JP2002208021A - Image editing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image editing device capable of easily arranging objects at desired locations even when the destination of movement is not highly precisely designated. SOLUTION: When an instruction to set a stop line 31 is inputted from a mouse by an external operation, the image editing device 1 displays and sets a stop line on an edit screen 21 of a monitor by stop area setting processing. Then, when the stop line is set, the image editing device limits the movement of objects 25, 26, and 27 so that the objects can be prevented from being moved across the stop line. That is, when the movement instruction of the objects is inputted by the mouse operation of a user, the MPU of the image editing device decides whether or not that instruction is a crossing movement instruction to instruct the objects to cross the stop line by movement processing, and when that instruction is not the crossing movement instruction, the objects are moved according to the movement instruction, and when that instruction is the crossing movement instruction, the objects are arranged on the stop line.

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 for drawing a desired image on a screen of a display device and editing the image in accordance with a command from input means such as a mouse.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a basic image (hereinafter, referred to as "object") is arranged at a desired position using a computer, and the image is edited on a screen by combining the objects. Devices are known.

[0003] Objects include, for example, characters, lines, figures,
The user moves the object displayed on the screen to a desired position on the screen by issuing a movement command to the object from a keyboard, a mouse, or the like by an external operation. , Design images.

[0004] Such an image editing apparatus is usually provided with various functions for regularly arranging objects and beautifully designing an image. For example, in some conventional image editing apparatuses, a destination of an object is designated by numerical input. In such an image editing apparatus, if the coordinates on the screen are designated, the object can be accurately moved on the coordinates. By specifying, you can arrange objects neatly.

[0005] Some conventional image editing apparatuses are provided with a grid-like grid on a screen in order to restrict the arrangement position of an object. In such an image editing apparatus, the object can be moved only discretely at every grid interval, the arrangement position of the object is restricted on the grid, and the user can easily align the object. It has a configuration.

In addition, there is an image editing apparatus having a guideline function for regularly arranging objects. These image editing devices force the user to try to place objects around the guidelines,
Since the guide line is arranged on the guide line, the user can arrange objects on the guide line by arranging the guide line at a predetermined position on the screen.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. For example, when specifying the destination of an object by inputting a numerical value,
Before the movement command, it is necessary for the user to know in advance on which coordinates the object should be placed in order to arrange the object regularly and neatly. Depended heavily on the level of skill. That is, for a user who edits an image for a hobby or the like, the method of arranging objects by inputting numerical values is very cumbersome, and it cannot be said that the movement of the objects can be easily operated.

On the other hand, in the case of an image editing apparatus having a grid, a user can easily move an object on a screen with a mouse or the like.
Since the object can only be moved discretely, the object cannot be finely arranged at a desired position. In other words, in an image editing device provided with a grid, if the grid interval is increased, the mouse operation causes
Although the objects can be regularly aligned, the problem is that the objects cannot be arranged in a positional relationship finer than the grid spacing. Conversely, in the image editing apparatus, when the grid interval is reduced, the degree of freedom of the arrangement position of the object is increased, and the object cannot be regularly aligned unless the mouse operation is performed with the accuracy of the grid interval.
The user was required to operate the mouse correctly.

In addition, when an image editing apparatus having a guideline is used, the user can easily move the object with a mouse or the like, and can freely move the object except around the guideline. However, since the object is forcibly moved on the guide line near the guide line, it is difficult for the user to arrange the object at a desired position near the guide line. In addition, even when an object is placed on a guideline, the movement of the object is controlled only around the guideline. Therefore, the user always considers the guideline and places the object around the guideline where the movement is controlled. Had to be placed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image editing apparatus capable of easily arranging an object at a desired position without specifying a destination with high accuracy. Aim.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises an input means for inputting various commands, and according to the commands from the input means,
An image editing apparatus for drawing a desired image on a screen of a display device and editing the image includes a stop area setting unit, an image moving unit, and an image moving control unit.

That is, in the image editing apparatus according to the first aspect, when a stop area setting command is input from the input means,
The stop area setting means sets the stop area at a predetermined position on the screen according to a command from the input means. This stop area is set to restrict the movement of the image on the screen, and in the image editing apparatus of the present invention, when a movement command to move the image on the screen is input from the input unit, While the image moving means moves the image on the screen according to the movement command, the movement command from the input means is:
When the command is a traverse movement command to traverse the stop area of the image, the image movement control means limits the movement of the image to a position where a preset reference point of the image is located in the stop area.

That is, in the image apparatus according to the first aspect,
Even if a movement command is input from the input means, if the movement command is a transverse movement command, the image movement control means does not obey the movement command and arranges the movement of the image at the reference point of the image within the stop area. Up to the position where

Therefore, in the image editing apparatus according to the first aspect, when the user attempts to place an image at a predetermined position on the screen, the stop area setting means sets the stop area at the predetermined position. The image can be easily arranged in the stop area only by specifying the moving destination of the image at a position crossing the stop area.

That is, by using the image editing apparatus of the present invention, the user can easily arrange an image at a desired position without specifying a destination with high accuracy unlike a conventional image editing apparatus. As a result, the user does not need to stare at the screen and skill in operating the input means such as a mouse to accurately specify the destination of the image from the input means such as a mouse. In short, with the image editing device of the present invention, anyone can easily arrange an image at a desired position and design the image.

In the case where the movement of the image is restricted by the image movement control means and the image is arranged in the stop area without following the movement command, for example, the image is arranged on the boundary line in the stop area. Alternatively, it may be arranged at the center of the stop area. For example, in the image editing apparatus, when a transverse movement command is input from the input unit, the image movement control unit stops the image at a position where the reference point of the image is located on the boundary of the stop region. There may be. In this case, the user can easily arrange the image on the boundary of the stop area simply by specifying the destination of the image at a position crossing the stop area, and can place a plurality of images on the boundary of the stop area. Can be beautifully designed by arranging along.

In particular, if the stop area is set as a line segment, the images can be arranged side by side on the line. That is, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image editing apparatus according to the first aspect, the stop area is set as a line segment. Further, when a transverse movement command is input from the input means, the image movement control means stops the image at a position where the reference point of the image is located on the line segment.

Therefore, according to the image editing apparatus of the second aspect, the user sets a line-shaped stop area by the stop area setting means, and crosses the moving destination of the image across the line segment. The image can be easily arranged on the line segment only by specifying the position. Moreover, in the image editing apparatus according to the second aspect, unlike the conventional image editing apparatus, it is not necessary to control to forcibly align the image whose movement destination is designated around the guide line with the guide line, which is convenient. It is.

In other words, in the conventional image editing apparatus, an image whose destination is designated around the guide line is forcibly arranged on the guide line. The image movement control unit does not control the movement of the image unless specified at a position crossing the line serving as the stop area. The image can be arranged at the designated destination as long as the destination is not a crossing position.

Therefore, the user can, for example, design an image by arranging some images side by side on a line segment serving as a stop area and arranging other images slightly shifted from the line segment. In addition, a desired image can be designed more freely than a conventional image editing apparatus.

As described above, the inventions according to the first and second aspects are very convenient for a user to arrange an image at a desired position, and furthermore, the image editing apparatus according to the third aspect. In this configuration, the user can easily and accurately arrange images at one point on the screen, and thereby, a plurality of images can be
It is arranged so that it can be accurately superimposed on a predetermined point on the screen.

That is, the invention described in claim 3 is the same as claim 1.
Alternatively, in the image editing apparatus according to the second aspect, a stop point for matching a reference point of the image to a predetermined point is set in the stop area in advance. Then, when the transverse movement command is input from the input means, the image movement control means stops the image at a position where the reference point of the image is located at the stop point in the stop area.

When the image editing apparatus is configured as described above, when a transverse movement command is input from the input means,
Since all the images targeted by the command are arranged at the stop points in the stop area by the image movement control means, the user simply designates the destination of the desired image at a position crossing the stop area, and Can be easily arranged at a position where the reference point overlaps the stop point.

As a result, when arranging a plurality of images so as to be superimposed on one point, the user does not need to accurately position each image as in a conventional image editing apparatus, and the stop point is not required. Can be accurately superimposed on the set position. The image editing apparatus according to the fourth aspect is configured so that the user can place the stop point at a desired position by an external operation.

That is, the invention described in claim 4 is the same as claim 3
The image editing apparatus according to the above, further comprising stop point setting means for setting a stop point at a predetermined position in the stop area in accordance with a command from the input means. When the image editing apparatus is configured as described in claim 4, the user can set a stop point at a desired position in the stop area by the stop point setting means by giving a command from the input means by an external operation. it can.

That is, for example, the user sets a stop point at one point in the stop area, arranges the image so that the reference point overlaps the one point, and then uses the stop point setting means to set the current stop in the stop area. By changing the setting position of the stop point to a position different from the point, another image can be arranged at another position so that the reference point overlaps the stop point, and it is possible to easily design a more complicated image. be able to.

Next, a fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to the first aspect.
The image editing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Reference point setting means for setting a reference point at a predetermined position in an image in accordance with a command from the input means is provided. In other words, the invention according to claim 5 is configured such that the user can set the reference point at a desired position in the image by operating the input means by the reference point setting means.

Thus, when the user inputs a transverse movement command and arranges the image in the stop area, the user can determine which part of the image is to be arranged in the stop area by adjusting the position of the reference point. Can be determined arbitrarily. As a result, the user can easily arrange a desired portion of the image to be moved at a predetermined position in the stop area.

That is, for example, if the reference point is set at the edge of the image, the edge of the image can be arranged in the stop area. If the reference point is set at the center of the image, the center of the image can be set within the stop area. Can be arranged. In particular, if the stop area is set by a line segment, the user can set a reference point at the edge of the image and arrange multiple images side by side along the line segment. If a reference point is set at the center of an image, a plurality of images can be arranged side by side such that the centers are aligned along a line segment.

Next, the invention according to claim 6 is based on claim 1
The image editing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The stop area setting means can change the shape or size of the stop area on the screen according to a command from the input means. That is, according to the invention described in claim 6, the shape or size of the stop area can be changed by the stop area setting means by the user operating the input means.

Thus, the user can set the stop area at a desired position on the screen in a desired shape by the stop area setting means, and the movement of the image is restricted by the image movement control means. Can be set arbitrarily. That is, the user can adjust the position of the movement destination where the movement of the image is restricted by changing the shape of the stop area.

Further, for example, when the stop area is a line segment, the image can be arranged along the curve by deforming the straight line segment into a curve. That is,
If the transverse movement command is issued when the stop area is a line segment, the images are arranged along the line segment. Therefore, by changing the shape of the line segment, the way of arranging the images is also changed according to the shape of the line segment. be able to.

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image editing apparatus 1 to which the present invention has been applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the image editing apparatus 1 mainly includes a RAM (Random A
ccess Memory) 3a, ROM (Read Only Memory) 3b
(Micro Processing Unit) with memory such as
3 and MP via dedicated interface (I / F) 5
It comprises a hard disk (HD) 7 connected to U3, and a mouse 11 and keyboard 13 connected via an input / output port (I / O) 9. A monitor 15 is connected to the image editing apparatus 1, and an editing screen 2
Various information necessary for image editing such as 1 is displayed to the user through the monitor 15.

More specifically, the HD 7 is provided as a storage medium for storing various information required for image editing, and includes object data such as circles, polygons, line segments, symbols, and characters, and an MPU 3 described later. A computer program describing the procedures of various processes executed by the CPU and other various information necessary for image editing are stored in advance, and image data and the like being edited are stored in accordance with an instruction from the MPU 3, and the stored various types of information are stored. The information is read out and passed to the MPU 3.

The mouse 11 is provided as input means for inputting a move command for moving an object or a stop area on the screen or inputting various setting commands such as setting of a stop area in accordance with a user operation. The input various commands are processed by the MPU 3, and the processing results are output to the monitor 15.
That is, the user clicks (ie, presses) the button provided on the mouse 11 with the mouse cursor indicating the operation position of the mouse 11 displayed on the screen as a mark, and selects the object displayed on the screen. Or mouse 1
By moving the mouse 11 (so-called dragging) while holding down the first button, objects and
A command to move the stop area can be input. The user can input a character string as an object or input various commands corresponding to the buttons by pressing buttons on the keyboard 13 using the keyboard 13 in addition to the mouse 11.

The monitor 15 is provided as a display device for displaying various information necessary for image editing to the user. On the screen, there is an editing screen 21 for displaying the image being edited, and a user's selection. A menu screen 23 for instructing the MPU 3 to execute various setting processes by operation and calling an object or the like on the edit screen 21 is displayed.

That is, the screen of the monitor 15 includes an editing screen 21 shown in FIG. 3 and a menu screen 23 shown in FIG.
For example, when the user clicks the button of the mouse 11 on the menu screen 23, a command for various settings corresponding to the position of the mouse cursor displayed on the menu screen 23 and a command for calling an object are displayed. It is configured to be input to the MPU 3 and execute the corresponding processing in the MPU 3. Note that FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of various selection screens displayed above, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an editing screen for editing an image displayed on the monitor 15.

The MPU 3 is provided to calculate various processes required for image editing. The MPU 3 executes corresponding processes based on various input commands, and executes H processing.
D7, various kinds of information necessary for processing are read from a storage medium such as RAM3a, ROM3b, and the processing result is stored in HD7, RAM.
The result is stored in a storage medium such as 3a, and the processed result is displayed on the monitor 15.

Of the processing performed in the MPU 3, the processing according to the present invention mainly involves moving an object selected on the edit screen 21 to the screen in accordance with a mouse operation, and moving the object to a stop area. A movement process for restricting the movement of an object without a mouse operation when a traversing movement command for a traversing position is input by the mouse 11, and for setting a stop area in a desired shape at a desired position on the screen. Stop area setting processing, reference point setting processing for changing the position of the reference point in the object for determining whether to limit the movement of the object in the movement processing, and placing the object at one point in the stop area There is a stop point setting process for setting a stop point for performing the operation.

The operation of the image editing apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. Note that M
Detailed processing in PU3 is omitted here and will be described later. First, the user selects the menu screen 23
When an object is called by clicking the upper part (see FIG. 2A) with the mouse 11, the corresponding objects 25, 26 and 27 are displayed on the edit screen 21 as shown in FIG. . Then, in a state shown in FIG. 3A (that is, a state in which a stop area described later is not set),
The user drags the mouse 11 to move the object 2
When the movement commands of 5, 26 and 27 are input, the MPU 3
The moving process of the objects 25, 26 and 27 is executed, and the objects 25, 2
6 and 27, and the object 25,
26 and 27 are arranged.

Since the operation up to this point is the same as that of a known image editing apparatus, when the objects 25, 26, 27 are arranged in a line, the user moves the objects 25, 26, 27. It is necessary to input a movement command so as to move the object 25, 26, 27 to a position where the objects 25, 26, 27 are aligned by specifying the destination accurately with the mouse 11. Therefore, when the user attempts to arrange and arrange the objects 25, 26, and 27 on the edit screen 21, the user can set the stop area on the edit screen 21 so that the objects 25, 26, and 27 can be easily arranged. I do.

That is, the user operates the menu screen (FIG. 2).
(A)) By clicking on the mouse 11 above, M
The stop area can be set by causing the PU 3 to execute the stop area setting process. When the above-described stop area setting processing is executed by the MPU 3 by the user's mouse operation, a basic stop area selection screen 29 of the stop area is displayed on the edit screen 21 (see FIG. 2B). Then, a basic stop area having a desired shape is selected from the selection screen 29, and a stop area having the selected shape is set on the edit screen 21.

Further, in the stop area setting process of the MPU 3,
According to the user's mouse operation, a stop area change process for changing the shape, size, orientation, position, etc. of the stop area is performed, and the user moves and deforms the object in a known image editing apparatus. By the same mouse operation, commands such as movement, rotation, enlargement, and reduction of the stop area displayed on the edit screen 21 are input, and the stop area is set at a desired position on the screen in a desired shape.

FIG. 3B shows an editing screen 21 in which a stop area 31 (hereinafter, referred to as a “stop line”) in which the shape is displayed as a line segment is set. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the stop line 31 is set on the edit screen 21, the user operates the object 25 displayed on the edit screen 21,
Even if a movement command is issued by selecting 26 or 27, the stop line 31
Cannot move the objects 25, 26 and 27 that cross the object. That is, when a command to move the objects 25, 26, and 27 is input by the user's mouse operation, the MPU 3 determines in the movement processing whether the command is a movement command to cross the stop line 31, and the MPU 3 does not cross the stop line 31. The object is moved according to the movement command, and when the movement command crosses the stop line 31, the object is arranged on the stop line 31. The objects 25 and 2
Reference points 33 (black circles shown in FIG. 3) are set for the objects 6 and 27, and it is determined whether the objects 25, 26 and 27 have crossed the stop line 31.
The determination as to whether or not 6 and 27 are on the stop line 31 is determined based on the position of the reference point 33 in the objects 25, 26 and 27.

That is, for example, when the user inputs a movement command to move the objects 25, 26, 27 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3B by operating the mouse, the MPU 3
It is determined that the movement of the objects 25, 26, and 27 is a movement command that crosses the stop line 31, and the movement of the objects 25, 26, and 27 is limited to the stop line 31 as shown in FIG. I do. FIG. 3C shows the reference point 33.
Is set at the edges of the objects 25, 26, and 27, a movement command to cross the stop line 31 is input,
In accordance with this, the MPU 3 sets the objects 25, 26, 27
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the arrangement of objects 25, 26, and 27 on the edit screen 21 after performing the moving process of FIG.

Therefore, if the stop line 31 is set as shown in FIG.
By simply designating the movement destinations of the objects 26 and 27 at positions traversing the stop line 31, the edges of the plurality of objects 25, 26 and 27 can be easily aligned and arranged along the stop line 31.

However, if the reference points 33 are set on the edges of the objects 25, 26, and 27 as shown in FIG. 3B, the centers of the objects 25, 26, and 27 cannot be easily aligned. Therefore, in the image editing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the MPU 3 can execute the reference point setting process so that the user can arbitrarily set the reference point 33 at the edge or center of the object.

That is, in the image editing apparatus 1, the user can cause the MPU 3 to execute the reference point setting process by selecting the reference point setting on the menu screen 23 by operating the mouse. When the reference point setting process is executed, the MPU 3 displays the reference point selection screen 35 shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the screen, and the reference point 3
Change the position of 3. FIG. 2C is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the reference point selection screen 35. As can be seen from FIG. 2C, the reference point selection screen 35 has an edge setting for setting the reference point at the edge of the object, a center setting for setting the reference point at the center of the object, and a mouse on the reference point. The user can select any of the free settings that can be freely set by operation with a mouse operation.

For example, when the reference point 33 of the object is set at the center by the reference point setting process, the MP
U3 arranges the center of the object on the stop line 31 when a movement command to cross the stop line 31 is input.
In other words, the user can select the objects 25 ', 26', 2
By simply designating the movement destination of 7 'at the position crossing the stop line 31, the objects 25', 2 as shown in FIG.
The 6 ', 27' can be centered along the stop line 31. FIG. 3D shows a case where the reference point 33 is set at the center of the objects 25 ′, 26 ′, and 27 ′, and the user designates a movement destination at a position crossing the stop line 31, and Objects 25 ', 2 on the edit screen 21 after moving', 26 ', 27'
It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of 6 ', 27'.

Since the reference point setting and the stop area setting can be performed in the image editing apparatus 1 as described above, the user can arrange the objects on the screen in various patterns by changing the respective settings. Can be arranged. In other words, for example, the user has a straight stop line 31
When the stop area setting command is input from the menu screen 23 after selecting the "?", The MPU 3 can execute the stop area change processing. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the stop line 31 is changed to a wavy stop line 31 '. And the objects 25 ′, 26 ′, and 27 ′ can be arranged in a wave shape. FIG. 4 shows a mode in which the linear stop line 31 is changed into a wave shape in the stop area setting (FIG. 4A, FIG.
(B)) and the movement mode of the object (FIG. 4 (c), FIG. 4 (d)) when a command to move across the stop line 31 ′ deformed in a wave shape is input.

That is, when the above-described stop area changing process is executed, the MPU 3 executes a process when a deformation command is input to the selected stop line 31 by a user's mouse operation (for example, clicking an object). Figure 4 on the screen
A deformation point 37 (white circle shown in FIG. 4) shown in FIG. Then, when the user moves the deformation point 37 by operating the mouse, the MPU 3 deforms the stop line 31 in accordance with the movement of the deformation point 37 as shown in FIG. change.

Then, as described above, the linear stop line 31
Is transformed into a wavy stop line 31 ′, the user receives the object 25 ′, 2 with the reference point 33 set at the center.
When the objects 6 ', 27' are moved across the wavy stop line 31 ', the objects 25', 26 ', 27'
Can be arranged in a wave shape as shown in FIG.

As described above, the image editing apparatus 1 of this embodiment
In, objects can be arranged in various patterns by changing the shape of the stop area. However, in the above-described stop area (stop lines 31 and 31 ′), sufficient operability for the user is required in arranging the objects side by side at the boundary of the stop area (on the stop line in the case of the stop lines 31 and 31 ′). Can be given,
Regarding the operation of aligning and stacking objects in one place,
Not enough.

Therefore, the image editing apparatus 1 of this embodiment
Can set a stop point in the stop area for collecting all the objects crossing the stop area at one point. That is, the user can cause the MPU 3 to execute the stop point setting process by inputting the stop point setting command from the menu screen 23.

When the above-mentioned stop point setting processing is executed, the MPU 3 sets a stop point at a position in the stop area designated by the user's mouse operation, and
Display a stop point in the upper stop area. Then, when the stop point is set, the MPU 3 does not place the object at the boundary of the stop area, but rather moves the object when the user issues a traverse movement command to move the object across the stop area. Is arranged at a position where the reference point of overlaps the stop point.

In FIG. 5, when a circular stop area 39 is set on the edit screen 21, the stop area 3
Object 4 when no stop point is set in 9
3, 44, and 45 movement modes (FIGS. 5A and 5B)
And the movement of the objects 43, 44, and 45 when the stop point 41 is set in the stop area 39 (see FIG. 5).
(C) and FIG. 5 (d)).

As shown in FIG. 5A, when no stop point is set in the stop area 39, the MPU 3 moves when an instruction to move the objects 43, 44, 45 is input in the direction of the arrow. In the processing, the movement of the objects 43, 44, 45 is restricted to the boundary of the stop area 39, and even if the movement command crosses the stop area 39, the objects 43, 44, 45 are moved to the reference point 33. Is moved to the position where it is arranged on the arc, and is arranged. That is, FIG.
When the objects 43, 44, 45 are moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
They are arranged on an arc as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the stop point 41 is set in the stop area 39, the MPU 3
The movement command of the objects 43, 44, 45 is the stop area 3
9, the objects 43, 44, and 45 are moved according to the movement command. If the movement command is a traversing movement command that crosses the stop area 39, the objects 43, 44, and 45 are stopped. It is arranged at a stop point 41 in 39.

That is, since the reference points 33 are set at the centers of the objects 43, 44, and 45, when the user moves the objects 43, 44, and 45 in the directions of the arrows in FIG. Object 4 as in
3, 44, and 45 can be arranged so as to be overlapped at the center.

Accordingly, as can be confirmed from FIG. 5D, the user can operate the object 4 by operating the mouse.
An image in which the objects 43, 44, and 45 are superimposed can be easily designed only by moving the objects 3, 44, and 45 so as to cross the stop area 39.

Next, the details of the various processes described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG.
9 is a flowchart of a stop area setting process. As described above, when the user selects the stop area setting from the menu screen 23 by operating the mouse and inputs a stop area setting command, the MPU 3 executes the stop area setting processing.

When the processing is executed, first, the MPU 3 executes S1
At 10, it is determined whether or not the stop area already set on the edit screen 21 has been selected. That is, when the stop area to be set is selected on the edit screen 21 before the stop area setting command (Yes in S110), the process proceeds to S200, and the stop area change processing is immediately executed to execute the setting. If no stop area to be selected is selected (S
In No at 110), the process proceeds to S120, where the basic stop area selection screen 29 is displayed on the edit screen 21, and on the basic stop area selection screen 29, as shown in FIG. A basic figure (that is, a basic stop area) that can be set as a stop area by a user is displayed.

Then, the MPU 3 determines in S130 whether or not the basic stop area has been selected, and if not selected (No in S130), determines in S135 whether to interrupt the creation of a new stop area. Is determined, and if the interruption command has not been issued (No in S135), S
The process is shown at 130. That is, when the process proceeds to S130, S130 and S1 are performed until an interruption command is input from the basic stop area selection screen 29 by mouse operation or one of the presented basic stop areas is selected on the selection screen.
Step 35 is repeated.

Then, one of the basic stop areas presented on the basic stop area selection screen 29 is selected (S13).
If “0” is determined as Yes), the process proceeds to S140. On the other hand, when an interruption command is input on the basic stop area selection screen 29, S1 is performed.
It is determined to be Yes at 35, and the stop area setting process ends.

In step S140, the basic stop area selection screen 29 displayed in step S120 is closed.
At 0, it is determined whether the selected basic stop area is a line segment, another circle, a polygon, or the like. If the basic stop area is a line segment (Yes in S150), a start / end point input instruction message for asking the user to input the start point and end point of the line segment is displayed on the monitor 15 in S155. In step S160, the user operates the mouse (for example, clicks on the edit screen 21).
Wait until the start and end points are specified with. When the start point and the end point are designated (Yes in S160), S17
At 0, a line segment from the start point to the end point is displayed at a corresponding position on the edit screen 21, and then, at S200, a stop area change process is executed.

On the other hand, if the selected basic stop area is other than the line segment (No in S150), the process proceeds to S180.
At, the stop area is set to a default position on the edit screen 21 (for example, the center of the edit screen 21), and at S190,
The set stop area is displayed on the edit screen 21. After that, the process shifts to S200 to execute a stop area change process.

Next, the stop area change processing executed in S200 will be described. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the stop area change processing. The stop area change processing mainly includes the shape of the stop area set in the stop area setting processing,
This is a process for changing the size, orientation, and position on the screen, and is performed when the user selects the stop area setting on the menu screen 23. If a new stop area is set in the step of FIG. 6 before the execution of the stop area change processing, the processing is executed with the newly set stop area as a change target.

When the processing is executed, first, it is determined in step S210, S260, or S280 whether any one of a deformation command, an enlargement command, a reduction command, a rotation command, and a movement command has been input by the user's mouse operation. To judge. That is, first, in S210, it is determined whether or not there is a shape deformation command. Then, when a deformation command is input by a user's mouse operation (Y in S210)
In es), the transformation points set for each stop area are displayed on the stop area on the edit screen 21 (see FIG. 4A), and in S230, it is determined whether or not there is a movement command of the transformation point. to decide.

When a command to move the transformation point is issued by the user's mouse operation (Yes in S230), the transformation point is moved on the screen according to the movement command (S2).
At the same time, the stop area is transformed according to the movement of the transformation point (S250), and the transformed stop area is displayed by screen updating (S300) (see FIG. 4B).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S210 that the deformation command has not been input (No in S210), the process proceeds to S210.
The process is shifted to 260, and any one of a stop area enlargement command, a reduction command, and a rotation command (hereinafter, referred to as an “enlargement / reduction / rotation command”) is performed by the user's mouse operation.
Determine if there was. If there is an enlargement / reduction / rotation command (Yes in S260), the process proceeds to S27.
0, the size and orientation of the stop area are changed, and the screen is updated (S
After the changed stop area is displayed by (300), the process proceeds to S310.

If it is determined in S260 that the enlargement / reduction / rotation command has not been issued (NO in S260)
In o), the process proceeds to S280, and it is determined whether or not an instruction to move the stop area has been made by a mouse operation of the user. When it is determined that the movement command has been issued (Yes in S280), in S290,
Move the stop area to the specified destination and update the screen (S
300), a stop area is displayed at the destination. On the other hand, if it is determined in S280 that the movement command has not been issued (No in S280), the process proceeds to S310.

In S310, it is determined whether or not the change of the stop area has been determined. If the change has been determined (Yes in S310), the stop area change processing is terminated, and the stop area setting processing is performed. If the processing has been completed and has not been determined (No in S310), the process proceeds to S21.
Return to 0. That is, the steps from S210 to S310 are continued until the user releases the setting of the stop area on the menu screen 23 by operating the mouse, and it is determined that the stop area is determined in S310 (Yes in S310).

Then, the stop area setting processing ends with the end of the above stop area change processing, and the stop area is displayed on the edit screen 2.
When it is set to 1, on the edit screen 21, the object is controlled so as not to cross the stop area by the moving process described below in detail, even if the user inputs a moving command of the object by operating the mouse. . FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the moving process.

That is, in the movement processing shown in FIG. 8, when an instruction to move the selected object is made by operating the mouse, first, in S410, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to move the object. That is, for example, if the button of the mouse 11 is kept pressed while the object is selected,
The MPU 3 determines that a movement command has been issued by the user and executes the movement processing. When the mouse 11 is dragged, the MPU 3 determines that an instruction to move the object has been issued in S410 (Yes in S410), and proceeds to S420. Move.

In S420, it is determined whether or not the position of the reference point of the object at the time of executing the moving process (ie, the initial position of the reference point) is within the stop area. When it is determined that it is located in the stop area (Yes in S420)
In step S430 and step S440, the process proceeds to step S450. If the initial position is not within the stop area (No in step S420), the process proceeds to step S430. When the stop area is a line segment (stop line), “in the stop area” means on the stop line.

Then, in S430, the MPU 3 determines whether or not the current position of the reference point of the object (that is, the display position on the edit screen 21) is within the stop area.
If it is determined that the current position of the reference point is not within the stop area (No in S430), in S440, if the object movement instruction destination moves the object from the current position to the movement instruction destination, the object stops. It is determined whether or not the position crosses the area, and if it is determined that the position does not cross (No in S440), the object is displayed in S450 in accordance with the movement instruction by the mouse operation in S450. Here, whether or not the object crosses the stop area is determined based on whether or not there is a stop area between the current position and the movement instruction destination, although the movement destination is not within the stop area. I just need.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the movement instruction destination of the object is the position at which the object is moved across the stop area (Yes in S440), the process proceeds to S460. In S430, when it is determined that the current object display position is within the stop area (S43)
In step S445, it is determined whether the movement instruction destination is in the stop area. If it is in the stop area (Yes in S445), the process proceeds to step S450 to instruct the object. Move to the movement instruction destination and display it, and if the movement instruction destination is not within the stop area (N in S445)
In o), the process proceeds to S460.

Then, in S460, if the movement instruction destination crosses the stop area (Yes in S440),
Alternatively, when the current position is in the stop area and the movement instruction destination is not in the stop area (No in S445), it is determined whether a stop point is set in the stop area.

If it is determined that the stop point has not been set (No in S460), the object is displayed in S470 at a position where the reference point of the object is on the boundary of the stop area (FIG. 3). (C), FIG. 3 (d), FIG.
(D), see FIG. 5 (b)), when it is determined that a stop point is set (Yes in S460), the object is moved to a position where the reference point of the object overlaps the stop point in S480. Move and display (see FIG. 5D).
When the object is moved on the boundary line of the stop area in S470, for example, the object is moved to the intersection of the line connecting the current position and the movement instruction destination and the boundary line of the stop area and displayed. What should I do? In addition, when the stop area is a line segment (stop line) in particular, on the stop area boundary line in S470 means on the stop line.

Then, S450, S470, or S48
When the object is moved at 0, the MPU 3 executes S49
At 0, it is determined whether or not the movement of the object has been completed by the user's mouse operation. If the movement has not been completed (No at S490), the process returns to S410, and it is determined whether or not an instruction to move the object has been issued again. I do.
That is, if the movement is not completed, again in S410,
It is determined whether or not the display position of the object and the destination of the movement instruction of the object by the user's mouse operation are different. If the display position is different, it is determined that the movement instruction has been input, and the process proceeds to S420. It is determined that there is no object (No in S410), and the process waits until the movement of the object is completed (Yes in S490).

If it is determined in S490 that the movement of the object has been completed, the display position of the object at the time of completion of the movement is regarded as the final destination in the current movement processing in S500. The object is arranged at the display position, and the movement processing ends. Here, the determination as to whether or not the movement of the object has been completed by the mouse operation may be made based on whether or not the pressed mouse button is released by the user.

Next, reference point setting processing for changing the position of the reference point in the object will be described. FIG.
9 is a flowchart of a reference point setting process. As described above, the MPU 3 executes the reference point setting process when the user selects the reference point setting on the menu screen 23 in a state where the user selects the object to be set on the editing screen 21.

When the processing is executed, first, the MPU 3
At 510, a reference point selection screen 35 (FIG. 2 (c)) is displayed on the edit screen 21 to present the user with a selectable setting method. At S520, the setting method presented by the user by operating the mouse. Is selected (Y in S520).
es).

That is, in S520, an edge setting for setting the reference point at the edge of the object, a center setting for setting the reference point at the center of the object, and a free setting for the user to set the reference point at a desired position by operating the mouse. Waits until one of the setting methods is selected by the user's mouse operation, and when the setting method is selected (Yes in S520), S
At 530, the reference point selection screen 35 is closed, and the process proceeds to S5.
Transfer to 40.

Then, in S540, the MPU 3 determines whether or not the setting method selected on the reference point selection screen 35 is free setting. If the setting method is free setting (Yes in S540)
In s), the mode shifts to the free setting mode in S550,
The setting of the currently set reference point is canceled once. Then, in S560, the mouse operation of the user (for example,
It is determined whether there is an instruction to set a reference point by clicking the mouse 11), and if there is an instruction to set it, the reference point is set at the indicated position (for example, the position clicked by the mouse 11) ( (S570), after displaying the currently set reference point on the screen (S580),
At 0, it is determined whether the setting is completed. Whether the setting has been completed may be determined based on whether or not the user has released the reference point setting on the menu screen 23 by operating the mouse.

On the other hand, if there is no reference point setting instruction in S560 (No in S560), steps S570 and S5
It is determined whether or not an instruction to end the setting has been made in S610 without performing the processing in S80.
(Yes in 610) The reference point setting process ends, and if there is no instruction to end the setting, the process returns to S560.

Then, in S560, if there is a reference point setting instruction again, in S570, in addition to the previously set reference point,
A reference point is set at the newly designated position, and the reference point is displayed in S580 together with the reference point set last time. That is, in the free setting, the MPU 3 continues to execute step S5 until the user releases the reference point setting from the menu screen 23.
The processing of steps S60 to S610 is repeated, and each time the user performs a mouse operation (for example, clicks on an object), a reference point is additionally set at the designated position.

If it is determined in S540 that the setting method of the reference point is not free setting, the reference point is set by the selected setting method (S590), and the reference point is displayed. After (S600), the reference point setting process ends. That is, in the image editing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when the edge setting or the center setting is selected, the edge setting or the center setting is selected in order to automatically set the reference point at a position corresponding to the setting method. When the reference point is set to H
D7 is stored as data, and the MPU 3
At 90, the data to be set is read from the HD 7,
Based on the data, a reference point is set at the edge or center.

Thus, for example, when the edge setting is selected, if the reference point is set in advance at the corner of the polygonal object, the user simply selects the edge setting. Thus, a reference point can be easily set at the edge of the object. Also, when the center setting is selected, for a circular object, if the reference point is set in advance so that the reference point is set at the center point of the circle, the user only needs to select the center ruler, A reference point can be easily set at the center of the object. Furthermore, the user can set a reference point at a desired position of the object by selecting a free setting.

Next, the stop point setting process will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the stop point setting process.
The stop point setting processing is executed by the MPU 3 when the user selects the stop point setting on the menu screen 23 with the stop area set by the user as described above.

When the process is executed, first, in S710,
It is determined whether a stop point has already been set in the selected stop area. If a stop point has been set in the stop area (Yes in S710), it is determined in S720 whether or not the user has instructed to change the position of the stop point. That is, if the stop point has been set, a command to set the stop point at a position different from the position of the currently set stop point in the stop region is input by the user's mouse operation in S720. Whether the user has clicked on the mouse 11 at a position different from the current stop point in the stop area, for example,
When a change command has been issued (Yes in S720)
, A stop point is set (S730), and the stop point is displayed at the set position (S740). On the other hand, if it is determined in S720 that there is no stop position change instruction (No in S720), the process proceeds to S750.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S710 that no stop point has been set in the selected stop area (S71)
In step S715, whether or not the user has designated a stop point setting position at one point in the stop area by mouse operation (for example, whether or not the user has clicked the stop area with the mouse 11) is determined in step S715. If it is determined that the stop point setting position has been designated (Yes in S715), it is determined that a new stop point setting command has been issued, the stop point is set at the designated position (S730), and the set stop point is displayed on the screen. (S740). If the stop point setting position has not been designated (No in S715), the process proceeds to S750.

In S750, it is determined whether or not a stop point setting release command has been input on the menu screen 23 by operating the mouse. If the release command has been input, it is determined that a setting end command has been issued (S750). Yes),
The stop point setting process ends. On the other hand, if the release command has not been issued in S750, it is determined that the user does not intend to end the setting, and the process returns to S710.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the moving process executed by the MPU 3 of the present embodiment corresponds to the image moving means of the present invention, and in particular, steps S420, S430, S440, and S440 of the moving process. In S445 and S460, various conditions are determined, and in S470 and S480, a series of processing for displaying the object on the stop area boundary line or on the stop point without displaying the object at the movement instruction position is the image movement control according to the present invention. It corresponds to a means.

In this embodiment, the stop area setting processing executed by the MPU 3 corresponds to the stop area setting means of the present invention, and the reference point setting processing executed by the MPU 3 corresponds to the reference point setting means of the present invention. Correspondingly, the stop point setting processing executed by the MPU 3 corresponds to the stop point setting means of the present invention.

Further, the image editing apparatus of the present invention mainly includes an image movement control means for easily arranging an image at a desired position on a screen, and a stop area where the image is set on the screen. Since it does not move across, it is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modes can be adopted as long as it does not violate the gist.

For example, in the above embodiment, the movement mode of the objects 43, 44 and 45 when the stop point 41 is set at the center of the circular stop area 39 has been described. It is also possible to set points. That is, in the image editing apparatus 1, if a stop point is provided on the stop line, the object is moved to the object in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment when a command to cross the stop line is input from an input unit such as the mouse 11. The reference point can be arranged so as to overlap the stop point set on the stop line. Also in this case, it is possible to arrange a plurality of objects at one point, as in the case where the stop area is circular.

In this embodiment, a selection screen such as the menu screen 23 which can be easily operated by mouse operation is displayed as a method for causing the MPU 3 to execute various setting processes by operating the user. Such a command can be input by the user from the keyboard 13.

In this embodiment, a program for executing various processes is stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk in the image editing apparatus 1 in advance, and the corresponding process is executed by one MPU 3 in accordance with a command. However, the image editing apparatus 1 may be configured by combining electronic circuits that perform operations corresponding to the respective processes.

A program for causing the MPU 3 to execute the various processes (FIGS. 6 to 10) described in the above-described embodiment is stored in a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, and the like. By storing the program on a magneto-optical disk, the computer can be used as the image editing apparatus 1 by installing the program on a personal computer or the like.

In the image editing apparatus 1 of the above embodiment, the MPU 3
However, it is determined whether the initial position of the reference point of the object is within the stop area, and when the initial position is within the stop area, the object is displayed according to the movement instruction in the subsequent processing. May be omitted to configure the image editing apparatus. In such a case,
As long as the setting of the stop area is not canceled, the MPU 3 controls so that the object once placed in the stop area is not moved out of the stop area.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image editing device 1.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of various selection screens displayed on a screen of a monitor 15 connected to the image editing apparatus 1.

FIG. 3 is an edit screen 21 when a stop line is set.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the movement aspect of the above-mentioned object.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram relating to a method of deforming a stop line on an editing screen 21.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a moving mode of an object on an edit screen 21 when a circular stop area 39 is set.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a stop area setting process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a stop area change process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a moving process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a reference point setting process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a stop point setting process.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image editing apparatus 3 ... MPU 7 ... Hard disk 11 ... Mouse 13 ... Keyboard 15 ... Monitor 21 ... Editing screen 23 ... Menu screen 25, 25 ', 26, 26', 27, 27 ', 43, 4
4, 45 object 29 basic stop area selection screen 31, 31 'stop line 39 stop area 33 reference point 35 reference point selection screen 37 deformation point 41 stop point

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image editing apparatus, comprising: input means for inputting various instructions, drawing a desired image on a screen of a display device in accordance with an instruction from the input means, and editing the image. A stop area setting means for setting a stop area at a predetermined position on a screen according to a command from the input means; and a movement command for moving the image on the screen from the input means. Image moving means for moving the image on the screen, and when the movement command from the input means is a traversing movement command for traversing the image over the stop area, setting the movement of the image in advance An image movement control means for limiting the reference point of the image to a position where the reference point is located in the stop area. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the stop area is set as a line segment, and the image movement control means is configured to, when the transverse movement command is input from the input means, change the image to the reference point of the image. 2. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is stopped at a position arranged one minute above. 3. A stop point for making the reference point of the image coincide with a predetermined point is set in the stop area in advance. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a command is input, the image is stopped at a position where the reference point of the image is located at the stop point in the stop area.
An image editing device according to claim 1. 4. The image editing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising stop point setting means for setting the stop point at a predetermined position in the stop area in accordance with a command from the input means. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reference point setting unit that sets the reference point at a predetermined position in the image in accordance with a command from the input unit. An image editing apparatus as described in the above. 6. The stop area setting means is capable of changing the shape or size of the stop area on a screen according to a command from the input means.
The image editing device according to claim 5.