JP2005321908A - Character string arranging device, character string arranging method, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character string arranging device or thr like for easily synthesizing a character string with an image. <P>SOLUTION: When a character string is displayed at a blank 39 part of an image 35, each time the character string is inputted to a text area 45, a character string arranging device displays a character string arrangeable region 51-2 where the character string is displayable by using different colors or the like. Each time the character string is inputted, the character string arrangeable region 51-2 is updated. When the character string input is decided, the character string is displayed on an image 35, and when the position of the character string is moved by an operator, and moved to an undisplayable region, the character string arranging device automatically moves and displays the character string in a character string arrangement region in the shortest distance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character string arrangement device that performs image editing processing, and more specifically, a character string arrangement device that has a function of combining an input character string with an image in real time and reflecting it on a display device About.

  In recent years, an image editing method for inserting a character string into an image of an arbitrary shape by an application tool such as “image editing software” in a personal computer, rearranging a plurality of arranged character strings, and storing the character strings in an image It is considered.

  As one of such methods, Patent Document 1 discloses an image editing method for arranging a character string in an area of an arbitrary shape, and an image editing method for forming an image in which a sentence and a figure (such as an illustration) are combined is disclosed. . In this image editing method, as described in paragraph [0004] and the like, when an operator designates the layout position of a sketch drawing on the editing screen and instructs the composition of the explanatory text and the sketch drawing, image editing is performed. As a process, a character movement process is performed for checking whether or not there is an overlap between the explanatory text and the sketch for each character cell (dot matrix for one character), shifting the character overlapping the sketch to the line direction, and making a line break if necessary. Thus, an operation is performed so that an image of one page in which an explanatory note is arranged around the sketch is created. At the same time, the image editing method is described in detail in paragraph numbers [0010] to [0016].

  Patent Document 2 discloses a method for automating the assignment work of material data such as texts and photographs to be published on paper when performing catalog layout using a computer system, and facilitating fine adjustment after assignment. An apparatus is disclosed.

  In this apparatus, as described in paragraph [0009] and the like, there is image data and character data particularly associated by a database, and priority is given to either an image or a character for an area of arbitrary shape. And layout.

  At this time, if both the images do not fit in the area of the arbitrary shape, the computer operates so as to warn the operator. At the same time, the system is described in detail in paragraph numbers [0067] to [0069].

JP-A-6-243225 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-194819

  However, in the image editing system described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to arrange a character string in an area of an arbitrary shape. However, in order to perform arrangement in units of character cells (dot matrix for one character) in particular, There is a problem in that it is difficult to finely adjust the arrangement position of the character string because the moving distance of the character string of one unit is large.

  Further, in the character / image allocation device described in Patent Document 2, a technique for automatically arranging image data and character data in an area of an arbitrary shape is disclosed, but a detailed layout of characters and images is disclosed. There is a problem that it is difficult to apply.

  In addition, if the margin portion of the image data cannot be used, and if the margin portion is used, it is necessary to make a correction by trimming the image data once, etc., which increases the labor burden and the like. Etc. cannot be easily put in the image.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a character string arrangement device or the like that easily combines a character string or the like with an image.

  A first invention for achieving the above-described object is a character string arranging device that arranges a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area, and indicates an area in which editing is not permitted in the image. Non-editable area calculating means for calculating the non-editable area, character string area calculating means for calculating a character string area that is an area occupied by the character string, and in the display area, the character string area and the non-editable area are: A character string arranging device comprising: a dispositionable area calculating unit that calculates a dispositionable area that is a region in which the character string can be disposed by calculating a non-overlapping area, and displays the recognizable area. It is.

The display area indicates an area for displaying an image, a character string, and the like, and indicates an entire screen of the display device or a display area specified in an application.
An image is an image including a photographic image, an illustration image, a logo mark, or the like. For example, a photographic image is divided into a subject portion and a margin portion, and a character string is arranged so that the subject portion is not editable and does not overlap the subject portion.
The non-editable area is an area that does not allow character superposition, composition processing, and the like. For example, in the case of a photographic image, it is a subject part, and in the case of an illustration image, it is an illustration part.
The character string is a concept including a lexical word, a number, a symbol, a code, and the like, and an image for synthesis such as an image or an illustration of a predetermined shape as well as the character string.
The character string area is an area occupied by the character string. For example, the character string area is a rectangular area containing the character string for each line or a combined area of the rectangular areas for each character.
The placeable area is an area where the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap, and is an area where the character string can be placed. The display color of the arrangementable area may be displayed in a different color from other colors, or may be hatched to distinguish it from other areas so that it can be identified.

  The character string arrangement device according to the first invention calculates an uneditable area indicating an area where editing is not permitted in an image displayed in the display area, and calculates a character string area which is an area occupied by the input character string. Then, by calculating an area where the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap with each other, an allocable area that is an area where the character string can be arranged is calculated, and the allocable area is displayed so as to be identifiable by color display or the like.

  Further, the character string arrangement device may acquire an image to which information related to the non-editable area is added in advance, instead of calculating the non-editable area from the acquired image. In this case, it is not necessary to calculate the non-editable area in the character string arrangement device.

  In addition, it is desirable that the character string arrangement device calculates a character string area and calculates and displays an arrangement possible area for each input of each character constituting the character string.

  In addition, when the character string area does not fall within the range of the arrangeable area, the character string arrangement device desirably moves the character string area within the range of the arrangeable area. In this case, the character string arrangement device may calculate a movement destination that minimizes the distance required for movement, and move the character string area to the movement destination.

Further, the character string arrangement device may calculate the character string region based on the height and width of each character constituting the character string.
For example, the character string placement device may calculate a character string region by creating a rectangular region containing a character string for each line, or create a rectangular region containing the character for each character. The character string area may be calculated.
Further, the character string arranging device scans the pixels on the display area while judging the arrangement of the character string area, and the character string arranging device performs the scanning in the display area when there is no overlapping portion between the character string area and the non-editable area. It is desirable that the union of the areas occupied by the character string area is the placeable area.

In the first invention, the character string arranging device shows an image area in which the character string can be arranged in real time for each character input. Can be easily synthesized and edited.
Moreover, since the character string arrangement device automatically arranges the input character string in an area where the character string can be arranged, the labor of the operator can be reduced.

  A second invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a character string arranging device that arranges a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area, wherein the editing indicates an area in which editing is not permitted in the image In the non-editable area calculating means for calculating the non-editable area, the character string area calculating means for calculating the character string area which is the area occupied by the character string, and the character string area and the non-editable area overlap in the display area. This is a program that functions as an allocable area calculating unit that calculates an allocable area, which is an area where the character string can be laid, by calculating an area that should not be.

  A third invention is a computer-readable recording medium recording a program that causes a computer to function as a character string arranging device that arranges a character string including at least one character together with an image in a display area. In the edit area, the non-editable area calculating means for calculating the non-editable area indicating the area where editing is not permitted, the character string area calculating means for calculating the character string area that is the area occupied by the character string, and the character string in the display area A computer-readable recording medium storing a program that functions as an allocable area calculating unit that calculates an allocable area that is an area where the character string can be laid out by calculating an area where the area and the non-editable area do not overlap. It is a recording medium.

The second invention is an invention relating to a program for causing a computer to function as the character string arranging device of the first invention.
The third invention is an invention relating to a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function as the character string arranging device of the first invention is recorded.
Note that the above program may be distributed by being held on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or the program can be transmitted and received via a communication line.

  A fourth invention is a character string arrangement method for arranging a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area, wherein the editable area for calculating an uneditable area indicating an area that is not permitted to be edited in the image is calculated. An area calculating step, a character string area calculating step for calculating a character string area that is an area occupied by the character string, and calculating an area where the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap in the display area. An arrangement possible area calculating step of calculating an arrangement possible area that is an area in which the character string can be arranged.

  4th invention is the invention regarding the character string arrangement | positioning method in the character string arrangement | positioning apparatus of 1st invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the character string arrangement | positioning apparatus etc. which synthesize | combine a character string easily to an image can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a character string arrangement device 1 according to the present embodiment.

(1. Configuration)
(1-1. Configuration of Character String Arrangement Device 1)
The character string arranging device 1 includes a control unit 3 including a central processing unit (CPU), a storage unit 5 such as a ROM, a RAM, and an HDD, a communication unit 7 such as a modem or a LAN board connected to a network, a printer, and the like. A printing unit 9, a display unit 11 such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display device, an input unit 13 such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a microphone, and a media input / output unit 15 that reads and writes image information and the like via media. These are connected to each other by a bus 17. The character string arrangement device 1 is a device such as a computer, and operates by starting an execution program (application program) stored in the storage unit 5 or the like.

  Although not shown, the media input / output unit 15 includes an image acquisition device such as a digital camera that acquires image information, a device that accesses portable media such as a flexible disk, and an external storage that stores the acquired image and the like. Devices etc. are connected.

(1-2. Configuration of Storage Unit 5)
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the storage unit 5 of the character string arrangement device 1. The storage unit 5 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 19 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 21. The ROM 19 is a read-only storage unit and is an OS (Operating System) that is software for managing the entire system.
System) 25, an execution program 23, and the like are stored. The RAM 21 is a readable / writable storage unit, and includes an area for storing image data 27, work data 29 at the time of program execution, and the like in the present embodiment.

  Although an example in which the execution program 23, OS 25, etc. are recorded in the ROM 19 in the recording unit 5 is shown, of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and portable media such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM, HDD, etc. Even if it is stored in the external storage device or the like, the invention according to this embodiment can be realized.

(2. About the operation of the character string placement application)
In the character string arrangement device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the execution program 23 of the character string arrangement application stored in the storage unit 5 is started, the control unit 3 displays the FIG. 3 on the display unit 11 such as a liquid crystal display device. The character string arrangement application window 31 shown in (a) is displayed. The control unit 3 may load an execution program 23 stored in a portable medium, an external storage device, or the like into the RAM 21 and execute it.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, an application end button 46 for ending the application, an image display area 33, a text area 45, an OK button 47, and the like are arranged in the character string arrangement application window 31.

  In the image display area 33, an image 35 on the network acquired via the communication unit 7 or an image 35 acquired from a portable medium or an external storage device via the media input / output unit 15 is displayed.

  If the image 35 described in the present embodiment is, for example, a photographic image, the image 35 is divided into a subject 37 portion and a margin 39 portion. It is assumed that the character string input to the text area 45 is arranged in the margin 39.

  As will be described later, the image display area 33 and the upper left of the image 35 are aligned, and the upper left of the image display area 33 is used as a reference point, the coordinate axis X41 in the horizontal direction and the coordinate axis Y43 in the vertical direction, and the coordinate unit is Assume that the dot position in the image 35 is designated as a dot.

  FIGS. 3B and 3C are diagrams showing how characters are arranged on the image 35 when characters or the like are input to the text area 45. FIG. 3B shows a character string area 49-1 in which “Ai” is arranged at the upper left of the image 35 when two characters “Ai” are input, and “Ai” can be arranged at the same time. The character allocable area 51-1 is displayed with a different display color or the like (in FIG. 3B, the character allocable area 51-1 is indicated by hatching).

  As the input character string increases by one character, “Ai” + “U” + “E”..., The character string is displayed in the character string area 49-2 as shown in FIG. The possible area 51-2 is smaller than the area shown in FIG.

  The operator can move the character string area 49-2 within the range of the character arrangement possible area 51-2 by dragging and dropping the character string area 49-2 to a desired position on the screen 35. Further, as will be described later, in the present embodiment, when the area where the character string is moved deviates from the character arrangement possible area 51-2, the character arrangement at the position closest to the upper left coordinates of the character string area 49-2 is possible. The area 51-2 has a function of automatically moving the character string area 49-2.

(3. Processing procedure)
(3-1. Main processing procedure)
Next, a processing procedure of the character string arrangement device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Note that FIGS. 11 to 19 are flowcharts for explaining the flowcharts.
Further, the character string arranging device 1 loads a program (execution program 23, OS 25 program, etc.) stored in the storage unit 5 (HDD or the like) onto the RAM 21 and controls the following under the control of the CPU (control unit 3). Execute each step.

  FIG. 4 shows a main processing procedure of the character string arrangement device 1 of the present embodiment. First, the control unit 3 of the character string arrangement device 1 performs initial setting information acquisition processing 1000 such as image acquisition. Details will be described later. When the initial setting information acquisition process 1000 ends, the control unit 3 performs event monitoring 2000.

  The event monitoring 2000 is to monitor an operation obtained from the input unit 13 such as a mouse or a keyboard. When the application end button 46 shown in FIG. 3 is clicked, the event monitoring 2000 ends, and the character string arrangement application ends. Details will be described later.

(3-2. Initial setting information acquisition process)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the initial setting information acquisition process 1000. First, the operator activates a character string arrangement application in the character string arrangement device 1 of the present embodiment. The control unit 3 appropriately loads the execution program 23 of the character string arrangement application stored in the ROM 19 of the storage unit 5 into the RAM 21 and executes it. The execution program 23 may be stored in a portable medium or an external recording device.

  The control unit 3 displays a character string arrangement application window 31 shown in FIG. 3A on the display unit 11 such as a liquid crystal display device. When the operator designates an image 35 that is a base for inputting and synthesizing a character string (the description of the designation method of the image 35 is omitted), the control unit 3 acquires the designated image 35 (step 1001), and The upper left of the image 35 is aligned and displayed on the upper left of the image display area 33 of the character string arrangement application window 31. That is, the reference point 53 (0, 0) (shown in FIG. 11) of the image 35 is matched with the reference point (0, 0) of the coordinates of the image display area 33.

  The image 35 is stored in the storage unit 5, a portable medium, an external recording device, or the like. The image 35 may be read from the communication unit 7 via a network.

  FIG. 11 shows the acquired image 35. The image 35 is composed of a subject 37 portion and a margin 39 portion. In the present embodiment, the character string is prevented from overlapping the subject 37 portion, and the character string is arranged in the margin 39 portion.

  In FIG. 11, assuming that the upper left pixel of the image 35 is the reference point 53 (0, 0) and the lower right pixel of the image 35 is the diagonal point 54, the X coordinate of the diagonal point 54 indicates the image width 55. Max_X, and the Y coordinate is Max_Y indicating the image height 56. The control unit 3 stores the data of the image width 55 (Max_X) and the image height 56 (Max_Y) as work data 29 in the storage unit 5 (RAM 21) (step 1002).

  For example, if the image is VGA (640 × 480), Max_X = 640 and Max_Y = 480 are obtained. For a photographic image of about 2 million pixels (for example, 1600 × 1200), Max_X = 1600 and Max_Y = 1200 are obtained.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 3 converts the subject 37 portion into bit information “1” and the margin 39 portion into bit information [0] for all the pixels of the image 35, 27 is stored in the RAM 21 of the storage unit 5 (step 1003).

  Regarding the above-described processing for converting image data into bit information, a technique is disclosed in which the bit information of the subject portion is [1], the bit information of the margin portion is [0], and the like. Can be used (see JP 2003-224819 A).

  In addition, in the case of an image shot with a camera or the like that employs the above technique, since the bit information of the subject portion is [1] and the bit information of the margin portion is [0] in the camera or the like, The conversion processing in the character string arrangement device 1 is not necessary.

  The control unit 3 ends the initial setting information acquisition processing 1000 and proceeds to the event monitoring 2000 step.

(3-3. Event monitoring)
An operation obtained from the input unit 13 such as a mouse or a keyboard is defined as an event. The control unit 3 monitors events, that is, waits for input. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the event monitoring 2000.

  When an event occurs (step 2001), the control unit 3 reads the event information, and when the event is “application end”, that is, when the application end button 46 is clicked in FIG. 3 (YES in step 2002). The event being processed is interrupted (step 2003), and the application is terminated.

  When the event is other than “application end”, for example, when a character is input to the text area 45, the OK button 47 is clicked, or a character string is moved (NO in step 2002), the control unit 3 has already started the event processing. If it is medium (YES in step 2004), the event processing is interrupted (step 2005), and the process proceeds to the step of event processing 3000. If the event process is not in operation (NO in step 2004), the process proceeds to the event process 3000 step.

  Note that the event monitoring shown in FIG. 6 is executed as a thread (or process) separate from the event processing 3000, and the control unit 3 always monitors the occurrence of an event.

  Therefore, even if the step moves to the event processing 3000 and the event processing shown in FIG. 7 is executed, when the control unit 3 detects the occurrence of the event in the event monitoring thread (or process), the step moves to the event generation 2001 step. .

  In this way, when the event monitoring thread (or process) and the event processing thread (or process) are simultaneously executed and the control unit 3 detects an event occurrence in the event monitoring thread (or process), the control unit 3 In the event monitoring step 2005 shown in FIG. 6, the already executed event processing is interrupted, and in step 3000, a new event processing is executed again.

  As described above, since the latest character string area can be reflected on the image by allowing an interrupt during the execution of the event processing thread (or process), real-time display is possible.

(3-3-0. Event processing)
Next, a flowchart of the event process 3000 shown in FIG. 7 will be described. When the event process 3000 is started, the control unit 3 first performs a character string shape data acquisition process 4000. Although details will be described with reference to FIG. 8, the input character string is calculated as a rectangular area for each line, and the shape of the character string including at least one line is acquired as data obtained by synthesizing the rectangular area.

  Next, the control unit 3 performs an arrangement area display process 5000. Although details will be described with reference to FIG. 9, an area where the input character string can be arranged (character arrangement area 51 shown in FIG. 3) is displayed.

  If a character string is continuously input (step 3001: character string input), the process returns to the character string shape data acquisition process 4000. The process of steps 4000 and 5000 is repeated each time a character string is input. The shape data acquisition and the arrangement area display are updated.

  When the input of the character string is completed and the OK button 47 is clicked by the operator (step 3001: OK button click), the control unit 3 performs a character string layout arrangement process 6000. Details will be described with reference to FIG. When the character string layout arrangement processing 6000 ends, the control unit 3 ends the event processing 3000 and returns to the event monitoring 2000.

(3-3-1. Character string shape data acquisition processing)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of character string shape data acquisition processing 4000. When an event occurs in the text area 45 shown in FIG. 3A, the control unit 3 reads the input character string and acquires the shape of the character string as data. The events in the text area 45 are operations such as character input, input character confirmation, character size change, format change, and line feed. When the input mode is direct input, it is determined for each character. When the input mode is other than direct mode, it is determined when the dotted line below the character disappears. Shall be obtained.

  FIG. 13 shows the first line (i = 1) of the character string input to the text area 45. The value of j indicates how many characters the character is from the beginning of the line. Even if the size of a plurality of characters included in one line varies, it is assumed that rectangular data is obtained for each line of the character string. That is, the character having the highest character height among the characters constituting one line is set as the height of the rectangular data for one line of the character string, and the total character width for one line is set as the width of the rectangular data for one line of the character string. To do.

  For example, in the character string shown in FIG. 13, when the row reference point 57 of the row (i = 1) is (0, 0), the diagonal point becomes a coordinate indicating the row size 59, and the X coordinate of the diagonal point is set to Row_Width, The Y coordinate is defined as Row_Height. “Row” means “of line”. As shown in FIG. 15 to be described later, Row_Width indicates a row width 67 and Row_Height indicates a row maximum height 69. The coordinate unit of the text area 45 is a dot (minimum unit for reproducing an image), and the unit of data (line width 67, maximum line height 69, etc.) is also a dot.

FIG. 14 shows character string data 60 composed of a plurality of lines as a character string is further input while a line feed is made. FIG. 14 shows character string data 60 consisting of three lines, the line widths 67 of the _first , _second and third lines are W ₀ , W ₁ and W ₂ , respectively, and the maximum line height of the _first , _second and third lines. 69 is H ₀ , H ₁ , H ₂ , respectively. Further, the maximum character string width 61 as the character string data 60 is defined as Max_Width, and the character string height 63 is defined as Total_Height.

As will be described later, the data (W ₀ , W ₁ , W ₂ , H ₀ , H ₁ , H ₂ , Max_Width, Total_Height, etc.) is calculated according to the flowchart of the character string shape data acquisition process 4000 in FIG. 15 is stored in the RAM 21 of the storage unit 5 as work data 29 shown in FIG.

  The character string shape data acquisition processing 4000 in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to a flowchart. First, the control unit 3 sets i = 1 (first line), j = 1 (first character) as initial values, the cumulative character width per line: Width = 0, and the maximum line height: Hight = 0. (Step 4001). Note that Width shown in FIG. 8 is Row_Width (row width 67) of FIGS. 15 and 16, and High is Row_Height (row maximum height 69).

  The control unit 3 acquires the i-th and j-th character information (step 4002). For example, the first line (i = 1) and the first (j = 1) character “A” shown in FIG. 13 have information on the character width w and the height h. Furthermore, information such as the font type of the character and the presence / absence of editing may be acquired.

  The height h of the acquired character information and the maximum height of the line: Height are compared. If Height <h (YES in step 4003), the height is replaced with the value of h (step 4004), and step 4005. Proceed to If Height ≧ h (NO in step 4003), the value of Height is not changed and the process proceeds to step 4005.

  Next, when the input character is a line feed code (YES in Step 4005), the control unit 3 obtains the character string of the i-th row as rectangular data and sets the array Row [i] = (Width, Height). Then, it is stored in the storage unit 5 as work data 29 shown in FIG. 15 (step 4006). That is, for each row 65 (i), a row width 67 (Row_Width) and a row maximum height 69 (Row_Height) are stored. For example, the row width 67 of the first row is 30 (dots), and the row maximum height 69 is 10 (dots).

  In FIG. 15, the line width 67 (Row_Width) and the maximum line height 69 (Row_Height) correspond to the X coordinate (Row_Width) and Y coordinate (Row_Height) of the row size 59 shown in FIG. Even for the configured lines, each line is converted into one rectangular data.

  Next, the control unit 3 initializes the row width and the row maximum height for each row. That is, Width = 0 and Height = 0. Further, one row is added (i = i + 1), j = 0 is set (step 4007), and the process proceeds to step 4010.

  On the other hand, if the input character is not a line feed code in step 4005 (NO in step 4005), that is, if a character is input, the character width w is added to the cumulative width of characters (line width 67), Update as line width 67: Width = Width + w (step 4008).

  The control unit 3 obtains an array Row [i] = (Width, Height) as rectangular data of the character string in the i-th row (step 4009). Further, the control unit 3 updates the data (i, Row_Width, Row_Height) in FIG. 15 and stores it in the work data 29 of the storage unit 5, and proceeds to Step 4010.

  In step 4010, if there is a next character in the text area 45 (YES in step 4010), the control unit 3 executes j = j + 1 (step 4011), and repeats the processing from step 4002 for the next character.

  When there is no next character in the text area 45 (NO in step 4010), the control unit 3 stores the maximum value of the line width 67 (Row_Width) shown in FIG. 15 as Max_Width as work data 29 in the storage unit 5 ( Step 4012). For example, in FIG. 15, Max_Width is 50 (dots) in the case of Row (2) in the second row.

  Next, the control unit 3 stores the sum of the row maximum height 69 (Row_Height) shown in FIG. 15 as work data 29 in the storage unit 5 as Total_High (step 4013). For example, in FIG. 15, Total_High = 10 + 18 + 12 = 40 (dots). As described above, the character string shape data acquisition process 4000 is terminated, and the process proceeds to the arrangement area display process 5000 shown in FIG.

(3-3-2. Arrangeable area display processing)
FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the arrangeable area display processing 5000. As shown in FIG. 3B, the arrangeable area display processing 5000 calculates an area (character arrangeable area 51-1) in which a character string input to the text area 45 can be arranged, and displays a color or the like. This is a process of changing and displaying. Each time a character is input, the character arrangement possible area 51-1 is updated. That is, as the area occupied by the character string data expands, the area where characters can be arranged is reduced.

  The flowchart of FIG. 9 is based on the image data 27 (FIG. 12) of the image 35 obtained in the initial setting information acquisition process 1000. First, the character string data 60 to be synthesized is the subject 37 portion (that is, the dot data is [1]. ] In order from the reference point 53 (0, 0). Next, if the character string data 60 can be arranged, the coordinates where the upper left of the character string data 60 is arranged, the X coordinate 83 and the Y coordinate 85, are set as Flag_X and Flag_Y in the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 of FIG. Store it.

  The flowchart of FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the control unit 3 sets x = 0 and y = 0 as initial values (step 5001). That is, the processing starts from the reference point 53 (0, 0) of the image data 27 in FIG. It is determined whether or not the image data 27 of the coordinates (x, y) is [0]. If it is not [0] (that is, when the dot is the subject 37 portion) (NO in step 5002), the coordinate axis X direction The scanning is advanced to x = x + 1 (step 5008), and the process proceeds to step 5009.

  If the image data 27 at the coordinates (x, y) is [0], that is, if the image data 27 is a margin 39 portion (YES in step 5002), the entire dot constituting the character string data 60 to be synthesized is the margin 39 portion. It moves to the process which determines whether it can arrange | position to.

  Based on the coordinates (x, y), the row width 67 (Row_Width) and the row maximum height 69 (Row_Height) for each row (i) 65 shown in FIG. 15, the arrangement position information of the character string data 60 shown in FIG. Is calculated and stored in the storage unit 5 (step 5003).

  Next, based on the arrangement position information of FIG. 16, the control unit 3 determines the dots of the entire character string data 60 from the upper left coordinates (x, y), the line width 67, and the line maximum height 69 information of the character string data 60. Is obtained and registered as bit information 75 and stored in the storage unit 5 (step 5004). That is, the image data 27 ([0] or [1]) at the position where the character string data 60 is arranged is obtained as the bit information 75 [000001110001...], And if the bit information 75 is all [0] (step (YES in 5005), it is determined that the upper left coordinate 77 of the character string data 60 can be arranged at the coordinate (x, y).

  The control unit 3 registers the coordinate 77 (x, y) in the X coordinate 83 and the Y coordinate 85 of the character string arrangement possible coordinate list 81 of FIG. 18 (step 5006). If the coordinate 77 (x, y) is at the position shown in FIG. 17, the character string data 60-1 can be arranged, and the range occupied by all the dots of the character string data 60-1 (character string) The color of the hatched portion indicating the data 60-1) is changed and displayed (step 5007). Alternatively, the corresponding area may be shaded.

  Next, the control unit 3 advances scanning in the direction of the coordinate axis X, sets x = x + 1 (step 5008), and proceeds to step 5009.

  On the other hand, if at least one [1] is included in the bit information 75 in step 5005 (NO in step 5005), for example, the character string is the subject 37 as in the position of the character string data 60-2 in FIG. Since it is applied to the portion (because part or all of the character string overlaps the subject 37 portion), it is determined that the character string cannot be arranged at the position of the coordinates (x, y). The control unit 3 advances scanning in the direction of the coordinate axis X, sets x = x + 1 (step 5008), and proceeds to step 5009. Note that the character string data 60-2 and 60-3 in FIG. 17 are shown for explaining the calculation of the arrangementable area, and are actually displayed as shown in FIG. Do not mean.

  Next, if the value of the coordinate x is x> Max_X-Max_Width (YES in Step 5009), the X coordinate is set to 0 and scanning is advanced in the direction of the coordinate axis Y (x = 0, y = y + 1) (Step 5010). If the value of the coordinate x is not x> Max_X-Max_Width, the process returns to Step 5002.

  Following step 5010, if the value of the coordinate y is y> Max_Y-Total_Height (YES in step 5011), the placement area display processing 5000 is terminated, and if the value of the coordinate y is not y> Max_Y-Total_Height, step Return to 5002. That is, the final scanning position determined by step 5009 and step 5011 is the position of the coordinate 79 shown in FIG.

  When the upper left coordinate (x, y) of the character string data 60 is scanned on the image data 27, the value of the arrangement position information in FIG. 16 is updated each time scanning is performed. Further, the character string allocable coordinate list 81 (FIG. 18) includes an X coordinate 83, every time a character string allocable position is obtained (that is, every time the bit information 75 in step 5005 is all [0]). The number of data of the Y coordinate 85 increases.

  When the arrangement area display processing 5000 is completed, the processing returns to FIG. 7. When the character string input is continued (step 3001: character string input), the character string shape data acquisition processing 4000 is repeated. When the character string input is completed and the OK button 47 is clicked (step 3001: OK button click), the control unit 3 moves to a character string layout arrangement process 6000. As shown in the event monitoring 2000 in FIG. 6, the event processing 3000 in FIG. 7 can be interrupted, and a new event processing 3000 is performed each time a character string is input.

(3-3-3. Character String Layout Arrangement Processing)
Next, the character string layout arrangement process 6000 shown in FIG. 10 will be described. The character string layout arrangement process 6000 is a function for displaying the character string data 60 on the image 35 as shown in FIG. Further, when the operator drags and drops the character string data 60 with a mouse or the like and moves it to a position outside the character arrangement possible area, for example, if the character string data 60-3 is placed at the position of the coordinate 89 in FIG. This is a function for automatically moving and displaying the character string data 60-4 at the closest possible character placement position.

  First, the control unit 3 displays the upper left coordinate of the character string data 60 in alignment with the coordinates of the first row of the character string arrangement possible coordinate list 81 shown in FIG. 18 (that is, coordinates (0, 0)) (FIG. 19). See step 6001).

  When the OK button 47 for determining the arrangement position of the displayed character string data is clicked (YES in step 6002), the control unit 3 ends the character string layout arrangement processing 6000 and returns to the event monitoring 2000 standby state. .

  The control unit 3 monitors the upper left coordinate 89 (a, b) of the character string data at regular time intervals (step 6003). That is, it is monitored at regular intervals whether or not the character string data has been moved on the image 35.

  When the coordinates (x, y) = (a, b), that is, when the character string data is not moved (YES in step 6004), the process returns to step 6002 to continue monitoring the character string movement.

  When the coordinates (x, y) = (a, b) is not satisfied, that is, when the character string data is moved on the image 35 (NO in step 6004), the control unit 3 controls the upper left of the character string data 60 after the movement. It is determined whether or not the coordinates 89 (a, b) are in the character string arrangement possible coordinate list 81 (FIG. 18). The fact that the upper left coordinate 89 (a, b) of the character string data 60 is in the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 indicates that the character string data 60 can be arranged at the position.

  If the upper left coordinate 89 (a, b) of the character string data 60 is present in the character string disposition-possible coordinate list 81 (YES in step 6005), the control unit 3 keeps the character string data 60 at that position and the image 35. Displayed above (step 6006), the process returns to step 6002.

If there is no upper left coordinate 89 (a, b) of the character string data 60 in the character string arrangeable coordinate list 81 (NO in step 6005), the control unit 3 determines the coordinate 89 (a, b) and the character string arrangeable coordinate list. Length 87 is calculated from all the coordinates (Flag_X, Flag_Y) displayed in 81 (see FIG. 18). The control unit 3 calculates the Length 87 using the following formula (1) as a numerical index indicating the distance between the coordinates 89 (a, b) and the coordinates (Flag_X, Flag_Y).
Length = (Flag_X−a) ² + (Flag_Y−b) ² (1)

  Further, the control unit 3 extracts the coordinates (x, y) in the character string disposition-possible coordinate list 81 that minimizes the Length 87 (Step 6007).

  As shown in FIG. 19, the control unit 3 displays the character string data 60-3 with a dotted line at the position of coordinates 89 (a, b) (step 6008). The character string data 60-3 is indicated by a dotted line in the sense that it cannot be placed at this position because it overlaps the subject 37.

  The control unit 3 moves the character string data 60-4 to the position of the coordinates (x, y) of the character string disposition-possible coordinate list 81 where the length 87 is the minimum as shown in FIG. 6009), and returns to Step 6002. That is, when the position where the character string data 60 has been moved by the operator overlaps the subject 37, the control unit 3 automatically sets the character string to the position of the character arrangement possible area 51 (FIG. 19) where the movement distance is minimized. The data 60 is moved and displayed.

  The operator can consider the position where the character string data 60 once moved and arranged on the image 35 is dragged and dropped with the mouse repeatedly until the “OK button” 47 in step 6002 is clicked. it can.

  In the present embodiment, in the step of the arrangeable area display processing 5000, the color display and the hatched display of the arrangeable area are performed while inputting the character string. The character string data 60 may be displayed at the coordinate position of the first line of the possible coordinate list 81.

  In the present invention, the arrangement position of the character string is automatically moved so that the character string does not overlap the portion of the subject 37 of the image 35. However, the image area where the operator prohibits the character string arrangement is It may be arbitrarily specified.

  Moreover, what is arranged on the image 35 is not limited to a character string, and may be another small image, an illustration, a symbol, or the like. As in the case of the character string, an area that can be arranged on the image 35 is calculated, and small images, illustrations, symbols, and the like are automatically arranged in the arrangementable area.

  In the present invention, the character string or the like is directly input to the text area 45 by the operator. However, the character string or the like may be read from the file data into the text area 45.

  Further, in the present invention, the character arrangement possible region is displayed avoiding the subject 37 portion of the image 35. However, for example, the color information (RGB component) of the pixel of the image 35 is acquired, and the R component is equal to or less than a certain value. Various application methods are conceivable for the method for setting the character arrangeable area, such as making the pixel portion of this area a character arrangeable area.

  In the above description, the character string arrangement device calculates a character string area by creating a rectangular area containing a character string for each line. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a rectangular area containing the character may be created for each character, and a union of the rectangular areas may be calculated as a character string area. Further, not only a rectangular area but also an area having various shapes according to the form of each character may be used as a character string area. It may be.

(4. Effects, etc.)
As described above, the present embodiment has an effect that the image 35 and the character string can be easily combined and edited while inputting the character string or the like and confirming the image area where the character string can be arranged in real time.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically arrange the input character string so as not to overlap the subject of the photograph on the image 35, the logo mark, etc., and there is an effect of reducing the labor of the operator.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the character string arrangement position can be moved in dot units, the deviation of the character string arrangement position can be finely adjusted.

  Further, the present embodiment can be applied to a system in which not only a still image but also a character string displayed on a moving image automatically moves so as not to overlap an object or a mark.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

The figure which shows the structure of the character string arrangement | positioning apparatus 1 in this Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the memory | storage part 5. Character string placement application window in this embodiment Figure with two characters entered Figure with multiple character strings entered Main procedure The figure which shows the subroutine of the initial setting information acquisition process 1000 The figure which shows the subroutine of event monitoring 2000 The figure which shows the subroutine of event processing 3000 The figure which shows the subroutine of the data acquisition process 4000 of the character string form The figure which shows the subroutine of the arrangement | positioning area display process 5000 The figure which shows the subroutine of the character string layout arrangement | positioning process 6000 The figure which shows the image 35 The figure which shows the image data 27 converted into [0] and [1] Diagram showing character string i = 1 The figure which shows the character string data 60 The figure which shows the rectangle information of the character string data 60 The figure which shows calculation of the overlap of the character string data 60 and an image The figure explaining calculation of the arrangement position of the character string data 60 The figure which shows the character string arrangement | positioning coordinate list 81 The figure explaining arrangement and position movement of character string data 60

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ......... Character arrangement device 3 ......... Control part 5 ......... Storage part 7 ......... Communication part 9 ......... Print part 11 ... …… Display part 13 ......... Input part 15 ......... Media input Output section 17 ……… Bus 19 ……… ROM
21 ……… RAM
23 ………… Execution program 25 ……… OS
27 ......... Image data 29 ......... Working data 31 ......... Character string arrangement application window 33 ......... Image display area 35 ......... Image 37 ... …… Subject 39 ......... Margin 41 ......... Coordinate axis X
43 ... Coordinate axis Y
45... Text area 46... Application end button 47... OK button 49-1, 49-2 ... Character string area 51-1, 51-2. Reference point 54 ......... Diagonal point 55 ......... Image width 56 ......... Image height 57 ......... Line reference point 59 ......... Line sizes 60, 60-1, 60-2, 60-3 ......... Character string data 61 ......... Maximum character string width 63 ......... Character string height 65 ......... Line 67 ......... Line width 69 ......... Maximum line height 71 ......... Coordinates (x)
73 ..... coordinates (y)
75 ......... Bit information 77, 79, 89 ... ... Coordinates 81 ... ... Character string arrangement possible coordinate list 83 ... ... X coordinates 85 ... ... Y coordinates 87 ... ... Length

Claims (11)

A character string arranging device that arranges a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area,
A non-editable area calculating means for calculating a non-editable area indicating a non-editable area in the image;
A character string area calculating means for calculating a character string area that is an area occupied by the character string;
In the display area, by calculating an area in which the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap with each other, a placeable area that is an area where the character string can be placed is calculated and displayed in an identifiable manner. A calculation means;
A character string arranging device comprising: A character string arranging device that arranges a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area,
An acquisition means for acquiring an image to which non-editable area information indicating an area where editing is not permitted is added in the image;
A character string area calculating means for calculating a character string area that is an area occupied by the character string;
In the display area, by calculating an area in which the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap with each other, a placeable area that is an area where the character string can be placed is calculated and displayed in an identifiable manner. A calculation means;
A character string arranging device comprising:   2. The character string area calculating unit calculates the character string area for each input of characters constituting the character string, and the arrangeable area calculating unit calculates the arrangeable area. Or the character string arrangement | positioning apparatus of 2.   The character string area moving means for moving the character string area within the range of the arrangeable area when the character string area does not fit within the range of the arrangeable area is provided. The character string arrangement device described in 1.   The character string arrangement device according to claim 4, wherein the character string area moving unit calculates a movement destination that minimizes the distance required for the movement, and moves the character string area to the movement destination.   The character string arrangement device according to claim 1, wherein the character string region calculation unit calculates the character string region based on a height and a width of each character constituting the character string.   3. The character string arrangement device according to claim 1, wherein the character string area calculating unit calculates the character string area by creating a rectangular area including a character string for each line. 4.   The arrangement-possible area calculation means scans the pixels on the display area while determining the arrangement of the character string area, and when there is no overlapping portion between the character string area and the non-editable area, The character string arrangement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a union of areas occupied by the character string area in the display area is set as the arrangementable area. A program that causes a computer to function as a character string arranging device that arranges a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area,
Edit-permitted area calculating means for calculating an uneditable area indicating an area where editing is not permitted in the image;
A character string area calculating means for calculating a character string area that is an area occupied by the character string;
In the display area, an arrangementable area calculating unit that calculates an arrangementable area that is an area in which the character string can be arranged by calculating an area in which the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap.
Program to function as. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program that causes a computer to function as a character string arranging device that arranges a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area,
A non-editable area calculating means for calculating a non-editable area indicating a non-editable area in the image;
A character string area calculating means for calculating a character string area that is an area occupied by the character string;
In the display area, an arrangementable area calculating unit that calculates an arrangementable area that is an area in which the character string can be arranged by calculating an area in which the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap.
The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program made to function as. A character string arrangement method for arranging a character string composed of at least one character together with an image in a display area,
A non-editable area calculating step for calculating a non-editable area indicating an area where editing is not permitted in the image;
A character string area calculating step for calculating a character string area that is an area occupied by the character string;
In the display area, by calculating an area where the character string area and the non-editable area do not overlap, an arrangeable area calculating step of calculating an arrangeable area that is an area where the character string can be arranged;
A character string arranging method comprising:

Images