JP2005045529A - Composite image preparation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composite image preparation system capable of obtaining high added values and customer's satisfaction in the case of outputting an image by using the shape data of a hand shape or a foot shape. <P>SOLUTION: The composite image preparation system is provided with a hand/foot shape reader 3 for acquiring the shape data of a hand shape or a foot shape by a pressure sensor, an image acquisition means 1 for acquiring image data to be composed with the shape data, an image processing part 7 for composing the shape data and the image data for photograph, and an image output means 13 for outputting the composite image. Preferably the colors of the shape data are preferentially set to colors of a red group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for synthesizing a shape data of a handprint or a footprint and a photographic image and outputting them to a photographic print or the like.

When a child was born, he took a bill and a footprint as one of the memorial and growth records. This is done by adding ink and vermilion to the palms and heels of the palms and feet and transferring the shapes to colored paper and albums. However, the method of taking a handprint or footprint with ink etc. has the problem that the palm etc. gets dirty, and the shape of the handprint or footprint becomes thin depending on the amount of ink etc. attached to the palm etc. There was also a problem of blurring. Therefore, as a method of taking a bill or the like that does not use ink or the like, a method of reading the bill or the like with a flat bed scanner and converting it into electronic data can be considered. Patent Document 1 below discloses a walking pattern processing device that extracts a foot region from a two-dimensional pressure distribution image sequence using a pressure sensor. The method of taking a foot shape with a pressure sensor has an advantage that it is easier to obtain a texture than a flatbed scanner.
JP-A-10-228540 (Claims)

  As described above, by reading the bill or footprint with a flatbed scanner or a pressure sensor, the problem that the palm or the like gets dirty is eliminated. Thus, for example, a print service is considered in which photo data is created as photo prints using handprint or footprint shape data at a photo shop. However, it is considered that the customer's satisfaction with the service content is not so high simply by outputting the printed handprint or footprint shape data to a photo print or the like.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its problem is to provide a composite image creation system that provides high added value and satisfaction to customers when outputting images using handprint or footprint shape data. Is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, a composite image creation system according to the present invention is:
Shape data reading means for acquiring shape data of a bill and / or a foot;
Image acquisition means for acquiring image data to be combined with the shape data;
Image combining means for combining the shape data and the image data;
And an image output means for outputting the synthesized image.

  The operation and effect of the composite image creation system with this configuration is as follows. The shape data reading means reads the hand shape and / or the foot shape and acquires the shape data. On the other hand, the image acquisition means acquires image data to be combined with the shape data. This image data is, for example, a child's face photo. The image synthesizing unit can synthesize the read shape data with the image data, and the image output unit can output the synthesized image as, for example, a photographic print. In this way, an image in which a handprint or a footprint image is combined with the child's face photograph or the like can be created, so that a composite image with high added value can be obtained. As a result, it is possible to provide a composite image creation system that provides high added value and high customer satisfaction when an image is output using handprint or footprint shape data.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is one in which the color data of the shape data is preset so as to have a specific color when the image is synthesized by the image synthesizing means.

  According to this configuration, the color of the shape data is set to a specific color. For example, a red color generally used as a bill can be set in advance. Thereby, the operator can save the trouble of color setting.

  As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, one provided with color data selection means for selecting the color data can be mentioned.

  When combining shape data with a photographic image, depending on the colors included in the combined image, it may be difficult to see the handprint or footprint. Therefore, by making it possible to select color data, it is possible to appropriately synthesize handprints and footprints when synthesizing images.

As still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, it comprises body data acquisition means for acquiring weight data and height data obtained from a measuring device for measuring the weight and height of a person,
Examples of the image synthesizing means include those configured to be able to synthesize weight data and height data.

  When taking a handprint or a footprint as one of the growth records of a child, the weight data and height data of the child are also important factors. Therefore, by recording these body data in the composite image, a composite image with higher added value can be created.

  As still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is one provided with a magnification setting means for setting a magnification when the shape data is synthesized.

  For example, when creating a composite image that combines shape data with a child's face photo (or full body photo), it is better to change the size of the shape data depending on how the face data (or full body photo) is combined. Sometimes. Therefore, it becomes possible to create various forms of composite images by setting the magnification when combining the shape data.

  A preferred embodiment of a composite image creation system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a composite image creation system.

<Configuration of composite image creation system>
This system is roughly composed of an image processor A and a printer processor B. First, the configuration of the image processor A will be described. The image acquisition unit 1 can read an image from a recording medium of a digital camera, a photographic film such as a negative film, an MO disk, a CD-R, or the like. When reading a frame image of a developed negative film, image data of each frame image is acquired using a scanner dedicated to the film. The acquired image data is stored in the second image memory 2. The hand-foot-shaped reading device 3 (corresponding to shape data reading means) is a device for reading a hand shape or a foot shape and converting it into digital data. The limb-shaped reader 3 has a number of pressure sensors arranged side by side in a two-dimensional manner. Compared to a normal flatbed scanner, there is an advantage that the texture of the palm and the heel of the foot can be obtained. By providing the pressure sensor, when the sensor surface is pressed with the palm, the pressure value is converted into a voltage value, and textured palm shape data can be acquired based on the detected pressure difference. In addition, since it is difficult for a person to keep pushing a thing with the same force within a certain time, the time response required for the conversion between the pressure and the voltage value is a very important factor. For example, it is considered preferable to predetermine the time for collecting data and adopt the average of the voltage values obtained during that time. The handprint and footprint shape data obtained by the hand / footprint reader 3 are stored in the first image memory 4.

  The measuring device 5 (corresponding to body data acquisition means) is a device for acquiring body data such as human weight data and height data. The body data storage means 6 stores the body data obtained by the measuring device 5. This body data storage means 6 can also be constituted by a memory. For data storage, a mass storage device such as a hard disk may be used instead of a semiconductor memory.

  The image processing unit 7 has a function of performing various processes and corrections on the image data. Here, the function of image composition (function as image composition means) will be described. The image processing unit 7 combines the shape data such as a handprint in the first image memory 4 and the image data for photographs (the image data to be combined with the shape data) in the second image memory 2. Composite image data can be generated. This point will be described in detail later. The image processing unit 7 may be configured by either hardware or software.

  The limb shape color setting unit 8 sets the color of the shape data when the shape data and the photographic image data are combined. As a color, a red system (red, vermilion, etc.) is preferentially (or deformed). However, color selection means 9 is provided so that other colors can be set by the operator's selection. This is because when a handprint or the like is image-synthesized, it becomes difficult to see the handprint or the like if the handprint or the like and the background color are the same color, so that other colors can be freely selected.

  The magnification setting means 10 can set the magnification of image data or shape data when combining image data for photograph and shape data. Thereby, it is possible to perform image composition so that the handprint and the footprint have an appropriate size. The position setting means 11 can set each combining position while looking at the monitor screen when combining the image data for photograph and the shape data. Note that the functions of the position setting means 11 and the magnification setting means 10 can be linked. For example, when the position of the bill or footprint is changed, the magnification may be automatically changed.

  The monitor 12 displays information necessary for proceeding with image processing and other photographic processing. When the image processing unit 7 performs image composition, it can proceed while viewing the monitor screen. In addition, various data for performing appropriate image composition can be input or modified using an input unit such as a keyboard or a mouse. The image data synthesized by the image processing unit 7 is output via the synthesized image output means 13. The composite image output means 13 is composed of a semiconductor memory (buffer memory).

  Next, the configuration of the printer processor B will be described. The exposure engine 20 uses the image data transferred from the composite image output means 13 to print and expose an image on paper that is a photographic photosensitive material. The exposure engine 20 exposes and forms an image line by line by scanning exposure, and has various structures such as a laser engine, a PLZT engine, and a CRT engine. The paper magazine 21 accommodates paper in a roll shape, and the paper pulled out from the paper magazine 21 is cut into a print size by a cutter (not shown) and then conveyed to the exposure engine 20. The paper on which the image has been baked and exposed is developed in the development processing unit 22 and then discharged to the outside as a finished photographic print.

  The recording medium writing device 23 can also record the image data synthesized by the image processing unit 7 on a recording medium (CD-R or DVD-R).

<Specific examples of image composition>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of image composition. The image processing unit 7 combines the face image 100 of the child (baby) acquired through the image acquisition unit 1 and the handprint image 101. In order to efficiently perform image composition, it is preferable to prepare several templates for image composition in advance. Further, when image synthesis is performed, each image is displayed on the monitor 12. The composite image 102 shows an example in which a face image and a handprint image are combined side by side. The acquisition date of the face image and the handprint image can be included in the image. The size of the bill is preferably set to a magnification = 1.0 so as to be the actual size. Further, since the face image and the handprint image are separately provided, a composite image is created using the default red color for the handprint image. Of course, a different color may be set depending on the will of the operator. Also, the date data of the date may be entered manually by the operator while looking at the monitor screen, but when acquiring the shape data, if you have the date information as the attribute data, It can be used as it is and incorporated into an image.

  Next, the composite image 103 will be described. In this example, a handprint image is combined with a face image. A bill is synthesized at the hand position of the image. Similarly, the date data is synthesized in the image. The size of the handprint is preferably set to an appropriate magnification according to the size of the face image. The position where the bills in the image are combined can be changed as appropriate. You may synthesize | combine in the position slightly separated from the face image.

  FIG. 3A shows an example in which body data (height data and weight data) is incorporated into an image. The height data obtained from the measuring device 5 can be used as it is. Further, the operator may be able to input manually in the image. FIG. 3B shows an example in which a plurality of bills acquired on different dates are arranged as a composite image. FIG. 4 shows an example in which a handprint and a footprint are arranged to form a composite image.

<Another embodiment 1>
In the system diagram shown in FIG. 1, the limb-shaped reader 3 and the measuring device 5 are depicted as being installed in a photo shop. It may be in the form installed in the ward of the department. Therefore, a parent who wants to record a handprint and a footprint of a child as a composite image uses the hand and footprint reader 3 and the measuring device 5 to acquire shape data and body data. The acquired data may be recorded on an appropriate recording medium such as a flexible disk or an MO disk, and an image (photographic film or appropriate recording medium) on which a child's face photograph is recorded may be brought into a photo shop. .

  In addition, the limb reading device 3 and the measuring device 5 are connected to a network (Internet), and the combined image creation system (shown in FIG. 1) of a photo shop connected to the same network is connected to the shape data via the network. Or body data may be transmitted.

<Another embodiment 2>
In the present embodiment, an example of creating a composite image of a handprint or a footprint of a child has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied when creating a handprint image of a sports player such as sumo wrestler.

  When imaging a handprint or a footprint, only the outline may be extracted to create a composite image. When extracting only the contour, a flatbed scanner may be used instead of using a pressure sensor.

Schematic diagram showing the composition of the composite image creation system Figure showing an example of a composite image Figure showing an example of a composite image Figure showing an example of a composite image

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image acquisition means 2 2nd image memory 3 Hand and foot shape reader 4 1st image memory 5 Measuring apparatus 6 Body data storage means 7 Image processing part 8 Hand and foot shape color setting part 9 Color selection means 10 Magnification setting means 11 Position setting means 12 Monitor 13 Composite image output means

Claims (5)

Shape data reading means for acquiring shape data of a bill and / or a foot;
Image acquisition means for acquiring image data to be combined with the shape data;
Image combining means for combining the shape data and the image data;
A composite image creation system comprising image output means for outputting a composite image synthesized.   2. The composite image creation system according to claim 1, wherein when the image composition is performed by the image composition means, color data of the shape data is set in advance so as to have a specific color.   The composite image creation system according to claim 2, further comprising color data selection means for selecting the color data. Body data acquisition means for acquiring weight data and height data obtained from a measuring device that measures the weight and height of a person,
The composite image creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image composition unit is configured to be capable of image composition of weight data and height data.   5. The composite image creation system according to claim 1, further comprising a magnification setting unit configured to set a magnification when combining the shape data.

Images