JP2005111945A - Photographic method and photographic printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a latency time from the indication of print output of a photographic image until the print output is carried out. <P>SOLUTION: In a photographing device 100, photography is performed by a digital camera 30, and when a photographed image is obtained, an image for output is created in which the photographic image is subjected to image processing for print output in a control part 11. Then, after the image for output is composed into an output format and preparation for print output is completed, a print determination screen, which is an operation screen for indicating print output of the photographic image, is displayed on a display 40 by display control of the control part 11. When the indication for determining the print output is inputted into the print determination screen through an operation part 60, the image for output composed into the output format is printed in a printer 70. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographic apparatus for taking ID photographs used for passports, resumes, and the like, portraits, commemorative photographs, and the like, and a photographic printing method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a box-type photography apparatus for taking an identification photograph or the like to be attached to a driver's license, passport, resume or the like has been developed and installed on the street. In such a photographic apparatus, a user can enter a photographic box and perform a photographing operation by himself according to a guide, so that a printed photograph can be obtained easily and in a short time.

In recent years, in order to shorten the print waiting time until a printed photograph is obtained, a photography apparatus that displays a photographed image on a monitor immediately after photographing and performs image processing of the photographed image during that time has also been developed. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
JP 2003-219214 A

The photographing operation by the conventional photography apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 7, a start screen n1 is displayed on the monitor of the photography apparatus, and guidance is given to insert a prescribed fee. When a fee is input by the user, the amount of fishing is calculated according to the amount of the input fee, and the fee is settled (step S101).

  Next, a condition selection screen n2 is displayed on the monitor, and guidance is provided to select whether to print a photograph to be printed in color or black and white. When the user selects either color or black-and-white conditions via the operation unit, the selected conditions are determined as print conditions (step S102).

  When the color / monochrome print conditions are selected, a condition selection screen n3 is displayed, and guidance is provided to select the photo size to be printed. When the user selects a desired photo size via the operation unit, the selected photo size is determined as a print condition (step S103). Here, it is assumed that the photo size for the passport is selected.

  When each print condition is determined, a guide screen n4 is displayed next, and shooting guidance is performed. Then, after the shooting guidance is finished, when a predetermined time has elapsed or when the user presses the shooting key, the strobe is emitted and shooting is performed one or more times (step S104). Here, a case where photographing is performed a plurality of times will be described. When shooting is completed, the process proceeds to step S105 shown in FIG.

  In step S105, a plurality of photographed images obtained by photographing are subjected to size adjustment, trimming, and the like for an image selection screen to be displayed next to create a selection image. The created selection image is displayed so as to be selectable on the image selection screen n5. The user selects an image to be printed on the image selection screen n5. At this time, if you do not like any image, you can press the reshoot key displayed on the image selection screen n5 to return to step S102 in FIG. 7 and start again from the selection of print conditions, or return to step S104. It is also possible to start over from shooting.

  When the user selects an image to be printed on the image selection screen n5, the selected captured image is subjected to size adjustment, trimming, and the like for a confirmation screen to be displayed next, and a confirmation image is created. The created confirmation image is displayed on the confirmation screen n6 (step S106). In the confirmation screen n6, in order to specify the face image of the subject, a reference line for designating the position of the subject's head and chin is displayed on the confirmation image. The user operates the reference line to align the head and chin.

  When the alignment using the reference line is completed, the final confirmation image is created by adjusting the size and trimming of the captured image according to the reference line so that the face image of the subject is sized according to the passport standard. It is displayed on the determination screen n7 (step S107). The user confirms the final confirmation image on the print decision screen n7 and presses the NG key to reselect the image to be printed. If the image is acceptable, the user presses the OK key and inputs a print output instruction. .

  When the NG key is pressed on the print determination screen n7, the process returns to step S105, and the image is reselected. On the other hand, when the OK key is pressed, an end screen n8 is displayed to notify that the user's shooting operation has ended (step S108).

  Next, the captured image is subjected to image processing such as size adjustment, trimming, and color correction for print output, and an output image is created (step S109). The created output image is synthesized into an output format prepared in advance according to the printing conditions (step S110) and printed out (step S111). Since the printed photographic print is discharged to an outlet provided outside the photographic apparatus, the user goes out of the photographic apparatus and takes out the photographic print.

  In the flow described above, a user selects a captured image to be printed, and after an instruction is input to print out the selected captured image, image processing such as creation of an output image and synthesis to an output format is performed. ing. In this case, the image processing is performed only on the finally determined image, so the processing efficiency is good. However, the image processing starts after the print output is instructed. The user's print waiting time until print output is increased.

  Also, in the conventional photography apparatus, an exit for a printed photograph that is printed out is often provided on the outer wall of the photography apparatus. This is to guide the user who has finished shooting and is waiting for printing out of the box to start shooting the next user in order to improve the operating rate of the photo shooting apparatus. For this reason, in a conventional photography apparatus, immediately after receiving a print output instruction, an end screen for notifying standby for print output is displayed, and the user often goes out of the photography apparatus and waits for a printed photograph. . However, when the photography device is installed outdoors, when it is raining or when the weather is bad, the user waiting for printing will feel uncomfortable if the waiting time is long outside. .

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the waiting time of a user from when a print output of a captured image is instructed until the print output is performed.

The invention described in claim 1
In a photo print method for photographing a subject, subjecting the photographed image to image processing for print output, and printing out the photographed image subjected to the image processing,
Image processing for print output on the photographed image is completed prior to input of a print output instruction.

The invention according to claim 2 is the photographic print method according to claim 1,
After the image processing of the photographed image is completed, an operation screen for instructing print output of the photographed image is displayed on the display means.

The invention according to claim 3 is the photo print method according to claim 2,
When a print output instruction is input on the operation screen, a notification means notifies the user of waiting for print output.

The invention according to claim 4
Operation means for inputting operation instructions, photographing means for photographing a subject, display means for displaying a photographed image obtained by photographing, image processing means for performing image processing on a photographed image for print output, and image In a photographic apparatus comprising a printing means for printing out the processed photographed image,
The image processing means performs image processing for print output on a photographed image prior to inputting a print output instruction,
The print unit prints out a photographed image subjected to image processing for print output by the image processing unit when a print output instruction is input through the operation unit.

The invention according to claim 5 is the photography apparatus according to claim 4,
The display means displays an operation screen for instructing to print out the photographed image after the image processing by the image processing means is completed.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the photography apparatus according to the fifth aspect,
When a print output instruction is input on the operation screen, the operation screen includes notification means for notifying that the print output is on standby.

  According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the photographed image is subjected to image processing for print output before the user instructs print output. Therefore, the print output is performed as soon as the user instructs print output. Can move on. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the waiting time from when the user instructs print output to when the user prints out, and to improve customer satisfaction.

  According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, after image processing for print output is completed, an operation screen for instructing print output is displayed to complete image processing prior to input of print output instructions. can do.

  According to the third and sixth aspects of the invention, since the user is instructed to wait for the print output after the print output is instructed by the user, the photographed image is subjected to the image processing for the print output to prepare for the print output. After the system is ready, the user can be prompted to wait for print output. Therefore, the waiting time of the user from when the print output is determined until the print output can be minimized.

  In this embodiment, after image processing for print output is performed on a photographed image obtained by photographing, an operation screen for determining whether or not to print out the photographed image is displayed. An example will be described in which when a print output is determined, a photographed image subjected to image processing for print output is printed out.

First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a photography apparatus 100 in the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, a photographic device 100 is formed in a box shape, an outlet 71 for taking a photograph taken is installed on the outer wall, and a subject M can be seated inside the box (hereinafter referred to as a photographic room). A chair C is rotatably installed. The chair C is configured so that the height is raised and lowered by rotation. Furthermore, lighting strobes 20a are installed above, in front of, and on the back of the subject M, respectively, and on the front of the subject M, a display unit 40 that displays an operation procedure, other guide images related to shooting, a shot image, and the like. An operation unit 60 for instructing and a coin mech 50 for adjusting the shooting fee are installed.

FIG. 2 illustrates an internal configuration of the photographic device 100.
As shown in FIG. 2, the photographing apparatus 10 includes a main body unit 10, a strobe unit 20, a digital camera 30, a display unit 40, a coin mech 50, an operation unit 60, a printer unit 70, and a communication unit 80. .

  The main unit 10 includes a control unit 11, an I / O control 12, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 14, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk-R) 15, and an I / F 16. It is connected to the strobe unit 20, the coin mech 50, and the operation unit 60 through the O control 12, and is connected to the printer unit 70 through the I / F 16.

  The control unit 11 reads out various programs such as a system program stored in the ROM 13 and a photographing processing program (see FIG. 3) according to the present invention, develops them in the RAM 14, and centrally controls the operation of each unit according to the program.

  In the photographing process, various operation screens for guiding the user's work from photographing to printing are displayed on the display unit 40. When a shooting instruction is input via the operation unit 60, the digital camera 30 is controlled to start shooting. When image data of a photographed image obtained by photographing is input from the digital camera 30, image processing for print output is performed on the photographed image to create an output image, and the output image is generated according to print conditions. Combine the output format prepared in advance. In this way, when the print output is ready, the print determination screen for instructing the print output is displayed on the display unit 40. When the print output instruction is input on this print determination screen, the print output is waited for. An end screen for notifying is displayed on the display unit 40, and the image data of the output image combined in the output format is output to the printer unit 70 via the I / F 16 to be printed out.

  That is, the image processing means and the notification means can be realized by the cooperation of the photographing processing program and the control unit 11.

  The I / O control 12 is an interface for connecting the main body unit 10 to the strobe unit 20, the coin mech 50, and the operation unit 60, and transmits a control signal from the control unit 11 to the strobe unit 20 and the coin mech 50. In addition, an operation signal from the operation unit 60 is transmitted to the control unit 11.

  The ROM 13 stores various programs such as a photographing process program and data processed by each program in addition to the system program.

  The RAM 14 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the control unit 11 and data related to these programs. The RAM 14 has an area for temporarily storing image data of a photographed image photographed by the digital camera 30.

  The DVD 15 stores image data of a photographed image photographed by the digital camera 30 and image data of an image created by performing various image processes by the control unit 11.

  The I / F 16 is an interface for connecting the main body unit 10 and the printer unit 70, and transmits image data of an output image to be printed from the main body unit 10 to the printer unit 70.

  The strobe unit 20 controls the light emission timing and light emission amount of the strobe 20 a installed in each part of the photographic apparatus 100 according to a control signal from the control unit 11.

  The digital camera 30 is an imaging unit including an optical lens, an optical sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), an A / D converter, and the like, and a subject image input via the optical lens is photoelectrically converted by the optical sensor. Thus, an image signal is generated. Then, digital image data is obtained from the analog image signal by the A / D conversion unit, and the digital image data is output to the main body unit 10. Note that a digital video camera capable of recording a moving image instead of the digital camera may be applied as the photographing means.

  The display unit 40 is a display unit configured to include an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and determines whether to output a guide screen for explaining a photographing procedure or to print out a photographed image according to an instruction from the control unit 11. Various operation screens such as a print decision screen for printing are displayed.

  The coin mech 50 is a cash registering machine provided with a coin or banknote deposit port, a change return port, and the like, and outputs information on the amount deposited from the deposit port to the control unit 11. Moreover, the coin or banknote of the amount instruct | indicated from the control part 11 is discharged | emitted to a change refund port.

  The operation unit 60 is an operation means configured to include a touch panel configured integrally with the display unit 40, various function keys such as a selection key and a shooting key provided on the inner wall of the shooting room, and the pressed key An operation signal corresponding to is output to the control unit 11.

  The printer unit 70 is a printing unit that performs print output based on the image data input from the control unit 11. In the present embodiment, as a printing method of the printer unit 70, a sublimation type thermal transfer method in which an image is formed by sublimating and transferring a color material is described. However, a recording medium and an image receiving material are overlapped. A melt transfer recording method in which an image is formed by transferring a recording layer of a recording medium to an image receiving layer of an image receiving material by applying heat may be applied, or an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, or other printing methods. May be. Moreover, a silver salt photographic image may be formed.

  The communication unit 80 is a communication unit including a communication interface such as a network interface card and a modem, and transmits and receives information to and from external devices on the communication network. For example, it is possible to transfer image data to another photography apparatus and print it out, or to transfer image data to a host server and register an image.

Next, operations in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for describing a photographing process executed by the photographing apparatus 100, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams illustrating examples of operation screens displayed during the photographing process.

  In the photographing process shown in FIG. 3, a start screen m1 (see FIG. 4A) is first displayed on the display unit 40, and guidance is given to insert a prescribed fee. Then, when the user inputs a fee into the conmec 50, the amount of change is calculated in the control unit 11 according to the amount of the fee that has been inserted. The fee is settled (step S1).

  Next, a condition selection screen m2 (see FIG. 4B) is displayed on the display unit 40, and guidance is provided to select whether to print a photograph to be printed in color or black and white. As shown in FIG. 4B, the condition selection screen m2 displays a sample print p1 for color printing and monochrome printing, and a selection key k1 for selecting each print. When the user presses the selection key via the operation unit 60 and selects either color printing or monochrome printing, the selected condition is determined as the printing condition in the photo shooting apparatus 100 (step S2). .

  When color printing or monochrome printing is selected, a condition selection screen m3 (see FIG. 4C) is displayed next, and guidance is provided to select a photo size to be printed. As shown in FIG. 4C, on the condition selection screen m3, a license, a resume, a passport, and a sample print p2 of four kinds of large photo sizes are displayed, and a selection key k2 for selecting each photo size. Is displayed. When the user presses the selection key via the operation unit 60 and selects a photo size, the selected photo size is determined as a print condition (step S3). In this embodiment, a case where a photo size of a passport is selected will be described.

  When each print condition is determined, a guide screen n4 (see FIG. 5A) is then displayed, and shooting guidance is performed. As shown in FIG. 5A, the guide screen n4 displays a description of points to be noted regarding shooting, such as the posture and position at the time of shooting, and the number of shootings. Note that the number of times of photographing can be arbitrarily set by the operator of the photographing apparatus 100. Also, at the bottom of the screen, a shooting key k3 and a count time until the time limit for shooting are displayed. Then, after the shooting guidance is finished, when the time limit has elapsed or when the user presses the shooting key via the operation unit 60 to instruct shooting, the flash unit 20 controls the flash 20a to emit light. Shooting is performed by the camera 30 (step S4). Shooting is continuously performed a predetermined number of times.

  When shooting is completed and image data of the shot image is input from the digital camera 30 to the control unit 11, the control unit 11 performs size adjustment, trimming, and the like of the shot image for an image selection screen to be displayed next. Then, a selection image is created. Then, an image selection screen m5 (see FIG. 5B) is displayed, and the created selection image is displayed so as to be selectable (step S5). As shown in FIG. 5B, on the image selection screen m5, a selection key k4 for each image is displayed together with the selection image p3. Further, a re-shooting key k5 for instructing re-shooting is displayed at the bottom of the screen, and a count time until the time limit for image selection is displayed at the bottom of the re-taking key k5.

  The user selects an image to be printed on the image selection screen m5 and presses the selection key k4. At this time, if blinking or the like has occurred and no image is liked, by pressing the re-shoot key k5, the process returns to the process of step S2 and starts again from the selection of the print condition, or returns to the process of step S4. It is also possible to start over from shooting.

  When an image to be printed is selected by the user on the image selection screen m5, the selected photographed image is adjusted, trimmed, etc. for the confirmation screen to be displayed next by the control unit 11 for confirmation. An image is created. The created confirmation image is displayed on the confirmation screen m6 (see FIG. 5C) (step S6).

  As shown in FIG. 5C, on the confirmation screen m6, a confirmation image p4 is displayed, and a reference line L for designating the position of the subject's head and chin is displayed on the confirmation image p4. Is displayed. The user operates the up / down key k6 to set the reference line L, and aligns the head and chin.

  When the alignment using the reference line is completed, the captured image is sized and trimmed based on the reference line L so that the face image of the subject is sized according to the passport standard, and color correction is performed for print output. An image for output is generated by performing image processing such as (step S7). Next, the created output image is combined into an output format corresponding to the determined print condition (step S8).

  When the output image is ready for print output, a final confirmation image in which the captured image is sized and trimmed according to the reference line L is created, and is displayed on the print determination screen m7 (see FIG. 6A). It is displayed (step S9). As shown in FIG. 6A, on the print determination screen m7, the final confirmation image p5 is displayed, and the OK key k7 and the NG key k8 are displayed. The user confirms the final confirmation image p5 and presses the OK key k7 when the print output is determined by the image, and presses the NG key k8 when the user does not like the image.

  In the print determination screen m7, it is determined whether or not the print output is determined by pressing the OK key k7 (step S10). When the NG key k8 is pressed instead of the OK key k7 (step S10; NG), the process returns to the process of step S2 and redoes from the selection of the print condition, or returns to the process of step S4 and redoes from the shooting. On the other hand, when the OK key k7 is pressed (step S10; OK), an end screen m8 (see FIG. 6B) is displayed, and the user's shooting operation is finished and a notice is given to wait for print output (see FIG. 6B). Step S11).

  Next, the output image synthesized in the output format in the printer unit 70 is printed out (step S12), and this process is terminated. The printed photograph that has been printed out is discharged to the outlet 71.

  As described above, since the photographed image is processed for print output and synthesized into the output format until the user selects the photographed image to be printed and instructs the print output, the user instructs the print output. Print output can be started simultaneously with input. Therefore, the print waiting time after the user instructs printing can be reduced, and the customer satisfaction can be improved.

  Further, the display of an end screen for notifying the user to wait for print output often causes the user to go out of the photography apparatus 100 and wait for printing. According to the present embodiment, an output image is output. Since the end screen is displayed after the image is combined into the format and ready for print output, the waiting time for the user to wait after going out can be minimized.

  In particular, when the photography apparatus 100 is installed outdoors, if the weather is bad, the user feels uncomfortable about waiting outside. Therefore, it is effective to reduce the waiting time after going outside. .

It is a perspective view of the photography apparatus 100 in this Embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a photographic device 100. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for describing a photographing process executed by the photographing apparatus 100. (A) It is a figure which shows the start screen m1. (B) It is a figure which shows condition selection screen m2. (C) It is a figure which shows condition selection screen m3. (A) It is a figure which shows the guide screen m4. (B) It is a figure which shows the image selection screen m5. (C) It is a figure which shows the confirmation screen m6. (A) It is a figure which shows the print determination screen m7. (B) It is a figure which shows the completion | finish screen m8. It is the flowchart explaining the conventional imaging | photography process, and the screen figure displayed at the time of the imaging | photography. It is the flowchart explaining the conventional imaging | photography process, and the screen figure displayed at the time of the imaging | photography.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Photography apparatus 10 Main-body part 11 Control part 12 I / O control 13 ROM
14 RAM
15 DVD
16 I / F
20 Strobe Unit 20a Strobe 30 Digital Camera 40 Display Unit 50 Coin Mech 60 Operation Unit 70 Printer Unit 80 Communication Unit

Claims (6)

In a photo print method for photographing a subject, subjecting the photographed image to image processing for print output, and printing out the photographed image subjected to the image processing,
A photo printing method comprising: completing image processing for print output on the photographed image prior to inputting a print output instruction.   2. The photo print method according to claim 1, wherein after the image processing of the photographed image is completed, an operation screen for instructing print output of the photographed image is displayed on the display means.   3. The photo printing method according to claim 2, wherein when a print output instruction is input on the operation screen, a notification means notifies the user of waiting for print output. Operation means for inputting operation instructions, photographing means for photographing a subject, display means for displaying a photographed image obtained by photographing, image processing means for performing image processing on a photographed image for print output, and image In a photographic apparatus comprising a printing means for printing out the processed photographed image,
The image processing means performs image processing for print output on a photographed image prior to inputting a print output instruction,
When the print means inputs a print output instruction via the operation means, the print means prints out a photographed image subjected to image processing for print output by the image processing means. .   The photographic device according to claim 4, wherein the display unit displays an operation screen for instructing to print out the captured image after the image processing by the image processing unit is completed.   6. The photography apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising notification means for notifying a standby state for a print output when a print output instruction is input on the operation screen.

Images