JP2005301008A - Photographic image printer and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically extract and print an image in which a person is photographed in a prescribed photographic state among many photographic images. <P>SOLUTION: When a customer puts recording media in a photographic image printing and vending machine, a CPU 1 individually analyzes a plurality of photographic images in the recording media to recognize photographic states of persons while prescribing image parts of the persons by the photographic images and also discriminates whether the persons are photographed in a prescribed photographic state. and also extracts a photographic image in which the person is photographed in the photographic state, thereby printing out the image by a photographic printer device 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographic image printing apparatus and a program for printing out a photographic image selected from a plurality of photographic images.

In general, when printing a photographic image selected from a plurality of photographic images, in addition to a single print that prints photographic images one by one, multiple photographic images are arranged and printed in association with a plurality of positions on paper. This type of multi-printing technology, for example, captures and records in advance the image data necessary for composition, and calls image data and photographic images that are arbitrarily called at the time of shooting. There is known a multi-print system that prints by arranging and synthesizing (see Patent Document 1). There is also known a group print / image creation apparatus in which sub-images (frames) are arranged around a main image (frame) on one print sheet (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-6-332122 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-147585

 However, in this type of multi-printing technology (Patent Documents 1 and 2), it is a technology on the premise that the user himself selects a print target, and every time a plurality of images are collectively printed, There is a problem in that it is necessary to select and designate a desired print target one by one while confirming all image contents, which places a heavy burden on the user. In particular, for example, when photos taken in group trips are sorted and distributed by person, photos taken by individuals alone, photos taken by multiple people, photos taken based on who, etc. There is a problem in that time and labor are required because it is necessary to select the print target one by one while confirming each page.

  An object of the present invention is to automatically extract and print an image in which a person is included in a large number of photographic images and the person is photographed in a predetermined shooting situation.

The invention according to claim 1 is a photographic image printing apparatus for printing out a photographic image selected from a plurality of photographic images, and a person image for each photographic image by individually analyzing the plurality of photographic images. Recognizing means for recognizing a person's shooting situation while specifying a portion, a determining means for determining whether or not a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on the shooting situation recognized by the recognizing means, and this determining means Each time it is determined that a person is photographed in a predetermined shooting situation, an extracting means for extracting the photographic image from the plurality of photographic images and a photographic image extracted by the extracting means are printed out. And a printing control means.
Furthermore, a program for realizing the main functions shown in the invention described in claim 1 is provided to the computer (the invention described in claim 10).

The invention described in claim 1 may be as follows.
The discriminating unit discriminates whether or not the person is photographed in a predetermined photographing situation based on whether or not the person is photographed alone, and the extracting unit extracts a photographic image in which the person is photographed alone. Extraction (Invention of Claim 2)

  The determining means determines whether or not a person is photographed alone based on whether or not the person included in the photographic image is one person, and the extracting means includes the photographic image. When the number of persons included is one, the photograph image is extracted (the invention according to claim 3).

  When determining whether or not a person is photographed alone, the determining means determines whether the image portion of the person most photographed is the next, even if the photograph image includes a plurality of persons. And determining whether or not the person is photographed alone based on whether or not the size difference from the image portion of the large person is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and the extracting means determines that the size difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. The photographic image is extracted as a photographic image in which a person is taken alone as a condition (the invention according to claim 4).

  The discriminating unit discriminates whether or not a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on whether or not a plurality of persons are group-photographed, and the extracting unit is a photograph in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed. An image is extracted (the invention according to claim 5).

  The extraction means, when extracting a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed, compares the total value of the sizes of the image portions of each person with the size of the entire photographic image, On the other hand, the photographic image is extracted on the condition that the ratio occupied by the total value is a predetermined ratio or more (the invention according to claim 6).

  When the extraction unit extracts a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed, the print control unit displays the photographic image by the number corresponding to the number of persons included in the extraction image. Each sheet is printed individually (the invention according to claim 7).

  In a state where each photographic image extracted by the extraction unit is displayed as a candidate for printing, when an arbitrary candidate is selected from the candidate screen, the selected photographic image is printed out (claim). 8).

  A plurality of photographic images extracted by the extracting means are arranged and printed in association with a plurality of positions on a sheet.

According to the first aspect of the invention, by analyzing a plurality of photographic images individually, the person's shooting situation is recognized while identifying the person's image portion for each photographic image, and the person is in a predetermined shooting situation. Since it is determined whether or not a photograph is taken and a photograph image of a person in a predetermined shooting situation is extracted and printed out, the person is included in a large number of photograph images and the person is determined It is possible to automatically extract and print images captured in the shooting situation, and to select a print target one by one while checking whether or not a person is captured from a huge group of photographic images. Troublesome work is completely unnecessary, and the burden on the user can be reduced.
It does not matter whether the print is a single print that prints one photo image at a time, or a multi-print that prints a plurality of photo images in association with a plurality of positions on a sheet.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to having the same effect as the invention described in claim 1 described above, a photographic image in which a person is photographed alone is extracted. Even in such a case, except for a group photo in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed, only a photographic image in which a person is photographed alone can be printed.

  In this case, when it is determined whether or not a person has been photographed alone, the photograph image may be extracted when there is only one person included in the photograph image. Invention). Further, even if a plurality of persons are included in a photographic image, it is based on whether or not the size difference between the image portion of the most photographed person and the image portion of the next largest person is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. It is possible to determine whether or not a person is photographed alone, and to extract the photographic image as a photographic image in which the person is photographed alone on condition that the size difference is equal to or larger than a predetermined value ( (Invention of Claim 4)

  According to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to having the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1, whether a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on whether or not a plurality of persons are group-shot. Since a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed is extracted, a plurality of persons are excluded except for a photographic image in which a person is photographed alone. It is possible to print only a group photo obtained by group shooting.

In this case, when extracting a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed, the total value of the sizes of the image portions of each person is compared with the size of the entire photographic image. If the photographic image is extracted on condition that the ratio occupied by the total value is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (the invention according to claim 6), the face portion of each person in the group photo obtained by photographing a plurality of persons If the total sum of the sizes of images is, for example, 10% or more with respect to the entire photographic image, it can be determined that the shooting state is good, and only images with a good shooting state are extracted and printed. be able to.
Further, when a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed is extracted, the photographic images are individually printed one by one for the number corresponding to the number of persons included in the extracted image. If this is the case (the invention according to claim 7), it is possible to print without excess or deficiency when distributing the group photos for the number of persons.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, in addition to having the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 10 above, in the state where each extracted photo image is displayed as a candidate for printing, any of the candidate screens can be selected. When the candidate is selected, the selected photographic image is printed out. Therefore, a desired image can be printed from the extracted photographic images, and each of the images satisfying a predetermined shooting situation is satisfied. An image desired by the user can be printed out of the images.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, in addition to the same effect as the first aspect of the invention described above, the plurality of extracted photographic images are arranged and printed in association with a plurality of positions on the paper. Multi-printing can be automated.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing basic components of a photographic image printing and selling apparatus.
This photographic image printing and selling apparatus is a vending machine that prints and sells photographic images (still images) on the digital camera side. That is, this photographic image printing and selling apparatus is installed in, for example, a convenience store or in a town, and prints a group of photographic images taken with a camera at high quality, and discharges and sells this photographic print (photo print). A print vendor.

  This photographic image printing and selling apparatus has a multi-print function for arranging and printing a plurality of photographic images in association with a plurality of positions on a sheet in addition to a single-sheet printing function for printing a plurality of photographic images one by one In the state in which the recording medium is inserted, each photographic image in which a person is included in the photographic image group in the recording medium and the shooting state satisfies a predetermined shooting situation (single shooting / multiple shooting) is selected. It is characterized in that it is automatically extracted and one sheet is printed or multi-printed.

  The CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the photographic image printing and selling apparatus in accordance with the operating system and various application software in the storage unit 2. The CPU 1 includes a storage unit 2 that is a fixed memory such as a hard disk, A detachable recording medium 3 such as a CD-ROM or DVD is connected. The program storage area in the storage unit 2 stores an application program for realizing the present embodiment in accordance with operation procedures shown in FIGS. Further, the CPU 1 includes a transmission unit 4, a recording medium reception device 5, a display unit 6 and an operation unit 7 constituting a display with a touch panel, a photographic printer device 8, and a money transfer device 9.

  The transmission unit 4 is an image communication unit for receiving each photographic image from the customer side digital camera via the Internet. The recording medium reception device 5 reads the image data by accessing the recording medium when the recording medium is inserted, and each image data is given to the CPU 1. The display unit 6 and the operation unit 7 have a configuration in which a touch panel is attached to a display screen of a liquid crystal display device, a CRT display device, a plasma display device, or the like. The photo printer device 8 prints each photo image to be printed one by one while temporarily storing it in an internal memory (paper memory). For example, the photo printer device 8 is constituted by a multi-color laser printer capable of high-quality and high-speed printing. Yes. The recording sheet storage unit 10 stores recording sheets of different sizes such as L size, 2L size, and panorama size. The money transfer device 9 has a normal configuration in which the amount of money is counted and given to the CPU 1, or change is discharged according to an instruction from the CPU 1.

  When image printing is instructed at the time of insertion of the recording medium on the customer side, the CPU 1 automatically selects the “manual selection mode” in which the customer arbitrarily selects the printing target from the photographic image group in the recording medium and the printing target. The mode menu screen that enables switching to the “auto selection mode” selected with is displayed and output. This “manual selection mode” is the same as usual, and when a group of photographic images in the recording medium is displayed as a list (thumbnail display), each time an arbitrary image is selected and specified from this list display, Each time the selected image is printed on a separate sheet for printing, or each time a predetermined number of photographic images are read from the recording medium, the predetermined number of photographic images correspond to multiple positions on the same sheet. This is an operation mode for performing multi-printing with additional printing.

The “auto selection mode” is an operation mode in which an image is automatically extracted from a group of photographic images in the recording medium and one sheet printing / multi-printing is performed. In this “auto selection mode”, the CPU 1 automatically extracts an image in which a person is included and the person is photographed in a predetermined shooting situation by individually analyzing the photographic image group in the recording medium. However, prior to that, an extraction menu for selecting the extraction condition is displayed.
When recognizing a person, a person part (face part) in a photographic image is recognized to extract an image showing the person. In this case, after correcting the orientation and size of the face, in addition to comparing the shape, position, size, hairstyle, presence / absence and type of face contour, eyes, mouth, nose, forehead, etc., A person is recognized by comprehensive comparison (hereinafter the same).

FIG. 2A is a diagram for explaining an extraction menu screen, and FIG. 2B is a diagram specifically illustrating what kind of image is extracted according to each menu item.
The extraction menu screen displays menu items relating to extraction conditions for automatically extracting an image from a group of photographic images in the recording medium. “1: Person alone”, “2: Person alone (with other person) “With comparison”, “3: Multiple persons”, and “4: Multiple persons (with size designation)”. “1: Person alone” determines whether or not a person is photographed in a predetermined shooting situation based on whether or not the person is photographed by one person (single person), and the person is photographed alone. In this case, the menu item indicates that the photographic image should be extracted. In this case, as shown in the extraction menu number (1) in FIG. 2B, regardless of the size of the image portion of the person and its shooting position, the person is recognized as being photographed alone and the image is extracted. Is done.

  “2: A person alone (with comparison with another person)” is the most common among the photographic images, even if there are multiple persons in the image. It is determined whether or not a person is photographed alone based on whether or not the size difference between the image portion of the person being photographed large and the image portion of the next largest person is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (twice or more). The menu item indicates that the photographic image should be extracted when the size difference is twice or more. In this case, as shown in the extraction menu number (2) in FIG. 2B, even if a plurality of persons are included in the photo image, one of them is sufficiently large in comparison with other persons. In this case, the person is recognized as being photographed alone, and the image is extracted.

  “3: Multiple persons” is a case in which it is determined whether or not a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on whether or not a plurality of persons are group shot, and a plurality of persons are group shot. The menu item indicates that the group photo should be extracted. In this case, as shown in the extraction menu number (3) in FIG. 2B, if a photograph image includes a plurality of persons, the size of the person's image portion, the shooting position, and the number of persons are considered. First, it is recognized that a plurality of persons are group-photographed, and an image is extracted.

  “4: Multiple persons (with size specified)” is the sum of the total size of the face portions of each person and the size of the entire photographic image when determining whether or not a plurality of persons are grouped. This is a menu item indicating that the photographic image should be extracted when the ratio of the total value to the entire photographic image is a predetermined ratio or more (10% or more). In this case, as shown in the extraction menu number (4) in FIG. 2 (B), even when a plurality of persons are included in the photographic image, the face portion of each person appears extremely small. However, for example, when the face portion of a person is clear enough to sufficiently identify the face of the person, the image is extracted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a print menu screen displayed when printing each photo image automatically extracted according to an arbitrarily selected extraction menu.
This print menu screen has items “1: 1 print”, “2: multi-print”, and “3: automatic print”. “1: 1 print” is a menu item for instructing that each automatically extracted photographic image should be printed individually one by one, and “2: multiprint” is for each automatically extracted photographic image. This is a menu item for instructing that layout printing should be performed in association with a plurality of positions on a sheet.

  “3: Random print” is a menu item for automatically changing the print style in accordance with the extraction menu item selected and specified as described above. “1: Person alone” or “2: Person alone (others) When printing each photo image automatically extracted by the extraction menu of “Comparison with people”), the printing style (single print / multi-print) is determined according to the number of automatically extracted images, and this printing is performed. Indicates that the image should be printed in style.

FIG. 4 shows a case where “3: Auto print” is selected as the print menu, and “1: Person alone” or “2: Person alone (with comparison with other person)” is selected as the extraction menu. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where printing is performed by switching a printing style (single-sheet printing / multi-printing) according to the number of images.
Here, when the number of automatically extracted images is a predetermined number or more (six or more), multi-printing is performed, and when it is less than six, one sheet printing is performed. Further, when printing each photographic image automatically extracted by the extraction menu of “3: multiple persons” or “4: multiple persons (with size specification)”, for example, L size, 2L size, etc. It is instructed that individual printing (single-sheet printing) for the number of persons should be performed using a paper having a size larger than the normal paper size.

FIG. 5 shows images automatically extracted when “3: Auto print” is selected as the print menu and “3: Multiple persons” or “4: Multiple persons (with size specified)” is selected as the extraction menu. It is the figure which illustrated the case where the printing style was determined according to the number of people, and one sheet printing for the number of people was performed.
That is, when a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed is extracted, the number of persons included in the extracted image is counted, and one photographic image corresponding to this number is counted. They are printed individually. In this case, L-size paper that is larger than the normal size is used as the print style, and when the number of people is 2, 4, or 3, one, two, four, or three prints are repeated. Done.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing various work folders.
The print folder 11 is a folder for print data for temporarily storing each photographic image extracted as a print target from the customer's recording medium. The A folder 12 and the B folder 13 are used as folders for storing print target candidates in the “auto selection mode”, and the A folder 12 is stored in a recording medium in accordance with an arbitrarily selected extraction menu item. The B folder 13 is a folder in which each photographic image arbitrarily selected and designated from the image group in the A folder 12 is temporarily stored.

  Next, the operation concept of the photographic image printing and selling apparatus (print vendor) in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, each function described in these flowcharts is stored in the form of a readable program code, and operations according to the program code are sequentially executed. In addition, the operation according to the above-described program code transmitted via the transmission medium can be sequentially executed. In other words, in addition to the recording medium, the program / data supplied externally via the transmission medium can be used to execute the operation specific to this embodiment.

7 to 10 are flowcharts showing the overall operation of the photographic image printing and selling apparatus (print vendor).
First, the CPU 1 is in a waiting state for inserting a recording medium on the customer side (step S1 in FIG. 7). When the recording medium is inserted, the CPU 1 can switch between a “manual selection mode” and an “auto selection mode”. The menu is displayed and output (step S2). If the “manual selection mode” is designated (YES in step S3), all images are sequentially read from the recording medium (step S4), and each image is displayed as a list (thumbnail display) (step S5). ). Here, when a print target is selected and specified by touching an arbitrary image position on the list screen (step S6), the CPU 1 stores the selected image in the print folder 11 (step S7). Hereinafter, the above operation is repeated (steps S5 to S8) while accepting the print target for each image until the user instructs the end of selection (step S8).

  Here, when the selection end is instructed by the user (YES in step S8), a menu screen that enables switching between single print / multi-print is displayed and output (step S9). If one-sheet printing is selected (YES in step S10), each image stored in the print folder 11 is read one by one from the top (step S11) and printed on one sheet. Output (step S12). Thereafter, until there is another unprinted image in the print folder 11 (step S13), one-sheet printing is repeated while reading unprinted images one by one from the print folder 11 (steps S11 to S13). As a result, when all the images in the print folder 11 have been printed (NO in step S13), the recording medium is discharged (step S18), and the process returns to the first step S1.

  If multi-print is selected from the menu screen (NO in step S10), each image stored in the print folder 11 is read from the head for a predetermined number (for example, six) (step) S14) After the images are arranged in association with a plurality of positions on the paper memory area (step S15), the images in the paper memory area are printed out according to the arrangement (step S16). Thereafter, until there is another unprinted image in the print folder 11 (step S17), multi-printing is repeated while reading unprinted images from the print folder 11 every predetermined number (steps S14 to S17). As a result, when all the images in the print folder 11 have been printed (NO in step S17), the recording medium is discharged (step S18), and the process returns to the first step S1.

  On the other hand, when the “auto selection mode” is selected (NO in step S3), first, the process proceeds to step S21 in FIG. 8 to display and output the extraction menu shown in FIG. When an arbitrary menu item is selected and specified from the extraction menu screen (step S22), the selection menu is temporarily stored (step S23), and then each image in the recording medium is read one by one from the top (step S23). In step S24), while recognizing this photographic image (step S25), it is checked whether or not a human face portion is included in the photographic image (step S26). In image recognition in this case, individual person recognition is not performed, and the presence or absence of a standard face portion is examined. For example, when the face is hidden or facing backward, it is recognized that the face portion of the person is not included.

  If a person's face part is included, one person's face part is checked (whether it is a photographic image showing only one person) (step S27). For example, on the condition that the selected extraction menu is “1: person alone” (step S28), the photograph image is stored in the A folder 12 (step S29), but the face portion of the person is not included. If the extraction menu is not “1: person alone” (NO in step S28) even if a face portion of a person is included (NO in step S26), this photographic image is excluded from printing. Move on to step S30. Hereinafter, in a state where the extraction menu of “1: person alone” is selected, the face portion of the person is read while reading the images one by one from the recording medium until all the images in the recording medium are read (step S30). The process of storing all the photographic images in the A folder 12 is repeated on the condition that the number is included and the number is one (steps S24 to S30).

  Further, when the face portions of a plurality of persons are recognized (NO in step S27), if the selected extraction menu is “2: person alone (with comparison with other person)” (YES in step S31). The top two face images are selected from the respective face portions in descending order (step S32), the sizes of the first and second face images are compared (step S33), and the size difference is doubled. Whether it is the above or not is checked (step S34). Here, when the size difference is twice or more, even if a face portion of a plurality of persons is included in this photographic image, the person is recognized as being photographed alone and the photographic image is recognized as A. Store in the folder 12 (step S29).

  If the size difference is less than twice, the process proceeds to step S30 in order to exclude this photographic image from printing. Hereinafter, in a state where the extraction menu of “2: person alone (with comparison with other person)” is selected, one image is recorded from the recording medium until all the images in the recording medium are read (step S30). If the face portions of a plurality of persons are included while being read out one by one and one of them is sufficiently large in comparison with the other person, it is assumed that the person has been photographed alone, and all the photographic images are A The process of storing in the folder 12 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the face portions of a plurality of persons are recognized (NO in step S27), if the selected extraction menu is “3: plural persons” (NO in step S31), the photo image is unconditionally A. Store in the folder 12 (step S29). Hereinafter, in the state where the extraction menu of “3: Multiple persons” is selected, the photographic images are read while reading the images one by one from the recording media until all the images in the recording media are read (step S30). The process of storing all in the A folder 12 is repeated.

  If the selected extraction menu is “4: Multiple persons (size specified)” (YES in step S35), the total value of the sizes of the face portions of each person and the entire photo image (image frame) The ratio of the total value to the entire photographic image is determined (step S36), and the ratio is 10% or more (step S37). Although it is stored in the folder 12 (step S29), if it is less than 10%, the process proceeds to step S30 in order to exclude this photographic image from printing. Hereinafter, in a state where the extraction menu of “4: Multiple persons (with size specification)” is selected, images are read one by one from the recording medium until all the images in the recording medium are read (step S30). However, considering the size of each person's face, if the person's face is clear enough to identify the person's face, the process of storing all the photographic images in the A folder 12 is repeated.

  When the storage processing in the A folder 12 is completed, the process proceeds to step S41 in FIG. 9, and all the photo images in the A folder 12 are read out and displayed in a list display (thumbnail). The selection of an arbitrary image is accepted (step S42). When a desired image is selected and designated, the photograph image corresponding to the selected thumbnail is read from the A folder 12 and stored in the B folder 13 (step S43), and then the print menu shown in FIG. 3 is displayed and output. (Step S44).

  If an arbitrary print menu is selected and designated (step S45), the selected menu is discriminated (step S46). If the selected print menu is “1: 1 print”, the B folder is selected. An image for one sheet is read from the head of 13 (step S47), and one sheet printing is performed for printing on a normal size sheet (step S48). If an unprinted image remains in the B folder 13 (YES in step S49), the operation of printing all the images one sheet is repeated (steps S47 to S49). Then, after the recording medium is discharged (step S55), the process returns to the first step S1.

  If the selected print menu is “2: multi-print” (YES in step S50), each image stored in the B folder 13 is read for a predetermined number (for example, 12 sheets) from the top (for example, 12). In step S51), the images are arranged in association with a plurality of positions on the paper memory area (step S52), and then the images in the paper memory area are printed out according to the arrangement (step S53). Thereafter, until there is another unprinted image in the B folder 13 (step S54), multi-printing is repeated while reading unprinted images from the B folder 13 every predetermined number (steps S51 to S54). Then, after the recording medium is discharged (step S55), the process returns to the first step S1.

  If the selected print menu is “3: Random print” (NO in step S50), the process proceeds to step S61 in FIG. 10, and the selected extraction menu is “1: person alone” or “2: person”. It is checked whether it is “alone (with comparison with other person)”. Here, if the selection menu is “1: person alone” or “2: person alone (with comparison with other person)”, the number of images in the B folder 13 is counted, and the number of images is equal to or greater than a predetermined number ( The print style is determined (step S62). If the number of images is 6 or more, the process proceeds to step S51 in FIG. 9 to execute multi-printing. If the number is less than 6, the process proceeds to step S47 in FIG. 9 to execute one-sheet printing. Move on.

  If the selected print menu is “3: Random print” and the selected extraction menu is “3: Multiple persons” or “4: Multiple persons (size specified)” (in step S61). NO), one image from the head of the B folder 13 is read (step S63), the face portion of the person in the image is recognized (step S64), and the number of face portions of the person is counted (step S56). . Then, an L size paper larger than the normal size is used, and one image is printed (step S66). Thereafter, one sheet of printing is repeated until the printing of the count values (number of people) obtained as described above is completed (steps S66 and S67), and then the recording medium is discharged (step S55 in FIG. 9).

  As described above, in the photographic image printing and selling apparatus of this embodiment, when a recording medium is inserted from a customer, the CPU 1 analyzes each of the photographic images in the recording medium individually for each photographic image. While identifying the person's image part, the person's shooting situation is recognized, whether or not the person is shown in the predetermined shooting situation is determined, and the photograph image showing the person in the predetermined shooting situation is extracted. Since printing is performed from the photographic printer device 8, it is possible to automatically extract and print an image in which a person is included from a large number of photographic images and the person is photographed in a predetermined shooting situation. Therefore, the troublesome work of selecting a print target one by one while checking whether a person is photographed from a huge group of photographic images or not, and the burden of the user can be reduced. It becomes possible.

  In this case, since a photographic image in which a person is photographed alone is extracted, even if the photograph image includes a person, the person is photographed alone except for a group photograph in which a plurality of persons are photographed in a group. Only photographic images can be printed. At this time, when “1: person alone” is selected as the extraction menu, the photograph image is extracted when there is one person included in the photograph image, and “2: person alone (others) is selected. When `` Comparison with people '' is selected, even if there are multiple people in the photo image, the image of the person most photographed and the image of the next largest person Based on whether the difference in size from the part is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined whether or not the person is photographed alone, and the photograph is photographed alone on condition that the size difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined value It can be extracted as a photographic image.

Further, the CPU 1 determines whether or not a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on whether or not a plurality of persons are group shot, and extracts a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group shot. Therefore, even for a photographic image including a person, only a group photograph in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed can be printed except for a photographic image in which a person is photographed alone. At that time, the total value obtained by summing the sizes of the image portions of each person is compared with the size of the entire photo image, and on the condition that the ratio of the total value to the entire photo image is equal to or greater than a predetermined rate Since a photographic image is extracted, in a group photo in which a plurality of persons are photographed, if the sum of the face sizes of each person is greater than or equal to a predetermined ratio with respect to the entire photographic image, the photographing state is good Therefore, it is possible to extract and print only an image in a good shooting state.
In addition, the number of people included in the photo image is counted, and the photo image is printed individually for each number of the counted value. Printing without deficiency is possible.

On the other hand, in the state where each extracted photo image is displayed as a thumbnail as a candidate for printing, when any candidate is selected from this candidate screen, the selected photo image is printed out. The desired image can be printed from the extracted photographic images, and the image desired by the user can be further printed from the images satisfying a predetermined shooting situation.
In addition, since the plurality of extracted photographic images are arranged and printed in association with a plurality of positions on the paper, multi-printing can be automated.

  On the other hand, the CPU 1 counts the number of photographic images selected as print targets from among each photographic image including a person, determines a print style according to the number of print images, and uses the print style as a photo to be printed. Since the image is printed out from the photographic printer device 8, when printing a photographic image selected as a print target from among each photographic image in which a person is photographed, it is optimum according to the number of photographic images. The printing style can be determined and printed.

  In addition, the number of person portions is counted for each photo image, the print style is determined according to the counted value, and the photo image to be printed is printed out in this print style. When printing a photographic image selected as a printing target from among the photographic images, an optimal print style can be determined and printed according to the number of persons in the photographic image. Therefore, each time printing is performed, there is no inconvenience that the user himself / herself selects a printing style while checking whether or not a person is captured from a large group of photographic images, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, when a person is recognized, the person is recognized based on the face portion. However, the person is recognized in consideration of the height, hairstyle, gender and the like of the person. May be.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is determined whether or not a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on whether or not a person is photographed alone or a plurality of persons are collectively photographed. The shooting situation is not limited to this, and may be arbitrary, and may be determined in consideration of the face orientation and the like.
Furthermore, when performing multi-printing, printing forms such as image arrangement and image size are also arbitrary, and any form may be selected and designated from a plurality of printing forms prepared in advance.

In the above-described embodiment, the customer's recording medium is loaded into the photographic image printing and selling apparatus. However, a still image is transmitted from the customer's digital camera to the photographic image printing and selling apparatus via the network for printing. Alternatively, the digital camera itself may be directly connected to the photographic image print sales apparatus.
Further, not limited to photographic image printing and sales apparatuses, for example, a recording medium in which still images are recorded and stored is inserted into a personal computer or printer apparatus at home, or transmitted via a network to perform one-sheet printing or multi-printing. You may do it. Furthermore, the print target is not limited to an image captured with a still image, and an image frame extracted from a moving image captured with a moving image may be printed.

  On the other hand, a recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a RAM card, etc.) on which program codes for executing the above-described units are recorded may be provided to the computer. That is, a recording medium having a computer-readable program code, and a function of recognizing a person's shooting state while identifying a person's image portion for each photographic image by individually analyzing a plurality of photographic images A function for determining whether or not a person is shown in a predetermined shooting situation based on the recognized shooting situation, and each time it is determined that a person is shown in a predetermined shooting situation, You may make it provide the computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program for implement | achieving the function to extract from several photographic images, and the function to print out the extracted photographic image.

The block diagram which showed the basic component of the photographic image printing sales apparatus (print vendor). (A) is a figure for demonstrating an extraction menu screen, (B) is a figure which illustrated concretely what kind of image is extracted according to each menu item. The figure for demonstrating the print menu screen displayed when printing each photographic image automatically extracted according to the extraction menu arbitrarily selected. Depending on the number of images automatically extracted when “3: Auto print” is selected as the print menu and “1: Person alone” or “2: Person alone (with comparison with other persons)” is selected as the extraction menu The figure which illustrated the case where it prints by switching a printing style (single-sheet printing / multi-printing). When “3: Auto print” is selected as the print menu and “3: Multiple persons” or “4: Multiple persons (with size specified)” is selected as the extraction menu, the number of persons in each automatically extracted image is displayed. The figure which illustrated the case where printing style was determined according to it and one sheet printing for the number of people was performed. The figure which showed various working folders. The flowchart which showed the whole operation | movement of the photograph image printing sales apparatus (print vendor). The flowchart which showed the whole operation | movement of the photographic image printing sales apparatus following FIG. The flowchart which showed the whole operation | movement of the photographic image printing sales apparatus following FIG. The flowchart which showed the whole operation | movement of the photographic image printing sales apparatus following FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Memory | storage part 5 Recording media reception apparatus 6 Display part 7 Operation part 8 Photo printer apparatus 9 Money transfer apparatus 11 Print folder 12 A folder 13 B folder

Claims (10)

A photographic image printing apparatus for printing out a photographic image selected from a plurality of photographic images,
Recognizing means for recognizing a person's shooting situation while identifying a person's image part for each photographic image by individually analyzing a plurality of photographic images;
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on the shooting situation recognized by the recognition means;
Each time it is determined by this determination means that a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation, an extraction means for extracting the photographic image from the plurality of photographic images;
Print control means for printing out the photographic image extracted by the extraction means;
A photographic image printing apparatus comprising: The determining means determines whether the person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on whether the person is photographed alone,
The extraction means extracts a photographic image in which a person is photographed alone;
2. The photographic image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic image printing apparatus is configured as described above. The determining means, when determining whether or not a person is photographed alone, based on whether or not the person included in the photographic image is one person,
The extraction means extracts a photographic image when the number of persons included in the photographic image is one.
The photographic image printing apparatus according to claim 2, which is configured as described above. When determining whether or not a person is photographed alone, the determining means determines whether the image portion of the person most photographed is the next, even if the photograph image includes a plurality of persons. To determine whether the person is photographed alone based on whether the size difference between the large person and the image portion is greater than or equal to a predetermined value,
The extraction means extracts the photographic image as a photographic image in which a person is photographed alone, provided that the size difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
The photographic image printing apparatus according to claim 2, which is configured as described above. The determining means determines whether or not a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on whether or not a plurality of persons are group shot.
The extracting means extracts a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed;
2. The photographic image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic image printing apparatus is configured as described above. The extraction means, when extracting a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed, compares the total value of the sizes of the image portions of each person with the size of the entire photographic image, In contrast, the photographic image is extracted on the condition that the ratio of the total value is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio.
The photographic image printing apparatus according to claim 5, which is configured as described above. When the extraction unit extracts a photographic image in which a plurality of persons are group-photographed, the print control unit displays the photographic image by the number corresponding to the number of persons included in the extraction image. Print one by one individually,
The photographic image printing apparatus according to claim 5, which is configured as described above. In a state where each photographic image extracted by the extraction unit is displayed as a candidate for printing, when an arbitrary candidate is selected from this candidate screen, the selected photographic image is printed out.
2. The photographic image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic image printing apparatus is configured as described above. A plurality of photographic images extracted by the extracting means are arranged and printed in association with a plurality of positions on a sheet.
2. The photographic image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic image printing apparatus is configured as described above. Against the computer,
A function for recognizing a person's shooting situation while identifying a person's image portion for each photographic image by individually analyzing a plurality of photographic images;
A function to determine whether a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation based on the recognized shooting situation;
A function of extracting the photographic image from the plurality of photographic images each time it is determined that a person is captured in a predetermined shooting situation;
A function to print out the extracted photographic image;
A program to realize

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