JP2006134229A - Image editing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify an editing work which a user intends when a photograph image is inserted in an inclined frame in a layout template. <P>SOLUTION: The user sets the layout template defined by a preset. The image which should exist in the developing direction corresponding to an upper side in an expression is determined by automatically correcting the developing direction of pasted image data in response to the inclination angle of a photograph frame to the page area when the image data is pasted to the photograph frame to which the inclination angle specified to the page area is attached by utilizing the present invention when the user pastes the image data to the photograph frame defined there. And, the operation intended by the user is automatically performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus for easily creating an electronic album using electronic image data owned by a user.

  In recent years, digital cameras and the like have become smaller and lighter, making them easier to carry, making it easy for ordinary users to easily handle digitized images taken during travel, events, etc. Along with the widespread use, in many cases, electronic image data captured by a digital camera is generally transferred to an HDD of a PC for management and storage.

  In addition, in order to manage and store large amounts of electronic image data, the use of electronic albums on PCs to organize and increase the number of electronic image data, electronic image data can be imported and edited at home using an electronic album editing application. The album making has begun to penetrate.

  Under such circumstances, the electronic album editing application uses electronic image data and comment character data accompanying the electronic image data using a layout template preset in advance based on the page area. In general, a photo frame for inserting image data, a comment area frame for inputting comment character data attached thereto, and the like are generally defined in advance. (See Non-Patent Document 1)

In addition, the use of an inexpensive and high-speed Internet network has led to the emergence of print providers that transfer electronic albums created in the original and print out and bind electronic album products in the form ordered by the user. ing.
“ZoomBrowser EX Software User Guide version 5.0”, Canon Inc., September 22, 2004, pp. 19-24

  In conventional silver halide photography, albums are managed and saved by pasting paper-like photos, which are printed by a user at a camera store, etc., onto a commercially available album mount. I enjoyed browsing. In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras, digitization of images has progressed, and if you have a PC without outputting it as a printed matter, you can enjoy viewing an electronic album created with an electronic album editing application as if it were an album mount through a display, In addition, if the Internet is connected, distant people can browse through the Internet.

  Therefore, when a user creates an original electronic album, an electronic album editing application is often used. When creating an original album, the designer who created the preset layout template creates a slanted photo frame, such as when the user selects a layout template that is preset in the electronic album editing application. In such a case, there is a possibility that the direction intended by the user and the direction intended by the designer may be different, such as when the user pastes arbitrary electronic image data on the target photo frame. In such a case, the user always edits with the direction in mind, and the user has to manually change the format data of the target photo frame to the direction intended by the user. In addition, there is a problem that the advantage of preset layout template data that is out of balance and well-balanced cannot be utilized by rewriting the format data of layout template data created by the designer in a well-balanced manner.

  An image editing device for managing image data, in which a desired layout template is designated from a plurality of preset layout templates having an image pasting area (photo frame) for pasting image data to a page area in an electronic album document In addition to the layout template designating means to be performed and the page area in which the print candidates in the electronic album data are displayed, the image management means for managing the electronic image data in the image saving area, and the image for displaying the image data in the image saving area Display means; image data designating means for designating image data to be pasted to a layout template designated by the layout template designating means from image data on the image saving area; and a photo frame in the layout template by the image data designating means. Paste to tube Characterized in that it comprises a layout management means for, and an output control means for outputting an image pasting processing after the layout template.

  According to claim 1, in the layout template provided by the preset defined in the electronic album document, the coordinate axes X-axis and Y-axis of the page area are defined for the photo frame defined in the layout template expanded in the page area. Means for determining a line segment from the midpoint of each side to determine the center of gravity of the photo frame; means for determining an angle between the Y axis and the line segment from the midpoint; and And a means for automatically changing the development direction of the image data.

  According to the first and second aspects, there is provided means for not changing the aspect ratio of the image data developed in the photo frame, and means for pasting the image data to the photo frame with a maximum fit or a minimum fit. It is characterized by that.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for applying rotational editing to a photo frame in which an image is pasted on a photo frame having an inclination angle, and means for rotating image data following the photo frame subjected to the rotational editing. It is characterized by that.

  As described above, according to the image editing apparatus of the present invention, when creating an electronic album, the user sets a layout template defined by a preset, and the user sets a photo frame defined there. When the image data is pasted, the present invention can be used to paste the image data to the photo frame with the specified tilt angle in the page area. Depending on (boundary at 45 degrees), the development direction of the pasted image data is automatically changed (corrected) to determine an image that should be expressed in the development direction corresponding to the upper side in an expressive manner, and the operation intended by the user This is characterized in that the editing operation can be simplified by automatically performing the above-described process, and the efficiency of the electronic album creation work can be improved.

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

<Description of the device>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this image editing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a CRT (display apparatus). The display screen includes editing information such as a document / graphic / image being edited, icons / messages / menus, and other user interface information. Is displayed. Reference numeral 102 denotes a VRAM, on which an image to be displayed on the display screen of the CRT 101 is drawn. The image data generated by the VRAM 102 is transferred to the CRT 101 in accordance with a predetermined rule, whereby an image is displayed on the CRT 101. A bit move unit (BMU) 103 controls data transfer between memories (for example, the VRAM 102 and another memory) and data transfer between the memory and an I / O device (for example, the network interface 111). A keyboard 104 has various keys for inputting documents and the like. A pointing device 105 is used, for example, to indicate an icon, a message, a menu, or another object displayed on the display screen of the CRT 101. A CPU 106 controls each device connected to the CPU 106 based on a control program stored in the ROM 107, the hard disk 109, or the floppy (registered trademark) disk 110. Reference numeral 107 denotes a ROM which holds various control programs and data. Reference numeral 108 denotes a RAM which is used as a work area for the CPU 106 and a data save area during error processing, and includes a load area for a control program. Reference numeral 109 denotes a hard disk drive (HDD). The hard disk drive 109 can store each control program and content executed in the information processing apparatus. For example, the hard disk drive 109 of the user client PC stores a WEB browser, electronic album data, an album editing program, and the like. A floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FDD) 110 controls access to the floppy (registered trademark) disk. Reference numeral 111 denotes a network interface, which can communicate with other information processing apparatuses, printers, and the like via the network 112. Reference numeral 112 denotes a network, which communicates with other information processing apparatuses connected online. A CPU bus 113 includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. The provision of the control program to the CPU 106 can be performed from the ROM 107, the hard disk drive 109, and the floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 110, and can also be performed from another information processing apparatus or the like via the network 112. .

<Description of application screen>
Next, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the electronic album editing application in this embodiment. The layout is an album document with a predetermined number of pages, and the editing of each page area is laid out using spread pages to give the album a sense of reality. Hereinafter, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, a case where the page being edited is in a spread state on the fourth and fifth pages will be described as an example. Reference numeral 201 denotes an editing window of the electronic album editing application in this embodiment. The editing area is roughly divided into three.

  The first area is an album editing area indicated by 202, and 203 is layout data in which the page area is displayed with the album spread. In this embodiment, the fourth and fifth pages of the album are displayed in the 203 layout data, and a photo frame 204 arranged as layout template data is displayed there. In addition, there may be other photo frames in the layout template data. In the lower part where the layout data 203 is displayed, the number of pages currently being edited is displayed 205. A button for changing the editing page is displayed between the currently edited page number display section 205. When the previous page button indicated by 206 is selected by the pointing device 105 or the like, the layout data 203 corresponds to the previous page. The third page is displayed in the layout data 203. Further, when the subsequent page button indicated by 207 is selected, the sixth and seventh pages are displayed in the layout data 203.

  Next, there is a temporary storage area for image data indicated by 208 as a second area. In the image data temporary storage place 208, image data 209 to be pasted on the photo frame 204 existing in the layout template data in the layout data 203 is arranged.

  As a third area, there is an album document page navigation 210 that simply represents the page configuration in the album document. In the album document page navigation 210, each page in the album document is simply displayed in a spread state, and the page portion currently displayed in the layout data 203 is displayed in an expression 211.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the image editing apparatus of FIG. 1 and the electronic album editing application of FIG. 2 described above and the drawings described later. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the electronic album editing program in this embodiment. 401 is a data control unit for managing electronic album data and controlling applications, and 402 is a GUI control unit for controlling the GUI of the electronic album to provide an operation means for users and a display means for editing contents, 403. Is a design control unit for managing design information (layout template data, etc.) used for the electronic album, and 404 generates print data necessary for the print order based on the electronic album, and uses the print data and order processing. It is a communication control part for performing communication processing of necessary information. Reference numeral 405 denotes image data allocated to the album cover managed by the data control unit 401, and reference numeral 406 denotes image data allocated to the page. Reference numeral 407 denotes a layout file managed by the design control unit 403, and records information for determining the arrangement of images and character strings in each page spread. Reference numeral 408 denotes an image data allocation table managed by the design control unit 403, in which an information table related to the number of image data allocated to each page is recorded.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a rough operation related to the electronic album layout processing in the image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Step S301 is a layout template selection step, in which processing for selecting and determining a template that is the appearance of the layout of the electronic album, and processing for determining the physical size and the number of pages of the electronic album are performed. When a template is selected in the template selection step S301, each template holds a layout file 407 and an image data allocation table 408, and the design control unit 403 stores the layout file 407 and the image data allocation table 408 in the electronic album. Import as data. Next, a method for designating layout template data that is the basis of an album will be described with reference to FIG. The album document according to the present invention includes some preset layout template data. This layout template data can be specified for each spread page, and is performed by a method of selecting a desired layout template from the layout template design selection dialog shown in 501. Preset candidates such as 502 layout template 1 are displayed in the layout template design selection dialog 501. One candidate is selected from the mouse 105 or the keyboard 104, and the “change” button 503 is selected, so that The layout template of the page area is switched to the selected layout template. By selecting the “Cancel” button 504, the layout template change is interrupted.

  In the next step S302, image data is selected in an image data selection step. Since the range of the number of image data that can be assigned with the template data selected in step S301 is preset, the user selects the number of image data within the range. The user also selects image data to be used on the cover. The data control unit 401 captures the selected image as cover image data 405 and in-page image data 406 as data in the electronic album. Here, the flow at the time of taking the template data defining the image data, which is the liver of the present invention, into the photo frame will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in S601, the layout template data selected in the page area is expanded. In S602, it is checked whether there is any image that has not yet been subjected to image pasting processing on the photo frame. If there is no unprocessed photo frame, the process ends. In S603, the presence / absence of pasted image data is determined. Again, if there is no image data here, the process ends. In S604, a photo frame display setting process is performed on the photo frame to be pasted. The detailed flow process will be described with reference to FIG. First, in S1201, a process for obtaining the tilt angle of the photo frame defined by the layout template which is the liver of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, a photo frame having no normal inclination has an image data 801, a page area X-axis direction 804, and a Y-axis direction 803 when image data is pasted to the photo frame 802. Check the tilt with. In this example, since there is no inclination, an example in which an image is pasted with a minimum fit to the photo frame is shown in 806. Here, the minimum fit and the maximum fit described later will be described with reference to FIG. (A) In the case of the maximum fit, the size of the pasted image 1301 is the minimum size including the photo frame, and the magnification is changed without changing the aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal directions. It indicates that it is to be pasted. In the case of (B) the minimum fit, the size of the photo frame 1303 to be pasted is a size that includes the image 1304 to be pasted at the minimum and is pasted by scaling without changing the aspect ratio of the length and width. It shows that it is attached. The actual method of obtaining the inclination angle θ is obtained from FIG. In S1202, it is determined whether the inclination angle θ obtained in S1201 is 45 degrees or less. An example in which the inclination is 45 degrees or less will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the image data 901 is pasted to the photo frame 902 in the minimum fit format. First, an angle 907 sandwiched between the Y axis 903 and the line segment 905 is determined from line segments 905 and 906 from the midpoint of each side for obtaining the center of gravity G of the photo frame with reference to the X axis 904 and the Y axis 903 indicating the coordinate axes of the page area. The inclination angle θ is a threshold value here. For example, the inclination angle θ is 45 degrees or less (S1202), and the side ab is set as the upper side from the vertices a, b, c, d of the photo frame 902 (S1203). In S1205, it is determined whether or not it is the maximum fit. In this example, since it is the minimum fit, the S1207 drawing image is set to the minimum fit (if the maximum fit is determined in S1205, the S1206 drawing image is set to the maximum fit), and the image data in S1208 The image is enlarged / reduced while maintaining the aspect ratio. Next, an example in which the inclination exceeds 45 degrees will be described with reference to FIG. Similarly, an angle 1007 sandwiched between the Y axis 1003 and the line segment 1005 from the line segments 1005 and 1006 from the midpoint of each side for obtaining the center of gravity G of the photo frame with respect to the X axis 1004 indicating the coordinate axis of the page area and the Y axis 1003. Is the inclination angle θ which is the threshold value here. For example, the inclination angle θ is 45 degrees or more (S1202), and the side d-a is set as the upper side from the vertices a, b, c, d of the photo frame 1002 in S1204. In S1205, it is determined whether or not it is the maximum fit. In this example, since it is the minimum fit, the S1207 drawing image is set to the minimum fit (if the maximum fit is determined in S1205, the S1206 drawing image is set to the maximum fit), and the image data in S1208 The image is enlarged / reduced while maintaining the aspect ratio. By completing the display setting process in S604 photo frame, image information to be displayed in the photo frame is created, and image data in the photo frame is displayed in S605.

  In the next step S303, the final layout adjustment of the electronic album data created by the series of processing up to S302 is shown in the layout editing process. In FIG. 7, image data 704 is displayed for a photo frame 701 having no tilt, image data 705 is stored for a photo frame 702 having a tilt angle of 45 degrees or less, and an image is displayed for a photo frame 703 having a tilt angle of 45 degrees or more. An example of pasting data 706 is shown. Here, the same intra-frame display setting process as in step S604 is executed.

  When the user performs an electronic album storage process in step S304, the created electronic album is stored in the electronic album storage process in step S305.

  Thus, a series of electronic album editing processing is completed.

<Second embodiment>
FIG. 14 shows a case where the photo frame after the image is pasted on the photo frame having the inclination angle in the first embodiment is rotated at an arbitrary angle. When the image data 1401 is pasted to the photo frame 1402 with the tilt angle with the side a-b as the upper side with the minimum fit, when an arbitrary rotation is applied, the image data 1401 is tilted at the time of pasting as indicated by 1403 Without being changed according to the angle, after the pasting, the photo frame is integrated with the photo frame, and the image data pasted according to the rotation angle of the photo frame arbitrarily designated by the user is also drawn at the same angle.

<Other embodiments>
An object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and store the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus in the recording medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operation system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU of the expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Explanatory drawing showing the whole structure of the electronic album edit application of one Example which concerns on this invention. The flowchart explaining the rough operation | movement regarding the electronic album layout process of one Example which concerns on this invention. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the electronic album edit program of one Example which concerns on this invention. Explanatory drawing of the layout template data designation method of one Example which concerns on this invention. The follow chart of the image data selection process of one Example concerning the present invention. Explanatory drawing of the selection image data sticking process of one Example which concerns on this invention. The sticking explanatory drawing to the photo frame which does not have the inclination angle of one Example which concerns on this invention. The sticking explanatory drawing to the photo frame whose inclination | tilt angle of one Example which concerns on this invention is 45 degrees or less. The sticking explanatory drawing to the photo frame whose inclination | tilt angle of one Example which concerns on this invention is 45 degree | times or more. Explanatory drawing of the calculation method of inclination-angle (theta) of one Example which concerns on this invention. The flowchart of the display setting process in the photo frame of one Example which concerns on this invention. Explanatory drawing of the maximum fit and minimum fit of one Example which concerns on this invention. The state explanatory drawing of the rotation of the photo frame after affixing on the photo frame with the inclination angle of one Example which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 CRT
102 Video RAM (VRAM)
103 BMU
104 Keyboard 105 PD (pointing device)
106 CPU
107 ROM
108 RAM
109 HDD (hard disk)
110 FDD (floppy (registered trademark) disk)
111 Net-I / F
112 network 113 CPU bus

Claims (4)

  An image editing device for managing image data, in which a desired layout template is designated from a plurality of preset layout templates having an image pasting area (photo frame) for pasting image data to a page area in an electronic album document In addition to the layout template designating means to be performed and the page area in which the print candidates in the electronic album data are displayed, the image management means for managing the electronic image data in the image saving area, and the image for displaying the image data in the image saving area Display means; image data designating means for designating image data to be pasted to a layout template designated by the layout template designating means from image data on the image saving area; and a photo frame in the layout template by the image data designating means. Paste to tube Image editing apparatus comprising: the layout management means, and an output control means for outputting an image pasting processing after the layout template.   According to claim 1, in the layout template provided by the preset defined in the electronic album document, the coordinate axes X-axis and Y-axis of the page area are defined for the photo frame defined in the layout template expanded in the page area. Means for determining a line segment from the midpoint of each side to determine the center of gravity of the photo frame; means for determining an angle between the Y axis and the line segment from the midpoint; and An image editing apparatus comprising means for automatically changing the development direction of the image data.   According to the first and second aspects, there is provided means for not changing the aspect ratio of the image data developed in the photo frame, and means for pasting the image data to the photo frame with a maximum fit or a minimum fit. An image editing apparatus characterized by that.   According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for applying rotational editing to a photo frame in which an image is pasted on a photo frame having an inclination angle, and means for rotating image data following the photo frame subjected to the rotational editing. An image editing apparatus characterized by that.

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