JP2007295309A - Image editing output apparatus, control program thereof, control method thereof, photographic print apparatus, and recording medium recording this program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid deterioration of visualization due to deformation of an edited image without reducing the scope of user's selection. <P>SOLUTION: A photographic print apparatus 1 is provided with an image editor 12 for forming an edited image by editing processing for a photographed image formed by photographing of a subject, a print image forming section 13 for changing the size of the formed edited image, and a printer 4 for printing the changed edited image. The edited image to be formed by the image editor 12 is obtained by synthesizing the photographed image with one or more images for composition. The print image forming section 13 acquires images for synthesis of a size to be changed, and synthesizes the acquired image for synthesis with the photographed image deformed to be suited to the size to be changed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image editing / outputting apparatus that performs editing processing on a photographed image and outputs the image, a control method therefor, a photography / printing apparatus, an image editing / outputting device control program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded. Specifically, the present invention relates to a photography printing apparatus that edits and prints an image obtained by photographing a subject.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in amusement facilities such as game centers, a photography printing apparatus for taking a photograph of a user and combining the photograph with a background image and outputting it as a sticker print has been installed and is gaining popularity. .

  FIG. 18 shows a flow of a game from photographing to photographic printing by a conventional photographic printing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 18, first, the user performs shooting in the shooting space (S1). Then, the user performs editing such as graffiti and brightness adjustment, background image synthesis, and the like on the captured image generated by the capturing in S1 (S2). The edited image after editing is output as a sticker print (S3), and the game ends.

  Here, in the editing process of S2, in particular, the brightness and color tone of the captured image displayed on the display screen are corrected by a pointing device such as a touch pen, the background image is synthesized, and a graffiti or stamp is added. The user can play a variety of image editing such as doing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The user tends to play with emphasis on editing rather than shooting.

  On the other hand, in the printing process of S3, the sticker paper is divided into a number of areas desired by the user, and the edited image is printed in each divided area. For this reason, if the size of the divided area is small, the edited image is reduced and printed, but as a result, images such as stamp images, lines, and characters added to the photographed image by the image editing become smaller. This causes problems that it becomes difficult to confirm and an irregular shape occurs. In this specification, the fact that confirmation of an image becomes difficult or the shape changes due to excessive reduction is collectively referred to as “the image is crushed”.

  FIG. 19 (a) to FIG. 19 (c) specifically illustrate the above problem. FIG. 6A shows an edited image saved after the image editing, and the size is an A8 size obtained by dividing the A5 size into eight. On the other hand, FIG. 5B shows the edited image reduced in half. In this case, the foreground image (star-marked frame image) is crushed. Further, FIG. 4C shows the edited image reduced to ¼. In this case, the foreground image is completely crushed. When such an image is printed, the user's satisfaction level decreases.

In order to solve the above problems, the photography printing apparatus described in Patent Document 2 allows the size of the print image to be selected before image editing, and determines the size level of the additional image (stamp image) accordingly. When a small print image size is selected, use of a small stamp image is restricted during editing. As a result, only an additional image having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined value is selected by the user, so that the image can be prevented from being crushed even with a small print image size.
JP 2000-69404 (March 3, 2000) JP2003-333476 (released on November 21, 2003)

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to select the size of the print image before image editing, and the user's selection is to select the print layout while referring to the completed edited image after image editing. It was the result of narrowing the width of.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image editing output device that can avoid deterioration in visibility due to deformation of an edited image without narrowing the selection range of the user. There is to do.

  An image editing output device according to the present invention includes an edited image creating means for creating an edited image by an editing process on a photographed image created by photographing a subject, an image size changing means for changing the size of the created edited image, In order to solve the above-described problem, the edited image created by the edited image creating unit includes the captured image, one or a plurality of the edited images. The image size changing means conforms to the changed size image acquisition means for acquiring the image for synthesis of the size to be changed, the acquired image for synthesis, and the size to be changed. And an image synthesizing means for synthesizing the photographed image deformed as described above.

  The image editing / output device control method according to the present invention includes an edited image creating step for creating an edited image by an editing process on a shot image created by shooting a subject, and an image for changing the size of the created edited image. An image editing output device control method including a size changing step and an image output step for outputting the changed edited image. In order to solve the above problem, the edited image created in the edited image creating step is: The captured image and one or a plurality of composition images are combined, and the image size changing step includes a change size image acquiring step for acquiring a combination image having a size to be changed, and the acquired combining image. And an image composition step for compositing the image and a photographed image deformed so as to be adapted to the size to be changed.

  Here, examples of the composition image include a frame image, a background image, and a stamp image.

  According to the configuration and method described above, the composition image having the size to be changed is acquired, and the acquired composition image and the photographed image deformed to match the size to be changed are combined. That is, the photographed image is subjected to deformation such as reduction and enlargement so as to match the size to be changed, but the composition image of the size to be changed is acquired for the composition image. Therefore, it is possible to avoid deterioration of the visibility due to deformation of the edited image, that is, image collapse due to reduction or image imbalance due to enlargement. Further, the acquisition of the composition image having the size to be changed is performed after the editing process, and does not need to be performed at the stage of creating the edited image. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the size to be changed before image editing, and the selection range of the user is not reduced.

  Note that various methods can be considered for the above-described changed size image acquisition means to acquire a composite image having a size to be changed.

  For example, the image editing / output device according to the present invention further includes an image storage unit that stores the composition image for each size, and the changed-size image acquisition unit outputs the composition image having the size to be changed. You may acquire from an image memory | storage part.

  In the image editing / outputting device according to the present invention, the changed-size image acquisition unit extracts the size-to-change image by extracting the size-to-be-changed image from the original image for synthesis. You may get it. In this case, the amount of images stored in the image storage unit can be reduced.

  In the image editing / outputting device according to the present invention, the original composition image is an image in which one or a plurality of part images are arranged, and the changed size image acquisition unit performs the operation on the original composition image. The positional relationship of the part images should be changed so as to be adapted to the size to be changed, while the part image should be changed to a size suppressed to be smaller than the size to be changed. You may acquire the image for composition of size.

  Here, examples of the part image include a stamp image, a frame image, a background image, and a pattern or a pattern in the background image.

  Various image output units can be considered. For example, the image output unit may be a transmission unit that transmits the modified edited image to an external communication device. Here, the transmission unit may transmit either by wire or wirelessly, may directly transmit to an external communication device using infrared rays, radio waves, or the like, or may perform external communication via a communication network. It may be sent to the device.

  The image output unit may be a printing unit that prints the changed edited image on the print medium. In addition, the image output unit may be a display unit that displays the changed edited image, or may be an external recording unit that records the changed edited image on an external recording medium.

  In addition, even if it is a photography printing apparatus which edits and prints the image which image | photographed the object, Comprising: The photography printing apparatus provided with the imaging | photography part which image | photographs a to-be-photographed object, and the image edit output device of the said structure, The same effects as those described above can be achieved.

  Each means in the image editing / output device can be made to function on a computer by an image editing / output device control program. Further, by storing the image editing / output device control program in a computer-readable recording medium, the image editing / output device control program can be executed on any computer.

  As described above, the image editing / output device according to the present invention acquires the composition image of the size to be changed with respect to the composition image, so the visibility of the composition image by deforming the edited image There is an effect that the deterioration of the can be avoided. In addition, since the composition image having the size to be changed is acquired after the editing process and does not need to be performed at the stage of creating the edited image, the size to be changed is determined before image editing. There is no need to do this, and there is an effect that the selection range of the user is not narrowed.

  An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings.

[Appearance of photo printing device]
FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are perspective views showing an external appearance of the photographic printing apparatus (image editing output apparatus) 1 according to the present embodiment. The photography printing apparatus 1 includes a photographing unit 2 that photographs a user's photograph, an editing unit 3 that allows a user to edit graffiti and the like on a photograph (photographed image), and a photograph that the user has edited. And a printing unit 4 that outputs (edited image) to a print sheet. 2A shows an appearance from the photographing unit 2 side in the photographic printing apparatus 1, and FIG. 2B shows an appearance from the editing unit 3 and the printing unit 4 side.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the photographing unit 2. The photographing unit 2 performs user photography. The imaging unit 2 includes a coin processing unit 21, an illumination unit 22, a camera unit 23, a captured image display unit 24, a camera image display unit 25, and the like. Further, in the present embodiment, the photographing unit 2 includes an operation unit 26 (not shown) for operating the photographing unit 2 such that the user selects a photographed image displayed on the photographed image display unit 24. .

  The photographing unit 2 can be provided with a luggage storage area 122 for storing a user's valuables such as valuables. The installation location of the luggage storage area 122 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to effectively use an empty space in the imaging unit 2.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the captured image display unit 24 and the coin processing unit 21 are installed on the right side of the camera unit 23 so as not to obstruct the angle of view of the camera unit 23. When the imaging unit 2 has a symmetrical structure with the camera unit 23 as the center, it does not interfere with the angle of view of the camera unit 23 and is symmetrical with respect to the space in which the captured image display unit 24 and the coin processing unit 21 are installed. Space (left side of the camera unit 23) can also be used widely. Therefore, the same space can be effectively used as the luggage storage area 122. In addition, since the space is a front part of the photographing and enters the user's field of view even during photographing, a crime prevention effect can be expected.

  The photographic printing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10 that controls various operations in the photographic printing apparatus 1 by controlling the above-described units. Details of each of the above-described units and the control unit 10 will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of the editing unit 3a. The configuration of the editing unit 3b is the same as that of the editing unit 3a, and is not shown here. The editing unit 3b is provided facing the editing unit 3a. Hereinafter, the editing unit 3 will be collectively described.

  The editing unit 3 is for executing an editing process such as graffiti on a captured image after the user finishes the shooting process by the shooting unit 2. The touch panel unit 31, the touch pen 32, and the voice output unit 33 are used for the editing unit 3. Etc. Each unit of the editing unit 3 is controlled by the control unit 10. Details of the above-described units will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a front view of the printing unit 4. In the present embodiment, the printing unit 4 is provided on the side surfaces of the editing unit 3 a and the editing unit 3 b, and thus FIG. 5 shows the side surface of the editing unit 3. The printing unit 4 prints an edited image after the user has finished the editing process by the editing unit 3 on sticker paper, and discharges the printed sticker paper. In the present embodiment, print discharge ports 44a and 44b are provided on the side surface of the editing unit 3, and the sticker sheet of the edited image edited by the editing unit 3a is discharged from the print discharge port 44a. The sticker sheet of the edited image that has been edited in 3b is discharged from the print discharge port 44b.

  FIG. 6 is a top view of the photographic printing apparatus 1. In the photographic printing apparatus 1 configured as described above, the user first enters the photographic space 20 provided with the photographic unit 2 and executes a photographic process, and then the editing unit 3 (the editing unit 3a or the editing unit 3b). To the editing space (editing space 30a or editing space 30b) provided with the image data, the editing process is executed, and the printing unit 4 receives the sticker paper on which the photographed image or the edited image is printed in the printing space 40. Enjoy the game process. Note that X and Y shown in FIG. 6 indicate groups of users. When the user group X finishes shooting and moves to the editing space 30a, the user group Y performs shooting in the shooting space 20. The user group Y that has finished shooting moves to the editing space 30b instead of the editing space 30a and performs editing. Thereby, even if the user group X has not finished the editing process in the editing space 30a at the time when the shooting process of the user group Y that has entered later is completed, the user group Y can immediately wait without generating a waiting time. It is possible to move to the editing process.

  The photography printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a structure including two editing units 3 as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 6, and the first editing is performed. The unit 3a and the second editing unit 3b are installed facing each other. Thus, by providing more editing units 3 than the imaging units 2, it is possible to disperse the processing time related to the editing process that is a bottleneck and improve the rotation rate. However, the photography printing apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration. The installation position of the editing unit 3 is not particularly limited, and the number of installations may be one editing unit 3 or three or more editing units 3 may be provided if the installation location can be secured. Good.

[Configuration of Photographic Printing Device-Overview]
Next, the operation of the control unit 10 in the photographic printing apparatus 1 and each unit of the photographic printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a photographic printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the photographic printing apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a photographing unit 2, an editing unit 3, a printing unit 4, a control unit 10, and a recording unit 50.

  The control unit 10 comprehensively controls the operations of the above-described units included in the photographic printing apparatus 1. The control unit 10 is configured by, for example, a PC (personal computer) based computer. And operation control of various composition is performed by making a computer run a control program. This program may be in the form of reading and using what is recorded on a removable medium such as a CD-ROM, or may be in the form of reading and using what is installed on a hard disk or the like. Further, when the control unit 10 is configured to be connected to a communication network such as the Internet, a mode in which the program is downloaded via the communication network, installed on a hard disk, and the like can be considered.

  The photographic printing apparatus 1 includes a recording unit 50 that includes a nonvolatile storage device such as the hard disk described above. Examples of the contents stored in the recording unit 50 include the control program, an OS (Operating System) program, other various programs, operation setting values in the camera unit 23, and image data of captured images and edited images. Examples of the operation setting values in the camera unit 23 include white balance values set at the time of shipment of the photographic printing apparatus 1 and maintenance, various parameter values related to image processing when adjusting the contrast of the captured image, and the like. It is done.

  Details of the configuration of the control unit 10 and the recording unit 50 for preventing printing of an image with deteriorated visibility will be described later.

  The imaging unit 2 executes an imaging process, and includes a coin processing unit 21, an illumination unit 22, a camera unit 23, a captured image display unit 24, a camera image display unit 25, and an operation unit 26. Although not shown here, the photographing unit 2 may include a voice output unit for performing voice guidance so as to prompt the user to perform a certain operation.

  The coin processing unit 21 performs processing for coins that are taken in and out at the coin insertion / return port 121 shown in FIG. The coin insertion / return slot 121 is a slot for the user to insert a predetermined number of predetermined coins as a usage fee for the photographic printing apparatus 1, and for discharging a predetermined amount of coins to be returned to the user. It is a discharge port. As shown in FIG. 3, the coin insertion / return port 121 may be provided at an appropriate position of the photographing unit 2. A coin processing unit 21 is provided inside the photography printing apparatus 1 so as to communicate with the coin insertion / return port 121.

  The coin processing unit 21 determines whether or not a predetermined coin has been inserted. When it is determined that a predetermined coin has been inserted, the control unit 10 is notified, and the inserted coin is sent out to a coin container (not shown) for storing coins. On the other hand, when it is determined that a coin other than the predetermined coin has been inserted, the inserted coin is sent again to the coin insertion / return port 121.

  In addition, when there is no money change machine for exchanging banknotes and coins into predetermined coins, the banknote input port is newly provided, the banknote processing device is provided, or the change processing device is provided. Is desirable.

  When the coin processing unit 21 determines that a predetermined coin has been inserted from the coin insertion / return port 121 as described above, the coin processing unit 21 notifies the control unit 10. And the control part 10 will perform an accounting process, if the notification from the coin process part 21 is received. That is, the control unit 10 counts notifications from the coin processing unit 21 and controls various operations for the user according to the amount of money that the user has inserted.

  The illumination unit 22 functions as a photographic flashlight such as a strobe lamp at the time of photographing and also functions as a normal illumination. In this embodiment, a flash lamp is used as the light source, but a light source that emits continuous light, such as a fluorescent lamp, can also be used. Further, a fluorescent lamp or the like can be provided as an auxiliary light source in the vicinity of the flash lamp. By using a continuous light source or an auxiliary light source, it is possible to infer a shot at the time of shooting from a live view image before shooting.

  The camera unit 23 mainly takes a photograph of a user as a subject, and is configured by a digital camera including, for example, a lens group, a diaphragm, a CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor, and the like. The camera unit 23 is configured to be able to switch, for example, a lens group to be used and an aperture so as to be able to cope with both whole body photography and close-up photography.

  The captured image display unit 24 provides a user interface to the user, and displays various images, various operation buttons, and the like. The operation unit 26 is an input device for inputting an instruction signal for the user to perform a game operation on the photo printing apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 26 is realized as a touch panel integrated with the captured image display unit 24. That is, a GUI screen such as operation buttons is displayed on the captured image display unit 24. When the display screen of the photographed image display unit 24 is pressed by a user's finger (or a pointing device such as a touch pen), an instruction signal indicating a button or an image corresponding to the position is input into the photograph printing apparatus 1. Is done.

  The photographed image display unit 24 is configured by providing a touch panel on the surface of a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display element or a CRT, for example. By displaying the captured image captured by the camera unit 23 on the captured image display unit 24, the user can check the captured image. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 26 is configured as a touch panel provided integrally with the captured image display unit 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation unit 26 is provided with, for example, a numeric keypad or a cross key. It may be configured as an input device such as a remote controller or a keyboard.

  The camera image display unit 25 displays a real-time video captured by the camera unit 23, that is, a live view image before shooting. By displaying the live view image on the camera image display unit 25, the user can confirm the image in advance and start shooting.

  The editing unit 3 executes an editing process, and includes a touch panel unit 31 and a touch pen 32. The editing unit 3 may further include an audio output unit 33.

  The touch panel unit 31 provides a user interface to the user, and includes an edited image display unit 31a and an operation reception unit 31b. The edited image display unit 31a displays an image to be edited in the editing process (edited image) and a result of editing the shot image (edited image). The operation accepting unit 31b accepts a user instruction signal input by using a pointing device such as a touch pen and transmits it to the inside of the photographic printing apparatus 1.

  The touch pen 32 is used by a user to perform fine operation input on the touch panel unit 31 in image editing processing or the like, and is disposed near the touch panel unit 31. The user can select a button displayed according to the progress of the process or draw an image such as a graffiti by bringing the touch pen 32 into contact with or approaching the touch panel unit 31.

  For example, when the screen of the touch panel unit 31 is pressed with the touch pen 32, an instruction signal indicating a button or an image corresponding to the position is input to the inside of the photographic printing apparatus 1. Thereby, the user can perform graffiti on the photographed image, press a stamp, or select a print target image to be printed.

  In the present embodiment, two touch pens 32 are provided so that a plurality of users can easily perform image editing. However, in order to simplify the configuration, only one touch pen 32 may be provided. Yes, and more than two can be deployed for more than two users. Similarly, a plurality of touch pens 32 can be provided.

  The audio output unit 33 outputs guidance voices and sound effects for various operations, and is provided at an appropriate place of the photo print apparatus 1. For example, a speaker is used as the audio output unit 33.

  The printing unit 4 executes a printing process by printing a photographed image and / or edited image selected as a printing target, and includes an ID tag reader / writer unit 41 and a printer unit 42. A seal paper 142 and an ID tag 141 serving as a photo print output medium are delivered to the printing unit 4 as a seal paper unit 43 as a set.

  When image data to be output is sent from the control unit 10, the printer unit 42 prints on the sticker sheet 142 based on the image data. As the printer unit 42, for example, a sublimation printer is used. When a sublimation printer is used, a sublimation ink film is delivered as a set in addition to the sticker paper 142 and the ID tag 141.

  The ID tag reader / writer unit 41 reads out various pieces of identification information recorded in the ID tag 141 and outputs them to the control unit 10. The ID tag 141 is configured by an IC chip having a memory function. Examples of the identification information include a unique ID, the number of sheets, a sheet type, and ink-specific color information (when an ink film is set).

  Based on the identification information read by the ID tag reader / writer unit 41, the control unit 10 determines whether the attached sticker paper 142 and the ink film are usable in the photography printing apparatus 1, and can be used. Only when it is, the printer unit 42 can be operated. In other words, settings other than the seal paper 142 and the ink film designated in the photo printing apparatus 1 are set so that they cannot be used.

  In addition, by counting down the number of sheets each time sticker paper is used based on the information on the number of sheets recorded in the ID tag 141, the remaining number of sheets can be grasped. Therefore, when the remaining number of sheets is reduced, a configuration that warns the user with a display means or the like can avoid a problem such as running out of sheets during use by the user. .

  When counting down the number of sheets, it is desirable to rewrite the number of sheets information recorded in the ID tag 141. As a result, when the paper is used up, the paper number information recorded in the ID tag 141 is also zero, and the ID tag 141 can be invalidated.

  Further, by reading the paper type information recorded in the ID tag 141 and the color information unique to the ink, and correcting the color component of the image data in consideration of these, the seal paper 142 and the ink film are accurately obtained. Image output can be performed.

  As the ID tag 141, there are a non-contact type ID tag capable of performing wireless data communication and a contact type ID tag provided with a terminal. The ID tag reader / writer unit 41 includes It corresponds to either one or both.

  In the above example, the ID tag 141 is used to confirm whether or not the sticker paper 142 can be used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sticker paper 142 and the ink film are used. It is also possible to use a bar code printed on a packing material for packing. However, when a barcode is used, there are problems that the amount of information that can be included is small and that information cannot be rewritten by counting down the number of sheets, for example.

  In this embodiment, the seal sheet 142 is assumed to be a seal sheet including an adhesive sheet and a release sheet attached to the adhesive surface of the adhesive sheet, but is not limited thereto. The photographic printing apparatus 1 of the present invention can be configured to use a paper sheet that is a normal paper medium instead of the sticker paper 142.

  Moreover, the photography printing apparatus 1 of the present invention may include a curtain unit 27. The curtain unit 27 provides a curtain as a background of the captured image. Curtains with various colors and patterns are prepared, and can be freely selected by the user at the time of shooting, or can be automatically selected by the photo-taking and printing apparatus 1. The plurality of curtains are arranged so as to overlap the back surface of the photographing space 20 (facing the photographing unit 2) (FIGS. 2A and 2B), and at the time of photographing, the selected curtain is behind the subject. It is installed in the foreground so that it can be seen. The installation of the selected curtain may be executed by the background control unit 15 of the control unit 10 controlling the curtain unit 27, or may be configured to be manually performed by the user himself / herself.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the curtain part 27 was set as the structure which provides a some curtain, it is not limited to this. A curtain that can be installed in the curtain unit 27 may be one type. In this case, if a plurality of types of background images for synthesis are prepared and the background image desired by the user is synthesized in the editing process, even if there is only one type of curtain, the user can have various preferences. Can respond.

[Configuration of Photographic Printing Device-Details]
Next, the control unit 10 and the recording unit 50 of the photographic printing apparatus 1 for preventing printing of an image with deteriorated visibility will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 10 further includes a captured image acquisition unit 11, an image editing unit (edited image creation unit) 12, and a print image creation unit (print image creation unit) 13. The recording unit 50 includes a photographic image recording unit 51 that records a photographic image, and a provision image recording unit (image storage unit) 52 that records a provision image such as a background image, a frame image, and a stamp image provided in image editing. , An edited image information recording unit 53 that records information about the edited image, and a print image recording unit 54 that records a print image.

  The captured image acquisition unit 11 acquires a captured image created by capturing a subject from the camera unit 23. The captured image acquisition unit 11 records the acquired captured image in the captured image recording unit 51.

  The image editing unit 12 performs image editing on a captured image in accordance with a user operation. Examples of image editing include adding a background image and / or a frame image read from the providing image recording unit 52, adding a stamp image read from the providing image recording unit 52 to an arbitrary position, or using a touch pen For example, adding graffiti. However, the image editing is not limited to the above-described example, and the editing is executed by the user operating any input means (input unit) connected to the photography / printing apparatus 1, and the original photographed image is changed. Any editing process may be used as long as the edited result (edited image) can be obtained.

  The image editing unit 12 creates an edited image by executing image editing. In the present embodiment, the edited image is composed of a plurality of layers, and a captured image and a composition image are formed for each layer. The image for composition is an image added to the photographed image in the image editing, and includes, for example, a background image, a photographed image, a frame image, an image in which one or a plurality of stamp images are arranged, a graffiti image, and the like. Each image constituting the composition image may be formed in a separate layer.

  The image editing unit 12 records edited image information, which is information about the edited image, in the edited image information recording unit 53 instead of recording the edited image. Examples of the edited image information include identification information of a captured image, identification information of a background image, a captured image, and a frame image, identification information and position information of a stamp image, a graffiti image, and various other attribute information.

  The print image creation unit 13 creates a print image in which an edit image corresponding to the size of each divided region is arranged in each of the plurality of divided regions. The size and arrangement of the edited image in the print image are usually determined by the user selecting one of a plurality of patterns, but may be determined freely by the user, or the photography printing apparatus 1 It may be determined at random. The print image creation unit 13 records in the created print image recording unit 54. Then, the control unit 10 instructs the printer unit 42 to print the print image recorded in the print image recording unit 54 on the sticker sheet 142 at an appropriate timing.

  Next, details of the print image creating unit 13 and the providing image recording unit 52 will be described. FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of the print image creating unit 13 and the providing image recording unit 52 of the present embodiment. As illustrated, the print image creation unit 13 includes a size-corresponding image acquisition unit (changed size image acquisition unit) 16 and an image synthesis unit (image synthesis unit) 17. The providing image recording unit 52 divides each of the providing images such as the background image, the frame image, and the stamp image into an image for 8 divisions (A8 size), an image for 16 divisions (A9 size), and 32 divisions. The image (for A10 size) is included.

  The size-corresponding image acquisition unit 16 reads the identification information of the composition image from the edited image information recording unit 53, and reads the provision image corresponding to the read identification information from the provision image recording unit 52. At this time, the size-corresponding image acquisition unit 16 reads a providing image having a size corresponding to the size of the divided area of the print image. For example, if the size of the divided area is a size obtained by dividing an A5 size print image into 16 images, an image for 16 divisions is read out.

  The size-corresponding image acquisition unit 16 sends the read providing image to the image composition unit 17 as a composition image. When the composition image is composed of a plurality of images, the size-corresponding image acquisition unit 16 reads out the plurality of provision images from the provision image recording unit 52 and transmits them to the image composition unit 17.

  The image synthesizing unit 17 synthesizes the synthesis image acquired from the size-corresponding image acquisition unit 16 and the captured image according to the size of the divided area. Specifically, the image composition unit 17 reads the identification information of the captured image from the edited image information recording unit 53 and reads out the captured image corresponding to the read identification information from the captured image recording unit 51. Next, the image composition unit 17 reduces or enlarges the read captured image so as to fit the size of the divided area. Then, the image composition unit 17 synthesizes the captured image deformed to fit the size of the divided area and the composition image having the size of the divided area received from the size-corresponding image acquisition unit 16 to obtain the divided image. The edited image matches the size of the area. This edited image is arranged in all the divided areas having the same size. The size-corresponding image acquisition unit 16 and the image composition unit 17 perform the same processing for other sizes of the divided areas, thereby completing the print image and recording the completed print image in the print image recording unit 54.

  Next, an example of an image created by the print image creation unit 13 will be described. FIGS. 8A to 8C show how the print image creation unit 13 creates an edited image reduced in half. FIG. 8A shows the same edited image as FIG. However, in this embodiment, instead of recording the edited image as it is in the recording unit 50, information about the edited image is recorded in the edited image information recording unit 53.

When the edited image shown in FIG. 8A is reduced in half, the print image creating unit 13 uses the captured image reduced in half as shown in FIG. On the other hand, with respect to the composition image (star frame image in the illustrated example), a 16-segment provision image is read from the provision image recording unit 52 as shown in FIG. Use. The image for synthesis shown in FIG. 6C is an image in which the number of stars is reduced and the size of the star is about 1/2 ^1/2 compared to the image for composition of the edited image shown in FIG. It has become.

  Then, the print image creation unit 13 synthesizes the composite image shown in FIG. 8C with the photographed image shown in FIG. 8B, and the edited image reduced in half as shown in FIG. To get. It can be understood that the edited image shown in FIG. 19D is a better image without being crushed than the edited image shown in FIG.

  Next, another example of an image created by the print image creation unit 13 will be described. FIGS. 9A to 9C show how the print image creation unit 13 creates an edited image reduced to ¼. Note that the edited image shown in FIG. 9A is the same as the edited image shown in FIG.

When the edited image shown in FIG. 9A is reduced to ¼, the print image creating unit 13 takes a photographic image reduced to ¼ as shown in FIG. Use. On the other hand, with respect to the image for synthesis, as shown in FIG. 5C, a 32-divided provision image is read from the provision image recording unit 52 and used as a composition image. Compared with the composite image of the edited image shown in FIG. 6A, the composite image shown in FIG. 6C reduces the number of stars by 2 and reduces the size of the star to about 1/4 ^1/2 = The image is about ½.

  Then, the print image creation unit 13 synthesizes the image for synthesis shown in FIG. 9C with the photographed image shown in FIG. 9B and reduces it to ¼ as shown in FIG. Get the edited image. It can be understood that the edited image shown in (d) of FIG. 19 is a better image without losing the foreground image than the edited image shown in FIG. 19 (c).

[Flow of processing of the photo printing device]
Next, the flow of the game process executed by the photography printing apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described. A photo printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a function of taking a photograph of a user as a subject, a function of automatically editing a taken photo, such as color tone / brightness correction, and composition, and printing the edited image. It has at least the function to do.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the game process executed by the photographic printing apparatus 1. FIG. 12A to FIG. 12D are diagrams showing display examples of the screen of the captured image display unit 24 of the photographic printing apparatus 1. FIG. 12E is a diagram illustrating a display example of the screen of the edited image display unit 31a of the photography printing apparatus 1.

As shown in FIG. 10, first, the display control unit 12 of the photographic printing apparatus 1 displays a demonstration screen on the photographic image display unit 24 installed in the photographic unit 2 of the photographic space 20 (S101) (FIG. 12). (A)). In this state, when the coin processing unit 21 detects that a predetermined coin has been inserted (YES in S102), the display control unit 12 causes the photographed image display unit 24 to select a BGM that is played during the game. Is displayed (FIG. 12B), and an input of BGM selection from the user is accepted (S103). Next, the display control unit 12 displays a screen for allowing the user to select a shooting course on the shot image display unit 24 (FIG. 12C), and accepts an input of shooting course selection from the user (S104). . In this embodiment, as an example,
A: Normal shooting course (photographed by user selecting desired curtain (background color)),
B: Auto shooting course (automatically selecting curtains for shooting),
C: Pause shooting course (the user selects a model sample image (completed drawing) and shoots based on it),
3 courses are prepared, and the user can select a favorite course.

  When the user selects a normal shooting course (A in S104), the shooting unit 2 executes normal shooting processing (S105). When the user selects an automatic shooting course (B in S104), the shooting unit 2 executes an automatic shooting process (S106). When the user selects a pause shooting course (C in S104), the shooting unit 2 executes a pause shooting process (S107).

  When the photographing process is completed, the display control unit 12 displays a screen for performing movement guidance on the photographed image display unit 24 (S108) (FIG. 12D). At this stage, the user moves from the shooting space 20 to the editing space 30a (or editing space 30b).

  In the editing space 30, the editing unit 3 receives the user's operation and executes editing processing and printing processing (S109). Thereafter, the control unit 10 executes a post-service process (S110). Details of the editing process and the printing process (S109) and the post-service process (S110) will be described later.

  When the subsequent customer service process is completed, the display control unit 12 displays a movement guide for guiding the user to the printing space 40 (S111). Subsequently, the printing unit 4 discharges the sticker paper on which the printed image is printed from the print discharge port 44a (or the print discharge port 44b) (S112), and ends the series of processes of the game.

  FIG. 11 shows details of the editing process and the printing process. As shown in the figure, S201 to S207 in the first half are editing processes, and S211 to S214 in the second half are printing processes. First, the image editing unit 12 performs editing processing. The image editing unit 12 acquires a captured image to be an image to be edited from the captured image recording unit 51 (S201). Next, the image editing unit 12 uses the touch panel unit 31 to select the type of post-service processing (game) (S110) (S202).

  Next, when the user operates the editing start button on the touch panel unit 31 (YES in S203), the image editing unit 12 displays an editing screen on the edited image display unit 31a and starts accepting editing input (S204). Then, the image editing unit 12 displays the edited image and continues to accept editing input until a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) elapses or the end button of the touch panel unit 31 is operated (S205). -After that, acceptance of edit input is ended (S207).

  Subsequently, the print image creation unit 13 performs a printing process. First, the print image creation unit 13 causes the user to select a print layout (number of divisions) (S211).

  In this case, for example, the print image creating unit 13 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 12E on the edited image display unit 31a (editing unit 3). At this time, the print image creation unit 13 can highlight the layout or display the logo 131 so that the recommended layout can be understood. Further, assuming that the stickers divided by the user group are distributed by a plurality of people, a recommended layout may be highlighted for each number of people to be distributed. For example, if the character information 132 such as “for three people” is displayed, the user can immediately select an optimum layout according to how many people distribute the information.

  Next, the print image creation unit 13 synthesizes the captured image and the synthesis image corresponding to a certain size with respect to the divided areas included in the selected print layout, and arranges them in the divided areas of the size (S212). ). At this time, the print image creation unit 13 according to the present embodiment reads one or a plurality of providing images of the size from the providing image recording unit 52 instead of the compositing image reduced or enlarged to the size. It is used as an image.

  Next, the print image creating unit 13 creates the print image in the same manner for the other sizes of the divided areas (S213). Then, the printer unit 42 starts printing the created print image (S214), and after the printing is completed, the printing process is finished.

  FIG. 13 to FIG. 15 show sticker sheets on which print images divided into 8 divisions, 16 divisions (mixed division), and 32 divisions are printed, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, frame images FL 1 ′ and FL 2 ′ (FIG. 14) of 16 division sizes and frame images of 32 division sizes are compared with frame images FL 1 and FL 2 (FIGS. 13 and 14) of 8 division sizes. It can be understood that FL1 ″ and FL2 ″ (FIG. 15) are printed well without being crushed. Further, it can be understood that the background image BG ″ (FIG. 14 and FIG. 15) having the 32 division size is printed without being crushed with respect to the background image BG having the 8 division size (FIG. 13). Further, it can be understood that the stamp image ST ″ (FIG. 14 and FIG. 15) having the 32 division size is printed without being crushed with respect to the stamp image ST having the 8 division size (FIG. 13).

  In the present embodiment, the providing image of the 8-divided size, the 16-divided size, and the 32-divided size is recorded in the providing image recording unit 52, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various divided sizes are available. Can be recorded.

  Next, details of the subsequent customer service process (S110) performed after the edit / print process (S109) will be described. Subsequent customer service processing is performed so that the user is not bored during the waiting time from when the user selects a print layout (S211) until the sticker paper is printed and discharged (S112).

  Examples of post-service processing include the execution of various mini-games such as posting photographed images or edited images to a predetermined server, voting for posted photographed images or edited images, creation of so-called decoration emails, There are various services such as a mobile transmission service that transmits an edited image to a user's mobile phone (communication device). The control unit 10 can execute a plurality of subsequent customer service processes, and any of the subsequent customer service processes is selected by the user (S202).

  When the mobile transmission service is selected in the subsequent customer service process, the control unit 10 displays edited images of various sizes recorded in the print image recording unit 54. Alternatively, the control unit 10 uses the providing image and the edited image information recorded in the providing image recording unit 52 and the edited image information recording unit 53 to cope with various image sizes usable on the user's mobile phone. Create and display an edited image of size.

  Note that all sizes of edited images may be displayed on the display screen of the touch panel unit 31. In this case, all the edited images can be confirmed quickly. The size may be roughly classified into large, medium, and small, and an edited image may be displayed for each classification. In this case, since only the edited image of the size desired by the user can be displayed, it is easy to check the edited image. An example of switching the display to each category is switching using a tab. Alternatively, an edited image of a certain size may be displayed on the touch panel unit 31, and an edited image of a different size may be displayed at the same position each time the display screen is touched. In this case, it is possible to easily confirm at which size the edited image desired by the user is transmitted.

  Next, when the user selects an edited image desired to be transmitted and inputs the e-mail address of the mobile phone, the control unit 10 attaches the selected edited image to the e-mail and uses the input e-mail address as the transmission destination. The data is transmitted via a communication unit (transmission unit) (not shown). It should be noted that the edited image may be transmitted from the photographic printing apparatus 1 to the mobile phone by near field communication such as infrared communication. In this case, it is not necessary to input a mail address.

  Therefore, the edited image received by the mobile phone uses the provision image from the provision image recording unit 52 as the composition image, and thus is a good image that avoids the collapse of the composition image due to deformation. Therefore, user satisfaction with the mobile transmission service is improved.

  The configuration may be such that the edited image is transmitted to the user's mobile phone via a predetermined server. Specifically, the edited image selected by the user and the mail address of the user's mobile phone are transmitted to the server via a communication unit (not shown). The server stores (accumulates) the edited image, and transmits an email including a URL (Uniform Resource Locators) indicating the storage location to the email address. The user can download the edited image from the server by designating the URL included in the received mail address using the mobile phone.

  Further, the server may store the edited image in the same manner as the photography printing apparatus 1. That is, the server includes the same configuration as the print image creation unit 13, the photographed image recording unit 51, the providing image recording unit 52, and the edited image information recording unit 53 in the photography printing apparatus 1. The captured image and the edited image information are received from the apparatus 1 as an edited image and stored.

  Next, when the server acquires a request for an edited image from the user's mobile phone, the server acquires model information from the mobile phone, and determines an image size available on the mobile phone based on the acquired model information. Then, an edited image having a size corresponding to the determined image size is created by performing the same process as the print image creating unit 13. Then, the server transmits the created edited image to the mobile phone.

  Therefore, the edited image received by the mobile phone uses the provision image from the provision image recording unit 52 as the composition image, and thus is a good image that avoids the collapse of the composition image due to deformation. Therefore, user satisfaction with the mobile transmission service is improved. Furthermore, instead of transmitting the edited image for each size from the photographic printing apparatus 1 to the server, it is only necessary to transmit the captured image and the edited image information, thereby reducing the burden of communication resources and resources on the server.

  In the present embodiment, the collapse when the edited image is reduced is mainly described. However, even when the edited image is enlarged, it is conceivable that the size of a figure or the like increases and the balance with the subject deteriorates. Even with respect to such problems, the photography printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can prevent the balance with the subject from deteriorating by suppressing the enlargement of the size of a figure or the like.

[Modification]
In the present embodiment, the size-corresponding image acquisition unit 16 of the print image creation unit 13 reads out a provision image having a size corresponding to the size of the divided area of the print image from the provision image recording unit 52 and uses it as a composition image. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  FIG. 16 shows another example in which a synthesis image having a size corresponding to the size of the divided area is acquired. In the example shown in the drawing, a 16-divided size or a 32-divided size is extracted from the 8-divided size providing image recorded from the providing image recording unit 52, and this is used as a composition image. In this case, since the image data to be recorded in the providing image recording unit 52 can be reduced, the recording capacity of the recording unit 50 can be reduced.

  FIG. 17 shows another example of obtaining a synthesis image having a size corresponding to the size of the divided area. FIG. 5A shows an example in which three heart-shaped stamp images are used as an 8-divided composite image.

On the other hand, in FIG. 17B, with respect to the stamp image, the image reduction rate is reduced from the normal reduction rate 1 / n to about, for example, approximately 0% so that the image is not crushed while maintaining the position reduced to the 32 divided size. It is suppressed to 1 / n ^1/2 . FIG. 8C shows, as a comparative example, an image obtained by reducing the composition image shown in FIG. 9A into a 32 divided size with a normal reduction ratio 1 / n. Comparing FIG. 17B and FIG. 17C, it can be understood that the stamp image is a good image without being crushed.

  Note that the photographic printing apparatus 1 may acquire a photographic image from another device or a recording medium, edit the acquired photographic image, and perform printing. In this case, the photographing unit 2 can be omitted. Further, when the edited image is transmitted to an external communication device such as a mobile phone instead of printing, the printing unit 4 may be omitted and a communication unit may be provided.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, each block of the photographic printing apparatus 1, particularly the control unit 10, may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the photographic printing apparatus 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and a RAM (random access memory) that expands the program. ), A storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is a recording medium on which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program of the photographic printing apparatus 1 which is software that realizes the above-described functions is recorded in a computer-readable manner. Can also be achieved by reading the program code recorded on the recording medium and executing it by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, the photographic printing apparatus 1 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention can be applied to a general photographic printing apparatus that shoots a photograph and performs an editing process on the photographed image and prints it out.

1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) And (b) is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the photography printing device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a front view of the imaging | photography part of the photography printing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a front view of the editing part of the photography printing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a front view of the printing part of the photography printing apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a top view of the photography printing apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the printing image preparation part of a photography printing apparatus, and the image recording part for provision. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows a mode that the said print image preparation part produces the edit image reduced in half. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows a mode that the said print image preparation part produces the edit image reduced to 1/4. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process of the game performed with a photography printing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the edit process in the said process, and a printing process. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the picked-up image display part of a photography photography printing apparatus. (E) is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the edit image display part of photography photography printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the sticker paper which the photography photography printing apparatus printed the printing image divided into eight. It is a figure which shows the sticker paper which the photography photography printing apparatus printed the print image divided into 16. It is a figure which shows the sticker paper which the photographic printing apparatus printed the print image divided into 32 parts. It is a figure which shows another modification in which the said print image preparation part acquires the image for a synthesis | combination of the size corresponding to the size of the division area of a print image. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another modification in which the print image creation unit acquires a composition image having a size corresponding to the size of a divided area of a print image, (a) is an original edited image, and (b) is the above-described edit image. It is the edit image produced by the other modification, (c) is a comparative example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the game in the conventional image photographing editing apparatus. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows the problem by reducing an edit image.

Explanation of symbols

1 Photographic printing device (image editing output device)
2 Shooting unit 3 Editing unit 4 Printing unit (Image output unit)
10 control unit 12 image editing unit (edited image creating means)
13 Print image creation unit (image size changing means)
16 size compatible image acquisition unit (changed size image acquisition means)
17 Image composition section (image composition means)
52 Provided image recording unit (image storage unit)

Claims (10)

An edited image creating means for creating an edited image by an editing process on a photographed image created by photographing a subject;
Image size changing means for changing the size of the created edited image;
An image editing output device comprising an image output unit for outputting a modified edited image,
The edited image created by the edited image creating means is a composite of the photographed image and one or more images for synthesis,
The image size changing means
A modified size image acquisition means for acquiring a composite image of a size to be changed;
An image editing / outputting device comprising: an image composition unit for compositing an acquired composition image and a photographed image deformed to fit the size to be changed. It further includes an image storage unit that stores the above-mentioned composition image for each size,
The image editing output device according to claim 1, wherein the changed size image acquisition unit acquires the composition image having the size to be changed from the image storage unit.   3. The change size image acquisition unit acquires the size of the composition image to be changed by extracting the size to be changed from the original composition image. The image editing output device described in 1. The original composition image is an image in which one or more part images are arranged.
The modified size image acquisition means transforms the positional relationship of the part images with respect to the original composition image so as to conform to the size to be changed, while the part image should be changed. The image editing / output device according to claim 1, wherein the image for synthesis having the size to be changed is acquired by changing the size to a size that is suppressed rather than the size.   The image editing / output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output unit is a transmitting unit that transmits the changed edited image to an external communication device.   6. The image editing output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output unit is a printing unit that prints the changed edited image on the print medium. A photography printing device that edits and prints an image of a subject,
A shooting unit for shooting a subject;
A photographic printing apparatus comprising the image editing / outputting apparatus according to claim 6.   An image editing / output device control program for operating the image editing / output device according to claim 1, wherein the computer functions as each of the means.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the image editing / output device control program according to claim 8 is recorded. An edited image creation step for creating an edited image by editing processing on the shot image created by shooting the subject;
An image resizing step for resizing the created edited image;
An image editing output device control method including an image output step of outputting a modified edited image,
The edited image created in the edited image creating step is a composite of the captured image and one or a plurality of compositing images.
The above image resizing step
A modified size image acquisition step for acquiring a composite image of a size to be changed;
A control method for an image editing / outputting apparatus, comprising: an image composition step for compositing an acquired composition image and a photographed image deformed to fit the size to be changed.

Images