JP2004310214A - Image processor, image editing method, image processing method, and program, printing instruction device and printer used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the deterioration of image quality of an image even when correcting the image stepwise. <P>SOLUTION: In image processing software 42, an editing part 42b edits the image, an editing information formation part 42c forms the editing content as an egg file, and an editing information attachment part 42d attaches this to the original image. In layout processing software 44, an editing processing part 44b edits the image with the egg file, a layout setting part 44c sets a layout to layout the image, and a printing job output part 44d outputs the image with the set layout or the egg file and a printing condition as a printing job to the printer 30. In a print server 32, an editing processing part 32c edits the image with the egg file, a layout processing part 33d fits the edited image to the layout, and an assigned printer of ink jet printers 34 and 36 prints the resulting image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image editing method, an image processing method, and a program used therefor, as well as a print instruction apparatus and a printing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for editing an image, an image editing method, and an image processing method. The present invention relates to an image processing method, a program used therefor, a print instruction device for instructing a printing device to print, and a printing device for printing an image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a program for this type of image processing apparatus, retouching software for adjusting the color of a photographic image has been proposed (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). With this retouching software, dust, scratches, wrinkles, and the like can be removed, and exposure and saturation can be adjusted.
[0003]
[Non-patent document 1]
Adobe Systems Incorporated, "Adobe Photoshop", [searched on March 13, 2003], Internet <URL: http: // www. adobe. co. jp / products / photoshop / overview. html>
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with such retouching software, the image can be corrected as it is, but if the image is corrected step by step, the corrected image will be modified, and the image will be saved for each stepwise correction Then, depending on the storage format, the image quality of the image may deteriorate. Also, when different corrections are made to the same image, they are stored as different images. Therefore, if many different corrections are made, a large storage area is required to store all of them.
[0005]
An object of the image processing apparatus and the image editing method of the present invention is to prevent image quality of an image from deteriorating even if the image is corrected step by step. Another object of the image processing apparatus and the image editing method according to the present invention is to enable storage with a small capacity even when a large number of different corrections are made. The program for the image processing apparatus of the present invention is designed to prevent the image quality of the image from being degraded even when the image is corrected by dividing the computer step by step, and to store the image with a small capacity even when many different corrections are made. It is intended to function as an image processing apparatus that performs the processing. An image processing method of the present invention, a program using the same, and a print instruction apparatus and a printing apparatus using the method aim to process an image edited by the image processing apparatus and the image editing method of the present invention.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects]
The image processing device, the image editing method, the image processing method, the program used for these, the print instruction device, and the printing device of the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above objects.
[0007]
The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes:
An image processing device for editing an image,
Input means for inputting an image,
Editing means for editing the input image;
Editing information creating means for creating editing information on the content of the editing performed on the input image by the editing means,
Edit information attaching means for attaching the created edit information to the input image to make the image with edit information,
The gist is to provide
[0008]
In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the input image is edited, edit information on the contents of the edit is created, and the edited information is attached to the input image. That is, the image is attached with editing information in which the editing content is included as information in the data of the image itself before editing, which has not been changed by the editing. The device that receives the image to which the editing information is attached may edit the image based on the editing information and handle the edited image. By performing such processing, even if an image is edited, the data of the image itself need not be changed. Therefore, even if the image is edited step by step, only the editing information needs to be changed, so that it is possible to prevent the image quality of the image from deteriorating.
[0009]
In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the editing means includes a process for setting a print area of the image, a process for correcting a desired portion of the image, a process for adjusting the color and / or tone of the image, and a process for setting the image in advance. The means may include any one or more of the processes for applying the special effect as editing of the image. In the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention, the editing information creating unit may be a unit that creates the editing information based on information for each process included in the editing unit as editing of the image. . With this configuration, the editing information is created based on the information for each process included in the editing. Therefore, even when the image is edited based on the editing information, the editing is performed based on the information for each process included in the editing. be able to.
[0010]
In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the editing unit may be a unit that sequentially performs a plurality of processes including editing of an image. In the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention, the editing information creating unit may be a unit that creates the editing information based on an order of a plurality of processes that the editing unit includes as an edit on the image. it can. With this configuration, the editing information is created based on the order of the plurality of processes included in the editing. Therefore, when the image is edited based on the editing information, the editing is performed based on the order of the plurality of processes included in the editing. Can be applied.
[0011]
Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the editing information attaching means may be a means capable of attaching a plurality of pieces of editing information to the input image. In this way, when different edits are performed on the same image, it is only necessary to attach a plurality of pieces of editing information to the data of the image itself, so that the capacity can be reduced as compared with a case where a plurality of edited images are used. Can be. As a result, the transmission time when transmitting an image to another device via the network can be shortened, and the transmission and reception can be made suitable. In the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention, the editing information attaching means may be a means for attaching a plurality of pieces of editing information to the input image in a distinguishable manner.
[0012]
A program for an image processing device according to the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing an image processing device according to any one of the above-described embodiments, that is, an image processing device that basically edits an image. Input means, editing means for editing the input image, editing information creating means for creating editing information on the content of the editing performed on the input image by the editing means, The present invention is characterized in that it functions as an image processing apparatus including: an editing information attaching unit that attaches the created editing information to create an image with editing information.
[0013]
According to the program for an image processing device of the present invention, the computer is caused to function as the image processing device of the present invention according to any one of the above-described embodiments. Therefore, the same effect as the effect of preventing the image quality of the image from deteriorating can be achieved even if the editing is performed only by changing the editing information.
[0014]
The image editing method of the present invention includes:
An image editing method for editing an image,
(A) Edit the input image,
(B) creating editing information on the content of the editing performed on the image;
(C) Attach the created editing information to the input image
That is the gist.
[0015]
According to the image editing method of the present invention, an input image is edited, editing information relating to the contents of the editing is created and attached to the input image. That is, the image is attached with editing information in which the editing content is included as information in the data of the image itself before editing, which has not been changed by the editing. The device that receives the image to which the editing information is attached may edit the image based on the editing information and handle the edited image. By performing such processing, even if an image is edited, the data of the image itself need not be changed. Therefore, even if the image is edited step by step, only the editing information needs to be changed, so that it is possible to prevent the image quality of the image from deteriorating.
[0016]
The image processing method of the present invention includes:
An image processing method for processing an image,
(A) input an image to which editing information relating to the content of editing performed on the image is attached,
(B) editing the input image based on the editing information attached to the input image
That is the gist.
[0017]
According to the image processing method of the present invention, an image to which editing information relating to the contents of editing performed on an image is attached is input, and the image is edited based on the editing information attached to the input image. be able to. That is, after the image is edited based on the editing information, the image is handled as an edited image. As a result, in the image editing apparatus, the editing information as the editing content may be attached to the data of the image itself.
[0018]
In the image processing method according to the present invention, the editing information is set in a process of setting a print area of the image, a process of correcting a desired portion of the image, a process of adjusting a color and / or tone of the image, and a process of setting the image in advance. One or more of the processes for applying the special effect as editing contents for an image, and the step (b) is created based on information for each process included as editing for the image. May be a step of applying the contents of each process as edits based on the information of each process included as edit contents. In this way, the editing can be performed based on the information for each process included as the editing content.
[0019]
Further, in the image processing method of the present invention, the editing information is created based on the respective processes in which a plurality of processes including the editing of the image are performed in the order, and the step (b) includes: It may be a step of applying the content of each process as an edit based on the order of a plurality of processes included in the edit information as the edit content. In this way, the editing can be performed based on the order of the plurality of processes included as the editing content.
[0020]
The program for an image processing method according to the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing the image processing method according to any one of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, that is, basically, an image processing method for processing an image. (B) inputting an image with editing information relating to the contents of the editing performed on the input image, and (b) performing each step of an image processing method of editing the input image based on the editing information attached to the input image. The gist is to make it execute as each procedure.
[0021]
According to the program for an image processing method of the present invention, a computer is caused to execute each step of the image processing method of the present invention in any one of the above-described embodiments as each procedure. For example, a device that edits an image based on editing information attached to the image and then treats the image as an edited image by using a device that attaches editing information as editing content to data of the image itself. The same effects as the effects that can be obtained can be obtained.
[0022]
A program for a print instruction apparatus according to the present invention includes, as a module, the program for the image processing method according to the present invention as described above, and sets a layout at the time of printing the input image by a computer, and instructs a printing apparatus to perform printing. The gist is to function as a pointing device. With this program, it is possible to cause a computer to function as a device that performs editing on an image to which editing information is attached, sets a layout of the image, and instructs printing.
[0023]
A print instruction apparatus of the present invention executes the image processing method of the present invention according to any one of the above-described embodiments, sets a layout for printing the edited image, and instructs the print apparatus to print. Make a summary. In this print instruction apparatus, an image to which edit information is attached can be edited, a layout of the image can be set, and a print instruction can be issued to the print apparatus.
[0024]
The printing apparatus of the present invention executes the image processing method of the present invention according to any one of the above-described embodiments, and prints the edited image. With this printing apparatus, an image to which editing information is attached can be edited and printed.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printing system including a client computer (hereinafter, referred to as a client PC) 40 and a printing device 30 that function as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system according to the embodiment is configured such that a printing apparatus 30 that prints an image by performing color matching and a plurality of client PCs 40 are connected by a LAN 49, and the center server 20 is connected to the LAN 49 via the Internet 22. I have.
[0026]
The client PC 40 is constituted by a so-called PC / AT compatible computer, and includes a CPU, a RAM, a hard disk, a monitor, and the like. In the client PC, image processing software 42 for performing image processing on image data input from a digital camera 48, a hard disk, or the like, layout processing software 44 for laying out images on printing paper, and the like are installed. I have. 1 shows the functional blocks when the image processing software 42 and the layout processing software 44 installed in the client PC 40 are started. As shown in the figure, when the image processing software 42 is activated, the client PC 40 includes, as functional blocks, a data input unit 42a for inputting an image, and an editing unit 42b for editing the input image stepwise. An editing information creating unit 42c for creating the contents of the editing performed as editing information, and an editing information attaching unit 42d for attaching the created editing information to a target image. When the layout processing software 44 is activated, the client PC 40 has, as functional blocks, a data input unit 44a for inputting an image to which editing information is attached and an image editing unit based on the editing information attached to the image. , A layout setting unit 44c for selecting a layout for printing, allocating images and setting printing conditions, and a print job for outputting a page on which a layout is set as a print job to the printing apparatus 30. An output unit 44d.
[0027]
The printing apparatus 30 includes two high-performance inkjet printers 34 and 36 and a print server 32 that manages the distribution of a print job instructed by the client PC 40 to the inkjet printers 34 and 36 and the like. Have been. Upon receiving the print job from the client PC 40, the print server 32 allocates the print job to one of the inkjet printers 34 and 36 in page units or copy units in accordance with the specification of paper and the operation status of the inkjet printers 34 and 36, for example. A print job management unit 32a that manages the print job of the print server, a communication management unit 32b that manages communication with the center server 20, and an edit processing unit 32c that edits an image to which edit information included in the print job is attached. And a layout processing unit 32d that allocates an image that has been edited based on the set layout and creates a page for printing. In addition to the functions shown in these functional blocks, the print server 32 generates print data from the created print page, and sends the generated print data to the inkjet printers 34 and 36 to which the generated print data are allocated, although not shown. It also has a function of spooling the print data and transferring the spooled print data to the corresponding inkjet printers 34 and 36. The print server 32 also has a built-in Web server function, and can provide the status of a spooled print job to the client PC 40 via a Web browser. The client PC 40 can perform job operations such as changing the printing order and canceling printing by using a Web-based interface provided by the print server 32.
[0028]
The center server 20 performs billing calculation based on the record of the number of printed sheets periodically transmitted from the print server 32, and performs replenishment management of consumables based on the consumption status of consumables.
[0029]
Next, the operation of the client PC 40 and the operation of the printing apparatus 30 according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the operation of the client PC 40 when the image processing software 42 is started and the operation when the layout processing software 44 is started will be described, and then the operation of the printing apparatus 30 will be described.
[0030]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an image editing process executed when the image processing software 42 installed in the client PC 40 is started. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the image editing process when the image processing software 42 is started. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image editing screen 50 displayed on a monitor of FIG. The image editing screen 50 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes an image display box 51 for displaying an image to be edited, and a control box 52 for displaying tools and control buttons used for editing, indicators indicating the processing status, and the like. Are located. At the top of the image display box 51, a browse button 53a, a trim button 53b, a retouch button 53c, a color / tone button 53d, an effect button 53e, and an export button indicating that processing for reading and editing an image is performed in order. 53f is provided, and various buttons 54a to 54f for assisting the editing process are provided on the side of the control box 52. In the embodiment, each step of the image editing process illustrated in FIG. 2 is performed in accordance with buttons 53 a to 53 f provided on the upper part of the image display box 51.
[0031]
When the browse button 53a is operated while the image editing screen 50 is displayed, the browse mode is set to a browse mode in which a folder display area for tree-displaying folders to select a folder and thumbnails of images included in the selected folder are listed. An image selection screen (not shown) provided with a displayed thumbnail display area is displayed. The user can select a desired folder from the folder display area and select a desired image from thumbnails displayed in a list in the thumbnail display area with the selection of the folder. When the user selects an image in this way, the selected image is input and displayed in the image display box 51 of the image editing screen 50 (step S100), and the mode shifts to the trim mode in which the trim button 53b is operated. When an image is input, if an ICC profile of a format specified by ICC (International Color Consortium) is attached to the image, the image is color-converted using the profile and displayed in the image display box 51, and the image is displayed in the ICC profile. When is not attached, a profile selection screen is displayed and the selected profile is set as a work profile.
[0032]
In the trim mode in which the image is displayed in the image display box 51 in this manner, the area outside the rectangular selection range set by the user dragging the mouse cursor over the image in the image display box 51 is set as the trim area, and the selection is made. Only the area inside the range is extracted (step S110). At this time, although not shown, an aspect ratio setting box in which a desired aspect ratio can be set is displayed in the control box 52. By setting this in advance, no matter how the mouse cursor is dragged, Can set the aspect ratio of the rectangular selection range set in advance to the preset aspect ratio. The control box 52 also displays a button for rotating the selection range clockwise or counterclockwise in units of one degree. Using this button, the user can rotate the selection range clockwise or counterclockwise in units of one degree.
[0033]
When the retouch button 53c is operated after the trim operation, the image of the selected range extracted in the trim mode is displayed in the image display box 51, and the mode is shifted to the retouch mode (step S120). Although not shown, the control box 52 includes a selection bar of several predetermined retouching tools frequently used in the photo studio, a slider bar for adjusting the intensity of the enhancement effect, and a plurality of bars having different sizes, blur levels, shapes, and angles. A list of brushes and multiple slider bars for adjusting the size, blur, shape, and angle of each brush are displayed. The user selects a desired tool, a desired enhancement effect intensity, a desired size and a degree of blur, a brush having a desired shape, and an angle, and operates a mouse cursor at a desired position of the image displayed in the image display box 51. The desired enhancement can be applied to the place. At this time, the mouse cursor is displayed on the image in the image display box 51 with a figure (for example, the outline of the brush having the same size, shape, and angle as the brush used by the user (that is, the area to be enhanced)). (Closed curve figure shown in Fig. 7).
[0034]
When the color / tone button 53d is operated after the retouch operation, the mode shifts to the color / tone mode with the image enhanced in the retouch mode displayed on the image display box 51 (step S130). In this color / tone mode, a screen for selecting three sub-modes of “easy”, “variation”, and “manual” is displayed in the control box 52, and an image is displayed in one of the three modes according to the user's selection. Color adjustment can be performed on the image displayed in the box 51. In the sub mode “Easy”, a plurality of types of color adjustment filters prepared in advance, such as “standard color correction”, “color correction for portrait photography”, “monochrome photography”, “brightening” , "Make heavy", "make sharp", "make soft", etc. are displayed in the control box 52. The user can select a filter from these options to select the whole image. Can be applied to In the “variation” of the sub mode, the user can freely set values of predetermined main parameters (eg, brightness, contrast, gray balance, saturation, sharpness, etc.) among various parameters of the color adjustment filter. Since the parameter setting table is displayed in the control box 52, the user can apply a desired filter to the entire image by setting the parameters. In the “manual” sub-mode, various tools and indicators for setting the parameters of the color adjustment filter more finely than in the “variation” sub-mode are displayed in the control box 52. Color adjustments can be made.
[0035]
When the effect button 53e is operated after the color adjustment, the mode shifts to the effect mode (step S140). Since a selectable special effect filter is displayed in the control box 52, a desired special effect can be applied to the image displayed in the image display box 51 by selecting the special effect filter. .
[0036]
It is not necessary to perform all of the editing contents such as the trim operation, the retouching operation, the color adjustment, and the special effects described above, and it is sufficient to perform only the desired editing contents. In this case, the button need not be operated for the editing content that is not performed. For example, when color adjustment is not performed, the effect button 53e may be directly operated without operating the color / tone button 53d when the retouch operation is completed.
[0037]
When editing is completed and the export button 53f is operated, information about the edited contents is created as a file (hereinafter, referred to as an egg file) in the order of the edited contents (step S150), and when the image is input in step S100. The image is attached to the file of the selected image (step S160), and the image editing process ends. FIG. 4 schematically shows the data structure of the egg file. As shown in the figure, in the egg file, trim data indicating the contents of the trim operation, retouch data indicating the contents of the retouch operation, color / tone data indicating the contents of the color adjustment, and the contents of the special effects are provided below the ID of the attached image. Are arranged in order. If no operation or adjustment is performed, NULL data or the like is input to each data so that it is understood that no operation or adjustment has been performed. When the export button 53f is operated, if an ICC profile is attached to an image, the ICC profile is attached to the image, and since no ICC profile is attached to the image, a default profile or the like is set as a work profile. When done, the profile is attached to the image.
[0038]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the layout processing executed when the layout processing software 44 installed in the client PC 40 is started. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the layout processing executed when the layout processing software 44 is started. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a layout setting screen 60 displayed on a monitor of the monitor. The layout setting screen 60 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a folder list 61 for displaying folders in a tree view for selecting a folder, an image list 62 for displaying a list of thumbnails of images included in the selected folder, and a paper ( Media / printer selection box 63 for selecting a media) and a printer, a layout selection box 64 for selecting a layout, a layout display box 65 for fitting the selected image to the selected layout and displaying the selected image, and An inset / page setting box 66 for setting an embedding method and a set page number in a print job, and an option selection for setting a print job to be set to the inkjet printers 34 and 36 for printing. Box 67 and the print settings A print command box 68 requesting the specified printing run the copy number and the priority of the job are provided.
[0039]
In the layout processing, when a folder displayed in the folder list 61 of the layout setting screen 60 is selected based on a user operation, a thumbnail image of an image included in the folder is displayed in the image list 62, or (S200), a process of selecting a desired layout from the layout selection box 64 and displaying it in the layout display box 65 (step S210). Here, when the layout processing software 44 is activated, thumbnail images of the images included in the folder set as the default are displayed in the image list 62, and the layout set as the default is displayed in the layout display box 65. Is done. Therefore, the user does not need to select a folder from the folder list 61 when there is no need to change from the default folder, and does not need to select a layout using the layout selection box 64 when there is no need to change from the default layout. Absent.
[0040]
In the embodiment, when displaying the thumbnail image of the image to which the egg file is attached in the image list 62, one of two types of marks (an egg mark and a mark in which the egg has burst) is provided at the lower right corner of the thumbnail image. Is displayed. The egg mark indicates that the displayed thumbnail image is the original image that has not been edited for the edited contents of the attached egg file, and the egg rupture mark indicates that the displayed thumbnail image is the egg file This indicates that the image has been edited according to the editing content. In the embodiment, when the egg mark is further operated by using the mouse cursor, the image is edited by the editing processing unit 44b based on the editing content of the egg file, and the thumbnail image of the edited image is displayed up to that time. The thumbnail image of the displayed original image is changed and displayed. At this time, a mark in which the egg has burst is displayed instead of the egg mark. Image editing based on the editing contents of the egg file is performed in the order of trim, retouch, color / tone, and effect because the data of the egg file is arranged in the order of trim data, retouch data, color / tone data, and effect data. This is performed using the corresponding data. Further, when the egg is ruptured using the mouse cursor, the thumbnail image of the image (original image) to which the egg file is attached is changed to the thumbnail image of the edited image that has been displayed and displayed. At this time, the egg mark is displayed instead of the egg ruptured mark. Therefore, the user can determine whether the thumbnail image of the original image is displayed or the edited image is displayed by identifying the egg mark and the egg ruptured mark. When a thumbnail image of an image to which no egg file is attached is displayed on the image list 62, neither the egg mark nor the broken egg mark is displayed.
[0041]
In a state where the thumbnail images are displayed in the image list 62 and the layout is displayed in the layout display box 65, the method of inserting the image is set by the fit / page setting box 66, and the thumbnail image is selected from the image list 62 to perform the layout. The image can be fitted into the layout displayed in the display box 65 (step S220). Then, printing conditions such as selection of paper (media) and a printer for printing in the media / printer selection box 63 and selection of options in the option selection box 67 are set (step S230), and the print instruction box 68 is operated. The print job is output to the print server 32 of the printing device 30 (step S240), and the layout processing ends. The output print job is composed of the selected layout, the file name and the insertion position of the image fitted in the layout, the image attached with the egg file and the ICC profile, and the set printing conditions.
[0042]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print execution process executed by the print server 32 when the print device 30 executes a print job. The print execution process is executed when a printer that executes a page of a print job as a unit is allocated. First, a layout of a target page is set (step S300), and an image to be fitted to the set layout is set. When an egg file is attached, editing is performed based on the editing content (step S310), and the edited image is inserted into the set layout (step S320). Editing of the image based on the editing contents of the egg file is performed using data corresponding to the order of trim, retouch, color / tone, and effect, similarly to the case of operating the egg mark in the layout processing. When the image is fitted into the layout, print data is created based on the page (step S330), and printing is executed by the printer assigned among the inkjet printers 34 and 36 (step S340), and the print execution process is performed. finish.
[0043]
According to the printing system described above, since an egg file having the contents of the edits made to the image as data is created and attached to the image and handled, it is necessary to handle the image until just before the printing process without making any changes. Can be. As a result, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image due to the repeated filing as compared with the case where the editing and the filing of the edited image are repeated. In addition, printing can be performed by performing color matching.
[0044]
According to the image processing software 42 of the embodiment, when an image is edited, it is possible to create an egg file with the edited content as data and attach it to the image. Therefore, the edited image can be transferred to other software, the printing device 30, or the like without deteriorating the image. Moreover, by editing the image as a plurality of processes of trim, retouch, color / tone, and effect in order, it is possible to easily edit the image by other software, the printing device 30, or the like. Further, the editing of the image is performed in the order of trim, retouch, color / tone, and effect, but it is not necessary to perform all of them, so that desired editing can be performed on the image.
[0045]
According to the layout processing software 44 of the embodiment, it is possible to set a layout using an image to which an egg file in which editing contents are filed is attached, and instruct the printing apparatus 30 to print. In addition, by manipulating the egg mark or the egg rupture mark, the target image can be displayed as an edited image or an unedited image based on the editing contents of the egg file. Further, since the print job is configured by the selected layout, the file name and the insertion position of the image embedded in the layout, the image to which the egg file and the ICC profile are attached, and the set printing conditions, the printing job is instructed to the printing apparatus 30. That is, since the image is output to the printing device 30 in a state where the egg file and the ICC profile are attached, the image is not degraded due to a layout operation or the like.
[0046]
According to the printing apparatus 30 of the embodiment, the image is edited using the egg file in which the edited content is filed, and the edited image is inserted into the set layout to create and print a page. Can be. As a result, it is possible to print an image with very little image degradation. In addition, since printing is performed after performing color matching, an image can be printed with a more appropriate color.
[0047]
In the client PC 40 in which the image processing software 42 of the embodiment is installed, the data input unit 42a that executes step S100 in the image editing process in FIG. 2 corresponds to an input unit, and similarly executes steps S110 to S140 in the image editing process. An editing unit 42b corresponding to an editing unit corresponds to an editing unit, and an editing information creating unit 42c corresponding to the step S150 in the image editing process corresponds to an editing information creating unit, and an editing information attaching unit 42d executing a step S160 in the image editing process. Corresponds to editing information attaching means.
[0048]
In the image processing software 42 of the embodiment, the editing of an image is performed in order as a plurality of processes of trim, retouch, color / tone, and effect. However, these processes need not be performed in this order, but may be performed in any order. It doesn't matter. Further, in the image processing software 42 of the embodiment, the egg file is configured in the order of trim data, retouch data, color / tone data, and effect data. However, the order of the data is not limited to this. It does not matter in any order.
[0049]
In the image processing software 42 of the embodiment, one egg file is created and attached to an image. However, a different egg file may be attached to an image to which an egg file is already attached. That is, a plurality of egg files obtained by performing different editing on the same image are attached. This makes it possible to reduce the total amount of data as compared to a case where a plurality of images have been edited differently. As a result, an image file format suitable for transmitting an edited image via a network can be obtained. When the plurality of egg files are attached, a plurality of egg marks are displayed on the thumbnail images of the image list 62 of the layout setting screen 60 displayed on the monitor when the layout processing software 44 is started. The image list 62 may display a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to different egg files for the same image. It is also desirable that a plurality of egg files attached to the same image be identified with different names. In this case, on the thumbnail image of the image list 62 on the layout setting screen 60, a named egg mark or a broken egg mark may be displayed.
[0050]
In the image processing software 42 of the embodiment, the created egg file is attached to the image. However, the image processing software 42 may directly instruct the printing apparatus 30 to print.
[0051]
In the layout processing software 44 of the embodiment, when a layout is set using an image attached with an egg file in which the edited contents are filed and a print instruction is issued to the printing device 30, the printing device 30 Although the image to which the egg file is attached is transmitted as the included image, the image in an edited state may be transmitted to the printing device 30.
[0052]
In the embodiment, the image processing software 42 and the layout processing software 44 are installed in the client PC 40 as different software, but are installed in the client PC 40 as image processing software having the function of the layout processing software 44. It may be something.
[0053]
In the printing system according to the embodiment, the client PC 40 and the printing device 30 are connected to the center server 20 via the LAN 49 and the Internet 22, but may not be connected to the center server 20.
[0054]
In the embodiment, the form of a program such as the image processing software 42 or the layout processing software 44, the form of the client PC 40 as an image processing apparatus or a print instruction apparatus in which these software are installed, or the form of the printing apparatus 30 However, it is a matter of course that the image editing method and the image processing method may be used.
[0055]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described using the examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and may be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Obviously you can get it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a printing system.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image editing process.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image editing screen 50.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the data structure of an egg file.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a layout process.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a layout setting screen 60.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print execution processing.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 20 center server, 22 Internet, 30 printing device, 32 print server, 32a print job management unit, 32b communication management unit, 32c editing processing unit, 32d layout processing unit, 34, 36 inkjet printer, 40 client PC, 42 image processing software Software, 42a data input section, 42b editing section, 42c editing information creating section, 42d editing information attaching section, 44 layout processing software, 44a data input section, 44b editing processing section, 44c layout setting section, 44d print job output section, 48 digital camera, 49 LAN, 50 image editing screen, 51 image display box, 52 control box, 53a browse button, 53b trim button, 53c retouch button, 53d color / tone button, 53e effect button 53f export button, 54a-54f button, 60 layout setting screen, 61 folder list, 62 image list, 63 media / printer selection box, 64 layout selection box, 65 layout display box, 66 fit / page setting box, 67 option selection box , 68 print instruction box.

Claims (16)

An image processing device for editing an image,
Input means for inputting an image,
Editing means for editing the input image;
Editing information creating means for creating editing information on the content of the editing performed on the input image by the editing means,
Edit information attaching means for attaching the created edit information to the input image to make the image with edit information,
An image processing apparatus comprising: The editing means may be any one of a process for setting a print area of the image, a process for correcting a desired portion of the image, a process for adjusting the color and / or tone of the image, and a process for applying a preset special effect to the image. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes one or more of the means for editing the image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the editing information creating unit is a unit that creates the editing information based on information for each process included in the editing unit as editing the image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the editing unit is a unit that sequentially performs a plurality of processes including editing of the image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the editing information creating unit is a unit that creates the editing information based on an order of a plurality of processes that the editing unit includes as an edit on the image. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the editing information attaching unit is a unit capable of attaching a plurality of pieces of editing information to the input image. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the editing information attaching unit is a unit for identifiably attaching a plurality of pieces of editing information to the input image. A program for causing a computer to function as the image processing device according to claim 1. An image editing method for editing an image,
(A) Edit the input image,
(B) creating editing information on the content of the editing performed on the image;
(C) An image editing method for attaching the created editing information to the input image. An image processing method for processing an image,
(A) input an image to which editing information relating to the content of editing performed on the image is attached,
(B) An image processing method for editing the input image based on the editing information attached to the input image. The image processing method according to claim 10,
The editing information may be any of a process for setting a print area of an image, a process for correcting a desired portion of the image, a process for adjusting the color and / or tone of the image, and a process for applying a preset special effect to the image. One or more are included as the content of the edit to the image, and are created based on the information of each process included as the edit to the image,
The image processing method, wherein the step (b) is a step of applying the content of each process as an edit based on the information of each process included in the edit information as the edit content. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein:
The editing information is created based on the respective processes in which a plurality of processes including the editing of the image are performed in the order,
The image processing method, wherein the step (b) is a step in which the contents of each process are applied as edits based on the order of a plurality of processes included as edit contents in the edit information. 13. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the image processing method according to claim 10 as each procedure. A program comprising the program according to claim 13 as a module, and causing a computer to function as a print instruction device for setting a layout for printing the input image and instructing a printing device to perform printing. 13. A print instruction apparatus that executes the image processing method according to claim 10, sets a layout for printing the edited image, and issues a print instruction to a printing apparatus. A printing apparatus that executes the image processing method according to claim 10 and prints the edited image.

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