JP2003338919A - Image processing apparatus, method therefor, program, and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus for creating a pocket album where respective image data are optimally laid out without manually performing the layout operation of image data, when creating the pocket album of a plurality of image data where vertical image data and horizontal image data are mixed. <P>SOLUTION: When the pocket album of the plurality of image data where the vertical and horizontal image data are mixed is created, respective two horizontal image data in the plurality of image data being laid out are laid out at the horizontal image layout region (see Fig. 4 (c)) on a corresponding page, and the vertical image data in the plurality of image data being laid out are laid out at a region (See Fig. 4 (a)) including each horizontal image layout region at the corresponding page. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program and a storage medium having a function of laying out a plurality of image data in a pocket album format.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, silver salt photographs taken by a camera and developed are often managed by being put in an album or the like based on date order or time order. This is because, by storing in an album, it can be associated and organized for each event and is easy to see. 1 in one of this album
There is a pocket album that can store two photos on a page. This pocket album is portable and widely used for storing silver halide photo albums.

An example of storing a silver halide photograph using this pocket album will be described with reference to FIG. 14
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a storage example of a silver halide photograph using a conventional pocket album.

For example, a plurality of developed photographs (see FIG. 14)
In the case of storing (shown in (a)) in a pocket album for viewing, as shown in FIG. 14 (b), the work of inserting each photo into each page of the pocket album is performed while checking the order. However, this work is troublesome for the user, and thus the developed photographs are often stored as they are without being organized (shown in FIG. 14C).

On the other hand, digital cameras for recording photographed images as image data in a memory or the like instead of a silver salt film are rapidly becoming popular. Since the image data recorded by this digital camera can be viewed without developing, it is easier to manage and store than the conventional silver halide photographs.

The image data recorded by these digital cameras is usually stored and managed in a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer). This makes it easy to manage multiple sheets of image data in time order, date order, etc., and when printing this,
Select the desired image data from the L size, which is the conventional photo size, or A
It is also possible to lay out and print on paper of 4 sizes or the like.

Further, as a technique for digitally processing image data and performing layout processing into a plurality of image data in order to bind the image data into a book type book, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-26 is known.
No. 185 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-22134, both of which process a plurality of image data in order to perform book-type bookbinding.

[0008]

However, in the technique of each of the above-mentioned patent publications, one image for one page or one image for two pages is laid out and printed. , Image data in FIG.
In order to print the silver halide photograph shown in (b) in a layout form like that stored in a pocket album, it is necessary for the user to print by considering the layout of each image data.

For example, a case of printing 16 image data like a pocket album will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example in which 16 pieces of image data are printed in the layout form of a pocket album using the conventional method.

Since eight pages of image data are pasted per sheet of paper in the pocket album, two sheets of paper are required to create this pocket album. Therefore,
As shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b), the first sheet of the paper constituting the pocket album has 1 page, 2 pages, and 7 pages.
Images of pages 8 and 8 are printed, and images of pages 3, 4, 5, and 6 are printed on the second sheet. Here, two pieces of image data are attached to each page.

Then, as shown in FIG. 15 (c), by combining the first and second sheets of this sheet, N
o. 1-No. The 16 image data are distributed to the corresponding pages. That is, No. 1 and No. The second picture is No. 1 on the first page. 3 and No. 4 is the second page, N
o. 5 and No. No. 6 on page 3 7 and N
o. The photograph of No. 8 is No. 4 on page 4. 9 and No. Photo 10 is No. 5 on page 5. 11 and No. Photo 12 is No. 6 on page 6. 13 and No. No. 14 photo is No. 7 on page 7. 15 and No. Sixteen pictures are printed on page 8.

[0012] Actually, in order to print the pocket album, the user has to consider the layout of the paper as described above, which is very complicated and may be printed by mistake.

A method for solving this problem has been proposed by the present applicant (see Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-016980). However, when a vertical position image is printed using the method of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-016980, the vertical position image is printed smaller than the horizontal position image.

It is an object of the present invention to create a pocket album of a plurality of image data in which vertical image data and horizontal image data are mixed, without making a manual layout operation of each image data. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device, an image processing method, a program, and a storage medium capable of creating a pocket album with an optimal layout.

[0015]

The invention according to claim 1 is
An image data storage means for storing a plurality of image data, an image data management means for managing the image data stored in the image data storage means, and an arbitrary plurality of image data managed by the image data management means. Image data layout means for laying out in a pocket album format composed of a plurality of pages divided into at least two horizontal image arrangement areas, wherein the image data layout means is arranged in the plurality of image data to be laid out. Of the horizontal image data of the corresponding page are arranged in the horizontal image arrangement area of the corresponding page, and the vertical image data of the plurality of image data to be laid out is arranged in an area including each horizontal image arrangement area of the corresponding page. And

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided printing means for printing a plurality of image data laid out in the pocket album format.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the image processing apparatus described above, the image data storage means stores image data in a portable recording medium.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the image processing apparatus described above, the image data storage means stores image data in a semiconductor memory.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the image processing apparatus described above, the image data storage means stores image data in a hard disk device.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the described image processing apparatus, the image data managing means manages the image data in a card type database.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the image processing apparatus described above, the image data management means manages the image data in a relational database.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the image processing apparatus described above, the image data management means manages the image data in folder units.

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the image processing apparatus described above, the image data layout means lays out each image data while maintaining its aspect.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image data layout means resizes and lays out each image data to the same size.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the printing means is a double-sided printer.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the printing means is a single-sided printer.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image data is data such as image data taken by a digital camera and image data read by a scanner. Is characterized by.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image data layout means determines whether each of the plurality of image data is vertical image data or horizontal image data. It is characterized by having a determining means for determining.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the discriminating means uses vertical image data or horizontal image data by using a width-height ratio of the image data. The feature is that it is determined.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the discriminating means discriminates whether the image data is vertical image data or horizontal image data by using metadata attached to the image. It is characterized by performing.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data storage step of storing a plurality of image data, an image data management step of managing the image data stored by the image data storage step, and an image data management step. An image data layout step of laying out a plurality of arbitrarily managed image data in a pocket album format composed of a plurality of pages divided into at least two horizontal image arrangement areas, and the image data layout step. Then, the horizontal image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out is arranged in the corresponding horizontal image arrangement area in the page, and the vertical image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out is arranged in each horizontal image in the page. It is characterized in that it is arranged in a region including a region.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth aspect, there is provided an image data printing step of printing the image data laid out by the image data layout step.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, in the image data storing step, the image data is stored in a portable recording medium.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, the image data is stored in the semiconductor memory in the image data storing step.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, in the image data storing step, the image data is stored in a hard disk device.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, the image data managing step manages the image data in a card-type database.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, the image data managing step manages the image data with a relational database.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, the image data managing step manages the image data in folder units.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, each image data is laid out while maintaining an aspect in the image data layout step.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, each image data is sized and laid out in the image data layout step.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, the double-sided printer is used for printing in the image data printing step.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, the single-sided printer is used for printing in the image data printing step.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, the image data is data such as image data photographed by a digital camera and image data read by a scanner. Is characterized by.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, there is a determining step for determining whether each of the plurality of image data is vertical image data or horizontal image data. It is characterized by

According to a thirty-first aspect of the invention, in the image processing method according to the thirtieth aspect, in the discrimination step, the ratio of the width and the height of the image data is used to determine the vertical image data or the horizontal image data. The feature is that it is determined.

According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the thirtieth aspect, it is possible to determine whether the image data is vertical image data or horizontal image data by using metadata attached to the image. It is characterized by performing.

According to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention, an image data storage module for storing a plurality of image data in the image data storage means, an image data management module for managing the image data stored in the image data storage means, and An image data layout module for laying out a plurality of arbitrary image data managed by the image data management module in a pocket album format composed of a plurality of pages divided into at least two horizontal image arrangement areas, The image data layout module arranges horizontal image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out in a horizontal image arrangement area of a corresponding page, and sets vertical image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out to a corresponding page. In particular, it is placed in the area that includes each horizontal image placement area in To.

The invention described in Item 34 is characterized in that the program according to Item 33 is stored.

[0049]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus includes a reading unit 100, an input unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a display unit 10.
3, a CPU 104, a ROM 105, a RAM 106, a printing unit 107, and a communication unit 108. Reading unit 100
Is a unit for reading image data from a recording medium such as a memory card in which image data such as moving images and still images are recorded by a scanner, a digital camera, a digital video camera or the like. The input unit 101 is a keyboard,
A pointing device such as a mouse or a remote controller, which inputs data of each user. The storage unit 102 includes a hard disk or the like that stores image data. The display unit 103 includes a CRT, a liquid crystal display device, a TV, or the like that displays the image data stored in the storage unit 102 and displays the image data read by the reading unit 100. The printing unit 107 prints the laid out image data. The printing unit 107 is a laser beam printer,
It consists of an inkjet printer. Communication unit 108
Is a network interface required to communicate with an external device, and includes a modem, a wireless or wired network card, and data is exchanged between the external device and this device via the communication unit 108.

The CPU 104 controls each of the above blocks based on a program stored in the ROM 105.
Further, the work area of the CPU 104 is provided by the RAM 106.

Next, the external structure of the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an external configuration of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

The image processing apparatus has a main body, and the main body has a memory card 2 in which image data is recorded by a digital camera, a digital video camera, a scanner or the like.
A PC card slot 201 for mounting 02 is provided. Further, the main body has a built-in HDD 203 for accumulating the read image data. This HDD
Reference numeral 203 constitutes the storage unit 102. Further, the printer 204 constituting the printing unit 107 is connected to the main body.

In this image processing apparatus, the image data read from the memory card 202 or the communication unit 108.
The image data input via the network is stored, and each stored image data is managed by a predetermined method. For example, when image data captured by a digital camera is loaded from the memory card 202 into the image processing apparatus, the image data loaded from the memory card 202 can be managed as one album. It is also possible to manage a plurality of image data in units of databases or folders.

Next, the operation of printing the image data stored in the image processing apparatus in the pocket album format will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described with reference to. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of printing the image data stored in the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1 in the pocket album format.

First, in step S501, an album to be printed is designated, and in the following step S502, it is determined whether or not the designated album has vertical image data. Here, assuming that the number of pixels in the widthwise direction of the images in the album is x and the number of pixels in the heightwise direction is y, it is determined whether or not there is a vertical image depending on whether or not the relationship of y> x is established. To do. here,
When the relation of y> x is established, it is determined that there is vertical image data in the album, and the process proceeds to step S503. Step S
At 503, an album including vertical image data is printed.
Details of this printing operation will be described later. On the other hand, when the relation of y> x is not established, it is determined that there is no vertical image data in the album, and the process proceeds to step S504. In step S504, a pocket album including only horizontal image data is printed. This printing operation is similar to that described in the above-mentioned publication (corresponding to Proposal Acceptance No. 4404234), and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Next, printing of a pocket album including vertical image data will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a packet album containing vertical image data printed by the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of printing a pocket album containing vertical image data in step S503 of FIG. is there.

In the present embodiment, the vertical image data for one sheet is pasted with the horizontal image data for two sheets in a normal pocket album so as to minimize the number of pages to be printed (corresponding to one page). Area). Here, for example, in the case of 10 pieces of image data, when 3 pieces of image data are vertical images and the other pieces of image data are horizontal image data, the 3 pieces of vertical image data are arranged in units of one page. (See FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b)). For seven horizontal image data, two sheets are arranged per page (see FIGS. 4 (c), (d), and (e)). By
Create a pocket album that contains vertical image data.

When printing a pocket album including such vertical image data, as shown in FIG. 5, first, in step S701, the number of images included in the pocket album to be printed is n and the number of vertical images is t. (1 ≦ t ≦ n)
Then, the number P of sheets required for printing is obtained. Here, the number of sheets P required for printing is obtained as a minimum integer so as to satisfy the following expression (1).

P ≧ (t + n) / 8 (1) Then, in step S 702, a variable p indicating the number of sheets to be printed is initialized to 1.

Next, in step S703, the front (front) surface and the back surface of the p-th sheet are printed, and in the subsequent step S704, 1 is added to the variable p. Then, in step S705, it is determined whether or not the variable p exceeds the number of sheets P required for printing, and when the variable p does not exceed the number of sheets P, the process returns to the above step S703 and the variable p sets the number of sheets P to P. The process from step S703 is repeated until it exceeds the limit. Then, when the variable p exceeds the number of sheets P, this processing ends.

Next, a method of printing image data on the front and back surfaces of the p-th sheet in step S703 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image layout on each of the front and back sides of one sheet,
7 is a diagram showing a pocket album created according to the image layout of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for changing the printing order of the vertical image data included in the pocket album by the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure for printing a plurality of image data including vertical image data by the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of arranging images by the image processing apparatus of FIG.

In the pocket album, as shown in FIG. 6, the front (front) surface of one sheet is divided into four areas, the upper left is the A area, the lower left is the B area, the upper right is the C area, and the upper right is D. Similarly, the back surface is divided into four areas, and the upper left is the E area, the lower left is the F area, the upper right is the G area, and the upper right is the H area. Here, the back of the A area is the G area, the back of the B area is the H area, the back of the C area is the E area E, and the back of the area D is the F area. Each area is an area in which the corresponding horizontal image data is arranged. When arranging the vertical image data, as will be described later, for example, an area consisting of the A area and the B area is set as an area for arranging one vertical image data, and the vertical image data is arranged in this area.

For example, when creating a pocket album composed of two sheets, the front and back sides of the first sheet have a positional relationship as shown in FIG. Become. Then, the pocket album shown in FIG. 8 is created from the sheets arranged so as to obtain such a positional relationship. In this pocket album, FIG. 8A is the first page, and FIG. 8B is a few pages.
8C shows the fourth and fifth pages, FIG. 8D shows the sixth and seventh pages, and FIG. 8E shows the eighth page. Here, when arranging vertical images in the pocket album, for example, an area including two areas 1C and 1D on the same page is set as an arrangement area for one vertical image.

In the present embodiment, the arrangement order of the image data is changed in order to print the pocket album including the vertical image data with the minimum number. The procedure for changing the arrangement order will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step S1001, t vertical images are respectively set as ImgP [1], ImgP [2], ... ImgP [t],
The horizontal images are ImgN [1], ImgN [2], ... ImgN [nt], and in the subsequent step S1002, the array storing the order is Jyunban [n].
And Then, in step S1003, the variable m
Substitute 1 for.

Next, in step S1004, since there is always one or more vertical images, the first vertical image is
The order is stored in the arrays Jyunban [m] and Jyunban [m + 1], and the variable m is incremented by 1 in step S1005. Then, in step S1006, it is determined whether the variable m exceeds the number t of vertical images. Here, when the variable m does not exceed the number t, the process returns to step S1004, and the processing from step S1004 is repeated until the processing for all t vertical images is completed. This allows an array Jyun to store the order
Vertical images are put in ban [1] to Jyunban [2t].
When the variable m exceeds the number of sheets t, the process proceeds to step S1007.

In step S1007, 1 is assigned to the variable l, and in the following step S1008, an array for storing the order.
Input the horizontal image ImgN [l] to Jyunban [m]. Then, in step S1009, the variable m is incremented by 1, and the variable l is incremented by 1. Next, in step S1010, it is determined whether the variable l exceeds (n−t). Here, when the variable m does not exceed (nt), the process returns to step S1008, and the processing from step S1008 is repeated until the processing for all (nt) horizontal images is completed. . As a result, an array Jyunban [m] to Jyunban [n] that stores the order
A horizontal image is inserted in each of [-t]. The variable m is the number of sheets t
When it exceeds, this processing is finished.

As a result, the array Jyunban that stores the order
In [m], t vertical images are stored two by two and then (n−t) horizontal images are stored one by one.

Next, a procedure for printing the vertical image and the horizontal image on the corresponding page as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

First, in step S1101, an image is arranged at the position of each of the A and B areas. In the arrangement of this image, as shown in FIG. 10, first, in step S120.
At 1, it is determined whether the image arranged in the area A is a vertical image. The image placed in this area A is (8P-4p + 3)
This is the second image. Here, if the image arranged in the area A is a vertical image, in step S1202, (8P-4p +
3) The image size is resized so that the 3rd image fits within the circumscribed quadrangle including both the areas A and B, and the image is arranged within the circumscribed quadrangle. Then, this process ends. On the other hand, if the image arranged in the area A is not a vertical image, that is, a horizontal image, step S1203.
Then, the (8P-4p + 3) th image is arranged in the area A, the (8P-4p + 4) th image is arranged in the area B, and the present process is terminated.

Next, in step S1102, C,
An image is arranged in each area of D. The image layout here is also
This is performed in the same manner as the image arrangement in each area of A and B. (4p-
When the 3) th image is a vertical image, the (4p-3) th image is arranged so as to fit within a circumscribed quadrangle including the C region and the D region. On the other hand, if the image is not a vertical image, the (4p-3) th image is arranged in the C area and the (4p-2) th image is arranged in the D area.

When the arrangement on the front surface of the p-th sheet is completed in this series of steps, the process proceeds to step S1103,
Print the surface of the p-th sheet.

Then, in step S1104, E,
An image is arranged in each area of F. The image layout here is also
This is performed in the same manner as the image arrangement in each area of A and B. Specifically, if the (4p-1) th image is a vertical image,
The (4p-1) th image is arranged so as to fit into a circumscribed quadrangle including the E region and the F region. On the other hand, if the image is not a vertical image, the (4p-1) th image is arranged in the E area and the (4p) th image is arranged in the F area.

Then, in step S1105,
An image is arranged in each area of G and H. The image arrangement here is performed in the same manner as the image arrangement in each of the areas A and B. Specifically, when the (8P-4p + 1) th image is a vertical image, the (8P-4p + 1) th image is arranged so as to fit in a circumscribed quadrangle including the G region and the H region. To place. On the other hand, in the case of a horizontal image, the (8P-4p + 1) th image is arranged in the G region and the (8P-4p + 2) th image is arranged in the H region.

When the image arrangement on the back surface of the p-th sheet is completed in this manner, the back surface of the p-th sheet is printed in step S1106.

By the flow charts of FIGS. 9 and 10, the printing on the front surface and the back surface of the p-th sheet in step S703 is completed. Then, the above operation is repeated for the number of sheets P required to be printed (steps S704 and 705), whereby the printing of all pages of the pocket album is completed.

By attaching a cover sheet to the printed P sheets and bending them, a vertical image, which is equivalent to a pocket album in the case of silver halide photography and is taken in a vertical position, is printed large on one page. You can make a pocket album.

In the present embodiment, the printer 203
Although a double-sided printer is used for the above, a single-sided printer can also be used. In this case, the pocket album can be printed in the same manner by printing the front side of each sheet and then manually turning the sheet over and printing the back side.

In the present embodiment, the ratio of the width and height of the image is used to determine whether the image is a vertical image or a horizontal image. However, the metadata attached to the image is used to determine whether the vertical image or the horizontal image is used. Alternatively, it may be determined. For example, the value of Tag "Orientation" included in the DCF image format is "1-
If it is "4", it may be judged as a horizontal image, and if it is "5-8", it may be judged as a vertical image.

Further, when the image data is laid out, the size may be changed in accordance with the rectangle of the layout destination, or the image data may be resized while maintaining the aspect of the image data. You may do it.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13. 11 is a flowchart showing a printing procedure of a pocket album including a vertical image in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 shows a vertical image in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A flow chart showing the printing procedure on the paper surface of the pocket album including
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the printing procedure on the back surface of the paper of the pocket album including the vertical image in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The present embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment using a double-sided printing printer in that a single-sided printer is used. Specifically, in the above-described first embodiment, a single-sided printer is used instead of the double-sided printer,
This single-sided printer can also print a pocket album, but when printing P sheets, it is necessary to turn over the sheets P times. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when printing a pocket album using a single-sided printer, it is possible to reduce the number of times the sheet is turned over.

The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has the above-mentioned ink name product of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted here. Further, the method of determining the arrangement order of the images is also the same as that in the above-described first embodiment (flowchart in FIG. 8), and therefore the description thereof is omitted here.

When printing a pocket album using a single-sided printer, as shown in FIG.
In 1301, the number of images included in the pocket album to be printed is n, and the number of vertical images is t (1 ≦ t ≦
n), the number of sheets P required for printing is obtained by using the above equation (1). Then, in step S1302, a variable p indicating the number of sheets to be printed is initialized to 1.

Then, in step S1303, p
Printing the front surface of the first sheet (front side), and continuing step S1
At 304, the variable p is incremented by 1. Then, in step S1305, it is determined whether or not the variable p exceeds the number of sheets P required for printing, and when the variable p does not exceed the number of sheets P, the process returns to the above step S1303, and the variable p sets the number of sheets P to P. Until step S
The processing from 1303 is repeated. When the variable p exceeds the number of sheets P, the process proceeds to step S1306.

Here, the details of the printing on the front surface of the p-th sheet performed in step S1303 will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, first, in step S1401, an image is arranged in each area A and B. I do. The arrangement of this image is the same as that in the first embodiment (flowchart in FIG. 10), and therefore its explanation is omitted. Then, in step S1402, images are similarly arranged in the C and D areas. Then, step S140
In step 3, the front surface of the p-th sheet is printed, and this processing ends.

In this way, when the front surface of all P sheets is printed, in step S1306,
The user waits for an instruction to start printing on the back side of the sheet that has been turned over and has been printed on the front side. This print start instruction is
It is issued according to the user's operation after the user has turned over the surface-printed paper and set it in the printer 203.

When there is a print start instruction, step S130
In step 6, the variable p is initialized to 1, and in the subsequent step S1307, the back surface of the p-th sheet is printed. Then, in step S1308, the variable p is incremented by 1. Then, in step S1305, the variable p
Determines whether or not the number of sheets P required for printing has exceeded, and when the variable p does not exceed the number of sheets P, the process returns to the step S1308, and until the variable p exceeds the number of sheets P, the process from the step S1308 is performed. Repeat the process. Then, when the variable p exceeds the number of sheets P, this processing ends.

Here, the details of the printing on the back surface of the p-th sheet, which is performed in step S1308, will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, first, in step S1501, an image is arranged in each area of E and F. I do. The arrangement of this image is the same as that in the first embodiment (flowchart in FIG. 10), and therefore its explanation is omitted. Then, in step S1502, similarly, images are arranged in the G and H regions. Then, step S150
In step 3, the back surface of the p-th sheet is printed, and this processing ends.

When the back side of all P sheets has been printed in this manner, the printing of all pages of the pocket album is completed, and this process is completed. After that, a cover sheet is put on the printed P sheets and folded to complete a pocket album equivalent to a silver halide photograph.

[0093]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The horizontal image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out is arranged in the horizontal image arrangement area of the corresponding page, and the vertical image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out includes each horizontal image arrangement area in the corresponding page. Since it is arranged in the area, when creating a pocket album of a plurality of image data in which vertical image data and horizontal image data are mixed, each image data is optimally laid out without manual layout operation of the image data. You can create a pocket album.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to create a pocket album in which vertical and horizontal image data are optimally laid out by using either a single-sided printer or a double-sided printer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an external configuration of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of printing image data stored in the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1 in a pocket album format.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a packet album including vertical image data printed by the image processing apparatus of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for printing a pocket album including vertical image data in step S503 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image layout on each of a front surface and a back surface of one sheet.

7 is a diagram showing a pocket album created according to the image layout of FIG.

8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for changing the printing order of vertical image data included in a pocket album by the image processing apparatus of FIG.

9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for printing a plurality of image data including vertical image data by the image processing apparatus of FIG.

10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for arranging images by the image processing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a printing procedure of a pocket album including a vertical image in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a printing procedure on a paper surface of a pocket album including a vertical image in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a printing procedure on the back surface of the paper of a pocket album including a vertical image in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing a storage example of a silver halide photograph using a conventional pocket album.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example in which 16 pieces of image data are printed in a layout format of a pocket album using a conventional method.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 reading section 101 Input section 102 storage 103 display unit 103 104 CPU 105 ROM 106 RAM 107 Printing Department 108 Communication unit 201 PC card slot 202 memory card 203 HDD 204 printer

Claims (34)

[Claims] 1. An image data storage unit for storing a plurality of image data, an image data management unit for managing the image data stored in the image data storage unit, and an arbitrary unit managed by the image data management unit. Image data layout means for laying out a plurality of image data in a pocket album format composed of a plurality of pages divided into at least two horizontal image arrangement areas, wherein the image data layout means is laid out. The horizontal image data in the plurality of image data is arranged in the horizontal image arrangement area of the corresponding page, and the vertical image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out is arranged in the area including each horizontal image arrangement area in the corresponding page. An image processing device characterized by being arranged. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that prints a plurality of image data laid out in the pocket album format. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data storage means stores image data in a portable recording medium. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data storage means stores image data in a semiconductor memory. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data storage means stores image data in a hard disk device. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data management unit manages the image data in a card-type database. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data management unit manages the image data with a relational database. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data management unit manages image data in units of folders. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data layout means lays out each image data while maintaining its aspect. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data layout means resizes and lays out each image data to the same size. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is a double-sided printer. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is a single-sided printer. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is data such as image data taken by a digital camera and image data read by a scanner. 14. The image data layout means includes determination means for determining whether each of the plurality of image data is vertical image data or horizontal image data. Image processing device. 15. The image according to claim 14, wherein the determining means determines whether the image data is vertical image data or horizontal image data by using a width-height ratio of the image data. Processing equipment. 16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the discriminating means discriminates whether the image is vertical image data or horizontal image data by using metadata attached to the image. 17. An image data accumulation step of accumulating a plurality of image data, an image data management step of managing the image data accumulated by the image data accumulation step, and an arbitrary plurality of images managed by the image data management step. Image data layout step of laying out the image data of (1) into a pocket album format composed of a plurality of pages divided into at least two horizontal image arrangement areas, and in the image data layout step, the layout is performed. Horizontal image data in the plurality of image data is arranged in a corresponding horizontal image arrangement area in the page, and vertical image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out is set in an area including each horizontal image arrangement area in the page. An image processing method characterized by arranging. 18. The image processing method according to claim 17, further comprising an image data printing step of printing the image data laid out by the image data layout step. 19. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein in the image data storing step, the image data is stored in a portable recording medium. 20. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein in the image data storage step, image data is stored in a semiconductor memory. 21. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein the image data storage step stores image data in a hard disk device. 22. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein in the image data managing step, the image data is managed by a card type database. 23. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein in the image data managing step, the image data is managed by a relational database. 24. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein the image data management step manages image data in folder units. 25. In the image data layout step,
19. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein each image data is laid out while maintaining an aspect. 26. In the image data layout step,
19. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein each image data is resized to the same size and laid out. 27. The double-sided printer is used for printing in the image data printing step.
Alternatively, the image processing method according to item 18. 28. In the image data printing step, printing is performed using a single-sided printer.
Alternatively, the image processing method according to item 18. 29. The image processing method according to claim 17, wherein the image data is data such as image data taken by a digital camera and image data read by a scanner. 30. The image processing method according to claim 17, further comprising a determination step of determining whether each of the plurality of image data is vertical image data or horizontal image data. 31. The image according to claim 30, wherein in the determining step, it is determined whether the image data is vertical image data or horizontal image data by using a ratio of width and height of image data. Processing method. 32. The image processing method according to claim 30, wherein in the determining step, it is determined whether the image data is vertical image data or horizontal image data by using metadata attached to the image. 33. An image data storage module for storing a plurality of image data in the image data storage means, an image data management module for managing the image data stored in the image data storage means, and management by the image data management module An image data layout module for laying out a plurality of selected image data in a pocket album format composed of a plurality of pages divided into at least two horizontal image arrangement areas, wherein the image data layout module is Horizontal image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out is arranged in a horizontal image arrangement area of a corresponding page, and vertical image data in the plurality of image data to be laid out is arranged in each horizontal image arrangement area in the corresponding page A program which is arranged in an area including. 34. A storage medium storing the program according to claim 33.