JP2003057763A - Imaging/printing system, imaging apparatus print performance exhibition state reporting method, and computer readable medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging/printing system, an imaging apparatus a print performance exhibition state reporting method, and a computer readable medium which enable free selection of print area designation frames of various sizes keeping an aspect ratio of a print area unequivocally determined by vertical and horizontal sizes of a print form and a selected print pattern. SOLUTION: A CPU 21 of a digital camera 1 selects simple print which unequivocally determines a print area of the form in accordance with vertical and horizontal sizes of a print object picture, those of the form, and a print mode or trimming frame designation print which displays a print designation area frame on a liquid crystal picture 5 and enables change of the size of the print designation area frame and movement of the print designation area frame, on the basis of operation of an operation member 4 and selects a desired print designation area from a plurality of print designation areas and selects a horizontally long print designation area frame or a vertically long print designation area frame as the print designation area frame for trimming frame designation print.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup / printing system including an image pickup device such as a digital camera and a printing device such as a thermal transfer printer, an image pickup device, a printing performance exhibiting state notifying method, and a computer-readable medium. More specifically, imaging / printing suitable when electronic information captured by a still camera that records a still image or a video camera that records a moving image is printed out by a thermal transfer printer via a computer or a recording medium. The present invention relates to a system, an imaging device, a printing performance display state notification method, and a computer-readable medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a heat-sensitive paper has been used as a printing paper, and a plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction are selectively driven, and the paper is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction to form a paper. There is a line thermal transfer type printer that prints in a dot line shape. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the progress of image input devices that handle images, such as digital cameras and digital video cameras as image input devices, or scanners, thermal transfer type printers have attracted attention as printing means.

The reason why the thermal transfer printer is drawing attention is as follows. That is, since the ink jet printer has only a binary selection of whether or not to eject the droplet, a small droplet is landed on the paper to obtain an apparent resolution and gradation by a method such as error diffusion. It is something to try. On the other hand, in the case of a thermal transfer type printer, since the controllable heat value can be easily changed in one pixel, it is possible to obtain many gradations for one pixel. It is possible to obtain smoother and higher quality images than a printer. In addition, since the thermal transfer type printer has improved the performance of the thermal head and the performance of the paper material, it has become possible to obtain image prints with a finished quality that is not inferior to that of silver halide photographs. It has attracted attention as a printer for natural images so as to keep pace with.

Therefore, by directly connecting or integrally forming the printer device and a photographing device such as a digital camera or a digital video camera as described above, image information photographed by the photographing device can be obtained. , Systems that print without using an information processing device such as a computer that processes image information have also appeared.

A print system in which a digital camera and a printer device are directly connected will be specifically described. The image captured by the digital camera is temporarily stored in the recording medium of the digital camera. In order to print out this image from the printer device, the user directly connects the digital camera and the printer device with a dedicated cable. Next, the image stored in the recording medium is displayed on the display device of the digital camera, and the image to be printed is selected. At this time, needless to say, the operation member included in the digital camera is used to select an image. When you can select the image you want to print, press the print instruction key assigned to the operating member of the digital camera. By doing so, image processing for printing is executed in the digital camera. When the image processing in the digital camera is completed, the print data is transferred to the printer device, and the printer device prints out the received print data.

In the above description, the user can perform a photographic printout simply by operating the operating member of the digital camera several times in order to print out, which is very convenient.

Further, although the number of times the user operates the operation member of the digital camera increases a little, the trimming frame designation printing capable of designating an area desired to be printed out can obtain a desired angle of view or can be regarded as a photographed image. This is a very useful printing method from the viewpoint that different printed images can be obtained. The print designation area in the trimming frame designation printing has print area designation frames of a plurality of sizes that maintain the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper and the aspect ratio of the print area that is uniquely determined by the selected print pattern. By allowing the designated frame to move within the range of the original image size, the user can select the image area to be printed.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. That is, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when performing trimming frame designation printing, printing of a plurality of sizes maintaining the aspect ratio of the print area that is uniquely determined by the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper and the selected print pattern as described above. There is a problem that the user cannot freely select the area designation frame.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and specifies a plurality of sizes of print areas that maintain the aspect ratio of the print area that is uniquely determined by the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper and the selected print pattern. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging / printing system capable of freely selecting a frame, an imaging device, a printing performance exhibiting state notifying method, and a computer-readable medium.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has an image pickup device having an image pickup means for converting an optical image of an object into an electric signal, and the image pickup device stores the image. An image pick-up / printing system including a printing device for printing an image on a printing sheet, the image pick-up device including an area selection unit capable of selecting a desired print designation area from a plurality of print designation areas, and the print designation. As the frame indicating the area, there is provided a frame selecting unit capable of selecting either a frame indicating a horizontally long print designation area or a frame indicating a vertically long print designation area.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 2 is such that in the image pickup device, the size in the longitudinal direction of the print designation area determined from the printing paper is smaller than the size in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed. It is characterized by having a control means for performing a control to warn that effect.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 is such that the printing device has a function capable of imparting gradation to one pixel, and the image pickup device is arranged to Number of pixels in the longitudinal direction + α> number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the selected print designation area ”(where α
Is an integer value smaller than the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed) based on a relational expression, a determination unit that determines whether or not the selected print designation area can exhibit a predetermined performance of the printing apparatus. And the control means is
When it is determined by the determination means that the selected print designation area cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area can be used when the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus can be exhibited. It is characterized in that control for changing to a color different from the color is performed.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the printing paper is a borderless print pattern for printing an image on the entire surface of the printing paper, and the printing is performed so that the entire image fits on the printing paper. It is characterized by including a bordered print pattern and a multi-print pattern for printing a plurality of the same images on printing paper.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 5 sets the size of the print designation area in each of the print patterns in a plurality of stages while keeping the aspect ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions or the reciprocal thereof constant. It is characterized by being.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 6 warns when the selected print designation area cannot determine the predetermined performance of the printing device by the determination means. It is characterized by having a warning means for performing.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 7 is that the warning means gives the warning by changing a color of a frame indicating the print designation area under the control of the control means. Characterize.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the warning means gives the warning by lighting or blinking a warning icon.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the warning means gives the warning by displaying a warning character.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that the warning means gives the warning by outputting a warning voice.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 11 has an image pickup means for converting an optical image of a subject into an electric signal, and is used in combination with a printing means for printing the picked-up image on a printing paper. An image pickup apparatus that is capable of selecting a desired print designation area from a plurality of print designation areas, a frame indicating a horizontal print designation area as a frame indicating the print designation area, and a vertical print designation. And a frame selection unit capable of selecting any one of the frames indicating the regions.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 12 warns when the size in the longitudinal direction of the print designation area determined from the printing paper becomes smaller than the size in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed. It is characterized in that it has a control means for carrying out control.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 13 is that "the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed + α> the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the selected print designation area" (where α is the print Based on a relational expression represented by the integer value smaller than the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the target image), there is a determining means for determining whether or not the selected print designation area can exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing means. However, when the determination unit determines that the selected print designation region cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing unit, the control unit sets the color of the frame indicating the print designation region to the predetermined value of the printing unit. Is controlled such that the color is changed to a color different from the color at which the above performance can be exhibited, and the printing means has a function capable of imparting gradation to one pixel. .

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 14 is characterized in that the printing paper is a borderless print pattern for printing an image on the entire surface of the printing paper, and the printing is performed so that the entire image fits on the printing paper. It is characterized by including a bordered print pattern and a multi-print pattern for printing a plurality of the same images on printing paper.

To achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 15, the size of the print designation area in each of the print patterns is set in a plurality of stages with the aspect ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions or the inverse thereof being kept constant. It is characterized by being.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 16 provides a warning to the effect that the selected print designated area cannot exert the predetermined performance of the printing means by the determination means. It is characterized by having a warning means for performing.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 17 is that the warning means gives the warning by changing the color of a frame indicating the print designation area under the control of the control means. Characterize.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 18 is characterized in that the warning means gives the warning by lighting or blinking a warning icon.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 19 is characterized in that the warning means gives the warning by displaying a warning character.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 20 is characterized in that the warning means gives the warning by outputting a warning voice.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 21 has an image pickup device having an image pickup means for converting an optical image of a subject into an electric signal, and an image picked up and stored by the image pickup device on a printing paper. A printing performance exhibiting state notification method executed by an imaging / printing system including a printing device for printing, wherein the imaging device includes an area selecting step capable of selecting a desired print specifying area from a plurality of print specifying areas. As a frame indicating the print designation region, a frame selecting step capable of selecting either a frame indicating a horizontally long print designation region or a frame indicating a vertically long print designation region is provided.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 22 is characterized in that, in the image pickup device, a size in a longitudinal direction of a print designation area determined from printing paper is smaller than a size in a longitudinal direction of an image to be printed. It is characterized by having a control step for performing a control for issuing a warning to that effect.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 23 is characterized in that the printing device has a function capable of giving gradation to one pixel, and the image pickup device is arranged to Number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of + + α> number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the selected print designation area ”(however,
(α is an integer value smaller than the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed) Based on a relational expression, it is determined whether or not the selected print designation area can exhibit a predetermined performance of the printing apparatus. When the control step determines that the selected print designation area cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing device in the control step, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area is printed in the printing step. It is characterized in that control is performed to change the color to a color different from the color when the predetermined performance of the apparatus can be exhibited.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 24, the printing paper is a borderless print pattern for printing an image on the entire surface of the printing paper, and the printing is performed so that the entire image fits on the printing paper. It is characterized by including a bordered print pattern and a multi-print pattern for printing a plurality of the same images on printing paper.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 25 is such that the size of the print designation area in each of the print patterns is set in a plurality of stages while keeping the aspect ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions or the reciprocal thereof constant. It is characterized by being.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 26 provides a warning to the effect that the selected print designation area cannot exert the predetermined performance of the printing device in the determination step. It has a warning step to

To achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 27, in the warning step, the warning is given by changing a color of a frame indicating the print designation area under the control of the control step. Characterize.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 28 is characterized in that in the warning step, the warning is given by lighting or blinking a warning icon.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 29 is characterized in that, in the warning step, the warning is given by displaying a warning character.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 30 is characterized in that, in the warning step, the warning is given by outputting a warning voice.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of a thirty-first aspect is implemented by an image pickup / printing system in which the image pickup device and the printing device are integrated.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 32 has an image pickup device having an image pickup means for converting an optical image of an object into an electric signal, and an image picked up by the image pickup device and stored on a printing paper. A computer-readable medium applied to an image pickup / printing system including a printing device for printing, which is capable of selecting a desired print designation area from a plurality of print designation areas, and a frame indicating the print designation area. Is characterized by having a content indicating that either a frame indicating a horizontally long print designation area or a frame indicating a vertically long print designation area can be selected.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 33 warns when the size in the longitudinal direction of the print designation area determined from the printing paper becomes smaller than the size in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed. It is characterized by having the content to be made.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 34 is that "the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed + α> the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the selected print designation area" (where α is the print). Based on a relational expression represented by (an integer value smaller than the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the target image), the selected print designation area has a predetermined value of the printing apparatus capable of giving gradation to one pixel. When it is determined that the selected print designation area cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus, the content of the determination of whether or not the performance can be performed, and the color of the frame indicating the print designation area is set to the printing apparatus. The content of changing the color to a color different from the color when the predetermined performance can be exhibited.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 35, wherein the printing paper is a borderless print pattern for printing an image on the entire surface of the printing paper, and the printing paper is printed so that the entire image fits on the printing paper. It is characterized by including a bordered print pattern and a multi-print pattern for printing a plurality of the same images on printing paper.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to a thirty-sixth aspect is such that the size of the print designation area in each of the print patterns is set in a plurality of stages while keeping the aspect ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions or the inverse thereof constant. It is characterized by being.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 37 has a content to warn to that effect when it is determined that the selected print designation area cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus. It is characterized by

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 38 is characterized in that the warning is given by changing the color of the frame indicating the print designation area.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 39 is characterized in that the warning is given by lighting or blinking the warning icon.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 40 is characterized in that the warning is displayed by displaying a warning character.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 41 is characterized in that the warning is output by outputting a warning voice.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 42 is applicable to an image pickup / printing system in which the image pickup device and the printing device are integrated.

[0052]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First, an outline of the present invention will be described before describing an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is
The image area desired by the user can be printed on the printing paper, and in the trimming frame designation printing, when there is a possibility that the predetermined performance of the printer may not be exhibited, the color of the frame indicating the printable area is set to the printer. Change to a color different from the color of the frame when the specified performance can be demonstrated, turn on or blink the warning icon on the display of the digital camera, display in characters on the display of the digital camera, By notifying that fact, it is possible to select not to print at the user's discretion, and a flexible printing system is realized. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a print system including the digital camera and the sublimation type thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of FIG. The printing system includes an operation member 4 and a liquid crystal screen 5.
(LCD of FIG. 3), a digital camera 1 including a memory medium (CF of FIG. 3) and the like, and a sublimation type thermal transfer printer (hereinafter abbreviated as printer) 3 are connected by a dedicated cable 2.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, an image taken by the digital camera 1 and an image stored in the memory medium after being taken and read again are used as print data to be printed by the printer 3 in the digital camera 1. After processing
This is an example in which yellow, magenta, and cyan are sent to the printer 3 in order via the dedicated cable 2 and the data is color printed by the printer 3. User is digital camera 1
Select a print pattern, an image to be printed, a print designation frame, etc., which will be described later, with the operation member 4 of the digital camera 1
It is possible to confirm those contents on the liquid crystal screen 5 of.

Further, the printer 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is so-called simple in that the printing area on the printing paper is uniquely determined by the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image to be printed, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper, and the printing mode. Printing, displaying a frame indicating the print designation area on the liquid crystal screen 5, and changing the size of the frame indicating the print designation area and moving the frame indicating the print designation area are possible by the operation member 4 (depending on the user's intention. It is configured to be able to support both trimming frame designation printing (where the printing area can be set).

From the operation member 4 of the digital camera 1, either one of simple printing and trimming frame designation printing is selected, a desired print designation area is selected from a plurality of print designation areas,
As the frame indicating the print designation area in the trimming frame designation printing, it is possible to select either a frame indicating a horizontally long print designation area or a frame indicating a vertically long print designation area.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for explaining the basic principle of a sublimation type thermal transfer system which is an image recording system of the printer 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (1) is a sublimation type thermal transfer mechanism. And (2) is an explanatory view showing the structure of the ink sheet and the dedicated printing paper. The sublimation type thermal transfer system is a transfer system using a diffusion phenomenon of a dye (pigment).
Reference numeral 11 in the figure is an ink sheet in which dyes of three colors (yellow, magenta, and cyan) are applied to a plastic sheet, which is composed of a base 15 and a sublimable dye 16.
Reference numeral 12 is a dedicated photographic printing paper, which is composed of a base 17 and a receiving layer 18.

The ink sheet 11 is sandwiched by the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 14 while being superposed on the dedicated printing paper 12. In the figure, 9 and 10 are members for feeding / winding the ink sheet. A color print is obtained by sublimating / thermally diffusing the ink sheet 11 on the dedicated printing paper 12 by the heat of the thermal head 13. Further, the dedicated photographic printing paper 2 is coated with a receiving layer 18 containing a polyester resin as a main component in order to secure the color development of the sublimable dye 16 of the ink sheet 11. Reference numeral 19 in the receiving layer 18 is a dye molecule.

The printer 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is capable of giving gradation by controlling the heat given to the thermal head 13. Each of the three colors (yellow, magenta, cyan) is provided. High-definition full-color printing on a pixel-by-pixel basis can be realized by giving a gradation to and printing at the same place on the dedicated printing paper 12. That is, the printer 3 has a function capable of giving gradation to one pixel.

FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital camera 1 that performs an image processing portion for creating print data of the printer 3. FIG. The digital camera 1 has a CCD 20 and a CP
U21, image processing engine 22, Flash ROM (flash ROM) 23, SDRAM (Synchronous Dyna)
mic RAM) 24, CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory) 25, CF connector 26, LCD 27,
The LCD driver 28 is provided.

The CCD 20 is a photoelectric conversion element for converting an image formed through a lens (not shown) of the digital camera 1 into an electric signal. The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that controls the entire digital camera 1 and performs arithmetic processing, and executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 based on a program stored in a Flash ROM (flash ROM) 23. The image processing engine 22 is the CCD 2
Processes electrical signals sent from 0. FlashR
The OM 23 stores a program for controlling the entire digital camera 1. The SDRAM 24 is used for temporary storage of image data and data processing work. A CF (CompactFlash (registered trademark) memory) 25 stores an image data file. The CF connector 26 is a CF
25 for mounting the digital camera 1 in the digital camera 1.
The LCD 27 displays an image taken by the digital camera 1 and a menu for operating the digital camera 1. The LCD driver 28 drives and controls the LCD 27.

Next, the first aspect of the present invention constructed as described above
The operation of the printing system according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the operation member 4 of the digital camera 1 selects three print patterns as shown in FIG. 4 as print patterns (print modes) to be printed by the printer 3. Is possible. The first is the "rimless print pattern" (Fig. 4
(1)). This "rimless print pattern" is
This is a pattern for printing an image on the entire surface of printing paper. The second is the "print pattern with edges" (Fig. 4
(2)). This "rimmed print pattern" is
This is a pattern for printing so that the entire image fits on the printing paper. The third is a "multi-print pattern" (Fig. 4 (3)). This “multi-print pattern” has a plurality of identical images (8 in this example) on the printing paper.
3) A pattern for printing.

For example, when an image having an aspect ratio of 3: 4 in the vertical and horizontal directions is printed on a printing paper of a telephone card size, among the above three print patterns (print modes), in the borderless print pattern (print mode), As shown in FIG. 5, the upper and lower parts (semi-transparent parts) of the original image are considerably cut.

Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention,
The user can now select the print designated area to print. A method of selecting the print designation area will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 6A, the print designation area is represented by a green square frame. The size of this frame has, for example, eight levels, and the user can select a print designation frame of a desired size with the operation member 4 of the digital camera 1. The print designation frame selected as shown in FIG. 6B is, for example, the digital camera 1
It is possible to move up, down, left and right by operating the operation member 4 such as the cross key. Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, it is possible to select a print designation area obtained by rotating the print designation area shown in FIG. 6 by 90 degrees, and the selection step is, for example, 5 steps. It can be moved vertically and horizontally as shown in 2).

The print designation area in the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is the size of the printing paper,
The print pattern is determined, but the details will be described below. The print pattern according to the first embodiment of the present invention has three types of print patterns, as shown in FIG. 4, that is, "a print pattern without a border", a "print pattern with a border", and a "multi-print pattern".

First, in the case of the "borderless print pattern" in which an image is printed on the entire surface of the print paper, the aspect ratio of the print paper becomes the aspect ratio of the print designation area. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the size of the print designation area is set in eight steps while keeping the aspect ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions constant. For a vertically long print designation area rotated by 90 degrees with respect to horizontally long printing paper, the vertical and horizontal aspect ratios of the printing paper are exchanged, that is, the reciprocal of the vertical and horizontal aspect ratios is kept constant. The designated area is set in 5 levels.

Next, in the case of the "print pattern with borders", in which the entire image is printed on the printing paper, the aspect ratio of the image to be printed becomes the aspect ratio of the print designation area. First of the present invention
In the embodiment, the size of the print designation area is set in eight steps while keeping the aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal directions constant. Regarding the vertically long print designation area rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the horizontally long printing paper, the vertical and horizontal aspect ratios of the image to be printed are interchanged, that is, the reciprocal of the vertical and horizontal aspect ratios is kept constant. As it is, the print designation area is set in five steps.

Finally, in the case of the "multi-print pattern" in which the same image is printed on eight sheets of printing paper, the aspect ratio of the image to be printed becomes the aspect ratio of the print designation area. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the size of the print designation area is set in eight steps while keeping the aspect ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions constant.
For a vertically long print designation area rotated by 90 degrees with respect to horizontally long printing paper, the vertical and horizontal aspect ratios of the printing paper are exchanged, that is, the reciprocal of the vertical and horizontal aspect ratios is kept constant. The designated area is set in 5 levels.

Further, in the first embodiment of the present invention,
If the selected print designation area is smaller than a certain value in any of the print patterns of "Borderless print pattern", "Bordered print pattern", and "Multi-print pattern", the print data creation process Enlargement processing is required, and even if appropriate interpolation processing is performed in the enlargement processing, the printed image may be printed without exhibiting the inherent performance of the printer. In that case, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area is changed from, for example, “green” to “red” in order to prompt the user.

The color of the frame indicating the print designation area is "green"
When changing from “red” to “red,” specifically, (the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed + α)
> (Number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the selected print designation area) However, when the relationship of α: an integer value smaller than the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area is changed. The color is "red". For example, as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 (1) shows an example of an enlarged warning of a horizontally long frame, in which, for example, the outer four frames are "green" and the inner three frames are "red". Also, FIG.
(2) is an example showing an enlargement warning of a vertically long frame, for example, one frame on the outer side is "green" and four frames on the inner side are "red". Here, the above α is about several tens of pixels.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the processing when changing the color of the frame indicating the print designation area in the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This flowchart is executed by the CPU 21 of the digital camera 1 based on a program. First, the CPU 21
Based on the input operation from the operation member 4 by the user, print pattern information (“print pattern without border”, “print pattern with border”, “multi-print pattern”)
Of the print designation frame) and the trimming information (width and height of the print designation frame, vertical and horizontal positions from the origin) are acquired (step S101). Next, the CPU 21 distributes the processing to the trimming size determination according to the designated print pattern according to the print pattern information acquired in step S101 (step S102).

Further, the CPU 21 is indicated by the trimming information (size of the print designation frame) selected in each print pattern (“print pattern without border”, “print pattern with border”, “multi-print pattern”). The size in the longitudinal direction is compared with the size in the longitudinal direction of the print data (step S103, step S104, step S105). When the size of the print data in the longitudinal direction is large, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area is changed from “green” to “red” R
Set 1 to edFlg (Re in step S103)
dFlg = 1, RedFlg = 1 in step S104,
RedFlg = 1) in step S105. Finally, CP
U21 is the LCD of the digital camera 1 with the print designation frame.
Display on 27. At this time, if RedFlg is 1, the print designation frame is "red", and if RedFlg is 0, the print designation frame is "green" (step S10).
6).

As described above, in the trimming frame designation printing, when there is a risk of printing without exhibiting the inherent performance of the printer, the color of the print designation frame is the frame at which the predetermined performance of the printer can be exhibited. By changing the color to, it is possible to select whether or not to print at the user's discretion, and it is possible to realize a flexible printing system.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area (print designation frame) is changed when there is a risk of printing without the performance of the printer. The user was informed of this by doing so, but the warning icon was turned on or blinked on the LCD 27 of the digital camera 1, the warning character was displayed on the LCD 27 of the digital camera 1, and the audio output equipped in the digital camera 1 was output. It goes without saying that it is also possible to notify the user of that fact by outputting a warning voice from the section.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper and the plurality of sizes that maintain the aspect ratio of the print area uniquely determined by the selected print pattern. The effect is that the frame indicating the print designation area can be freely selected.

Further, in the case of performing trimming frame designation printing, if there is a possibility that the predetermined performance of the printer cannot be exhibited, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area is set to the frame used when the predetermined performance of the printer can be exhibited. To provide a printing system with high flexibility by enabling control to change to a color different from that of the color and notifying the user of that fact so that it is possible to select not to print at the user's discretion. Has the effect of enabling.

Further, when configuring a print system in which a printer and a photographing device such as a digital camera (or a digital video camera) are directly connected, it is uniquely determined by the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image to be printed, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper, and the print mode. Printing the image area desired by the user by supporting so-called simple printing that determines the printing area on the printing paper and trimming frame designation printing that allows the user to set the printing area. Has the effect of enabling.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printer built-in digital camera (hereinafter referred to as a digital camera) according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 1001 includes an operation member 1002, a liquid crystal screen 1003, a memory medium (CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory), not shown) and the like, and has a sublimation type thermal transfer printer (hereinafter abbreviated as printer) built therein. Has become.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, after the image taken by the digital camera 1001 and the image stored in the memory medium after shooting and read out again are processed into the print data of the printer in the digital camera 1001, In this example, color printing is performed with a printer built in the digital camera 1001.

Further, the printer built in the digital camera 1001 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a vertical and horizontal size of the image to be printed and a vertical and horizontal size of the printing paper as in the first embodiment. The so-called simple printing that uniquely determines the print area on the printing paper according to the print mode, the frame indicating the print designation area is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 1003, and the size of the frame indicating the print designation area and the print designation are set. The movement of the frame indicating the area is changed by the operation member 1002.
It is possible to support both trimming frame designation printing (capable of setting a printing area according to the user's intention).

The user selects the print pattern (print mode), the image to be printed, the number of prints, etc. by the operation member 1002 of the digital camera 1001 as in the first embodiment, and the digital camera 1001 is selected.
It is possible to confirm those contents on the liquid crystal screen 1003. The image processing for creating the print data is the same as that in the first embodiment described above, and is therefore omitted in the second embodiment.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, like the first embodiment, it is uniquely determined by the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper and the selected print pattern. The present invention has an effect that it is possible to freely select a frame indicating print designation areas of a plurality of sizes while maintaining the aspect ratio of the print area.

Further, in the case of performing trimming frame designation printing, if there is a possibility that the prescribed performance of the printer incorporated in the digital camera may not be exerted, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area is set to the prescribed performance of the printer. While controlling to change to a color different from the frame color when you can exhibit
By notifying the user of that fact, it is possible to select not to print at the user's discretion, and it is possible to provide a flexible digital camera (print system) with a built-in printer. Play.

Furthermore, when configuring a print system in which a printer and a photographing device such as a digital camera (or a digital video camera) are integrated, it is uniquely determined by the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image to be printed, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper, and the print mode. Printing the image area desired by the user by supporting so-called simple printing that determines the printing area on the printing paper and trimming frame designation printing that allows the user to set the printing area. Has the effect of enabling.

[Other Embodiments] In the first embodiment of the present invention, the image taken by the digital camera is sent to the printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the digital camera can be used. It is also possible to send the taken image to the printer via the computer.

In the above-described first and second embodiments of the present invention, the sublimation type thermal transfer printer is taken as an example of the printing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this, and printers of other printing methods are used. It is also applicable to.

In the first to second embodiments of the present invention, a digital camera is taken as an example of the image pickup device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a digital video camera. is there.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. A medium such as a storage medium that stores a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the medium in the medium such as the storage medium. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the executed program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the medium such as the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the medium such as the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. It will be. As a medium such as a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-RO.
M, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card,
ROM or download via a network can be used.

Moreover, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where a part or all of the processing of (1) is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from a medium such as a storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is instructed. Based on the above, a case where a CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is not included in the present invention. Needless to say.

[0093]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The present invention has an effect that it is possible to freely select a frame indicating a predetermined print area of a plurality of sizes while maintaining the aspect ratio of the print area uniquely determined by the vertical and horizontal sizes of the print paper and the selected print pattern.

In the trimming frame designation printing, if it is determined that the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus cannot be achieved, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area is the frame used when the performance of the printing apparatus can be exhibited. By controlling to change to a color different from the color of, and notifying the user to that effect,
It is possible to select not to print at the user's discretion, and it is possible to provide an imaging / printing system that is highly flexible.

Furthermore, an imaging / printing system in which a printing device and an imaging device (digital camera, digital video camera, etc.) are directly connected, or an imaging / printing system in which the printing device and the imaging device are integrated
When configuring the printing system, so-called simple printing that uniquely determines the print area on the print paper according to the vertical and horizontal size of the print target image, the vertical and horizontal size of the print paper, and the print mode, and the print area is set by the user's intention By supporting the trimming frame designation printing that can be performed, it is possible to print the image area desired by the user on the printing paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a print system including a digital camera and a sublimation type thermal transfer printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an outline of a sublimation type thermal transfer system according to the first embodiment, (1) is an explanatory view showing a sublimation type thermal transfer mechanism, and (2) is a structure of an ink sheet and a dedicated printing paper. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a print pattern according to the first embodiment, (1) is an explanatory diagram showing a borderless print pattern, and (2) is an explanatory diagram showing a bordered print pattern;
(3) is an explanatory view showing a multi-print pattern.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing upper and lower cut portions of a print image according to the first embodiment.

6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams showing a method of designating a print frame according to the first embodiment, FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a size of the print designating frame can be selected, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which can be moved vertically and horizontally.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of designating a portrait print frame according to the first embodiment, showing an example in which the size of the print designation frame can be selected; It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which can be moved.

8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams showing an enlarged warning frame according to the first embodiment, where FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a horizontally elongated frame enlarged warning, and FIG. 8B is an example of a vertically elongated frame enlarged warning. It is an explanatory view shown.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process when changing a frame color indicating a print designation area according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a printer built-in digital camera according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera (imaging device) 3 Printer (printing device) 4,1002 Operation member (print selection means, area selection means, frame selection means) 5,1003 Liquid crystal screen (display means, warning means) 20 CCD (imaging means) 21 CPU (control means, determination means) 1001 Printer built-in digital camera (imaging device, printing means)

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 H 5B021 H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 A 5C022 F 5C052 5/76 5/76 E / / H04N 101: 00 101: 00 F term (reference) 2C061 AP10 AQ04 CQ27 CQ28 CQ30 CQ41 2C087 AA09 AB01 AC05 BA03 BA07 BA12 CB20 DA17 2H104 AA19 2H106 AA27 AA28 AA66 AA87 AB06 AB95 BA38 BA49 BA58 BH00 5H07 2A112A05 AB02 5A07B07A02 LB07 5C022 AA13 AC03 AC12 AC18 AC31 AC42 AC69 5C052 AA12 AA17 DD04 FA02 FA03 FA04 FC06 FD10 GA02 GE06

Claims (42)

[Claims] 1. An imaging / printing system comprising: an imaging device having an imaging means for converting an optical image of a subject into an electric signal; and a printing device for printing an image captured by the imaging device and stored on a printing paper. The image pickup device includes an area selecting unit that can select a desired print specifying area from a plurality of print specifying areas, a frame indicating a horizontally long print specifying area as a frame indicating the print specifying area, and a vertically long print. An image pickup / printing system, comprising: a frame selection unit capable of selecting any of the frames indicating a designated area. 2. When the size of the print designation area determined by the print paper in the longitudinal direction is smaller than the size of the image to be printed in the longitudinal direction, the image pickup device has a control unit for issuing a warning to that effect. The imaging / printing system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The printing device has a function capable of imparting gradation to one pixel, and the image pickup device is arranged such that “the number of pixels in a longitudinal direction of an image to be printed + α> selected print designation”. The number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the area ”(where α is an integer value smaller than the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed) is used to determine that the selected print designation area is a predetermined area of the printing device. If the determination unit determines that the selected print designation area cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus, the control unit has a determination unit that determines whether the performance can be exhibited. 3. The imaging / printing system according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to change the color of the frame indicating the print designation area to a color different from the color when the predetermined performance of the printing device can be exhibited. Tem. 4. The printing paper includes a borderless print pattern for printing an image on the entire surface of the printing paper, a bordered print pattern for printing so that the entire image fits on the printing paper, and a plurality of identical images on the printing paper. The imaging / printing system of claim 1 including a multi-print pattern for printing. 5. The size of the print designation area in each of the print patterns is set in a plurality of stages with the aspect ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions or the inverse thereof being kept constant. Imaging / printing system. 6. If the selected print-designated area cannot determine the predetermined performance of the printing device by the determination means, a warning means is provided to give a warning to that effect. The imaging / printing system described. 7. The warning means issues the warning by changing a color of a frame indicating the print designation area under the control of the control means.
The imaging / printing system according to any one of 6 above. 8. The imaging / printing system according to claim 6, wherein the warning unit gives the warning by lighting or blinking a warning icon. 9. The imaging / printing system according to claim 6, wherein the warning unit gives the warning by displaying a warning character. 10. The image pickup / printing system according to claim 6, wherein the warning unit gives the warning by outputting a warning voice. 11. An imaging device having an imaging means for converting an optical image of an object into an electric signal and used in combination with a printing means for printing the captured image on a printing paper, comprising: a plurality of print designation areas; A region selecting means capable of selecting a desired print designation region, and a frame selection capable of selecting one of a frame indicating a horizontally long print designation region and a frame indicating a vertically long print designation region as a frame indicating the print designation region. And an image pickup device. 12. When the size in the longitudinal direction of the print designation area determined from the printing paper is smaller than the size in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed, the control means is provided for performing a control to warn that effect. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 11. 13. The “number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed + α> the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the selected print designation area” (where α is an integer value smaller than the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed). ) Has a determining means for determining whether or not the selected print designation area can exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing means, and the control means has the selected print designation area. When the determination unit determines that the region cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing unit, the color of the frame indicating the print designation region is different from the color at which the predetermined performance of the printing unit can be exhibited. 13. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the printing unit has a function capable of imparting gradation to one pixel by performing control for changing the color to 1. 14. The printing paper includes a borderless print pattern for printing an image on the entire surface of the printing paper, a bordered print pattern for printing so that the entire image fits on the printing paper, and a plurality of identical images on the printing paper. The imaging device according to claim 11, further comprising a multi-print pattern for printing. 15. The size of the print designation area in each of the print patterns is set in a plurality of stages with the aspect ratios in the vertical and horizontal directions or the reciprocals thereof being kept constant, respectively. Imaging device. 16. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a warning unit for warning that the selected print designation area cannot perform the predetermined performance of the printing unit when the determination unit determines that the selected print designated region cannot exhibit the predetermined performance. The imaging device described. 17. The warning unit gives the warning by changing a color of a frame indicating the print designation area under the control of the control unit.
The imaging device according to any one of 13 and 16. 18. The imaging / printing system according to claim 16, wherein the warning unit gives the warning by lighting or blinking a warning icon. 19. The warning means gives the warning by displaying a warning character.
The imaging device described. 20. The warning means gives the warning by outputting a warning voice.
The imaging device described. 21. An imaging / printing system comprising: an image pickup device having an image pickup means for converting an optical image of a subject into an electric signal; and a printing device for printing an image picked up by the image pickup device and stored on a printing sheet. A method for informing a printing performance display state to be executed, wherein the imaging device includes a region selection step of selecting a desired print designation region from a plurality of print designation regions, and a horizontally long print as a frame indicating the print designation region. A method for informing a printing performance exhibiting state, comprising: a frame indicating a designated area and a frame selection step capable of selecting either a frame indicating a vertically long print designated area. 22. When the size of the print designation area determined by the print paper in the longitudinal direction is smaller than the size of the image to be printed in the longitudinal direction, the image pickup apparatus has a control step of issuing a warning to that effect. 22. The printing performance exhibiting state notifying method according to claim 21, wherein. 23. The printing device has a function capable of imparting gradation to one pixel, and the image pickup device comprises:
"Number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed + α> Number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the selected print designation area"
(However, α is an integer value smaller than the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed), based on the relational expression, it is determined whether the selected print designation area can exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus. If the determination step determines that the selected print designation area cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing device in the control step, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area 23. The method for notifying a printing performance exhibiting state according to claim 21 or 22, wherein control is performed to change the color to a color different from a color when the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus can be exhibited. 24. The printing paper includes a borderless print pattern for printing an image on the entire surface of the printing paper, a bordered print pattern for printing so that the entire image fits on the printing paper, and a plurality of identical images on the printing paper. 22. The printing performance exhibiting state notification method according to claim 21, further comprising a multi-print pattern for printing. 25. The size of the print designation area in each of the print patterns is set in a plurality of stages with the aspect ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions or the inverse thereof being kept constant. A method for informing the printing performance display state. 26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising a warning step of warning that the selected print designation area cannot perform a predetermined performance of the printing device when the determination step determines. The printing performance display state notification method described. 27. In the warning step, the warning is issued by changing a color of a frame indicating the print designation area under the control of the control step.
27. The printing performance exhibiting state notifying method according to any one of 1, 23, and 26. 28. The imaging / printing system according to claim 26, wherein in the warning step, the warning is given by lighting or blinking a warning icon. 29. The warning is performed by displaying a warning character in the warning step.
6. The printing performance exhibiting state notifying method according to item 6. 30. In the warning step, the warning is given by outputting a warning voice.
6. The printing performance exhibiting state notifying method according to item 6. 31. The printing performance exhibiting state notification method according to claim 21, wherein the method is executed by an imaging / printing system in which the imaging device and the printing device are integrated. 32. An imaging / printing system comprising: an image pickup device having an image pickup means for converting an optical image of a subject into an electric signal; and a printing device for printing an image picked up by the image pickup device and stored on a printing paper. A computer-readable medium to be applied, in which a desired print designation area can be selected from a plurality of print designation areas, a frame indicating the print designation area, and a frame indicating the horizontal print designation area. A computer-readable medium having a content capable of selecting any of the frames indicating the print designation area. 33. When the size in the longitudinal direction of the print designation area determined from the printing paper becomes smaller than the size in the longitudinal direction of the image to be printed, a warning to that effect is provided. Computer-readable medium. 34. “Number of pixels in longitudinal direction of print target image + α> number of pixels in longitudinal direction of selected print designation area” (where α is an integer value smaller than number of pixels in longitudinal direction of print target image) ), Based on the relational expression shown in, the selected print designation area, the content to determine whether or not it is possible to exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing device capable of giving gradation to one pixel, When it is determined that the selected print designation area cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus, the color of the frame indicating the print designation area is different from the color when the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus can be exhibited. 34. Computer-readable medium according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that it has the content to change to a color of. 35. The printing paper includes a borderless print pattern for printing an image on the entire surface of the printing paper, a bordered print pattern for printing so that the entire image fits on the printing paper, and a plurality of identical images on the printing paper. 33. The computer readable medium of claim 32, comprising a multi-print pattern for printing. 36. The size of the print designation area in each of the print patterns is set in a plurality of stages while keeping the aspect ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions or the inverse thereof constant. Computer readable medium. 37. The computer readable medium according to claim 34, further comprising a warning to that effect when it is determined that the selected print designation area cannot exhibit the predetermined performance of the printing apparatus. Medium. 38. The computer-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the warning is given by changing a color of a frame indicating the print designation area. 39. The image pickup / printing system according to claim 37, further comprising the content for giving the warning by lighting or blinking a warning icon. 40. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, which has a content for giving the warning by displaying a warning character. 41. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, having a content for giving the warning by outputting a warning voice. 42. The computer-readable medium according to claim 32, which is applicable to an image pickup / printing system in which the image pickup device and the printing device are integrated.