processed image data in the FD, when the client re-orders the print,
If the client brings in the FD, the reordered print contractor only needs to read and print the processed image data from the FD brought in. This eliminates the need for image processing, and enables quick response to reorder requests.

The processed image data is stored in an FD or HD
When the data is stored in D24, the data is protected by reading so that only a person who has a read permission key (read password) can read again according to the possibility of reprinting. When FD or HDD is designated from the first pull-down menu 77a, further reading protection is performed (protection ON).
A second pull-down menu 77b for selecting whether or not (protect OFF) is displayed. When the protection ON is selected, the protection processing is performed on the processed image data.

Those that can be reprinted, for example,
For certificate photo prints for resumes, etc., if the read protection is turned on and saved, the requester can read out the image data file from the FD on his own personal computer and process or falsify it without permission. Image processing is prevented. This eliminates the necessity of retrieving the image to be combined and performing various types of image processing such as image correction at the time of reordering, so that it is possible to quickly respond to a reorder request.

The reading password is the personal computer 12
When the image forming system 10 reads an image data file from the FD, the set reading password is automatically read, the reading protection is released, and the image data file is read.

Hereinafter, a procedure for creating a certification photograph and a procedure for reprinting by the image forming system 10 will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, the image forming software is started up and the operation screen 35 is displayed.
The operator selects “ID photograph creation mode” using the menu selection button 63. When the mode shifts to the ID photo creation mode, a template selection screen is displayed in the main display area 41a.

In the message display area 43, for example,
A message such as "Please select a template" is displayed. When a template is selected with the mouse 32 or the like, the selected template is displayed in the first sub display area 41b.
Will be displayed.

Next, with the input selection button 63, for example, "digital camera data" is designated as the input source. When "digital camera data" is designated, the card reader 13 is selected as the input device. The smart media storing the image data file to be combined is set in the card reader 13.

When a read instruction is given, the card reader 1
3 reads the image data file and outputs this data to the personal computer 12. The read image input to the personal computer 12 is displayed in the second sub display area 41b.
From the read image 51, a desired image is
Select by 2 etc. The selected image is displayed in the main display area 41
a is enlarged and displayed.

While looking at the enlarged image 65 in the main area 41a, the user can move the trimming frame 46 to specify the synthesis range, and perform image correction such as density correction and color correction. When the image correction is completed, the frame on which the image of the confirmation template 49 is to be pasted is confirmed, and a pasting instruction is given. The above operation is repeated to paste the image into all the frames.

Next, when the number of prints is designated and the triangle mark of the output button 77 is clicked, a first pull-down menu 77a is displayed. To print, select a printer. In this state, the output button 77
When the button is clicked, a print instruction is issued to the personal computer 12, and the image correction unit 26 performs density correction,
The image is subjected to color correction, subjected to a combining process by the image combining unit 27, and outputs the processed image data to the printer 18. Printer 1
Reference numeral 8 records an image on a recording sheet based on the image data and discharges the image.

When outputting the processed image data to the FD, the FD is selected from the pull-down menu. When the user selects to apply the read protection and clicks the output button 77, an output instruction is issued to the personal computer 12. Based on various specifications, the image correction unit 26 performs density correction and color correction, and the image synthesis unit 27 synthesizes. Do the processing.

Next, the protected image data is protected by the protection processing section 29, and the protected image data is output to the floppy disk drive 33. Floppy disk drive 33
Writes image data to the set FD. As a result, the image data is stored in the FD in a state where the read protection is applied. The FD is provided to the client together with the ID photo print on which the processed image is recorded.
The requester cannot read the protected image data even if the FD is set in his / her personal computer.

If the requester wants to reprint the ID photo print, he brings the FD to a print contractor and requests reprinting. The print contractor sets the FD brought in to the floppy disk drive 33,
Select the reprint mode from the service menu and instruct reading. The personal computer 12 reads a preset password to release the read protection, and reads the processed image data. When the processed image data is read, an image is displayed in the main area 41a. Since no processing or tampering has been applied to the processed image data, there is no need to select a template or correct the image again.

After confirming the image, the number of prints is designated, and the output button 77 is used to designate the output destination to the printer and print. Based on the processed image data, the printer 18
Records the image on the recording paper, and discharges the specified number of certification photo prints.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which one read password is selected from a plurality of read passwords and read protection can be applied. In this example, three passwords of “level 1” to “level 3” having different read password sharing ranges (password sharing levels) are prepared. These passwords are output as "FD" as the output destination using the output button 77.
Is displayed in the third pull-down menu 77c. When the operator selects a desired password from these passwords, read protection is set with the selected password, and the image data is stored.

The “level 1” password is a password having the lowest sharing level and is unique to the image forming system 10 in which the processed image data is stored.
When reading protection is applied with this password, the image forming system 10 other than the image forming system 10 cannot read and print the image because the reading password is not shared. For example, if a print contractor who has received a request for creating an identification photograph applies read protection with this “level 1” password, it will not be possible to read image data even with an image forming system of the same model.

The “level 2” password is a password having a medium sharing level, for example, a password shared by a plurality of stores participating in the A-chain. For example, if a print contractor who has received a request for creating an identification photograph applies read protection with this "level 2" password and protects it, only the image forming system installed in a store affiliated with the A chain can read image data. .

The “level 3” password is a password having the highest sharing level, for example, a password shared by all the image forming systems 10 of the same model as the image forming system 10, and is read with this password. The protected image data can be read from a system of the same model as the image forming system 10.

In the above example, the identification photo creation service is described as an example. However, in addition to the identification photo creation service, for example, image data created by a commemorative photo creation service such as a wedding ceremony, an adult ceremony, or a Shichigosan, etc. Again, the present invention can be implemented.

When a plurality of passwords are used, for example, in the case of a digital camera index service, a “level 3” password having a high sharing level is used. On the other hand, in the case of an identification photo creation service, It is better to use a different password for each service to be provided, such as using a medium-level “level 2” password at the sharing level. In this way, by limiting the range of the reprintable image forming system, the image quality of the reprinted photo can be made equal to the image quality of the first printed photo, and the customer can be secured from a commercial viewpoint.

In the case where a plurality of passwords are prepared as described above, it becomes difficult to know which read password is used. Therefore, when the personal computer 12 reads out image data from the FD, It is preferable that a plurality of set read passwords are automatically tried to perform a read operation. This saves the operator from having to input a plurality of read passwords each time.

In addition to the above password, for example, a password unique to a customer may be set. The storage medium for storing the processed image data is not limited to the FD, and may be a writable CD (compact disc), DVD (digital video disc).
And so on. Further, although an example is described in which the processed image data is stored in the FD and provided, the processed image data may be delivered to the requester's personal computer via a communication line.

Further, as a file format of the image data to be stored, two image data, ie, processed image data (hereinafter referred to as main image data) and read-only thumbnail image data different from the main image data, are used. A read password is required when reading the main image data by adopting a structured file format, but a thumbnail image may be read without a read password. In this way, even a client who does not have a reading password can only check the contents of the image data, which is convenient.

In addition to the password, the image may be subjected to read protection for performing mosaic processing. Also in the case of this mosaic processing, it is preferable to set a protection level.

[0074]

As described in detail above, the present invention provides
Since the processed image data is read protected and stored in a storage medium so that only a person who has a read permission key can read the processed image data, the processed image data is transmitted to a customer who requests image processing. Even in the case of providing, it is possible to prevent the processed image data from being falsified carelessly or from being erroneously processed. In addition, it is possible to prevent the client from mistakenly deleting the image of the important commemorative photo. This allows
Since the processed image data read from the storage medium can be directly used for printing, it is possible to quickly respond to a request for reprint from a customer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation screen displayed on a monitor.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image display area in the operation screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation unit display area in the operation screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pull-down menu displaying output destinations of image data that can be specified;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating an identification photograph.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a reprint procedure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which read protection according to a plurality of read passwords can be set.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 image forming system 11 monitor 12 personal computer 18 printer 29 protect processing unit 77 output button 77a first pull-down menu 77b second pull-down menu 77c third pull-down menu

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus that performs image processing on image data read from an input unit and outputs the processed image data to an output unit, wherein the processed image data is read only by a person having a read permission key. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for applying protection; and means for writing image data protected by reading to a storage medium. 2. A method for selecting one of a plurality of read permission keys having different ranges of owners of the read permission key,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein read protection is applied. 3. The processed image data is image data for ID photo printing in which at least one type of image is synthesized with a template in which a frame size, the number of frames, and a frame layout are set in advance. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. An image data storing method, wherein image data subjected to image processing is read protected and stored in a storage medium so that only a person having a read permission key can read the image data.