JP2006277228A - Device and method for image layout change, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve visibility of relation between an image and its number at the time of rotation of the image when numbers are given to the images. <P>SOLUTION: An object arrangement frame LF becomes an appearance shown in a drawing (b) when a erecting appearance shown in a drawing (a) is clockwise rotated by 50 degrees. Namely, the object arrangement frame LF becomes a situation clockwise rotated by 50 degrees from the erecting situation by setting a center C of the object arrangement frame LF as a center of rotation. A circle CC for number display is integrally rotated together with the object arrangement frame LF so as to clockwise rotate by 50 degrees around the center C as the center of rotation, and a relative position of the circle CC against the object arrangement frame LF is not changed. A figure shown in the circle CC always becomes the erecting situation by means of the aforementioned rotation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for changing a layout of an image area defined in a page, using an area of a predetermined size as a unit of editing as a page.

  A computer can easily organize a large number of image data by using image management software. Some image management software of this type can arrange and output photographic images taken with a digital camera (digital still camera) in the same manner as a paper album. In this image management software, a page can be laid out by preparing a page image corresponding to an album mount and determining the position and size of one or a plurality of photographic images for the page image.

  As a layout method, there is a method in which a template in which a rectangular arrangement frame is set in advance is prepared, and a photographic image is inserted into the template arrangement frame (for example, Patent Document 1 below). The arrangement frame can be moved, rotated, and resized by the operator. Such arrangement frames may be numbered sequentially from 1. This number indicates the insertion order when images are arranged in the arrangement frame.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-4768

  However, the above-described conventional technique has a problem that the visibility of the number is lowered when the arrangement frame is rotated.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a state when the arrangement frame of the prior art is rotated. (A) in the figure shows the arrangement frame A1 in the upright state, and (b) and (c) show the order from the state (a) clockwise (clockwise) by the operator. A rotated arrangement frame A1 is shown. In the drawing, a square area A2 indicated by hatching is a number display area and is fixedly displayed at a fixed position with respect to the arrangement frame A1. The fixed position is a virtual drawing of a rectangle A3 circumscribing the arrangement frame A1 having a horizontal horizontal line and a vertical vertical line, and a square of a predetermined size is drawn at the upper left corner of the rectangle A3. The square is defined as the area A2.

  According to such a configuration, no matter how much the arrangement frame A1 is rotated, the number display area A2 is always arranged at the upper left position from the rotation center A4. In this case, when the arrangement frame A1 rotates from the upright state, the number display area A2 is displayed away from the arrangement frame A1. When the size of the arrangement frame A1 is large, the distance between the arrangement frame A1 and the area A2 becomes larger, and when there is another arrangement frame nearby, which arrangement frame A1 has which number display area A2. It was difficult to visually confirm whether this was true. As a result, there is a problem that the visibility of the number is lowered.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the visibility of a connection between an image area and the number when the image area is rotated when the image area is numbered. .

  As means for solving at least a part of the problems described above, the following configuration is adopted.

The image layout changing apparatus of the present invention
An image layout changing device that changes a layout of an image area defined in a page, with an area having a predetermined size as a unit of editing as a page,
Page image display means for displaying an image of the page together with an image area laid out on the page;
Mark display means for displaying, for each image area displayed by the page image display means, a mark defining information relating to the image area;
An image area rotating means for rotating one of the image areas displayed by the page image display means as a target image area according to an operator's designation;
When the target image area is rotated by the image area rotating means, the mark for the target image area is rotated together with the target image area, and the relative display position of the mark with respect to the target image area does not change. And a mark rotating means for maintaining the direction of the mark in an upright state even by the rotation.

  According to the image layout changing device having the above configuration, when the target image area is rotated, the mark is always displayed at the same position with respect to the target image area, and the direction of the mark is always set. It is upright. Therefore, there is an effect that the operator can easily visually confirm which image region the mark is for and what the mark is.

  The image area may be an arrangement frame prepared for arranging an image. According to this configuration, when a page in which an arrangement frame is set in advance is prepared and an image is inserted into the arrangement frame later, when the arrangement frame before the image is inserted is rotated. It is valid.

  The mark may be a number indicating the order in which images are arranged. According to this configuration, it is possible to improve the operability when an image is fitted in the image area.

  The target image area may be a rectangle, and the mark may be provided at one corner of the rectangle. According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the operator of the direction in which the image is pasted to the target image area from the position where the mark is provided for the target image area.

  The mark display means may be configured to display a mark display area having a predetermined shape at a predetermined position in the image area, and to display the mark in the mark display area. According to this configuration, the visibility of the mark is improved by the display area.

  The mark display area may be circular. According to this configuration, even if the mark display area is rotated integrally with the image area, the direction of the mark display area does not visually change because the mark display area is circular. Accordingly, it is possible to visually recognize the mark display area even when rotating.

The image layout changing method of the present invention includes:
An image layout changing method for changing a layout of an image area defined in a page with an area having a predetermined size as a unit of editing as a page,
(A) a step of displaying an image of the page together with an image area laid out on the page;
(B) for each image region displayed in the step (a), a step for displaying a mark defining information about the image region;
(C) a step of setting one of the image regions displayed in the step (a) as a target image region and rotating the target region according to an operator's specification;
(D) When the target image area is rotated by the step (c), the mark for the target image area is rotated together with the target image area, and the relative display position of the mark with respect to the target image area And a step of maintaining the direction of the mark in an upright state by the rotation.

The computer program of the present invention is:
In a computer program for changing a layout of an image area defined in a page, with an area of a predetermined size as a unit of editing as a page,
(A) a function of displaying an image of the page together with an image area laid out on the page;
(B) a function for displaying a mark defining information on the image area for each image area displayed by the function (a);
(C) a function of setting one of the image areas displayed by the function (a) as a target image area and rotating the target area according to an operator's specification;
(D) When the target image area is rotated by the function (c), the mark for the target image area is rotated together with the target image area, and the relative display position of the mark with respect to the target image area And the computer has a function of maintaining the direction of the mark in an upright state even by the rotation.

  According to the image layout changing method and the computer program of the present invention, as in the image layout changing apparatus of the present invention, for the operator, what image area the mark is for and what the mark is. Both have the effect of being able to visually confirm easily.

  The recording medium of the present invention is characterized by a computer-readable recording medium that records the computer program of the present invention. This recording medium has the same operation and effect as each computer program of the present invention.

  The present invention includes other aspects as follows. The 1st aspect is an aspect as a program supply apparatus which supplies the computer program of this invention via a communication path. In this first aspect, the above-described method and apparatus are realized by placing a computer program on a server or the like on a computer network, downloading a necessary program to a computer via a communication path, and executing the program. Can do.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples. This embodiment will be described in the following order.
A. Device configuration:
B. Display window configuration:
C. data structure:
D. Alignment frame rotation:
E. Computer processing:
F. Action / Effect:
G. Other embodiments:

A. Device configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The computer system of this embodiment mainly includes a personal computer 10 constituting the image layout changing apparatus of the present invention, and includes a display 20, a keyboard 22, and a mouse 24 as peripheral devices. Furthermore, a digital camera 26, a CD drive 28, and a printer 29 are connected to the personal computer 10. The mouse 24 can be replaced with other pointing devices such as a trackball, a trackpad, and a tablet.

  The personal computer 10 includes a memory 13, a display image memory 14, a hard disk drive 15, an input control unit 16, a display control unit 17, an output control unit 18, and the like that are mutually connected by a bus 12 around a CPU 11 as a central processing unit. Is provided. The memory 13 stores various data and becomes a work area of the CPU 11. The display image memory 14 is a memory that temporarily stores image data of an image to be displayed on the display 20.

  The hard disk drive 15 stores a computer program Pr as software of the image layout changing device. The hard disk drive 15 stores a large number of image data Dp. The image data Dp is a photographic image taken by the digital camera 26 and is stored in a predetermined area (for example, a holder) of the hard disk drive 15. Mount layout data Dm representing the layout of the mount to be described later is also stored.

  The input control unit 16 is a control unit that captures input operations from the keyboard 22 and the mouse 24, captures image data from the digital camera 26, and captures data from the CD drive 28. The display control unit 17 is a control unit that controls signal output to the display 20. The output control unit 18 is a control unit that controls printing on the printer 29.

  The computer program Pr is originally stored in a CD-ROM (not shown) as a recording medium. The computer program Pr can be read from the CD-ROM and installed in the hard disk drive 15 by setting the CD-ROM in the CD drive 28 and starting a predetermined installation program. Various configuration requirements of the image layout changing apparatus of the present invention are realized by the CPU 11 executing the computer program Pr. The mount layout data Dm is also stored in advance in the CD-ROM, and is simultaneously stored in the hard disk drive 15 when the computer program Pr is installed.

  In FIG. 1, various structural requirements of the image layout changing device of the present invention are shown by functional blocks implemented in the CPU 11. That is, the CPU 11 includes a page image display unit 11a, a mark display unit 11b, an image area rotation unit 11c, and a mark rotation unit 11d as functions. This computer program Pr is actually an album editing application program for editing photo images taken by the digital camera 26 into an album form, and the functions of the above-described units 11a to 11d are controlled by some of the modules therein. This is realized in the personal computer 10.

  The computer program Pr is provided as a configuration stored in another portable recording medium (portable recording medium) such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, and an IC card in place of the CD-ROM. It can be. Further, the computer program Pr can be provided via a network from a specific server connected to an external network. The network may be the Internet or a computer program obtained by downloading from a specific homepage. Alternatively, it may be a computer program supplied in the form of an email attachment.

B. Display window configuration:
When this computer program Pr is activated and the [Edit] button is clicked on the top screen, a page editing window (hereinafter referred to as “page editing window”) is displayed.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the page edit window WD. The page editing window WD constitutes a graphical user interface (GUI). As shown in the figure, the page editing window WD is provided with a toolbar FL1, a working field FL2, a material designating field FL3, and an editing page designating field FL4. Various commands are displayed as buttons on the toolbar FL1.

  In the work field FL2, an image (hereinafter, referred to as “mount image”) PM showing a single page mount constituting the album is displayed together with an arrangement frame LF laid out in the mount. The mount image PM is represented by one of a plurality of types of mount layout data Dm stored in the hard disk drive 15. The operator opens another window by clicking the [Select Mount] button BT1, and clicks a desired one from the list of the multiple types of mount images displayed in the window, thereby The mount layout data Dm can be read. The mount corresponds to the “page” of the present invention, and the mount image is the “page image” of the present invention. The arrangement frame LF corresponds to the “image area” of the present invention, and is prepared for arranging a material (image). Here, the arrangement frame LF has a rectangular shape. This configuration for displaying the mount image together with the arrangement frame LF corresponds to the page image display unit 11a (FIG. 1). Note that the mount can be replaced with a single-page mount that constitutes an album, and two pages that are spread can be used as one mount.

  The material designation field FL3 is for designating a material to be arranged on the mount. As “materials”, photographic images, clip art, and comments (sentences) are prepared. The operator can specify a photographic image by clicking the [Image] tab TB1 (clicking with the mouse 24, the same applies hereinafter), and clicking the [Clip Art] tab TB2 allows the clip to be clipped. The art can be designated, and the text can be designated by clicking the [Comment] tab TB3.

  Specifically, each designation is performed as follows. When the operator clicks the [Image] tab TB1, as shown in the drawing, the material designation field FL3 includes a list of icons (Fm) of films (or folders) for storing image data and the designated film. A list of thumbnails Tm of the stored image data is displayed. The operator clicks a desired icon Fm and clicks a desired thumbnail Tm to store a plurality of image data stored in advance in a predetermined recording medium, in this embodiment the hard disk drive 15. Desired image data can be selected and designated from a large number of image data Dp. The film or folder indicates a place where data files are put together.

  Similarly to the image data, a desired clip art can be selected and designated from a plurality of clip arts based on an operation command using the mouse 24 from the operator. For text, when the operator clicks on the [Comment] tab TB3, an input field for setting a font, a frame, and a balloon is displayed in the material designation field FL3. From this input field, a desired font or frame is selected. -By specifying the shape of the balloon, it is possible to specify information related to the text to be placed on the mount.

  [Arrangement] button BT4 is provided at the left end of material designation field FL3. The operator clicks the thumbnail Tm of the image data in the material designation field FL3, and then clicks the [Place] button BT4 to paste the image data into the layout frame LF laid out on the mount image PM ( Can fit). As shown in FIG. 2, the mount image PM is provided with three placement frames LF. A circle CC is drawn at the upper left corner of each placement frame LF. The number is written in This number is a mark indicating the order in which images are arranged. First, when a series of arrangement operations are performed in which the thumbnail Tm of the image data is designated and the [Arrange] button BT4 is clicked, the circle CC is displayed. The image data is transferred to the arrangement frame LF1 in which “1” is described. Next, when the above-described series of arrangement operations is performed, the image data is transferred to the arrangement frame LF2 in which “2” is described in the circle CC. Subsequently, when the above series of arrangement work is performed, the image data is transferred to the arrangement frame LF3 in which “3” is written in the circle CC. In this way, each image data is automatically pasted at the position of the arrangement frame LF positioned in advance on the mount image PM.

  In the above description, a photographic image is taken as an example of a material to be pasted on the arrangement frame LF. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when clip art or a document is designated, these are pasted in the same manner. be able to. The mount image PM on which the material is laid out in this manner is stored in the hard disk drive 15 when the [Save Page] button BT3 is clicked. The configuration for displaying numbers drawn in the circle CC corresponds to the mark display portion 11b (FIG. 1).

C. data structure:
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the mount layout data Dm. The mount layout data Dm is so-called page layout data in which layout frames are laid out on the mount. As shown in the figure, the mount layout data Dm includes a mount information field Fa for storing information related to the mount, and an arrangement frame information field Fb for storing information about n (n is an arbitrary number of 1 or more) arrangement frames. (1) to Fb (n).

  The mount information field Fa stores information about the vertical and horizontal sizes of pages corresponding to the album mount and the background of the mount. In the arrangement frame information fields Fb (1) to Fb (n), position data, angle data, and rank data are stored in pairs. The position data is data indicating the layout position on the mount, and describes offset X and Y components of each vertex of the rectangle. The angle data is data indicating a rotation angle from an upright state. The rank data is a number indicating the order in which images are pasted.

  The mount image PM, the arrangement frame LF, and the circle CC displayed in the work field FL2 of the page edit window WD are display images of the mount layout data Dm having the above-described structure. Note that the arrangement frame LF set in the mount image PM can be moved, rotated, and resized in response to an operation by the operator. The operator can change the layout of the image pasted on the mount by moving, rotating, and changing the size of the arrangement frame LF. Since the present invention has a feature when the arrangement frame LF is rotated, a state when the arrangement frame LF is rotated will be described below.

D. Alignment frame rotation:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the arrangement frame LF is rotated. FIG. 4A shows the arrangement frame LF in an upright state, that is, when the rotation angle is 0 degree. FIGS. 4B and 4C show the arrangement frame LF by the operator. Arrangement frame A rotated in order from the state clockwise (clockwise) is shown. (B) is when the rotation angle is 50 degrees, and (c) is when the rotation angle is 77 degrees.

  Specifically, the rotation is performed by the following operation. The operator performs an operation of finding the arrangement frame LF to be rotated from the mount image PM displayed in the work field FL2 and clicking inside the arrangement frame LF. The arrangement frame (hereinafter referred to as “target arrangement frame”) LF that has received the click is in a selected state. The “selected state” here means a state in which the position of the target placement frame LF can be moved, the direction of the target placement frame LF can be rotated, or the size of the target placement frame LF can be changed. It is. On the display, as shown in FIG. 4, a handle HN appears in the target arrangement frame LF. The handle HN has a shape in which a line segment protrudes from the upper side of the target arrangement frame LF and has a black circle at the tip. The operator can rotate the direction of the target placement frame LF by moving the mouse cursor to the handle HN and dragging and dropping the handle HN.

  When the target placement frame LF is rotated clockwise by 50 degrees from the upright state shown in FIG. That is, the target placement frame LF is in a state of being rotated clockwise by 50 degrees from the upright state with the center C of the target placement frame LF as the center of rotation. At this time, the number display circle CC is also rotated integrally with the target arrangement frame LF so as to be rotated clockwise by 50 degrees with the center C as the rotation center, and the circle CC is relative to the target arrangement frame LF. There is no change in position. Note that the numbers displayed in the circle CC are in an upright state even by the above rotation.

  When the target arrangement frame LF is further rotated 22 degrees clockwise (ie, 77 degrees from the upright state) from the state of the rotation angle of 50 degrees shown in FIG. That is, the target placement frame LF is in a state of being further rotated 22 degrees clockwise from the state (b) with the center C of the target placement frame LF as the rotation center. At this time, the number display circle CC is also rotated integrally with the target arrangement frame LF so as to further rotate clockwise by 22 degrees with the center C as the rotation center, and the relative position of the circle CC with respect to the target arrangement frame LF. There is no significant change in position. Note that the numbers displayed in the circle CC are in an upright state even by the above rotation.

  In other words, according to the operator's specification, the target arrangement frame LF is freely rotated around the center C as the center of rotation. At this time, the number display circle CC is also rotated at the same angle around the center C as the center of rotation. It rotates integrally with the arrangement frame LF, and the relative position of the circle CC with respect to the target arrangement frame LF does not always change. Note that the numbers displayed in the circle CC are always in an upright state even by the above rotation.

E. Computer processing:
The rotation of the arrangement frame LF described above is realized by the CPU 11 executing an arrangement frame rotation routine that is a part of a module of the computer program Pr. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing this arrangement frame rotation routine. This arrangement frame rotation routine is repeatedly executed every predetermined time. When the process is started, the CPU 11 first determines whether or not an operation for rotating the direction of the symmetrical arrangement frame LF using the handle HN has been performed by the operator (step S100). If it is determined that the rotation operation has not been performed, the process returns to “RETURN” and the arrangement frame rotation routine is temporarily terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S100 that the rotation operation has been performed, the CPU 11 executes the following processing. First, the CPU 11 performs a process of acquiring the rotation angle θ designated by the operation by the operator (step S110). Since the operation by the operator is an operation of dragging and dropping the handle HN as described above, in step S110, the rotation angle from the direction of the black circle of the handle HN and the direction of the drop position viewed from the center C of the symmetrical arrangement frame LF. Calculate θ.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 obtains a vector A (X, Y) starting from the center C (Cx, Cy) of the target arrangement frame LF and ending at the upper left vertex of the target arrangement frame LF (step S120). Next, the CPU 11 obtains a vector A ′ (X ′, Y ′) obtained by rotating the vector A around the starting point (that is, the center C) by the rotation angle θ acquired in step S110 by the following equations (1), ( 2) (Step S130).

X ′ = X · cos θ−Y · sin θ (1)
Y ′ = X · sin θ + Y · cos θ (2)

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 adds the vector A ′ (X ′, Y ′) obtained in step S130 to the center C (Cx, Cy) of the target arrangement frame LF, and displays the display position Z (Zx of the number display circle CC. , Zy) is obtained (step S140). That is, the display position Z (Zx, Zy) of the circle CC is obtained according to the following equations (3) and (4).

Zx = Cx + X.cos .theta.-Y.sin .theta. (3)
Zy = Cy + X.sin.theta. + Y.cos.theta. (4)

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 redraws the target arrangement frame LF in a state where the target arrangement frame LF is rotated by the rotation angle θ acquired in step S110 with the center C of the target arrangement frame LF as the rotation center (step S150), and in step S130. A process of drawing a circle CC having a radius r (for example, 5 mm) at the obtained display position Z (Zx, Zy) is performed (step S160). As a result of steps S150 and S160, the target arrangement frame LF rotates integrally with the number display circle CC, and the circle CC is always located at the upper left corner of the target arrangement frame LF.

  Subsequently, the CPU 11 draws a number indicating the order of the symmetrical arrangement frame LF in the circle CC drawn in step S150 (step S170). This order is taken from the mount layout data Dm, and the order data stored in the placement frame information field Fb corresponding to the symmetrical placement frame LF is read and displayed in the circle CC. Note that the numbers in the rank data are drawn in an upright state without tilting the direction. After the execution of step S170, the process returns to “RETURN” to end the arrangement frame rotation routine once.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the mount image PM including the arrangement frame LF rotated as described above can be stored in the hard disk drive 15 by clicking the [Register Mount] button BT2. Specifically, the CPU 11 obtains coordinate positions on the mount image for the four vertices of the symmetric arrangement frame LF after rotation, and mounts layout data based on the coordinate positions and the rotation angle θ acquired in step S110. The mount image PM is stored by updating Dm.

  The arrangement frame LF described above can be rotated together with the image after the image is pasted as well as before the image is pasted. Similarly, when the arrangement frame LF on which the image is pasted is rotated, the number display circle CC is also rotated by the same angle, and the numbers displayed in the circle CC are always in the upright state by the above rotation. It becomes. Steps S110 and S150 correspond to the image area rotation unit 11c (FIG. 1), and steps S120 to S140, S160, and S170 correspond to the mark rotation unit 11d (FIG. 1).

F. Action / Effect:
According to the computer system of this embodiment configured as described above, when the arrangement frame LF is rotated, the number display circle CC is rotated by the same angle to the arrangement frame LF. The numbers displayed in the same position and displayed in the circle CC are always upright. For this reason, when there are a plurality of arrangement frames LF, the operator does not mistake the correspondence between the numbers and the arrangement frames LF, and further, the numbers are not inclined, so It is easy to check the numbers indicating the order of pasting.

  In this embodiment, since the number display area is circular, the number display area is visually recognized even if the arrangement frame LF and the number display circle CC are rotated together. There is no change. Therefore, the number display area can be visually recognized even during rotation.

  In the above embodiment, when the symmetrical arrangement frame LF is in a non-selected state, the handle HN is in a non-display state. However, in this embodiment, even if the handle HN is in a non-display state, the number display circle is displayed. Since CC is always in the upper left corner of the arrangement frame LF, the operator can be notified of the direction in which the image is to be pasted.

G. Other embodiments:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be carried out in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following modifications are possible. is there.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the number display area is circular, but it is not necessarily circular, and may be square. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of rotation in this modification. As shown in the drawing, the number display area NA provided at the upper left corner of the arrangement frame LFX has a square shape. When the arrangement frame LFX is rotated by the operator, the number display area NA is also rotated by the same angle, and the relative position of the center of the number display area NA with respect to the arrangement frame LFX does not change. Note that the inclination of the number display area NA does not change with rotation, and the number display area NA is always in an upright state (that is, the number display area NA rotates without tilting like a ferris wheel). . Also in this modified example, as in the previous embodiment, the operator does not mistake the correspondence between the number display area NA and the arrangement frame LF, and further, the numbers displayed in the number display area NA. Is not inclined, it is easy to check the number indicating the order in which the images are pasted. The number display area need not be limited to a square, but may be another polygon such as a rectangle, a triangle, a pentagon, or a hexagon.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, numbers are displayed in the circle CC, which is a number display area. Instead of this, the number display area is eliminated, and the arrangement frame is an image area. The number may be directly displayed.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, numbers representing the order in which images are pasted are displayed in the circle CC. Instead, numbers having other meanings may be displayed. it can. As other meanings, any information may be used as long as the information is related to the set image area. Moreover, it does not need to be limited to numbers, and can be replaced with other marks such as letters and symbols.

(4) In the above embodiment, the number as the “mark” is displayed at the upper left corner of the arrangement frame LF corresponding to the image area, but instead of this, another position on the outer periphery of the image area, the image A configuration may be adopted in which the image is displayed inside the area or around the image area by a predetermined distance. An example of the periphery of the image area is a handle HN portion. The number of “marks” is not necessarily one for each image area, and a plurality of “marks” may be displayed for each image area.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the arrangement frame LF is configured to designate the rotation angle by the drag-and-drop operation with respect to the handle HN. Instead of this, a data input field for inputting the rotation angle in the page editing window WD. It is good also as a structure which inputs rotation angle by operation of the keyboard 22 or the mouse | mouth 24 with respect to this data input column.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, the “image area” is an arrangement frame for pasting an image. However, instead of this, it may be an area of the image itself. For example, each image pasted on a one-page image is configured to display a mark such as a number indicating information related to each image, and when the target image is rotated, the mark is rotated together with the target image. The relative display position of the mark with respect to the target image is prevented from changing, and the direction of the mark is maintained in the upright state even by rotation.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, the “image region” is a rectangle. However, instead of this, a circle, an ellipse, another polygon, or the like may be used.

(8) In the above embodiment, the image data Dp is a photographic image taken by a digital camera. However, instead of this, it may be image data such as a silver halide photograph or a gravure obtained using a scanner or the like. . Alternatively, a storage device such as the hard disk drive 15 may be prepared in advance. Or what was taken in from the outside via a network may be used.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the computer system to which one Example of this invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the page edit window WD. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the mount layout data Dm. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode when the arrangement | positioning frame LF is rotated. It is a flowchart which shows the arrangement frame rotation routine performed by CPU11. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of rotation of a modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mode when the arrangement frame of a prior art is rotated.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Personal computer 11 ... CPU
11a ... Page image display section 11b ... Mark display section 11c ... Image area rotation section 11d ... Mark rotation section 12 ... Bus 13 ... Memory 14 ... Display image memory 15 .. Hard disk drive 16 ... Input control unit 17 ... Display control unit 18 ... Output control unit 20 ... Display 22 ... Keyboard 24 ... Mouse 26 ... Digital camera 28 ... CD Drive 29 ... Printer Dp ... Image data Pr ... Computer program WD ... Page edit window FL1 ... Tool bar FL2 ... Work field FL3 ... Material specification field FL4 ... Edit Page designation field PM ... Mount image LF ... Arrangement frame HN ... Handle CC ... Circle BT1 ... [Select mount] button BT2 ... [Install mount] button BT3 ... [Page [Save] button BT4 ... [Placement] button TB1 ... [Image] tab TB2 ... [Clip art] tab TB3 ... [Comment] tab Fm ... Icon Tm ... Thumbnail Dm ... Mount layout data Fa ... Mount information field Fb (1) to Fb (3) ... Layout frame information field

Claims (12)

An image layout changing device that changes a layout of an image area defined in a page, with an area having a predetermined size as a unit of editing as a page,
Page image display means for displaying an image of the page together with an image area laid out on the page;
Mark display means for displaying, for each image area displayed by the page image display means, a mark defining information relating to the image area;
An image area rotating means for rotating one of the image areas displayed by the page image display means as a target image area according to an operator's designation;
When the target image area is rotated by the image area rotating means, the mark for the target image area is rotated together with the target image area, and the relative display position of the mark with respect to the target image area does not change. And an image layout changing device comprising: a mark rotating means for maintaining the direction of the mark in an upright state even by the rotation.   The image layout changing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image area is an arrangement frame prepared for arranging an image.   The image layout changing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mark is a number indicating an order in which images are arranged. The image layout changing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The target image area is rectangular,
The image layout changing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mark is provided at one corner of the rectangle. The image layout changing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The mark display means
An image layout changing device configured to display a mark display area having a predetermined shape at a predetermined position in the image area, and to display the mark in the mark display area.   The image layout changing device according to claim 5, wherein the mark display area is circular. An image layout changing method for changing a layout of an image area defined in a page with an area having a predetermined size as a unit of editing as a page,
(A) a step of displaying an image of the page together with an image area laid out on the page;
(B) for each image region displayed in the step (a), a step for displaying a mark defining information about the image region;
(C) a step of setting one of the image regions displayed in the step (a) as a target image region and rotating the target region according to an operator's specification;
(D) When the target image area is rotated by the step (c), the mark for the target image area is rotated together with the target image area, and the relative display position of the mark with respect to the target image area And a process of maintaining the direction of the mark in an upright state even by the rotation. In a computer program for changing a layout of an image area defined in a page, with an area of a predetermined size as a unit of editing as a page,
(A) a function of displaying an image of the page together with an image area laid out on the page;
(B) a function for displaying a mark defining information on the image area for each image area displayed by the function (a);
(C) a function of setting one of the image areas displayed by the function (a) as a target image area and rotating the target area according to an operator's specification;
(D) When the target image area is rotated by the function (c), the mark for the target image area is rotated together with the target image area, and the relative display position of the mark with respect to the target image area Is a computer program for causing a computer to realize a function of maintaining the orientation of the mark in an upright state even by the rotation.   The computer program according to claim 8, wherein the mark is a number indicating an order in which images are arranged. A computer program according to claim 8 or 9,
The target image area is rectangular,
The mark is a configuration provided at one corner of the rectangle. A computer program according to any one of claims 8 to 10,
The function (b) is
A computer program configured to display a mark display area having a predetermined shape at a predetermined position in the image area, and to display the mark in the mark display area.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the computer program in any one of Claims 8 thru | or 11.

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