JP2003187255A - Program and apparatus for image formation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation program capable of enhancing usability for a user. <P>SOLUTION: In the image formation program for forming an image consisting of an entire image 91 including specific areas 91a to 91f and pieces of character data 92a to 92f based on image data having the entire image 91, the specific areas 91a to 91f specifying a part of the area of the entire image 91, pieces of the character data 92a to 92f corresponding to images in the specific areas 91a to 91f, display attributes such as colors of frame lines of the specific areas 91a to 91f are made to be identical to display attributes of colors of pieces of the character data 92a to 92f corresponding to the respective specific areas 91a to 91f. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming program and an image forming apparatus for forming an image by a computer, and more particularly to an image forming program and an image forming apparatus for simultaneously forming an image and character data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the use of image databases for organizing captured images has been expanding due to the spread of digital cameras. These image databases can be searched and browsed by an image forming program installed in a computer. Then, when organizing the images, a comment corresponding to each image is input, and each image and the comment corresponding to each image can be displayed on the display screen at the same time for browsing.

Further, many sites (hereinafter referred to as "Web Photo sites") where image data are arranged on a server accessible via the Internet and images can be viewed from anywhere are established. In this case, the above image forming program is arranged on the server, and each user can operate the image database by accessing the Web Photo site.

On these Web Photo sites,
An unspecified person can browse the images and send a comment for each image. Then, each image and comments by a plurality of persons corresponding to each image can be simultaneously displayed on the display screen for browsing.

[0005]

However, the conventional image forming program described above can add a comment to each image, but if many comments are posted, it becomes difficult to know which part of the image the comment is. . Therefore, there is a problem in that the usability is poor when it is desired to obtain information on a part of an image.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming program and an image forming apparatus which can improve the usability of the user.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming program of the present invention provides an entire image, a designated region in which a partial region of the entire image is designated, and an image in the designated region. In an image forming program for forming an image composed of the entire image including the designated area and the character data based on image data having corresponding character data, a display attribute of the character data is set to correspond to the designated area of the designated area. The feature is that it is variable according to the display attribute.

According to this structure, the image data includes the data of the entire image, the data indicating the range of the designated area, and the data such as a comment for the image in the designated area.
By a predetermined operation, the entire image including the designated area and the character data are displayed on the display device or the print medium. At this time, a plurality of designated areas are displayed with different display attributes, and the character data is displayed with different display attributes according to the display attributes of the corresponding designated areas. As the display attributes of each designated area, the color used when converting the image in the designated area, the color / type / thickness of the border of the designated area, the shape of the designated area, the symbols / characters added to the designated area -The colors and contents of figures can be changed. As the display attribute of each character data, the color of the character data, the colors and contents of the symbols / characters / graphics added to the character data, etc. are variable.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the image forming program having the above-mentioned configuration, the designated areas and the character data corresponding to each other have the same display attribute.
With this configuration, for example, a predetermined character is added in the designated area, and the same character is added to the beginning of the corresponding character data. In addition, a symbol with the shape of the designated area and the frame line reduced is added to the beginning of the character data.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the image forming program having the above structure, the frame of the designated area and the character data have the same color.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the image forming program having the above structure, the character data corresponding to the designated area is arranged around the entire image and in the vicinity of the designated area. According to this configuration, the whole image is arranged in the center, and, for example, the character data corresponding to the designated area arranged in the upper left of the whole image is arranged in the upper left part around the whole image.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is characterized by including the image forming program having the above-mentioned configuration.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the image forming program of the first embodiment. The image forming program of this embodiment is provided in the Internet server. Web established on the server
The Photo site can be accessed via the Internet to operate the image forming program.

First, the user accesses the Web Photo site by using an arbitrary Web browser (step # 11). As a result, the image forming program is activated, and in step # 12, the login screen 10 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display screen.

If the user has already acquired the user ID, the user enters the user ID and password in the text boxes 11 and 12, respectively, and then GO
When the button 13 is selected, the user can log in (step # 13). As a result, the process proceeds to step # 15 and the "folder selection" process shown in FIG. 2 is called. If the end button 15 is selected, the image forming program ends.

If the user has not yet acquired the user ID, selecting the user registration button 14 causes the process to proceed to step # 14 and the user registration screen 20 shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the display screen. The user can enter the first name, last name, and email address in the text boxes 21, 22, 23
To enter.

After inputting the desired user ID and password in the text boxes 24 and 25, respectively,
The password is input again in the text box 26 to confirm the password. After that, the user registration button 27
If you select, you can log in, step # 15
2, the "folder selection" process of FIG. 2 is called. When the end button 28 is selected, the image forming program ends.

In the "folder selection" process, a folder selection screen 30 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. A list box 32 is provided in the folder selection screen 30. A list of folder names in which the image files are stored is displayed in the list box 32, and the user can browse the folders by scrolling with the scroll bar 31.

In FIG. 2, in step # 16, it is monitored whether or not an event has occurred, and when the event has occurred, processing corresponding to each event is performed. The user scrolls with the scroll bar 31 to put a desired folder in a selected state. When the select button 33 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 17, and the "image list" process shown in FIG. 3 is called. When the return button 34 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 18 to return to the login screen 10 in FIG. When the end button 35 is selected, the image forming program can be ended.

In the "image list" process, an image list screen 40 as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed, and a list of image files in the selected folder is displayed. Image list screen 40
A list box 41 is provided inside. In the list box 41, the images of the image files stored in the database on the Internet server are reduced and displayed, and the user can scroll the images by operating the scroll bar 44 to browse the images.

In FIG. 3, in step # 21, it is monitored whether or not an event occurs, and when the event occurs, the process corresponding to each event is performed. When the upload button 48 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 22 and FIG.
The file designation screen 60 shown in 1 is displayed. On the file designation screen 60, an image file can be designated.

The file designation screen 60 is provided with a plurality of text boxes 61 for inputting the file names of image files to be uploaded on the Internet server. The user inputs the file name of the image file saved in the local folder in the text box 61. Also, by operating the reference button 62, an image file is searched for in the local folder and the text box 61 is searched.
You can enter the file name in.

When the execute button 64 is selected after inputting the file name, the designated file is uploaded in step # 23, and the image file is added to the Web Photo site. Then, returning to step # 21, the image list screen 40 of FIG. 10 is displayed. Also, step # 2
2. If the return button 63 is selected in # 23, upload is not performed and the process returns to step # 21 and the image list screen 40
Is displayed. When the end button 65 is selected, the image forming program ends.

When the delete button 49 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 21) on the image list screen 40, the process proceeds to step # 25 and the image file is deleted. A file name 52a and a check box 52b are added to each image 52 displayed in the list box 41. The image file whose check box 52b has been checked in advance is selected by selecting the delete button 49.
to be deleted from the site.

When the display button 43 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 21) on the image list screen 40, the process proceeds to step # 26. In step # 26, the number of images displayed on one screen is changed to the number designated by the combo box 42. When the previous page button 46 or the next page button 47 is selected, steps # 27 and # 28, respectively.
The screen of the previous page or the next page is displayed. When the return button 50 is selected, the "folder selection" process shown in FIG. 2 is called.

When the image 52 in the list box 41 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 21) of the image list screen 40, the process proceeds to step # 30 and the "comment bulletin board" process of FIG. 4 is called. The image 52 is selected by clicking the mouse or double-clicking. When the end button 51 is selected, the image forming program ends.

In the "comment bulletin board" processing, a comment bulletin board screen 70 as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. Web
Since the Photo site is provided on the Internet server, anyone can access and view the same image file. Then, each user sends a comment about the displayed image to the server so that the comment database is published on the bulletin board of the Web Photo site.

On the comment bulletin board screen 70, an entire image 73 of the selected image file, a text box 71 for entering a comment, and a list box 72 for displaying a list of comments published on the bulletin board are displayed. The user can browse the comment by scrolling by operating the scroll bar 72a of the list box 72.

In FIG. 4, in step # 31, it is monitored whether or not an event has occurred, and when the event has occurred, processing corresponding to each event is performed. If a part of the whole image 73 is dragged with a pointing device such as a mouse, the process proceeds to step # 32, and if the designated area 73a is already displayed, it is deleted and the designated range is designated as the designated area 73a. 73
Is displayed inside. Then, the process returns to step # 31 to enter the event monitoring state.

As a result, an image can be browsed for each desired designated area 73a, and comments can be managed for each designated area 73a. The area designation method of this embodiment is designed to designate two vertices of a rectangular area by dragging with a mouse or the like. The area may be designated by another method such as sequentially clicking each vertex of the polygon.

When the add button 74 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 31), the process proceeds to step # 33. In step # 33, the range of the displayed designated area 73a is acquired, and in step # 34, the text box 7 is displayed.
A comment composed of the text (character data) in 1 is acquired.

Then, in step # 35, the designated area 73a
And the comment are included in the image data and saved in the server, and added to the bulletin board as a comment related to the designated area 73a. Then, the process returns to step # 31 to enter the event monitoring state. If the designated area 73a is not displayed, it is added to the bulletin board as a comment for the whole image 73.

When a comment in the list box 72 is designated by clicking the mouse in the event monitoring state (step # 31), the process proceeds to step # 36. In step # 36, the designated area 7 corresponding to the instructed comment
3a is displayed, and the process returns to step # 31 to enter the event monitoring state. If the add button 74 is selected after this operation, it is processed as a comment related to the displayed designated area 73a. If the comment is for the entire image 73, the designated area 73a is not displayed.

A check box 72b is provided at the beginning of each comment in the list box 72.
If the above-described add button 74 is selected after checking the check box 72b, the comment is posted on the bulletin board as a reply to the checked comment.

When the clear button 75 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 31), the process proceeds to step # 37 to erase the input data in the text box 71. When the delete button 76 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 38, and the comment of the user whose check box 72b is checked is deleted from the bulletin board. Then, the process returns to step # 31 to enter the event monitoring state.

When the return button 78 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 31), the "image list" process shown in FIG. 3 is called, and when the end button 79 is selected, the image forming program is ended. Also, the print button 77
If is selected, the process proceeds to step # 40 to call the "print setting" process shown in FIG.

In the "print setting" process, the print comment selection screen 80 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. The print comment selection screen 80 includes a list box 8 for displaying a list of comments.
1 is provided. The user can browse the comment by scrolling the list box 81 by operating the scroll bar 81a and select the comment to be printed.

In FIG. 5, in step # 51, it is monitored whether or not an event has occurred, and when the event has occurred, processing corresponding to each event is performed. When the check box 82 arranged at the beginning of each comment is checked and the desired comment is selected, the process proceeds to step # 52. In step # 52, the selected comment is added to the print target, and the process returns to step # 51 to enter the event monitoring state.

Below the list box 81, a return button 83 and a "next" button 84 are arranged. When the return button 83 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 51), the above-mentioned "comment bulletin board" process shown in FIG. 4 is called in step # 53. When the end button 87 is selected, the image forming program ends (step # 55). When the "Next" button 84 is selected, the "preview display" process shown in FIG. 6 is called.

In the "preview display" processing, the print preview screen 90 shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. The print preview screen 90 displays a layout as an image printed on a print medium. On the print preview screen 90, the entire image 91 of the image file is displayed at the top.

Designated areas 91a to 91 are included in the entire image 91.
f (corresponding to 73a in FIG. 12) is displayed. The designated areas 91a to 91f are displayed in different colors with different frame lines. For example, black, blue, red, green, yellow, pink, and purple colors can be used, and these colors are sequentially assigned to the designated areas 91a to 91f.

Below the whole image 91, the comments 92a to 92f selected in the "print setting" process are displayed. Comments 92a-9 corresponding to each designated area 91a-91f
2f is displayed in the same color as the frame lines of the designated areas 91a to 91f. For example, the comment 9 corresponding to the designated area 91a
2a is displayed in black.

Similarly, the comments 92b, 92c, 92
d, 92e, and 92f are displayed in blue, red, green, yellow, and pink, respectively. This allows the user to easily understand the correspondence between the designated area and the comment, and
The usability of the Photo site can be improved.

Further, when each pixel of the entire image which overlaps the frame line of the designated region has the same color as the frame line, it becomes difficult to identify the designated region. Therefore, when the difference between the average hue of each pixel and the average hue of the frame line is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the next usable color is assigned.

When the number of designated areas is larger than the number of usable colors, it may be divided into a plurality of pages. For example, if the number of usable colors is 7 and there are 8 or more designated areas, by displaying 7 designated areas on the first page and displaying the remaining 1 or more designated areas on the second page. It is possible to prevent misunderstanding of correspondence with comments.

In FIG. 6, in step # 43, it is monitored whether or not an event has occurred, and when the event has occurred, processing corresponding to each event is performed. When the previous page button 93 and the next page button 94 are selected, the print image of the previous page or the next page is displayed in steps # 44 and # 45, respectively. Then, it returns to the event monitoring state.

When the print execution button 95 is selected from the event monitoring state (step # 43), the process proceeds to step # 46 and printing is performed with the same image as the print preview screen 90. Upon completion of printing, the "comment bulletin board process" shown in FIG. 4 is called in step # 47. When the return button 96 is selected, the "print setting" process shown in FIG. 5 is called, and when the end button 97 is selected, the image forming program ends.

According to this embodiment, the designated areas 91a to 91a are provided.
Since the frame line 1f and the comments 92a to 92f corresponding to the designated areas 91a to 91f are displayed or printed in the same color, the correspondence relationship between the designated area and the comment becomes clear. Therefore, the comment corresponding to the designated area can be easily grasped, and the usability for the user can be improved. Further, by printing, the contents of the comment corresponding to a large number of designated areas can be easily grasped even in an environment without a computer, and the convenience of the user can be improved.

It is to be noted that not only the color of the frame line of the designated area and the color of the comment are made the same, but the display attribute of the designated area and the display attribute of the comment corresponding to the designated area are made the same. Can be obtained.

As the display attribute of the designated area, the color used when converting the image in the designated area, the color of the frame line of the designated area,
The line type / thickness, the shape of the designated area, the colors and contents of the symbols / characters / graphics added to the designated area, etc. The display attributes of the comment (character data) include the color of the character data and the colors and contents of the symbols, characters, and graphics added to the character data. Of the above, at least one of the display attributes of the designated area and at least one of the display attributes of the comment may be matched.

For example, it is possible to mix a predetermined mixed color with the image in the designated area to convert the color tone and display a comment by the mixed color. As an example, the image in the designated area may be mixed with red to be converted into a reddish image, and the color of the comment corresponding to the designated area may be red. Further, the image in the designated area may be converted into an image hatched with the same color as the comment.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the designated area 91
The shape of f and the symbol A added to the beginning of the comment 92f
May have the same shape (ellipse in this case). As shown in FIG. 16, the character B added to the designated area 91f
1 may be the same as the character B2 added to the beginning of the comment 92f. As shown in FIG. 17, the designated area 91
The line type of the frame line of f and the content of the symbol C added to the beginning of the comment 92f may be the same. In any case, the same effect as described above can be obtained. 15 to 17, the same parts as those in FIG. 14 are designated by the same reference numerals.

Next, FIG. 18 shows a print preview screen 90 of the image forming program of the second embodiment. The parts other than the print preview screen 90 are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 14, and the same parts as those in FIG. 14 are designated by the same reference numerals. Print preview screen 90 of the present embodiment
The entire image 91 is arranged substantially in the center. Similar to the first embodiment, the display attributes of the designated areas 91a to 91g in the entire image 91 are the same as the display attributes of the corresponding comment.

Around the entire image 91, a comment display area is divided into an upper left portion 90a, a lower left portion 91b, an upper right portion 91c, and a lower right portion 91d. Then, the comments corresponding to the designated areas 91a and 91c arranged in the upper left of the entire image 91 are arranged in the upper left portion 90a.

Similarly, a comment corresponding to the designated area 91b arranged at the lower left of the entire image 91 is arranged at the lower left 90b. Designated area 91 arranged in the upper right of the entire image 91
Comments corresponding to d and 91g are arranged in the upper right portion 90c. A designated area 91e arranged at the lower right of the entire image 91,
The comment corresponding to 91f is arranged in the lower right portion 90d.
Therefore, the correspondence between the designated area and the comment becomes clearer than in the first embodiment, and the usability for the user can be further improved.

In the first and second embodiments, the designation of the designated area 73a (see FIG. 12) and the input of comments are performed by the "comment bulletin board" process (see FIG. 4). By omitting the processing, the first area of the image data file in which the designated area and the comment are already written,
You may display or print by the image forming program similar to 2nd Embodiment.

In the first and second embodiments, the image forming program is provided on the Internet server, but it is also possible to install it in a local drive and use it standalone.

[0058]

According to the present invention, since the display attribute of character data is changed according to the display attribute of the corresponding designated area, the correspondence between the designated area and the character data becomes clear.
Therefore, the comment corresponding to a part of the area can be easily grasped, and the usability for the user can be improved. Further, by printing, the contents of the comment corresponding to a large number of designated areas can be easily grasped even in an environment without a computer, and the convenience of the user can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the display attributes such as the frame line color of the designated area and the display attributes such as the color of the character data are made the same, the correspondence between the designated area and the character data can be easily clarified. be able to.

Further, according to the present invention, since the character data corresponding to the designated area is arranged around the entire image and near the designated area, the correspondence between the designated area and the character data is made clearer. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an image forming program according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a folder selection process of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing image list processing of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a comment bulletin board process of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing print setting processing of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a preview display process of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a login screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a user registration screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a folder selection screen of the image forming program of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image list screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a file designation screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a comment bulletin board screen of the image forming program of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a print setting screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a preview display screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another preview display screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another preview display screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another preview display screen of the image forming program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a preview display screen of an image forming program according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Login screen 20 User registration screen 30 Folder selection screen 40 image list screen 60 File selection screen 70 Comment bulletin board screen 73, 91 Whole image 73a, 91a to 91g Designated area 80 Print setting screen 90 Print preview screen 90a Upper left 90b lower left 90c upper right 90d lower right 92a-92f Comments

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06T 11/80 G06T 11/80 A // G06F 3/00 651 G06F 3/00 651A G09G 5/00 510 G09G 5/00 510M 5/30 610 5/30 610F 5/377 5/36 520M (72) Inventor Nobuo Hashimoto 2-3-3 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shoichi Minato 2-3-13 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka F-Term (Reference) in Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka International Building 5B021 AA01 LE03 LG07 5B050 BA06 BA13 BA16 BA20 CA07 DA04 EA09 FA02 FA13 5B075 ND06 NS10 PQ02 PQ23 PQ33 5C082 AA37 BA02 BA12 BA34 BA35 CA03 CA12 CA54 CA56 CA82 DA51 DA73 DA87 MM10 5E501 AA02 AB15 BA03 CA03 CB09 EA10 FA03 FA04 FA13 FA14 FA23 FA45 FB28

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. The image forming apparatus includes the designated area based on image data having a whole image, a designated area designating a partial area of the whole image, and character data corresponding to an image in the designated area. An image forming program for forming an image composed of an entire image and the character data, wherein the display attribute of the character data is variable according to the display attribute of the corresponding designated area. 2. The image forming program according to claim 1, wherein the designated areas and the character data corresponding to each other have the same display attribute. 3. The image forming program according to claim 1, wherein the frame of the designated area and the character data have the same color. 4. The character data according to claim 1, wherein the character data corresponding to the designated area is arranged around the entire image and in the vicinity of the designated area. Image forming program. 5. An image forming apparatus comprising the image forming program according to any one of claims 1 to 4.