JP2005318022A - Trimming processing apparatus, trimming processing method, and trimming processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a trimming processing apparatus, a trimming processing method, and a trimming processing program capable of trimming a stereo image with a format wherein a pair of a left image and a right image is integrated in order to maintain a state of ease of stereoscopic vision. <P>SOLUTION: The trimming processing apparatus for the stereo image with the format wherein the pair of left image and the right image is integrated is configured to include: a division means (S1) for dividing the stereo image into the left image and the right image; image segmentation means (S2, S3) for respectively segmenting relatively the same regional part from the left image and the right image obtained by the division means; and composite means (S4, S5) for generating a stereo image after the trimming by composing the regional part segmented from the left image with the regional part segmented from the right image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a stereo image trimming processing apparatus, and in particular, trimming processing for trimming a stereo image in a format in which a pair of left and right images that can be viewed stereoscopically are combined to generate a new stereo image. The present invention relates to an apparatus, a trimming processing method, and a trimming processing program.

  Conventionally, a stereo image (3DI) that enables stereoscopic viewing from two images using parallax between the left and right eyes is known, and an apparatus for printing such a stereo image has been proposed (for example, a patent). Reference 1). This conventional apparatus combines a left-eye image and a right-eye image formed as separate image files or separate frames with an optimal interval that enables stereoscopic viewing, and prints the combined image as a stereo image. Out.

  In recent years, with the increase in functionality of photographing devices such as digital cameras, photographing devices having a function of recording a stereo image composed of a pair of images that can be stereoscopically viewed using parallax between the left and right eyes. Has been proposed. Furthermore, as a stereo image format, a pair of stereoscopically viewable left images and right images are not separate, but an integrated format has been proposed.

By the way, when outputting (displaying or printing) a stereo image, it is necessary to trim the stereo image due to limitations on the size of the output paper and the size of the display screen. When trimming a stereo image, it is important that the trimmed stereo image is maintained in a state that allows easy stereoscopic viewing.
JP 2002-287275 A

  However, as described above, when a stereo image having a format in which the left and right images are integrated is regarded as one image and trimmed, the following problem arises.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a region portion Tr having the same width is cut out (trimmed) from the center line of the original stereo image 3DI (O) in which the left image LI and the right image RI are integrated, and the region portion Tr Is directly used as a new stereo image 3DI (Tr). Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular region portion Tr having a predetermined shape is cut out with reference to the upper left corner C of the original stereo image 3DI (O) in which the left image LI and the right image RI are integrated. The rectangular area Tr is directly used as a new stereo image 3DI (Tr).

  When a stereo image in a format in which the left and right images are integrated as described above is trimmed as one image, the positional relationship between the subject in the left image and the right image divided by the center line of the trimmed stereo image 3DI (Tr) is determined. They are not relatively the same (see FIGS. 1 and 2). For this reason, the trimmed stereo image 3DI (Tr) is difficult to stereoscopically view.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and trims a stereo image in a format in which a pair of left and right images are integrated so that a state in which stereoscopic viewing is easy is maintained. A trimming processing device, a trimming processing method, and a trimming processing program are provided.

  A trimming processing device according to the present invention is a stereo image trimming processing device in a format in which a pair of left image and right image that can be viewed stereoscopically are integrated, and the stereo image is divided into a left image and a right image. Dividing means for cutting, image cutting means for cutting out relatively the same area portion from each of the left image and the right image obtained by the dividing means, and an area portion cut out from the left image and the right image And a synthesizing unit that generates a trimmed stereo image by synthesizing the region portion.

  With such a configuration, the same region portion is relatively cut out from the left image and the right image constituting the stereo image, and these region portions are combined to generate a trimmed stereo image.

  Further, in the trimming processing apparatus according to the present invention, the image cutout unit may select an area portion having the same width around the vertical reference line that passes through the same horizontal position of the left image and the right image as the left image. It can be set as the structure cut out from each of the said right image.

  With such a configuration, an area portion having the same width with a vertical reference line passing through the relatively same horizontal position of the left image and the right image as a center portion to be synthesized is the left image and the left image. Cut out from each of the.

  Further, in the trimming processing device according to the present invention, the image cutout means cuts out a rectangular region having the same shape with the same reference point as a corner of the left image and the right image from each of the left image and the right image. It can be configured.

  With such a configuration, a rectangular region having the same shape with the same reference point as a corner in the left image and the right image is cut out from each of the left image and the right image as a region portion to be synthesized.

  In the trimming apparatus according to the present invention, the combining unit may connect the region portion cut out from the left image and the region portion cut out from the right image without any gap.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain a trimmed stereo image in which the region portion cut out from the left image and the region portion cut out from the right image are connected without a gap.

  In this case, the width of the region portion cut out from the left image and the right image affects the parallax between the left image and the right image in the trimmed stereo image. Therefore, the width of the region portion cut out from the left image and the right image can be determined based on the ease of stereoscopic viewing of the trimmed stereo image.

  Further, in the trimming apparatus according to the present invention, the compositing means combines a connected image having a predetermined width between an area portion cut out from the left image and an area portion cut out from the right image. It can be configured.

  With such a configuration, a trimmed stereo image in which a connected image having a predetermined width is sandwiched between an area portion cut out from the left image and an area portion cut out from the right image is obtained.

  The width of the connected image affects the parallax between the left image and the right image in the trimmed stereo image. Accordingly, even when a region portion having an arbitrary width is cut out from each of the left image and the right image, the parallax between the trimmed stereo image and the right image is adjusted by adjusting the width of the connected image. It can be maintained properly.

  The trimming apparatus according to the present invention is based on the relative relationship between the stereo image, the left image, and the right image when the image cutout unit designates one of the region portions of the left image and the right image. A region designating unit that designates, in the other of the left image and the right image, a region portion that is relatively the same as the region portion of either the left image or the right image; and for each of the left image and the right image The designated region portion can be cut out from each of the left image and the right image.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to cut out relatively the same region portion from each of the left image and the right image only by designating the region portion in either the left image or the right image.

  A trimming processing method according to the present invention is a method for trimming a stereo image having a format in which a pair of a left image and a right image that are stereoscopically viewable are integrated, and the stereo image is divided into a left image and a right image. A segmentation step, an image segmentation step of segmenting relatively the same area portion from each of the left image and the right image obtained in the segmentation step, and an area segment segmented from the left image and the right image And a synthesizing step of generating a trimmed stereo image by synthesizing the region portions.

  A trimming processing program according to the present invention is a program that causes a computer to perform a trimming process of a stereo image in a format in which a pair of left and right images that can be stereoscopically viewed is integrated. A dividing step of dividing the left image and the right image, an image cutting step of cutting out a relatively same region portion from each of the left image and the right image obtained in the dividing step, and a region portion cut out of the left image Are combined with the region portion cut out from the right image to generate a trimmed stereo image, and the computer is executed.

  According to the trimming control device of the present invention, relatively the same region portion is cut out from the left image and the right image constituting the stereo image, and the trimmed stereo image is generated by combining these region portions. Therefore, it is possible to perform trimming of a stereo image in a format in which a pair of left image and right image are integrated so that a state in which stereoscopic viewing is easy is maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A printer system to which a trimming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied is configured as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the printer system includes a printer control device 10 and a printer engine 20 connected to a predetermined network N (for example, LAN). The printer control apparatus 10 includes a system control unit 11, a network interface 12, a spool 13, an imager 14, a disk control unit 15, a hard disk unit 16, and a printer control unit 17. The system control unit 11 controls the entire printer control apparatus 10. Image information received via the network N is buffered in the spool 13 via the network interface 12 under the control of the system control unit 11. Under the control of the system control unit 11, the imager 14 reads the image information buffered in the spool 13 and performs processing for generating an image to be output from the printer engine 20. Image information generated by the imager 14 is stored in the hard disk unit 16 via the disk control unit 15. The disk control unit 15 reads the image information stored in the hard disk unit 16 and sends it to the printer control unit 17. The printer control unit 17 transmits the image information received from the disk control unit 15 to the printer engine 20 under the control of the system control unit 10. The printer engine 20 prints out an image corresponding to the received image information.

  The printer control apparatus 10 having the above-described configuration may be built in the printer apparatus together with the printer engine 20 or may be built in a computer terminal such as a personal computer.

  The imager 14 is configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

  4, the imager 14 includes a parser object generation unit 141, an image processing unit 142, a character processing unit 143, an image processing module 144, a composite layout unit 145, and a raster generation unit 146. The parser object 141 generates graphic, character, and image objects by analyzing information (PDL) describing the appearance of the print image included in the received image information. The graphic processing unit 142 processes the graphic object from the parser object generation unit 141 according to a predetermined method, and the character processing unit 143 processes the character object from the parser object generation unit 141 according to a predetermined method. The image processing module 144 processes the raster data included in the received image data and the image object from the parser object generation unit 141 according to a predetermined method. The composition layout unit 145 synthesizes the processing results of the graphic processing unit 142, the character processing unit 143, and the image processing module 144 and lays them out in a predetermined format. The raster control unit 145 generates raster data that can be printed by the printer engine 146 from the data from the composite layout unit 145.

  Next, a stereo image trimming process will be described.

  This trimming process is mainly performed by the image processing module 144 of the imager 14. The image processing module 144 executes the trimming process according to the procedure shown in FIG. 5 according to the set program.

  In FIG. 5, the image processing module 144 that has received the raster data corresponding to the original stereo image 3DI (O) (see FIG. 6A) converts the original stereo image 3DI (O) into the left image LI and the right image RI. Divide (S1: refer to FIG. 6B). For example, the original stereo image 3DI (O) is divided into the left image LI and the right image RI by dividing the original stereo image 3DI (O) with a center line extending in the vertical direction from the center position in the horizontal direction as a boundary. be able to. The image processing module 144 determines a parameter for specifying a region portion to be cut out from each of the left image LI and the right RI (S2). This parameter specifies the relatively same region portion in each of the left image LI and the right image RI. This parameter may be set in advance in the image processing module 144 or set in a program (application), or may be set by an input operation of the operation unit by the user. 144 may be provided.

  The image processing module 144 cuts out relatively the same region portions Tr1 and Tr2 from the left image LI and the right image RI in accordance with the parameters set as described above. (S3: Refer to FIG. 6C). Then, the image information of the cut out region portions Tr1 and Tr2 is developed on an image memory (not shown) (see FIG. 6D). The image processing module 144 sets a synthesis condition for each of the region portions Tr1 and Tr2. This composition condition is such that the area portions Tr1 and Tr2 are directly connected, or a gap image area is sandwiched between the area portions Tr1 and Tr2, or the width, the color of the image area, etc. Can be included. Thereafter, the image processing module 144 combines the image information of each of the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 developed on the image memory according to the set combining condition, and generates a trimmed stereo image 3DI (Tr).

  According to the trimming process as described above, the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 cut out from the left image LI and the right image L2 are relatively at the same positions in the left image LI and the right image RI. Therefore, if the subject included in each of the left image LI and the right image RI is relatively at the same position in the left image LI and the right image RI, the subject included in the clipped region portions Tr1 and Tr2 is also a region portion. The position is relatively the same in Tr1 and Tr2. Therefore, the stereo image 3DI (Tr) generated by combining the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 is maintained in a state where it is easy to view stereoscopically.

  Further, a specific trimming mode will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, region portions Tr1 and Tr2 having the same width centered on vertical reference lines (center lines) CL1 and CL2 that pass through the centers of the left image L1 and the right image L2 that are relatively in the same horizontal position. It is cut out from each of the left image LI and the right image L2. Then, these region portions Tr1 and Tr2 are combined so as to be directly connected to generate a trimmed stereo image 3DI (Tr).

  In the example shown in FIG. 8, rectangular regions having the same shape with the left corner points P1 and P2 serving as the same reference points of the left image LI and the right image RI are cut out from the left image L1 and the right image RI, respectively. Region portions Tr1 and Tr2 to be determined. Then, the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 to be rectangular regions are combined to generate a trimmed stereo image 3DI (Tr).

  FIG. 9 shows a method for generating a trimmed stereo image 3DI (Tr) that is more easily stereoscopically viewed. When the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 cut out from the left image LI and the right image RI are directly connected, the distance A between the center lines of both the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 corresponds to the parallax in the stereo image 3DI (Tr). Accordingly, the widths of the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 to be cut out from the left image LI and the right image RI are determined so that a parallax that allows easy stereoscopic viewing is obtained in the combined stereo image 3DI (Tr). In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the distance between the left image (region portion Tr1) and the right image (region portion Tr2) (between the center lines) in the stereo image 3DI (Tr) after trimming that is easily stereoscopically viewed is A. In this case, an area having the same width A / 2 centered on vertical reference lines CL1 and CL2 (for example, a center line) passing through relatively the same horizontal position of the left image LI and the right image RI of the original stereo image 3DI (O). Portions Tr1 and Tr2 are cut out from the left image LI and the right image R2.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 cut out from the left image L1 and the right image RI are combined so that a margin image Iw having a width W is sandwiched between the region portions Tr1 and Tr2, and trimming is performed. A later stereo image 3DI (Tr) is generated. In this case, the blank image Iw may be a white single color, another single color, or some pattern. When the blank image Iw is sandwiched between the regions Tr1 and Tr2, the widths of the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 cut out from the left image LI and the right image RI are as follows.
(Output paper size-width of center margin image Iw (W)) / 2
Is set by

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 having an arbitrary width and an arbitrary height with respect to the center lines CL1 and CL2 of the left image LI and the right image RI are the left image LI and the right image RI. Cut out from each of the. In this case, according to the position of the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 in the left image LI and the right image RI, the distance D between the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 when the region portions Tr1 and Tr2 are combined is set. .

  In this way, when relatively same area portions Tr1 and Tr2 to be cut out from the left image LI and the right image RI divided from the original stereo image 3DI (O) are designated on the screen of the computer terminal, FIG. As shown, for example, when the region portion Tr2 is designated on the right image RI, the right image on the left image LI is based on the relative positional relationship among the original stereo image 3DI (O), the left image LI, and the right image RI. A region Tr1 that is relatively in the same position as the region portion Tr2 specified on the RI can be specified. In this way, it is easy to specify the area to be cut out.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, the system shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, the digital camera 110 is connected to the printer device 114 with a USB cable 116. The printer device 114 can capture image data from the memory device 112 set in the digital camera 110 via the USB cable 116. In addition, the printer device 114 includes a slot for the memory device 112. By setting the memory device 112 removed from the digital camera 110 in the slot, the image data stored in the memory device 112 can be captured. . The digital camera 110 has a normal shooting mode for obtaining a normal planar image and a stereo shooting mode for obtaining a stereo image composed of a pair of left and right images that can be stereoscopically viewed. A normal image and a stereo image obtained in the mode are recorded (stored) in the memory device 12 in the order of shooting. A stereo image is a single image in which a pair of left and right images that can be viewed stereoscopically are integrated. The normal image and the stereo image are in the form of an image file including tag information (Exif tag information). In such a system, trimming can be designated on the camera 110 side.

  The trimming processing apparatus according to the present invention has an effect that a stereo image in a format in which a pair of left and right images are integrated can be trimmed so that a state in which stereoscopic viewing is easy is maintained. The present invention is useful as a trimming processing device that trims a stereo image in a format in which a pair of visible left and right images are integrated to generate a new stereo image.

It is a figure which shows the method (the 1) of the conventional trimming. It is a figure which shows the technique (the 2) of the conventional trimming. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system to which a trimming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an imager of a printer control device in the printer system shown in FIG. 3. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which concerns on the trimming performed with an imager. It is a figure shown according to the image from which the flow of a trimming process is obtained. It is a figure which shows the example of the specific method of trimming (the 1). It is a figure which shows the example of the concrete technique of trimming (the 2). It is a figure which shows the example of the specific method of trimming (the 3). It is a figure which shows the example of the concrete method of trimming (the 4). It is a figure which shows the example of the specific method of trimming (the 5). It is a figure which shows an example of the designation | designated method of the area | region part which should be cut out (to be trimmed) from the left image and the right image. It is a figure which shows one structural example of the system which can apply this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer control apparatus 11 System control part 12 Network interface 13 Spool 14 Imager 15 Disk control part 16 Hard disk unit 17 Printer control part 20 Printer engine 141 Parser object generation part 142 Graphic processing part 143 Character processing part 144 Image processing module 145 Composite layout part 146 Raster generator

Claims (8)

A stereo image trimming processing device in a format in which a pair of left image and right image that can be stereoscopically viewed are integrated,
Dividing means for dividing the stereo image into a left image and a right image;
Image cutout means for cutting out the same region portion relatively from each of the left image and the right image obtained by the dividing means;
A trimming processing apparatus comprising: a synthesizing unit that synthesizes a region portion cut out from the left image and a region portion cut out from the right image to generate a trimmed stereo image. 2. The image cutting means cuts out an area portion having the same width from each of the left image and the right image with a vertical reference line passing through a relatively horizontal position of the left image and the right image as the center. Trimming device. 2. The trimming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image cutout unit cuts out a rectangular region having the same shape with a corner at a relatively same reference point as the left image and the right image from each of the left image and the right image. 4. The trimming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesizing unit connects an area portion cut out from the left image and an area portion cut out from the right image without any gap. 5. The composition unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition unit composes a connected image having a predetermined width between an area portion cut out from the left image and an area portion cut out from the right image. Trimming device. The image cutout means is configured to select either the left image or the right image based on a relative relationship between the stereo image, the left image, and the right image when any one of the left image and the right image is designated. An area designating unit that designates the same area part as the other of the left image and the right image,
The trimming processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a region portion designated in each of the left image and the right image is cut out from each of the left image and the right image. A method for trimming a stereo image in a format in which a pair of left image and right image that can be viewed stereoscopically are combined,
A dividing step of dividing the stereo image into a left image and a right image;
An image cutout step of cutting out relatively the same region portion from each of the left image and the right image obtained in the dividing step;
A trimming method comprising: a synthesizing step of synthesizing an area portion cut out from the left image and an area portion cut out from the right image to generate a trimmed stereo image. A program for causing a computer to execute a trimming process of a stereo image in a format in which a pair of left image and right image that can be stereoscopically viewed are integrated,
A dividing step of dividing the stereo image into a left image and a right image;
An image cutout step of cutting out relatively the same region portion from each of the left image and the right image obtained in the dividing step;
A synthesizing step for synthesizing a region portion cut out from the left image and a region portion cut out from the right image to generate a trimmed stereo image, and a trimming processing program executed by the computer.

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