JP2005227547A - Photographic print order accepting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic print order accepting apparatus by which ordinary customers can perform an editing work of high originality for a photographed image with a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus is constituted by providing an area detecting means for detecting one of face areas such as the skin, the pupils, lips and hair as a specified area with respect to the photographed image displayed by an image display means, a color palette display means for displaying a plurality of color palettes where a color balance in the detected specified area is taken as a reference color, and a color editing means for changing the color balance in the specified area with a color balance ratio of the color balance specified for the displayed color pallet to the color balance of the reference color. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides image data input means for reading photographic image data stored in a recording medium, image display means for displaying a photographic image based on the inputted photographic image data, and photographic print order information for the displayed photographic image. The present invention relates to a photo print order receiving apparatus including order information input means for inputting and order information output means for outputting received order information.

  In recent years, digital cameras and mobile phones equipped with high-quality digital camera functions are rapidly spreading, and there is an increasing demand for photographic printing of photographic images taken with such cameras on photographic paper. In order to meet such a demand, a lab store that develops and prints a photographic film has the above-described photographic print ordering apparatus installed at the store.

  A customer attaches a small memory card such as a smart media or a CF card storing photograph image data taken by himself / herself to a media driver which is an image data input means of a photo print ordering apparatus and reads the liquid crystal as an image display means. While visually checking the photographic image displayed on the display device, use the keyboard and mouse as the order information input means to enter the order information such as print size and number of prints to place a photo print order. The accepted photo print ordering apparatus issues a receipt slip on which order information, print finish date, and the like are printed by the order information output means to the customer.

On the other hand, as a color correction method and a color image output system using the color correction method capable of performing color correction with easy-to-understand designation and a simple operation relating to color correction, Color for each color generated from the second step of accepting the area designation, the third step of accepting the color correction command for the concept of the color, and the concept-specific color concept table indicating the correspondence between the color concept and each color There has been proposed a method of performing color correction on a color image including a fourth step of performing color correction on an area received in the second step based on a correction curve.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-125867 JP 7-177372 A

  However, the conventional photo print order receiving apparatus described above has limited functions provided as image correction for obtaining a photo print desired by the customer, and adjusts the brightness of the entire image and adjusts the color tone of the entire image. When only a certain amount of correction can be performed and further correction is required, it is necessary to perform an editing operation using an image editing program installed in a personal computer owned by the user in advance.

  The editing operation by such an image editing program is very complicated, and there is a problem that it cannot be easily performed by general customers without specialized knowledge. In addition, general customers do not want such advanced editing, and they are not only displayed on the screen, but also for printing and enjoyment. This tendency is prominent among young people.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention is to provide a photographic print order receiving apparatus that allows even a general customer to perform highly original editing operations on a captured image with a simple operation.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first characteristic configuration of the photographic print order receiving apparatus according to the present invention reads photographic image data stored in a recording medium as described in claim 1 of the claims. Image data input means, image display means for displaying a photographic image based on the inputted photographic image data, order information input means for inputting photographic print order information for the displayed photographic image, and outputting the received order information A photo print order receiving apparatus comprising order information output means for detecting a specific area with respect to a photographic image displayed by the image display means, and a color balance of the detected specific area. Color palette display means for displaying a color palette of multiple colors as the reference color, and specified for the displayed color palette Lies in the ratio of the color balance of the reference color and the color balance of the color is provided a color editing means for conversion the color balance of the specific region.

  According to the above configuration, the specific area detected by the area detecting means can be easily converted into the color desired by the operator. In other words, for example, a plurality of colors with different color balances with emphasis on the red, green, and blue components centered on the color based on the original red, green, and blue color balance of the detected specific area are displayed by the color palette display means. When a color desired to be converted is displayed on the color palette, the color of the specific area is converted by the ratio of the color balance of the color selected by the color editing means and the color balance of the reference color. Therefore, the specific area can be converted into a favorite color while maintaining a natural gradation. Here, since the color palette is composed mainly of colors based on the original red, green, and blue color balance in a specific area, it is very easy to select not only unusual colors but also to change delicate colors. As the reference color, for example, an average color of a plurality of pixels constituting a specific area, a color with the same maximum number of pixels, or a color of a specific pixel can be used.

  As described in claim 2, the second characteristic configuration is that, in addition to the first characteristic configuration described above, the specific region is a facial region of skin, pupils, lips, or hair.

  The photographic images input to such a photographic print order receiving apparatus have many snapshots of a person taken by a camera attached to a mobile phone or a digital still camera, and there is a great demand for easy color editing for a person as a subject. Therefore, by making the specific area detected by the area detection means a face area of any one of skin, pupils, lips, and hair, the operator can easily and quickly perform the aperture operation for editing. Then, by changing the color of skin, eyes, lips, or hair, the fun of the photo increases, and the demand for printing can be increased by stimulating playfulness.

  In the third feature configuration, as described in claim 3, in addition to the second feature configuration described above, an area for selecting and operating a face area of skin, pupils, lips, or hair on the image display means There is provided an area selection means for displaying a selection switch, wherein the area detection means detects a face area selected by the area selection switch as a specific area.

  As the area selection switch, any one of the face areas of skin, pupils, lips, and hair is displayed on the screen so as to be selectable, so that the edit target area can be easily selected and operated. For example, each of skin, eyes, lips, and hair can be displayed as a menu, or can be displayed as a pictogram. The area detection means automatically detects the selected face area. Here, the automatic detection method of the face area can be realized by using a known technique. For example, a skin color pixel in the image is detected, and the presence of a red pixel area corresponding to the lips in the detected skin area. The lip or eye of a person's face registered in advance is based on the recognition of the area in which the image is detected as a face, the black area in the face as a pupil, and the black area adjacent to the face as hair. It is possible to identify lips and eyes by comparing with the arrangement pattern of the image, and it is also possible to detect the face area by pattern recognition of the image based on the pre-registered human face pattern .

  In the fourth feature configuration, as described in claim 4, in addition to the second feature configuration described above, the area detection unit may perform skin, pupil, lip, and hair face areas in a predetermined order. The point is to detect.

  In this case, since the face regions are detected in a predetermined order, the operator only needs to perform color editing operation on the detected region, that is, select a color from the color palette, and the operation becomes extremely easy.

  As described in claim 5, the fifth feature configuration includes position specifying means for the photographic image displayed on the image display means in addition to any of the second to fourth feature configurations described above. The area detecting means detects a face area nearest to the position specified by the position specifying means.

  When editing the face area of a specific person, such as when a plurality of persons as subjects are photographed in the displayed photographic image, if the position is specified with a pointing device such as a mouse, the position is closest to the specified position. Since the located face area is detected, the editing target can be easily specified.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even a general customer can provide a photo print order receiving apparatus that can perform highly original editing work with a simple operation on a captured image. It was.

  An embodiment of a photo print order receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, a photo print order receiving apparatus 1 installed in a store such as a photo lab shop has an image data input means 2 for reading photographic image data stored in a portable recording medium, and an inputted photo. Hard disk 6 as a storage device for storing image data, image display means 3 and 9 for displaying photographic images based on the photographic image data stored in hard disk 6, and photographic print order information for the displayed photographic images are input. Order information input means 4, 10, order information output means 11 for outputting received order information, and edit processing means 8 for performing desired editing processing on the images displayed on the image display means 3, 9. Each function processing means includes a CPU installed in the apparatus and a memory in which an execution program for the CPU is stored. The execution program is installed in advance on the hard disk 6 and is constituted by predetermined operating system software and application programs.

  The image data input means 2 includes a plurality of media drivers corresponding to a small memory card such as a smart media or a CF card storing photographic image data, or a recording medium such as a CD-R or a DVD. The read image file is stored in the hard disk 6 via an input buffer (not shown).

  The read image is read from the hard disk 6 to the image memory 7 composed of a semiconductor memory, and is bitmap-developed in the image display buffer 9 and displayed on the display unit 3 formed of a CRT or a liquid crystal display device. The orderer who has confirmed the image displayed on the display unit 3 performs a desired image editing operation on the image via the operation input unit 4 including a keyboard and a mouse, and also orders the user information, print size, Enter order information such as quantity. When the predetermined input is completed, the order data processing unit 10 generates an order file in which the image file, the orderer information, and the print order data are associated with each other. The order file is stored in the hard disk 6 and the order contents are printed. A receipt slip is printed out from the printer 5. In addition to the reception management number, data such as a scheduled date for finishing the print and a charge are printed on the reception slip. When the print is finished, the print is handed over to the orderer in exchange for the reception slip.

  The order file and the image file to be printed stored in the hard disk 6 are transmitted from the print order file output unit 11 to the photo printing apparatus via the LAN built in the store, or via a public line or the like to a remote laboratory center. Is transmitted.

  The image editing processing means 8 includes an area detection means 8a for detecting a specific area for the photographic image displayed on the display unit 3, and a color palette of a plurality of colors using the color balance of the detected specific area as a reference color. A color palette display means 8b for displaying, a color editing means 8c for converting the color balance of the specific area at a ratio between the color balance of the color specified for the displayed color palette and the color balance of the reference color, An enlargement / reduction processing means 8d for enlarging or reducing the target image, an inversion processing means 8e for inverting the image vertically or horizontally, a density correction means 8f for adjusting the image density, and the like are provided.

  Hereinafter, the receiving process by the above-described photo print order receiving apparatus 1 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Clicking on the order processing icon on the initial reception screen displayed on the display unit 3 displays a message “Please set the media that stores the image.” When setting the media in the corresponding media driver n, A photographic image is read and stored in the hard disk 6 (S1, S2, S3).

  When the image is read, as shown in FIG. 2, a predetermined number (four in this case) of photographic images are displayed on the display unit 3 (S4), and input of order information is prompted (S5). As the order information, the name and telephone number of the orderer who identifies the orderer are entered in the corresponding column 31, and the print size and number of prints for the next displayed image are entered. For the setting of the number of prints and the size, for example, when the corresponding image is clicked, the selected image number is displayed in the selected image number display field 32 at the upper right of the screen. The print size is set by checking, and the number is set in the number setting field 34 by moving the cursor to the number field and inputting a numeric key from the keyboard. When the setting of four sheets is completed in this way, the number of prints and the print size set in the lower column of each image are displayed. If there are five or more images, clicking the page update key 35 displayed at the lower right of the screen shifts to the next screen, so the same operation as described above is performed.

  When a specific image is double-clicked on the screen of FIG. 2, the screen shifts to an enlarged display screen. For example, when the image with the image number 2 is double-clicked, an enlarged display screen shown in FIG. 3 appears. Here, it is possible to perform detailed image editing operations such as image enlargement / reduction processing by the enlargement / reduction processing means 8d, left / right or upside down processing by the inversion processing means 8e, light / darkness correction by the density correction means 8f, and color conversion by the color correction means 8a. The corresponding icon is displayed. The following description is limited to the color conversion process, but in reality, other correction processes such as the above-described enlargement / reduction process are possible.

  When the color conversion icon 36, which is one of the icons for the editing operation, is clicked, the color editing mode is entered (S6), and color conversion is performed by the area selection means which is one functional block of the area detection means 8a. Below the icon 36, an area selection switch (icon) 37 capable of selecting any one of skin, hair, lips, and pupils is displayed. When the orderer clicks one of these icons, the corresponding area is selected by the area detecting means 8a, and the outline of the area is displayed in a blinking manner (S7). At this time, the color palette display means 8b displays a color palette 40 of a plurality of colors using the color balance of the area detected in the image as a reference color (S8), and when a color desired to be converted is clicked from the color palette 40 ( In step S9, the color editing unit 8c converts the color balance of the area in accordance with the ratio between the color balance of the designated color and the color balance of the reference color and reflects it in the display image (S10).

  In this way, the area designated by the area selection switch 37 is automatically selected, and the color palette 40 which is a candidate for the color to be converted is displayed, so that the orderer can play with a plurality of colors displayed on the color palette. You can select your favorite color. The display mode for selecting an area by the area selecting means can display not only the skin, the pupil, the lips, and the hair, but also a pictogram as well as a menu. The area detecting means 8a automatically detects the selected face area, and the automatic face area detecting method can be realized by using a known technique. For example, a skin color pixel in an image is detected, a region in which the presence of a red pixel region corresponding to a lip is detected in the detected skin region is determined as a face, and a black region in the face is recognized as a pupil. It is possible to identify the lips and eyes by comparing with the lip and eye arrangement pattern of the person's face registered in advance, based on the recognition of the black area adjacent to the face as hair. It is also possible to detect a face area by pattern recognition of an image based on a person's face pattern registered in advance.

  Further, since the color palette 40 is mainly composed of colors based on the original red, green, and blue color balance in the area, it is extremely easy to select not only unusual colors but also to change delicate colors. As the reference color, for example, an average color of a plurality of pixels constituting the area may be adopted, a color having the same number of pixels as the maximum color, or a color of a specific pixel, for example, a color with the highest saturation may be adopted. It is possible, and the operator may click the area in the image and adopt the color of the pixel corresponding to the position at that time.

  If the result of the color conversion is visually unsatisfactory, if the result is unintentional, the “cancel” icon 38 is operated to return to the previous state (S11), and the same operation is repeated. The next process is selected and the same process is repeated (S12). When the color editing is completed in this way, the “return” icon 39 is clicked to return to the whole screen of FIG. When the order input is completed by repeating the operations from step S4 to step S12 until the predetermined order input for all images is completed in this way, the “end” icon shown in FIG. 2 is clicked (S13).

  Thereafter, the order data processing unit 10 generates an order file while associating it with the target image based on the input data (S14), stores it in the hard disk 6, and print order number, name, telephone, reception date and time, Data such as scheduled finishing date, order contents (image file, number of prints, size information) and the like are output to the receipt slip printer 5 to issue a receipt slip (S15). Further, the print order file output unit 11 at a predetermined timing. The order file and the image file are transmitted to the photo printing apparatus via the LAN that is operated and built in the store, and the print acceptance process is terminated (S16).

  In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the case where icons such as skin, pupils, lips, and hair for individually selecting face areas are provided, and specific areas are detected by operating individually. May be configured to detect the face areas of skin, pupils, lips, and hair in a predetermined order. For example, when the color conversion icon 36 is clicked in the description of FIG. 3 described above, the skin area is directly detected, the outline blinks, the color palette 40 is displayed, and the pupil is automatically selected when the color is selected and converted. The procedure is such that the area is detected.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where there is one subject has been described. However, when there are a plurality of subjects, it is impossible to identify which color is used as a reference to configure the color palette even if a face area is detected. In view of this, a position designation unit for the photographic image displayed on the display unit 3 is provided, and the area detection unit 8a is configured to detect the face area closest to the position designated by the position designation unit, so that a plurality of persons Can be dealt with even if it is included. The position designation means can be composed of a cursor movement control key displayed on the screen and a positioning key for designating the position of the cursor, and can be composed of a mechanism for detecting a position designation operation (click) by the mouse, and a color conversion icon. Clicking 36 to enter the color conversion processing mode and clicking on any image position will detect the face area of the nearest subject, and the same processing as described above will be performed on the detected face area. .

  In the above-described embodiment, as described above, the region extracted as the specific region is a facial region of skin, pupils, lips, or hair. Although it is preferable for the face area to obtain a highly original editing effect, it may be for detecting other areas. For example, when changing the color of clothing, The specific area detecting means may be configured to detect a pixel area having the same color tone as the specific area as the specific area.

Functional block diagram of the photo print order receiving device Illustration of display screen Illustration of display screen flowchart

Explanation of symbols

1: Photo print order receiving device 2: Image data input means 3, 9: Image display means 4, 10: Order information input means 8: Editing processing means 8a: Area detection means 8b: Color palette display means 8c: Color editing means

Claims (5)

Image data input means for reading photographic image data stored in a recording medium, image display means for displaying a photographic image based on the inputted photographic image data, and order information for inputting photographic print order information for the displayed photographic image A photo print order receiving apparatus comprising input means and order information output means for outputting received order information,
Area detection means for detecting a specific area for the photographic image displayed by the image display means, color palette display means for displaying a color palette of a plurality of colors using the color balance of the detected specific area as a reference color, A photographic print order receiving apparatus provided with color editing means for converting the color balance of the specific area by the ratio of the color balance of the designated color to the displayed color palette and the color balance of the reference color.   2. The photo print order receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific area is a face area of any one of skin, pupils, lips, and hair.   The image display means includes area selection means for displaying an area selection switch for selecting and operating any one of the face areas of skin, pupils, lips and hair, and the area detection means is a face area where the area selection switch is selected and operated. The photo print order receiving device according to claim 2, wherein the photo print order receiving device is detected as a specific region.   3. The photo print order receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the area detecting means detects a face area of skin, pupils, lips, and hair in a predetermined order.   5. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a position specifying unit for a photographic image displayed on the image display unit, wherein the region detecting unit detects a face region nearest to the position specified by the position specifying unit. Photo print ordering device.