JP2002281269A - Image processor, electronic camera, image processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make possible even for an ordinary user to perform an appropriate trimming work easily. SOLUTION: A main CPU 23 reads out image data representing an image from an SSFDC 21 and displays that image at an LCD display section 19. When a designation of the position and size of a trimming area for that image is inputted to an input designation acquiring section 25, the main CPU 23 sets a trimming frame of substantially similar shape as that image and having an aspect ratio substantially identical to that of the original image or to the reverse ratio thereof for that image based on that designation. An image processing section 14 generates image data representing an image in that trimming frame.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing technique, and more particularly to a technique for trimming an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a scene such as an excursion, an entrance ceremony, a graduation ceremony, and a family trip, a so-called group photograph in which a large number of persons are photographed in one image is sometimes taken. When an individual image in the group image is desired in addition to the group image obtained by this shooting, instead of repeatedly shooting each individual, a partial image in which each individual is shown is extracted from the group image. There is known a so-called trimming method of enlarging and configuring a personal image. In general, the trimming is performed by taking a group image into a PC and executing dedicated image processing software.

[0003]

When a new image is created from a certain image by trimming, it is inconvenient when the created image is used if the aspect ratios of the created images vary widely. , It is desirable to have a constant aspect ratio. For that purpose, the aspect ratio of the partial image when extracting the partial image from the original image should be constant.

Further, when a new image is created by trimming, if a partial image extracted from the original image is set to a narrow range, it is necessary to increase the enlargement factor when enlarging the partial image. However, if the enlargement ratio is too large, the image quality of the obtained image will be remarkably low. Therefore, in order to maintain the image quality of the obtained image to a certain level or more, it is necessary to set a lower limit on the size of the range in which trimming is performed from the original image.

As described above, when extracting a partial image in trimming, an appropriate restriction is imposed on the shape and size of the extraction, and a general user determines such an appropriate restriction on the trimming range. It is not easy.

After the trimming operation, it is important to arrange the images because it is necessary to clarify the relationship between the original image and the created image. However, the operation of organizing the images is troublesome. In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to enable a general user to easily perform an appropriate trimming operation.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: reading means for reading image data representing an image from a recording medium; Instructing means for instructing a position and a size; image area setting means for setting the image area with respect to the image based on the instruction; display means for displaying the image in which the set image area is specified And recording means for recording image data representing an image in the image area on the recording medium, wherein the image area setting means is substantially the same as the aspect ratio of the image or has an aspect ratio of the image. The above-described problem is solved by configuring the image area to have the same aspect ratio as the reciprocal ratio and a shape substantially similar to the image.

According to the above arrangement, the aspect ratio of the image area is equal to the aspect ratio of the original image (or its inverse ratio).
, The image in the image area recorded on the recording medium, that is, the shape of the trimmed image is kept substantially constant. Therefore, it is convenient to use this trimmed image later.

In the above-described image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the image area set by the image area setting means may have an aspect ratio substantially equal to the aspect ratio of the image, or may be an aspect ratio of the image. You may comprise so that it may further have the switching means which switches whether to make an aspect ratio substantially the same as an inverse ratio.

[0010] According to this configuration, a vertically long or horizontally long trimmed image can be selectively switched and obtained according to a request of a user of the image processing apparatus. Further, in the above-described image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the instruction unit may be configured to instruct to set the size of the image area to a predetermined size.

According to this configuration, it is possible to prohibit the instruction of the size of the image area that would significantly reduce the image quality of the trimmed image. In the above-described image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the image processing apparatus may further include a warning unit that issues a warning when the size of the image area designated by the designation unit is smaller than a predetermined size. You may.

[0012] According to this configuration, when the size of the image area is instructed such that the image quality of the trimmed image is significantly reduced, a warning to that effect is given to the user of the image processing apparatus. become able to. In the above-described image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the recording unit may include:
Information indicating the relationship between the image and the image area may be added to image data representing the image in the image area and recorded on the recording medium.

According to this configuration, the relationship between the trimmed image and the original image before trimming can be managed, so that the workability such as searching for a combination of these images collectively is improved. Here, the recording unit may be configured to change a file name of a file storing image data representing the image on the recording medium.

Here, if the file name of the image file for the original image is changed so as to increase the correlation with the file name of the image file for the trimmed image, a combination of these images can be searched collectively. The workability of work such as performing work is further improved.

An electronic camera according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
Imaging means for capturing an image representing a subject image and recording image data representing the image on a recording medium, reading means for reading the image data from the recording medium, and a position of an image area which is a partial area in the image And instruction means for instructing the size, an image area setting means for setting the image area for the image based on the instruction, and a display means for displaying the image in which the set image area is specified. Recording means for recording image data representing an image in the image area on the recording medium, wherein the image area setting means is substantially the same as the aspect ratio of the image or the inverse of the aspect ratio of the image. The above-mentioned problem is solved by configuring the image area having the same aspect ratio as the ratio and having a shape substantially similar to the image.

With the above configuration, the same operation and effect as those of the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained. An image processing method according to a third aspect of the present invention obtains image data representing an image, and outputs the image data based on an instruction of a position and a size of an image area which is a partial area in the image. An image area having an aspect ratio substantially the same as the aspect ratio of the image or an inverse ratio of the aspect ratio of the image, and having a shape substantially similar to the image is set for the image. By creating image data representing an image in the image, the above-described problem is solved, and the same operation and effect as those of the above-described image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be obtained.

The above-mentioned problem can be solved by reading the program into a computer and causing the computer to execute the image processing method according to the present invention.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, an embodiment in which the present invention is implemented in a so-called electronic camera that records image data representing a subject image obtained by photographing on an information recording medium such as a semiconductor memory will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an electronic camera embodying the present invention. In the figure, an imaging processing unit 13, an image processing unit 14, a DRAM 15, a JPEG processing unit 16, a VRA
The M17, the LCD driver 18, the I / F unit 20, the flash memory 22, and the main CPU 23 all have a bus 26.
, And can exchange data with each other via the bus 26 under the control of the main CPU 23.

A photographic lens 11 converts a subject image into an image sensor 12
Image on top. The imaging element 12 is, for example, a CCD (Charge
A photoelectric conversion of a subject image formed on the image pickup device 12 by the action of the optical lens 11, and outputs an electric signal indicating the image of the subject image.

The imaging processing unit 13 controls the driving of the imaging device 12 and also reduces the noise component of the electric signal output from the imaging device 12 by a CDS (Corr.
After performing processes such as elated double sampling and AGC (Automatic Gain Control) for stabilizing a signal level, the analog electric signal is converted from analog to digital (AD) to represent an image of a subject image. Output image data.

The image processing section 14 reproduces and displays an image represented by image data stored in the DRAM 15, records the image data in the SSFDC 21, or expresses the image data in the SSFDC 21. Γ that corrects differences in brightness, saturation, hue, etc. during image input and output when displaying and displaying images
Correction, color processing, WB (white balance) correction processing, and the like are performed on the image data. Further, it also performs a process of resizing the trimmed image portion to the same size as the original image, a superimposing process of superimposing and displaying information sent from the main CPU 23 on the image, and the like.

The DRAM 15 serves as a frame memory for storing the image data output from the image pickup processing unit 13 for one screen.
These memories are used for temporary storage of image data being processed in the decompression process, and also as a work area for execution of control processing by the main CPU 23.

The JPEG processing unit 16 performs a data compression process by the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) when image data stored in the DRAM 15 is recorded in the SSFDC 21, and a compression process by the JPEG format already recorded in the SSFDC 21. Performs data expansion processing when reproducing and displaying the image data to which is applied.

The VRAM 17 stores the image data output from the image pickup processing unit 13 or the image data that has been subjected to the expansion processing by the JPEG processing unit 16 in order to display the image represented by the image data on the LCD display unit 19. Is a so-called video memory that holds

The LCD driver 18 drives the LCD display unit 19 to display an image represented by the image data held in the VRAM 17. LCD display section 19 is L
It has a CD (Liquid Crystal Display) element.
An image represented by the image data driven by the CD driver 18 and held in the VRAM 17 is displayed.

The I / F unit 20 includes the SSFDC 21 and the bus 2
6 and an interface for connecting the bus 26
Each component of the apparatus connected to the SSFDC 21
Data can be exchanged between SSFDC (Soli
d State Floppy Disk Card) 21 is a so-called IC memory card, is used as a recording medium for recording image data, and is detachable from the electronic camera shown in FIG.

The flash memory 22 is an electrically rewritable ROM, and a control program executed by the main CPU 23 is recorded in advance when the electronic camera is manufactured. The main CPU 23 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the entire electronic camera according to a control program stored in the flash memory 22 while using the DRAM 15 as a work area.

The sub CPU 24 is a processing device that executes a built-in control program to detect the contents of various operations performed on the input operation instructing section 25 and notifies the main CPU 24 of the detection result. . The input operation instructing unit 25 is a group of switches operated by a user of the electronic camera to give various instructions to the electronic camera, and is operated, for example, to set an operation mode of the electronic camera. The mode button, the release button for instructing the recording of the image captured by the imaging unit, and the menu display for setting various settings on the LCD.
A menu button operated to be displayed on the display unit 19, an OK button operated to fix the input contents as setting contents, a vertical / horizontal switching button operated to switch the aspect ratio of the trimming area between vertical and horizontal (Details will be described later), a TW (tele-wide) button operated to give an instruction to change the photographing magnification by changing the distance between the photographing lens 11 and the image pickup device 12, and various types displayed on the LCD display unit 19. , Etc., which are operated to move the cursor position vertically and horizontally.

Hereinafter, the contents of the trimming process performed in the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First,
FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a display example of a trimming range designation screen displayed on the LCD display unit 19 when the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1 performs the trimming process.

FIG. 2A shows a display example of an original image to be trimmed before starting the trimming process.
The image data representing the original image is recorded in the SSFDC 21. The electronic camera shown in FIG.
2 (a) by operating in a reproduction mode, which is an operation mode in which an image represented by decompressed image data is displayed on the LCD display unit 19.
Is displayed.

FIG. 2B is displayed when the menu button is operated while the screen of FIG. 2A is displayed, and a trimming mode for designating a range of a partial image to be trimmed is selected from this screen. Screen. When the trimming mode is selected as shown in FIG.
A total of four straight cursors are displayed. Here, as shown in FIG. 2B, these four cursors are named “first cursor”, “second cursor”, “third cursor”, and “fourth cursor”. Then, a portion surrounded by these four cursors is set as a trimmed image. That is, the first, second, third, and fourth cursors are cursors for sequentially determining the positions of the left end, upper end, right end, and lower end of the trimmed image, respectively. Hereinafter, the quadrangle formed by these four cursors is referred to as a “trimming frame”.

Incidentally, these four cursors move in response to the operation of the cross button or the TW button of the input operation instruction section 25, and the first and third cursors move in the left and right directions in FIG. The fourth cursor moves up and down in FIG. In FIG. 2B, the first and second cursors are represented by thicker lines than the third and fourth cursors. This indicates that only the second cursor moves. The states of the first and second cursors will be referred to as "active" states. When moving the third and fourth cursors, the input operation instruction unit 25
By operating the OK button, the line thicknesses of the first and second cursors and the third and fourth cursors are switched, and the third and fourth cursors become active. It becomes possible to move only the third and fourth cursors according to the operation on the button that has been pressed.

Here, the first and second cursors are collectively referred to as a "first cursor group", and the third and fourth cursors are collectively referred to as a "second cursor group". Next, FIGS. 2C and 2D will be described. These figures are
FIG. 9 shows display examples of a horizontal mode and a vertical mode in the trimming mode.

When the screen (b) is displayed, the position of the first cursor group is determined, and the O
When the K button is operated, the second cursor group is activated thereafter. Here, when the second cursor group is moved, and then the OK button is operated again, the trimming area is determined. However, at this time, either the third or fourth cursor automatically moves, and the trimming area is changed so that the aspect ratio of the trimming area becomes the same as the original image, and an image as shown in (c) is displayed. Is done. That is,
In (c), either the third or fourth cursor automatically moves so that H1 / V1 = B / A.
This is the determination of the trimming area in the horizontal mode.

Here, which of the third cursor and the fourth cursor is moved is determined here by fixing the position of one of the cursors and moving the other in a direction in which the range of the trimming area becomes narrower. But instead,
The cursor that has not been moved immediately before the operation of the OK button may be automatically moved.

When the trimming area is determined after the vertical / horizontal switching button of the input operation instructing unit 25 is operated, the trimming area is determined in the vertical mode as shown in FIG. 2D. That is, when the trimming area is determined in the vertical mode, in (d),
Either the third or fourth cursor automatically moves so that H2 / V2 = A / B.

Next, FIG. 3 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of a first example of the trimming control processing performed by the main CPU 23. The processing shown in FIG.
This is performed by reading and executing a control program recorded in advance in the control program.

First, in step S101, the operation content of the mode button of the input operation unit 25 is detected by the sub CPU 24, and when the operation instruction of the reproduction mode is obtained by the main CPU 23, in step S102, the original image before trimming is expressed. The read image data is read from the SSFDC 21, the JPEG processing unit 16 performs data expansion processing, and stores the expanded image data in the VRAM 17.
A series of processes of causing the CD driver 18 to read image data from the VRAM 17 and display an image represented by the image data on the LCD display unit 19 are performed. As a result, an image as shown in FIG.
9 is displayed.

Here, in S103, the input operation unit 25
The operation of the menu button and OK button of the sub CPU2
4 and the main CPU 23 obtains an operation instruction of the trimming mode, in S104, four cursors as shown in FIG.
9 causes the image processing unit 14 to perform image processing for displaying the image being superimposed on the image being displayed.

In S105, an operation on the cross button or the TW button of the input operation instructing section 25 is acquired by the sub CPU 24, and an instruction to move the active cursor is issued to the main C.
It is acquired by the PU 23. Here, in S106, it is determined whether or not an operation on the vertical / horizontal switching button of the input operation instructing unit 25 has been detected by the sub CPU 24. Only when this determination result is Yes, the current operation setting of the trimming mode is determined in S107. The mode can be switched from one of the vertical mode and the horizontal mode to the other.

Next, in S108, it is determined whether or not the size of the trimming frame, that is, the size of the range of the partial image to be trimmed is larger than a predetermined size. S109 only when
Then, the user of the electronic camera is warned to that effect, and a notice is provided that the image quality of the image after the trimming processing is significantly reduced. Here, the predetermined size can be set arbitrarily, but here, QV is set regardless of the number of pixels of the original image.
GA (Quarter VGA, number of pixels: 320 × 240).

The notice of the warning is made, for example, by controlling the image processing section 14 to blink the active cursor. Although not shown in FIG. 1, if the electronic camera is provided with a sound generator such as an electronic buzzer or a piezoelectric vibrating element, a warning may be given by sound.

Further, in addition to these warning notifications, the movement of the active cursor is restricted, so that the trimming frame becomes smaller than a predetermined size against the operation of the cross button or the TW button of the input operation instruction unit 25. May control the image processing unit 14 so that the active cursor cannot be moved.

In step S110, the image processing for moving the active cursor displayed on the LCD display unit 19 in accordance with the movement instruction acquired in step S105 and the operation setting of the trimming mode changed in step S107 is performed. The processing is performed by the processing unit 14.

In S111, OK of the input operation instructing section 25
It is determined whether or not an operation on the button has been detected by the sub CPU 24. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S112, and if No, the process returns to S105 and the above-described process is repeated. In S112, it is determined whether or not the currently active cursor is the first cursor group. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S113, and if No (the currently active cursor is the second cursor group), The process proceeds to S114.

In step S113, the currently active cursor is switched from the first cursor group to the second cursor group.
The image processing unit 14 is controlled so that the line thickness of each cursor is also changed according to the switching. After finishing this process, the process returns to S105 and the above-described process is repeated.

In step S114, the image processing unit 14 is controlled to superimpose and display the trimming frame on the original image, so that the user of the electronic camera can confirm the trimmed partial image. This display is called a confirmation display. In S115, the image processing unit 14 is controlled to resize the partial image in the trimming frame, the JPEG processing unit 16 performs a compression process on the obtained image data, and an image created as a result of the compression process. The data is recorded in the SSFDC 21, and the trimming control process ends.

When the main CPU 23 performs the above-described trimming control processing, the above-described trimming processing is realized by the electronic camera shown in FIG. Next, another method of the trimming process performed in the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the above-described trimming method, when the size of the range of the partial image to be trimmed is set to a range smaller than the predetermined size, a warning is given to that effect. A trimming frame having a size corresponding to the number of pixels set by selection is superimposed on the original image, and the trimming frame is moved without being enlarged or reduced on the original image to determine a partial image to be trimmed. In this way, it is not possible to set a trimming frame of a small size such that the image quality of the trimmed image is significantly reduced.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the contents of a second example of the trimming control process performed by the main CPU 23. In the figure, the processes from S101 to S103 are the same processes as those in the first example shown in FIG.

In S201, it is determined whether or not the trimming size has been designated, and the determination result is Yes.
If so, the process proceeds to S202. On the other hand, if the decision result is No, the process proceeds to S104 in FIG. 3 and thereafter the process shown in FIG. 3 is performed. Here, the size designation will be described. In the size designation, the user of the electronic camera designates the number of pixels of the partial image to be trimmed.
XGA (Ultra XGA, number of pixels: 1600 × 1200)
XGA (eXtendedGraphics Array,
Number of pixels: 1024 x 768) or VGA (Video Grap)
hicsArray, the number of pixels: 640 × 480) can be specified, and VGA or QVGA can be specified for an XGA original image. It is also possible not to make this designation, and in the process of S201, when this size designation is designated to any, the determination result is Ye
When the size is not specified, the determination result is No.

In step S202, the image processing unit 14 performs image processing for displaying a trimming frame having a shape and size corresponding to the size designation on the image being displayed on the LCD display unit 19. FIG. 4B shows a display example of the trimming frame. In the same figure, is a display example in which a trimming frame corresponding to XGA is superimposed and displayed on an original image of UXGA.
5 is a display example in which a trimming frame corresponding to VGA is superimposed on the original image of A.

In S203, the operation on the cross button of the input operation instructing section 25 is acquired by the sub CPU 24, and the instruction for moving the trimming frame is acquired by the main CPU 23. Here, in S204, it is determined whether or not an operation on the vertical / horizontal switching button of the input operation instruction unit 25 has been detected by the sub CPU 24. Only when this determination result is Yes, the current operation setting of the trimming mode is changed in S205. The mode can be switched from one of the vertical mode and the horizontal mode to the other.

In step S206, image processing for moving the trimming frame displayed on the LCD display unit 19 in accordance with the movement instruction acquired in step S203 and the operation setting of the trimming mode changed in step S205 is performed by image processing. Let the unit 14 do this.

In S207, OK of the input operation instruction unit 25
It is determined whether or not an operation on the button has been detected by the sub CPU 24. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S208, and if No, the process returns to S202 and the above-described process is repeated. In S208, the image processing unit 14
To resize the partial image in the trimming frame,
The JPEG processing unit 16 performs a compression process on the obtained image data, and the image data created as a result of the compression process is recorded in the SSFDC 21, and the trimming control process ends.

By the main CPU 23 performing the above-described trimming control processing, the above-described trimming processing is realized by the electronic camera shown in FIG. Next, the structure of the file storing the trimmed image data in the process of recording the trimmed image data in the SSFDC 21 performed in S115 of FIG. 3 or S208 of FIG. 4A will be described.

In this electronic camera, image data obtained by photographing is used as an image data file in the SSFDC21.
, The file name of the image file is given according to a certain rule. It is assumed that the image files recorded in the SSFDC 21 have the following file names, for example. P1160001. JPG P1160002. JPG P1160003. JPG P1160004. JPG Of the above file names, the second character "1"
Indicates the calendar month of the shooting date, and the third and fourth characters “16” indicate the calendar month of the shooting date. In other words, it means that the images included in these files were taken on “1” month and “16”. When the calendar month of the shooting date is October, November, or December, the main CPU 2
No. 3 generates a file name using the second character of the file name of the image file as “A”, “B”, and “C”, respectively.

The fifth through eighth numbers in the above file names are the SSFDC21 of the image file.
Shows the order of recording to. Also, the extension “JPG” is used for the image data stored in this image file.
This indicates that data compression processing by the PEG method has been performed.

When the image of the image file “P1160002.JPG” among the image files recorded in the SSFDC 21 is trimmed as an original image, and three trimmed images are created, the contents of the SSFDC 21 are recorded. Is changed as follows under the control of the main CPU 23. P1160001. JPG P1160003. JPG P1160004. JPG P1160005. JPG (Renamed original image) P1160006. JPG (trimmed image) P1160007. JPG (trimmed image) P1160008. JPG (trimmed image) As described above, under the control of the main CPU 23, the image file of the original image that has been subjected to the trimming processing is changed (renamed) to the file name with the youngest recording order in the SSFDC 21, and the original image is renamed. The image file for the trimmed image created from is assigned a file name in the recording order of the serial number following the renamed file name added to the image file of the original image. However,
Characters relating to the shooting date in the file name of the image file of the trimmed image indicate the shooting date of the original image.

According to the rule of the file name described above, the relation between the original image and the trimmed image can be inferred to some extent from the file name. Note that if the electronic camera is used for shooting after creating the three trimmed images described above,
Image files newly recorded in the SSFDC 21 include:
A file name “Pxxx0009.JPG” is assigned. Here, “xxx” is a character indicating the shooting date.

Further, in addition to the file name rules described above,
The main CPU 23 controls the SSFDC 21 to add information indicating the relationship between the original image and the trimmed image to the image file and record the image file. FIG. 5 shows the data structure of the image file recorded in the SSFDC 21. As shown in the figure, the image file has an area where the file name is stored,
Header area in which attribute information (property) of the image file is stored, thumbnail area in which image data representing a reduced image of the image in the image file is stored, and image data area in which image data is stored With regions. The image file for the thumbnail image uses the header area of the image file. At a predetermined recording position in the area, a flag indicating that the image of the image file is a trimmed image, and an image before the trimmed image is created. The file name of the image file of a certain original image is recorded.

When searching the SSFDC 21 for a combination of an image file of an original image and an image file of a trimmed image, the search processing can be speeded up by using both the information in the header area and the information obtained from the above-mentioned file name. It becomes possible. Further, the relationship between the image file of the original image and the image file of the trimmed image can be managed more easily than creating another document file or the like.

By the way, the trimming process described above is performed by a computer having a standard configuration, that is, a CPU for controlling each component of the computer by executing a control program, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic storage device, and the like. A storage unit used as a storage of a control program for causing the CPU to control each component, a work area when the CPU executes the control program, or a storage area of various data, and various types of data according to user operations. A computer comprising: an input unit from which data is acquired; an output unit that presents various data to a display or the like to notify a user; and an I / F unit that provides an interface function for connecting to a network. Accordingly, the present invention can be implemented.

In order to implement the present invention using such a computer, the CPU controls each component of the computer so that the functions of each component of the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1 (FIGS. 3 and 4 ( a) a control program for causing a computer to execute the respective processes shown in a) is recorded on, for example, a computer-readable recording medium, and the program is read from the recording medium by the computer and executed by the CPU. To be executed. Examples of the recording medium on which the recorded control program can be read by a computer include a storage device such as a ROM or a hard disk device provided as a built-in or external accessory device in the computer, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, an MO ( Magneto-optical disk),
Portable recording media such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM can be used.

The recording medium may be a storage device provided in a program server which is a computer connected to the computer via a network. In this case, a transmission signal obtained by modulating a carrier with a data signal representing the control program is transmitted from a program server through a network as a transmission medium, and the computer demodulates the received transmission signal to reproduce the control program. Thus, the control program can be executed.

[0067]

As described in detail above, the present invention provides
Obtain image data representing an image, and, based on an instruction of the position and size of an image area, which is a partial area in the image, are substantially the same as the aspect ratio of the image or the inverse ratio of the aspect ratio of the image. By setting the image area having substantially the same aspect ratio and having a shape substantially similar to the image for the image, and creating image data representing the image in the image area. Since the aspect ratio of the image area is set to be substantially the same as the aspect ratio of the original image (or the inverse ratio thereof), the shape of the image in the image area is kept substantially constant.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that a general user can easily perform an appropriate trimming operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic camera embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a trimming range designation screen.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process content of a first example of a trimming control process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the trimming process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of an image file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 photographing lens 12 imaging element 13 imaging processing unit 14 image processing unit 15 DRAM 16 JPEG processing unit 17 VRAM 18 LCD driver 19 LCD display unit 20 I / F unit 21 SSFDC 22 flash memory 23 main CPU 24 sub CPU 25 input instruction acquisition unit 26 bus

Claims (9)

[Claims] A reading unit that reads out image data representing an image from a recording medium; an instructing unit that instructs a position and a size of an image area which is a partial area in the image; Image area setting means for setting an area for the image; display means for displaying the image in which the set image area is specified; and image data representing an image in the image area on the recording medium. Recording means for recording, wherein the image area setting means has an aspect ratio substantially the same as the aspect ratio of the image or substantially the same as the inverse ratio of the aspect ratio of the image, and is substantially similar to the image. An image processing apparatus, wherein the image area having the shape of the image is set. 2. The image area set by the image area setting means, wherein the image area has an aspect ratio substantially the same as the aspect ratio of the image or an aspect ratio substantially the same as the inverse ratio of the aspect ratio of the image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that switches between the two. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit instructs the image area to have a predetermined size. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a warning unit for issuing a warning when the size of the image area designated by the designation unit is smaller than a predetermined size. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit adds information indicating a relation between the image and the image area to image data representing an image in the image area and records the information on the recording medium. The image processing device according to claim 1. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording unit changes a file name of a file storing image data representing the image on the recording medium. 7. An image pickup means for picking up an image representing a subject image and recording image data representing the image on a recording medium, a reading means for reading out the image data from the recording medium, and a partial area in the image. Instruction means for instructing the position and size of a certain image area; image area setting means for setting the image area with respect to the image based on the instruction; and the image in which the set image area is specified Display means for displaying, and recording means for recording image data representing an image in the image area on the recording medium, wherein the image area setting means is substantially the same as or has an aspect ratio of the image. An electronic camera, wherein the image area having an aspect ratio substantially the same as the inverse ratio of the aspect ratio and having a shape substantially similar to the image is set. 8. An image data representing an image is obtained, and based on an instruction of a position and a size of an image area which is a partial area in the image, an aspect ratio of the image is substantially equal to or an aspect ratio of the image. An image region having an aspect ratio substantially equal to the inverse ratio of the ratio and having a shape substantially similar to the image is set for the image, and image data representing an image in the image region is created. An image processing method, characterized in that: 9. A program for causing a computer to execute image processing by causing the computer to execute image processing, wherein the program acquires image data representing an image, and a position and a size of an image area which is a partial area in the image. Based on the instruction, the image area having an aspect ratio substantially the same as the aspect ratio of the image or substantially the same as the inverse ratio of the aspect ratio of the image, and having a shape substantially similar to the image is added to the image. And causing the computer to create image data representing the image in the image area.