JP2002111995A - Image editing device and method and image print control device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To create an album with superior outward appearance when creating the album using a user's image. SOLUTION: An image photographed by a user is used as background image of each page constituting an album. The user image is used as the background image, and the image photographed by the user is pasted on the background image. In order to set off the user image pasted on the background image, the background image is subjected to vignetting, density reduction, or the like. Differing from the album obtained by using a template image as the background image, an album constituting a page with superior outward appearance can be created.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus and method, an image printing control apparatus and method, and a recording medium storing a program for controlling the computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus for photographing a user, combining an image representing the user with a template image, and printing the combined image on a sticker or the like has been put into practical use. In such an apparatus, many template images are prepared in advance, and the template image is selected by the user. Then, an image representing the user obtained by the photographing is combined with the selected template image and printed.

[0003] However, there are many common template images, such as simple frames and decorations, and the synthesized image may get tired immediately. Further, the appearance of the image thus synthesized is often not very good.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to obtain a composite image having a relatively good appearance.

[0005] An image editing apparatus according to a first invention is a user image data reading means for reading user image data from a first portable recording medium storing user image data representing a plurality of user images. First selecting means for selecting a first user image to be used as a background image from user images represented by user image data read by the reading means, user image data read by the user image data reading means The second selecting means for selecting a second user image to be pasted on the first user image selected by the first selecting means from the user images represented by On the selected first user image, the second user image selected by the second selecting means is displayed. Position designating means for designating a position Komu Ri, and the first identification data for identifying the first user image selected by said first selection means, the second
Output control means for outputting, in association with each other, second identification data for identifying the second user image selected by the selection means and position data representing the position designated by the position designation means. And

[0006] The first invention also provides a method suitable for the above device. That is, this method reads user image data from a first portable recording medium storing user image data representing a plurality of user images, and extracts a background image from the user images represented by the read user image data. Selecting a first user image to be an image, selecting a second user image to be pasted on the selected first user image from the user images represented by the read user image data, and selecting A position on the selected first user image at which the selected second user image is to be pasted, and a first identification for identifying the selected first user image
The identification data, the second identification data for identifying the selected second user image, and the position data representing the designated position are output in association with each other.

[0007] The first invention also provides a recording medium storing a program for implementing the above method.

[0008] The user image is different from a template image or the like created in advance by a designer or the like, and is an image obtained by the user imaging a subject such as a person.

According to the first invention, the user image data recorded on the first portable recording medium is read. A first user image to be used as a background image is selected from the user images represented by the read user image data. If necessary, a list of the user images represented by the user image data read from the first portable recording medium is displayed on the display device, and the user image to be used as the background image is selected from the list of user images. One user image will be selected.

A second user to be pasted on the first user image selected as the background image from the user images represented by the user image data read from the first portable recording medium. The image is selected.
In this case as well, if necessary, a list of the user images represented by the user image data read from the first portable recording medium is displayed on the display device, and a second one of the user images displayed in the list is displayed. The user image will be selected.

When the first user image and the second user image are selected, the position of the second user image to be pasted on the first user image is specified.

The first identification data for identifying the first user image selected in this way, the second identification data for identifying the second user image, and the position data indicating the position to be pasted are mutually different. Output in association. For example, it may be recorded on the second portable recording medium (may be the same as the first portable recording medium) (recording control means) or may be transmitted to a laboratory (transmission means).

The first identification data, the second identification data and the position data are read, and the first user image data identified by the first identification data and the second user identified by the second identification data When the image data is read from the first portable recording medium, the second user image can be pasted on the first user image at a position specified by the position data.

The second invention generates a composite image in this way and controls printing of the composite image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image printing control apparatus in which user image data representing a plurality of user images is recorded on a first portable recording medium, and represents a first user image selected as a background image. First identification data for identifying the first user image data, second identification data for identifying second user image data representing a second user image to be pasted on the first user image, and the second identification data for identifying the second user image data. First reading means for reading position data representing the position of the second user image to be pasted on one user image, and first data read by the first reading means
Second reading means for reading the first user image data identified by the identification data of the first and second user image data identified by the second identification data from the first portable recording medium; Enlargement processing means for enlarging the first user image data read by the second reading means so as to enlarge the first user image, and the first user image enlarged by the enlargement processing means In the above, a second user image represented by the second user image data read by the second reading means is combined with a position specified by the position data read by the first reading means. Combining means for performing printing, and a mark for controlling a printing apparatus to print an image combined by the combining means. Characterized in that it comprises a control means.

The second invention also provides a method suitable for the above device. That is, user image data representing a plurality of user images is recorded on the first portable recording medium,
A first representing the first user image selected as the background image
First identification data for identifying the second user image data, second identification data for identifying the second user image data representing the second user image to be pasted on the first user image, and the first identification data for identifying the second user image data. The position data representing the position of the second user image to be pasted on the user image is read, and the first user image data and the second identification data identified by the read first identification data read the position data. The second user image data to be identified is read from the first portable recording medium, and the read first user image data is enlarged so as to enlarge the first user image. On the read first user image, the read second user image data is placed at a position designated by the read position data. Second user image represented Te was synthesized and is intended to print the synthesized image.

The second invention also provides a recording medium storing a program for performing the above method.

According to the second aspect, the first identification data, the second identification data, and the position data are read. When these data are recorded on the second portable recording medium, they will be read from the second portable recording medium, and when transmitted, they will be read by receiving (receiving means). . First user image data identified by the read first identification data and second user image data identified by the second identification data are read from the first portable recording medium.

Since the first user image represented by the read first user image data is taken by the user, the first user image usually has the same size as the second user image taken by the user. It is. In many cases, the second user image cannot be pasted on the first user image with the same size. For this purpose, the first user image is enlarged. The second user image is pasted at the position specified by the position data on the enlarged user image to generate a composite image. The generated composite image is printed by the printing device.

The background image (first user image) of the printed composite image is not a regular template image,
Since it is a user image, it has a good appearance.

Further, since the first user image selected as the background image is enlarged, the image quality is lower than that of the second user image pasted on the background image.
For this reason, the second user image pasted on the first user image is more conspicuous than the first user image.

The data amount of the first user image data may be substantially the same as the data amount of the second user image data.

The second reading means reads processing method designation data for designating the first user image adjustment processing method in addition to the first identification data, the second identification data, and the position data. It may be something.

In this case, the first user image data read by the first reading means is converted into an image according to the processing method designated by the adjustment processing method designation data read by the second reading means. It is preferable that the apparatus further includes an image adjustment unit that performs an adjustment process.

For example, if the first user image data is color image data, the image adjustment is performed by converting the image data to black and white image data, and the image is converted to sepia by cutting the image data representing a specific density. Adjustment processing can be performed, and image adjustment processing can be performed so that an image having a low density is obtained by cutting data indicating a shadow portion of an image.

The second user image pasted on the background image stands out as compared with the background image.

When the data amount of the first user image data is substantially the same as the data amount of the second user image data, the first user image represented by the first user image data (the background image ) Is enlarged by pixel interpolation or the like. Although the image quality of the background image is reduced by the enlargement process, the background image is not so noticeable even if the image quality is reduced by performing the blurring process, the density reduction process, and the like. Further, the background image and the pasted image pasted on the background image can be clearly distinguished.

[0028] The second reading means may read the first identification data, the second identification data, and the position data associated with each other corresponding to each page constituting the album. Good.

[0029] In this case, the synthesizing means, on the first user image enlarged by the enlarging processing means, corresponding to each of the pages, uses the position data read by the second reading means. A second user image represented by the second user image data read by the first reading means will be synthesized at the designated position.

Each page can constitute an album including a plurality of pages in which the second user image is pasted on the first user image.

[0031] The image processing apparatus may further include an index image generating means for generating data representing an index image that lists reduced images of a plurality of composite images generated corresponding to the respective pages. In this case, the print control unit will control the printing apparatus to print the index image represented by the index image data generated by the index image generation unit.

When an album is constructed, the images of the pages constituting the album can be understood at a glance.

[0033] The index image may further include a prohibited area designating means for designating an area where the pasting of the reduced image is prohibited.

In this case, the index image generating means will generate data representing an index image in which the reduced image is pasted in an area other than the area specified by the prohibited area specifying means.

When there is an area where the reduced image is not desired to be pasted on the image used as the background of the index image, the pasting of the reduced image into the area can be prohibited. For example, when a person's face is included in the image used as the background of the index image, that part of the face can be designated as a pasting-prohibited area, and before the reduced image is pasted on the face image Can be prevented.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment for generating an album will be described below. In this embodiment, the process is divided into a process performed by a user at home and a process performed by a laboratory operator. Of course, both processes may be performed by a user or a laboratory operator.

First, a compact disk (CD) storing a user image is prepared. A user image is read from the compact disc, and a desired user image is selected. Each page of the album is edited using the user image. Editing information for reproducing the edited image is stored on a floppy disk. The user brings a compact disk and a floppy disk to the laboratory.

The laboratory receives the compact disk and the floppy disk brought by the user, and reads the user image used for editing from the compact disk based on the editing information stored in the floppy disk. The image edited using the user image according to the editing information is reproduced, and each page constituting the album is printed. Each printed page is put together in one album.

Further details will become apparent from the following description.

(1) User Processing First, the image editing processing performed at the user's home will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image editing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the image synthesizing apparatus. As the image editing apparatus, a personal computer is usually used.

The image editing device includes a computer 1.
The computer 1 controls the overall operation of the image editing apparatus. The computer 1 has an internal memory 9 for temporarily storing data.

A display device 2 for displaying an image being edited and other information and a printer 3 for print output are connected to the computer 1. Further, a keyboard 4 and a mouse 5 for inputting data input, command input, and the like are connected to the computer 1.

Further, the computer 1 has an FD (floppy disk) drive 6 for reading and writing data on the floppy disk 11, and a CD-ROM for reading data recorded on the compact disk.
A (compact disk-read only memory) drive 7 and a hard disk drive (HD) unit 8 for reading / writing data from / to a hard disk are connected.

On the compact disc 10, image data representing a user image used for image editing, template image data, and software for editing the image are recorded. Of course, it is not necessary that all of the user image data, template image data, and software for image editing be stored on the compact disc 10, and that the user image data and the like may be stored on separate media. Not even.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the image editing processing procedure. FIG. 5 is an example of a window displayed on the display screen of the display device 2.

First, a compact disk 10 storing color user image data (may be black and white) and image editing software is loaded into the image editing apparatus. The user image data and template image data stored on the compact disk 10 are read by the CD-ROM drive 7. The read user image data and template image data are stored in the hard disk of the computer 1 by the HD unit 8 (step 21). The editing software stored on the compact disk 10 is read and activated (step 22). Then, an album creation window shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display screen of the display device 2 (step 23).

The album creation window includes the following areas.

User image list display area 51: compact
This is an area in which thumbnail images of the user images represented by the user image data read from the disk 10 are displayed in a list. If the thumbnail image data is stored on the compact disc 10, the thumbnail image data is read and the thumbnail images are displayed in a list. If the thumbnail image data is not stored on the compact disc 10, Thumbnail image data is generated from the image data. By scrolling the scroll bar 52, the area
Thumbnail images not displayed in 51 will be displayed in area 51.

White frame designation area 53A: As described later, this area is clicked by the user when surrounding a user image to be pasted on a background image with a white frame.

Sepia designated area 53B: This area is clicked by the user when the background image or the user image to be pasted on the background image is made sepia as described later.

Blur designation area 53C: An area clicked by the user when blurring the background image as described later.

Editing area 55: An area showing the state of the page of the album being edited (two facing pages). A background image 54 of each page of the album, a user image pasted on the background image 54, and the like are displayed.

Template image list display area 56: An area in which thumbnail images of template images that can be selected as the background of each page constituting the album are displayed in a list. By scrolling the scroll bar 58, other thumbnail images not displayed in the area 56 are displayed in the area 56.

Size designation area 57: An area for designating the size of each page of the album. Each page of the album is
There are A5 size, A6 size or CD size (size corresponding to compact disk package).

User image background designation area 61: An area clicked by the user when the user image is used as a background image.

Edit page display area 62: An area for displaying the page of the album currently being edited in the edit area 55.

Determination area 63: An area clicked by the user when deciding the edited result.

Returning to FIG. 3, it is determined whether a user image is to be used as the background image of the page being edited (step 24). As described above, in the image editing apparatus according to this embodiment, not only the template image but also the user image can be used as the background image. When the user image is used as the background image (YE in step 24)
S), user image background area 61 in album creation window
Is clicked by the user. After that, the thumbnail image of the user image to be used as the background image is clicked from the thumbnail images of the user images displayed in the user image list display area 51. Then, the user image serving as the background image is selected (step 25).
For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the user image of img5 is selected as the background image, and the user image of img5 is displayed in the editing area 55 as the background image. The user image data for printing is stored in the compact disk 10, and the user image data for printing is smaller than the data amount of the user image data for printing by thinning out the user image data. Image data is generated. The following processing is performed using the generated user image data.

Subsequently, the size of the selected user image is set to be the size of the editing area 55 of the album creation window. The resolution is reduced and resized (to be twice as large) (step
26). The resized user image is used as the background image 54.
It is displayed in the editing area 55.

In the two-page spread displayed in the editing area 55, the number of pixels in the horizontal direction is A, the number of pixels in the vertical direction is B, and the number of pixels in the selected user image in the horizontal direction is a. Is b pixels, if A / B> a / b, the whole is enlarged so that the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the selected user image becomes (1.1 to 1.2) × A times, and A / B < If a / b, the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the selected user image is (1.1 to 1.2) ×
The whole is enlarged so as to be B times.

Subsequently, a special effect of the background image is selected by the user (step 27). The special effects of the background image include the sepia processing and the blur processing as described above. When performing the sepia processing, click on the background image 54 displayed in the editing area 55, and then click on the sepia area.
53B is clicked. When performing the blurring process, after clicking on the background image 54 displayed in the editing area 55, the blurring area 53C is clicked.

The special effect process specified by the user is performed on the user image data representing the user image selected as the background image (step 28). For example, when the sepia processing is designated, the user image is set to a black and white image, and a brown component is added to the black and white image. When the blur processing is designated, when a density histogram is generated from the shadow side to the highlight side of the user image data, about 25% to 60% of the entire histogram is deleted from the shadow side.

Of course, the special effect processing may be predetermined without allowing the user to select it. Further, the special effect processing is not limited to the sepia processing and the blur processing, and it goes without saying that other processing such as black and white conversion processing may be performed.

Subsequently, a user image to be pasted on the background image 54 is selected (step 29), and the pasting position is also specified (step 30). Specifically, a user image to be pasted to the background image 54 is clicked from among the user images displayed in the user image list display area 51, so that the user image is selected. The user image is dragged and dropped to the position to be pasted on the background image 54, and the drop position is designated as the position of the user image to be pasted on the background image.

When the thumbnail image of the user image is dropped on the background image, first, the user image corresponding to the thumbnail image and 1 /
The user image with the size of 4 is displayed in a superimposed manner. When the end of the user image is dragged by the mouse 5, the size of the user image is enlarged or reduced according to the drag (step 31). The user image to be pasted as the background image is designated to have a desired size.

When the size of the user image to be pasted on the background image is determined, the user image is clicked. Then, a window for selecting whether the shape (frame shape) of the user image to be pasted on the background image is rectangular or elliptical appears. The user selects one of the shapes (step 32).

As described above, the position and size of the user image to be pasted on the background image are determined. When a plurality of user images are pasted on the background image, the above-described processing is repeated.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, among the thumbnail images of the user images displayed in the user image list display area, the center of the user image of img1 is set to the background image 54.
(X1, y1), and its shape is specified as a rectangle (frame F1). Similarly, the user image of img3 and im
The user image of g2 is positioned at the positions (x2, y2) and (x3, y3) of the background image 54, and elliptical frame shapes F2 and F3 are designated, respectively. Also,
The user image of img4 is positioned at the position (x4, y4) of the background image 54, and the elliptical frame shape F4 is designated.

When the user image is not used as the background image (NO in step 24), a desired thumbnail image from the thumbnail images of the template images displayed in the template image list display area 56 is dragged and edited to the editing area 55. The selection process is executed by being dropped (step 33).

Subsequently, when a user image is used as a background image, a user image to be pasted to the template image is selected from the user image list display area 51 in the same manner as selection of a user image to be pasted to the background image. Is performed (step 34). If the background image is a template image, since the frame to which the user image is to be pasted is determined, the user image is dragged and dropped onto the frame to be pasted (step 35). By dragging the end of the user image, the size of the user image to be pasted on the frame is specified, and enlargement or reduction processing is performed (step 36).

The above-described processing is performed until the user image is pasted on all the frames formed in the template image selected by the user.

Whether the user image is selected as the background image or the template image is selected as the background image, the user image to be pasted on the background image and its position, size, etc. are determined. Then, a special effect for the user image to be pasted on the background image is specified (step 37). Specifically, a user image for which a special effect is to be designated is clicked among the user images pasted on the background image. Thereafter, the white frame area 53A or the sepia area 53B is clicked by the user. Then, the area
The special effect corresponding to the clicked area of the area 53A or the area 53B is executed, and the user image to which the special effect has been applied is displayed on the editing area 55. It is preferable to change the special effect of the background image and the special effect to be attached to the background image.

When the designation of the special effect processing of the user images to be pasted on the background image 54 is completed, the user clicks on the decision area 63 (step 39). Then, the editing process for the page is completed.

The above-described editing process is repeated for all pages constituting the album (step 40).

Further, in the image editing apparatus according to this embodiment, the image editing apparatus is provided below the user image to be pasted on the background image (of course, it is not limited to the user image but may be at any of the upper, lower, left and right places). Caption area (C
2, C3) can be set. The caption area can be edited so that the description of the corresponding user image is printed. When generating an edited image so that an explanatory note is printed in the caption area, a user image on which an explanatory note is to be printed is clicked among the user images pasted on the background image. Thereafter, a caption area defined below the user image is clicked. Then, when a description is input from the keyboard 4, the description is displayed as shown in the caption area C3.

When the editing of all pages constituting the album is completed (YES in step 40), a floppy disk is loaded into the image editing apparatus. The editing information obtained by the above editing process is recorded on the floppy disk (step 41).

FIG. 6 is an example of an editing information table recorded on a floppy disk.

The editing information table contains, for each page constituting the album, the used compact disc 10
CD-ID number for identifying a page, a number indicating a background image of the page, a frame number for identifying a frame of a user image to be pasted on the background image, an image number for identifying an image to be pasted, and pasting Stored are the center coordinates of the pasted image indicating the position of the image to be inserted, the scaling ratio of the pasted image, the special effect of the background image, the special effect of the pasted image, the frame shape, and the caption. A laboratory ID for identifying the laboratory and a user ID for identifying the user are also recorded in association with the editing information table.

Editing information is generated in accordance with the above-described editing processing. When the editing of the entire album is completed, the editing information table is stored on the floppy disk.

When the editing information is stored in the floppy disk 11 in this manner, the floppy disk 11
And compact disc 10 containing user images
Is brought to the laboratory by the user. In the laboratory, an image synthesizing process is executed in accordance with the editing information stored in the floppy disk 11, and printed for each page constituting the album. One album is created by binding the prints. Of course, if the image editing device of the user and the image output system of the laboratory can communicate, necessary data may be transmitted.

(2) Laboratory Processing FIG. 7 shows an outline of an image output system arranged in a laboratory.

The image output system includes an image output receiving device 71
And a reception controller 100 for controlling the image output reception device 71 and a printer 104. The image output receiving device 71, the receiving controller 100, and the printer 104 are connected to each other by a hub 105. A CD drive 103, an FD drive 102, and a memory card writer 101 are connected to the reception controller 100.

The operation of the image output receiving device 71 is performed by a computer.
Overseen by 72.

The monitor display device 75 is connected to the computer 72. On the display screen of the monitor display device 75, a touch panel is formed. A touch panel adapter 74 for controlling the touch panel is connected between the computer 72 and the touch panel.

The computer 72 has scanners 76 and C for reading an image recorded on a visible recording medium.
CD drive 77 for reading image data recorded on D, FD drive 78 for reading image data recorded on FD, and a memory card card for reading image data recorded on a memory card. Reader 79 is connected.

Further, the computer 72 has a receipt
A printer 80 and a keyboard and mouse 81 are connected. The uninterruptible device 83 is also connected to the computer 72.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram mainly showing the electrical configuration of the image output receiving device 71. In this figure, the same components as those shown in FIG.

The computer 72 has a SCSI card 86 mounted thereon. This SCSI (small computer syste
m interface) The card 86 allows the scanner 76,
A CD drive 77, an FD drive 78, and a memory card reader 79 are connected to the computer 72. The computer 72 has a LAN (local area network) card.
The LAN card 87 connects the image receiving device 71, the receiving controller 100, and the printer 104 (in FIG. 8, the hub 105 is not shown).

Further, the computer 72 has a COM (co
mponet object model) cards 90 and 91, graphic card 92, parallel card 93 and IDE (inte
lligent drive electronics) Card 96 is installed. The uninterruptible power supply 73 described above is connected to the COM card 90. The touch panel adapter 74 described above is connected to the COM card 91. The monitor display device 75 described above is connected to the graphic card 92. The above-described receipt printer 80 is connected to the parallel card 93. The IDE card 96 has a built-in H
The D drive 84 and the built-in FD drive 85 are connected.

Further, the computer 72 has a DSP (di
gital signal processing) card 18, ISA (industry)
ry standard architecture) card 94 and USB (un
iversal serial bus) card 95 is installed.

Further, the computer 72 has a built-in memory such as a RAM, and needless to say, stores data representing an image displayed on the monitor display device 75 as described later.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts showing the procedure for creating an album using the image output system.

The lab clerk receives the compact disk 10 and the floppy disk 11 brought by the user, and inserts the compact disk 10 into the CD drive 77.
Next, the floppy disk 11 is loaded into the FD drive 78 (step 111).

Subsequently, the page number n of the album is reset (step 112).

The background image number of the nth page is read from the editing information table stored in the loaded floppy disk 11 (step 113). It is determined whether the read background image number indicates a user image or a template image (step 114).

If the background image indicates a user image (YES in step 114), user image data representing the user image is read from the loaded compact disc 10 (step 115). The resizing process is performed so that the size of the user image represented by the read user image data becomes the size of the album (the size of two facing pages) specified by the user in the image editing process (step 116). ). It goes without saying that data representing the size specified by the user is also stored in the editing information table.

When a special effect is set for the background image in the editing process, the special effect according to the setting is performed on the user image data representing the background image. If a special effect has not been set, a predetermined special effect (such as a blurring process) will be performed on the user image data representing the background image. Of course, the special effect may not be applied to the background image.

If the background image indicates a template image (NO in step 114), template image data representing the template image specified by the background image number is read from the hard disk (step 117).
). A5, A6, and twice the size of the CD are stored in the template image in advance, and the corresponding template image data is read. Therefore, no resizing process is performed. Of course, only the image data representing the template image of one size may be stored, and the template image represented by the template image data may be resized.

Subsequently, the paste number is read from the editing information table, and the user image data specified by the paste number is read from the compact disc 10 (step 118). The user image represented by the read user image data is enlarged or reduced according to the designated enlargement / reduction ratio. The shape of the enlarged or reduced user image is adjusted so as to have the specified frame shape, and the user image is pasted at the position specified by the image center position coordinates (step 119).
).

Subsequently, if a special effect is set for the pasted user image, the special effect processing is performed on the user image data representing the user image (step 120). Also, if the user image has a caption, it goes without saying that the process of synthesizing the caption is also performed.

If there is a user image to be pasted on the background image on which the user image has been pasted (YES in step 121), the processing from step 118 is repeated. If there is no user image to be further pasted on the background image (NO in step 121), it is determined that the processing of the page has been completed, and the page number n is incremented (step 12).
2). Since one background image is used for two facing pages, the number of pages will be incremented by +2. Of course 1
When one background image is used in the page, +1 is incremented.

Until the combining process is completed for all pages of the album (step 123), the process from step 113 is repeated, and the combining process for each page is performed.

Each page obtained in this manner is displayed on the display screen of the monitor display device 75 (the user image displayed on the display screen of the display device 75 has a relatively low resolution for display). A low-resolution user image will be generated by the computer 72 from the user image data stored on the compact disc 10 as needed.) The layout is modified by a laboratory operator if necessary. (Step 124).

The last page of an album created by using the image editing apparatus according to this embodiment is an index image page. In this index image page, a list of thumbnail images of the selected image among the images of each page constituting the album is displayed. An image constituting the index image is selected by the operator (step 125).

Further, a thumbnail pasting prohibited area is designated on the index image page (step 126).
As will be described later, the paste of the thumbnail image is prohibited in the designated thumbnail pasting prohibited area, and the thumbnail image is pasted in the area excluding this prohibited area. For example, when an image used as a background of an index image includes an image of a person's face, it is possible to prevent a thumbnail image from being pasted on the image of the face.

Subsequently, a thumbnail image of the selected image is generated, and image data representing the index image is generated (step 127). When the thumbnail pasting prohibited area is designated, it goes without saying that the thumbnail images are arranged avoiding the prohibited area. Also,
Depending on the number of frames of the selected image, the size of the thumbnail image may be adjusted so as to fit within the index image page.

When an end command is input by the operator (YES in step 128), data representing editing information after layout correction and data for generating an index image are generated by the user of floppy disk 11. It is recorded in an area different from the area where the editing information table is recorded (step 129). Based on the edited editing information table, a composite image in which the user image is pasted on the background image is printed using high-resolution user image data (the user image data itself stored in the compact disc 10). A print file is created for each page (step 130).

A format conversion is performed so that the generated file corresponds to the format of the printer 10 (step 131), and the file is transmitted to the printer 104. Each page constituting the album is printed by the printer 104 (step 132). When all the pages that make up the album are printed in this way,
Bookbinding is performed using these prints to create one album.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a print.

The print Pr1 forms the second to third pages of the album.

The user image has, for example, 1500 pixels in the horizontal direction and 1000 pixels in the vertical direction. If the user image with the image number img5 is selected as the background image and A5 is specified as the size of the album, the size of the user image is set to A4 (as described above, the size of the album is Since the background image is a two-page spread image and the background image is a two-page spread, if A5 is specified as the size of the album, the size of the user image becomes A4, which is twice the size of the album.) It is enlarged using interpolation or the like.

The background image is subjected to special processing such as blurring (in FIG. 11, the state in which the special processing is performed is indicated by hatching). The specified user image is pasted on the specially processed background image. In the example described above, the user image of the image number img1 is pasted in the rectangular shape of the frame F1. Similarly, the other user images are frames F2, F3 and F4.
Will be attached to the background image in the shape of. Further, if there is a caption, the caption is combined and printed below the corresponding user image.

The background image is converted to black and white, sepia color conversion, blur,
When special processing such as density reduction is performed, the user image pasted on the background image becomes more prominent than the background image.

FIG. 12 shows the printing of each page constituting the album.

As described above, a print P synthesized for each page is obtained. On the m-th page, prints Pi of index image pages obtained by listing each of those pages as thumbnail images are obtained. By looking at the index image page, the images in the album can be recognized at a glance.

The thumbnail image Th of the image of each page of the album is pasted on the print P of the page of the index image. As described above, the thumbnail image Thing prohibition region 140 is designated in the index image, and the pasting of the thumbnail image Th in this region 140 is prohibited. In the background image used for the index image page, the pasting of the thumbnail image can be prohibited in an area where the thumbnail image is not to be pasted.

By binding the prints of each page obtained in this manner as described above, one album can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an image editing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image editing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an image editing process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an image editing process.

FIG. 5 is an example of an album creation window.

FIG. 6 is an example of an editing information table.

FIG. 7 shows an outline of an image output system.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image output system.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an album creation processing procedure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an album creation processing procedure.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a print.

FIG. 12 shows an index image page.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,12 Computer 2,75 Monitor display device 3,104 Printer 4 Keyboard 5 Mouse 6,78,102 FD drive 7,77,101 CD-ROM drive 8 HD unit 10 Compact disk 11 Floppy disk

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 5/76 H04N 5/76 E 5C053 5/91 5/91 H 5C076 F term (reference) 2C087 BA03 BB03 BB15 BD05 BD06 BD07 BD31 CA02 CA05 CB13 2H106 AA82 AB95 BA23 BA95 2H109 BA06 BA11 5B050 AA09 AA10 BA06 BA10 BA11 BA12 BA15 CA07 EA19 FA03 5C052 AA01 AA11 AC08 CC20 DD04 EE02 EE03 FA03 FA05 FB01 FD06 FD09 FE08 5C05A03 LA04 AA16 AA17 AA21 AA22 BA02 BA06 BB06 CA02 CB01 CB02

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A user image data reading means for reading user image data from a first portable recording medium storing user image data representing a plurality of user images, and a user image read by said user image data reading means. First selecting means for selecting a first user image to be used as a background image from the user images represented by the data, and a user image represented by the user image data read by the user image data reading means. A second selection means for selecting a second user image to be pasted on the first user image selected by the first selection means, and a first user image selected by the first selection means A position designation for designating a position where the second user image selected by the second selection means is to be pasted; Means, first identification data for identifying the first user image selected by the first selection means, second identification data for identifying the second user image selected by the second selection means And an output control means for outputting position data indicating the position designated by the position designation means in association with each other. 2. The output control means further comprising: a processing method designating means for designating a processing method for reducing a data amount of user image data representing a first user image selected by the first selecting means. Outputs the data indicating the processing method specified by the processing method specifying means, in addition to the first identification data, the second identification data, and the position data, in association with each other.
The image editing device according to claim 1. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the first user image by the first selection means, the selection of the second user image by the second selection means, and the specification of the pasting position by the position specification means are performed on a plurality of sheets. The output control is performed for each page constituting an album formed by binding prints, and the output control means corresponds to the first identification data, the second identification data, and the position. 2. The image editing device according to claim 1, wherein the image editing device outputs data in association with each other. 4. User image data representing a plurality of user images is recorded on a first portable recording medium, and the first user image data representing the first user image selected as a background image is identified. First identification data, second identification data for identifying second user image data representing a second user image to be pasted on the first user image, and pasting on the first user image First reading means for reading position data representing the position of the second user image to be processed; the first user image data identified by the first identification data read by the first reading means; The second user image data identified by the identification data of the second
Second reading means for reading from the portable recording medium, enlargement processing means for enlarging the first user image data read by the second reading means so as to enlarge the first user image, On the first user image enlarged by the enlargement processing unit, the second user read by the second reading unit is located at a position designated by the position data read by the first reading unit. An image printing control apparatus comprising: synthesizing means for synthesizing a second user image represented by the user image data; and printing control means for controlling a printing apparatus to print the image synthesized by the synthesizing means. 5. The image printing control device according to claim 4, wherein a data amount of said first user image data is substantially equal to a data amount of said second user image data. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second reading means includes processing method designation data for designating an adjustment processing method for said first user image in addition to said first identification data, said second identification data, and said position data. And reads the first user image data read by the first reading means according to the processing method designated by the adjustment processing method designation data read by the second reading means. Image adjustment means for performing adjustment processing,
The image printing control device according to claim 4, further comprising: 7. The second reading means reads the first identification data, the second identification data, and the position data associated with each other corresponding to each page constituting an album. , The synthesizing means includes:
The first reading is performed at a position specified by the position data read by the second reading unit on the first user image enlarged by the enlargement processing unit corresponding to each of the pages. 5. The image print control device according to claim 4, wherein the second user image represented by the second user image data read by the means is synthesized. 8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an index image generating unit configured to generate data representing an index image that lists reduced images of the plurality of composite images generated corresponding to each of the pages. The image printing control device according to claim 7, wherein the printing device is controlled to print an index image represented by the index image data generated by the generation unit. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a prohibited area designating means for designating an area in which the pasting of the reduced image is prohibited in the index image, wherein the index image generating means comprises an area excluding the area designated by the prohibited area designating means 9. The image printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein data representing an index image to which said reduced image is pasted is generated. 10. A user image data is read from a first portable recording medium storing user image data representing a plurality of user images, and a background image is selected from the user images represented by the read user image data. Is selected, and a second user image to be pasted on the selected first user image is selected from the user images represented by the read user image data. A position on the selected first user image at which the selected second user image is to be pasted, first identification data for identifying the selected first user image, and a selected second user image An image editing method for outputting second identification data for identifying a position and position data representing a designated position in association with each other. 11. User image data representing a plurality of user images is recorded on a first portable recording medium, and the first user image data representing a first user image selected as a background image is identified. First identification data, second identification data for identifying second user image data representing a second user image to be pasted on the first user image, and pasting on the first user image The position data representing the position of the second user image to be read is read, and the first user image data identified by the read first identification data and the second data identified by the second identification data are read. User image data is read from the first portable recording medium, and the read first user image data is enlarged so as to enlarge the first user image. A second user image represented by the read second user image data at a position specified by the read position data on the enlarged first user image; An image printing control method for printing a synthesized image. 12. A program for controlling an image editing apparatus, wherein the user image data is read from a first portable recording medium storing user image data representing a plurality of user images. A first user image to be used as a background image is selected from the user images represented by the user image data, and the first user image selected from the user images represented by the read user image data is selected.
A second user image to be pasted on the selected first user image, a position on the selected first user image where the selected second user image is pasted, and a selected first user image The computer of the image synthesizing apparatus is controlled such that the first identification data for identifying the image, the second identification data for identifying the selected second user image, and the position data representing the designated position are output in association with each other. A recording medium storing a program to be executed. 13. A program for controlling an image synthesizing apparatus, wherein user image data representing a plurality of user images is recorded on a first portable recording medium, and a first image selected as a background image is recorded. First identification data for identifying first user image data representing a user image; second identification for identifying second user image data representing a second user image to be pasted on the first user image Data and position data indicating the position of the second user image to be pasted on the first user image, and the first user image data identified by the read first identification data; The second user image data identified by the second identification data is read from the first portable recording medium to enlarge the first user image. As described above, the read first user image data is enlarged, and the read second user image data is positioned on the enlarged first user image at a position designated by the read position data. A recording medium storing a program for controlling a computer of an image printing control device to combine a second user image represented by image data and print the combined image.