JP2003348334A - Image composing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image composing method with which a synthetic image is created by composing an image of an arbitrary size or aspect ratio and a template such as a photograph frame while well balancing the images without performing complicated operations, and a program for a computer to carry out the method. <P>SOLUTION: When creating an image composing an image carried by supplied data and the template, the method has the steps (functions) of: integrating an image selected out of the supplied image data into a designated position; integrating a template selected out of preset templates into a designated position; and electronically magnifying the template in accordance with the image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of image composition by image data processing, and more specifically, an image capable of combining a free-size image and various templates without complicated operations. The present invention relates to a composition method and a program for executing the image composition method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the widespread use of digital image technology, images taken on photographic film (image data read photoelectrically with a scanner, etc.), images taken with a digital camera, etc., and images cut out from these (Hereinafter referred to as photos) etc., and a service to create an image (composite image) that combines photo frames (frames), characters, etc. selected according to your preference and output as a photo print Yes. This service usually has a fixed template size. For this reason, there are many cases where it is not possible to adequately answer the request of the print creation requester (hereinafter referred to as a customer).

For example, when creating a composite image in which a photograph is incorporated into a photo frame, since the size and shape of the photo frame are fixed, it is necessary to cut out the photo according to the photo frame. Only the part desired by the customer cannot be cut out and incorporated into the photo frame. In addition, when a photo is incorporated into a photo frame without being cut out, an appropriate composite image cannot be obtained unless the aspect ratio of the photo and the photo frame is the same.

Also, with such a service, it is possible to create a composite image in which a template such as a character or a star-shaped decoration is combined with a blank portion of a print. Again,
Since the size of the template is fixed, the balance between the photo and the template is poor, and there may be a case where the template is too small, for example, and the template is applied to the face of the person who is the main subject.

By using image editing software such as Adobe's PhotoShop ^TM , the size of the photo, the size of the template, etc. can be arbitrarily set, so that such inconvenience can be avoided and the desired composite image can be obtained. Can get. However, as is well known, the creation of a composite image using such image editing software requires a certain amount of knowledge and complicated operations. If the user is not very skilled, it is extremely difficult to obtain a desired composite image. Takes time and effort. For this reason, for example, it cannot be incorporated into a device handled by an unspecified number of people, such as a photo order acceptance machine installed at a print shop.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-200196 discloses an automatic image editing apparatus that automatically corrects a layout according to the aspect ratio, size, etc. of a photographic image when a plurality of photographs are allocated to one sheet. Has been. According to this editing device, photos with different sizes and aspect ratios can be assigned to a single sheet in a well-balanced manner, but taking into account the size and aspect ratio of a template such as a photo frame and a photo,
A high-quality composite image cannot be created.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. An image of an arbitrary size and aspect ratio, a photo frame and a character can be obtained without performing complicated operations. It is an object to provide an image composition method capable of creating a composite image in which a template such as the above is well balanced and a program for causing a computer to execute the image composition method.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image composition method of the present invention is an image composition method for creating an image obtained by combining an image carried by supplied image data and a template. The step of incorporating the image selected from the supplied image data into the designated position, the step of incorporating the template selected from presets into the designated position, and electronically changing the template according to the image. And an image synthesizing method.

Also, the program of the present invention provides a computer with a function for acquiring image data, a function for selecting an image to be reproduced from the acquired image data, a function for selecting a preset template, and the selected image. The image data supplied by realizing the function of incorporating the selected template into the designated position, the function of incorporating the selected template into the designated position, and the function of electronic scaling processing of the template according to the selected image. Provides a program for creating an image obtained by combining an image carried by and a template.

In the present invention, a frame for enclosing the image is set as the template, and the electronic scaling process of the frame is performed so that the image is surrounded without a gap.
It is preferable that a scaling factor is set for each of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Further, as the template, a picture arranged in the area other than the image or the frame is set, and electronic scaling processing of the picture is performed. It is preferable that the picture is enlarged / reduced so as not to overlap the image or the frame.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The image composition method and program of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the program of the present invention.
The structure of an example of the photograph order reception machine which implements the image composition method of this invention is shown with a conceptual diagram. Photo order acceptance machine 10 in the illustrated example
(Hereinafter referred to as the order accepting machine 10) is installed, for example, in a photo print shop, and is basically operated by a print creation requester (hereinafter referred to as a customer). Such an order receiving machine 10 creates an image obtained by combining an image photographed on a photographic film and a template such as a photo frame in accordance with a customer's order, and outputs the image to a printer or the like. Thus, the receiving machine body 12 and the film reading unit 14
And a recording medium reading unit 16 and a template storage unit 18. Of course, the order receiving machine 10 may have a normal print creation order receiving function that does not synthesize images.

The receiving machine main body 12 includes a CPU 20 and a RAM 2.
2. Display unit (display) 24, instruction input unit 26, slip printing unit 28, storage means (not shown) such as a hard disk, and image data storage means 30, template storage means 32, image composition formed by these means And means 34, image arrangement calculation means 36, fee calculation means 38, image enlargement / reduction means 40, and communication control means 42. The receiving machine body 12 is, for example, a computer,
What is necessary is just to comprise with the program of this invention which implement | achieves the function as mentioned later by computer.

In the receiving machine body 12, the display unit 24 is
It may be a known display, and may be a CRT or a liquid crystal display (LCD). In addition, the instruction input unit 26 may be configured with a publicly known device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel using a display unit (may be used in combination with the display unit), buttons appropriately set, and the like. In the receiving machine body 12, the input by the instruction input unit 26, the display unit 24 and the instruction input unit 26.
Various operations to be described later are performed by a known means such as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) using the above.

The slip printing unit 28 uses a printer such as an ink jet printer, a dot impact printer, or a thermal printer. A slip (receipt) recording the name of the store where the phone is installed, the telephone number, etc. is output.

The image data storage means 30 stores an image (its image data) read by a film reading section 14 and a recording medium reading section 16 which will be described later. In addition,
In the following description, an image (including both selection of one frame (one image) and an image cut out (trimmed) from one frame) selected from an image read by the film reading unit 14 or the like is referred to as a photograph. Called. Similarly, an image in which one or more photographs and one or more templates are combined is defined as a combined image.

The template storage means 32 stores a template to be combined with a composite image selected from templates (image data) stored in a template storage unit 18 to be described later.

The image arrangement calculating means 36 calculates these positions on the composite image in accordance with the positions of the photograph and template inputted as instructions. The image synthesizing unit 34 creates a synthesized image in which photographs and templates selected to be recorded in the synthesized image are arranged according to the position calculation result by the image arrangement calculating unit 36.

The image enlargement / reduction means 40 enlarges or reduces the size of a template such as a photo frame (frame of each photo) or an object to be described later according to the size, aspect ratio, arrangement position, etc. (Enlargement / reduction = electronic scaling process) is performed. The enlargement / reduction in the image enlargement / reduction means 40 may be performed by a known method using thinning or interpolation. As will be described in detail later, the zoom ratio of the photo frame is set in each of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the composite image in accordance with the aspect ratio of the photo to be combined. In addition, scaling of objects is basically a photo frame (photo if there is no photo frame)
So that it does not overlap with the maximum size.
Scaling is performed.

The charge calculating means 38 prints the composite image reproduced according to the preset size (print size) of the composite image, the number of photos and templates to be incorporated in the output image, the usage fee of each template, etc. And the charge of the recording medium on which the composite image is recorded.

The illustrated example is an example in which the present invention is applied to a photo order receiving machine 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and has a fee calculation means 38, a slip printing unit 28, and the like. However, the present invention may be used for a normal image composition device (image processing device).

Further, the communication control means 42 receives the completed composite image (image data) and sends it to a printer for creating a print reproducing the composite image, for example, by the communication means. In the present invention, the output of the composite image is not limited to the printer, and the composite image may be recorded on various recording media such as a CD-R. 16 may be used to output a composite image (its image file) to a recording medium. The communication means is not particularly limited, and all the various communication means used for computer communication networks such as the Internet and LAN can be used.
0 and the printer may be directly connected.

As described above, the film receiving unit 14, the recording medium reading unit 16, and the template storage unit 18 are connected to the receiving machine body 12.

A film reader 14 photoelectrically reads an image photographed on the photographic film by inputting the reading light to the photographic film and reading the projection light carrying the image transmitted through the film with a CCD sensor or the like. This is a known film scanner.

On the other hand, the recording medium reading section 16 is a known recording medium reading means constituted by a drive or the like corresponding to the recording medium and reads an image or the like recorded on the recording medium. The symmetrical recording medium is not particularly limited, and CD-
Various recording media such as R, MO, Zip, SmartMedia ^™ , and Memory Stick ^™ can be used, and a plurality of types of recording media may be readable. Further, the recording medium reading unit 16 is supplied from an imaging device such as a digital camera.
The image may be read directly.

Both the images (image data) read by the film reading unit 14 and the recording medium reading unit 16 are stored in the image data storage means 30.

In the present invention, besides this,
An image may be synthesized using an image read on a reflective original such as a photographic print, or the image may be obtained (downloaded) from a communication means such as the Internet to synthesize the image.

The template storage unit 18 is a part for storing / storing a template to be combined with an image. Further, in the order receiving machine 10, it is preferable that a new template can be added or updated to the template storage unit 18 at any time by a known means using a recording medium or communication means as described above.

In the present invention, the template is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include various kinds of pictures and frames of pictures surrounding the picture, and one-point decorations (hereinafter referred to as objects). . The objects include characters such as theme parks and animations, various flowers, various animals, various insects, various vehicles, shapes such as hearts, stars and crescents, geometric patterns, logo characters, etc. All the designs and designs are available. In addition to this, various patterns and design frames bordering the output image (print), various designs and backgrounds for filling the margins, and the like may be accumulated (set).

Hereinafter, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The image composition method and program of the present invention will be described in more detail by explaining the composition of the photograph and the template in the order receiving machine 10. In the following description, a composite image is created by combining a photograph taken on a photographic film and a template. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the recording medium reading unit 16 can use a CD- Of course, a composite image may be created using an image read from a recording medium such as R.

As described above, the operation of the order receiving machine 10 is as follows.
Basically done by the customer. As described above, the following operations by the customer may be performed by a known method such as the instruction input unit 26 or a GUI using the same. In this example, first, a photographic film is set at a predetermined position of the film reading unit 14 by the customer, and the film reading unit 14 is set.
Reads images taken on photographic film. The reading at this time may be one frame at a time, or a plurality of frames may be read at a time. The read image is stored in the image data storage unit 30 and displayed on the display unit 24.

When an image is displayed on the display unit 24, a photograph to be reproduced as a composite image is then selected by the customer. This photo selection may be frame selection or image cropping (trimming) from one frame. In addition, 1 photo can be combined into one composite image.
One or more. In addition, the number of selections that exceed the number to be reproduced in one composite image may be performed, or photographs corresponding to a plurality of composite images may be selected. When enlarging / reducing a photograph to be reproduced as a composite image, the image synthesizing unit 34 enlarges / reduces the image (electronic scaling process) in accordance with a customer instruction or the like.

The selected photograph is stored in the image data storage means 3
Stored in zero. The selected photo is displayed on the display unit 24.
Are displayed as thumbnail images at predetermined positions. Note that unnecessary image data stored in the image data storage means 30 may be erased when the selection of a photograph is completed.

When the selection of photos for the required number of frames is completed, the number and position of images (photos and templates) to be incorporated into the composite image are then designated (image layout basic template designation).

In the image layout basic template designation, for example, a frame of a composite image (print) is displayed on the display unit 24, and the customer designates the position in the frame using the instruction input unit 26 (clicking with a mouse or the like). By doing. 1
The photos and templates assigned to one composite image are 1
There is no limitation to one, and both may be plural. In response to the designation of this position, the image arrangement calculation unit 36 generates a temporary arrangement position where each image is arranged with the instructed position as the center of the image.

In the order receiving machine 10, a photo,
Alternatively, an image layout basic template may be designated by creating an arrangement template in which basic positions of objects are allocated in advance and specifying this.

Next, the customer designates a template to be synthesized. The template is specified by, for example, displaying the template stored in the template storage unit 18 on the display unit 24 and selecting a photo frame and an object by clicking using the instruction input unit 26 or the like. In addition, the template display may display all the accumulated templates at once,
Alternatively, the photo frame and the object may be displayed separately, and further, the object may be displayed by type.

The designated template is stored in the template storage means 32, and a thumbnail image (which may be the actual size depending on the size) is displayed at a predetermined position on the display unit 24 as in the case of the photograph.

Next, the customer determines the arrangement position of each image (photograph, photo frame, and object) according to the image arrangement basic template specified previously. The arrangement position of each image may be instructed by, for example, dragging and dropping a thumbnail image displayed on the display unit using the instruction input unit 26.

In this example, the customer also performs the following operations (checking of overlap, which will be described later). However, the order receiving machine 10 of the present invention is not limited to this, and the operations by the customer have so far been performed. As for the subsequent operations, the order acceptance machine 1
The operator of the store where 0 is installed may perform it, or the order receiving machine 10 may perform it automatically.

When the arrangement position of each image is instructed, the image arrangement calculating unit 36 determines the position on the composite image according to the temporary arrangement position set in advance and the image instructed to be incorporated into each temporary arrangement position. The arrangement position of each image is calculated. Then
The image composition unit 34 reads out the photo and the template from the image data storage unit 30 and the template storage unit 32 and combines the photo and the template according to the arrangement position of each image calculated by the image arrangement calculation unit 36. Create an image. The composite photograph created by the image composition unit 34 is stored in the image data storage unit 30. Also,
When the composite image is created, the photograph and the template may be deleted from the image data storage unit 30 and the template storage unit 32.

As described above, the photograph has already been enlarged / reduced, and has a size corresponding to the composite image to be created. On the other hand, in the illustrated example, each template has a standard size, and the photo frame has a standard aspect ratio (1: 1 as an example). Initially, the standard size and aspect ratio are determined. A composite image is created.

As an example, it is assumed that a photograph, a photo frame, and an object (star, moon, and heart) are combined as shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. The composite image may or may not be displayed on the display unit 24. From this state, the image is kept as it is, and the image enlargement / reduction means 40 is operated by the image data storage means 30.
The template of the composite image stored in is enlarged or reduced.
As described above, the template scaling (electronic scaling process) may be performed by a known method.

In this example, first, the photo frame is enlarged or reduced. Basically, you can enlarge or reduce the photo frame without creating a gap.
In addition, a photo frame surrounds the photo without being overlaid on the photo. Therefore, the zoom ratio of the photo frame is set to be different between the vertical direction (the vertical direction of the image) and the horizontal direction according to the size and aspect ratio of the photo.

In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the sizing of the photographic frame in the photograph on the left side of the figure is reduced, but the photograph is horizontally long and the photographic frame has an aspect ratio of 1: 1. ,
A scaling factor that is larger in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction is set, and reduction is performed. On the other hand, the photograph on the right side has a large aspect ratio with a large aspect ratio, and the vertical direction is slightly larger than the photograph frame. Similarly, the aspect ratio of the photo frame is 1: 1. Therefore, in this photo frame, the vertical direction is slightly enlarged, and the horizontal direction is slightly enlarged. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, the photograph can be surrounded by a photo frame without overlapping each other and without forming a gap.

Next, from the state shown in FIG. 3B, the image enlargement / reduction means 40 performs object enlargement / reduction processing. The scaling of the object is basically performed so that the object does not overlap the photo frame (if it does not have a photo frame, it does not overlap the photo) and is as large as possible.

Here, the scaling of the object is, for example,
The image arrangement calculation unit 36 calculates the margin area of the object arrangement position on the composite image, calculates the scaling factor from the shape and standard size of the object arranged there, and the object arrangement position, and the image enlargement / reduction means 40 Enlargement / reduction processing may be performed. However, in this method, the calculation is complicated, the calculation amount is large, and the calculation takes time. Therefore, a preferable method is exemplified by the method shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, the composite image in the state of FIG. 3B, that is, the composite image in the state in which the enlargement / reduction of the photo frame has been completed is displayed on the display unit 24, and the overlap of the photo frame and the object is checked (the overlap Presence / absence determination). The check for overlap is performed by analyzing the image data and receiving the receiver 1
2 may be automatically determined, but in this example, as an example, a customer (or an operator as described above) operates the instruction input unit 26 to perform the determination. In the case of automatic determination, it is not necessary to display a composite image.

If there is an overlap (Yes), the image enlargement / reduction means 40 reduces all the objects by 5% and displays this image on the display unit 24. Note that this reduction may be performed on the display image (its image data) displayed on the display unit 24 (the same applies to the enlargement). With this composite image, the overlap is checked again. If there is an overlap, all objects are further reduced by 5%, and the overlap is checked again. This routine is repeated until there is no overlap between all photo frames and objects. When there is no overlap, the image enlargement / reduction means 40 reduces the composite image object stored in the image data storage unit 30 at the current reduction magnification, and completes the composite image.

Conversely, in the state of FIG. 3B, when there is no overlap between the photo frame and the object (No), on the contrary, the image enlargement / reduction means 40 enlarges all the objects by 5%,
Check the overlap again, and if there is no overlap,
The routine for enlarging 5% is repeated again until one overlap between the photo frame and the object occurs. When the overlap occurs, the image enlargement / reduction means 40 enlarges the object of the composite image stored in the image data storage unit 30 with the enlargement magnification immediately before the overlap occurs, thereby completing the composite image (FIG. 3).
(See (C)).

When the composite image is completed, the completed composite image may be displayed on the display unit 24 to prompt the customer to confirm (verify) the image. Further, in this aspect in which the customer checks for overlap, even if there is an overlap, conversely, even if the object is small, the object enlargement / reduction processing may be terminated by the customer's judgment, and the completed composite image may be obtained. Of course. The objects may be enlarged or reduced one by one.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the layout position of a photograph (image to be combined) and a template is determined, and the template is scaled according to the layout position, aspect ratio, size, etc. of the photograph. Processing (electronic scaling processing) is performed.
Therefore, with a simple operation, a photo of any size and aspect ratio can be incorporated into a favorite photo frame without erasing a part and forming an extra blank. A composite image having the maximum size can be created without overlapping the object on the photo frame or the like. That is, by using the present invention, an arbitrary composite image obtained by combining a photo (image) having an arbitrary size or aspect ratio and a template such as a photo frame or a character in a balanced manner can be easily performed without performing a complicated operation. For example, even a photograph order receiving machine operated by an unspecified number of people can create a composite image desired by a customer with a simple operation.

The scaling of the object is not performed uniformly, but the scaling may be performed by conditioning each object. For example, depending on the object and the photo frame, an attribute of “overlapping” up to a predetermined amount may be given, and the operator of the order receiving machine 10 gives the attribute that can be overlapped prior to the enlargement / reduction process. You may be able to do it. In addition, when multiple objects are placed, if the objects overlap in the final composite image, select one of the objects until only the objects disappear. It may be reduced. Alternatively, a prioritized object may be determined in advance, and if they overlap, only the prioritized object may be enlarged until just before it overlaps the photo frame, and the other may be reduced. Further, the object may be enlarged or reduced so that the size is just before the objects overlap even if they do not overlap the photo frame. Further, depending on the object, the maximum size and the minimum size may be determined, and enlargement / reduction exceeding the maximum size may not be performed, or a specified size may be set.

When the composite image is completed in this way, the communication control means 42 outputs the completed composite image (image data of the composite image) stored in the image data storage means 30 to the printer using the communication means or the like. Charge calculation means 3
8, as described above, the charge for printing the composite image is calculated according to the size (print size) of the composite image, the number of photos and templates, the usage fee of the template, etc. Send to 28. In response to this, the slip printing unit 28 outputs a slip in which predetermined items such as the fee calculated by the fee calculating means 38 and the print creation acceptance date are recorded.

Although the image synthesizing method and program of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and improvements are made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, you may.

For example, the operation procedure in the present invention is shown in FIG.
For example, after specifying a template to be used, an image layout basic template may be specified, or after specifying an image layout basic template, film reading or image selection is performed. Also good. Further, the trimming of the photograph is not limited to a rectangle as shown in the illustrated example, and may be a polygon such as a circle, an ellipse, or a pentagon, and a photo frame having a shape corresponding to the polygon may be set. . In addition, when the photograph is elliptical, the circular photograph frame may be enlarged or reduced at different magnifications in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the photograph may be surrounded by the photograph frame without overlapping and without a gap.

[0057]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an image of an arbitrary size and aspect ratio and a template such as a photo frame or character can be synthesized in a balanced manner without performing complicated operations. An arbitrary composite image can be created.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an example of a photo order receiving machine that implements an image composition method of the present invention by a program of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an image composition method of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are conceptual diagrams for explaining template enlargement / reduction processing in the image composition method of the present invention. FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining object enlargement / reduction processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 (Photo) Reception order machine 12 Reception machine body 14 Film reader 16 Recording medium reader 18 Template storage 20 CPU 22 RAM 24 display 26 Instruction input section 28 slip printing department 30 Image data storage means 32 Template storage means 34 Image composition means 36 Image arrangement calculation means 38 Fee calculation means 40 Image scaling means 42 Communication control means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme code (reference) G06T 11/60 100 G06T 11/60 100C H04N 1/387 H04N 1/387 // H04N 5/262 5/262 F term (reference) 5B050 AA10 BA06 BA15 CA07 EA12 EA19 FA02 FA09 FA13 5B057 BA24 BA26 CC01 CD05 CE08 CH08 CH11 CH12 CH18 DA07 DA08 DA16 DB02 DB09 DC04 DC09 DC34 5C023 AA02 AA11 AA31 BA11 CA01 DA01 DA08 5C076 A02 A08 AC

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image carried by supplied image data;
An image composition method for creating an image obtained by combining a template with a step of incorporating an image selected from supplied image data into a designated position and a template selected from presets being incorporated into the designated position An image synthesizing method comprising: a step; and a step of electronic scaling processing of the template according to the image. 2. A frame for enclosing the image is set as the template, and an electronic scaling process for the frame is performed in each of the vertical and horizontal directions so as to surround the image without a gap. The image composition method according to claim 1, wherein is set. 3. As the template, a picture arranged in an area other than the image or the frame is set, and the electronic scaling process of the picture is performed so that the image or the frame is not further overlapped with the frame. The image synthesizing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image is enlarged / reduced. 4. A function for acquiring image data in a computer, a function for selecting an image to be reproduced from the acquired image data, a function for selecting a preset template,
By realizing a function of incorporating the selected image into a designated position, a function of incorporating the selected template into a designated position, and a function of electronic scaling processing of the template according to the selected image, A program that creates an image obtained by combining an image carried by supplied image data and a template.