JP2004056641A - Method, apparatus, and program for editing image file - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method, an apparatus, and a program for editing an image file which can efficiently confirm an image after alteration of parameters in short period of time even when the reproduction parameters of raw image data included in the image file are altered. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus is constituted by including an input/output interface 1, a control section 2, a storage section 3, a display section 4, and an operating section 5. The reproduction parameter alteration processing section 21 of the control section 2 performs processing for altering the reproduction parameters for generating reproduced image data based on the raw image data according to an operation from the operating section 5. In addition, an image file update processing section 22 stores the reproduction parameters altered by the reproduction parameter alteration processing section 21 and thumbnail data altered on the basis of the altered reproduction parameters in the corresponding image file of the storage section 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image file editing method, an image file editing apparatus, and an image file editing program for editing an image file including raw digital image data (hereinafter referred to as “RAW image data”) acquired by an imaging apparatus. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A digital camera outputs digital image data based on an image pickup signal from an image pickup unit including a CCD image pickup device or the like, and has been remarkably popular in recent years. One feature of a digital camera is that images of a subject can be continuously displayed before shooting, the images to be shot can be checked and shot, or the shot images can be played back and checked. Another feature is that since it is digital data, a wide range of image processing is possible after shooting. That is, correction processing such as offset correction, gain correction (white balance correction), gradation correction (gamma correction), contour correction, hue correction, and the like can be performed to easily obtain an image that suits the user's preference.
[0003]
When image processing is performed after shooting, using RAW image data, which is image data as it is as an output signal of the imaging unit, can obtain an image that makes use of the pixel configuration, characteristics, and the like of the imaging device. In addition, RAW image data generally has a large number of output bits per pixel and is not compressed data, so processing without image degradation is possible. Therefore, an increasing number of digital cameras are provided with a function for outputting RAW image data.
[0004]
In order to display an image based on digital image data, synchronized image data, that is, RGB data for each pixel, or luminance signal data Y and color difference signal data Cr obtained by performing YC conversion on RGB data, Although Cb is required, RAW image data is dot-sequential data in a format that depends on the type of image sensor, so image processing is performed based on predetermined playback parameters to generate RGB data or Y-CrCb data. There is a need to. Therefore, the RAW image data is output as an image file including a reproduction parameter. FIG. 7 shows an example of a file format of an image file including RAW image data output from the imaging apparatus. Note that the thumbnail data in FIG. 7 includes stored reproduction parameters such as RGB gain (white balance), gradation data (gamma correction data), contour correction data (sharpness), hue data (color conversion) according to shooting conditions, etc. RAW image data is converted into displayable image data of an appropriate size according to a matrix) and the like, and is reduced.
[0005]
With such a file format, an image file capable of reproducing an image based on a predetermined reproduction parameter can be stored without increasing the size of the reproduced image file. Further, since the thumbnail data is stored together, the stored image can be easily displayed and confirmed.
[0006]
Since the result of the image processing on the RAW image data can be saved by updating the reproduction parameter, the reproduction parameter stored in the image file is changed as appropriate for the image. However, when the playback parameter is updated, it is necessary to change the RAW image data to RGB data based on the updated playback parameter. Therefore, it takes time for the change process, and it is not possible to confirm the updated image. It was not easy.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an image file editing method capable of efficiently and quickly confirming a changed image even when the playback parameter of the RAW image data included in the image file is changed. An object is to provide an image file editing apparatus and an image file editing program.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The image file editing method of the present invention is an image file editing method for editing an image file including RAW image data acquired by an imaging device, and the image file is further reproduced image data based on the RAW image data. A playback parameter used for generation, and thumbnail data generated from the RAW image data, and a parameter changing step for changing the playback parameter, and using the playback parameter changed in the parameter changing step. A thumbnail data changing step for changing the thumbnail data; the playback parameter changed in the parameter changing step; and a file update step for storing the thumbnail data changed in the thumbnail data changing step in the image file. Tsu is intended to include and-flops. According to this editing method, even when the playback parameter is changed, the thumbnail image based on the changed playback parameter is stored, so that it is possible to easily check the image after changing the playback parameter.
[0009]
In the image file editing method of the present invention, the file update step rewrites the reproduction parameter and the thumbnail data stored in the image file. According to this editing method, the original thumbnail data is rewritten with the thumbnail data corresponding to the updated reproduction parameter, so that the capacity of the image file does not change and the image can be easily confirmed.
[0010]
In the image file editing method of the present invention, the file update step additionally stores the changed reproduction parameter and rewrites the thumbnail data stored in the image file. According to this editing method, even when the playback parameter is changed, the original playback parameter remains, so that it is possible to perform image playback based on the original playback parameter. Since the thumbnail data based on the latest reproduction parameters is stored, it is possible to avoid a significant increase in the capacity of the image file.
[0011]
In the image file editing method of the present invention, the file updating step additionally stores the changed reproduction parameter and the thumbnail data. According to this editing method, the image can be easily confirmed even when the original reproduction parameter is used.
[0012]
The parameter changing step in the image file editing method of the present invention includes a playback parameter input step for inputting the playback parameter to be changed, and an image display step for displaying a playback image corresponding to the input playback parameter. According to this editing method, the image can be confirmed when the reproduction parameter is changed.
[0013]
In the image file editing method of the present invention, the image display step displays the reproduced image based on the reproduction parameter before the change. According to this editing method, it is possible to easily confirm the effect of changing the reproduction parameter.
[0014]
In the image file editing method of the present invention, the image display step displays an image based on thumbnail data stored in the image file and thumbnail data generated using the input reproduction parameter. According to this editing method, it is not necessary to specially create image confirmation image data at the time of changing the reproduction parameter, so that the processing time can be shortened.
[0015]
In the image file editing method of the present invention, the image display step includes raw image data stored in the image file, reproduction parameters stored in the image file, and image data generated using the input reproduction parameters. The image based on is displayed. According to this editing method, the reproduction image data based on the raw image data is generated every time the reproduction parameter is changed, so that a confirmation display image close to the actual reproduction image can be obtained.
[0016]
The thumbnail data obtained in the thumbnail data changing step in the image file editing method of the present invention is thumbnail data generated based on the generated image data. According to this editing method, thumbnail data close to the actual reproduced image can be obtained.
[0017]
An image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image file editing apparatus that edits an image file including RAW image data acquired by an imaging apparatus, and is included in an input unit that inputs the image file and the input image file File editing means for editing the data to be edited, and file updating means for updating the image file based on the editing result by the file editing means, wherein the image file is further reproduced image data based on the RAW image data Including the reproduction parameter used for generating the image data and the thumbnail data generated from the RAW image data, the file editing unit performs at least the reproduction parameter changing process, and the file updating unit includes: The changed playback parameter and the changed playback parameter. It is a modified thumbnail data that is stored in the image file based on.
[0018]
The file updating means in the image file editing apparatus of the present invention rewrites the reproduction parameter and the thumbnail data stored in the image file.
[0019]
The file updating means in the image file editing apparatus of the present invention additionally stores the changed reproduction parameter and rewrites the thumbnail data stored in the image file.
[0020]
The file update means in the image file editing apparatus of the present invention additionally stores the changed reproduction parameter and the thumbnail data.
[0021]
The parameter changing means in the image file editing apparatus of the present invention includes image display means for displaying a reproduction image corresponding to the input reproduction parameter.
[0022]
The image display means in the image file editing apparatus of the present invention displays a reproduced image based on the reproduction parameter before the change.
[0023]
The image display means in the image file editing apparatus of the present invention displays an image based on thumbnail data stored in the image file and thumbnail data generated using the input reproduction parameter.
[0024]
In the image file editing apparatus of the present invention, the image display means includes raw image data stored in the image file, reproduction parameters stored in the image file, and image data generated using the input reproduction parameters. The image based on is displayed.
[0025]
The file updating means in the image file editing apparatus of the present invention uses thumbnail data generated based on the generated image data as the changed thumbnail data.
[0026]
An image file editing program of the present invention is an image file editing program for causing a computer to execute each step in the image file editing method.
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 includes an input / output interface 1, a control unit 2, a storage unit 3, a display unit 4, and an operation unit 5. The control unit 2 includes a reproduction parameter change processing unit 21, an image file update process. Part 22 is included.
[0028]
The input / output interface 1 performs input / output of various data including input of an image file including RAW image data to be edited and output of the image file after the editing process. Connected to the unit. An input image file is usually stored in a medium such as a memory card of a digital camera, for example, in a file format as shown in FIG. 7, and stored directly in the medium or in another external storage device, and then subjected to image processing. Input to the device. Note that the thumbnail data in FIG. 7 includes stored reproduction parameters such as RGB gain (white balance), gradation data (gamma correction data), contour correction data (sharpness), hue data (color conversion) according to shooting conditions, etc. RAW image data is converted into displayable image data of an appropriate size according to a matrix) and the like, and is reduced.
[0029]
The reading from the media may be performed by connecting the media taken out from the digital camera to the media interface connected to the input / output interface 1, or the digital camera is connected with a predetermined cable and attached to the digital camera. You may go on. The edited image file is output to an arbitrary recording medium via the recording medium drive or to another device via the communication control unit.
[0030]
The control unit 2 includes a reproduction parameter change processing unit 21 and an image file update processing unit 22. The control unit 2 performs processing for changing a reproduction parameter used for reproduction of RAW image data included in the image file, and changes the reproduction parameter to the changed reproduction parameter. Based on this, the entire image processing apparatus including the process of updating the image file is controlled.
[0031]
The reproduction parameter change processing unit 21 performs processing for changing reproduction parameters for generating reproduction image data based on RAW image data according to an operation from the operation unit 5. As will be described later, this changing process is performed while displaying the image after changing the playback parameter and confirming its contents. Therefore, the user can change the reproduction parameter while confirming the displayed image, and can efficiently obtain the requested image.
[0032]
The image file update processing unit 22 updates the corresponding image file stored in the storage unit 3 based on the playback parameter changed by the playback parameter change processing unit 21. Specifically, the reproduction parameter of the image file to be edited and the thumbnail data changed based on the changed reproduction parameter are stored in the corresponding image file in the storage unit. When storing the image file, the original playback parameters and thumbnail data included in the image file may be rewritten or additionally recorded.
[0033]
The storage unit 3 stores various data including an image file input via the input / output interface 1 and a changed image file. The display unit 4 displays an image corresponding to the thumbnail data or the RAW image data included in the image file during the playback parameter changing process, inputs the playback parameter to be changed, and plays the image corresponding to the input playback parameter. Is displayed. Also, various information necessary for the operation of the image processing apparatus, such as setting menu information at the time of adjusting the reproduction parameter, is displayed. The operation unit 5 inputs various operation signals when using the image processing apparatus in addition to an operation unit for instructing the content of the reproduction parameter changing process and an operation unit for instructing the content of the image file update process.
[0034]
1 can be realized by installing a predetermined program in a computer such as a personal computer. However, the computer for realizing the image processing apparatus is not limited to a stand-alone type, and is processed by a client computer and a server computer. May be shared. ,
[0035]
Next, a schematic operation when performing an editing process on an image file including RAW image data using the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
[0036]
FIG. 2 is a flow in the case where an image file to be edited is read from the plurality of image files recorded on the medium via the input / output interface 1 into the storage unit 3 and editing processing is performed.
[0037]
In step S101, a list of thumbnail images is displayed on the display unit 4 in order to select an image file to be edited. Since the image data created at the time of photographing has a file format as shown in FIG. 7, thumbnail data is read from a plurality of image files and displayed as a list of thumbnail images as shown in FIG.
[0038]
When the processing target image is selected by the user (for example, by moving the cursor as shown in FIG. 8) in step S102, the image file corresponding to the selected image is input to the input / output interface 1 in step S103. And store it in the storage unit 3.
[0039]
Then, in step S200, a reproduction parameter change process is performed, and in step S300, an image file update process based on the reproduction parameter change is performed. The image file update process includes storing the reproduction parameter changed in step S200 and the thumbnail data changed using the changed reproduction parameter in the image file.
[0040]
The reproduction parameter changing process in the next step S200 will be described more specifically. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the parameter changing process, and is an example in the case of displaying thumbnail data in order to confirm the image after changing the reproduction parameter.
[0041]
In step S201, using the image file read into the storage unit 3, a screen for performing parameter change processing as shown in FIG. 9 includes a preview image display area 51, a reproduction parameter setting area 52, an enter button 53, and a cancel button 54. In the preview image display area 51, an image based on thumbnail data stored in an image file to be edited is displayed. Further, the reproduction parameter in the reproduction parameter setting area 52 corresponds to a value corresponding to the reproduction parameter stored in the image file. In the example of FIG. 9, the playback parameter can be displayed or the setting can be changed by the setting bar 520 for each parameter, but numerical information may be used.
[0042]
The decision button 53 in FIG. 9 is a button that is pressed when the reproduction parameter is decided, and the cancel button 54 is for canceling the latest setting set in the reproduction parameter setting area 52 and returning to the previous setting. Button. The degree to which the setting processing history is retained is arbitrary.
[0043]
In the state in which the change processing screen of FIG. 9 is displayed, it is determined whether or not there is a parameter change operation by moving the setting bar 520 in the playback parameter setting area 52 (step S202). Based on the above, parameters for converting the thumbnail data are extracted (step S203). This step is for absorbing differences in the number of bits, the number of pixels, etc. between the RAW image data and the thumbnail data.
[0044]
In step S204, the thumbnail data is changed using the extracted thumbnail conversion parameter. In step S205, the display image in the preview image display area 51 is changed to an image based on the changed thumbnail data. In step S206, it is determined whether or not the enter button 53 has been pressed. If the enter button 53 is pressed, the parameter change process is terminated assuming that the change instruction based on the reproduction parameter at that time has been issued.
[0045]
In order to further modify the image displayed in the preview image display area 51, a change operation is performed by moving the setting bar 520 in the reproduction parameter setting area 52. Therefore, the user can perform the editing process while confirming the image accompanying the reproduction parameter changing operation.
[0046]
In the change processing screen of FIG. 9, the image after the reproduction parameter change is displayed in the preview image display area 51. However, as shown in FIG. 10, two images are displayed in the preview image display area and before and after the change. It is also possible to compare the images. In that case, it is preferable to provide an original image button 55 so that the playback parameters before the change can be returned.
[0047]
In FIG. 3, a thumbnail image is used as the image after changing the playback parameter. However, when the thumbnail data is changed, an image faithful to the change of the playback parameter is not displayed. FIG. 4 shows another example of the parameter change processing flow. FIG. 4 shows an example of displaying an image based on image data generated from RAW image data in order to confirm the image after changing the reproduction parameter.
[0048]
Prior to the display of the change processing screen, display image data is generated using the reproduction parameters and RAW image data of the image file read into the storage unit 3 (step S211). The display image data is obtained by changing the RAW image data to RGB data based on the reproduction parameters stored in the image file. In general, since the preview image display area 51 is smaller than the size of stored image data, reduction processing is performed in the state of RAW image data or after conversion to RGB data.
[0049]
Subsequently, in step S212, a change processing screen as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 is displayed, and a reproduction parameter change operation is awaited (step S213). If there is a reproduction parameter change operation, the display image data is updated in step S214. Since this process is an image change process using the changed playback parameter for the RAW image data, an image faithful to the change of the playback parameter can be displayed in the preview image display area 51. In such display image data update processing, the processing time increases in proportion to the number of pixels of the RAW data, and therefore it is preferable to perform reduction processing on the RAW image data in advance. The reduction process may be a process that performs a reduction process on the entire image, or a process that cuts out RAW image data of a partial area of the image.
[0050]
When the display image data update process ends, an image based on the updated display image data is displayed in the preview image display area 51. When the image displayed in the preview image display area 51 is to be further modified, the change operation is performed by moving the setting bar 520 in the reproduction parameter setting area 52, which is the same as the parameter changing process in FIG. If the enter button 53 is pressed, the parameter change process is terminated assuming that the change instruction based on the reproduction parameter at that time is instructed.
[0051]
Next, the image file update process of FIG. 2 will be described in more detail. FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow of image file update processing when a preview image is displayed in the preview image display area 51 using thumbnail data.
[0052]
When the determination button 53 on the parameter change processing screen of FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 is pressed, the reproduction parameter to be changed is determined. In step S301, the determined reproduction parameter is stored in the storage unit 3, and the image file is updated. In this case, the original reproduction parameter may be rewritten with the changed reproduction parameter, or may be additionally stored. In the case of additional storage, only the latest reproduction parameter may be left, leaving only the original reproduction parameter.
[0053]
In step S302, the changed thumbnail data is stored in the storage unit 3, and the image file is updated. Since the thumbnail data has already been created at the time of parameter change processing, it can be saved as it is. As for the thumbnail data, the original thumbnail data may be rewritten or additionally stored. However, when rewriting the playback parameters, the thumbnail data is also rewritten.
[0054]
FIG. 6 is a schematic flow of image file update processing when a preview image based on RAW image data is displayed in the preview image display area 51. The process of storing the playback parameter determined in step S311 in the storage unit 3 and updating the image file is the same as in step S301 of FIG. In this example, since the thumbnail data has not been changed, a thumbnail data generation process is performed in step S312 prior to storing the thumbnail data. The thumbnail data is generated by reducing the preview display image data generated during the parameter changing process.
[0055]
In step S313, the generated thumbnail data is stored. Since the storage method is the same as that in step S302 in FIG. 5, the description thereof is omitted.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, even when the reproduction parameter of the RAW image data included in the image file is changed, the changed image can be confirmed efficiently and in a short time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic operation flow of image file editing processing by the image processing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of the reproduction parameter changing process. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the image file updating process. FIG. 6 is another example of the image file updating process. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a file format of an image file. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a list of thumbnail images. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a parameter change processing screen. Figure showing another example of the processing screen [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 .. Input / output interface 2 ... Image processing part 3 ... Memory | storage part 4 ... Display part 5 ... Operation part 21 ... Playback parameter change process part 22 ... Image file update process part

Claims (19)

An image file editing method for editing an image file including RAW image data acquired by an imaging apparatus,
The image file further includes playback parameters used for generating playback image data based on the RAW image data, and thumbnail data generated from the RAW image data.
A parameter changing step for changing the reproduction parameter;
A thumbnail data changing step for changing the thumbnail data using the reproduction parameter changed in the parameter changing step;
An editing method comprising: the reproduction parameter changed in the parameter changing step; and a file updating step for storing the thumbnail data changed in the thumbnail data changing step in the image file. The image file editing method according to claim 1,
The image file editing method, wherein the file update step rewrites the reproduction parameter and the thumbnail data stored in the image file. The image file editing method according to claim 1,
The image file editing method, wherein the file updating step additionally stores the changed reproduction parameter and rewrites the thumbnail data stored in the image file. The image file editing method according to claim 1,
The image file editing method, wherein the file update step additionally stores the changed reproduction parameter and the thumbnail data. The image file editing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
The image parameter editing method includes a reproduction parameter input step for inputting the reproduction parameter to be changed, and an image display step for displaying a reproduction image corresponding to the input reproduction parameter. The image file editing method according to claim 5,
The image file editing method, wherein the image display step displays a reproduced image based on a reproduction parameter before change. The image file editing method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein
The image file editing method, wherein the image display step displays an image based on thumbnail data stored in the image file and thumbnail data generated using the input reproduction parameter. The image file editing method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein
The image display step displays the image based on the raw image data stored in the image file, the reproduction parameter stored in the image file, and the image data generated using the input reproduction parameter. An image file editing method. The image file editing method according to claim 8, comprising:
An image file editing method, wherein the thumbnail data obtained in the thumbnail data changing step is thumbnail data generated based on the generated image data. An image file editing device for editing an image file including RAW image data acquired by an imaging device,
Input means for inputting the image file;
File editing means for editing data included in the input image file;
File updating means for updating the image file based on the editing result by the file editing means,
The image file further includes playback parameters used for generating playback image data based on the RAW image data, and thumbnail data generated from the RAW image data.
The file editing means performs at least the reproduction parameter changing process,
The image file editing device, wherein the file updating means stores the changed reproduction parameter and the thumbnail data changed based on the changed reproduction parameter in the image file. The image file editing device according to claim 10,
The image file editing apparatus, wherein the file update means rewrites the reproduction parameter and the thumbnail data stored in the image file. The image file editing device according to claim 10,
The image file editing device, wherein the file updating means additionally stores the changed reproduction parameter and rewrites the thumbnail data stored in the image file. The image file editing device according to claim 10,
The image file editing device, wherein the file update means additionally stores the changed reproduction parameter and the thumbnail data. The image file editing device according to any one of claims 10 to 13,
The parameter changing means is an image file editing device including image display means for displaying a reproduction image corresponding to the inputted reproduction parameter. 15. The image file editing device according to claim 14, wherein
The image file editing device, wherein the image display means displays a reproduced image based on a reproduction parameter before change. The image file editing device according to claim 14 or 15,
The image display unit is an image file editing device for displaying an image based on thumbnail data stored in the image file and thumbnail data generated using the input reproduction parameter. The image file editing device according to claim 14 or 15,
The image display means displays an image based on raw image data stored in the image file, playback parameters stored in the image file, and image data generated using the input playback parameters. An image file editing device. The image file editing device according to claim 17, wherein
The image file editing apparatus, wherein the file update means uses thumbnail data generated based on the generated image data as the changed thumbnail data. An image file editing program for causing a computer to execute each step in the image file editing method according to claim 1.

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